As the title implies, it is very cold today, 1°C according to the Met Office. The sun shone from time to time, adding a touch of cheer, but without adding any warmth. I have so far resisted wearing gloves, because they make it hard to handle the camera, but I finally gave in today.

A sunny moment

Once we started walking and looking around at all the curious things that are to be seen in even the quietest neighbourhood, this took our minds off the cold though I did at times have difficulty pressing the shutter release with painfully cold fingers.

A friendly tortoiseshell cat

In Cruikshank Street we met a friendly neighbour in the person of a tortoiseshell cat. My first cat was a tortie so there was an immediate bond. Torties have an independent spirit and are usually intelligent. They are also almost inevitably female.

Maisonettes in Cruikshank Street

While I was enjoying the sunshine on these houses, I for the first time noticed their particular design. In these days of housing shortages and increasing house prices, there is nothing unusual in seeing houses that were once single dwellings now converted into flats, but these houses were actually designed and built as what is often called “maisonettes”, houses with self-contained dwellings on each of the downstairs and upstairs floors. They are highly suitable for single people or small families – as long as both parties get along together!

Catching the sun

I couldn’t resist catching the sun during one of its momentary appearances. Would-be “professional” photographers would no doubt call this a bad photo but it pleases me and that’s what counts!

Path beside Bevin Court

We walked down this path that runs beside a housing estate called Bevin Court. Yes, we have been here many times – and photographed it many times too – but it changes through the seasons and there is always something to look at.

Percy Circus Gardens
Panorama by Tigger

The path led us to Percy Circus, another of our haunts in warmer weather. I always try to photograph the garden and always fail because I can’t retreat far enough to include it all in a frame. Tigger, however, took a panorama photo of it. Although panoramas distort the view somewhat, it will give you an idea of the garden. Perhaps in warmer weather we’ll bring our coffee here to enjoy al fresco 🙂

King’s Cross Road

Below, at the end of Great Percy Street, is the busy King’s Cross Road. Usually, we ignore it and turn back but today, to lengthen our walk a little, we went down to it. At the moment of the photo, it was quiet, caught between two waves of traffic though it is somewhat less busy at weekends. During weekdays, it is a solid stream of slow-moving vehicles.

Acton Street

Almost opposite Great Percy Street is Acton Street, during the week a busy cut-through, but quieter at weekends. Tigger lived hereabouts when she first came to London and so we went for a look.

Old Clerkenwell Magistrates Court

A little way along King’s Cross Road is the Grade II listed old Clerkenwell Magistrates Court, now a Clink 78 hostel. The current building dates from 1906.

Old Metropolitan Police Station

Next to it is the Grade II listed old Metropolitan Police Station, completed in 1870 and recognisable by the Royal Arms above the door. I don’t know when its police use was discontinued.

Strangely gesturing

We turned up nearby Frederick Street where I was amused by the dummies in this shop. While one was turning (static) cartwheels, the other seemed frozen in a gesture of appeal – perhaps seeking help to escape.

Pigeons feasting

We walked along this peaceful residential road called Cubitt Street, where we found a crowd of pigeons feasting on food that someone had left for them. Apart from occasional squabbles, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. A couple of the males were ignoring the food and were busy courting females.

Squashed plant

I felt sorry for this plant, confined between window bars and curtains and squashed almost flat.

The moon appears

Despite the sky being bright and the sun shining, the moon, half full, was making a brave attempt to shine. (Just to the left of the top of the building.)

Riceyman Steps in view

Cubitt Street led us back to King’s Cross Road where, through archways, we could see some famous steps.

Approaching Riceyman Steps

We approached the steps and then…

At the top

…climbed them!

I have already described a visit to these steps, renamed in honour of Arnold Bennett’s 1923 novel – see Riceyman Steps.

Cumberland Gardens

Now following Wharton Street, we passed the pretty pathway to Cumberland Gardens and, very soon, reached Amwell Street and our friends at Myddelton’s deli. Then, hot coffee in cold hands, we rushed home to drink the coffee, crunch a Kit Kat, and sort out our photos, glad to be back in the warm!