After yesterday’s sunshine, today’s rain is a disappointment but we will make the best of it.

Rainy Pentonville Road

We went to the bus stop in Pentonville Road from where I took the above photo. It shows you the damp conditions but not the chilly temperature (around 10°C but the damp makes it feel colder).

Aboard the 205

We boarded a 205 bus and sat upstairs. You can see how the cold has steamed up the window. The shown destination (Old Street Station) is wrong and we were heading for Paddington Station.

Entering Paddington Station

We entered the station by this alley that probably has a name but what this is I do not know. You have ti run the gauntlet of smokers who come here from the station where smoking is of course not allowed.

Not as busy as usual

The station was not as busy as it usually is. This is because there was to have been a rail strike and although this was called off at the last moment, things has not recovered from the expected hiatus.

In the Mad Bishop and Bear

We went up to the station’s top level where there resides a pub called the Mad Bishop and Bear (the Bear in honour of Paddington Bear).

Baked Squash Tagine
Photo by Tigger

We had lunch here, both choosing the vegetarian baked squash tagine.

Aboard the 23

Afterwards, we returned to Praed Street and boarded a 23 bus.

Ladbroke Grove Station

The bus deposited us here, near Ladbroke Grove Station. We started walking to our next destination.

The friendly cat

Along the way, we met a friendly cat who came to be stroked.

Portobello Market

We passed the colourful Portobello Market but did not investigate it today.

Graffik Gallery

We had come to visit the Graffik Gallery in Portiobello Road.

Downstairs in Graffik Gallery

The gallery specialises in “graffiti art” and, in addition to selling works, holds workshops. In a sense, having graffiti art in a gallery is rather like having wild animals in a zoo. The displayed works are on canvasses to be sold which, in a sense, runs contrary to the whole ethos of graffiti.

Tree absorbing railings

As we walked back, I admired this tree which, in growing m, had found itself confined by the railings and had simply flowed through them, absorbing them into itself.

Railway bridge, Ladbroke Grove

We returned to Ladbroke Grove where the railway bridge crosses it. We were looking for somewhere to have a coffee break but everywhere was crowded.

Aboard the 7

So we boarded a number 7 bus which took us on a long ride, finally terminating in…

Oxford Street

…Oxford Street. Despite the chilly and wet conditions, Oxford Street and its shops were quite busy. Has Christmas shopping started already, I wonder?

Aboard the 73

The 73 bus has a terminus here and so we went aboard for the journey back to the Angel.

Islington Green

Our outing was not quite at an end, however. We left the bus at Islington Green and walked across Upper Street to a certain venue that is something of a favourite of ours.

Queueing at Caffè Nero

I refer, of course, to Caffè Nero where we often go. After an agreeable coffee break, we walked home, finally ending our ramble.

Today is November 5th, the day on which we remember the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and others tried to assassinate King James I by blowing up Parliament during the state opening. Already, as I write these words, I hear the odd bang of fireworks going off. The wet conditions will perhaps (literally) put a damper on things but in any case firework parties usually go on for several days around this date. I just hope people are sensible enough to bring their cats and dogs indoors as many are frightened by the flashes and explosions of fireworks.