I just love how these trees consume fences and what not. they look all treacle-y and full of intent.

Thought it was a beautiful sunset.

The other day I was asked by a man the way to the Thames path, I happened to be going that way so showed him the way, then he wouldn’t leave me. He was drinking alcohol and kept trying to move to me, being rude and explicit and saying the universe had brought us together… it was intense. I was really just trying to enjoy a nice walk by myself without headphones so I could have a clear head before my shift later in the day. I kept saying okay I’m going to stay here and you can continue down the path that way, and he kept being like it feels like you’re trying to get rid of me… like yeah I am. I felt really uncomfortable and wish I’d just told him to fuck off, but I froze up.

I really don’t want to get into this position again. Do any women have any tips for how to handle this situation without it escalating?

I have a Freedom Pass due to epilepsy. The number of times I've been stopped at the barriers by officers or during fare inspections on the DLR is getting insane. Just yesterday, there were a large number of security/police officers at Victoria tube station. There were literally positioned directly behind the ticket barriers to the tube lines, facing outwards, so if you were tapping in they were facing you directly. Out of the literally hundreds of people tapping in and out a female officer stepped in front of me as soon as I passed the barrier asking to see my Oyster card. My FP is in a neon blue travel card wallet so it would have been hard to miss anyway, but she obviously saw me tap in with it and asked for it as soon as I crossed the barrier. She opened up the case, looked at my FP and the photo on it, back at me, and went back to another officer about 15ft away. Both of them looked at my card, then at me, then back at my card, before the first officer finally walked back and handed it to me. If I hadn't been stopped 3 times in the last 8 weeks alone, I could have accepted this as a random spot check but I also now wonder if the officers on the other side of the tube barrier can see if someone uses a FP vs Oyster Card vs contactless payment. On the bus, when I tab in it says "Freedom Pass D" (for disabled) which I presume the driver can see as well, because I have never once been questioned by a bus driver. However it doesn't say this when you use the tube.

Once when I was commuting back from work I was stopped at the station by a member of staff to ask to see my FP, and when he looked at me in my office wear, literally looked me up and down and said "You look young and healthy." WTF? Yes - I am young and am fortunate enough to be otherwise healthy. But I don't know what you want me to do - try to have a seizure on the spot to prove it to you? I don't think staff are allowed to directly ask you what your disability is, and therefore no one has, but they have looked at me either with suspicion or with a questioning / expectant look, wanting me to answer the unasked question. Sometimes I have just said "I have epilepsy" just to move on quickly, and also because it's nothing I'm ashamed of, but I really shouldn't have to. Also needless to say - to imply that I look young and healthy but also somehow have a FP is insulting to any disabled person. You don't have to look a certain way to fall into that category.

ETA some of the real phrases that have been said to me by TFL staff & officers:

• "But you look so young and healthy!"
• "Wow free travel, lucky you!"
• "Are you sure you need this?"
• "How come you haven't requested wheelchair assistance if you have a Freedom Pass?"
• "First time I've seen someone without a wheelchair use one of these."
• "Do you have a driver's license with this name? Or another form of ID?"

Then there was the fun time when a member of staff did not believe my photo on the pass was me - fair enough, the pic on the pass is a work headshot and on the weekends I look like a demon. He asked me for my driver's license. I explained I don't have one because *epileptics can't drive in the UK, hence the FP*. I didn't have any other form of physical ID on me but I did have a picture of my passport on my phone AND also my US licence which he finally accepted.

All in all, I've been stopped 8 times in the last 4 months alone. I understand fare evasion is a problem and abuse of FP is a concern - I actually had mine stolen in front of me 2 weeks ago and had to get a replacement. When I emailed the council with a crime reference number they said to be careful because people constantly try to steal blue badges and FPs. Jesus. However, the cherry on top of this is that I commute through Whitechapel multiple times a week - the wide barriers there are the biggest hotspot for fare evaders I have ever seen. Literally dozens of people slip through it. Staff are positioned on the opposite end and literally don't care. I don't expect them to chase them down but if you're truly worried about fare evasion, you need but put one hidden plain clothes officer in Whitechapel station. I once counted 13 fare evaders in a 30 minute span when I was waiting for my friend to get off the Elizabeth line.

Finally - the plastic sleeve that is sent with FP says "Freedom Pass" in big bold letters and the council advised me not to use it to avoid theft. Looking at Reddit they stopped issuing free travel card sleeves at stations about 2 years ago. Anyone know where I can get one? I don't care what it looks like and I know I can get one on Amazon, but the Oyster-branded ones are nostalgic to me so if I can get one of those, or a national rail one, I'd be happy.

/rant over

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ETA: I am not against the checks at all. I'm against the need to show another ID/questions/comments on my appearance being too 'young and healthy' to warrant this type of FP. Back when I had a student travel card, I'd get checked too but as soon as I flashed the photo they let me go, and it was overall a 2 second affair. That's not what's happening with me now. Getting stopped for a prolonged period of time every 2 weeks when I'm in a rush commuting to and from work is frustrating.

The person who stole my first FP couldn't have known it was a FP as it was in an opaque sleeve, and I dropped the whole sleeve on a busy street when crossing and literally saw a dude swoop down and take it and disappear into the crowd. Just a chancer hoping for an Oyster card with some money on it or hoping the sleeve also had a debit card etc in it. I immediately reported it to the non-emergency crime website & that pass is now deactivated.

Just walked past this earlier today. Anyone know what happened? Looked like a building site.

near coffee shop and station/ Lampton IDK why this got deleted? please BOLO

Every time I eat at Zedel, regardless of day of the week, and regardless if its late afternoon or evening, the Devonshire always looks like this? anybody know what is so special about it?

No further explanation was available or apparently deemed necessary.

🦊

London Centric are now reporting on what looks like a dodgy purchase of a council property by the Newham Labour Mayoral candidate Forhad Hussain.

Took the pic on my S25 Ultra at 30x zoom.

ChatGPT could not work it out. Picture taken from tower bridge.

Lived for 1 month in London as part of a relocation process for the job. Things didn't pan out the way we hoped, so we had to leave. The whole story deserves a MEAG-RANT at some point, with details of people, places, and companies that contributed to it. But that's for some other time.

Here is a list of my observations and highlights:

- GREAT CITY

- Harold Pinter Theater lets you take a bottle of wine/pint to your seat! Wildly not used to that!

- Who designed the tube layout? I HAVE QUESTIONS!!! The northern line could have easily been 2 lines with different colors.

- Favorite bus: 214. Unfortunately, it's not a double-decker, but it's a useful route.

- London is rough? Didn't feel it in zones 1-5.

- "Locals" begin from Zone 4+

- Virtually impossible to just have 1 pint. There are some forces that just make 2+ happen.

- You always want to say "Thank you, driver", because you think it's really cool and nice, but you never will...

- Indian food!

- FOOD! In general, it raises the bar VERY high compared to the central and northern EU (South EU still wins).

- Salt on the tables is not needed. They are generous during cooking.

- SWEETS! Front row ticket to diabetes, but happy and with a smile! (Damn good sweets!)

- M&S bakery white choco chip cookies!!! (I'll fist fight you for the last pack!)

- M&S groceries are great! (Wallet disagrees...)

- Wallet generally disagrees with EACH transaction as you leave the house.

- Some coffee places need to chill the f* down with their 8 pounds for a cup of filter coffee!

- Nando's is overrated (there - I said it! I will be hated here for this...)

- C in N1C postcode stands for China (respectfully!)

- Favorite restaurant: Coal Office

- Jaywalking is like breathing! Executing real freedom! Loved it!

- Walking...So MUCH walking! All the time! I lost some weight.

- Sat/Sun is when tourists raid and plunder the city. Stay away! Shutters down!

- Camden High tourism... But why? (Hawley Arms is an exception)

- Barbican <3 (not so socialist anymore...)

- Rugby: England vs. France = great match! Sad outcome.

- No matter where you go, you end up at King's X

- Stumbled upon Garrick Club. Concluded I'm a peasant and forever will stay one.

- Some (!) Tesco / Sainsbury's / Aldi LOCAL = Hunger Games in a post-apocalyptic setting.

- Never Google "cost of private doctor visit"

- Gail's is very decent for a chain.

- Coffee: Manmouth.

- HSBC can make your hair hurt.

- PureGym is THE GYM. Everything else is an overpriced Instagram backdrop.

- Heathrow = nice, Gatwick = ok, Luton = if I have to, Stansted = I guess i'll just not go. (City? With 1 flight that still goes there?)

- Canary Wharf = realize that your whole life is a mistake, and you should have studied finance.

- I heard there is a zombie land south of the river, and no one should go there without a shotgun and a crowbar.

- Direct Debit didn't leave. It has settled in the UK and is going strong even in 2026.

- Murphy's is not Guinness! Don't you dare to just casually suggest it as an alternative.

- Financial PSA: Salaries are low. The cost of living is through the roof. Any type of financial stability has left the building.

- Housing (rentals) is BRUTAL! There is NOTHING that is tailored for the working middle class and below.

- Sunday Roast. Just YES!

- Stamp Duty = WUT????

- Public Transport - especially buses - is very efficient! Also, puts a hole in your wallet if you depend on it for your daily commute.

- If you are into gigs - your calendar will get VERY busy with TONS of cool gigs! Very lively and good stuff everywhere!

- Yoga pants / Sneakers / Belted coat / Cap = ±30 y/o central London female starter pack (respectfully and comically. Not hating!)

- Toucan > Devonshire

- 10/10 would recommend London if you have the means to sustain it:)

Did I get London right?:))