Getting there

For the first time in more than two years, I caught the train to London the other day. Just like in the old days, I stood on the platform waiting for the early morning service to Paddington.

I had been invited to join one of the judging panels for the UK Bus Awards once again, and thinking that I could use the opportunity to meet up with Edward and Amy as well, I chose to join in person rather than via Zoom. There’s no doubt that Zoom would have been easier, but I think we’ve all had enough of sitting in front of a screen for hours on end, haven’t we?

I was curious. Would it be busy? Or are so many people working fron home these days that the train would be empty? The number of people on the platform suggested that I’d been right to book myself a seat though. I had forgotten that it was the last week of the school holidays and there were several groups of friends and families going up for the day.

Much has changed at Paddington in those two years, though. The last time I was here, the Elizabeth line was still being built and there were quite a few works going on here and there in the station. Now, the spectacular new station is open on that line and the whole station seems to be lighter and brighter. It felt more so, because my train arrived at the wide platform, which my Hero tells me was designed for cabs and carriages (which I didn’t know). I also noticed that the bronze statue of Brunel which has stood alongside platform 1 for several years has been moved into this space too and he now sits more prominently in a fitting spot in the centre of his station, watching approvingly.

That makes perfect sense, because it’s a straight walk from that platform (9?) out onto the ramp which leads up to Praed Street (and my bus stop!) I have always thought of this as smokers’ alley - it’s the spot where many people gather since the station became a non-smoking area, and walking up there can be a bit of an obstacle course. But this morning, it was light and airy too! What had changed?

I tried to remember what had been there on the left hand side but failed. What seems to be happening now is a new, rather more open development and the removal of some high walls or a fence of some kind has made a huge difference. I’ve always thought Paddington deserved a grander entrance than that alleyway. Perhaps that’s what might result?

Going to these meetings, I’ve always chosen to travel by bus. The stop is right outside the station and there’s a direct service to a stop very close to where I needed to be. So, I turned left onto Praed Street and met my first hurdle - the pavement was temporarily closed and the bus stop moved. I knew the location of the next stop, outside St Mary’s Hospital, so crossed the road and walked that bit further, only to find that stop closed as well! Disappointingly, the information there was poor - had I not been a confident bus user (!) I could have felt rather lost at this point. As it was, I carried on walking, almost to Edgware Road before reaching a stop that was in use.

Half an hour later I was drinking coffee at my destination, close to Westminster Cathedral. The architecture around there is very distinctive and I always enjoy the walk through the quiet streets to the office.

The work done, I had a few hours to spend until my off-peak ticket home was valid. Plans to meet Edward and Amy had fallen through so I thought I’d take the opportunity to do a bit of shopping on Oxford Street.

Big Mistake.

I ought to have known better, really. No longer the prime shopping destination it was, on this sticky afternoon I could think of so many places I’d rather be! So Selfridges, I’m sorry, you are wrong. This is not how I shop now! I found a quiet corner for tea before catching the bus back to Paddington and my train home.

I had to ask the woman who it was sitting in front of me, as she’d requested a selfie with him. (Charlie Cooper, Daisy May’s brother )

Clearly, I need to get out more!