Torquay

Alphington and the A30 to the A380, Devon Expressway, for a day trip to Torquay; very promising. However, it is too bloody cold today, a harsh chill in the air despite the clear blue sky. It must be as low as about 5 celsius.

Parking near the Princess Theatre, on the seafront, you notice that this building is a bit worn out. It must be at leat forty years old by now. It is the classic 1950s urban design, nice foyer with some outside sheltering, yet all beginning to fade and look a bit too old-fashioned. I can't remember, but it's probably the usual festive stuff inside, Aladdin, or something. I think if I had a family I would be quite into that sort of thing, now.

Quick visit to Burger King for one of their superb Whopper meals; their hamburgers are much better than McDonalds, coming in a superb bun and some real, fresh salad. At £4.19, pricier than McDonalds but probably a lot healthier. This is all thanks to the generosity of M, as usual, as I have no money at all. It is very decent of him. Will I ever deal with my debts, earn some money, and have any liquidity ever again?

Nothing in Adecco, the employment agency in Fleet Street, to produce any enthusiasm. Just Admin Assist jobs on £5.50 an hour. However, I take note of the new Hog's Head pub at the very end, and the bar next to Burger King, hidden down the alleyway, where I remember having a drink in about summer 2002, while I was working at Middlemoor.

In the trinkets shop, just on the corner of Fleet Street, next to the Spar, a woman talks to the shop owner about the weather. Isn't it true that the British do always discuss the weather? She says it's very cold now.

'It is... but we've been very lucky so far this winter. It's been good up till now.'

The Fleet Walk Shopping Centre is really most impressive. It is like a smaller version of the Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells, sort of blended into the street very well; in fact, you don't know it's new at all until you go inside and up the escalators to the shops.

The Living Planets sea life centre has been finished, its huge netting setting a curious new landmark for Torbay. I suppose the penguins are entering their favourite time of year now. Maybe they'll even get some snow this winter.

From down by the marina, you can see three large tower blocks on the hill, going up towards Meadfoot Road. The three blocks of flats are identical, all about twelve stories. Yet, what is interesting, is that some flats - on an apparantly ad hoc basis - have knocked out their outside walls and windows, and brought the new wall a yard or two inside the flat to create some fine balconies. The view from up there must be tremendous, particulary in the summer, perhaps sipping a lager on the balcony, looking down at the hive of activity that is the Quay.

Return to Exeter via Babbacombe and the coastal road through Shaldon, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Starcross and up to Exeter, in time to beat the evening rush hour.

Unfortunately, this did not afford time for a visit to Teignmouth town itself, location for one of the finest Norman Wisdom comedies - a rare, late colour film - called Press for Time (1966). Filmed almost entirely in Teignmouth, Norman Shields goes on a series of bus chases, clumsiness and the rest, all in his new job as a journalist. There are shots of Ivy Lane and down to the River Teign and the Salty, opposite.