A cool and overcast day, with rain threatening to the extent of my packing my folding umbrella - the one bought from Hudson's Bay on Rideau in Ottawa and which has done very well since. Not expensive either. As it turned out, I did not need to get it out.
Bullingdoned from the ramp at Waterloo to the Hop Exchange to wonder, not for the first time, what had happened to all the business which one supposed used to be transacted in this large and handsome building, long gone the way of London's other central markets. Presumably to bilateral deals between big growers and big buyers.
Took on a good supply of Poacher from the reliable Neal's Yard people and out to notice that the Chegworth Valley people, from whom I have bought good apples in the past (see reference 1 for a previous occasion), were advertising new season's apples, which seemed a bit rich at the beginning of March. I refrained, partly, to be fair, because of the awkwardness of bags of apples on a bicycle without serious carrying capacity. I could also have bought some broad beans, a favourite of mine, but refrained, for much the same reasons.
Second Bullingdon took me north of the river to a bacon sandwich from the café in Duncannon Street, the first time that I have used it for a while, with search suggesting getting on for two years. Sat opposite a chap who appeared to be watching an exhibition match of some online computer game on his telephone while he tucked into his substantial fry up, with pudd. See reference 2.
Onto the National Gallery and after mounting the steps in a lather of indecision about where to go, settled for early and turned left. For once, I found the 'Ambassadors', with its two rather pompous, self-satisfied and rich young men, rather irritating, getting on better with that other jigsaw favourite, the nearby 'Allegory of Love' from Garafalo, taking, on this occasion, more interest in background and incidentals than foreground. I also enjoyed the Cranach's big hatted Eve ('Cupid complaining to Venus', clearly a chap with a sense of humour) and was struck by the picture illustrated above (with thanks to the National Gallery for use of their image), a triptych of scenes from the Passion of Christ, about 1510 from the Master of Delft. With my first impression being of early modern executions as both a public entertainment and an occasion on which one could show off one's fine clothes. Plus the two chaps quietly waiting their turn on the left.
On the way to Pall Mall East to pick up a third Bullingdon, passed an engaging display, in display windows on the northern side of Canada House, of four textile sculptures with an Inuit theme made by Kingston University fashion students. Unfortunately they did not photograph very well through the glass.
Then round Charles I, to almost put my front wheel into a very nasty looking pothole. With more to follow down the length of Whitehall. Not impressed that such an important, not to say iconic street, thronging with tourists and buses if not much else, should be in such a state. Is this the impression we want to give the tourists? Not to mention the danger to life and limb of innocent cyclists. Big potholes are much more scary than lorries, most of whom are very well behaved with regard to cyclists.
Overtook one stationary lorry, loaded with impressive looking rebars, on the wrong side. albeit in a marked if narrow cycle lane.
Made position three on the ramp at Waterloo. Not too bad,
Reference 1: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/power-play.html.
Reference 2: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/colour.html.
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