This morning’s outing was for utilitarian purposes and hardly counted as a “walk”, despite our pleasant coffee break at Myddelton’s. After lunch, Tigger proposed a more adventurous excursion, one that would involve a bus ride there and back.

The immediate destination would be Waterloo Station, for the same reason that we had based yesterday’s jaunt on King’s Cross Station: the availability of toilets!

Aboard the 341

In St John Street we boarded a 341 bus, destination Waterloo Station. Why Waterloo? Because, as we shall see, there are some items of interest in that area.

Bus cctv

You may know that London’s buses carry several cctv cameras which record while the bus is in service. A screen shows, in rotation, a still from each camera. We appeared on it, of course.

Can you see us?

The image is slightly distorted by the transparent plastic screen in front of our seat.

Waterloo Station

Waterloo Station is quite familiar to us because so many of our expeditions have involved catching trains here. I was worried that it might be crowded but, though there was plenty of activity, it was easy not over-busy and it was easy to move about. And, yes, the toilets were open.

The London Eye

Near Waterloo Station is a park called Jubilee Gardens. We crossed this and I photographed the London Eye, currently closed and motionless.

The Thames

From there, we arrived at London’s famous river, the Thames, which had been one of our reasons for making this trip because we had not visited it for a long time.

Jubilee Oracle
Alexander, 1980

Here we found this abstract sculpture, Jubilee Oracle, by Alexander. It contains a lengthy comment by the artist. You may be able to read it in the photo but, if not, there is a transcript here.

International Brigades Memorial

We also visited the International Brigades Memorial that stands in the gardens. More information about it can be found here.

Motor Cyclist
Siegfried Charoux

Nearby, we discovered this intriguing sculpture of a motor cyclist by Siegfried Charoux. It looks a little neglected.

The Graffiti Tunnel

We now made our way to the other place we intended to visit, the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel. Once an ordinary road running under Waterloo Station, Leake Street has been closed to traffic and turned over to use by street artists. We like to visit it from time to time to view the continually changing display of paintings. Here follows a small selection of what we saw today.

We returned to Waterloo Station where we visited the upper level. We often came here “before Covid”, either before departing or after returning from a trip, to visit one of the several restaurants. Today they were all closed but we found an artwork on display.

The Sunbathers
Peter Lazlo Peri, 1951

Making a strange contrast with its surroundings, it is The Sunbathers by Peter Lazlo Peri, originally created for the Festival of Britain, then lost and finally rediscovered (see here).

Down the escalator

We descended by one of the escalators and I paid a visit to “the facilities”.

Waterloo Station Entrance

We left the station by this famous entrance and made for the bus stop. We returned home by a different route which required two buses.

On the number 30 bus

Here we are in the second of those buses, a number 30, currently heading towards King’s Cross Station. A short ride up the hill brought us home safe and sound.

To celebrate, I made tea with Marmite toast!

In British folklore, Monday was always washday, the day of the week when families carried out what was, before the invention of washing machines, a major household task. If you have ever watched one of those re-enactment series on TV where a modern family spends a month or so living in the manner of past ages, you will have some idea of how onerous a duty it was.

Happily, we live in modern times when the average family owns a washing machine or, like us, has recourse to paid-for laundry services.

This morning, then, Tigger listed the items to be washed and packed them into the shopping trolley. Then off we went to Amwell Street to deliver the burden to the dry cleaner’s to invoke their laundry service.

It was a beautiful morning, sunny and warm but for a chilly breeze.

House clearance

On our way through Claremont Square, we came upon this sight. A house – or perhaps one of the flats within it – is being cleared. The occupants have presumably departed, leaving considerable clutter behind them. That is all being bagged and tipped out into the street to be carted away to the tip.

A once loved toy

Perhaps it is sentimental of me to find this object rather sad: a once loved toy, now cast out and forgotten. How fickle we humans can be!

Myddelton Square

We paused to take contre-jour photos of Myddelton Square which was luxuriating in spring sunshine. Not altogether successful as photos go but you get the idea, I’m sure.

We delivered our cargo to the dry cleaner, who uttered the ritual phrase “Thursday morning”, and then we were free to disport ourselves.

You probably guessed where we went next.

Myddelton’s deli

Yes, we went across the road to Myddelton’s deli for coffee. They have tables and chairs outside again and so we chose to drink our coffee sitting outside in the sun.

Amwell Street in spring sunshine

I took this photo of Amwell Street while sitting at a table at Myddelton’s.

Afterwards, we made our way home though we may go out again later. If we do, I will be sure to let you know!