Friday 21st December ~ To Blackpool for Christmas

It was a grey and gloomy winter solstice. I caught the tube - Piccadilly then Victoria Line from Manor House to Euston. At Euston I boarded Pendolino 390 134 City of Carlisle on the 12.30 to Glasgow Central for the run to Preston, then at Preston it was on to 142 049 on the 15.02 to Blackpool South as far as Squires Gate.

Thursday 20th December ~ The beginning of winter

It was a wet and cold start at 09.20 with Gemini WVN13 on the 259 from Manor House to Caledonian Road tube station. After finding out my appointment that morning was cancelled I decided to go into town for a while and was glad I did. Boarded Enviro400 TE682 on the 91 from Caledonian Road to Trafalgar Square. I then got something to eat and drink on the Strand, and after that it was Vyking VLE25 on the 9 from Strand to Kensington High Street. After that I boarded President VPL174 on the 52 at Kensington Church Street. Due to the closure of the Hyde Park Corner Underpass this hit heavy traffic around Knightsbridge and due to the delay was terminated at Hyde Park Corner, at Hyde Park Corner I boarded another 52 this time with President VPL176 in charge, and I took this to it's terminus at Victoria.

President VPL176 after arrival at Victoria with the 52

From Victoria I took Gemini DW202 on the 38 to Bloomsbury Square, followed by Gemini WVL212 on the 68 from Southampton Row to Waterloo. After visiting the nearby bookshop I boarded Enviro 400 no.9551 on my favourite, the 211, which I took to Victoria. Then it was Gemini DW268 on the 38 from Victoria to Gray's Inn. Enviro 400 T157 on the 341 from Fetter Lane to Rosebery Avenue, and finally Enviro400 T165 on the 341 from Rosebery Avenue to HGL.

Wednesday 19th December 2012 ~ An evening on Fleet Street

At around 18.50 I caught Enviro400 T153 on the 341 from HGL to Fleet Street. Later at around 23.00 it was an unidentified Enviro400 on the 341 from Fetter Lane back to HGL. I forgot to get the number of it :P

Tuesday 18th December 2012 ~ Bus to the farm

At around 9.30 I caught Gemini WVN13 on the 259 from Manor House to Caledonian Road tube station. Then at around 5 o'clock it was President VPL635 on the 4 from Highbury Corner to Finsbury Park.

Monday 17th December 2012 ~ A chocolate quest

Started off with Gemini WVL483 on the 19 from Finsbury Park to Green Park, then Vyking VLE3 on the  9 from Green Park to Kensington High Street. Returning from Kensington Road to Hyde Park Corner aboard Routemaster RM1776 on the 9H, then it was OmniCity SP161 on the 10 from Hyde Park Corner to Selfridge's on Oxford Street, where I proceeded to buy Christmas present, a selection of  exquisite chocolate. At Selfridge's I then boarded ALX400 VLA149 on the 159 to Piccadilly Circus. Then a short hop - all of one stop - aboard Gemini DW413 on the 38 from Piccadilly Waterstone's to Piccadilly/Old Bond Street. I got a coffee and sat at a pavement table for a while. It was dark late afternoon now and Christmassy cold. After that I boarded Gemini DW259 on the 38 from Piccadilly/Old Bond Street to Victoria, thence on to Gemini DW460 on the 73 for the trip to Euston via another look at the Oxford Street Christmas lights. Finally it was President PVN13 on the 259 from King's Cross to Manor House.

Thursday 13th December 2012 ~ A Gemini day

It was Gemini's all the way today. Starting off with Gemini WVL485 on the 19 from Finsbury Park to Piccadilly/Old Bond Street, then after a coffee it was Gemini DW205 on the 38 from Piccadilly/Old Bond Street to Victoria. From there a long ride on the 73, from Victoria to Angel, courtesy of Hybrid Gemini HV66, this of course running via Oxford Street so enabling me to have a front row view of the Christmas lights. From Angel I returned on Gemini WVL482 on the 19 back to Piccadilly/Old Bond Street, this of course running the Rosebery Avenue way. A very short ride - one stop to be precise -  followed on hybrid Gemini WHV27 on the 19, from the west side of Piccadilly Circus to the east side, the beginning of Shaftesbury Avenue (don't ask why I had to get off so soon, you can probably guess :P). From there it was Gemini DW240 on the 38 to Victoria. Back north again but this time not on a 38 but on Gemini hybrid VWH1362 on the 24 to Trafalgar Square, this running via Victoria Street and Whitehall. Finally it was Gemini DW488 on the 29 from Trafalgar Square to HGL.

Monday 10th December 2012 ~ Via Caledonian Road into town

Started off with a Gemini, which I neglected to take the number of, on the 259 from Manor House to Caledonian Road - the stop by H.M.P. Pentonville. About an hour later, after the appointment I'd had (not at the prison!), I was at the same stop from where I caught Enviro400 TE914 on the 91 down to Charing Cross. From there I boarded legendary Routemaster RM1968 on the 15H to St. Paul's. At St. Paul's I caught ALX400 no. 9830 on the 172 to Waterloo. From there, a familiar ride on the 211, performing the honours this time was Enviro400 no.9488, which I took to Victoria. From Victoria it was Gemini DW427 on the 38 to Gray's Inn. Finally it was Enviro400 T163 on the 341 back to HGL.

Friday 7th December 2012 ~ An Afternoon Ride on the 341

At 2 o'clock, after my psychotherapy session, I caught Enviro400 T154 from St. Ann's Hospital to Holborn Circus. It was a f-f-freezing day. Took a walk down to Waterloo and the 341's first stop on Westminster Bridge Road, from where I boarded Enviro400 T166 on the 341 back north to HGL.

Monday December 3rd 2012 ~ A trip into town

Started with one of route 19's now familiar buses, Gemini WVL481 from Finsbury Park to Waterstone's on Piccadilly. After a browse through the books and a coffee and something to eat I found myself at the west end of Piccadilly, from where I caught Enviro400 no. 9544 on the C2 through Mayfair, Regent Street and Portland Place to Great Portland Street. From there I walked back south down Tottenham Court Road, eventually ending up at Trafalgar Square, there I caught Enviro400 T262 on the 29 to Harringay Green Lanes.