UK 2022: Snapshots.

Some bits and pieces from the UK 2022 trip:

Browsing the Fanasy section at the Notting Hill Comic Exchange – which may even contain some myffic fanasy*, if I’m lucky.

Dear Hamleys' Toy Shop, I was wondering what a three meter Optimus Prime with glowing eyes would cost?  Asking for a friend.

To my surprise, Jelly Babies are COMPLETELY different than Gummy Bears!!!  How could I not know this after so many years of Doctor Who?

I'm sorry to say this, but I saw far too many ten-year-old English boys who reminded me of Edmund Pevensie from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe:  sullen, pouty, a little spoiled, and inexplicably red-cheeked.

All the tables were all numbered 42, apparently it was the pub from The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Shopping again at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore - the geek equivalent of drinking out of the firehose.

...where I bought a couple of books, a 2000AD comic, and a long LONG overdue TARDIS pin!

As we wandered along the South Bank on our last day in London, our unplanned stroll took us into a branch of Foyles Bookshop.  Until that moment, I was completely unaware of Foyles, let alone the almost cult status conveyed upon it in the past due to its archaic (and anarchic) business practices for much of its lifespan. 

It's now owned by Waterstones, and whatever its past sins, I found it to be a well-stocked and pleasant shopping spot - as well as offering one final opportunity to spend money on books before heading home.

All in all, our first pandemic trip went surprisingly well, although we sadly decided to forgo our usual restaurant research in favour of take-out - and one cautious afternoon visit to an almost empty pub for a pint and some onion rings.  As always, Karli was the ideal travel companion for a week of Britannic shopping and sightseeing: Sherlock Holmes, Albert's Hall**, Brompton Cemetery, the Beatles***, Marks & Spencer, West End theatre, Jack the Ripper, Portobello Road, and, of course, Doctor Who.  Thank you again for agreeing to join me, my love!

- Sid

* “But I was thinking, you're in trouble now, Mrs Ogg, 'cos it'd all gone myffic.'

'Mythic?' said schoolteacher Susan.

"Yep. With extra myff. And you can get into big trouble, with myffic.”

Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

** Apparently I'm the only person in the world who remembers the line about "Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" from A Day In The Life by The Beatles. 

*** I bought a mug and a T-shirt, it's not always about science fiction.