After lunch, Tigger announced her intention to take me out and buy me coffee and cake. I was quite happy with this kind offer, of course! At this point, I did not know where I was being taken and that added extra piquancy to the pleasure.

We caught the 153

We went to St John Street and caught a 153. This suggested that we were heading for the City but that was all I could guess.

London Wall, near All Hallows

We left the bus at All Hallows in London Wall, the last stop before Liverpool Street Station and in the heart of the City. We walked for several minutes through the busy landscape of London’s banking and financial centre. There is always something interesting to see here, often things you missed on previous visits.

Sculpted lintel

As an example, here is the intricately sculpted lintel over the door of 82 London Wall. What high-powered business operates within? A dentist’s clinic, actually!

Black Sheep Coffee, Cutler Street

This is where Tigger brought me, to a branch of Black Sheep Coffee. Tigger knows the City well and Black Sheep is one of her favourite coffee shops.

Inside Black Sheep Coffee

This branch is long and narrow but we found a table with two comfortable armchairs where we could relax and watch the world go by outside the window.

Coffee and cake

With our coffee, as promised, we had a cake each, a muffin for Tigger and a croissant for me. Croissants may be the primordial French breakfast food but, as far as I am concerned, they are good at ant time of day!

A circular arbour

Afterwards, we walked through the streets, heading towards Liverpool Street Station. We stopped here, in this curious circular arbour which Tigger knows and likes but was new to me. One often comes across such unexpected places in the City.

Bishopsgate

We reached the main thoroughfare called Bishopsgate after an actual gate of the City that once stood here. It led us to Liverpool Street Station.

Inside the station

Liverpool Street is actually a side street leading off Bishopsgate and the station takes its name from that street though most people enter and leave through the entrance in Bishopsgate. It is a large and very busy station despite not being as well known as some of London’s more famous stations. Many City workers arrive here in the morning and depart from here in the evening. Beside it is an important bus station, which is where we were going now.

Homeward bound on a 153

We did not have long to wait for our bus and were soon aboard a 153, en route for the Angel, a convenient and comfortable way to conclude our Coffee in the City.

We started the day with a stroll into Chapel Market. The weather was cloudy-sunny and cool.

A quiet morning in Chapel Market

The market was fairly quiet, perhaps because of the relatively early hour. We went into Marks & Spencer without finding what we wanted and then gave our attention to the main purpose of our visit.

The pet shop

Our destination was the pet shop where we bought a bag of nuts for the birds and squirrels.

Light reflected from the windows

We walked along St John Street where we were struck by the appearance of light from the sky reflected onto the paving by the windows of the Angel Building. At first sight, it looked as though snow had fallen just in that area because the reflected light was so bright.

Sunshine in Chadwell Street

As we walked up Chadwell Street, the sun came out and it felt like a pleasant summer day. It was not to last, of course, because of the cloudy conditions causing the sun to play hide and seek.

Road works and traffic lights

On reaching Amwell Street, our first call, of course, was at Myddelton’s deli where we bought coffee. We sat outside and watched activity in the street. There are currently works in progress: Thames Water is digging up the road, leading to single-lane traffic and the installation of temporary traffic lights.

Colourful cushions

After our coffee break, we moved on to Myddelton Square Gardens. On the way, I photographed the colourful cushions in the window of Timorous Beasties. Yes, I’ve photographed them before but they always attract my attention.

We set up shop in Myddelton Square Gsrdens and, as usual, my task was to keep the pigeons busy while Tigger tried to tempt the squirrels down from their trees.

A squirrel appears

To my surprise, while I was occupying the pigeons, a squirrel came along. The trick was to keep the pigeons on one side while tossing nuts to the squirrel on the other. Complicated but possible.

Climbing up the bench

The squirrel became bold enough to climb up the bench in search of food though any movement of mine caused him to flee away.

Squirrel eating

I managed to keep the pigeons at bay while taking this rather nice photo of the squirrel eating nuts.

Pigeons sunbathing

When the sun came out, some of the pigeons retired to a grassy area to take their ease, sunbathe and socialise. We also sat quietly for a while, sharing the peaceful atmosphere and then we gathered up our belongings and returned home for lunch.