Britain is apparently enjoying or suffering (depending on how well you tolerate hot weather) a heat wave. Today’s temperature is in the mid-20s C and the sun is shining down benevolently though occasionally hiding behind a cloud.

After lunch, as Tigger was not due home for a few hours, I considered whether I should cheer myself up by going out. If so, though, where should I go?

The bus stop in St John Street

Faute de mieux, I decided to take a look in Curry’s, not the Tottenham Court Road branch where I bought my computer, but the one in Chiswell Street. It’s smaller and probably quieter – a plus for someone who dislikes crowds. I readied myself and went to the bus stop in St John Street.

Aboard the 153

The easiest way to go to Chiswell Street is to catch a 153 bus which stops virtually in front of the shop.

Chiswell Street

Partly in Islington and partly in the City of London, Chiswell Street is very old, dating from no later than the 14th century when it was known as Chysel Strate. It had acquired its modern name by the Elizabethan period. The name is believed to derive from Anglo-Saxon ceosol, meaning a flint or pebble. Perhaps it was a street on stony ground.

Clock tower

There are no stones or flints today and the street looks like just one more City street though it does have a modern-style clock tower on its corner with Finsbury Street.

Curry’s, Chiswell Street

When I went into Curry’s and looked around, I discovered that I was the only customer, though “customer” is not quite the right word as I had no intention of buying anything.

If I had hoped to make discoveries of new devices or the odd “offer”, then I was disappointed. I walked around the whole store, being greeted here and there by unoccupied members of staff, and left none the wiser than when I arrived.

Precarious-looking buildings

I walked down Chiswell Street to Finsbury Square, noticing these two ridiculously tall buildings. To my eye they look rather precarious, especially the rusty brown one.

(You may have noticed that there are a lot of London streets, squares and districts with “Finsbury” in the name and that they are scattered about, not gathered in one neighbourhood. I don’t know the reason for the name being so popular.)

Smith Family Drinking Fountain

In Finsbury Square, I revisited the ornate Victorian drinking fountain, erected in 1899 by father and son, Thomas and Walter Smith, to honour the life of their mother and grandmother respectively, Martha Smith, 1825-98. It is now a Grade II listed building. Thomas Smith has the further distinction of being the inventor of the Christmas cracker!

Finsbury Square

I sat in the sun for a while on a bench from where I took the above photo. Finsbury Square is not very attractive though it does have a patch of poor grass where people were sunbathing. Beneath it is a car park, mercifully invisible from ground level, but half of its surface is taken up by unprepossessing buildings and parked vehicles.

Triton Court

I also photographed the building with the tall tower. It is called Triton Court and has a statue of Hermes standing on a world-globe though he is so high up that he is hard to see. I wrote about this previously in The globe-trotter of Triton Court.

The Flying Horse

From the square I went past the Georgian pub called the Flying Horse and..,

Wilson Street

…entered Wilson Street, not for the street itself but because…

Whitecross Place

…leading off it is a pedestrian passage called Whitecross Place. This, in turn, gives access to…

Finsbury Avenue Square

…Finsbury Avenue Square. Arriving there I was disappointed because what used to be a pleasant open space is cluttered with building work. Heaven knows what kind of mess they will make of it. London has a talent for creating open spaces and then spoiling them by allowing then to be built on. I despair.

Broadgate Circus

Continuing on, I came to Broadgate Circus. As the name suggests, it is a circular feature and multi-use. In winter there is a skating rink in the centre but that has been replaced now by restaurant tables.

Leaping Hare on Crescent Bell
Barry Flanagan, 1988

To one side is a large metal sculpture in the form of a bell and a leaping hare. Better than some of the nonsense they inflict in us in the name if “art”. You will find more about it here.

Mall

Continuing on the same level (there are stairs down to a lower level) you arrive at this mall-like area. It no doubt has a name but I don’t know what it is.

Liverpool Street Station

This leads to Liverpool Street Railway Station with a bus station beside it.

Inside the station

I entered the station with some idea of walking round and looking at the various shops and cafes in there.

The other end

In the end, however, what with the crowds and the fact that there was not really much of interest, I soon gave up and, having taken another photo, this time of the part of the station that I usually don’t photograph, I turned round and went back to the bus station.

Aboard the 153

I was lucky to have a bus almost straightaway. It carried me back to the Angel and concluded my little walk. I have made tea and Tigger has let me know she too is on her way home. We have a pleasant evening in view.

Today we are returning to Brighton, just for a day trip. The weather is warm and sunny but I have my folding umbrella in my bag as you can never trust British weather – or British weather forecasts – completely.

St Pancras International

We took a bus to St Pancras Station. It was fairly busy but, for once, there was no slow-moving Eurostar Queue.

E L & N

We paid the ritual visit to EL & N for coffee and croissants.

The Thameslink Platforms

Afterwards, we went down two levels to the Thameslink platforms that serve the south-east region. Tigger had bought electronic tickets online and buzzed us through the gates.

Aboard the Brighton train

Our train was not crowded and we found seats easily but of the ordinary narrow kind – they don’t seem to have priority seats with more leg room on this route.

East Croydon Station
Photo by Tigger

As we called at other stations, more people boarded the train and from East Croydon, all seats were occupied and there were passengers standing. The weather makes the seaside seem inviting.

Coming in to land
Photo by Tigger

We stopped at Gatwick where a lot of passengers disembarked – people are prepared to face delays at the airport in order to travel abroad. As we continued on, Tigger photographed a plane coming in to land.

Arriving at Brighton

Arriving at Brighton, we joined the crush at the ticket barrier and Tigger buzzed us through.

The Bystander Cafe

From the station, we crossed the road to the Bystander Cafe where we had tea and toast – with jam! High living, indeed.

Upper Gardner Street

We walked down the hill from the station, passing first along Upper Gardner Street where a street market was taking place.

Gardner Street

Then we entered the famous Gardner Street which was closed to vehicles and had tables of the various eateries out in the roadway.

First glimpse

We soon had our first glimpse of the unique Royal Pavilion, partially screened by trees.

The Royal Pavilion

The Pavilion is too big for s normal photo so I took a panorama. There is a little distortion but it gives a good idea of the exotic palace.

The War Memorial

We visited the War Memorial (1922) where the gulls were making merry with the fresh water.

Victoria Fountain

The funfair had departed so we were able to approach the Victoria Fountain though, unfortunately, it was not working but sitting sulkily dry.

Beach, sea, pier

Then we reached the seafront beside the Palace Pier. The sea was summer blue as it rolled onto the shingle beach.

The Pier

The pier is hard to photograph as it is so long (a quarter of a mile, allegedly). I noticed that the owners have now included “palace” in the name, calling it Brighton Palace Pier. Better, but still not yet what it should be.

Ice cream

We bought ice cream and then it was a race against time, trying to eat it before it melted in the heat and ran down the cone and our hands.

Volks Electric Railway

When I was a child during WWII, Volks Railway was closed and, never having seen it, I was impatient for it to start running. Since then I have ridden it along the seafront track though not today.

The beach from the pier

We went onto the pier from where I took this photo. (When I was a child, it cost 3d – three old pence – to go onto the pier. Today, it’s free.)

The sea below

We found a bench to sit on. Between the planks of the footway, you can see the sea below. This makes some people nervous.

CrêpeAffaire

Crêpes for lunch
Photo by Tigger

For lunch we went to CrêpeAffaire.

In the Pavilion gardens

We went into the garden of the Pavilion and lay in the sun on the astroturfed “lawn” from where I took the above photo.

Return to the YHA

We returned to the Royal York aka the YHA where we stayed a couple of weeks ago.

YHA cafe

We took up temporary residence in the cafe while we had coffee (and used the wifi!).

A last look

We went to the promenade for a last look at the sea. It was very windy, as you can tell from the white tops on the waves.

Bus to the station

Then we caught a bus to the station but before we boarded our train…

Belgian chips

…Tigger fancied some Belgian chips so, of course, we bought some.

In the station
Photo by Tigger

We went into the station to eat them and attracted the attention of a gull.

Got any chips?
Photo by Tigger

We did not give him anything as you are not supposed to encourage them. We were also careful in case he decided to make s grab – it has been known. He decamped only when we had eaten everything.

Aboard our train

Ten minutes before departure time, we boarded the train at platform 5 even though no destination was shown. We guessed it was ours and so it proved. The train left on time and off we went, heading for St Pancras and home.

E L & N

On arrival at St Pancras, we allowed ourselves to be tempted and paid a last visit to E L & N for coffee.

Aboard the 214

Having finished our coffee, we made our way out of the station into Midland Road and there boarded a 214 bus. There must have been a “gap in the service” as the bus filled up very quickly. Soon, though, we reached our home stop.

Once again, in Brighton I felt the same warm feeling of belonging that I had experienced during our recent stay and this made today’s trip doubly worthwhile. Despite the elapsed years, Brighton is still in some sense my home town and I think it always will be.

In the “old days”, that is before Covid, I regularly travelled to St Katharine Docks to meet Tigger from work. What with furloughs, lockdowns and limits on visiting, I lost the habit. Today, I decided to meet Tigger from her office, though whether this will again become a regular occurrence, I don’t yet know.

On arrival, but before entering Tigger’s office block, I took a look at the dock. The three photos below form a triptych of the East Dock.

East Dock, St Katharine Docks

The vessels in this basin are moored here long term. Only occasionally does one disappear or a new one take up station. I know many of them by name now and often stroll round the dock renewing my acquaintance, as it were.

Art (allegedly)

All along the dock are apartment blocks forming a gated community (you can’t even pass through the gate without knowing the number to type in). By themselves in their own enclosure are these pieces of twisted metal like something out of a bomb explosion. Presumably, they are intended as a work of art.

A view from the 4th floor
Photo by Tigger

Tigger’s workplace is on the 4th floor and windows are full length, allowing views down into the atrium. Heights make me nervous so I tend to keep a respectful distance from the windows!

Motel One, the Minories

On the way home, we stopped off for refreshments. We chose Motel One in the Minories. Their lounge/cafe used to be a favourite of ours in the “old days” and so we thought it was time to revisit.

Tea

Tigger had coffee but I preferred tea. I’ve made this a moving picture so that you can see it nicely steaming!

Earthing
Jocelyn McGregor

On our way to the bus, we visited this sculpture, part of this year’s Sculpture in the City. It is in two parts and the general theme is mollusc shells with human limbs in place of the expected molluscs, plus a pair of “snake legs”, as a bonus, I suppose. You will find some blah about this work here.

Photo by Tigger

The view in Duke’s Place

We waited for a bus is Duke’s Place and while waiting took some photos. The City is now cluttered with huge buildings that blot out the sky and turn the streets into windy canyons. I find the resulting landscape alien and depressing.

Waiting at the lights

The bus cane and we boarded. It carried us through the busy City streets (in the photo, we are waiting at traffic lights) back to the Angel and home. This trip was “like old times” for me. I should do it more often.

The day started grey but we were promised sunny intervals and warmer temperatures later. There was also a yellow warning for thunder storms though not until tonight.

Coffee at the deli
Photo by Tigger

We took a chance on the deli being open today and went to see. Our chance paid off: the deli was open and we had a choice of tables too.

Catching the 19

After our coffee break, we walked through to Rosebery Avenue and waited for a number 19 bus. We did not have long to wait.

Finsbury Park Station

We stayed on the bus until it reached its terminus at Finsbury Park Station. This is a triple station serving buses, British rail and London Underground.

Metal outline figures

We left the bus and started walking, on the way passing these outline figures in metal. They no doubt represent famous people but I didn’t take time to identify them.

Blackstock Road

We walked along Blackstock Road which, at this end at least, contains shops and cafes of different ethnicities, presenting interesting choices.

The Arsenal Cafe

As lunchtime was approaching and we were feeling peckish, we looked around for a cafe where we could have a meal. We plumped for the Arsenal Cafe.

Inside the Arsenal Cafe

In case you are wondering about the militaristic name, I will mention that “Arsenal” is the name of the local football team and therefore, by extension, the name of the neighbourhood. It is also the name of the nearby tube station on the Piccadilly Line.

Framed feather

On the cafe wall was hanging a picture frame containing a single feather. Intriguing. As I forgot to ask about it, I cannot furnish an explanation.

The N4 Library

Also in Blackstock Road is one of Islington’s public libraries which they call the N4 Library. We went in for a look as we like libraries and have discovered some very fine ones on our travels. Councils, being short of money, have been closing libraries and so finding one still open is always a pleasure.

Finsbury Park Mosque

We walked past the large (five-storied) Finsbury Park Mosque, also known as the North London Central Mosque.

A former hotel?

This building on a corner caught my attention. It looks as though it might have once been a classy hotel but I have no information about its history.

Entrance to Gillespie Park

We now came to the site that Tigger had picked out for a visit, Gillespie Park. This is not like any other park I have visited with the possible exception of Camley Street Natural Park. In fact, the origins of both parks are similar. The strangeness starts with this entrance.

Steps to the park

At this entrance (there is a more “normal” entrance in Gillespie Road), you pass through a narrow gate and then climb 28 steps. The brings you into the narrowest section of the park.

Gillespie Park on Google Map

This is what the park looks like on a map. The stepped entrance is at the top of the picture.

Park history

An information board explains the history of the park from an industrial site via wasteland to a Council owned ecology park – an inspiring success story.

Little more than a green path

From the steps, the park is but a narrow strip containing a path with a belt of greenery on either side.

Bordered by the railway

The right-hand side is limited by the railway and some of the greenery on that side is actually growing on railway property.

Denser growth in places

The greenery, consisting of plants, grasses and trees, is denser on the left and, in some places…

The land opens up

…the land opens up, more like a conventional park.

A stile

In one place we discovered a stile leading to a further section of the park though we didn’t respond to its invitation on this occasion.

Pretty green insect

There were birds and bees busily at work and Tigger steadied this flower for me to take a photo of the pretty green insect perched in it.

The Ecology Centre

We passed an ecology centre and…

Gateway to woodland-

…passed through this gateway into woodland.

Woodland path

We entered onto a path that led through woodland.

The pond

For a while in the thickets we had seen plants that grow in or close to water and this suggested a pond though we could not see one. At last, though, we came to it.

Panorama from our bench

There was a long, low bench here and we sat for a while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

One of the mosaics

As we approached the Gillespie Road entrance, we found some charming mosaic panels set into the ground.

Out into Gillespie Road

We exited through a gate in a wall into Gillespie Road. We now had a long walk ahead of us back to the main road where we could catch a bus.

The Arsenal Stadium

We passed the Art Deco Arsenal Stadium which used to be the home ground of the football team of the same name. The team is now based, I believe, in the Emirates Stadium.

Church of St Joan of Arc-

We passed this Catholic church, dedicated to St Joan of Arc, which attracted our attention with its tall, pointed steeple.

Frank’s Cafe

Reaching a main road called Highbury Park, we stopped off at Frank’s cafe to quench our thirst and then walked down to the nearby bus stop.

On a number 4 bus

We boarded a number 4 bus which carried us through Highbury and…

Bus stop at Angel Station

…brought us to the Angel Station, a short walk from home, ending today’s escapade.

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.