There was a stunning sun rise to start the day. The western skyline view from the flat was briefly illuminated as the tall buildings were caught up in the South London sun trap. The four chimneys of Battersea Power Station looked magnificent. They appeared as four fags, all burning down without the ash falling off. The moment lasted only a few minutes. I managed to catch a phone snap.#
I cycled on to the Lido wearing my full finger gloves for the first time this season. The water temperature was down to 18 degrees - a five degrees fall since my last swim at Lake Brockwell. I pressed on for 12 lengths. I found my rhythm after the first few turnarounds. It felt good having a decent workout in the full size pool.#
The bicycle ride back through Brixton continues to throw up surprises. The pace of gentrification and turnaround in the area shows no sign of slowing down. A rather upmarket coffee shop has opened up on the Front Line stretch. We're talking proper Front Line here - a considerable schlep up from the Arches and out towards where the old Mingles bar once stood. Blimey.#
I had a brief chat with B as I arrived back at base. She's concerned about the ivy from the neighbouring property growing up our walls and modern interweb cables. I'm concerned as well - it's just that everyone blew cold on my efforts last year when I sourced quotes to get it cut. DIY, etc.#
Album of the Day: Air - Virgin Suicides#
This started positively with Playground Love. But then it just drifted. I think I wanted more vocals and less background music. But soundtracks are all about background music. It sounded pretty timeless. This could quite easily have been released in 1972 as a companion piece for Tubular Bells. It might have helped if I was familiar with the film. In the end I made up my own story as the soundtrack progressed. The plot of a mass shooting at a popular 1980's megastore brand wasn't the brightest of stories.#
⭐ ⭐ #
I struggled with my eyesight all day. iPhone photos appeared out of focus when they were actually very sharp; I could barely read my screen. I turned towards the cheapo reading glasses to get me through the work shifts.#
Body heat was another issue. I couldn't get warm all morning after the Lido. Listening to the latest Forever Forest podcast didn't help. The talk was of how long Steve Cooper has got left. Gosh. There was even the suggestion that he might be gone by the end of the Leicester away match next week.#
Back with the summer game and things were looking better for Surrey. I dipped in and out of the stream all day from down the road at The Oval. Sadly work commitments kept me away.#
There was an aborted FaceTime conversation with A. An online video call is not the best medium in which to try and give instructions to repair a bicycle puncture. #
I had my own puncture woes to deal with. I walked off towards Kennington to pick up the Raleigh 20 that I left with a new bicycle shop to fit a front inner. I was trying out this new mechanic. It wasn't great to see a CLOSED FOR LUNCH notice attached to the door. Arse. This was my lunch break as well.#
And so I walked back to Sunny Stockwell on a wasted journey. The only joy was seeing another GoCycle 4Gi out in the wild. I was watching one on eBay over the past few days. It ships at just short of £6k. Woh. An out of the box model was listed at £2,8000, or Make Me an Offer. Someone did make an offer and it sold overnight.#
Afternoon listening included Animal Noise and Greg Blackman - something of a throwback to the old #SunnyColch days. I did manage to make a brief return to the bicycle shop late in the afternoon. This time it was open and my Raleigh was ready. The mechanic is a friendly fella. I'll probably use him again.#
I dipped back into The Oval stream. It was incredibly frustrating watching Surrey advance towards the Championship just down the road. So close, yet so far with work shifts to honour. Oh well.#
I managed to get outside for a quick tidy up around the South Lambeth Road garden before the early sunset. It wasn't too bad. The days of when we were the local tipping ground for chicken bones and used condoms seems to have passed. Instead some new shoots are starting to emerge out of the very dry soil. I've no bloody idea what they are, or where they came from. Used Condom Trees?#
Some homegrown British reggae with Harlem Spirit and Have a Good Time Tonight from 1988. The band were a fusion / lovers band coming out of Manchester. There's a cover of Marvin's How Sweet It Is out there somewhere. Still searching, still digging... 🔥🔥#
There was a stunning sun rise to start the day. The western skyline view from the flat was briefly illuminated as the tall buildings were caught up in the South London sun trap. The four chimneys of Battersea Power Station looked magnificent. They appeared as four fags, all burning down without the ash falling off. The moment lasted only a few minutes. I managed to catch a phone snap.#
I cycled on to the Lido wearing my full finger gloves for the first time this season. The water temperature was down to 18 degrees - a five degrees fall since my last swim at Lake Brockwell. I pressed on for 12 lengths. I found my rhythm after the first few turnarounds. It felt good having a decent workout in the full size pool.#
The bicycle ride back through Brixton continues to throw up surprises. The pace of gentrification and turnaround in the area shows no sign of slowing down. A rather upmarket coffee shop has opened up on the Front Line stretch. We're talking proper Front Line here - a considerable schlep up from the Arches and out towards where the old Mingles bar once stood. Blimey.#
I had a brief chat with B as I arrived back at base. She's concerned about the ivy from the neighbouring property growing up our walls and modern interweb cables. I'm concerned as well - it's just that everyone blew cold on my efforts last year when I sourced quotes to get it cut. DIY, etc.#
Album of the Day: Air - Virgin Suicides#
This started positively with Playground Love. But then it just drifted. I think I wanted more vocals and less background music. But soundtracks are all about background music. It sounded pretty timeless. This could quite easily have been released in 1972 as a companion piece for Tubular Bells. It might have helped if I was familiar with the film. In the end I made up my own story as the soundtrack progressed. The plot of a mass shooting at a popular 1980's megastore brand wasn't the brightest of stories.#
⭐ ⭐ #
I struggled with my eyesight all day. iPhone photos appeared out of focus when they were actually very sharp; I could barely read my screen. I turned towards the cheapo reading glasses to get me through the work shifts.#
Body heat was another issue. I couldn't get warm all morning after the Lido. Listening to the latest Forever Forest podcast didn't help. The talk was of how long Steve Cooper has got left. Gosh. There was even the suggestion that he might be gone by the end of the Leicester away match next week.#
Back with the summer game and things were looking better for Surrey. I dipped in and out of the stream all day from down the road at The Oval. Sadly work commitments kept me away.#
There was an aborted FaceTime conversation with A. An online video call is not the best medium in which to try and give instructions to repair a bicycle puncture. #
I had my own puncture woes to deal with. I walked off towards Kennington to pick up the Raleigh 20 that I left with a new bicycle shop to fit a front inner. I was trying out this new mechanic. It wasn't great to see a CLOSED FOR LUNCH notice attached to the door. Arse. This was my lunch break as well.#
And so I walked back to Sunny Stockwell on a wasted journey. The only joy was seeing another GoCycle 4Gi out in the wild. I was watching one on eBay over the past few days. It ships at just short of £6k. Woh. An out of the box model was listed at £2,8000, or Make Me an Offer. Someone did make an offer and it sold overnight.#
Afternoon listening included Animal Noise and Greg Blackman - something of a throwback to the old #SunnyColch days. I did manage to make a brief return to the bicycle shop late in the afternoon. This time it was open and my Raleigh was ready. The mechanic is a friendly fella. I'll probably use him again.#
I dipped back into The Oval stream. It was incredibly frustrating watching Surrey advance towards the Championship just down the road. So close, yet so far with work shifts to honour. Oh well.#
I managed to get outside for a quick tidy up around the South Lambeth Road garden before the early sunset. It wasn't too bad. The days of when we were the local tipping ground for chicken bones and used condoms seems to have passed. Instead some new shoots are starting to emerge out of the very dry soil. I've no bloody idea what they are, or where they came from. Used Condom Trees?#
Some homegrown British reggae with Harlem Spirit and Have a Good Time Tonight from 1988. The band were a fusion / lovers band coming out of Manchester. There's a cover of Marvin's How Sweet It Is out there somewhere. Still searching, still digging... 🔥🔥#
