Even though we had been out once – to do our shopping – it was such a pleasant day that when, after lunch, Tigger proposed another walk, I was happy to agree.

By the time we made it out, the sun was already low in the sky and its warming effect had dissipated. It felt cold, very cold.

First sight of the moon

Although the sun was now low, it was still brightening the sky which was a beautiful blue, decorated here and there with clouds. The moon was opposite the sun in the sky and shining brightly. It accompanied us – or we accompanied it – throughout our walk. Above is my first photo of the moon. Yes, I know, you can’t see it, because the camera couldn’t distinguish its brightness from the brightness of the sky but, trust me, it is there 🙂

Ice on the pavement

I said earlier that the snow had vanished, though I did say there was some ice on the ground. In Claremont Square, which has sheltered corners because of the hump of the reservoir, ice was more in evidence, as here. In fact, I’m not sure whether it is ice or compacted snow – perhaps snow that has partially melted and frozen again overnight.

Snow on the reservoir

The sloping sides of the reservoir are planted with grass. On the grass were patches of what could only be snow, showing that my statement this morning that the snow had all gone was incorrect. As long as it stays here, though, literally behind bars, I don’t mind it!

The moon above houses

There! This time you can see the moon. The sky had darkened enough that the camera could distinguish the moon from the background.

Moon and crow
Photo by Tigger

Below the moon in my photo, if you look carefully, you can see a crow perched on a chimney. Tigger’s photo above shows this more clearly. Moon and crow make a poetic pair.

Snow on a car

If proof were needed that there was still snow about (and not only “behind bars”), here it is: snow on the windscreen of a parked car. The sight of it made me feel even colder than before!

Crow arriving to perch in a tree
Photo by Tigger

While trying to photograph the sunset, Tigger serendipitously captured a view of a crow flying up to perch in a tree. Tigger is as fascinated by crows as I am.

Moon and tree

As the sky gradually lost its brightness, the moon shone more strongly in contrast. Here, it made a poetic contrast with the tree which seems to reach up towards it with the delicate tracery of its branches.

Sunset
Photo by Tigger

We tried to find a good vantage point from which to photograph the sunset but everywhere we went, buildings partially or completely blocked the view. I think this view came out quite well.

Moon over St Mark’s
Photo by Tigger

We had forgotten the coffee tray and so, having visited our friends at Myddelton’s deli, we were each carrying a cup of hot coffee. Tigger has acquired the art of one-handed photography but I haven’t achieved this yet. Perhaps one day! Her technique came in handy here and below.

Abandoned?
Photo by Tigger

We thought at first that this was a toy Christmas tree but closer inspection suggests that it is a real young tree intended for planting out. Unfortunately, it looks as though it had been abandoned. Perhaps someone will rescue it and give it a good home.

Home is where we were heading now, and speedily, before our coffee grew cold. Perhaps we will meet the moon again tomorrow and take it on another walk!

Yes, today, ‘s’ is for sunshine, shopping and Sainsbury. The temperature is still hovering around freezing but the sun is shining and there is no sign of snow. There’s no excuse to put off the shopping any longer!

Pentonville Road

This is what Pentonville Road looks like today. Compare the first three media items in today’s post with the first three in yesterday’s.

Baron Street

Baron Street looks rather more cheerful today and…

My hand instead of Tigger’s glove

…so, perhaps, does my hand! (In case you are wondering where my tiger and lion rings are, I will say that with all the hand-washing and hand-sanitising that we do these days, I have thought it best to leave my rings at home. I hope to put them on again one day in celebration of the end of the pandemic.)

Snow but from where?

Outside the Three Johns pub, we saw this strange sight, lumps of snow. Where had they come from? In fact, we had seen several vehicles travelling along Pentonville Road with snow on them. Perhaps one such paused here and the owner swept off the snow onto the road.

Although there was no snow elsewhere on the ground there were patches of ice here and there so caution was still necessary.

Chapel Market

In Chapel Market, though the shops were open, there were no stalls, but we hadn’t expected to see any because the market is closed on Mondays and the street reverts to a normal London street with motor traffic as well as pedestrians.

Strange blossoms

As we passed along White Conduit Street, we looked up and saw a strange plant on a terrace or roof-top garden. The branches were empty of leaves but seemed to have produce strange, alien blossoms! I think they were plastic balls of the type some people put on Christmas trees. That’s one way to store them for reuse next Christmas!

And so to Sainsbury’s. I wondered whether we would find a queue waiting to enter because Sainsbury’s now monitors the number of customers in the store to prevent overcrowding. No, there was no queue and we were able to go straight in, pausing only to collect a trolley.

Sell us this day our daily bread

We set about collecting our goods. While Tigger took the trolley for a spin down the aisles, I grabbed a basket and gathered a few items myself. This helps cut the amount in time spent in the shop.

Queueing for the checkout

On Sundays, because we visit the shop as soon as they open, we can usually go straight to a checkout but today, a weekday, we had to queue. We were able to witness a moment of drama when the couple ahead of us angrily challenged another customer who seemed about to jump the queue!

To Mercer’s for coffee

We called in at Mercer’s for our takeaway coffees, of course. I didn’t even have to say what I wanted as they now remember me! Fame of a sort, I suppose 🙂

Inside Mercer’s

Yes, I avoided yesterday’s lapsus, and remembered to put my mask on today.

The sun over Baron Street
Photo by Tigger

When the sun shines, everything not only looks better but feels better, don’t you think?

A rewarding cuppa

At home once more and Tigger pours my coffee from the paper cup into my red coffee mug because she knows I prefer it in a “proper cup”! Well, one has standards to keep up, don’tcha know!