My trivial thinking

  April 11th. Today was practically the last full day of my London trip. Tomorrow I’ll simply leave the city from Gatwick Airport. My daughter has many things for me to take back to Japan—souvenirs for her sister, her own belongings, and four heavy books. She planned to come to my hotel at 2:00 p.m. to check whether everything would fit into my 65‑liter rucksack. If not, I would have to use her large suitcase. I had plenty of time before she arrived. The bus stop for the No. 24 bus was right in front of my hotel, and the bus goes all the way to Hampstead Heath. It suddenly occurred to me that I could ride it directly there. I decided to go, knowing I could return by 2:00 p.m. There were only a few passengers, so I sat in the front row on the upper deck to enjoy the view. The weather forecast had said it would be sunny, but it was drizzling when I boarded. I hadn’t realized it before, but the No. 24 bus passes many major tourist spots as it travels south to north—Victoria Station, W...

Once, Chelsea lay outside London. Thomas More had a large residence there, and I imagine it may have stood where Chelsea Old Church stands today. In the film A Man for All Seasons , More travels back and forth to Westminster by a small boat on the Thames.     Chelsea Old Church Thomas More's Statue Battersea Bridge If you cross Battersea Bridge near Chelsea Old Church to the south bank of the Thames and turn right, you come to Battersea Church Road. In The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, the orphaned twins Eliza and Sammy lived here in a tiny, dark, damp room above the Swindells’ bottle shop, working like servants. One day they played the “Jack the Ripper” game. Eliza walked toward the Thames, turned around, and Sammy had vanished. Today, Battersea Church Road is a quiet residential street, and nothing remains of the world described in the novel.     Battersea Church Road The Thames from Battersea Church Road   Jake lived in the attic...

  April 10th. Many tourists take day trips to the west—to places like the Cotswolds, Bath, Stratford‑upon‑Avon, Stonehenge, or Oxford—so I decided to go east instead. I had booked a day tour to Canterbury, Leeds Castle, and Dover before leaving Japan. The Golden Tours bus terminal was right next to Victoria Station, about a 15‑minute walk from my hotel. Since I had checked the route on a map beforehand, I found it easily. Victoria is one of the busiest transport hubs in London, with National Rail, the Underground, and the Coach Station all gathered in one area. The bus was comfortable, equipped with free Wi‑Fi and a toilet. There were about twenty participants from a wide range of countries—truly an international tour. I was the only Asian person on board. Before departure, a gentleman dressed casually but neatly went around speaking to each participant with a friendly smile. I assumed he was the guide or a staff member from the tour company, but he turned out to be the driver. The...

On April 9th, my daughter was going to take me to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard. We planned to meet at Victoria Station at 10:40, and since I still had plenty of time, I decided to walk around Chelsea. I headed toward Chelsea along the Thames. Many people in London commute by bicycle. I crossed Chelsea Bridge and then Albert Bridge. Near Battersea Bridge, I noticed a small, old church on the north side of the road—Chelsea Old Church, which dates back to the 12th century. In front of it stands a statue of Thomas More. I walked a little farther, crossed Battersea Bridge, and strolled along the south bank of the Thames for a while. It was still early, but I took the No. 170 bus to Victoria Station since I had no reason to return to my hotel. My Android tablet was very useful for checking London bus routes.   Battersea Park Chelsea Bridge Cadogan Pier Battersea Bridge Chelsea Old Church Thomas More's statue Cheyne Walk On April...