We may have been away from home only from Tuesday to Friday but I awoke this morning to the usual with a slight but pleasant tinge of novelty. Like the cat, I feel happiest on my home turf.

Sunshine in Myddelton Square

After leisurely start to the day, we took a stroll through Myddelton Square to the deli.

A fire appliance

We saw a fire appliance creeping slowly round the square and later…

What’s the fire crew doing?

…we saw the crew doing something to water outlets in the street. What? Testing them, perhaps?

Coffee at the deli

We found a table at the deli and drank our coffee in familiar surroundings once again.

Cutting through the gardens

By the time we had finished our coffee, it had started spitting with rain so we thought we had better go directly home. On the way, we cut through the gardens of Myddelton Square.

Another leak?

As we went, we noticed these excavations dug by Thames Water. Have they found yet another leak? One has the impression that the water distribution network is steadily crumbling away.

Duncan Terrace Gardens

After lunch, the weather looked better so we went out for a leisurely stroll and walked through Duncan Terrace Gardens which we have not visited for a while.

A squirrel claims a share

Someone was feeding the pigeons but then a squirrel came along to claim a share and, as you can see, he was in luck.

Duncan Street

We walked up Duncan Street to arrive at…

Upper Street

…a busy Upper Street. Tigger proposed going to Caffè Nero for tea and toasted teacakes. I was happy to agree!

In Caffè Nero

The coffee shop was busy but Tigger found a vacant table while I was ordering at the counter.

Tea and toasted teacakes

The little slices of butter come straight from the fridge and are therefore hard to spread even though the teacakes are warm.

Just then, my sister called from Canada. She had called yesterday when we were on the train and I had put her off because, with my hearing and the racket of train noise, I would have had difficulty coping with a phone call. I therefore didn’t want to put her off again and so went ahead with the call. It probably annoyed other customers because I have my phone on loudspeaker in order to hear better.

The pigeons of Culpeper Park

To return home, we made a loop round to Culpeper Park where I took a photo of “my friends” (dixit Tigger), the resident pigeons. Someone had put food out for them and they were happily feasting, a cheerful image to end with.