After lunch, we decided to pay a visit to Finsbury Library to return the two books I had borrowed, neither of which proved worth reading. Accordingly, we set off via Myddelton Square.

Myddelton Square cat
Photo by Tigger

We kept a lookout for the two cats who live in Myddelton Square and – yes! – one was visible. Cat score = 1.

Passing through Myddelton Square Gardens

We crossed the square by passing through the gardens and…

Myddelton Passage

…entered Myddelton Passage where, as we usually do, we checked…

The pub vine

…to see how the pub vine was doing. It was doing very well and…

A promise of grapes

…promising a fine crop of grapes later in. Even though these will probably be too small to eat, it is still exciting to watch them grow and develop.

Passing through Spa Green Gardens

We cut through Spa Green Gardens. Unfortunately, our passage coincided with the local primary school’s home time and the park and roads were full of children and parents, meaning that discretion made it unwise to take photos of the scene.

Arriving at the library

Tigger cleverly led us by a path that brought us out right beside the library. I was hoping to show Tigger the machine by using it to return my books but when we entered, we were met by a library staff member who, after inviting us to use the hand-gel dispenser, enquired what we wished to do in the library. When I said I was returning books, he told me to put them in the chute outside.

The returns chute

The notice on the chute clearly says to use it when the library is closed and the library was definitely open. However, I didn’t feel inclined to argue. Life’s too short.

Looking around the library

We had a cursory look around the library but the stock on display at present is very much less than it used to be and neither of us were inspired to borrow anything. Fortunately, I have the four books that I bought yesterday.

Colourful objects
Photo by Tigger

We had spotted some colourful objects in the garden on the other side of the road and went to take a look.

Table with chess board

They appear to be two tables with chess boards painted on them. Chess pieces not supplied. But do you notice something?

Only one seat

Each table has only one seat. In each case, the other person would have to sit on the low wall behind the table. That doesn’t seem very friendly or conducive to a long session of chess. I am unsure whether these objects are intended as a facility for public use or are perhaps intended as “art”. Both, perhaps.

Chestnut tree in flower

We returned via Spa Green Gardens but by a different path so I was able to show Tigger the chestnut tree that was finally in flower, having hung fire throughout spring.

We passed back through Myddelton Passage and went to the deli to buy coffee which we took to the gardens in Myddelton Square.

Feeding the squirrels
Photo by Tigger

We found a free bench and sat for a while. Tigger had brought a jar of food for the animals. While I kept the pigeons busy, Tigger courted the squirrels. They are very nervous but she succeeded in attracting them, selecting titbits that they like, such as slices of dried banana which they love.

Feeding from lids
Photo by Tigger

As I have mentioned, the squirrels seem nervous of the pigeons which do their best to grab any food you put out. Tigger had the idea of putting food for squirrels in the lid of the jar and the lid of one of the coffee cups. She managed to “train” the squirrels to eat from these. That made it more difficult for the pigeons to grab what was intended for the squirrels.

Keeping the pigeons busy

Meanwhile, as I said I kept most of the pigeons distracted by feeding them seeds and other small stuff that they can gobble up easily.

Walking back through the gardens

When the animal feed – and our coffee! – were finished, we made our way back through the gardens, enjoying the sunshine and peaceful surroundings.

As we had seen one of the Myddelton Square cats, we wondered whether we would also see the Claremont Square kitten.

The kitten in the window

And we did: in his favourite place in the window. Cat score = 2.

But then, sharp-eyed Tigger noticed something in the basement of another house:

The cat in the basement
Photo by Tigger

It was a cat we had not seen before, a bonus cat! Cat score = 3.

Yes, all right, we are cat fanatics but we know it and it’s all in fun.

Thus ended today’s adventures. Tigger, I’m glad to say, is still on holiday so we have a few more days together to look forward to.

It’s a lovely sunny day today, though not too warm, perfect for a ramble in the City or anywhere else. Tigger, who knows the City well, needed a couple of things from shops she knew there, so off we went.

A sunny day at the Angel

We went down to a bus stop where we could catch a number 43 bus into the City and, while waiting, I took this photo.

Aboard the 43

Travelling mid-morning means that the bused are not crowded as they are apt to be earlier on.

The lower end of Moorgate

We left the bus at the lower end of Moorgate. Here we are in the City proper, where every other building contains a bank and all the well known financial companies have offices. It looks deserted but only because everyone is indoors working at whatever City workers work at.

Telegraph Street

We turned up this narrow way called Telegraph Street. In the City there are many such lanes and alleys, often with picturesque names, remnants no doubt of the medieval street layout.

Whalebone Court

As an example, we came upon this passage called Whalebone Court. Could this, in times past, have been where artisans making goods out of whalebone had their workshops? It’s quite likely though the establishment in the corner these days is a barber’s shop.

Work of art?

Passing an office block, I photographed the metal structure in the lobby. Is it intended as a work of art? These days, artworks assume such a variety of forms that it becomes difficult to distinguish between a work of art and a heap of rubbish awaiting collection.

Throgmorton Street

We entered another narrow thoroughfare, this one called Throgmorton Street. According to Wikipedia, “It is named after Nicholas Throckmorton, chief banker of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the head of an ancient Warwickshire family.”

A handsome pair of telamons

Among the items that claimed my attention in this street was this handsome pair of telamons,…

Premises with a clock

…these premises with a fine old clock that, I’m glad to say, is in working order, and…

Frieze above a gateway

…this frieze in relief above a carriage entrance.

We went for coffee

We made a pause in a branch of Black Sheep Coffee, one of Tigger’s favourite hang-outs on working days in the City.

Inside Black Sheep

Coffee and croissants

Although we had had breakfast before setting out, we allowed ourselves to be tempted and had croissants with our coffee. They were nicer than those we had yesterday and I cautiously awarded them 7 out of 10.

Unascribed work of art

This at least can be unequivocally recognised as a work of art though I did not see a plate with the artist’s name.

Also unascribed

This artwork was also anonymous. Make of it what you will.

Tigger visited the shops that she had come to see and made her purchases but I will not bore with this any further.

London Wall and Wormwood Street

We now walked to Liverpool Street Station where we would catch a bus for home. In the photo, we are crossing London Wall (ahead in the photo) where it mutates into Wormwood Street (behind me).

Liverpool Street Station

To catch our bus we had to cross through Liverpool Street Station, which was quite busy, as railway stations are apt to be at all times of day, and go up a level.

Für das Kind
Flor Kent

On the way through, I photographed the monument recalling the bringing of children to Britain from Europe to save them from Nazi atrocities. It was originally in front of the station entrance but had been moved inside, I don’t know whether temporarily or permanently.

Liverpool Street Bus Station

At the bus station we had a little while to wait for our bus but it eventually arrived.

Aboard the 153

We caught a trusty 153 single-deck bus that whisked us through the City and up the hill to the Angel.

We will have a little rest and then have lunch and perhaps go out again this afternoon.