The reason why we omitted our usual weekly visit to Sainsbury’s yesterday is that we are going away for a few days. As the title says, we are going to Broadstairs in Kent, returning on Friday.

At the bus stop

The heatwave has definitely faded, at least for now, but the day is pleasantly sunny and warm. One of the problems of travelling in Britain is knowing what clothes to take with you to cope with possible weather changes. We went to the bus stop in Pentonville Road and caught a 214 for St Pancras.

EL & N

We breakfasted at EL & N while the Eurostar queue filed continually past the windows like a human river.

Aboard the HS1

We went upstairs to the HS1 platforms and boarded our train. It departed on the dot of 10:12. We should arrive in Broadstaits at 11:33.

Crossing the Medway
Photo by Tigger

We crossed the Medway into the ancient kingdom (now merely a county) of Kent.

Hurrying through the Kent countryside
Photo by Tigger

The train carried us through the sunlit Kent countryside, heading to Broadstairs and the seaside. We arrived at a destination exactly on time at 11:33.

In the apartment

We are staying, not in a hotel but in an apartment near the bay. We were met at the station by the owner and transported by car to our temporary abode – an unusual but welcome service.

Harbour Street
Photo by Tigger

Barely had we arrived when we had to go out again as we have people to meet. We walked up Harbour Street with its famous arch.

Viking Bay

I had time for a quick first photo of Bay. It was low tide, as you can perhaps see.

Cecil Square, Margate

We caught a bus to Margate where Tigger had arranged to meet friends and a relative. We left the bus in Cecil Square.

Cecil Square Baptist Church

The two most interesting buildings in the square, though each for different reasons, are the Baptist church, dated 1899 and…

Old Post Office

…the old early 20th-century old Post Office, no longer used as such,

Proper Coffee

We met people in this coffee bar and also had lunch there.

Aboard the Loop

Afterwards, we returned to Cecil Square and boarded a bus of the service called the Loop which travels around the main towns of the local Thanet area.

Suits of armour

We left the bus in Broadstairs outside this business that has two suits of armour to attract attention.

The Co-operative

On our way down the hill, we came upon a Co-operative store. Here we carried out a reduced version of our weekly shopping: as we have a kitchen, we can be more adventurous than just buying sandwiches as we did when staying in a hotel.

Charles Dickens’s House

As we approached the promenade I took a quick first photo of the house that Charles Dickens occupied. Not that there is anything particularly novel about this as Dickens travelled widely and there are few towns that do not boast a “Dickens house”.

The tide’s in

From the promenade (which runs along the cliff top) we had a view of Viking Bay where the tide was now in.

Reaching “home” (as it now is until Friday), we stowed the shopping and made tea. We may or may not venture forth again later.

The cool weather continues and the sun has retired behind a veil of clouds.

Pret A Manger

For breakfast we went along to Pret in Angel Central.

Sainsbury’s – not today

Afterwards, we walked past Sainsbury’s. Yes, you read that correctly: we are not doing our usual shopping run today because… well, the because will reveal itself later.

Aboard the 274

Instead, we boarded a 274 bus which took us along an intricate route round the neighbourhood, finally depositing us at Regent’s Park.

Regent’s Canal

Leaving the bus, we crossed the Regent’s Canal and…

Into to park

…entered the park.

Planted area

It is a multipurpose park with planted areas and…

Games

…areas for cricket and football.

The Hub

We stopped off at a circular cafe called the Hub.

Distant views

The cafe is on a hillock so there are distant views of London.

Chestnut blossom

Walking on, we paused to admire the chestnut tree in bloom.

Flower beds

We passed the flower beds full of colour and perfuming the air.

The lake

We came to the lake where there are water fowl to watch.

Rock pool

We came to the picturesque rock pool and…

Waterfall

…viewed the waterfall.

Bench with a view

We found a bench with a view and sat for a while.

At the top

We then walked to the top of the waterfall and took a photo looking down.

George V gate

We left the park by the George V gate and walked down to Marylebone Road and a bus stop.

Aboard the 30

There we boarded a number 30 bus which carried us back to the Angel and home. We will have lunch and then prepare for our next adventure.

The heatwave seems to have run its course and gone wherever worn-out heatwaves go.

Myddelton Square

When we set out at mid-morning and passed Myddelton Square, it was cloudy/sunny and warm but not hot.

The deli

We found a table free outside the deli to drink our coffee. But then… it started to rain! The rain was not heavy but we had no rain jackets so we thought it best to go home but, first…

Cafe Sizzles

…we stopped off at Cafe Sizzles for an early lunch.

In Cafe Sizles

After lunch, we returned home to wait for the rain to pass.

High Street

Later, we set out again, walking along the High Street in search of coffee. The temperature had dropped to 19°C – quite a change from yesterday’s 31°.

Leon

We called in at Leon and ordered coffee. Unfortunately, they didn’t warn us that they were about to close. That left us with cups of hot coffee and nowhere to sit – and it was threatening to rain again.

Aboard the 38

So we jumped on a 38 bus which provided a comfortable, if mobile, place to sit to drink our coffee.

Cambridge Circus

Having finished our coffee, we left the bus at Cambridge Circus and, as we had nothing to do here, prepared to take a bus homeward.

Foyle’s

As it started spitting with rain again, we sheltered in the doorway of Foyle’s famous bookshop which is beside the bus stop.

The American Church

We first caught a 24 to the American Church in Tottenham Court Road.

Tottenham Court Road

Here we had a choice buses and things to do. We would eventually have our evening meal but it wasn’t time for that yet.

Aboard the 73

We boarded a 73 bus and had to go upstairs to find a seat. We would stay on the bus until we felt it was time to eat. Well, this is slightly more interesting than sitting at home!

Somewhere in Stoke Newington

The bus terminates in Stoke Newington and, as it was still not time to eat and it was spitting with rain again, we needed to find somewhere to wait.

St Mary’s Church Rooms

First, though, we spotted this interesting building and went to take a look. It still bears the original name St Mary’s Church Rooms but the rows of doorbells show it is now residential. Our best guess is that it is late Victorian.

The Green Room

We entered this establishment. It looks like a florist’s, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is a florist’s, but…

Also a cafe

…it’s also a cafe. We came here out of the rain and also…

Tea
Photo by Tigger

…to have tea! We chose tea with lemon.

Aboard the 73

Afterwards, we caught a 73 back to our home turf. As you see, we occupied the seats at the rear of the bus.

CrêpeAffaire

We left the bus at Islington Green and walked through to Camden Passage and the branch there of CrêpeAffaire.

A Fiorentina

We had a Fiorentina each.

At the bus stop

Afterwards, as it was raining again, we felt it was allowable to take a bus home instead of walking.

Aboard the 476

And so we did! We arrived home dry and ready to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Edgware is a district in the London Borough of Barnet. It is the terminus of one branch of the London Underground’s Northern Line. Its significance for me is that, some years ago, I worked for a while in Edgware public library while my home library, Hendon, was being refurbished. I have quite good memories of my time there but had not ever revisited the library. Today, I decided to do just that.

Angel Station

It’s possible to travel from the Angel to Edgware by bus but it’s rather a long journey – an hour or more. It’s much quicker by tube as there is a direct line straight there. I waited until after 9 am when I hoped the rush hour crush would have subsided and…

Not many people

…as you can see, it had!

Down the long escalator

Two escalators lead down in the depths where the trains run. This is the first one and the longer of the two.

Aboard the train

Lines like the Metropolitan and the Circle run larger trains but the Northern and other suburban lines run smaller trains. They can be uncomfortably packed at rush hour but there is no help for it: the trains already fit in the tunnels with only inches to spare and it would not be possible to replace them with larger trains.

Above ground

The system is called the London Underground and much of it does indeed run in tunnels deeply below the streets but out in the suburbs, some lines break out into the open air and you suddenly have scenery to enjoy!

Greenery

There are even stretches of what look suspiciously like green countryside. In some places I have even seen fields with cows in them.

Arriving at Edgware

Edgware Station has 3 platforms. Because it’s a terminus, trains come in and then have to go out again, reversing direction. (They have a driver’s cab at either end.) This means that you sometimes have to wait a while outside the station until a train leaves, making room for yours. It pays to be patient when travelling on London Transport!

Edgware Station

Edgware Station is unusual in having a forecourt where vehicles can pull in to drop off people coming for the tube. Round the forecourt are cafes.

Broadwalk Centre

On leaving the station, I walked down the road to the shopping precinct called the Broadwalk Centre. This was not because I had any shopping to do nor because I had the least curiosity to see the place. Why, then?

Inside the Broadwalk

Well, because I have found that when away from home it’s a good idea to make sure you know where to find a toilet. Local councils have been closing public toilets everywhere to save money and they are now virtually non-existent. You may have to find a cafe or coffee shop and buy a coffee to be able use their “Customers Only” toilets. The Broadwalk does indeed have a toilet.

Station Road

The thoroughfare in which the station resides is called, quite reasonably, Station Road. It is a busy shopping street and I was interested to see whether any of the shops and cafes I knew from my time here were still open. The answer is no: I did not recognise a single one. But, then, 18 years is quite a long time and business spring up and die like mayflies.

The Library

Station Road leads into Hale Lane and that is where to library is – assuming it’s still there. The library is set back from the road and not visible until you reach it and I was beginning to wonder whether it would still be there. Local councils have been closing libraries or repurposing them so anything was possible.

Phew! It was still there. The door bore a notice reading “Automatic Door”. I approached but nothing happened. Was the library closed? As I turned to leave, the door opened. A member of staff has pressed to button to open it.

I went in and explained that I worked here long ago and had come to take a look. I was told I was welcome. The library is now “self-service” with a minimum of staff. (I saw only two.)

I walked round, almost wishing I hadn’t come. The rooms were all there and there were people sitting using the computers but the place looked different: quiet and unlike the busy library that I worked in. There were fewer bookshelves and this was particularly noticeable in the children’s library which used to be full of shelves and now just has a few small ones dotted here and there.

Do I wish I had not come? Yes and no, but one thing is certain: I will not be coming back. The clash of present reality with memories of happier days is just too sad.

Crossroads

Heading for the station, I stopped to take this photo of the crossroads. Station Road is on the left, Hale Lane and the library to the right. I passed this way many times when I was on the staff at the library.

Back to the station

I went straight back to the station. I did not hurry but neither did I dawdle. There was nothing here to detain me.

Aboard the train

I checked the train display and found that the next train for the Angel was in platform 2. I went down and found a seat.

Others joined me

Other passengers soon joined me though the train was not at all crowded. Then…

Off we go!

…off we went, down the metal road to the Angel.

Life is change and nothing remains the same. We can revisit a place but not a past time. Time rushes on, carrying us further and further from what we remember, just as the train now carried me further and further away from Edgware.

It is another warm, sunny day, a time to take things gently and not rush about. I decided to pay a visit to the Culpeper Community Garden as I had not been there for a while. I have already written about this fine community project – see Culpeper Community Garden.

Entrance to the community garden

The community garden is situated on one side of the Culpeper Park, the name being that of the 17th-century botanist, herbalist and physician, Nicholas Culpeper. Beside the entrance is an information board about the garden but I will here refer you to its website.

Entering the garden

From the gate you find yourself on a path leading straight ahead. There are open, sunlight, areas and shady areas under the trees.

A path off to the side

There are numerous paths, all tempting, and as they are not straight but curve one way and the other the only way to find where they go is to follow them!

The pond

I continued straight on and this brought me to the pond. At the moment it is covered with a layer of duck weed, as are most ponds and lakes at the moment. You may be able to spot the “heron” standing in the water. I had to take a good long look to be sure it wasn’t a real bird.

As well as water plants, the pond provides a home and mating area for frogs, newts and other creatures. A notice warns that the water is very deep.

Through the arch

After the pond, the path turns left and takes you through an arch of tree branches. (You need to bend if you are tall like me!)

Many different plants and flowers

The photo doesn’t do justice to the scene. There were so many different flowers of many colours that the phrase “a riot of colour” comes to mind.

No overall plan

One of the features of the garden that I like is that it is composed of individual gardens whose owners do what they will with their space and, as a result, there is no overall pattern: there are trees, shrubs and flowers here, there and everywhere, with curving paths threading between them.

Explosion of colour

Everywhere you look there is greenery and flowers, enhanced by combinations of sunlight and shade.

Paths and benches

The paths continually tempt you to follow them, often with other paths branching off them. In corners here and there are benches where you can sit and enjoy the calm atmosphere.

Dead end?

Following this path, you might suspect you’ve reached a dead end but no: there is a sharp right turn that carries you onward.

Covered path

The turn leads you to a covered path which, I think, is the only straight section of path in the whole garden.

Dense vegetation

On either side of the path are individual plots, each arranged according to the tastes of its gardener. Some are more open with rows of plants, others are dense with vegetation. Everything is green, fresh and healthy.

Wood pigeon

The path led straight on but I spied a wood pigeon feeding. As the garden was very quiet and he was happily eating, I preferred not to disturb him and went down a side path nearby.

Flowers beside the path

On that path I spotted these bright red flowers which I am glad not to have missed.

Making for the exit

I sat for a while on a bench, watching the birds and insects. It was very quiet (I saw only two other visitors) so there was a lot of wildlife to see. Then, st last, I made my way out.

A last glimpse

Before passing through the gate, I took a last quick photo of the garden. It will remind me – if I need reminding! – to come back and visit from time to time and watch the changes of the seasons. Perhaps, too, I will again see the wood pigeon.