I expect you guessed that we did go out again. If so, you were right. Tigger proposed walking along the New River, so that’s what we did. Well, we walked along a small part of it, as you will see.

Duncan Terrace Gardens

We started in Duncan Terrace Gardens, a location that will familiar to readers of this blog. The river, of course, runs underground in a culvert here, so you have to take my word for it that it does indeed exist.

A hoverfly on her finger

There were hoverflies in the gardens. We discovered long ago that these fascinating creatures, if you offer them a finger, can sometimes be persuaded to land on it. Here is a case in point. Why they are attracted to fingers, we do not know, but they are, though they don’t stay long. (Despite being striped like wasps, hoverflies don’t sting and are gentle creatures.)

Tree in blossom

Everywhere we looked there were flowers and trees in blossom. We walked through a landscape of beauty.

In the hollow of a tree

Nature is remarkable for the way organisms grow in apparently unsuitable environments. This dandelion, for example, is growing in a small hollow in a tree. I don’t know how it has managed to thrive but it has: it has a flower and so will produce seeds later. There is perhaps a lesson in that.

Squirrel

We came upon a couple of squirrels rooting about in the undergrowth. Though occupied with their own activities, they kept an eye on us just in case we had something to offer. While I took the above video, Tigger took these two photos with her better camera.

Squirrels
Photos by Tigger

Soft and fluffy in body they may be but squirrels are not so soft in character (they wouldn’t survive if they were) and these two, suddenly left off what they were doing to engage in a prolonged fight in a tree. We preferred to leave them to it and walk on…

Busy pigeons

Here is today’s pigeon picture. Well, you knew there would be one, didn’t you? 🙂

Admired but unknown

We admired these flowers but we don’t know their name.

Trees along the (invisible) river

The gardens end as an enclosed area and the covered river continues as a road-side verge but here too are some beautiful trees among which this mature yew is prominent.

Charles Lamb’s House

And, of course, we must always photograph the house of Charles Lamb!

Breaking for coffee

To continue our river walk, we had to take to walking along part of Essex Road. This is a less pleasant environment but did at least provide a chance for a coffee break!

Astey’s Row Rock Gardens

We could now enter the next part of the strip of gardens covering the New River, this part being called Astey’s Row Rock Gardens.

Rocks in the rock gardens

The garden is indeed full of rocks but they are artificial. What they are made of, though, I do not know.

Interlude for cat lovers

We spotted these two cats outside the house where they live. How do we know they live here? Because both evinced signs of wanting to be let in, especially the cat by the door who miaowed impatiently when anyone went by.

The river surfaces

Here at last, in case you were wondering whether I had made up a fictitious river, is proof that it actually exists. Here it runs on the surface for a certain distance before disappearing again. Notice how clean and transparent the water is.

Moorhen

The river is frequented by water fowl, some of whom have taken up residence, such as this moorhen.

We found an unoccupied bench and sat in the sun for a while, enjoying the sunshine and the scenery.

Pink blossom

I took this last photo of sunlit blossom as we left the gardens. From here, it was a short walk to rejoin Essex Road and find a bus stop.

Here comes the bus

We boarded a 73 bus, happily not too crowded, though we had to take a seat facing the rear. From that position, I took an over-the-shoulder photo.

Over my shoulder

The bus takes us to within a short walk from home where we made tea and Tigger produced a Simnel cake that she bought at Martyn’s in Muswell Hill yesterday. A good round-off for our outing!

It’s a sunny day today though still with a touch of chill on the air. As tomorrow’s forecast was less beguiling (though it seems to have improved in the meantime), we thought we would put off the shopping till then and enjoy the sunshine today.

Busy Chapel Market

We walked through to a busy Chapel Market, intending to buy a takeaway lunch (the only sort you can buy at present) and eat it in Culpeper Community Garden.

Many of the shops that are usually open on Sunday were closed, presumably because it is Easter Sunday.

Wenzel’s

Fortunately, we found Wenzel’s open and could buy some hot food items and coffee.

Impromptu self-portrait

On leaving the premises, I wanted to photograph the shop but this was a little difficult because I was carrying two cups of coffee in a cup holder and therefore hand only one hand free. My finger slipped, resulting in the above impromptu self-portrait!

We made our way to Culpeper Park, only to find that the Community Garden was closed. Looking around the park, we could see that the few benches were all occupied.

In view of this, Tigger proposed that we take our lunch home and eat it there, going out again later. It seemed the only reasonable solution, damp squib though it was, and that is what we did.

Will we go out again later? If will be sure to let you know!

Today’s outing was mainly a bus ride to Muswell Hill, a district of Haringey in North London. To reach it, we took a number 43 bus from The Angel.

Front seat, upstairs

We managed to have front seats upstairs from where you have a good view of the landscape you pass through.

Pausing at Archway

The bus pauses briefly at Archway, a district that is still within the Borough of Islington.

The road bridge
Photo by Tigger

The name of the district comes from the “archway” formed by this bridge carrying one road over another. The current cast-iron bridge dates from 1900 when it was built to replace an earlier brick structure of 1813.

Muswell Hill Broadway

We left the bus here, on Muswell Hill Broadway. The name, by the way, comes from Anglo-Saxon times. There must have been a mossy or boggy area with a spring because the name derives from moes (“moss”) and wella (“spring”). The second word, Hill, was added in the 17th century.

W. Martyn’s
Photo by Tigger

This was our intended destination, W. Martyn’s, tea and coffee specialists and delicatessen. Tigger had a few purchases to make.

Old church now a steakhouse

After the shopping, we crossed the road to a cafe that was serving coffee through a window. While Tigger was buying coffee, I photographed this striking building. Built in 1902 as a Presbyterian church, it is now occupied by Carter & Miller’s Steakhouse. I wonder what the original founders would have thought of this change of use? Perhaps it is as well that they do not know.

A view from Hillfield Park

We went for a little walk and were impressed by the view from this street appropriately called Hillfield Park. Incidentally, this view of the terrain shows plausible reasons for the addition of “Hill” to the name of the district. It is indeed atop a hill.

Roundabout or circus

Continuing our walk, we passed round this feature which no doubt has a name though I haven’t been able to discover what it is.

We walked past at least two bus stops both in order to have a walk and to give Tigger time to finish her coffee. (I did not have any.)

Here comes the bus

We missed a couple of buses but that didn’t matter. When we were ready for a bus, we had to wait only 5 minutes for one.

Aboard the bus

We sat on the lower deck for the return journey. The red stuff on the front seat is from a notice telling people not to sit there. Keeping this seat vacant is supposed to help protect the driver from infection. Whether it really helps, I cannot say, but I hope so, because 51 London bus drivers have died from Covid-19 so far.

Door no more

I took this photo from the bus because I was intrigued by the doorway in the wall that is no longer a doorway. To where did it lead and why has it been closed off? The decorative arch and the engraved name suggest that it was once an important entrance.

Phone box greenhouse
Photo by Tigger

A number of phone boxes have been decommissioned and some of these have been taken in hand by street artists or other people with inventive minds. This box has been turned into a greenhouse and its inhabitant has already spread out through the gaps where panels have been removed.

Back in familiar territory

We left the bus here, once more in familiar territory, and made our way home.

Skyscape
Photo by Tigger

And to end with, here is a dramatic skyscape taken by Tigger.

Today is Good Friday and for me it is a good day because Tigger doesn’t have to go to work and we can spend it together.

This afternoon was sunny and in the sun it was warm but there was also a breeze with a cold edge to it. Despite this, we decided to take our coffee to Percy Circus. First, though, we went for a little walk around our neighbourhood.

Under repair already

To my surprise, the new water leak that I discovered yesterday is already undergoing repair. Maybe it was flooding local dwellings and this prompted a fast response.

Still leaking

Meanwhile, this old leak, despite being supposedly repaired twice, is still leaking.

Still here

The mysterious “street door” that I speculated would lead to a hyperworld, is still here. No one seems to need a door.

Window cat
Photo by Tigger

On our way through Claremont Square we always watch for the cats – there are two, at least. Today we were lucky and bagged one. It was busy grooming but consented to pose for a few seconds.

The Circling Cyclist

We also spotted the Circling Cyclist going round and round Myddelton Square. She gets up quite a speed as she goes so take care crossing the road!

Ice Cream van

Another sign of the fine weather was the appearance of an ice-cream van, complete with music-box chimes. I didn’t see people rushing to buy so perhaps the cold wind was a disincentive.

Tree in blossom

We crossed through Myddelton Square Garden where I photographed this lovely tree in blossom, positively shining in the sunlight.

Fine Georgian style houses in Wharton Street

Coffee in hand, we walked down Wharton Street whose fine Georgian style houses were bathed in sunshine. Note the BT Tower visible in the distance.

Bedding in Percy Circus

In Percy Circus, we found bedding belonging to a rough sleeper. Finding bedding, as I often do, always puzzles me: do they just abandon their bedding or do they assume that no one would steal it or dispose of it and that it will still be here when they return?

Coffee in the Circus

We consumed our coffee in the Circus. Cheers!

Fine old trees

Percy Circus is home to some fine old trees and I photographed this venerable example contrasted against the background houses. Tree and houses are probably about the same age!

The path to Bevin Court

On the return journey, we passed through Bevin Court, as we usually do. Today, there were more flowers and more blossom than ever before. So, to end with, here are some pictures of flowers and related things taken by us both, the first by me and the rest, the better ones, by Tigger.

Tree blossom

The rest are by Tigger.

“Golden bush”

“Greenbells”

Tigger called these “greenbells” on an analogy with bluebells. Yes, we don’t know their more usual name.

Hoverfly

This is our first hoverfly of the season. (We like hoverflies.)

Bee

This is our first definite sighing this season of a bee.

(I don’t think the above needs a caption!)

The afternoon turned out warm and sunny but, being on my own, I did not feel like straying far and so I made do with a stroll around Myddelton Square Garden.

Dumped or lost?

The first thing I came upon was this object, apparently lost or dumped. I have no idea what it is but guess (well, it is a cross) that it has something to do with Easter.

Wild Kong defaced

I haven’t photographed Wild Kong for a while but today I noticed that something had been added to him and went for a look. Someone has defaced him by applying a couple of stickers promoting one of the candidates in the forthcoming election for Mayor of London. Shame in them (especially as they are supporting the wrong candidate!)

Pigeon couple

I photographed this pair of pigeons foraging because they made me think of Tigger and me on our walks un search of coffee!

St Mark’s Church

St Mark’s Church was locked up, of course, but as they have been putting objects in the doorway that are relevant to the season, I went to look.

Flowers and notices

The flowers are, I suppose, symbolic of Easter. The upper notice gives a list of church events. As these all occur between March 28th and April 4th, I assume they must refer to services held online as the church itself would not be open.

Whose postbox?

This is something I had not noticed before but that jumped out at me today. It is a postbox affixed to the railings of the garden. But who does it belong to? It looks in good condition and the lock is shiny, suggesting regular use. But who its owner might be is a mystery!

There were a lot of flowers in the garden, as you might imagine, and I took a lot of photos. I will just post a few of these without captions as captions would be superfluous, I think.

Calm and peaceful

I had a slow stroll round the garden, taking in all the details. There were quite few people sitting in the benches and the atmosphere was calm and peaceful.

Unsuccessful suitor

The garden’s pigeon population was present in large numbers and they were generally relaxed and at ease. This presented an opportunity for single males to play suitor to females. It’s curious but most of the encounters I have witnessed have led to the male being snubbed, as here. It seems that it’s hard work being a male pigeon!

“Pigeon Central”

This area in the centre of the garden is where the main group of pigeons come to rest and on sunny days to sunbathe and I think of it as “Pigeon Central”. If something disturbs them, such as a loose dog, they all fly up in a great flurry of wings to perch in the trees. Then they begin to drift down again in twos and threes when the disturbance is over.

Something to eat in the tree

There must have been something good to eat in this tree because some of the pigeons were hopping about in it, with much flapping of wings as they tried to balance on the flimsier twigs, and then pecking at what they had found.

Someone’s feeding the squirrels

As I left the garden and walked round the outside, I came upon this tree in which several squirrels were moving about – someone on the other side of the tree was putting out food!

A “Georgian corner”

I took a last photo of the Georgian style houses in Myddelton Square and then made my way home. That walk, though, was not entirely without incident because…

Another water leak

…I found another water leak in Claremont Square!

Down the drain

All that lovely, useful water is pouring into the drains. Perhaps I should apply for a job with Thames Water as a leak scout, if such a thing exists. There would be plenty of opportunities to exercise my craft, it seems.

I did not tarry, however, but made for home to brew tea, write this and follow Tigger’s progress on her homeward journey. With the bank holiday tomorrow, we have a long weekend to look forward to.