For the last time this week, Tigger went off to work bright and early.

London Wall
Photo by Tigger

Tigger took this photo early this morning while changing buses at London Wall.

Before leaving home, Tigger had said that she was expecting delivery of a package during the day and that when it arrived, I should open it.

When I went to check for mail this afternoon, I found the package lying on the doormat. Following the instructions I had been given, I opened it. This is what I found:

Touch-screen enabled gloves

You may remember me complaining about suffering from cold hands in the winter weather and saying that I needed to find gloves that would both keep my hands warm and be suitable for handling the camera. This is Tigger’s solution to that problem!

These are in fact cycling gloves which, as well as having touch-screen enabled tips on first finger and thumb, have non-slip material woven into the palms – you can see this on my right hand in the picture. I don’t know how good they are for cyclists but they are perfect for handling an iPhone while taking photos.

What do you think the gloves are made of? The black yarn is apparently made from bamboo. So no sheep were harmed or even inconvenienced in their manufacture! 🙂

I shall have a chance to give the gloves a test run tomorrow when we go to Amwell Street to collect our laundry.

This is indeed a very good gift from one who (g)loves me!

Despite the pandemic, certain chores continue to need attention, such as going to the shops to buy food and periodically dealing with the laundry. Not having a washing machine, we have to use launderettes, either doing the work ourselves or paying for a service wash.

Having had problems with the previous launderette, we decided to try the service provided by Amwell Dry Cleaners (see Lockdown and laundry). Having cautiously awarded them a thumbs-up, we returned there today with another load.

It was snowing again today and conditions were much the same as yesterday though the temperature had supposedly risen a whole degree to 0°C. We bravely set out just after 9 am, Tigger dragging a loaded shopping trolley and yours truly providing moral support 🙂

Wild Kong with snow stripes

The snow today is different from yesterday’s: the flakes are larger and float down in more leisurely fashion, perhaps because the wind has dropped. We passed Wild Kong, decorated with stripes of snow.

My new toy

Tigger was pulling the trolley to leave me with free hands to juggle with my new toy. I have suffered a couple of falls, one of which I recounted (see Wet and windy) and one which I didn’t mention. Each needed a trip to hospital and, although both eventually ended well, they have left me somewhat nervous about falling again.

Concerned for my wellbeing as always, Tigger bought me a walking stick, thinking this would be helpful on slippery ground. It has a loop to go round my wrist and – novelty! – includes a small lamp – you can see this above my hand in the picture. Today was ideal for giving it a test run.

Snow in Claremont Square

Handling a walking stick and a camera calls for skilful juggling!

Snow St St Mark’s
Photo by Tigger

These photos are all of places that we have photographed many times before but I can only take photos where I go! Today, our outing took us just to Amwell Street and back.

Inglebert Street

We noticed that the church clock was working but that it was running slow. Still, I’d rather see it working and slow than not working at all.

Amwell Dry Cleaners

We were greeted amiably at the dry cleaners’ and deposited our trolley in exchange for a numbered ticket. We have arranged to collect it on Saturday, when Tigger will be free again, as she prefers to accompany me in case I decide to perform one of my stunts.

Arriving at Myddelton’s deli

From the dry cleaners’ to the deli is but a few steps. (This is a still photo so you will have to imagine the falling snow for yourself!)

What are “Cruffins”?
Photo by Tigger

While we were waiting for the coffee to be dispensed, Tigger noticed, and photographed, these strange entities called “Cruffins”. What are Cruffins? Well, there’s one way to find out: by buying some and eating them! As the name suggests, they appear to be a cross between croissants and muffins.

The sun breaks through – momentarily

As we started for home, Tigger noticed the sun making a bid to break through the cloud cover. The attempt was barely successful and short-lived.

Today’s snowbound vehicle
Photo by Tigger

Carrying the coffee home has always been my job but while I have the walking stick, Tigger carries it but hands it to me momentarily to take a photo. Hence her picture of “Taxi in the Snow”!

Snow at the reservoir

I took this, my last photo, because I thought that the snow shows up nicely against the dark background. Yes, I know that’s a lot of photos showing snow but one does the best one can, given the circumstances!

The cruffins? Well, we decided to have them at lunchtime, so that experience is still to come!

When I bestirred myself this morning and looked out of the window, I saw that it had snowed overnight, was still snowing and that the snow had settled, at least in places. The Met Office was advertising an air temperature of -1°C.

We initially thought we would not venture out today, what with the cold and the possibly slippery conditions. Later, however, I went outside briefly to place some recycling in its bin and when I saw that conditions were really not too bad, we decided to made a dash for coffee.

Pentonville Road

As you can see in this view of Pentonville Road, traffic has cleared the roadway and where the Council has spread gravel on the pavement, the snow has melted, leaving a path. Even so, there were possibly slippery patches.

A glimpse of Wild Kong
Photo by Tigger

Tigger managed this glimpse of Wild Kong between heavy traffic. Despite my reservations about the symbolism involved, I have become quite fond of the red gorilla.

Snow in Claremont Square

This photo of a familiar scene shows that where traffic has not cleared the roads and no grit has been spread, the snow has remained.

The reservoir
Photo by Tigger

The Claremont Square reservoir was also dressed in a covering of snow. It was still snowing when these photos were taken and continued to do so while we were out.

Snow covered car

What makes me think this car’s owner has not driven it today? 🙂

St Mark’s in Myddelton Square
Photo by Tigger

In this also familiar scene, with the Curvaceous Tree to slightly left of centre, you may be able to see that the trees also have snow on some of their branches.

On the way home with our coffee, we heard a strange noise, a sort of rumbling sound. It was quite loud but we could at first see nothing to explain it. Then this man appeared.

Taking the office chair for a walk
Photo by Tigger

The noise, it turned out, was being caused by this gentleman apparently taking his office chair for a walk. Well, and why not?

Given the cold conditions, by the time we reached home with the coffee, it seemed a good idea to give it a quick spin in the microwave. No sooner said than done. Nice, hot coffee!

That will be our outing for today. We do have an important errand to run but, all being well, we will deal with that tomorrow.

They have been warning of snow for so long now that I suppose they eventually had to be right, by chance, if for no better reason! But,

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho,
A-shopping we must go.
(Anonymous poet 🙂 )

Baron Street

The snow, such as it was, comprised small flakes that floated about on the gusty breeze and melted on reaching the ground. You might be able to make out a few flakes in the above.

It was cold too, with the thermometer floating around freezing – and you know how much I abhor the cold.

“Put your mask on,” said Tigger, practical as ever. “It’ll keep your face warm.”

I did and she was right, of course. A good huff into my mask made my face feel a lot warmer. Now I just need a solution for freezing fingers!

Chapel Market – a low turnout

There were relatively few stalls operating in Chapel Market, a low turnout compared with even recent Sundays. Not that I am criticising stallholders for not facing the bad weather. A day spent out in the cold and wet is no picnic.

Can you see the snow?

I took this photo in the alley that runs across White Conduit Street as I thought the snowflakes would show up better against the black-painted doors. Did it work? (Sorry about the movement of the image – I must make an effort to hold the camera steady before pressing the shutter-release!)

In Sainsbury’s

As we were later than usual, we arrived at Sainsbury’s when they were open and the queue, of whatever size it was this week, had been absorbed. As on previous days, security staff were on hand to count us in and out.

As is our wont, we each chased down a set of items, thus reducing our time spent in the store to a minimum.

Impromptu image

I took this photo accidentally but have included it as I thought it might amuse you. I often “take” such “accidentals”, perhaps because I tuck the phone inside my coat between photos. (It hangs on a robust lanyard round my neck for easy access – and so I don’t drop it!) When doing so, it’s easy to press in the wrong place.

Hurrying back through Chapel Market

Here I am hurrying through Chapel Market to Mercer’s for our takeaway coffees. (The black object scurrying about on the ground on the right of the photo is a plastic tray, of the sort used for packing fruit, being blown about by the aforementioned gusty breeze.)

I came out of Mercer’s with the coffee and rejoined Tigger. She took the coffee from me momentarily.

“Put your gloves on,” said she.

I did so (to hear is to obey 🙂 ) and took back the coffee for the remainder of the walk home.

Sky and snow
Video by Tigger

On the way home, Tigger took the above video of the cloudy, winter sky to show the snow falling. The flakes appear as fleeting black shapes. Poetic, eh?

As it is so cold and unpleasant out, that will be our only outing for today. Perhaps tomorrow will be more conducive to strolling about.

Today was cold and damp but we managed to avoid the rain predicted for later. It was quite chilly, or so my hands kept telling me.

Balancing act

Passing through Claremont Square, we were intrigued by this bird, perched on the tip of the highest twig on the tree. How he managed this was rather a mystery but the occasional wobble suggested that it was a delicate balancing act.

No ball games

We took the path that runs beside Bevin Court and I was amused to see this notice saying “NO BALL GAMES” as I can’t imagine it occurring to anyone to to try to play ball in such a thicket.

Nesting box

It’s good to see that birds’ nesting boxes have been installed. This one is intended for very small birds, as the size of the aperture shows.

Bat boxes

Nearby were a couple of boxes rather different from the traditional nesting boxes. I thought at first that they were broken but Tigger suggested that they were bat boxes – a supposition subsequently confirmed by a knowledgeable person.

Straying further afield

For these walks we usually stay within an area fairly close to home but today, feeling adventurous (and also because Tigger had spent three days cooped up at work), we strayed further afield. In the picture is the junction where Penton Rise meets King’s Cross Road, a busy thoroughfare.

The Northumberland Arms

At the junction stands this fine old pub, called the Northumberland Arms and dating from the early 1800s. It is currently closed, of course, as are all pubs.

Wicklow Street

We crossed into Wicklow Street which, as you can see, has a cobbled road surface. There are still quite a few of these in existence in London and elsewhere. They may give a shaky ride to vehicle drivers – and more so to cyclists – but they are very durable and will therefore not disappear in the foreseeable future. Another point in their favour is that they help reduce the speed of motor vehicles!

Oy, can’t you read?

This car is parked solidly across the entrance to which a plaintive message has been taped: “PLEASE DO NOT PARK/BLOCK ACCESS TO GARAGE”. Some people, eh?

Enclosed balconies

This pleasantly styled block of flats has passages with open balconies fronted by delicately designed railings. Curiously, on the first floor these are closed off completely with bars but, counterintuitively, not on the higher floors. Did the architects think that people were less likely to jump from the upper, rather than the lower, floors?

Chimney? Ventilation shaft?

On this open area, which seems to have resulted from the demolition of the buildings that once stood on it, we saw this odd-looking tubular structure. What is it? We saw that underground trains on the Metropolitan Line pass close by but not directly under this object. My best guess is that it is a ventilation shaft but for what exactly, I cannot guess.

Once a school or a chapel?

On the corner of Wicklow Street with Britannia Street stands another mystery building. From the style, I’m guessing it’s late Victorian but what was its purpose?It looks vaguely ecclesiastical but the number of windows and their placement militates against it being a chapel or small church. Perhaps it was a school. Other than that, I’m at a loss.

A stylish doorway

The doorway also looks somewhat ecclesiastical but could also fit a school of the period. The board beside the door reads “UCL Ear Institute”, showing that it currently belongs to the nearby University College’s ENT hospital.

Privacy, please

This block of flats is one of a group in Cromer Street built in 1937-8 but what intrigued me is that the occupants of the first floor flat seem to feel an extreme need for privacy, so much so that they have completely screened of their balcony from prying eyes.

Holy Cross Catholic Church

Also in Cromer Street is theHoly Cross Catholic Church, dating from 1888. At one end is a piece of ground that looks as if it might have been a garden. I assume this belongs to the church. Perhaps it is all that remains of its churchyard, if indeed it ever had one. My attention, though, was drawn to the wall.

Four paintings

On the wall are four paintings. They are not religious paintings but quite pretty in their way. Who painted them and why? Was this once a community garden?

Artificial rock formations

We walked through Bramber Green, a park run by the Borough of Camden. In the middle is a curious rock formation, of monumental size but obviously artificial, surrounded by a scattering of real rocks. Here is a closer view of it from the other side.

The “rock formation”

I don’t know whether it is intended to be purely decorative or whether it is intended for children to play on (which they no doubt do, anyway).

Old Telephone Exchange

Our last “catch” of the day was this old telephone exchange (remember those?), dating, judging by the design details, to the 1920s. All telephone company insignia has been removed so I imagine it had been turned over to other uses.

Gateway: “restrained Art Deco”

The gateway is in a style I might call “restrained Art Deco”, a little tame, perhaps. There is no royal coat of arms of anything else to identify this as the building of a national service, except…

Telephone decorations on the windows

…the decorations on the first-floor windows. These are images of the telephones in use when the exchange was built: a stand with built-in microphone ppland a separate earpiece attached by a length of flex.

Telephone images

You might be able to make out the telephone images in this expanded version.

Looking back from Percy Circus

After a long ramble, trekking up the hill to Percy Circus seemed hard work. Here I am looking back over the way we had just come but that’s only the small last leg of the walk.

Percy Circus Garden is too big to photograph but here is a scan of it:

Percy Circus Garden

There was a bit more hill to climb in order to reach Myddelton’s deli where we found ourselves in a queue. Then, coffee in hand, we made for home. My aching legs showed that as a result of lockdown and restrictions on our movements, I am out of condition. When we can once more go out and about, I should have to work to recover my stamina!