Good suggestion about the phonecall (I'd always suspected that would be a useless automated service and not worth bothering with). Although, strangely, I was unable to get a phone service from Forest Hill when trying to call my employer about lateness - which was weird, and made things doubly frustrating.

Thanks also for the info about delays. Actually, have just checked tfl's site and find the following information: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews...mode=buses . So, there will be severe delays to a number of routes around the Sydenham/Penge area until December. Great (especially having had severe delays for around 3 months earlier this year, after the water mains work)! There did appear to be plenty of the other buses, however... apart from the 197.

Time to get another bike, I think (not forgetting the very heavy duty lock, to prevent a third theft).