Day Three Tuesday 19th September

3 a.m. Tuesday Morning in London and I'm staring at the ceiling in a hotel in Ealing. There is no chance of going back to sleep so I put on the sleep channel and watch patterns squirt along to New Age music. And read. And watch Netflix and wait for the light to come through the window. We had agreed to eat at 9 but moved the breakfast time to earlier since we were starving. There is a bit of banging coming from outside my window so at first light I check out what's happening.

At first, it looked as if they building a new bus shelter but then I noticed there was snow all around and lots of tracks and Xmas decorations. They're filming outside the hotel. For Christmas, I'm guessing it will be something like a John Lewis commercial or Sainsbury's. I asked the receptionist on the way to breakfast but she wasn't allowed to tell. I strolled around outside looking for familiar faces and saw one TV star but I couldn't find her on Google. They build a beautiful Xmas scene though and a bunch of actors are in the dining room so we have breakfast in the Pub. Very nice food and plenty of it. We are going to need fuel to get through the day. As we eat we watch the continuous takes in the filming outside. 

Today we are going to explore a small bit of the city. Take it easy though. Nothing major. Walk to West Ealing Station. It's the same line as the Heathrow Express and those trains just fly by on the far tracks. The Elizabeth Line is quite new and it's great for where we are staying.

The first stop is Camden Market. Melody's choice.A labyrinth of market stalls and groovy shops but also a bunch of tacky shops. The first one I went into was the Modfather where I saw lots of clothes I liked that might tempt me to come back but settled on just a shirt for now. (Note to self, never count on going back to a shop!) Next to that is Cyberdog which is new-age techno gear where Mel picks up a beanie. The place is full of UV lights which remind me of the Lizard Lounge. I had forgotten I had installed those in the early 90s. People loved to glow. Skyborg had the sound system up to 11 though. Techno duff duff. Glad to be out and searching for the place where they took the photo for the first Clash cover. Found it and had the photo taken. I wanted one from the bottom of the steps but there were two New Age Hippies eating lunch on the bottom step. There was no plaque or indication that this was a historic place though. I wonder why not?

Around the corner is the Amy Winehouse statue and if it's real size then she was very petit. After wandering around the market for a while we drifted towards Camden Town for me to look at a record shop but the record prices were ridiculously high. So the girls and I had a nice little Japanese lunch. Too early to go back to the hotel we thought we would go and check out Picadilly Circus.

Take the tube to Leicester Square and walk up to the Circus. Then the rain comes down. Bugger. We get out of the rain in the giant M&M store. Mel and Ruby are like kids again as they explore the shop. And they both buy something. I think Mel likes the M part of it. Ruby has a fondness for the chocolates which she shares. Well, she gave me one! Later she let me have a few more.

We walk up through the Circus and make our way to Carnaby Street. I point out the Regent Palace a hotel I first stayed in in 1975 and came back many times after and now no longer exists. Well, the building does. It was the basis of the lyrics of my song 24 Hours From London from the Hi-Fab! album. They had a bar below called the Atlantic and one night I saw Kylie Minogue walking in. The place was too cool for me. (I did get in at an earlier time)

Carnaby Street no longer has Pretty Green Merc or even Sherry's Mod shop. All it has is a Rolling Stones pop-up shop which is kind of cool. We are really close to where they shot the cover of Ziggy Stardust so we pop over Regent Street and find our way to 23 Heddon Street and do the photo op thing. I can't decide whether to wear a beanie in the photo or not. What would Bowie do? 

By now we are weary and head back to the hotel. Ruby tells me not to sleep. Stay awake. Don't give in. You'll feel better. But as soon as I am in my room I fall asleep. 3 hours later Ruby is banging on the door getting me to wake up. I feel terrible I beg for 30 more as I try to get myself together. We're going to just walk across the road and have a pizza. A place called Aroma. Quite empty and the pizzas are nothing to write home about. Salami is not that great and we pick it off. I have water with my dinner which is unusual for me. Although I ask for a glass of water she brings a bottle which unbelievably costs the same as a bottle of wine back home. Ouch!

Wander back home. Fall asleep. The wind is pounding the hotel sign outside my window which is painful but I drift off.