The 153 bus

As I mentioned in previous post, we agreed to meet at Liverpool Street Station. I caught a 153 bus in St John Street.

Liverpool Street Station

I was first at the rendezvous. My first idea was to find a bench in the station but decided I’d rather be out in the open air.

Outside the station

This is the entrance in Liverpool Street that gives the station its name. Next to the railway station is the bus station which provides a convenient terminus for several bus routes. I stood here to await Tigger or text messages from her.

Fulcrum aka “The Wigwam”

Outside is this rather large structure composed of slabs of iron. It is an artwork (Fulcrum by Richard Serra, installed 1987) that has acquired the nickname “Wigwam”. I think you can see why.

Costa Coffee

We went t Costa in Eldon Street because we could sit in there. We came here often in the “old days”. I don’t need to say that it looks somewhat different post-Covid, with protective barriers and reduced seating capacity. Nice easy chairs, though.

The upper level

There has been rebuilding at the station, aimed of course at increasing income. The station has acquired a new upper level with expensive-looking shops, the kind whose window displays don’t show prices. (“If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it.”)

Office space

There is also expensive-looking office space, no doubt for expensive businesses.

“Keep two metres apart”

We had just missed a bus so we went inside the station to wait, as it was raining. As in all public places, there are notices warning us to socially distance but in crowded stations that’s often ignored.

The bus – resting

The bus came in but went for the driver’s rest period. So we waited patiently…

The Banana Tree

The bus eventually came and the ride back to the Angel was uneventful. We decided that as the Banana Tree was serving on the premises, we would eat in rather than have a takeaway. Small steps back to some sort of normality.

On that happy note I will bid you adieu until my next. All bring well, the weekend will enable us to go out and about, whether permitting.

Yesterday (Thursday), I was supposed to collect that laundry that we had deposited at the dry cleaners in Amwell Street on Monday morrning. The problem with that simple plan was that I was expecting delivery of my new shoes and had to wait in for them or risk missing them. In the event, they turned up at about 3:30 pm.

Having taken possession of my shoes, I prepared to go for the laundry. The most difficult part of that getting ready was putting my shoes on! The shoes are designed as “slip-on”, which means they are elasticated so that they expand as you put your feet into them and then close again to make a snug fit. When new, they are very stiff and I had a job levering my feet into them using a shoe horn. Once they are on, they fit perfectly. The stiffness will ease over the next few days. I always wear the same model (Kalahari, from Vegetarian Shoes), so I am used to this easing-in period.

Having managed to shoe myself, I rushed off to the dry cleaners and claimed our laundry. After dragging the loaded trolley up-hill to home, I was happy to wait there for a couple of hours until Tigger to returned from work.

Today, Friday, I am going to meet Tigger, not at home but part-way along her route. Liverpool Street Station makes a good place for a rendezvous as Tigger has to change buses there and I can catch a 153 bus from the Angel to the station. Whoever arrives first will text the other one so that we can meet.

Having met up, I expect we will go somewhere for coffee and whatever else turns up. During the last few weeks we have tended to go to Banana Tree, a Thai-style restaurant, for a takeaway. Perhaps we shall do that again today or maybe an alternative will suggest itself. We’ll see.

I don’t know whether I will manage to take any photos and post them on the blog. That remains to be seen. Otherwise, we now have the weekend to look forward too as well as Monday and Tuesday when Tigger is not working. A four-day weekend: not bad, eh?

Tigger’s holiday has ended and she is back to working three days a week, usually Wednesday to Friday. Today, then, I am on my own until Tigger returns around 6 pm. The weather is warm (15°C) and dry so I have no excuse not to go out. But where should I go? I had no idea so set out, following the inspiration of each moment.

Penton Street

I started by going along Penton Street as there are many paths leading off it in various directions.

Colourful window

I stopped to admire this colourful window with stained glass panels. I imagine it looks even prettier from inside the building.

Mystery hummocks in Joseph Grimaldi Park

I left Penton Street by Donegal Street, which led me to Joseph Grimaldi Park. In this section of the park, the ground forms a series of hummocks. What are they? So far, I have not found an answer. One suggestion is that they are heaps of rubble from the demolished church, now overgrown and left in place as a “feature”. I shall continue looking for the answer.

Rodney Street then Muriel Street

Beside the park runs Rodney Street which later becomes Muriel Street. It was along here that I walked now, having decided to take a look at the Regent’s Canal that passes by here.

Where does this lead?

Before I reached my goal, however, my attention was attracted by this path or lane. It’s called Fife Terrace and I decided to find out where it leads.

The path leads to some houses

The path takes you along beside the canal, which is visible to the right and below, screened by vegetation. It reaches some houses where it seems to end. But no, it dog-legs to the left and leads to some more houses.

It exits in Wynford Road

At this end, Fife Terrace exits into Wynford Road which led me, turning left, back into Muriel Street, completing the circle.

Steps down to the canal

There are shallow steps leading down to the tow path of the canal.

Regent’s Canal and moorings

The canal provides a highway for boats and barges to travel far and wide but there are also moorings, as here, where boats can stop, whether just overnight or for a longer period. Whereas barges once transported goods around Britain, today most seem to serve as houseboats, either for holidaymakers or for permanent waterborne residents.

The Islington Tunnel

What is notable about this site is that it holds one end of the Islington Tunnel. This carries the canal along under the built-up parts of Islington.

Caledonian Road Bridge

On reaching the Caledonian Road Bridge, I decided to return by the path the runs beside the canal.

Path and steps to the road

I walked up the path to the road and as I went, noticed some mosaics of fish in the wall.

Mosaics of fish

Unfortunately, they were partly obscured by vegetation. I continued up the path.

At the top of the path I found the explanation for the fish. The notice implied that there were other mosaics so I went to look.

I found beetles and other insects and…

…a splendid set of birds. It’s a pity they are obscured by vegetation as they deserve to be seen and admired. A lovely school art project, beautifully done.

Back down to the canal

Following the path to view the mosaics had brought me back to the canal. I passed under the bridge to look for another way up.

Uneven steps to the path

I found this rather uncomfortable set of steps up to the path but managed it safely.

The green path

It is a green path but with a hard surface for easy walking but you need to take care because cyclists also use this path (as well as the tow path) and don’t always signal their presence.

Should I go this way?

I debated with myself whether to walk up the road through this estate, though I was not sure where it led, or stick to the route by which I had come.

Arriving at the top

I decided to take a chance and walked up the hill through the estate, reaching the road at the top by this gate, intended, I suppose, to deter cyclists from using the footpath. I doubt whether it does.

Penton Street and Tolpuddle Street

When I looked to see where I was, I laughed, because I was once more on familiar ground in Penton Street. I crossed the road into Tolpuddle Street and Sainsbury’s car park.

Chapel Market

From here I crossed Chapel Market, which presented its usual busy scene.

Baron Street

My last photo is in Baron Street from where I shall soon be home, there to await messages from Tigger that she is on her way back from work. What would she think of my walk? Perhaps we’ll do it together one day.

The weather today was at least dry, which was a blessing because, as I mentioned, my shoes let in the water. I had seriously been thinking of tying plastic bags over my shoes but that was fortunately not necessary. I have ordered new shoes from Vegetarian Shoes in Brighton and they should reach me on Thursday.

The kitten in the window
Photo by Tigger

We passed through Claremont Square and, as usual, looked for the kitten who is sometimes in the window. He was there today, apparently fast asleep.

A promising sky

The sky looked promising with blue showing between white clouds. This gave hope of sunny intervals and no rain.

Coffee at Myddelton’s

By the time we reached Myddelton’s, the weather was suitable for sitting outside with our coffee. However…

Clouds were gathering

…the clouds were beginning to thicken and turn dark. I crossed my fingers that it would not rain.

The marquee has gone

Passing through Lloyd Square, I looked over the railings into the gardens to see how the marquee was progressing (see Shopping and a walk). It had disappeared! So, for whatever purpose it had been erected, that was over and done with. I shall never know what it was for.

Pavement garden

In Granville Street, we came upon this pavement garden. I’ve already mentioned the one in Claremont Square and it now seems that it is not an isolated example, as we shall see.

Granville Square Gardens

Granville Street leads to the square of the same name which has a central garden and a play area for children.

The sun came out in Granville Square

As we walked round the square, the sun made a brief appearance and so, of course, I caught it on camera!

Riceyman Steps

From Granville Square, we descended by Riceyman Steps, location of the fictitious second-hand bookshop in Arnold Bennet’s novel of the same name.

Looking back

The steps are quite dramatic in their way, I suppose, and add an interesting detail to the landscape.

A head in the garden

Riceyman Steps led us down to King’s Cross Road, along which we began walking in the direction of the station. We spied something in a front garden. It looked like a severed head but fortunately it was artificial.

The Prince Albert

To me, there is always something rather sad about a pub that no longer functions as such. This one, on the corner of Acton Street and King’s Cross Road, bears the name of the Prince Albert. The original pub was probably Victorian but the current building dates from 1922. It closed in 2005 (so the pandemic is not to blame) and is now rented out as offices.

Pigeons strike lucky
Photo by Tigger

Residents had been putting out rubbish ready for collection. This pair of pigeons had struck lucky and found food. We were careful not to disturb them by going too close.

Another pavement garden

Further along in Acton Street we found another pavement garden, one of those created around the base of an existing tree. This one has been carefully arranged and tended. Affixed to the tree is a notice which illustrates one of the problems attendant on such gardens: it asks the thief who had stolen plants from the garden to cease doing so. The garden is provided by the community for the pleasure of all and should be respected.

Winged lions above a doorway

I have already indicated that our neighbourhood is a place of many lions, from lion-head door knockers through lion-face plaques to whole-body representations. This building that is currently occupied by a Travelodge hotel had a pair of winged lions above the entrance. And these are winged lions, not griffons, which are half-lion and half-eagle.

Lion-face plaque on a building

In St Chad’s Place we find one of the aforementioned plaques, representing a lion’s face. His mouth is open as though he is roaring but he doesn’t look very fierce.

A glimpse of the Underground

By holding the camera above a wall I was able to obtain a glimpse of the Underground. Despite its name, London Underground, much of this railway system is actually above ground or in cuttings open to the sky.

St Chad’s Place

St Chad’s Place ends in this narrow alley passing through buildings. It brings us back into King’s Cross Road.

Field Street

We also explored this cobbled street called Field Street. It is a cul de sac and short, though not the shortest street in London. There are still quite a few cobbled streets in London. They may not be very comfortable to drive on but they are very durable.

Victorian monograms

The Victorians liked experimenting with fonts and creating clever monograms. Here we have two. One easy to decipher – it is “DA” or “AD” – but what about the other?

The foundation date

The second one is the building’s foundation date, 1888. The number lends itself to symmetrical rearrangement and the designer has taken advantage of this fact.

The weather was pretty abominable this morning and it was pelting with rain but we had a chore to do that we could put off no longer: to take the laundry to the local launderette. To make things worse, my shoes, my only pair, have sprung a leak. Yes, both shoes. Notwithstanding, we set out bravely with the loaded trolley.

Puddles everywhere

The gutters were running like rivers and every slight hollow in the road or pavement had become a pond.

A mournful Claremont Square

The sky was cloudy and the light dull, making for a mournful scene. We had a job to do, though, and pressed on.

Water, water, everywhere

There was water running along roads and running across roads.

Massive puddles collected

Large puddles collected, which would no doubt be used later by the pigeons for bathing. For now, the wildlife, and sensible humans, were taking shelter.

Running across the road

We delivered the laundry and crossed the road to Myddelton’s deli to buy coffee. There was no question of sitting outside today, so, coffee in hand, we hurried home, stopping only to photograph the water running across Inglebert Street.

Around midday, we thought about going out again because Tigger needed to buy socks. We put on our coats and hats and stepped outside. The rain was so heavy that we stepped right back inside again! We decided to have lunch in the hope that the conditions would be more amenable later.

Barely better

We tried again after lunch and found the conditions were barely improved. However, Tigger needed her socks and we would be dry both on the bus and in the shops so we set out.

Aboard the number 30 bus

We caught a number 30 bus which, we hoped, would deliver us more or less to the shops that Tigger wished to visit. If I sound slightly uncertain it is because there have been a lot of bus route changes lately and not always well publicised. Add to that temporary changes and bus stop closures owing to road works, and our uncertainty is understandable.

We left the bus here

We left the bus near Portman Square, quite a posh area of London.

Menswear dept, Marks & Spencer

We went into the nearby branch of Marks & Spencer and took the escalator to the menswear department. This is because Tigger prefers men’s socks to the female variety. She found what she wanted so the expedition was a success.

Down the escalator
Photo by Tigger

We went down the escalator and had a look around though there was nothing else that we wanted.

For eggs, apparently

Among the objects on display was a set of creations in wire. This one is apparently for holding eggs – not sure whether cooked or raw.

Ladies’ fashions

In the way out we passed through the ladies’ fashions department and Tigger amused me by pointing to displays and specifying the period they came from, according to her: “1950s… 1970s… 1990s…” Don’t M&S sell modern clothes at all? 🙂

Oxford Street

We exited into Oxford Street, London’s famous, and therefore busy, shopping street. Any store with pretensions of being important has to have a branch here. As you might imagine, it is not one of my favourite places.

Selfridge’s

We passed in front of Selfridge’s but, happily, did not go in. Perhaps you have seen the TV series about the American Harry Gordon Selfridge who founded the store in 1908 and became rich and famous but died in relatively straightened circumstances in 1947. A lesson of some kind, no doubt.

Gee’s Court

We went into this curious area, called Gee’s Court, in search of coffee. There were several places but we chose the Euphorium Bakery as there were few customers in there.

Inside Euphorium

We sat at a table to drink our coffee, just like in the “old days” (i.e. before Covid).

Sunshine!

While we were sitting there, the sun suddenly put in an appearance and as it was such a rare occurrence, I thought I had better take a photo! I didn’t expect it would last.

Still shining

But, actually, it did and was still shining when we left the cafe, so I took another photo just in case I wasn’t believed!

Walking in Oxford Street

We continued walking along Oxford Street but now looking for a stop where we could catch a bus home.

Today’s pigeon picture

Along the way, we spied a gathering of “my friends”, as Tigger calls them, pigeons, in other words. So I stopped to take a photo.

Aboard a number 73

It wasn’t long before we found a stop where we could board a number 73 bus. It carried us safely back to the Angel, concluding our outings for today.