It’s another warm day, alternately sunny and cloudy, to which we have become accustomed of late.

Sunshine in Inglebert Street

We made our way to the deli for coffee as we usually do. It was very warm in the streets and we stayed in the shade where possible.

Police vans lurking
From a photo by Tigger

As we continued after coffee, we noticed some police vans (with officers inside) parked around Myddelton Square. As this is unusual in our peaceful neighbourhood, I made bold to enquire of a officer whether they were expecting trouble. He said that there was a protest expected near Angel Station and that they had been put on stand-by in case needed. I don’t think they were needed in the end because we passed the station later and there was no sign of a protest or any disruption.

Emaciated fox
Photo by Tigger

As we walked through the square, a fox appeared from the gardens of some houses. I am usually happy to see foxes – and any wildlife – but this fox looked very thin. I know that some fall victim to mange and that might be the case here. Very sad.

Oblivious
Photo by Tigger

We were amused – and somewhat surprised – by this couple who passed within inches of the fox, apparently without noticing him.

Textured sky
Photo by Tigger

Tigger took this photo of the sky which looks like a fluffy blue and white blanket.

Tigger’s iPhone now started misbehaving: the screen would go completely black and because nothing can be seen in a black screen, it is very difficult to manipulate it and the settings to make it work properly. We took it to a local shop that repairs electronic devices. The man flipped a setting and the screen lit up. However, it went black again as we left the shop…

Jumping ahead: Tigger later tried the trick of powering down the phone and switching it back on. The good news is that, so far, that seems to have cured it. If it starts happening again, though, we shall have to take it in to Apple to see whether they can deal with it. It is perhaps only when they go wrong, that we realise how essential to our daily lives our phones have become.

The Shakespeare’s Head

I’ve been keeping tabs on the pub vine and informing Tigger as to its progress but today she wanted to see it for herself. So we entered Arlington Way and approached the pub and Myddelton Passage.

The vine – very healthy

The vine looks very healthy and is full of luscious green leaves. It puts out new shoots which sometimes stretch across the Passage and then the owners trim it.

The grapes are growing

The bunches of grapes, which were tiny only a few weeks ago, are growing larger. I don’t know whether they are edible. Perhaps I’ll go into the pub one day and ask about them.

Camden Passage was busy

At lunchtime, we set off along the High Street and then Camden Passage. The Passage was very crowded and there were market stalls all along its length. That surprised me because in the past, the antiques market has been held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Inside Crêpe Affaire

We had come to have lunch at the branch of Crêpe Affaire that is in Camden Passage. We easily found a table inside as many diners preferred to sit outside.

Sitting on Islington Green

I paid a visit to Waterstone’s bookshop and afterwards we sat for a while in a bench on Islington Green.

The reason for my visit to the bookshop is as follows. I have a Waterstone’s card which enables me to collect points when I buy books. Just lately, Waterstone’s have been sending me emails to say that I am about to lose my points because the account has been inactive. To save the points, I must simply log in to my account. I do so, and then a few days later, I receive another email warning me to log on or lose my points… I hoped they might be able to solve the problem in the bookshop but apparently they cannot. I must contact customer services.

Sun dried grass

As with Newington Green yesterday, the grass in Islington Green is dried up and brown. This episode, when Britain for the first time ever, experienced a temperature of 40°C (104°F) should send a warning to governments around the world to get on immediately with the necessary changes to stave off runaway climate change. I fear, though, that they will, as always, do too little too late and that the fate of the planet, and ours with it, is sealed. Please, world governments, prove me wrong!

Caffè Nero

Across the road from Islington Green is a branch of Caffè Nero. When the bench on Islington Green began to make its hardness felt, we made our way thither and found soft seats wherein to drink our coffee.

Inside Caffè Nero

Inside Caffè Nero, it was pleasantly cool and we tarried here a while, even after we had finished our drinks. Then we made our way home to rest in the company of our electric fans.