Today is Day One of London’s sojourn in Tier 3. Less onerous than full lockdown (shops, even those selling “non-essential” goods, remain open, but travel is discouraged unless “necessary”), it still imposes limitations on our movements. This bids fair to be one of the strangest Christmases experienced in living memory.

As though in sympathy, it is one of those dark, damp winter days in which Britain excels. Fortunately, I have Tigger’s company to restore my spirits and make me feel more cheerful. In that happy mood we set forth for this afternoon’s perambulation.

A dark, damp day

As Jusaka has been closed for several days running, we didn’t bother trying them again today and, in any case, we needed butter and as Myddelton’s can supply both butter and coffee, thither we went.

Miniature garden

In Claremont Square, this little garden constructed around the base of a tree always intrigues me. Who created it? Was it made by the Council or is it an individual project by a neighbour? I think the latter is more likely, especially as it seems to be well tended.

Wreath and lion

This basement flat has a Christmas wreath on the door but it also has one of my favourites among the neighbourhood’s house decorations: the lion’s head. This area abounds in lions for some reason, from lion-headed door knockers through lions couchant in front of the door to lions on roof-tops. This one sits above the entrance like a guardian and I always look for it when I pass this way.

Lit with fairy lights
(but you can’t see them)

In Cruikshank Street was this most unusual Christmas decoration. This little garden was all a-sparkle with little lights. So pretty (and cheering on a dull day). Unfortunately, they just don’t show up in the photo.

Door knocker letterbox

I mentioned recently (see Letterboxes) how when letterboxes were fitted to the 18th and early 19th-century front doors, they had to compete for space with other furnishings. One solution is represented here: a combined letterbox and door knocker. This one, unusually, is decorated with the figure of a bat. In general bats are not favoured as decor except perhaps, transiently, at Hallowe’en.

Illuminated Christmas tree

Quite a few houses now have illuminated Christmas trees in their front windows, obviously positioned so as to be visible to passers-by. As they are meant to be seen, I don’t feel shy about photographing them! (At other times, discretion prevails and I avoid photographing inside people’s homes without permission.)

Shutters and stars

When they were first built, I think these Georgian style houses had shutters fitted to the windows as standard. Most have been removed but a few still survive and are even still put to use. Here the shutters have been closed and illuminated stars placed between them and the window glass. No chance of impertinently seeing inside this house!

Festoons, wreath and tree

In this house in Great Percy Street, they have gone the whole hog and, in addition to a wreath on the door and an Christmas tree in the window, have put illuminated festoons in the balcony. These folk take Christmas seriously!

Lost cycle helmet

The lost hat in the railings that I showed yesterday had disappeared, either reclaimed or “re-owned”. In Cumberland Gardens we found another piece of lost headgear, this time a cycle helmet. It looks to be in good, nearly new, condition. Has it been accidentally dropped, or perhaps stolen and dumped? We shall never know.

Wreath among the greenery

In this house, they already have a lot of greenery around the door and the wreath is almost lost among the living plants.

Myddelton’s was nearby and there we went next. Here we bought our coffees and our French unsalted butter.

Will we still be able to find this once Brexit kicks in? I rather think that this, and a lot of things that we are used to, will become hard, or even impossible, to find. What is it about the British that they have this strange yen for damaging themselves for no good purpose? Mystère et boule de gomme, as the French might say.