Tigger is at work again today, meaning that if I go out, I will have to go on my own. Fortunately, I do have an incentive in the form of an important letter to put in the post. After lunch, I will see whether I can whip up enough enthusiasm to face the cold and go in search of a post box and whatever turns up on the way.

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Hire bicycles in front of Doubletree Hotel

As you see, I did manage to go out. My eye was caught by this line of brightly coloured hire bicycles in front of the Doubletree Hotel. What caused them to congregate here, I wonder?

Wild Kong

It’s been a while since I photographed Richard Orlinski‘s Wild Kong from close up. At first a novelty, it has in time become a familiar part of the environment. While I still remain somewhat dubious about its value as a work of art and its cliché view of these peaceful creatures as violent, I have become quite fond of it. The landlords of the property behind it seem to be having difficulty in finding tenants.

Pillar box, White Lion Street

There are two posting boxes that I generally use but today I thought I would try a different one. (Variety is the spice of life, to quote a phrase!) There are two pillar boxes in White Lion Street, one at each end and this is one of them. It bears the cipher of Queen Elizabeth II and it occurred to me to wonder whether, 120 years from now, people will regard such boxes with the same interest we show in those of Victoria’s reign. It’s possible, I suppose. Passing time renders some things more interesting and other things less so.

St Silas’ Church Gardens

Nearby in Penton Street is the Grade II listed Church of St Silas. In front of it is a small open area that was once the graveyard but is now designated the St Silas Church Garden. I went in for a look but the weather is too cold to spend time sitting on a bench.

Bed for a rough sleeper?

I noticed that one of the benches had been moved under the shelter of a porch. Closer inspection showed what was possibly bedding, indicating what might be the temporary bed of a rough sleeper. Some of London’s churches allowed homeless people to come inside to sleep but lockdown has closed the churches leaving rough sleeper to find other resting places.

A sign of the times

Beside the church runs Risinghill Street where this door, with its sign about social distancing, is at present firmly closed against would-be visitors. A sign of the times, indeed.

Police Station, Tolpuddle Street

I crossed into Tolpuddle Street, home of the local “nick” or police station. With many police stations (or “police offices”, as they now seem to like to call them) being closed down, I suppose we are lucky that this one has survived, at least, so far.

An extensive building

Then again, it is quite an extensive building and is no doubt capable of serving a large area. I have never visited it, my rare interactions with the local police having been carried out over the phone.

Yellow lines? What yellow lines?

It seems that police drivers are not bound by the same parking rules as ordinary folk are. Several police vehicles were parked, on both sides of the road, beside yellow no-parking lines. But who is going to be bold enough to put a parking ticket on a police vehicle?

The path beside Sainsbury

From Tolpuddle Street, a pedestrian path runs through Sainsbury’s car park to White Conduit Street and thence to Chapel Market. I thought I would go this way as I made my way homeward. The path and the streets turned out to be quite busy.

Chapel Market was busy

The reason, perhaps, was that Chapel Market was in full swing. There were only about half the usual number of stalls but they seemed to have customers.

The Alma, closed

This is the Alma, the local pub. It is closed at present, of course, but in “normal” times was quite busy. I have never set foot inside in all the time I have been living here. Not that I have anything against pubs – I haven’t – and we have visited another local pub, the Castle, for their Sunday veggie roast. (See, for example, Lunch at the Castle.)

Ryness – electrical suppliers

The last place of note that I passed before reaching home was this branch of Ryness. This is where we buy our light bulbs and, occasionally, other electrical items. They too are currently closed but the company also has an online store. I photographed it because I always look at their window display when I go past. Their window is always ablaze with lights, showing off lighting fixtures both domestic and festive. I’m just glad I don’t have to pay their electricity bill!

At home I made a warming cup of tea and settled down to await Tigger’s return from the her toils in the City. We have the weekend before us and the first couple of days of next week.

Tomorrow, we have that special appointment. Have you remembered what it’s for, yet? 🙂