We passed the morning in leisurely fashion. That’s fair, after all, as Tigger has spent the last three days at work and deserves her rest. (I know I haven’t been working but I don’t mind helping Tigger rest!). It was a cloudy day with intervals of sun and rain and it felt cold, much colder than the official temperature suggested.

A sunny interval

After lunch, we set out for our usual walk and I took the above photo to make sure I did catch at least one sunny interval.

“Where do you want to go?” asked Tigger, a question that always casts me into confusion as I can never decide. Somehow, a route was decided.

Sunshine but an ominous sky

We were then subjected to a spattering of rain which stopped but left an ominous sky.

A pretty doorway

This house has been covered in scaffolding for months but we both stopped and admired the doorway. Perhaps the sunshine and its plants made it look particularly welcoming today.

Job done!

Do you recognise this piece of road? It’s the site of the second of two water leaks whose progress I have been following in recent posts. After doing nothing for two days, they have suddenly swooped in and repaired it while I wasn’t looking! They’ve made a remarkably good job of restoring the road surface, too.

The demon cyclist of Myddelton Square

If we come here at the right time, we see this lady on her bicycle riding round and round Myddelton Square. She always goes the same way round and always wears the same bright red top. Don’t step off the pavement without looking, because she travels at speed! I don’t know how many laps she does but she was continually circling all the time it took us to dawdle our way round the square.

Curvaceous Tree and Friends

I photographed this row of trees in Myddelton Square Garden, with my Curvaceous Tree on the right, because, as I previously recounted, winter, in stripping away the leaves, has taught me to admire the beauty of the trees’ forms, all different though following a pattern if you can but decipher it. When spring finally comes, I shall learn to love and admire them all over again in their new green robes.

Watch out! Here she comes again!

Just as well I went back onto the pavement when I did!

Upstairs, downstairs window boxes

I haven’t checked on window boxes lately but I noticed that these two have been rearranged, perhaps with a better selection of flowers for the coming season. Upper and lower are still following (more or less) the same pattern.

Parakeet

We crossed over to the square’s central garden though we didn’t go in today. There was a lot of activity among our feathered friends and the parakeets were vociferous, as is their wont. This one stayed still long enough for me to photograph his characteristic silhouette. I have come to be quite fond of these active, noisy but seemingly sociable birds. They have made themselves quite at home in the UK.

Pigeon feeding mêlée

Someone was putting out food for the pigeons and there was a feeding frenzy in consequence.

As often happens with pigeons, something spooked one or more of them and their fright was immediately communicated to the whole flock which took off and sped for refuge into the trees. I wasn’t quick enough to catch this impressive flock movement so had to content myself with watching them return, which they did, almost immediately, their fright forgotten.

Fright over

As we continued round the square suddenly, we noticed a movement in the trees near the road. We were being spied on by a squirrel!

Got anything for me?

He came and hung upside down looking at us, obviously hoping we had food for him. Squirrels in these local parks and gardens can be quite bold but this was unusually close.

Interloper

Just for a moment, it seemed that a second squirrel wanted to muscle in on the action. Note the defensive movement of “our” squirrel.

Close-up

Because he was so intent and hopeful, the squirrel allowed me to come quite close and take this photo. Quite a splendid fellow.

Departing, no doubt disappointed in us

When we moved away, the squirrel followed us to the next tree, still hoping for a hand-out, perhaps. Then he made off, probably disappointed.

Tigger has a new phone with an updated camera. Her photos quite outshine mine. She also photographed the squirrel and sent me this photo:

Squirrel by Tigger

This squirrel, as you can see, already had something to eat but still came to prospect in case we had something to contribute.

By now, we were noticing that it was a bit chilly and that it was threatening rain, so we now made for Myddelton’s deli, bought our coffee and made for home.

We shall visit the squirrels again another day but, in the meantime, I have no fears that they will starve!