Another hot day is in the offing with a predicted maximum this afternoon of 28°C. Once again, then, we went out just after 9 am to beat the heat.

Callers to my blog come from all over the world (see the above map for a recent day) and in some of these countries, the temperatures are higher than in ours. I’m sure that to some people, then, my grumbles about the heat will seem exaggerated, but we can only speak about what we know and we Brits are simply not used to extremes of temperature, whether of heat or cold. We react to them accordingly.

Shaded path beside the Angel Building

We did at least take the “long way round” when we went to the deli. We cut the corner at the crossroads by following the shaded path beside the office block called the Angel Building.

St John Street

This brought us into St John Street which was not very busy at this hour.

Selfish cyclist

Here we met a selfish cyclist riding on the pavement. This constitutes a danger to pedestrians and is in fact illegal. Not that this stops these idiots and they continue without fear of being challenged by our largely invisible police force.

Butterfly

In Chadwell Street, a butterfly was visiting a display of flowers in front of a house. I mentioned yesterday the decline in the butterfly population and any sighting if these pretty creatures is welcome. Here is a closer view by Tigger:

Butterfly by Tigger

I think this is a member of the species called Cabbage White owing to their habit of laying eggs on cabbage plants which the caterpillars proceed to turn into lacework by eating the green parts of the leaves. Gardeners are therefore less likely to share my pleasure in seeing them!

Trees in back gardens

I took this photo on the corner of Chadwell Street with Myddelton Square to show the trees growing in the back gardens of houses. This neighbourhood is quite rich in trees which, in my view, enhances its beauty.

Variegated tree in Myddelton Square

I was also struck by this variegated tree in the gardens of Myddelton Square. It was one of several.

No window box, just a faded flag

While other houses have splendid window boxes, this one just has a rather tired-looking St George’s flag. Perhaps they are followers of football, something in which I have no interest whatever.

Outside Myddelton’s deli
Photo by Tigger

As we approached Myddlton’s deli, we could see that all the tables were free but in the short time it took us to walk the rest of the way, the best tables became occupied. While I went inside to buy coffee, Tigger waited outside where she took this photo.

The well-stocked deli

I went inside and bought our coffee. The deli is always well stocked with interesting foodstuffs, much of which I have not seen elsewhere.

Sunshine and shade in the gardens

We carried our coffee to Myddelton Square Gardens and sat in what I have come to think of as our usual bench. There were more pigeons present today than yesterday and they soon approached when we produced food.

One-footed pigeon

I spotted a one-footed pigeon and concentrated on him as he found it difficult to scrabble for food with the others.

Hand-feeding
Photo by Tigger

This was not the one-footed pigeon I have previously referred to as “my friend” who is happy to perch on my knee. This one was quite nervous but eventually became confident enough to take food from my hand. I did this because otherwise he kept losing out to others in the general scramble.

Feral pigeons seem prone to injuring their feet and I see many with missing toes, and a damaged or missing foot. I imagine that if they lose or badly injure both feet then they cannot survive.

Squirrel scampering

Tigger, as usual, left some nuts for the squirrels, wedging them in the bark of trees. While she was doing that at this tree, an observant squirrel came down, grabbed a nut and scampered off up the tree. The squirrels in this garden seem quite nervous (both of humans and of pigeons!) and are not ready to accept food from the hand as they are in some parks.

Squirrel eating on the ground

Tigger put some food beside this other tree and this time, there was a squirrel brave enough to sit and eat in the ground.

Leaving nuts on the tree

Tigger left more nuts in the bark of trees. The squirrels find them but the birds are unaware of them.

Leaving the lovely gardens

The air was becoming warmer now and so, as we had finished our coffee and used up all the food we had brought for the birds and squirrels, we set out for home.

When the heatwave finally ebbs, we will think about venturing more widely but, for now, we shall spend the afternoon emulating those sensible Spanish folk who gave the world that noble pastime, the siesta!