In Rotherhithe

I was last here in 1984, when a friend lived in a squat in an old council block, long demolished. It seems to be lovely now - full of well designed flats and houses, mostly connected by pedestrian walkways rather than roads. The tall building is one of the giants at Canary Wharf, lit by the last bit of sunshine at 7.30pm. The red structure is part of a cantilever bridge which must have opened long ago when this was docklands to admit ships to Surrey Water just beyond our view. More of it in the extra. I like that it’s been conserved and painted red. The other extra is looking west across the Thames, just below where I’m staying. Such a grand river it’s always a delight to see it. I’m actually staying in Thameside YHA, the most inexpensive way I could find to overnight here. I spent the day meeting up with 9 people I went to school with in Neolithic times. Lunch at the Skylon restaurant in the Festival Hall - they kindly let us keep our table til 5.30.