Alexyxx

I too would like to recommend - and thank - Steve wholeheartedly. Washing machine crisis in the midst of a home crisis, I ring him ~10am, he has been round and fixed it within half an hour - brilliant!

Coming very late to this, if everyone from all sides complains about this GG roundabout and its zebra crossings, then it cannot be that bad. We want to squeeze ever more vehicles, cycles, pedestrians - adults old and young,and children- into our rather narrow high streets and residential streets - we all have to make compromises and live together, even if we occasionally/frequently wave our fists at the criminals from the other sides (well, at least that makes us feel better). Curious that so many say this is a deathtrap and an accident waiting to happen and all the narrow escapes, yet no one I think has yet come up with an actual accident. For sure every one would like their own exclusive space - maybe pedestrians at the top level as in Hong Kong Central, cyclists alongside but in their own space and no annoying pedestrians getting in the way, and the cars, buses and lorries in the bottom level down below - but it ain't going to happen here in London - and we would not like it if it did. We have to get on with each other. Do we think GG roundabout would be a lot better if there were straight traffic lights? I doubt it- there would be a lot more waiting around for one's chance to race across the junction, instead of nosing through with plenty of eye contact( quite apart from the cursing at the BMWs...) Anyway enough from me. But I do think this roundabout is on the side of history and the way we we will all have to live together.

Re schoolchildren on foot finding the junction better now, the old system of cattle pens was misguided and awful, but could have been fixed by simply removing the rails. The new diagonal crossing does seem to be popular, though it was not necessary to do all the rest of the remodelling to bring it in. Even before the remodelling, some groups were anyway being taken across more or less diagonally by one of the lollipop team during the all-red phase. But in any case the final proof will not be until the rest of the pavement works are finished and all pedestrian routes available.

And one of the special things you can get at Vals is wonderful - and BIG - PAPAYAs. The most delicious breakfast fruit, and you will have to search London to get anything as good....