please empty your brain below

And then on Friday evening I stayed in and wrote this.
You know DG, one of the reasons I return to your blog on a daily basis is that you do and have done exactly what I would do if I had the talent, the motivation and the perseverance. I never cease to be entertained and informed by what you write and capture. Posts like today's spell out the personal aspect of your blog and in doing so give it a depth that, for all its worthiness and usefulness, the Wikipedias of this world will never have. More power to your keyboard, as ever, and thank you.
A truly excellent mini-series, about something we Londoners are all aware ...... or thought we were.....I used to drive down it once every week for a couple of years yet had no idea of its make up. Thanks as ever, nice one.
Your excuses for missing social events are getting worse ;)

Fascinating stuff, thanks.
It's been far too long since I last commented or indeed to say thanks. Thank you. I'm still here almost every day though and still absolutely loving it.
Hurrah for DG and thank you so very much. Fabulous.... as ever ;)
Cxx
I second THC. Thanks DG.
I third THC. This is the only webpage I choose (rather than 'have') to visit every day and as a writer myself am humbled by the breadth, scale and detail of your posts. Sometimes we are too wrapped up in the discussions stimulated by your posts to give proper thanks, but today is perhaps a chance to do just that.
Thank you from me too, and thanks for a small insight into what goes into the writing of your wonderful blog.

I often wonder how you find the time and discipline to write, let alone research, your prolific output. I often think you must spend every possible weekend, Bank Holiday, day off and annual leave day, as well as diversions to homeward journeys from work, in doing all your visits. I also think it must spoil, for you, the pleasure of visiting somewhere knowing that you 'have' to write about it (well it would spoil it for me anyway) - you touched on this in today's post - which makes us all the more grateful that our pleasure is enhanced by your efforts.

What also impresses me is the amount of forward planning that goes into the blogs - the themed months, series, trips on anniversaries, attendance at one-off events etc. must all require an astounding amount of preparation. Again you touched on this a tiny bit today.

Finally, I love your uncanny knack of writing about something I've just been to or am just about to visit. Quite coincidentally today I'm leading a walk along the South Bank where I had originally planned to meet at Westninster tube station but due to the multiplicity of exits decided to move the start point to Temple. I know have a few key facts to tell my friends as we walk along the Embankment to cross Waterloo Bridge.

Thank you and I will now cease my sycophancy.
DG, as a daily reader of the blog, often before I've done anything else in the morning, I would like to echo the above comments. I never cease to be amazed, having done little more since the previous day's commute than eat and sleep, to find another carefully crafted essay waiting to be read at 7am. Your efforts are very much appreciated and the products of them enjoyed. Thank you DG.
P.S. Today's post was not meant as a self-congratulatory backslap. But thanks.
Chiming in to add my thanks for another informative, well written series of posts. Next time I'm in the area there will be lots to look out for. It makes it all so much more interesting.
This is a great blog, thanks for all the time and effort you put into it.
Me too, me too. Thanks DG, I always look forward to seeing what you have in store. On the odd occasion I miss reading the blog over breakfast, it's always a treat when I get around to it.
I 'fourth' THC - essential daily reading!
What they all said. :)
It was a perfect end to do a "Making of..." post as well. Nicely rounded it off, and added insights into the effort involved in bringing us a daily post that never fails to entertain. Thanks.
Thank you from me too! I have to 'fess up and say that what mostly surprised me about today's blog post was that I'd previously thought that your blog was almost entirely spontaneous, or at least forward planned by only a week or so! Now I realise otherwise!
Virtually every post you read on this blog was written the evening before. The planning sometimes takes a little longer.
You probably weren't expecting the outpouring of thanks and admiration but I want to echo what others above have expressed so well. The selflessness, care and warmth of your blog makes reading it such a pleasure.
Just thanks DG
I happened upon your site via Railway Eye and other railway related web sites. I'm totally hooked. Keep up the good work. How you find the time to research and write all this material amazes me.

I'd love to see a South Bank series. The place has fascinated me since I first discovered it over 40 years ago.
Agree with all the above. The notion of "the making of" was yet another nice twist. DG's writing would be good, I reckon, whatever subject he chose or was confronted with. But just a touch of credit should also go to London, which seems to me (perhaps I'm biased) to be about the most fascinating place in the world...
You're an inspiration and I'm hanging my head in shame at my last post having been over two weeks ago. This is blogging at its best and what I aspire to (but fall well short of).
...in the year 2025? ...gosh, that seems like the future does it not? but then when I was a school so did 2000 ...oh how little we knew back then that computers (and the 'world wide web') would play such a major part in our everyday lives.
Much appreciated, read you every day from here in California, good work...
An intereting few days reading and some lovely pictures in the autumn sun. Thanks
By now, you will have realised that your writings are appreciated by us all. No doubt, you are purring with contentment - and rightly so.

Grab yourself a beer, DG !

From a daily reader in Liskeard, Cornwall.
Appreciation fully echoed.

Blog thoroughly read and greatly enjoyed.

Many thanks.
As an ex-Londoner now living in Canada, I read DG every day for a welcome dose of nostalgia. Wonderfully quirky and beautifully written -- well done!
It can't be said too often: thank you, DG.

The discipline and perseverance to do this every day for over 11 years is just extraordinary. We are very lucky to be able to enjoy your daily writings.
Regarding the invisible book of inspiration: surely you have some written notes planning out the series, anniversaries, etc. Surely it can't all be in your head?
This blog keeps me better connected to home than if I still was living there! Always the first thing I log on to. Especially enjoyed your tube marathon this year. Always look forward to what's coming next. Thanks DG.
Thanks for your daily efforts, they are very much appreciated. I'm only ever a visitor to London, but your journals make it so much better.
If I keep this blog up....?

Are we being warned of some embryonic thought that would result in our collective loss?
I hope not. However it is your creation, your time and perhaps we expect too much to think there will be a blog each day, every day.

But it is such a bloody good read!
Great stuff, thanks DG

Lots gets written on the construction of Paddington to the City, but I had not realised how big a job the Embankment must have been, and what an impact it would have had on London.

Opening the City to the river.

Did you find anything on the construction ?

How do you build a mass of brickwork like that, under water, on what must have been very unstable foundation.

http://www.museumoflondonprints.com/image/68305/unknown-victoria-embankment-1867
Like everyone else I enjoyed these posts, though for the slightly different reason that, although it's an area of London I know well I have rarely, if ever, walked along this stretch of road.
All the praise above: ditto.

I read your blog every day: in part because I'm an expat Londoner, but mainly because, DG, you write so well.

I could do something similar one day, maybe the South Bank, perhaps The Mall.
Yo, for Malls, go to Hammersmith, my bruddah.
I'd just like to add another lot of thanks to DG for churning out such excellent posts. I'll miss them when (if) they ever stop.
This is without doubt my favouritest blog on the internets. Genuinely wonderful. I second the idea about the South Bank. Series are interesting. I like order in chaos.










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