Endless ...

South London seems an endless vista of suburbia, villas and rows of smaller houses marching out from the river as the railway network grew, many to the same design so that it's easy to become confused as to precisely where you are. This was the misty view from Crystal Palace hill as we found a route home that would keep us off the main road.

We noted houses that were being renovated; others - including a massive brick church that has begun to fall downhill and whose side aisle is supported by giant wooden buttresses - that are in clear need of renovation or downright repair. On the mild damp afternoon I felt very keenly that I would never cope with living here - a wave of homesickness reminded me that my home is very different from those endless streets of low-density housing.

And there's no sea to look at ...