It’s another cold day but at least the sun is shining, which always makes things seem better.

Parcel delivery

As we strolled along, we were overtaken by this man carrying some parcels for delivery. By the time we caught up with him, he had already delivered two packages to two separate addresses and was already rushing off to somewhere else – testimony to how hard these delivery people work for their poor wages.

Christmas wreath

Nearby, we found another wreath to add to our “collection”.

Coal holes

I have often mentioned the basement “area” possessed by these Georgian-style houses but I may not have mentioned that they also own storage space that extends under the pavement in front of the houses. One of the uses of this storage space was as a coal cellar. At the time when the houses were designed and built, coal fires were the only means of heating and cooking was done on kitchen “ranges”, also fuelled by coal. So as not to have coal merchants tramping through the house with their sacks, coal was delivered to the coal cellar through a hole in the pavement. Many of these coal holes have been blocked up in modern times and have been filled with concrete or covered by paving but some still exist with their metal covers still in place.

Coal hole cover

Many different patterns of coal hole covers can be seen, made by many different manufacturers, some local and others made in other cities. This suggests that the covers have been replaced once or often.

Coal hole cover

Most, though not all, have the manufacturer’s name and location moulded around the edge of the cover. Unsurprisingly, this has led to people developing a passion for collecting covers, at least photographically, and displaying them on online forums.

Coal hole cover

In case you are wondering, no, I haven’t been bitten by the collecting bug 🙂 I do often wonder, though, whether any of these manufacturers still exist and whether they still make covers.

Scented blossoms
Photo by Tigger

We passed by St Mark’s Church which has a small garden where Tigger photographed a bush loaded with scented blossoms. Woefully ignorant as we may be, we don’t know the name of this shrub. Don’t hesitate to tell us if you know.

Incidentally, these blossoms thriving in a world of winter-bare trees indicates how out of kilter our seasons have become.

The church is open

The church was open again today and there were people inside. A notice was advertising a carol service some time soon – not that we will be attending 🙂 I expect that churches will become busy again from tomorrow.

Trees – bare but beautiful

In Myddelton Square garden, I admired the trees. This one was lit by the sun as by a spotlight. Though they have shed their leaves they are still beautiful, each unique in the way it has grown and formed its branches, apparently at random and yet with an underlying pattern they I can feel though not analyse.

Window decoration – topical or ironic?
Photo by Tigger

Tigger spotted this window with an unusual adornment. Hanging from the latch in the centre was… a surgical mask! We wondered whether this was a wry comment on prevailing conditions, a mask instead of a branch of holly or other traditional Christmas decoration. It makes a change from rainbows, the other popular window adornment.

Building works in Chadwell Street

In Chadwell Street, building work on this site has been going on for a long time. Usually the site is screened from view but today the screens were open and so I stepped in and took photo. I don’t know what is being built but to judge from the depth to which they have dug, I imagine it must be something big, a tower block perhaps. If so, it will be quite out of scale with the rest if the district so I hope my suspicion proves to be wrong. Tigger noticed that my taking a photo elicited angry looks from one of the builders. Why? Are they doing something they shouldn’t?

More decorations

Yesterday, I showed you this shop which had been decorated with ribbons and baubles on the windowsill. Today, the decor has been taken a step further with a red cross and giant tassel on the door. If this is the outside, what must it be like inside?!

Planter-bike rack in use

Also yesterday, I mentioned these combined planters and bicycle racks and said that I thought cyclists were generally unaware of their purpose. It turns out that I was wrong: there are at least two cyclists who know what they are for!

Coffee hearts

We if course wound up at Jusaka. The barista produced this pattern on the coffee: he must have been practising! Unfortunately, when you put the lid in the cup to take it home, this destroys the design. The photo will at least record it for posterity, though!