On Arachne's recommendation, I travelled to London today to meet my mum at the Thomas Dane Gallery so we could see Amie Siegel's film “Bloodlines”, which has its final showing in London tomorrow, although it continues in Edinburgh until 4th September.
The gallery website clearly stated that they open their doors at 11am and so that was when we arrived. We were shown into the room where the film had already begun, and by the time we'd watched it all the way back to the first scenes we had seen, it was obvious that the film had begun at around 10:45. Very frustrating since we had both put in a lot of effort to arrive on time.
After we had seen the entire 82 minutes we left in search of a bite to eat at Pret A Manger. The first one we came across was on the corner of Regent Street St James's and Charles II Street. It's loo was out of action but a staff member told us brightly that Costa's across the street had one. Instead of going to Costa we continued to the next Pret, beside the Sainsbury wing of the National Gallery. Their loo was also out of action and we began to suspect foul play. We used the loos at Charing Cross station and continued along the Strand to the next Pret where we had our lunch. Before leaving I checked, and sure enough their loo was out of action.
It is a legal requirement for places serving eat-in food to provide their customers with lavatories. Building them and then disallowing access I should imagine is breaking the law. So I shan't be buying anything from Pret ever again unless I can first use their loo.
I'm not entirely sure why the Haymarket Hotel was touting golden poo emojis out on the street, but that's exactly what I think of Pret. No shortage of Google reviews raising the same issue.
After that mum and I sat and chatted in Victoria Embankment Gardens until it was time for us to head off in opposite directions again, though before we parted company she showed me the Savoy sundial created by a friend of hers.

Backtracking a little, yesterday afternoon after returning from my blood test I felt really tired, so I had a lie-down and was aware my throat was sore. Oh no! Please not Covid! I took a test and it was negative, same again this morning, so I took some aspirin and soldiered out. I still feel below par and so as soon as I got back home I called my new employer to explain my dilemma. We have agreed that if I am unfit for work on Monday we will just delay my start date by a week rather than ruin my record.
But the rent will be due on Monday 1st and if I don't work next week that will be six weeks unpaid leave. Eek! And then an unexpected joy, the landlord and letting agent from Henley have concluded that I left the flat in a perfectly acceptable condition and they have returned my deposit in full. The timing could not have been better.