After several days of grey skies, rain and chilly breezes, the British weather performed one of its mutations yesterday and brought us summer sunshine and heat. I fully expected today to be dull and wet – you know: typical bank holiday weather. But no, it is sunny and warm, even a little too warm for those of us who have difficulty facing extremes of temperature.

Morning in Amwell Street

We decided to avoid the middle of the day – when temperatures are expected to reach 24°C or higher and went out for coffee at the deli this morning. The photo shows the sunlit scene. You can just see the red canopy of the deli in the background.

Sitting on the terrace

We were lucky to find a vacant table outside the deli (people left as we arrived) and took our coffee there. Amwell Street runs roughly north-south so at this time of day, one side is shaded and the other sunlit. Though we were on the sunlit side, the shop’s canopy provided shade.

St Mark’s Church, limned in sunlight

Afterwards, we walked along Inglebert Street which presented a picture of St Mark’s Church limned in sunshine.

Street corner with trees

This is the corner of Inglebert Street with Myddelton Square. What’s special about it? Not much, perhaps, to the unbiased eye, but the sunlit view of Georgian houses and trees struck me as beautiful. My eye is not unbiased but I am happy with that.

Myddelton Square Gardens

We decided we could tolerate a turn around the square and went round it anti-clockwise, or what we called “Electra-wise”, after the direction habitually taken by Electra, aka the Circling Cyclist.

In the gardens

There are gates on the eastern and northern sides of the gardens and we used these to cut across and enjoy the shade and the greenery.

We met a squirrel
Photo by Tigger

On the way, we met a squirrel. I half expected that he would approach, in hope of food, but after a cursory glance at us, he went on with his own activities.

A glimpse of Claremont Close

We paused on the corner of Claremont Close to take a short “shade rest” before continuing. This little enclave intrigues me and I wonder whether it is as pleasant a place to live in as it appears.

Pavement garden flowers
Photo by Tigger

I have previously mentioned the little “pavement garden” on the corner by the reservoir. It is the first of its kind that I saw and also the smallest. These miniature public gardens, created by local communities, seem to be a growing trend. It will be interesting to see how the idea spreads and develops.

Wild Kong

And here, as I haven’t photographed him for a while, is Wild Kong. In his majestic awfulness he has become a landmark in the neighbourhood and something you find yourself looking for as you pass. We might even miss him if he were to be removed…

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As yesterday, we waited until 5 pm and then went out again. According to the forecast, the temperature had risen to 23°C but there was a cooling breeze which made things more comfortable.

Looks promising

Tigger proposed visiting Highbury Fields and I was happy to agree as it sounded like a good place to go. We caught a number 19 bus there. My initial impression was promising: a pleasant green park.

Pleasant paths to explore

There were trees and grass and paths to follow. It seemed good.

Antique street lamp

We started walking and found this old street lamp, unusually tall by today’s standards.

What makes you thinks it’s a bank holiday?

Very soon, however, I was feeling less happy with our surroundings. Why, what was wrong? See above. In a word, people. Crowds of people, too many people. Let’s be clear: all these people have just as much right to be here as I do. After all, I am one of “these people”, adding to the numbers. But there were just too many, mostly in crowds, not making any attempt to keep their distance. I felt distinctly uncomfortable and was looking forward to catching a bus for home.

Highbury Baptist Church

We left the park and took to the streets. Perhaps this would turn out to be an interesting area to explore and photograph? Maybe because I had already been put in a bad mood by the crowds, I found the area dull and lacking in interest, though I did photograph one or two items. Above is the Baptist Church, an unusual modern design, more like a business premises than a church.

War memorial with cannon guns

This war memorial with its conventional laurel-wreath-waving statue of victory has an unusual feature: it is attended by a pair of cannon guns. It commemorates the local men fallen in the South African War.

Hen and Chickens theatre pub

We passed through Highbury Corner which is a crossroads with many streets leading off it. It is a famous bottleneck for traffic. There is a new road layout which doesn’t seem to have improved things very much. I don’t know anything about the Hen and Chickens theatre pub. It quite a pleasant building to look at but I have no idea of its age.

Unidentified building

My attention was caught by this interesting-looking building, partially hidden by vegetation and other buildings. We didn’t go close enough to identify it.

Victorian or Edwardian school

We photographed this school building through the railings as it was of course locked up at this hour. I don’t know when it was originally built but I managed to make out a plaque stating that it was enlarged in 1910. It must therefore have been built originally in either the Victorian or Edwardian period.

St Stephen’s Church

This is St Stephen’s Church Highbury. I note that it possesses a clock but, unfortunately, it is not in working order.

Back at the Angel

Walking a little further, we came to a bus stop where we could catch a bus for home. My final photo (above) records our arrival at the Angel crossroads.