You may remember me recounting how we took the laundry to Amwell Street on Monday and how it took two of us to carry it (see A bitty day). Today was the day when it would be ready for collection and as I am on my own (Tigger being at work)), I thought I would have to make two journeys to bring it home.
Spitting with rain
I was therefore not looking forward to it, especially as I found it was spitting with rain when I set out.
Tree no more
In Inglebert Street, I saw that this lovely old tree has been cut down. I had admired it and photographed it. I don’t doubt that there were valid reasons for its destruction but it is still sad. I hope they will plant a new young tree in its place.
The loaded trolley
When I entered the dry cleaner’s shop, there was a surprise awaiting me: they had managed to stuff all the laundry into the trolley! I would only have to make one journey to transport it home, after all.
The way home is up a gentle slope. You hardly notice it when you are walking unencumbered but when you are dragging a loaded trolley, well, then you do notice it! Fortunately, we do not live far from the dry cleaner’s and I was soon home.
In view of the weather, I was tempted to call it a day but then I reflected that I had “budgeted” for two journeys and, as I had made only one, perhaps I ought to go out for a walk as well. So I did.
Window box
For once, I kept my eyes open for window boxes but there were not many to be seen. I “collected” this one and…
Another window box
…this one. The flowers make a pretty display but the effect is spoilt by the product label that has been left adhering to the box.
Doorstep boxes
As an alternative to window boxes, some houses have boxes or planters in front of the door. What should we call these – “doorstep boxes?”. Whatever we call them, they are pleasant to see and brighten up the premises and the street.
Barber’s shop – still closed
I passed by ELP Barbershop which, you may remember, is the one that offers customers a beer with their haircut. I wonder whether they will continue the practice when they eventually reopen. After such a long forced cessation of trade, I imagine they will be counting every penny they earn. If you look in the mirror at the back of the shop, you will see my reflection! Yes, I knew it was visible and it amused me to include it.
Brownings Garage
I always take note of Brownings Garage when I pass that way. This is because I used to work in a garage during vacations when I was a student. I was employed to serve petrol and oil but was also called on sometimes to help in the repair shop. In the evenings, when the rest of the staff (and the owner) went home, I would be left in sole charge of the place. I have happy memories of my time there and so tend still to be interested in garages and petrol stations.
In Wharton Street I was charmed by several displays of flowers. To start with, these star-shaped flowers. I’m not putting captions because I don’t know the names of the flowers.
A tree and some front gardens made a colourful display. Here they are in detail:
Whatever their names, they are certainly very bright and cheerful .
Charging the car
I see this car being charged from the street lamp quite often and assume the car owner lives nearby. I sometimes feel as though I am a time traveller who has been shot forward into the future. As a child and teenager, I lived in a house with a street lamp outside it. If you had told me then that a day would come when people would charge their electric cars from street lamps, I would probably have thought you were delirious from reading too much sci-fi! Yet it has come to pass and today we are living in a world that was scarce imaginable even decades ago. Will the next few decades also bring us technical novelties that today we cannot even imagine? In one sense we are all time travellers, ever rushing forwards through time to new adventures.
SilverTiger at home and abroad 