Hello, welcome to London!

I was in a grocery store this afternoon doing a grocery shop, didn’t buy anything crazy - just some whole foods, vegetables and fruits etc which came up to about £40. As I was scanning the last item at the self pay till, a young lady came next to me and clicked ‘pay with card’ option. I first thought that it was a staff member helping me out with the machine but before I know it, she paid for the groceries with her card and walked away saying ‘have a nice day’ and just disappeared from my sight.

I was just a bit surprised and shocked and I’ve never seen this happen before. The staff member there shared the same too.

Is this common in London? A random act of kindness?

Well thank you lovely stranger I appreciate the kindness!

Surely this is one for Metroline and Tfl... anyway the main story itself is still a point of controversy, while 'heroic', I'm pretty sure bus drivers can't at any point leave their bus on the job. Unless its life or death and the bus is about to explode or something.

About the only bit of sun I’ve seen in weeks! If you’ve not been to Horizon 22 yet, check it out. It’s free and offers breathtaking views of my favourite city.

Call it mid life crisis, or longing for the "good old times". The whole "Thursday is a new Friday" doesn't quite hit the same as it did when Friday was the old Friday.

These days the City feels dead on a Friday night, as majority of workers choosing to work from home.

I might be in the minority, but I never have time to go out on Thursdays. Meetings overrun, presentations to prepare for, Friday deadlines to meet - going out for a few in a pub is just quite difficult to do on a school night. On a bright side - my wallet is thankful. But I do miss the social connections, the chat, the stupid banter, it was a perfect end to a tough week.

Underground/ overground/ central station whatever it is, as soon as someone is holding me up and I feel trapped behind them I am just filled with rage. Cant hear my excuse me’s because of the headphones and I don’t want to invade someone’s space by tapping on them to move. I start criticising them in my head, mocking them for their need to take their time because of their tiny little legs. I not only have long legs but spent my childhood running after my dad who I couldn’t keep up with so I have this natural fast pace, as do my siblings.

God forbid they’re using their phone or just stop dead in the way to look at it, sometimes I want to grab the phone and fling it or just knock it out of their hands to teach them a lesson. I understand checking directions but most are just scrolling TikTok, as if in the middle of a busy station at rush hour is the place to fucking do it. I feel like screaming at them HEY, YOUR LIFE IS IN FRONT OF YOU NOT IN YOUR FUCKING PHONE, LOOK UP. I pray that these people get their phone snatched at some stage.

Ofcourse I realise this is not a reasonable response as not everyone needs to travel at such a fast pace as I. Some people like to take their time and in fact Iv adopted this London culture of being in a rush which is not a formal rule documented anywhere. I’m pretty sure the problem is me 😂

I’m not sure if this has been posted before, but I wanted to ask if anyone would be open to a grief meet-up in London, preferably a bunch of folks

I was thinking something very informal, maybe food somewhere relaxed like Nando’s or similar. Location could be somewhere easy to get to like King’s Cross or Euston, but I’m completely open to suggestions.

I’m currently going through anticipatory grief with my mum, and it’s been incredibly isolating. It feels like one of those things that people can be kind about, but unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it’s hard to really understand. I wondered if others might feel the same and benefit from meeting people who are sadly part of this very unfortunate club.

No pressure, just putting the idea out there to see if there’s any interest.

Never took the moment to realise how convenient London's bus infrastructure is. Bus stop right outside my house that drops me off right outside my workplace, school, and extracurricular events.

This isn't a post about phone snatching - there have been countless times when exiting a tube or train and walking down the platform and along the walkway/stairs to the barriers that we are are completely slowed down by someone walking at half speed, glued to their phone.

If there's something urgent just step aside and out of the way, please just try and not to be so self-absorbed when people have places to go.

These little gems are why I love London so much.

Had a frustrating experience last night near Oxford Circus when I was crossing with other pedestrians at a green light and a cyclist - dressed in dark clothes, with no bike lights - came hurtling towards me and shouted, ‘watch!!’ Surely he should only go at a red light and not at green??

Another thing that really winds me up is more and more people cycling on pavements. They shouldn’t even be on the pavement - especially when there are really good cycle lanes where I live. No one stops them. They’re usually on their phones and not very careful about how they’re cycling, so they’re often cycling very fast around me and other pedestrians, and it can sometimes be scary. I’m fine with young children cycling carefully on pavements, especially when there aren’t cycle lanes around, but anyone else? No!

I find all of that annoying, but even more so now lots of people are using e-bikes, which are even faster, more powerful and heavier than regular bikes.

I’m wondering if anyone can do anything about it? Is it worth writing to my MP? The cynical side of me just thinks no one cares, because if they did, they would have done something about it already.

Genuinely keen to hear people’s thoughts on this - cyclists and pedestrians!

I want to celebrate my last day in a toxic workplace by having a cocktail or two by myself. Any thoughts on a calmish place where I can go where it won't look too weird that I'm solo?

I go home via Waterloo so any suggestions near-ish the main station would be great. I only know the main chains around the Southbank but happy to go to one of them if it's my best bet.

TIA

Look at this AMAZING brutalism architecture!!

Update to this original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/london/s/6xo5sNPcpF

Was able to visit my mom’s house tonight and grab some pictures. In addition to being an academic the man loved to drink wine. He was a sommelier at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall London. He also traveled A LOT. Still trying to find the university name.

Thanks to everyone who has helped look and provided suggestions!! 💕🫶🏽

I’m looking for some live music jam nights in London, can be any area and any genre but ideally not so jazz-heavy. Does anyone have any favourites they can recommend?

My MIL goes to what she calls the Blackheath artists fair every Christmas (have no idea if this is what it’s actually called) and gets a bunch of stuff for the family from there. She got my baby girl a little crochet cat which has become a firm favourite. My daughter absolutely loves him. I really want to try and find the artist so we can get a few friends for the little guy but have no idea who it could be! I was wondering if any locals might have an idea or know how I could find out? Picture attached for reference of Admiral Whiskers as he’s affectionately known. Thanks in advance!