The Hand of Khan on Oxford Street

November 7, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

I exited Oxford Circus Tube station to go visit the new Harry Potter store which you can read about in my previous post. As I walked down, there really wasn’t much traffic and I realised that section towards Centre Point at the end of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road still had traffic running down it. So, it’s not fully closed off yet to buses and taxis.

Black coming down from Oxford Circus to Centre Point

After my visit to the store, I walked the other way down to see what was being done and what was closed off. A few things got me, was how wide the pavements actually are. That most people chose not to walk in the road and stayed to the pavement, this was around 1pm on a Friday. Which tells me a few things, do we even need to pedestrianise the road? There seems more than enough room on the pavements and I feel Khan is wasting more money with his vanity projects instead of fixing real problems.

Most people on the pavements, some in the main road.

Years ago, Khan wasted city money changing all the names of the London Overground rail lines. £6 million plus I believe. Now I believe we are wasting money again on this vanity project on Oxford Street. It’s a long road and the buses and black cabs helped people in an out of the Street. The London Standard reported that £144 million capital expenditure is being used for the first phase alone for the redevelopment of the road.

I suspect there will not be much change on footfall and because of the lack of transport will be more long term detrimental than help. Only time will tell. I for one believe Lord Khan is just a Dark Lord of the Sith!

Bollards on the pavement! Didn’t realise Humans could be vehicles!

Arise Lord Khan, Lord of the ever expanding annoyance of 20Mph!

Exploration

A look at the new Harry Potter Store on Oxford Street

November 6, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

Having opened on Wednesday 4 November 2026, I went the same week but on Friday at lunch time to go have a look at the big hype.

The first thing, you have to scan a QR code, which gives you a ticket to get into the store. How long that will last, I don’t know. However, and funny enough, even though the lady said it would take 40 minutes for my white ticket to turn to green so I can enter. It didn’t, only took about 5 to 10 minutes.

You do have the advantage to get a sandwich from Marks & Spencer opposite if need be. I so happened got a bottle of water and a chocolate bar from there.

When I finally went back over to get into the store, I was given a free little knight-bus store pin. (However this maybe limited to the very first people who visit this week and next week)

The store is full to the brim of everything over two floors, from choosing your wand, to the god-awful cheap sweets and chocolate that have never been improved. I even feel the butter beer is fowl concoction and can’t be healthy for anyone let alone a seasoned Potter fan.

I had a good look around and saw some things that really stood out, including the knight-bus at the back, well, the front of it anyway. I was told it came in, in parts and was reconstructed inside. To the left of that, there is a stairway that takes you up lined with photos which are a taste of Hogwarts inside the store. Up you went to see, what was described as a bear feature upstairs, but I don’t think anyone actually really understood or took too much notice yet. Even the staff seemed confused by the focused section.

While on the other-side upstairs there is The Leaky Cauldron restaurant to eat at. I didn’t go in this section as; well, it was jam-packed with muggles! I had a look at the wares of Flourish and Blotts section directly next to the restaurant. Then I proceeded down the escalator and out where it says Floo Network above on a large plaque upon exit.

Before I left, I had a little look around that immediate area, found the dragon and stage exit left!

I could honestly see the store being stupidly busy for six months, it may be just as bad over the Christmas period. Clearly the Potter universe is live and well, and there is clearly a huge market still for the franchise.

Make sure the Niffler doesn’t steal your gold on the way out!

Exploration

The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon at the V&A

November 4, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

Also available right now in the V&A is the exhibit about the development of the Burberry trench coat, how it evolved from an outdoor, military style jacket into a fashion accessory for the wealthy. It’s not a big display and can take you anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour to go through. I however found the exhibit interesting and would recommend it to anyone interest in fashion.

An assortment of Burberry trench coat designs, showcasing the evolution of this iconic British garment.

The exhibit is free and available till Sunday 3 January 2027

https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/the-burberry-trench-crafting-an-icon

Exploration

Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things at the V & A

November 4, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

This is a free exhibit, although it’s more like a scavenger hunt. The trail takes you through the museum and you can easily be distracted along the way. Because I know I did by many objects.

Just right of the main front entrance to the museum you have Freddie up high in his Flash t-shirt from when he and Queen did the sound track to the Flash Gordan film. You then follow through the museum to the second outfit where he dons a crown and cape.

The third outfit is in the Japan gallery; he had a strong love for Japan and its culture and this is a rather nice setting. There are two ways to follow from here on the trail. You need to go upstairs, but you could be sent all the way around through the café where the Morris, Gamble & Poynter rooms are.

The display for the fifth outfits, two of them in the tapestries room are accompanied by the music of Bohemian Rhapsody and with the accompanying music has a bit of a wow factor in its own right. I’d had thought that was the last display for some reason until one of the ladies that work for the V&A told me don’t forget the sixth and final piece and I made my way to it to see Freddie in his famous red costume with all the cameras in their display case facing him. That is celebrity at its best.

If you have half in your day I recommend it. The display is still available until Sunday 17 January 2027.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/freddie-mercury-splendid-things

Exploration

Mill Hill’s Forgotten Railway neglected

October 31, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

Often on a lot of weekends I walk from my home, down to the old railway line which they only open on weekends and get some nature. The route takes you into Lyndhurst Park, and this is where the problem lies.

I had stumbled on a huge pile of clothes, rubbish, it’s a lot there. So I reported it to Barnet Council first only to be told to report it to Barnet Parks. (Which I have done now.)

I felt upset, especially which I consider the area has a certain history with the railways and London transport. So I put my video on YouTube! The only curse now is that everyone gets to hear my voice!

obituary

R.I.P Sir Patrick

October 30, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

I was saddened to hear of the death of Patrick Stewart today. I grew up watching Star Trek in the 1990s adding to my love of science fiction to real science and even exploration. I love to go explore the history and other countries on this planet. I feel that is partly down to how Star Trek inspired me growing up. And Sir Patrick is a part of that.

You be missed by all.

Exploration

Chiswick House and Gardens

September 30, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

I went during the week for a visit, and it was a nice day out in sunny London. The grounds are magnificent to wander around and have a lot of interesting things to see, including the birds on the long, narrow river.

The house itself has a lot of history and was built as a pleasure palace, but for me it felt oddly constructed. For one adult, you’re paying £13.50, which isn’t that cheap, but then the house needs well over a million pounds to keep itself running each year. The day I turned up, there weren’t many people around. In fact, it felt like there were more staff than visitors.

With your ticket, you’re given a little sound box to listen to the history of the house. You can point and zap at objects to listen to. You’re introduced to a fair amount of information. Will you be able to absorb it, or will it all be in one ear and out the other?

Many of the paintings felt too new, as if they didn’t have any age to them. The rooms felt impressive and large, but functional? The whole place felt off for me. Maybe it’s the Feng shui in me.

When I left the house, I surprisingly felt more comfortable in the gardens. I first walked round to see the sad old dilapidated greenhouse. I felt sorry for it, then I went to the café to have a bite to eat. Maybe I would have been better off bringing my own lunch! What I chose from the hot menu was, let’s just say, a McDonald’s burger could have tasted better!

As I had driven here, I decided to make my way round. I tried to extend my car-parking stay for an extra half an hour, only for the phone app to charge me double! I enjoyed the walk through the gardens, along the river, into the wooded area and back up before leaving.

One thing I didn’t do was visit the kitchen garden. I may have missed out there.

All in all, not a bad place. You can visit the gardens for free, so it’s good for the locals. If they want more people, they really need to advertise better.

I recommend a visit to this place.

spam

Please add me… but who are you?

September 21, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

My mobile is doing its security thing by not allowing phone numbers to dial through and then I get a message “please add me” I listen; hear a female voice “Please add me on WhatsApp”.

I’m like, why? What’s your name? Who are you? Where are you from? And most notable, what do you want? You want me to add you, but haven’t introduced yourself?

I ask these questions to myself and wondered at first, wrong number? So, I just ignored the first two messages. However, when it’s happening multiple times, yep, it’s a scam. And now I think about it, it’s the stupidest scam ever! Because these scammers don’t give any indication of importance or any inkling to reply. As you can see from my voice mail above. It’s repetitive!

I can only suggest to people who also get these, ignore and block.

Film

Supergirl 2026 film review

September 21, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

When the film opened, I felt the very first scene of Krypto the dog peeing was just… stupid! This set off the rest of the film for me, with what I would call immature filmmaking.

And a woman who might not know she can get drunk, early in her youth, finds out she can get drunk under a red sun? But is this film truly about Supergirl, or is it a vengeance film with womanhood and female power at its core? Because we are introduced to Ruthye, whose parents and brother were murdered by a space pirate called Krem, which sets off a chain of events.

One event even goes as far as poisoning Krypto the dog, and this binds Kara with Ruthye on their path.

There are moments when Clark contacts Kara during the movie and, well… I wasn’t a fan of the actor David Corenswet, who played Superman in the previous film. His cameo here just doesn’t have the on-screen chemistry that I feel is required for Superman. There is a certain aura which Superman needs, and he really doesn’t possess it.

However, Milly Alcock’s casting as Kara doesn’t bother me. She has a certain degree of presence which can fit the role. However, the stylised direction from director Craig Gillespie makes some parts feel all over the place.

There was the moment when she was in space, taking apart the female pirates. I rather liked that scene; it was one of the few parts of the film which felt clever and thought-out.

Another directional aspect was the use of the Kryptonian language. I honestly didn’t see the need or point of this. It was meaningless and, at the same time, took away the actors’ ability to perform, leaving the moments feeling wooden.

There is also a problem with rhythm and flow throughout the film, but it has its moments. Overall, it’s watchable, but nothing really stood out or impressed me.

One final thought, I really don’t want to give the final of the film away, however, there is a moral question: would Otto Binder, the creator of Supergirl, have liked the fact that Gillespie broke that moral code? I feel there is a question here, and a wound that cannot be healed now.

2.5 out of 5.

Personal

The failure of the toy guns

September 14, 2026 Govvy Leave a comment

A while back I tried to list some toy cap guns on eBay, only for eBay to remove them and say they were against their policy because they are replicas.

Really? These tiny little guns? Replicas? They are just kids’ toy cap guns, about 40 years old. However, I was beaten by eBay!

The same policy issue can apparently happen with charity shops, so I don’t think I can even donate them.

So, I decided to take them down to Camden and try the antiques shop. The guy wasn’t interested, nor were the other retro games shops. So, I’m completely busted out.

I am wondering if they are actually sellable or not. And sadly, during my adventures, one of them broke.

My last options are that someone might make an offer in the comments section, or I will eventually just throw them in the bin!

If anyone knows whether these old toy cap guns are actually sellable, let me know.