I went shopping today in central London. It still feels like a novelty to be able to go into the West End at 11 o'clock on a working day. I walked from Charing Cross to Marylebone via Soho and I was sensible enough to write a shopping list.
My first purchase was two pairs of walking socks which sadly weren't in a sale and cost a lot more than I expected them to but hopefully they will prove to be an investment.
Next I went to Muji as I thought I would be able to get a wash bag there but I had no luck. I noted that there were no infusers pumping out synthetic fumes which made a nice change as normally I can only spend about three minutes in a Muji store before I start wheezing. This makes me really cross as I really like Muji stores and I imagine that like me a lot of people aren't keen on infusers. Nothing was purchased in Muji.
I cut through Soho and walked down a street I'd never been on in my life before. Soho still has a smattering of sex shops and for a second or two I considered going into one but only because I've never crossed the threshold of a sex shop. I walked on.
I crossed Oxford Street. While I like going to one or two shops on Oxford Street I loathe walking down the pavement so I usually cut round the back. I passed a Boots so went in and got some Deet and two packets of Ibuprofen. Better safe than sorry.
I zigzagged through the streets of Marylebone and walked down Harley Street past the grand houses which are now mainly filled with consulting rooms. I watched a woman lurking in a hallway sucking on a vape. There were hardly any people around apart from men in hi-vis jackets who were digging up the roads.
On Marylebone Road I went Daunt's bookshop which is much loved by the bookstagram community on Instagram. I didn't buy anything there but I did buy a book in the Oxfam shop and then in a very expensive deli I bought one nectarine and a muffin and I walked to the Wallace Collection because I knew there were benches there and I sat there and had my lunch.
Next I walked to John Lewis where I bought two more pairs of socks, and a boost charge for my phone. I did not buy a new suitcase even thought I spent ages looking at them.
By the time I got home I'd walked over 13000 steps and I was exhausted
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