The day started sunny but cold – 2°C (35.6°F).

The Angel, Islington

That’s too cold for me. I used to br able to stand the cold but these days I find it harder and harder to do so.

Church of St Nicholas, Blackfriars

We boarded a number 4 bus which took us to Blackfriars where I photographed the Church of St Nicholas with its unusual steeple.

Somewhere in Ilford

It was still cold so we took another long bus ride. This one took us via Stratford (of dire memory!) to Ilford where we took refuge in a Costa Coffee. The above, architecturally indifferent, view is taken just for the sake of completeness.

Ilford, incidentally, takes its name from the local river. Not that you would think so because this is called the Roding. In fact, it used to be called the Hyle and this, joined to ford gave the name to the town.

Old Co-operative store?

We spotted this extensive building bearing the date 1924’and wondered what it was originally. An old Co-operative store, perhaps? Further research required!

Wazir Turkish Restaurant

We were waiting for a bus when we spotted the Wazir Turkish restaurant on the other side of the road and decided that it was time for lunch.

After this we went on a long bus ride as a way of exploring while avoiding the cold. (The temperature reluctantly rose slowly to 6°C, 42.8°F, but it was more comfortable aboard a bus.)

The bus took us to Chigwell and reached its terminus without us realising the fact. So we stayed aboard until the driver saw fit to start the return journey, about 15 minutes, I think. We were upstairs and I don’t know whether the driver knew we were there.

Where’s Chigwell? It’s in the middle of a triangle formed with Ilford, Romford and Epping at its points. (If that helps.)

Interestingly, to arrive there we passed through Hainault. Why is that interesting? Because there is a ancient province called Hainault, sometimes spelled Hainaut, shared by Belgium and France. Is there a connection? Possibly. The official etymology has the British Hainault evolving from Old English words meaning a “wood belonging to a religious community”, in fact that of Barking Abbey. The name was apparently altered to Hainault in the 17th century for supposed but spurious connections with Philippa of Hainault, the wife of Edward III, who came from the French Hainault. So yes, there is a connection with the Franco-Belgian Hainau(l)t but it is a spurious one.

Old Police Station, Ilford

Back in Ilford, we changed buses and passed in front of this old police station bearing a date of 1906. It seems to have been closed like many such in recent times. What is its future? To be repurposed or demolished?

The slow journey home

By now the sun had reached the horizon and twilight was dwindling into darkness. We had a front seat on the upper deck of the bus and I took this photo of the road ahead as we edged slowly in convoy towards Central London.