As the hour of my aforementioned clinic appointment drew near, we set out. We like to leave plenty of time to guard against delays.

The bus arrives

We went to the bus stop in St John Street to catch the number 19 which you see arriving above.

Painted façade in Laycock Street

We left the bus and entered Laycock Street where the clinic is situated. I noticed two façades, of which one is pictured above, that had been painted in complex patterns.

Laycock Green

Laycock Street runs beside a small park called Laycock Green where we went to wait for it to be time for my appointment. In the park are several strange hummocks or tumuli. I don’t know their origin.

A bench opposite the clinic

We found a bench, as we did last time, in sight of the clinic, where we settled down to wait. I set my phone’s alarm for 10 minutes before appointment time.

The waiting room

The waiting room was empty and no other patients arrived while we were there but, even so, I wasn’t called until at least 15 minutes after my nominal appointment time.

Back in Upper Street

Afterwards, we walked along Upper Street, looking for somewhere to have coffee.

The Workers’ Cafe
Photo by Tigger

We ended up at the Workers’ Cafe where we have already been a number of times.

Milk shake and smoothie

Instead of coffee, we had a milk shake (Tigger) and a smoothie, respectively.

Pancake

We allowed ourselves to be tempted and had a pancake each. They came with maple syrup and what I think was cream cheese. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with it.

Sunshine on the town hall

In defiance of the weather forecast, the sun came out and I photographed the town hall bathed in unexpected sunshine.

The old police station

Tigger proposed walking home so we set off along Upper Street. We passed the old police station (closed and not replaced) and…

Spire of St Mary’s Church

…I photographed the spire of St Mary’s Church, rising picturesquely above the trees.

Islington Green

We went into Islington Green, which was quite busy – not surprising, given the sunshine and its easy accessibility between main roads.

Monument to Bob the Street Cat

Bob the Street Cat
Photo by Tigger

We visited the monument to Bob the Street Cat. (Explanation and details will be found here.)

A live cat

After sitting on the Green fir a while, we continued on our way home. On the way, we spotted another cat, but a live one, this time. I managed to snatch a photo.

The market was closing

We passed throughChapel Market but the market itself was closing down for the day and most of the stalls had already disappeared.

The Three Johns

As we approached home, my last photo was of the pub called the Three Johns, and the people sitting outside, making the most of the sunshine. I am now looking forward to a relaxing evening at home with Tigger.

The heatwave has finally broken. The cooler weather has of course brought rain and thunderstorms with it. We have been enjoying the cooler temperature (around 18°C).

Cloudy skies

I have a clinic appointment later today and so this morning we went out just for coffee and a stroll locally. The above view from Claremont Square gives an idea of the conditions.

Myddelton Square Gardens

We passed through the gardens in Myddelton Square, which are still pretty, even in dull conditions, but we didn’t stop.

Snail enjoying the humid conditions

There were quite a few snails about, and not only in the gardens: I rescued one that was boldly crossing the pavement and was therefore in danger of being walked on. I imagine that they like the damp conditions which make it easier for them to move about and feed.

Electra’s bicycle

We spied “Electra”’s bicycle (the white one) tethered to the railings. Electra herself, aka the Circling Cyclist, was not visible.

At the deli

It was not raining when we reached the deli and so we sat outside with our coffee. Opposite the deli (not visible above) is a shop and while we were having our coffee, the assistant arrived and proceeded to unlock the door. There are several locks on the door, including one at the top.

Standing on a stool

The assistant is too short to reach the lock at the top of the door. Therefore, she brings with her a bag containing a folding stool and opens this to stand on.

Belisha beacons

In the dull conditions, the flashing lights of the Belisha beacons at the pedestrian crossing were more noticeable than usual.

A glimpse of the waterworks

After coffee, we went for our stroll. I took the above view of the waterworks area through the railings. This is still known as the New River Head as it was the termination of Sir High Myddelton’s famous project. These days, the water is buried deep underground and Thames Water’s Ring Main passes through here.

Hardwicke Street

We passed along Hardwicke Street which makes the southern edge of the New River Head site.

A small road island

At the end of Hardwicke Street is this strange little road island. For inhabitants it has these two fine mature trees. Both the island and the road bear the signs of repairs made necessary by the expanding roots of the trees.

Grand doorway

In passing, I photographed the grand doorway of what was originally the offices of the New River Company and is now a residential block.

Spa Green Gardens

We entered Spa Green Gardens. We saw only two other people there, a dog walker and a man sitting on a bench near the entrance who was apparently noting people’s coming and goings. Perhaps he is doing a survey for the Council.

War memorial and pigeons

The garden’s pigeon population treat the memorial as a useful perch where they are safe from marauding dogs and humans and can keep watch on the availability of food.

The old laboratories

Making our way back, we passed the old laboratories built by the water board which have since been converted into a residential block.

Gardens and old offices

I took a photo through the railings of the old NRC offices (where I photographed the doorway above). I think the turret is purely decorative though it might have had a purpose.

The pub vine

Entering Myddelton Passage, we could check in that other obsession of ours, the pub vine. I’m happy to report that it is flourishing and…

A fine crop of grapes

…has already produced a fine crop of grapes – no doubt encouraged by the recent heatwave. I don’t expect that the grapes will be edible but they are impressive nonetheless.

The “Bonus Cat”

Do you remember the Bonus Cat? (See The Bonus Cat.) we had not managed to photograph any cats today but one turned up at the last moment. This is the one we “discovered” on a previous occasion and jokingly called the bonus cat. This is not the best cat photo ever but we do the best we can!

Familiar scene on a grey day

With a last look at the familiar scene, we made for home where we had lunch in preparation for this afternoon’s outing, of which more anon.

Two years ago to the day, I started a new blog, SilvertTiger at home and abroad, having previously closed my “old” blog, SilverTiger, which I have subsequently restarted and continued. I have explained my reasons for doing this elsewhere (see my post A change of focus) and do not need to repeat that here. This post is a sort of “Happy Anniversary” card, both to myself and to those who follow my blogs, togerther with a look back over the road travelled during that time.

When I started SilverTiger at home and abroad, we were still living in the “old world”, that is, the pre-Covid world. We could not have known then that we were about to face a worldwide pandemic and that the words “Coronavirus” and “Covid-19” would become daily lingustic currency. The history of those events has yet to be writtn but each of us has a unique story to tell, especially those who have lost friends and loved ones to the disease. I have little doubt that the pandemic will prove to be one of those events, like each of the two world wars, that set the world on a new course. Even when life returns to “normal”, it will be a new form of life, born of Covid-19.

To those of you who follow my blogs, whether regularly or intermittently, I am grateful, and hope to carry you with me into the future, whatever it holds. If my wishes count for anything, then I wish all of you the best of good fortune in facing this, our own Brave New World.

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!

The heatwave continues. With temperatures forecast to reach 28-29°C by mid-afternoon, we went out this morning while it was still comparatively cool.

Looking down Chadwell Street

This view of Chadwell Street shows the sunny conditions and the cloudless sky. It also shows that the air is somewhat hazy, no doubt owing to various sorts of pollution.

The hidden church

We walked around Myddelton Square and, in River Street, I took this photo looking towards St Mark’s Church. I have photographed it before from this angle because it amuses me to see how the church is clearly visible in winter, when the trees have shed their leaves, but becomes gradually less visible in spring and summer until now, when it is almost completely hidden from view by luxuriant foliage.

The Bicycle Family
Photo by Tigger

There is a family living in the square who own a couple of bicycles, one for each parent. I suspect they don’t own a car because the bicycles are extenstively fitted out with add-ons. As we went past this morning, they were preparing to go out as a group. Father had, not one but three children on his bicycle. They are quite a sight as they go by but I can’t help thinking that having so many people on one bicycle is rather risky, especially on busy roads.

The deli – no chairs in the shade

On the way, we debated whether to drink our coffee sitting outside the deli but when we arrived, we found that the seats on the shaded side were all occupied. Instead, we carried our cups to the gardens in Myddelton Square, where we had intended to go in any case.

A bench in the shade

We returned to Myddelton Square and found a shaded bench in the gardens. There was a gardener making an unholy racket with a mechanical leaf-blower. Why they indulge in this pointless exercise when the leaves simply blow back onto the path again, I do not know. It’s a waste of time and energy as well as adding to the noise-pollution of the city. Fortunately, he soon completed his task and switched his instrument of aural torture.

A peaceful place

In the ensuing quiet, I could look around at the park and enjoy the peaceful environment that it usually provides.

Just a few pigeons
Photo by Tigger

Once settled on our bench, we looked around for the wildlife. The garden was curiously quiet: there were no pigeons on the grass, as there usually are, nor in the trees. Neither were there any squirrels. After a while, a few pigeons did fly in but they were interested only in the food that someone had left at the foot of a tree.

A corner of the church

I photographed a corner of the church, with a decorative pinnacle, from my seat on the bench. I don’t know whether you can make it out but there is a sign board beside the church here, of the sort that usually stand at the front with the church’s name and details on it. This one, strangely, stands in this hidden corner and is completely blank. Why was it placed here and for what purpose?

Leaving a deposit

In the absence of the squirrels that she had hoped to attract, Tigger left nuts in the bark of several trees, as she did before. The squirrels will find them eventually.

Wood pigeon

I photographed this wood pigeon though he was a bit too far away to make a good photo. Unlike their cousins, the feral pigeons, wood pigeons don’t approach humans. If you do throw them food, they are so slow and indecisive that, more often than not, the feral pigeons jump in and snaffle it.

Butterfly

As we were leaving the gardens, I spotted this butterfly flitting about among the plants. Butterfly numbers have fallen disastrously in recent years and though I have seen a few this year, their numbers are still low.

A lamp and its shadow

This is me being “artistic” 🙂 No, not really. I don’t believe there is any such thing as “art photography”, though some photographs are certainly artistic. This view of the tall lamppost and its shadow appealed to me so I recorded it.