Buses that won't drive off without you.

So.

You know when you're waiting in the London rain for a bus? You feel like you're standing, fully clothed (hopefully) under a freezing cold shower, splashes of muddy water soaking your socks, and arctic winds blowing into your face. That red beacon of warmth and hope seems so, so far away. You look at the indicator. It says the bus is due in a minute. The problem? It's been saying that for the past ten minutes. Or it could be the last few months. The icy water is leeching into your head and stopping you from thinking straight.

Finally, the bus arrives. You squeeze behind 10,456 other people also trying to get on, only to meet a wall of grumpy, squished commuter-sardine hybrids, each wearing an expression which should be weaponised by the Ministry of Defence.

So you stand, in your rain-soaked clothes, on a rain-soaked bus, and think, 'That's it. There's no point in waiting for 10 minutes/5 years for a bus that arrives late anyway.'

So the next day, you leisurely saunter out, and see the bus stop just down the road.

There's a problem. The bus is already there.

You run. You get muddy water all over you as you do your best impression of Usain Bolt.

You fall over.

You land on your bum.

In a muddy puddle.

And end up having to wait 5 years for the next bus anyway.

Sound familiar? Well, you're going to love these buses.

These small sculptures of routemaster buses are gaudily painted in a variety of colours, just to make you bitter and twisted about their relentless cheerfulness.

The design behind me shows day and nights, to highlight, I believe, the many days you must wait at a bus stop before your bus comes.

And here's another one, near Trafalgar Square, which shows the landmarks of London you could be touring whilst you wait behind Mr SmellyBreath for your ride home.

I mean, yeah, sure, you can't go anywhere on these. Each sculpture even has a prim little 'Do Not Climb' sign on its base, just in case you try.

But the best thing about these buses?

They can't drive off without you.

If you want to see more buses, I've generously, selflessly and philanthropically provided a link to the 'Sculpture Trails' website here. As you click the link, think of all 6.5 seconds your tireless Elf put in to provide it.

Hope you're feeling all warm and fuzzy inside,

Elf Dryadalis

Summer Streets at Regent Street

Hello there! In case you're wondering what to do now that the weather's so nice, why not take advantage of the temporary pedestrianisation of Regent Street? I often go there, since there's a toyshop there (I do like to catch up with my family every so often), but it's usually full of cars and buses. Every weekend in July, elves and humans not in cars can walk around in Regent Street without worrying about being flattened by buses, since stores have been set up in the road itself!

There are flowers in the road too. Look, here's an 'R' for 'Regent Street'! I'm glad they didn't try and spell out the whole street name, though, or it would have been most uncomfortable for hayfever sufferers!

The street is very long, so I've taken a minute to sit down on a haystack (found also in the middle of the road. Naturally.) and a Regent Street Guide, which is given away free at information points. The guide itself would make an excellent souvenir!

There are lots of events too. The Big Dance was here last week, operating from an old-style Routemaster bus. The dancing itself, however, took place in a little fenced-off area just in front of the bus, presumably so that any passing ticket inspectors wouldn't have a fit.

Oh, there was one car on the road, but thankfully it was stationary. It sells ice cream - it was there last week, and today I went too and it was still selling ice cream so it's probably there every weekend in July. It's right outside Liberty, the department store which has a very old-style shopfront just off Regent Street, and is most famous for selling fabrics and luxury goods.

Icebar London had two dogs to drum up attention. This picture is a bit blurry because I was trembling rather a lot. The dog behind me was absolutely massive, and probably counts the direwolf as a close relation.

Those brave humans behind me were happy to stroke him, but I'm fine. Really. No, you go ahead and stroke him too. I'll just stay here.

Phew. And I'm just off to Godiva to get some ice cream to help calm my nerves. Nothing like chocolate ice cream to calm the nerves.........at least that's my excuse.

See you around,

Elf Dryadalis

p.s. I'm now also on Twitter. What do you call a tweeting elf? A Tweetelf? A Twelfer? Follow me, if you like, at @ElfDryadalis !

A bus stop made out of Lego!

As anyone knows, London is famous for its red buses. But did you know that there's a well known bus stop as well?

This one, on Regent Street, near the toy shop Hamleys, looks normal, doesn't it? But look more closely in the picture below:

It's made entirely out of Lego! The sign beneath the bus logo says, 'Conduit Street: Hamley's Toy Store'. It's called Conduit Street because this streets adjoins Regent Street, and there are lots of bus stops along Regent Street. The bus numbers are all real!

I'll just check the bus timetable. Ah. I've got ages so I'll just sit down for a rest.

Even the sides of the bus shelter are made of Lego!

Oh, and the benches too. Here I am sitting comfortably. I like the fact that the benches are red, to match the buses!

'Next bus just a brick away', reads the sign. This sign is usually electronic and gives the number of the buses approaching, and how far away they are in minutes. I like this analogue version. It adds an air of mystery!

And if I want to double-check my route, I can just look on the maps behind me - also built out of Lego, of course! The top line tells me that two underground stations, Oxford Circus, and Piccadilly Circus, are close by.

This bus stop was created to celebrate the 'Year of the Bus' by Transport for London, since it's been 60 years since the famous 'Routemaster' bus first rolled out onto London's streets.

If you want to take a look at this bus stop, you must hurry very quickly! It's only here until the 15th July 2014.

See you later,

Elf Dryadalis