Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

An important message on the side of an ambulance.




I'm not sure OMG is a good place to feature on the number plate of an ambulance. LOL





The sirens continue

 

[erkpod]

Someone at TfL needs to turn the Commodore 64 off then back on again.











Despite my increasing anger with the luggage situation, I still found some signs funny.

 

[erkpod]

Back to reception after getting my smaller bag back, I found the locksmith locked one side of the bag despite knowing I don't have the key!

I was able to lever the other side open, thankfully.

I went to reception to see if I could borrow some tools to open the larger bag. Numerous people on & off line suggested that I should use a screwdriver & a hammer to get the bag open. Yes, all tourists & travelers carry hammers & screwdrivers with them.











Erk 1, Bag 0.

 

[OATEK]

Where's a baggage handler when you need one - they would have had the bag open in two shakes!!

 

[Flashback]

The * will often come up as the next bus stop if the bus is on diversion.

If you have time, take a wander around the streets of Golders Green; nice area. Or wander down the road to Hampstead and take a stroll around Hampstead Heath. There's a nice stately home there too (free entry).

 

[erkpod]

Where's a baggage handler when you need one - they would have had the bag open in two shakes!!

One of the more helpful suggestions was for me to go to the airport & get someone there to open it. If I only had a day before flying rather than well over a week, I might have done that.

 

[erkpod]

The * will often come up as the next bus stop if the bus is on diversion.

If you have time, take a wander around the streets of Golders Green; nice area. Or wander down the road to Hampstead and take a stroll around Hampstead Heath. There's a nice stately home there too (free entry).

Golders Green looked nice & is one of the better High Streets/Roads I've seen.

 

[erkpod]

Looking at my VFF info, the SYD - AUH flight on VA posted the day after travel. The AUH - LHR flight on EY took 5 days to post.

I got paid on Friday & have my various payments come out on Saturday. Sometimes the bank takes them as early as Thursday. Probably thanks to the public holiday on Monday, most of my payments are now out Tuesday morning UK time. Still waiting for 1 payment to come out. Yet if you're late with a payment....

 

[erkpod]

Tuesday 10 June
Day 8
London, England

I didn't get to see my new Austrian friend after her first day of work yesterday & my favourite Canadian receptionist is on days off.

I'm awaiting a call from a friend who divides his time between London & north Wales - hope to see him this afternoon.

In the meantime, I decided to do some train spotting.

Firstly, I went from Kilburn High Road to London Euston on the Overground.

After some spotting there, I Tubed to London Paddington where I am now doing more spotting.

I want to be somewhere central to make this afternoon's possible meeting easier.

 

[carwashhair]

Thanks for the report and pix of Willy G, Erk! Stayed there for a month in 2005 and remember the 98 bus well. Also remember the 52 bus - I was on it at Notting Hill Gate right as the London bombs went off, and had to walk back from Chelsea past the Edgware rd bombings and up the Kilburn High Rd.

I just don't get tired of London.

 

[erkpod]

Another nice looking sky



There must be a reason for this sign as people would think they were at the Tube station.



Good service on the Overground.




On the High Road.

 

[erkpod]

On the train.



At London Euston



There's so many different operators & liveries.



Concourse at London Euston.



No news is good news, I guess!

 

[Flashback]

You can see Chiltern Railways at Marylebone, Southern at Victoria, Gatwick Express at Victoria, South Eastern at Victoria, South West at Waterloo, East Midlands at St Pancras... the list is endless! Quite warm today.

 

[erkpod]

I then headed to the main concourse at Euston.



I saw that I could get a train to my home town's namesake so decided to see how much it would cost to get there.



Quite by accident, 13 year old Erk found a town with an unusual name...



... before finding what mature Erk was looking for.



Good to see some more Virgin humour.

 

[erkpod]

I decided to walk to Euston Square & then head to Paddington via Great Portland Street.



That's a massive dog!





I like the platform facing destination indicators on London trains - something my trains could use.



The train on platform 16 goes to Berowra via Gordon. Oh wait...

 

[erkpod]

Train & people watching at Paddington.

 

[erkpod]

The "Great ideas that Erk can't believe the English haven't taken to Sydney" Department.



Train version of a CSM watching the train out of the platform using a barn door.



Mobile destination screen



On platform warning message about running on platforms



Personalised whiteboard messages



Closed platforms & closed platform signage (blurry, I know) due to station upgrading.

 

[erkpod]

In the afternoon, I met up with a friend of mine & we had a dryish run of a pub crawl we are doing on Saturday.

 

[erkpod]

Heading back to the lodge, I need to record the terminating announcements after my train terminated at Willesden Green.



ATTENTION!



My Oyster summary since Friday. I've done way more trips than that!

 

[erkpod]

You can see Chiltern Railways at Marylebone, Southern at Victoria, Gatwick Express at Victoria, South Eastern at Victoria, South West at Waterloo, East Midlands at St Pancras... the list is endless! Quite warm today.

I quickly walked through Waterloo but will have to go back & have more of a look.