It was definitely warmer today (around 11°C) but the sun was hidden behind clouds and there was a hint of rain in the air.

Hidden sun, moisture in the air

Today was evidently a day for staying at home, to judge from the number of lighted windows. Have you noticed how the world seems to be divided between those who modestly veil their windows with curtains to frustrate prying eyes and those whose unobstructed windows and full illumination allow a clear view of the interior and the people within? I must admit to belonging to the former group and therefore to wondering at the motives of the latter.

Curvaceous, still awaiting spring

I tipped my hat to old Curvaceous, standing patiently in his corner, perhaps enjoying the repose of winter while awaiting the joyful explosion of new life in spring.

Cheerful window box

Many window boxes were emptied or their contents left to shrivel and die but recently I have begun to see a sort of reawakening: boxes with healthy live plants and even flowers. Perhaps these are the successors of the Christmas wreaths and we should start “collecting” them!

Talking of wreaths…

Hanging on…

…we spotted another survivor “whence all but he had fled”.

Less flamboyant but also charming

Nearby was another window box, less flamboyant than the previous one, perhaps, but no less charming for all that.

Using 1 for a dash

This door amuses me every time I pass it. The owners wished to indicate that the house, number 9 in its street, contains flats, numbered 1 to 4. Perhaps the shop where they bought their numbers had run out of dashes, so they have used a 1, turned sideways, instead. It looks a little like an arrow, about to shoot off sideways and transfix its twin.

Crow, busy on a street lamp

Tigger spotted a crow that was busy at something on a street lamp. We couldn’t see what he was doing but guessed he had found something to eat, perhaps insects.

Still busy
Photo by Tigger

We both like crows because they are very intelligent and interesting to watch. They are nervous of humans – much more so than pigeons or even the skittish gulls. This is understandable because of the long history of abuse to which our species has treated them through ignorance and stupidity. I hope that people are now beginning to take more interest in the environment and to have a more positive view of all birds, including crows and other corvids.

After his snack, the crow flew down to a puddle for a drink of water. Tigger made a short video of this. (It’s very short because it’s converted from an iPhone “live photo” or these are very brief.)

We met it again further along where it had found something else to eat. (Live photo/video by Tigger.)

We were careful to avoid disturbing him because even looking at them insistently makes them nervous. Another passer-by came past, oblivious or uninterested in the crow, which flew off but returned to his snack later. (Unlike pigeons, which when disturbed often seem to forget what they were doing, crows remember and come back and resume their activity once the coast is clear.)

As usual, we called in at Myddelton’s deli for coffee then hurried home for…

…coffee and Kit Kat!

We bought a some packets of Kit Kat and a few other delicacies as a treat for the Christmas period but the Kit Kats have somehow managed to become a daily fixture. Well, they do go rather well with coffee!