I chose the bus leaving from Bristol at 13.00 to give us plenty of time to rise at a leisurely rate to catch the 172 to Bristol and have a decent breakfast. You will find a community cafe just outside Bristol bus station. What is not obvious is that it is part of a building that was a priory and has a rich history going back a few centuries. Some people working at the cafe have learning disabilities but they do their duties really well to no doubt to gain the confidence to integrate into normal life whatever the word ‘normal’ means. I love homemade menus such as that illustrated above. Chain restaurants would never do this. Unlisted was a ‘Bristol Breakfast’ for about £3.50 and a larger version for around a fiver.

We got on the Megabus bus about 12:45. The bus was full. Not surprising considering the bargain fares . If you book early enough, you pay £2.95 for your seats as indeed we did. Unlike the buses from Bath the drive from Bristol to London is straight A to B with no stops so you arrive in about two and a half hours. We brought our weekly season ticket at Victoria Station including a zone 5 for 73 pounds which entitled us to travel on all modes of transport. We arrived at my sisters and promptly went off to do some shopping at the local Sainsbury’s. We have an arrangement with my sister where we provide and cook the evening meal and are pleased to do so. My sister is the only one of my family where we have good communication. Sad but true.

This visit we have not overloaded ourselves. We have only five full days in London so our plans are to visit central London art galleries on Saturday, spend Sunday basically at home with my sister, go to Brighton to meet friends on Monday, to visit a friend on Tuesday in Battersea and finally to go to St Albans on Wednesday to see the famous historic market and to attend a lunchtime organ recital.

This may not sound very ambitious but it’s amazing how the day fills up and you will most done as much as you can handle in any one day.