Up the Junction

18 May 2022

So we’re staying with Aussie relatives in Clapham, which is a great launching pad. After a pretty good night’s sleep (considering the potential for jet lag) we were off to London, fuelled by god’s greatest creation, Vegemite. 

Beginning at Clapham South station and led by Dan (who had done it all before) we were soon at Charing Cross station. The tube is an amazing thing. You could make any number of criticisms about it but it feels super efficient and got us where we were going throughout the day in no time. I think our longest wait on a station was 2 minutes. 

First stop Trafalgar Square, the scene for Friday night’s impending gathering of Sunderland supporters, MPS’s assertion of the no public drinking in Westminster rule notwithstanding, The square is both quite impressive and smaller than I had expected. The water in the fountain is also freezing cold.

We went for a coffee in what seemed to be a ‘traditional’ cafe but turned out to be a franchise. I asked for two long blacks and an iced chocolate and was met with a blank stare. The problem was partly linguistic and partly that long black is still not a thing in the UK. I settled for the Americano and Harry got a HOT chocolate.

Not really sure about what to do next we went into Waterstones and killed an hour. I remember 25 years ago I had visited a sports book shop nearby but it seems to have closed. We sauntered up to Seven Dials, stopping in a pub for lunch. I was a great little place and after a couple of pints and a very meaty burger we set off in search of Harry’s holy grail (not to be found as I expected), a new Sunderland replica top customised with Bailey Wright’s name and number (Tell him he’s dreamin’). We visited a couple of sports shops and found nothing. Though we did learn that Liverpool is London’s favourite team if shirt availability in Sports Direct is anything to go by. 

Fortunately Dan found Classic Football Shirts in Aldgate East and we were off via Piccadilly Circus. What a place. No 2022 replica shirt but just about every Sunderland top for the past 30 years. Harry was in hog heaven. Any Australian football fan visiting London or Manchester needs to visit. The shop also has a bar and so we settled in. Three hours and a few hundred pounds later and three pints each of a beautiful Danish beer we went back towards Trafalgar Square, minus the Bailey Wright top but happy with our haul. 

Wending our way home we stopped at a gastro pub at Clapham Common and worked our way back to the Vegemite stash. Being tired and emotional, I fell asleep watching the Europa final.