Hot and Cold; Beddington Park 1-o-clockers to Elmers End 15 March

It was a beautiful sunny Spring day, but by heck that North wind cut through you.  I was not going to repeat Wednesday's mistake of going out with fingerless gloves!

Roger has a terrible cold and everyone else thought the cold was terrible so it was just Anna, Ken, Maggie and me and we went to Elmers End, Branching Out there one of the very few places on the planet where Anna recommends the coffee, and a reasonable ride of a bit more than 25km.

For such a small group we had a bit of trouble getting through the lights in Croydon but the trip through the parks and along long-disused railway lines was pleasant except that by the time we had reached Elmers End we were in need of Elmo's Fire.  So much so I had a hot sausage roll instead of cake and Anna had a bowl of chicken soup.

Ice cold in Addiscombe

It was tempting not to leave the warmth of the cafe and we were initially pleased and interested when a bunch of cyclists turned up, all young and lean and other annoying adjectives.  It soon became clear, however, that they were far too lithe and cool to talk to the likes of us.  Maggie, 95Km on the London Ride recce and 105Km on Wednesday, but a bit upset at their arrogance, missed the opportunity to say "is that all?" when, in the only straight answer they gave us they said they had cycled to Shoreham and done 90Km.  They sat and gawped in silence as if we were aliens as we put on our unfashionable but warm layers and set off home. 

So we left without goodbyes and had a pretty decent ride home to the central heating.

Except we passed the place where my grandmother used to live.  A dark, old fashioned bungalow with thousands of books and a plum orchard out the back.  It's gone.  I don't mean somebody else lives there, that would be normal.  I don't mean they knocked down the house and built a posher, eco house.  That would be OK.  Even a block of flats.  I mean all trace of the neighbourhood, the street, everything, is obliterated.  A whole set of lives and stories gone, vanished.

Today's thought for the day.