An integrated ticketting system for London transport?

Sorry, it's back to my nemesis, Transport for London.

I can't remember when I first obtained my Oyster card but, for several years I've had zonal travel cards loaded on it allowing me the freedom of buses, trains, underground and trams in five TfL zones. Most recently, working in Euston, my route to work involved bus, train and underground, so it was natural that I'd go for one ticket to cover all.

Then two weeks ago, my office moved. Only a short distance, but enough either to add a ten minute walk to my 1 hour 15 minutes travel, or a change on the underground to a second line. So I considered my options.

If I walk to my nearest station (13 minutes brisk walk), I have four slow trains an hour into London (the station I currently use has fast trains every three to five minutes, which is why I take the bus into that station). My new office is 23 minutes brisk walk from Charing Cross. So I could walk - train - walk, add only five to ten minutes each way more than my "fast" journey, get exercise and save money by buying a point-to-point ticket rather than a zonal.

So I decided that's what I'm going to do.

Two days before my old Oyster travelcard was due to expire I stopped at the ticket office and asked to but a monthly ticket to Charing Cross starting in two days' time. I was asked for my photocard.

I don't have a photocard; I don't need one with an Oyster.

But I'm now travelling on Southern Railways, and they haven't got Oyster yet.

To be permitted to buy my next month's ticket, I have to get my photograph taken, get a photocard and then I'm issued with a paper ticket.

Talk about a retrograde step!