22 November 2022
Maggi and I walked to Pinner Station where I had agreed to meet Bernard for the second time for our journey to The British Library. The first time, the previous Monday, we had agreed to meet had been a disaster. at that time I arrived in plenty of time for our 10:30 meeting and waited and waited. I called Bernard several times but he didn’t answer. At 11 am I decided to make my way to the library anyway. When I arrived I called Bernard again. This time he answered and said he had waited at the station all the time. I couldn’t understand why we hadn’t met.
We rearranged to meet on Tuesday the 22nd at that time he admitted that he had waited at Northwood Station and not Pinner. He connected meeting me with meeting Mum, which he would have done at Northwood. He was magnanimous enough to admit his mistake.
A reason to choose the British Library is the access to it is so easy from the Metropolitan Line. The library is no more than 200 yards from the exit from Kings Cross Station and Bernard is more than capable of walking that distance.
We had a coffee and then walked up the stairs to the room set aside for the Treasure of The British Library. We walked round the exhibits, including the Art of Books, Sacred Texts from all sorts of religions, and not just the main, The Magna Carta Room. Roaming around the room fascinated both Bernard and myself. We spent about 90 minutes in the room and we still didn’t see sections on Shakespeare and several other parts of the exhibition. We exited and bought a sandwich at the cafe. Bernard had his third coffee of the day.
We walked back to Kings Cross and passed the St Pancras Hotel which has a famous Lamborghini almost permanently parked outside.
Unfortunately this picture doesn’t capture the gaudy nature of the car’s colour.
Bernard and I parted ways at Harrow-on-the-hill. I walked out of the station and caught the bus home.
Late afternoon I returned to the Metropolitan Line and returned to London where I met Maggi at John Lewis. She had been with her friend Jane Campfer most of the day. Maggi had acquired two tickets to a live broadcast of the Today Debate which Michelle Hussain chaired. The broadcast never really matched its title as it never became a debate of opposing ideas. The panel of 6 more or less agreed with each other.
In order to become part of the audience we had to queue up from 18:15 or shortly after and the broadcast didn’t start until 20:00. The program lasted for 40 minutes to a packed house of mostly liberal minded people who clapped at all the things I agreed with. I could have happily stayed at home and missed the event.
One good thing about my trip back into town was that I was able to see this years Regent Street Christmas Lights.
