It looks to be a cloudy day but fairly warm and, unusual for a bank holiday in Britain, without rain!

After yesterday’s pleasant outing, we are making a slow start this morning. We had a leisurely breakfast and then went out to take a look at Jubilee day. (You may have guessed that we are not monarchists and will not be waving any flags. A holiday is a holiday, though, whatever its ostensible reason, and not to be wasted.)

The deli – closed

We found the deli closed, as we had half-expected it to be. We don’t begrudge them their time off – far from it – as they work hard and deserve a rest from time to time.

Cat on window sill

In River Street, we met a cat we had not seen before. He was enjoying the fresh air and, as we took our photos, watched us with a slightly worried expression. We will watch out for him when we pass this way.

The pub vine

We walked along Myddelton Passage and visited the pub vine. I had told Tigger that there were now many tiny bunches of grapes on it and she wanted to see this for herself.

Tiny bunches of grapes

There are tiny bunches of grapes all over the vine which is spreading its branches far and wide. I am surprised at how fast it has grown and spread.

Spa Green

We passed through Spa Green which was quiet and peaceful.

Caffè Nero

We went to Caffè Nero in Exmouth Market.

Coffee and croissants
Photo by Tigger

We had a second breakfast – or was it elevenses? 🙂 – of coffee and croissants.

Honor Oak

We now boarded a number 63 bus which took us on long journey into the south of London. We disembarked at the bus’s terminus, Honor Oak, in Camberwell.

The name Honor Oak is said to refer to an oak tree that stood on One Tree Hill. In 1602, so the story goes, Queen Elizabeth I sat under this tree, and for that reason it was named Honor Oak thereafter. (“Honor” is the old spelling of the word that remained frozen in the name of the tree.) The original oak no longer exists, having been destroyed by lightning strike in 1884. That, anyway, is the story which you may believe or not as you wish.

In the Spanish deli

Across the road from the bus stop was an establishment called Cafe Norris + Knight, which despite that name, declared itself to be a Spanish deli. Here we found lunch.

Pretty tea cups

There was a choice of teas and I chose Darjeeling. It was proper leaf tea too, not bags, and served in pretty floral patterned tea cups.

Lunch!
Photo by Tigger

Tigger chose a halloumi salad and I had a toasted sourdough sandwich with goat’s cheese.

Horniman Park

After lunch, we boarded a 363 which brought us to Horniman Park, part of the Horniman Museum and Gardens. We have already visited the museum but not the park and so we went there today.

The Bandstand

We climbed the hill to the bandstand and then the steps beside it up to the level ground at the top.

A view from the bandstand

The bandstand was closed to the public but from beside it we had fine views across the town.

Alpaca

In an enclosure we saw two alpacas but one went away before I could take a photo of them together. They are rather appealing animals though it seems a pity to keep them confined.

Aboard the 363

We spent some time in the park, sitting on a bench and enjoying the scenery. When it was time to leave, we undertook a long walk downhill until we came to a main road where we could catch a 363 bus.

Market stalls in Peckham
From the bus

The bus took us through Peckham and there we changed to a 63 which would take us all the way to King’s Cross and home territory.

Pentonville Road from the bus

At King’s Cross, there was already a 30 at the bus stop so we hurried and caught it. This carried us up the hill of Pentonville Road to home.

We had set out to avoid the flag waving and other activities associated with the Jubilee and in this had been completely successful. We had also made a foray into that “other London”, the one south of the Thames, and that is always interesting to do.