Around London
0530 slept solid for a couple of hours to 1130 then 1-2 hour blocks for the rest of the night. No real periods of wakefulness and my usual sleep casts did the trick getting me back to sleep quickly until about 0530. It’s light outside and I think that it’s probably ok to stir. The room was nicely cold which helped. The aircon fan is a little noisy but I can usually sleep with a little white noise so shouldn’t be an issue.
My lower back is a little sore. I think the flight really affected it.
0547 I figure out how to get the Nespresso machine to work and make a nice coffee.
0740 I head down for breakfast.
0907 After doing some research I head out towards the design museum. The weather is mild and it’s quiet. Very humid though. I get a huge sense of contentment being back in London. It feels so familiar.
0920 I take the Central line from Tottenham Court Road to Notting Hill Gate then Circle line to Kensington High Street.
0940 Arrive.
I get to the design museum early so I take a stroll in Holland Park which is next to the museum.
1015 I get to the design museum. I have a ticket for the Ai Weiwei exhibition at 1030 so spend some time looking at other exhibits until then.
The Weiwei exhibition is called Making Sense and it’s great. I particularly like the large collections laid out in the floor. And the edges are so straight! So much precision. On one wall is a massive interpretation of Monet’s Waterlillies entirely made out of Lego.
1100 I get a coffee in the museum café before looking at some other exhibits.
It’s nice to feel motivated to do things. It’s also nice to take things slowly. It’s also nice to be in a city where I feel I can find my way around without too much trouble.
1145 I decide to get some food before the next place. Some sushi from wasabi sounds good.
1200 I catch the District line back to Notting Hill Gate. I head to Portobello Road to check out the markets. Lots of people. I find a really interesting antique map shop. Very tempted. Most of the rest of the market is what I expected. Didn’t really want to engage too much
1240 I make my way to the Museum of Brands. It wasn’t quite as polished as I expected but the collection was amazing. So many items. Saw a few nostalgic items I remember too.
1330 I grab a drink and flapjack from the café before leaving. By the time I leave, the weather is definitely changing and getting heavier.
1350 Catch Circle line from Ladbroke Grove to Paddington then Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road. Have been feeling great this morning but starting to flag now. Will drop things off before heading to V&A.
1410 Arrive.
1430 After dropping off stuff at the hotel I head to Holborn station to catch Piccadilly line to South Kensington. But there are problems with the line and I need to take Central to Notting Hill Gate then take Circle line to South Kensington. It’s SO hot on the central line!
1557 I’ve spent a little while in the V&A. Some of it just wandering and some in the photography section. I grab a drink in the courtyard just as it starts to lightly rain. I decide it’s time to head back.
I go back to South Kensington and it’s crazy busy due to the problems on the Piccadilly line. I catch the Circle line with the intention of swapping at Notting Hill Gate but the train is so crowded it’s going to be tricky getting off. Plus I remember how hot the Central line was. So I decide to go on to Paddington and catch the Elizabeth line like I did earlier in the day.
1630 On the way I pass another wasabi and decide on a bento box for dinner. Don’t really feel like a full dinner in the restaurant.
When I get back I realise I forgot to get paracetamol. My back has been sore. So I nip out again back to Boots. It’s steadily drizzling now. Time to use my Muji umbrella!
Today I wasn’t going to need my good camera so I went out bagless. It was a bit of an odd experience in London for me, but very liberating.
I spend some time planning a possible trip to Arundel Castle tomorrow. I realise it will take a while to get there. Will I have enough time?
1930 Cooper Family Chat at a special time as I’m in the UK and we only have two time zones to worry about.
2030 Bed time.