Takes a moment to recognise the light on the morning wall as sunlight. Lovely. Back to the coffee shop and then a walk along Queensway. As always a few changes, shops that have disappeared or opened. Most startling is the almost total dismemberment of Whiteley’s, the iconic 19th century department store turned mall for which there are grand redevelopment plans that will preserve the original facade but not much more. At the moment there is the most skeletal of frameworks, and we’re looking right through it at the houses on the other side.
To Kilburn, vibrant as ever, in the afternoon. Ending up at Roses, our favourite supper place, where the (Turkish?) owner stops us and comes over to say hello, and are we coming or going. Note that kleftiko, usually a Thursday special, is on the chalkboard menu, but the young waitress is distressed when we order it. You don’t like lamb? It’s not that - but it’s all gone. Oh well, fish and chips then. Recognise a couple of regulars. One a cheerful man about our age with a knitted cap and bright eyes. He’s sitting by himself and carrying on a happy lengthy monologue, almost as if he were describing a video that only he can see. On his way out he tells us to have a good day. A friendly soul, clearly well known and accepted in the café.