First, apologies to anyone trying to read this with a magnifying glass. Not surprised if no one reads it at all. Seem to have lost, inexplicably, all ability to control font size. Will continue to pursue this; there must be a simple solution.
Changes in Our parts of London since last April:
Inverness Street market has finally lost the remaining fruit and veg stall. After years of being nosed out by competitors selling everything from souvenirs to cheap clothes, it's gone - the cheerful blokes who sold better-than-supermarket veg in all weathers, and for better than supermarket prices and without a self serve till.
Beggars seem now a permanent fixture on Queensway. There was always the odd one but seemed more like temporary financial problem than way of life.
Cheap day of tickets at the National Theatre have gone, over the past couple of years, from £10 to £15. Admittedly still a bargain, but they've been a standby of pensioners as well as the young, and neither student grants nor pensions have increased by 50% over the same period.