Even though we are still moving and sorting boxes and bags of property, we also need to perform the usual Sunday shopping run.

Cloudy skies over Baron Street

Even though Storm Eunice has gone on its merry way, conditions are still windy. During the storm, I wore a close-fitting cap instead of my hat which would have risked being carried off by the wind. Today, I wore my hat but attached it to my coat collar with a hat retainer, though I very much doubt whether those little plastic clips would resist today’s stronger gusts (predicted to blow at 30+ mph). In addition to the wind, it was raining though not very heavily.

In Cafe Sizzles

Once again, we visited Cafe Sizzles in Chapel Market for brunch. I was surprised to find the cafe almost empty. By this time on a Sunday it’s usually quite busy. Not today, though: perhaps the weather was keeping people at home.

The Farmers’ Market

The Farmers’s Market was present but still with fewer stalls than in the halcyon summer days before the pandemic. Will it ever recover its former vivacity?

Taped down
Photo by Tigger

In Sainsbury’s car park, we saw this litter bin. It has been securely attached to a post with adhesive tape, presumably in preparation for the arrival of Storm Eunice.

In Sainsbury’s

In Sainsbury’s, we each had a list of products to collect. We cannot hang the new shopping trolley on the supermarket trolley as we used to do with the old one, so I took our trolley with a basket balanced on top of it while Tigger took the supermarket trolley. We then combined our respective harvests at the checkout.

A glimpse into our shopping trolley
Photo by Tigger

Above is a view into our shopping trolley, showing the top level of our purchases. How exciting is that? 🙂

Fruit ‘n’ veg in Chapel Market

In the main market, where I took this photo on my way to Mercer’s for coffee, the usual stalwarts were present, including this fruit and vegetable stall. As with the Farmers’ Market, though, there were a lot of empty stall emplacements.

Entering via the shutter
Photo by Tigger

In the afternoon, we hauled a few more items to the store and spent some time in the familiar game of Dump-Recycle-Donate. We can enter the premises via the office or via an entrance closed by a shutter that rises and descends. We have an electronic fob to open this. It’s the best way to go if you have stuff to deliver.

Special edition stamps
Photo by Tigger

During sorting, a few treasures come to light. For example, we found a book of special edition postage stamps. These will go into the “donate” bag for the charity shop and will no doubt be gratefully bought by a philately buff.

1977 Crown
Photo by Tigger

Another treasure was this commemorative coin, a Crown (face value 25 pence) issued in 1977 for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. (The name “crown” originally denoted a coin of face value five shillings, of which there were four to the pound sterling. Crowns were minted only to commemorate special occasions. Many people, though, will remember the pre-decimal “half-crowns”, worth 2 shillings and 6 pence which were in general circulation.) A crown exchanged at a bank will net you 25 pence but rarer crowns habitually circulate among enthusiasts for many times that amount.

As Safestore closes at 4 pm on Sundays, we could do only a small amount of work today. So here is the now traditional state of play photo for today:

State of play at day’s end
Photo by Tigger

Sun shining through clouds
Claremont Square

It’s another cloudy and cold day but the gale-force winds have abated, I’m glad to note.

Arriving at the third floor

Once again, we made our way through wind-littered streets to Safestore and took the lift to the third floor where our lock-up is situated.

As we did yesterday, we again hauled out the folding chair (which, fortunately, is a two-seater) and started work sorting through bags and boxes. Once again, we used the three categories Dump, Shred and Donate to Charity Shop. (There is, of course, a hidden fourth category, Keep, consisting of items that stay more or less where they are.)

Progress? Not obvious…
Photo by Tigger

At the end of this morning’s session, our storage space looked like the above, though we did take three bags (two of rubbish, one for the charity shop) with us. Progress of a sort.

Signs of storm damage

Afterwards, we made our way to Amwell Street for coffee. There were signs everywhere of the high winds. Rubbish left out for collection had been scattered and large quantities of tree branches lay about, the above being a particularly noteworthy example.

Fallen aerial

Someone has lost an aerial to the gale.

The Curvaceous Tree
Photo by Tigger

As I was carrying the two cups of coffee home, Tigger photographed the Curvaceous Tree for me. I was happy to see that it has survived the storm, seemingly undamaged.

The new shopping trolley

After lunch, we headed back to Safestore, taking our new shopping trolley on its maiden voyage. (You may recall that the old one broke under the strain of carrying boxes to the store.)

We spent some time in the store and collected some bags of rubbish to dump. Then we felt it was time to take another break.

Plus ça change…
Photo by Tigger

Can you see the difference? It’s beginning to feel like the French proverb “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” (“The more things change, the more they remain the same”).

Storm damage in Penton Street

From Safestore, we walked into Penton Road where we photographed this example of storm damage, a demolished fence.

Chapel Market

We entered Chapel Market in search of somewhere to have coffee.

Costa in Chapel Market

We ended up at Costa Coffee, where we ordered…

Coffee and cake
Photo by Tigger

…coffee and cakes – surely a just reward for our labours!

From Chapel Market, we returned home. We spent a while sorting and gathering some more items to take to the store. Then we headed to Safestore for our third session of the day.

Tier hire bicycles
Photo by Tigger

On the way, we passed this group Tier hire bicycles. During the storm, they had fallen over. Today, representatives of Tier have restored them to the vertical, an indication that the storm is over.

Store at end of day
Photo by Tigger

The photo shows our storage area at the end of today. Can you see any signs of progress? No, neither can I, but I am persuaded that there has been progress. A fair amount has already been binned or put into the recycling and even larger amounts handed in at the charity shop. On the debit side, we have added some more items from home!

In fairness it should be said that most of the contents of the boxes and bags comprises items that are to be kept and so a substantial amount will remain and be transferred back home when the electrical inspection has taken place. My guess is that the difference will be barely noticeable though I would be happy to be proved wrong.

Stormy weather over Claremont Square
Photo by Tigger

London, like much of the rest of the country, is covered by a Red Weather Warning because of the high winds brought us by Storm Eunice. The streets in our neighbourhood are littered with twigs and branches blown down from the trees. The sky is overcast though the sun has broken through occasionally. The wind chill makes the air feel much colder than the forecast 7°C.

Hire bicycles blown over by Eunice
Photo by Tigger

We had planned to travel to Norwich today and to spend the night there but, in view of the weather, the likelihood of cancelled train services and the dire warnings issued by various official bodies, we have postponed the trip.

Stormy skies
Photo by Tigger

Instead, we spent the morning at Safestore, sorting through boxes and bags and dividing items into four categories: keep, dump, shred and donate to the charity shop. At midday, we broke for lunch, passing by the chip shop to buy chips to take home.

In the afternoon, I was expecting an important phone call so we stayed at home until it occurred. After that, the weather being what it was, as there wasn’t anything requiring our urgent attention, it seemed best to remain indoors and wait for the storm to abate.

Tigger returned to work today and, as she is working the late shift, I shall not see her again until about 7 pm. Fortunately, I have a few tasks cut out for me that will at least occupy the morning.

The long-suffering shopping trolley

The first task was to collect the laundry that we deposited at the shop on Monday. We left the trolley bag and kept the skeleton to use in shifting boxes and bags into store (as recounted in previous posts). The frame has broken in two places, meaning that we will probably have to buy a new one. Today’s trip to fetch the laundry is thus likely to be its last.

Clouds snd no sun

According to the weather forecast, we should be enjoying cloudy sun this morning. Can you see the sun in the above scene? Nor can I.

The cat in the window

As I passed through Myddelton Square, I of course looked out for the two cats. My luck was in as one of them was at the window. He gave me a non-committal feline stare.

Angelz Dry Cleaners

We currently use Angelz in Arlington Way for our laundry. So far, they have done a creditable job and not lost any items. I took this photo from across the road when I stopped to put on my face-mask before entering the premises.

Trolley loaded

In the shop, I had to install the trolley bag, heavy and inflated with laundry, and secure it to the frame with bungees. The man in the shop helped me and I was grateful to him as I might not have managed it on my own.

Cutting through Myddelton Square Gardens

The trolley wasn’t as heavy as I had feared it might be but I went slowly and stopped to rest a couple of times, especially on the uphill section of the walk. I cut through Myddelton Square Gardens, though I am not sure this saves much in terms of distance, It was pleasant, though.

I reached home eventually and sat down to rest for a while. I am not ashamed to admit that the unaccustomed activity of the last few days moving sometimes heavy boxes into store has tired me. I will no doubt bounce back but for now am I taking things gently.

The sun appears

After a little rest, I set out on task number 2. This was to visit Kings’ Chemists in Amwell Street to pick up repeat prescriptions for both of us. By now, the sun was taking note of the weather forecast and showing itself! The air was pleasantly warm as a result.

Kings’ Chemists

Here I am arriving at the chemist’s. You can also see another important establishment further down the road. Clue: note the red canopy!

Gone are the days when you would go to the doctor’s surgery to pick up a paper prescription and then take this to a pharmacy to be dispensed. Now you nominate a pharmacy and the surgery sends the prescription to it electronically. By the time you arrive, the items have been packaged ready for you to collect.

Sitting outside Myddelton’s deli

I don’t usually have coffee out by myself but as it was sunny and even fairly warm, I decided to treat myself. It was pleasant sitting in the sun and watching activity in the street (though it would have been even better if Tigger had been there too).

The Never-Give-Up tree has gone

As I passed the end of Inglebert Street, a sad surprise awaited me: what I called the Never-Give-Up tree (it had been cut down to a mere stump but had continued growing branches and leaves) had finally been removed. I shall miss it and watching for new growth each time I passed. I hope they at least plant a new tree in its place.

The Curvaceous Tree

Sadness at the disappearance of the Never-Give-Up tree made me appreciate even more my long-time favourite, the Curvaceous Tree which I “discovered” and grew to love during our lockdown walks. I enjoy seeing its twisting branches, revealed by winter, as I shall enjoy seeing it dressed again in green by summer.

Fara Charity Shop

After a little rest, I performed my last outdoor task for today which was to take two bags of donated items to the charity shop. For this, I went to Fara in Pentonville Road. They specialise in clothing – some of which they create or remodel themselves – but they accept all kinds of items for resale.

Having completed my tasks for today, I returned home where I had lunch and composed this post. I have of course been in touch with Tigger by text to keep her informed of progress. I now look forward to her returning home this evening. I will try to keep myself busy in the meantime.

We continued moving stuff into store today. The weather was not sympathetic to our cause and it rained all day.

We borrowed a trolley

I mentioned that our shopping trolley broke under the strain of carrying heavy boxes. Today, therefore, we borrowed a trolley from Safestore. Unfortunately, it has a damaged wheel that makes it harder to move than would normally be the case. Bravely, though, we persevered.

Progress so far
Photo by Tigger

This is how our storage area looked at the end of today’s efforts.

What you don’t see is all the work that goes on at home, sorting out what is no longer required and can be put in the recycling or the dustbin or packed in bags and boxes to be donated to the charity shop. The more we can get rid of, the better!

Today was the second and last of the days Tigger took off from work for this task. The rest will have to be done at weekends and in the evening after work on those days when Tigger works the early shift and returns home before Safestore closes. Will we get it all done in time? I think so but we shall have to keep at it to make sure.