The three library books that I borrowed from the library (see Visiting Finsbury Library) were not a great success. I read one which was (like the curate’s legendary egg) good in parts, found that I had already read one and abandoned the third, a historical novel, as it did not appeal to me. Today, then, I visited the library again, hoping to be more successful in my choice.

Wild Kong
Richard Orlinski

It was a beautiful sunny day, as you can perhaps see from this across-the-road snap of Wild Kong. I haven’t photographed him for a while and didn’t want him to feel neglected 🙂

Claremont Square and reservoir

There are several ways to go Finsbury Library and I chose to take the “pretty route”, avoiding main roads as far as possible. In the above photo you can just about make out Wild Kong again in the distance.

Dog wearing a hi-vis jacket

Although the sun was quite warm, the air was still cold and people were wisely dressing appropriately, including this dog with his hi-vis jacket.

Myddelton Square

Even if the air temperature is low, sunshine makes everything seem more cheerful as this picture of Myddelton Square shows (well, to me, at any rate).

As I approached the church I could hear an annoyingly loud noise made by a machine, spoiling the peaceful atmosphere of the square.

Blowing leaves

I guessed that it was a gardener using a mechanical leaf-blower in the gardens and so it turned out. While I can understand that they want to keep the paths clear (if you slipped on wet leaves and broke your leg you might decide to sue the Council), doing it this way seems rather a fatuous exercise as the wind simply blows them back onto the path again.

Tall trees in Myddelton Passage

Walking through Myddelton Passage, I stopped to admire these beautiful tall trees. The leaves are turning brown and the trees will soon be bare. Nature’s rhythms cannot be denied but I am looking forward to spring when the trees become freshly green again.

The pub vine – past its best

The pub vine too was looking rather sorry for itself. Does it remember its glory days with bunches of ripening grapes?

Rosebery Avenue

I crossed Rosebery Avenue where the low sun was shining becomingly through the foliage of the trees.

Spa Green

I entered Spa Green whose many-coloured trees were also full of sunshine.

St John Street

A gate in Spa Green gives access to a little road called Lloyd’s Row which, in turn, leads out into St John Street, once a main thoroughfare for cattle being driven to their deaths in Smithfield Market. Happily, no livestock makes that ominous journey today though I doubt whether their killing is any kinder now than then.

Clock tower, City University

I soon reached the campus building of City University with its beautiful old clock that still faithfully and musically rings the quartes and counts out the hours.

Finsbury Library

Not far from the clock tower building is the library. Above the door in large 3D moulded characters, it has its address where one would expect to see the library’s name. A glance, though, suffices to see that this is indeed a library.

Inside the library

Once inside the library, my first job was to return the books I had borrowed. To do this meant confronting the mechanical library assistant. You use the touch screen to indicate “Return Items” and place your books in the cubby hole. Their details appear on the screen, showing they have been returned and you are asked whether you want a receipt. I said yes. The computer is no doubt trustworthy but there’s no harm in making sure!

I then had to choose some books. I again chose three then sat down to have a look at them, just to see whether they seemed my sort of book. I don’t look at the beginning of the book because that’s where the author is doing his/her best to draw you in. I look at some random page in the middle, catching the author in an unguarded moment, as it were.

Back to the electronic library assistant

Then I had to deal with the electronic library assistant again. This time I pressed “Borrow Items”, put my books in the hole and my card in the slot. I watched while the books’ details were catalogued in the screen and said “Yes” to a receipt. The receipt has the return date on it because, of course, there is no longer anyone to stamp this inside the books. (Technology has disadvantages as well as its benefits.)

Whiskin Street

To start back, I entered a short road called Whiskin Street. It is named after a Mr John Whiskin who leased the land in 1823 in order to build on it.

Gloucester Way

I turned right into Gloucester Way (pronounced “gloster”, remember), which led me once more to…

Spa Green

…Spa Green, with its war memorial, beloved of the resident pigeons.

St John Street

This time, I walked up to the top of Rosebery Avenue and turned into St John Street, making my way home from there.

Now all I have to do is read those books! Let’s hope this choice turns out more successful than the last one.

Sainsbury’s was its usual self this morning for our shopping run. We have this down to a fine art now: I go off for my items while Tigger starts the main shop, then we meet up and do the rest together. This worked so well last week that by the time I had finished mine, Tigger was already in the checkout queue, unloading the trolley onto the moving belt. Today we left home at 11 am and were home again before midday.

Entrance to Sainbury’s

Chapel Market was, if anything, a little less busy than usual. Perhaps the weather had something to do with it.

On my way through Chapel Market

After lunch, we thought about going out. The weather was not really conducive to wandering about on foot. Perhaps we should go on a bus ride?

Lingering stalls, Farmers’ Market

We walked along Chapel Market where a few stalls of the weekly Farmers’ Market were still lingering to catch last-minute sales.

Cally Road

We arrived at Caldonian Road (known locally as “the Cally Road”) where we were thinking of catching a bus.

More Cally Road

Tigger realised – fortunately before the bus arrived – that she had left her Oyster card at home. In view of this, we decided to stroll home again, having coffee on the way.

Dead pub

We passed this old pub, now apparently residential. You can probably see that it still sports the Courage gold cockerel on a red background between the first and second-floor windows. So many pubs have closed and been repurposed or demolished. What is the reason for this? Changes in people’s drinking habits perhaps, and/or the availability of cheap booze in shops?

Tree with blossom

Walked through the back streets, we spotted this tree: even though it has lost most of its leaves, it has a few flowers. This shows how mixed up the seasons are at present. The tree doesn’t know whether it is winter or spring.

Copperhouse

For coffee we tried somewhere new (new to us, that is). It is in the upper end of Chapel Market and bills itself as a chocolate maker. Called Copperhouse, it also sells coffee and cakes and has comfortable seating inside.

We ordered coffee and cakes, over which we dawdled for quite a while, seated in comfortable armchairs, until we decided to return home.

This was a quiet day as our Sundays go but that is also pleasant in its own way, a moment of tranquility before the onset of a new week.

Despite the dull weather, we set off with good heart. At least it was not cold and not raining.

Ladybirds

Along the way we met a pair of ladybirds on the railings.

Today’s freebies

In Claremont Square, a tiny table and an electric kettle were going for free.

The Curvaceous Tree

I stopped to say hello to the Curvaceous Tree as I had not done so for a while. It is gradually divesting itself of its summer leaves.

Changing colours

There is still plenty of foliage in the gardens but it is changing colours and thinning out.

Coffee in Amwell Street

We stopped off at the deli for coffee in the peaceful atmosphere of Amwell Street.

The sun trying to break through
Photo by Tigger

Tigger took a photo of the sun trying to break through.

Waiting for the bus

Afterwards, we walked down to King’s Cross Road to catch a bus,

Aboard the 63

We boarded a 63 bus which then proved to be on diversion, provoking the question of the title: where are we going?

Crossing Waterloo Bridge

The bus took us across Waterloo Bridge.

A friendly cat

We left the bus in Blackfriars Road and started walking. On the way we met a friendly cat.

The White Hart

We passed the Victorian pub called the White Hart, a survival of a past age among brash modern buildings.

Brightly coloured tree

We stopped to admire this startlingly brightly coloured tree.

The Tate Modern

We entered the Tate Modern art gallery that impresses with its size as well as with its art.

We had a look at the art, of course, though contemporary art usually doesn’t do much for me. Here are s few samples:

I’m sorry but I couldn’t be bothered to find out the artists’ names. They know who they are.

Floating objects

I did quite like these floating objects that rose and descended and moved back and forth, presumably computer controlled,

Neon tiger

I also liked the neon tiger, spotted through a window as we were leaving.

A view from a window

There are interesting views from the windows of upper floors though they make me feel a little queasy. Tigger stood right in this window to take photos and I had to look away as it made me nervous despite the thick window glass!

Stairwell
Photo by Tigger

Looking down a stairwell.

Looking back at the Tate Modern

We went back out into the streets from where I took this “retrospective” of the gallery.

Almshouses
Photo by Tigger

We passed these old almshouses, pretty buildings ensconced among ugly modern architecture.

Black Sheep Coffee

In the streets I had no idea where we were (as usual) but Tigger knew, of course, and led us the a branch of Black Sheep Coffee.

Coffee and waffles
Photo by Tigger

Here we had coffee and waffles to tide us over until lunch. We also plotted our next move.

Hatfields Green

Our next move took us out into the streets once more. As we were passing this small garden or park called Hatfields Green, we spotted a squirrel sitting up eating something. Perhaps you can see it, perched on the back of the bench.

Street art portraits

These three street art-style portraits were on the wall of what looked a tyre depot. Identifying the faces is left as an exercise for the reader 🙂

Borough High Street

We at last arrived at Borough High Street where we could catch the first of our buses to return home.

Aboard the 21

We boarded a number 21 bus. The road diversions were still in force. The reason was the closure of a number of important roads so the streets that were open were congested and progress was painfully slow.

Bishopsgate, Liverool Street Station

The bus brought us to Liverpool Street Station where we changed to another bus for the last leg of the journey.

In the shadow of tall buildings

We stood and waited in the shadow of tall buildings. A dozen or so buses call at this stop and lots of people were waiting for theirs. When our bus came, it arrived second behind another bus but we made a dash for it and were the first aboard.

Aboard the 205

Our bus, a 205, was almost full but we found seats right at the back downstairs. It was too crowded to take my usual bus photo so I had to make do with a view from the side window!

The recorded voice kept telling us the bus was on diversion but the details were unclear. We couldn’t tell whether it would take us to our stop or not. We hung on, hoping for the best. And yes! It went right to our stop! Thus ended today’s outing, happily without too much disruption.

This evening we are eating out at a cafe we haven’t visited for a while: the Workers’ Cafe. This calls for coordination as Tigger will be on a number 43 bus and I will join it at the clock tower – making sure it’s the right one!

At the clock tower

Tigger lets me know when her bus passes the Old Street roundabout. That’s my signal to leave home and make my way to the clock tower.

There were a lot of people waiting for the bus so I didn’t stand on ceremony, as the saying is, and pushed my way onto the bus. I knew where Tigger was sitting and sat down beside her.

The bus was crowded

The bus was crowded, as you can see, and so I didn’t take my usual moving bus picture.

The Workers’Cafe

Happily, the cafe was open – we had wondered whether it would be after our experience with Coco yesterday – and so we went it.

Inside the Workers’ Cafe

Unlike the bus, the cafe was not crowded and we easily found a table. It’s a fairly relaxed place though efficiently run.

At the bus stop

Afterwards, we crossed the road and walked to the bus stop. There is a frequent service of several buses from this stop and we didn’t have long to wait for a number 30.

Aboard the 30

The bus soon came and carried us swiftly back to the Angel and home.

The weekend starts here!

It’s another dull day but, then, that’s to be expected in November. On the plus side, it’s not cold (the Met Office says 14°C, which seems about right), so we can be glad about that, at least.

Tigger is working the early shift today which means that she leaves the office at 4 pm. Or should I say 16:00? Apparently, these days, because of the prevalence of digital clocks and watches, a generation has grown up that has difficulty understanding the time displayed on the traditional clock with hands. Perhaps, therefore, I should tell the time in both forms, what you might call “temporal bilingualism”!

Tigger has sent me a text suggesting we meet for coffee at a some convenient point along her route home. I was happy to accept. This will be my first venture outside since Sunday. Should I be ashamed of that? I don’t know, really. I find it hard to motivate myself when Tigger’s at work unless I have some specific task to perform. I find the cold, dull weather depressing and it’s more comfortable being depressed at home than wandering the streets. Now, however, motivated by Tigger’s invitation, I shall shortly ready myself and set out.

Aboard the 153

The chosen meeting place is Coco di Mama in Chiswell Street. The easiest way to go there from the Angel is to catch the 153 in St John Street. This will deliver me to a stop almost opposite the cafe. The bus I’m on will make me early but I prefer that to being late.

Coco – closed!

I walked up the road from the bus stop snd found Coco closed. That, despite the advertised hours showing it open until 6 pm (18:00 🙂 ) I let Tigger know and then went to see whether Leon on Moorgate was open.

Moorgate

This is Moorgate, captured during a rare moment when there was a gap in the traffic. (There are so many traffic lights at such close intervals in London, all uncoordinated and working at different speeds, that even on the busiest roads there are moments when a particular stretch will be empty.)

Leon – open!

And yes, Leon was open. As it was still early, I walked along the street some way and, quite by chance, met Tigger.

Walking back along Moorgate

We made our way back to Leon.

Order here

In this branch, and possibly in others, you don’t order at the counter. Instead, you use one of these touch screens to indicate the items you want and then you pay using the attached contactless payment terminal. On completion, the screen displays your order number and you collect your items from the counter when the number is called.

The counter

I suppose that, if you can’t manage the screens or you want to pay with cash (remember money? 🙂 ), you could still order at the counter.

Office lobby

As we started back to the bus stop, we passed this lobby in an office block. It is decorated with life-size cut-out figures. Whether that’s for Christmas, I do not know.

Staircase
Photo by Tigger

Tigger photographed this striking staircase in an office block. We are both fascinated by staircases (the taller, the more fascinating) and there are plenty to see in the city, especially where, as here, they are visible behind plate glass windows.

City view

Does the city look better at night when you see the lights rather than the fabric? I think so. Some of the ugliness disappears into the shadows leaving the lights to attract your gaze.

Illuminated trees
Photo by Tigger

We came upon this row of trees, illuminated by street lights which gave them a special beauty.

Tall block

Since the height limits in London have been eased, many tall buildings have been put up which block your view of the sky. I expect you know my feelings about this so I won’t insist on the point.

Aboard a 153

We reached the bus stop just as a bus arrived. It was a 153 and not crowded, despite the time of day. It carried us quickly back to the Angel and home.