That's quite an impressive bike ride from Surrey to Middlesex and back in the depths of winter! I hope you didn't go on the M25 at all, as my friend's uncle says you can come quite a cropper when cycling on the hard shoulder of a motorway, especially if a horse box were to lose control in your vicinity....
2 things come to mind in this thread. Teddington Lock was the address to send donations to the Magpie appeal @George Spicer is EI Addio. In my opinion. Welcome back, if so