This afternoon I had another clinic appointment (yes, another one), this time in Holloway. We started in traditional fashion with a stroll to Amwell Street and our friends at Myddelton’s deli

The kitten in the window

In Claremont Square we enjoyed a rare sighting of the “kitten in the window”. We hadn’t seen him for quite a while and he rewarded our attention with an eye-blink.

Sunshine in Amwell Street

It is a pleasant sunny day today, not too warm, although there were large clouds that hid the sun from time to time. We sat outside the deli with our coffee, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Waiting for the bus in St John Street

After this pleasant interlude, we made our way to the bus stop in St John Street. As I had never been to this particular clinic before, I used Apple Maps to provide a route. This proposed taking the 153 to Holloway and reaching the clinic via a short walk through the back streets. We left with plenty of time to spare in case of errors or hold-ups.

Aboard the 153

The 153 arrived and carried us along its complicated route to the stop where we changed to Shanks’ Pony.

Is this really the way?

Apple Maps is often excellent at finding the route and plotting it on the map, indicating the buses to take and naming the streets to walk along. Occasionally, however, it fails badly. I think this is because it hasn’t caught up with such things as recent changes to bus routes or changes in the built topography. Today was a case in point: the pedestrian part of the route was not as shown and I ended up asking people the way. It turned out that we had almost reached our destination and would have found it if we had walked a few more yards. Score 8/10 to Apple Maps, perhaps.

Pret A Manger

As we were still quite early, we needed somewhere where we could sit and wait as long as necessary. A branch of Pret A Manger filled the bill perfectly. We bought coffee and settled at a table. I set my phone’s alarm for 15 minutes before appointment time and we could relax till it rang.

In the waiting room

I presented my letter at the reception and was instructed to take a seat until I was called. It’s fortunate that Tigger was with me because when I was eventually called, it was from the other end of a large waiting room and, with my attenuated hearing, I didn’t hear my name called.

“That’s you,” said Tigger and off I went.

Tower Block, Metropolitan University

Afterwards, we walked to Holloway Road, where, for old times’ sake, I photographed the tower of what is now the Metropolitan University. In times past, it was the Polytechnic of North London where I lectured on Computer Science for a number of years, quite happy years, as it happens.

The old building

This is the old building, dating, I think, from the beginning of last century when it was created as a technical college. My office and the lecture rooms I frequented were in a nearby side street and I came to the main building infrequently. “My” building has since fallen victim to redevelopment and is unrecognisable.

Holloway Road

We walked along the busy, rather unlovely Holloway Road. We had agreed to have lunch in a cafe after my appointment and were looking for a suitable place.

The Central Library

Along the way, we passed the handsome building that houses Islington’s Central Public Library. We didn’t visit it today as our thoughts were on lunch. We’ll come back another time.

Inside Hope Cafe

We found the Hope Cafe and went in. It is a simple straightforward no-frills cafe in the English tradition, serving a range of basic dishes at moderate prices. Perfect for our purposes.

The art shop

Afterwards, we crossed the road to visit the art shop thoughTigger did not find what she was looking for.

St Mary Magdalen Gardens

We crossed back across the road and entered St Mary Magdalen Gardens, a pleasant park that was originally the burial ground of the church, landscaped as a public amenity after the London burial grounds were closed in the mid-19th century.

The old coroner’s court

This time, we spotted something we had not noticed on our previous visit: the old coroner’s court, dated, according to the lettering in the arch, to 1852. Apparently, coroner’s courts were often situated in, or close to, burial grounds. I suppose there were practical reasons for this, not least that the body was close to where it would be buried after the court hearing.

A glimpse of the church

The church was almost hidden from sight by the abundant foliage of the trees but every now and then a glimpse of it appeared.

One of the fine old trees

There were a number of fine very old trees in the park, such as the one in the photo. How old are they, I wonder?

Westbourne Road

We passed through some back streets (none interesting enough to be worth photographing). Tigger was following her Inner Pigeon and I was following Tigger. That way, we reached a stop in Westbourne Road where we could catch a 153 back to the Angel.

Aboard the 153

We did not have long to wait but all seats were occupied except right at the back which provides an uncomfortably bumpy ride along the minor roads where this bus passes. Finally, though, we were delivered back to the Angel and home.

Tomorrow, Tigger returns to work but then comes the weekend and four days when we can do as we please, always assuming no sudden changes to her work schedule.