When we set out this morning, the temperature was hovering around freezing.

Fog in Pentonville Road

The air was veiled by a light fog which made everything damp.

Spider’s web
Photo by Tigger

On the railings in front of the houses were spiders’ webs whose threads had collected moisture from the fog.

Decorated front door
Photo by Tigger

In Baron Street, just before it meets Chapel Market at the Alma pub, someone has decorated this door to resemble a Christmas parcel. This has become a popular form of Christmas decoration in recent years and I expect more will appear as we approach the 25th.

In Sainsbury’s

We went to Sainsbury’s, as usual, to do our weekly shopping.

After lunch, we set off again. We wanted to walk but it was rather cold to be wandering about in the streets. We therefore decided to walk… but indoors!

Aboard the 73

We caught a number 73 bus. It was crowded and we had to go upstairs. I dislike these “Boris buses” because the seats are too close together so that I cannot get my legs into the narrow space and have to sit with my knees out in the gangway.

Oxford Street

The bus brought us to Oxford Street which was, of course, very busy as the Christmas rush is well under way.

Oxford Circus

We crossed the road at Oxford Circus whose road layout includes an innovation in pedestrian crossings: pedestrians can cross diagonally, saving the need to cross two streets separately. I don’t know whether diagonal crossings have been officially implemented elsewhere though it is possible to cross diagonally unofficially where, as often is the case, all green crossing lights come on together.

Walking down Oxford Street

We walked down Oxford Street until we came to the John Lewis department store and went in.

A view from the escalator

As we usually do, we planned to take the escalator to the top (fifth) floor and work our way down from there.

The top floor cafe

It just so happens that the top floor is occupied by the main cafe-restaurant. (There are several other smaller ones on other floors.) So we joined the queue for refreshments.

Coffee and waffles
Photo by Tigger

The place was crowded, as you can imagine, but Tigger spotted someone leaving and pounced on the table. We had coffee and honey waffles.

Looking down the light well

I always have to take a look down the light well despite it making me feel queasy. From this height, the people on the ground floor really did look like ants scurrying about.

Various departments

We descended floor by floor and walked round each floor. We didn’t buy anything but some of the items interested us, perhaps for future reference.

Age-restricted items

I was intrigued by the items on this shelf. Called “découseurs” (sewing unpickers), they are considered so dangerous that you have to prove that your age is 25 or above in order to be allowed to buy them.

Holles Street

On reaching the ground floor, we left by the east doors which lead into Holles Street which is a mini bus station. We waited for the next 73 to draw up to the bus stop.

Cavendish Square

Nearby is Cavendish Square which we might have explored if the weather had been warmer. As it was, we preferred to shelter in John Lewis’s doorway until our bus was ready to take us in board.

Aboard the 73

The 73 finally presented itself and we went aboard. This time there were few passengers and we had a choice of seats, occupying our favourite rear-facing back seats.

Going to John Lewis enabled us to perform our walk but in relatively comfortable conditions. I hope the cold snap will end soon and conditions revert to what is more normal for Britain. As for us, we will spend the rest of the day at home in the warm.