How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

I used regularly to do 40 - it was my default distance - until I injured my knee. And I'm still a fast walker so not as long as 10 hours.

Same. I didn't realise I had a dodgy knee until I once did a 18 mile day, I've kept to a fairly strict 15 mile limit since. No, I'm not moving very fast, but there's no rush as long as I get to the pub before they stop serving food.

Gahhhh.....tried to delete ^^ but can't seem to, sorry!
Aaaanyway...

Sorry Tibidabo , you've lost me! Do Osprey make bags? I must one of the very few women who have zero interest in bags and shoes! :-)

michalnowicki Thanks for that link! We've never really been birdwatchers but there are a couple of breeding sites near us and we just happened across one area and a very kind couple offered their binos for us to see the nest. We intend to get a decent pair of binoculars now that we have lovely stuff to look at.

Whatever exercise anyone does is great, and realistically, even those who do some are usually constrained by time, commuting, etc. 2 hours is all I manage on many days and when I go to London it can be nothing other than walking around between venues when that's quicker/easier than public transport.

My OH walks around London far more and often asks why I don't do the same; he doesn't seem to understand that with baggage for the day and short intervals/long distances between venues, it's frequently impossible. Another reason however is the crowds and infuriating and mindless habit people have of walking straight out of shop doorways without looking to see if there are already others on the pavement, causing the latter to have to take swift avoiding action. Then factor in those plodding along at snail's pace, oblivious to their surroundings and always right in the middle of the pavement, glued to a screen, and the groups of schoolchildren or tourists assembling somewhere really stupid (e.g. blocking the full width of the pavement as I saw on Waterloo Bridge recently), and the frustration more than cancels out any benefit from the exercise.

Tourists and Daytrippers I suppose. Enjoying a "leisurely walk" while taking in the sights/shop windows/atmosphere/pollution. 

Drives me nuts, too, especially when they are in small groups that block the entire pavement. Though my pet peeve in London are clumps of tourists gathering right at the end of the tube escalators, either to discuss where to go (top end) or what train they need (bottom end). 

Anyway Friday isn't going so badly. Woke up to the news there's going to be more X Files (My first fannish love) and I managed to get tickets to 'Welcome to Night Vale' on tour. All before 9.15.

Also it's deader than a dead parrot in the office and I'm wondering if I can sleep with my eyes open all day.

I love walking around London - all you have to do is go a block off the main roads and it's really peaceful even in the busiest areas. But I agree it can be annoying on the clogged up streets when you're in a hurry and just trying to take the most direct route - I have been known to "accidentally" kick people's heels when they are getting in my way!

My sense of direction always gets confused in London, even when I'm using a map on my phone, I hope I never clogged the pavement by trying to figure out which turn I should take next.

When it comes to walking I really get annoyed when two people manage to take a full width of the pavement, forcing me to step off the pavement and walk on the road. I recently started to assume an "angry" look and if I see that someone is walking in my direction and takes the whole pavement I speed up and force them to make space for me. Doesn't always work.

It's not anger you want, it's posture. Square your shoulders, straighten your spine, hold your head high, stride decisively. Makes people move out of your way much more efficiently than any facial expression could. I walk a lot, and walking around with an attitude of "I own the pavement" (an *attitude* of ownership, not by blocking it like everyone else does) is the most effective method I've found for keeping other pedestrians out of my personal space.

I think that’s clearly not what we’re talking about but if you’re looking for something to be offended about don’t let me stop you. Heel kicking for people who stop suddenly right in front of me, yes (it’s often impossible to not bang straight into them); actually kicking the old and disabled off trains, well, actually, no. I didn’t think we’d have to make that distinction in a light-hearted conversation about the perils of city living.



A few years ago when I badly hurt my back, I too was afflicted by people who thought I could just dodge out of their way when I couldn’t; I did a lot of self-defence shoving of people who were about to barge into me because they were walking while texting or assumed their children had automatic right of way. If you live and travel in London, sometimes you just have to use your elbows – at my train station in rush hour, the guards actively shove people on board just so the doors can close. I also see a lot of disgruntled visitors who don’t realise until too late that queuing to get on the bus is not generally a London thing!

Ditto - I tend to walk as I drive... looking ahead to, as you say, 'read the pavement' and deploying the walking equivalent of 'mirror/signal/manoevre', i.e. glance over my shoulder before changing direction or stopping suddenly. I also find that 'indicating' (a simple point!) works a treat in avoiding those 'shall we dance' moments when you and the person you're advancing towards both dodge the same way... although I do make exceptions for those with whom such a moment might brighten my day ;-)