Two years ago to the day, I started a new blog, SilvertTiger at home and abroad, having previously closed my “old” blog, SilverTiger, which I have subsequently restarted and continued. I have explained my reasons for doing this elsewhere (see my post A change of focus) and do not need to repeat that here. This post is a sort of “Happy Anniversary” card, both to myself and to those who follow my blogs, togerther with a look back over the road travelled during that time.

When I started SilverTiger at home and abroad, we were still living in the “old world”, that is, the pre-Covid world. We could not have known then that we were about to face a worldwide pandemic and that the words “Coronavirus” and “Covid-19” would become daily lingustic currency. The history of those events has yet to be writtn but each of us has a unique story to tell, especially those who have lost friends and loved ones to the disease. I have little doubt that the pandemic will prove to be one of those events, like each of the two world wars, that set the world on a new course. Even when life returns to “normal”, it will be a new form of life, born of Covid-19.

To those of you who follow my blogs, whether regularly or intermittently, I am grateful, and hope to carry you with me into the future, whatever it holds. If my wishes count for anything, then I wish all of you the best of good fortune in facing this, our own Brave New World.

Another hot day is in the offing with a predicted maximum this afternoon of 28°C. Once again, then, we went out just after 9 am to beat the heat.

Callers to my blog come from all over the world (see the above map for a recent day) and in some of these countries, the temperatures are higher than in ours. I’m sure that to some people, then, my grumbles about the heat will seem exaggerated, but we can only speak about what we know and we Brits are simply not used to extremes of temperature, whether of heat or cold. We react to them accordingly.

Shaded path beside the Angel Building

We did at least take the “long way round” when we went to the deli. We cut the corner at the crossroads by following the shaded path beside the office block called the Angel Building.

St John Street

This brought us into St John Street which was not very busy at this hour.

Selfish cyclist

Here we met a selfish cyclist riding on the pavement. This constitutes a danger to pedestrians and is in fact illegal. Not that this stops these idiots and they continue without fear of being challenged by our largely invisible police force.

Butterfly

In Chadwell Street, a butterfly was visiting a display of flowers in front of a house. I mentioned yesterday the decline in the butterfly population and any sighting if these pretty creatures is welcome. Here is a closer view by Tigger:

Butterfly by Tigger

I think this is a member of the species called Cabbage White owing to their habit of laying eggs on cabbage plants which the caterpillars proceed to turn into lacework by eating the green parts of the leaves. Gardeners are therefore less likely to share my pleasure in seeing them!

Trees in back gardens

I took this photo on the corner of Chadwell Street with Myddelton Square to show the trees growing in the back gardens of houses. This neighbourhood is quite rich in trees which, in my view, enhances its beauty.

Variegated tree in Myddelton Square

I was also struck by this variegated tree in the gardens of Myddelton Square. It was one of several.

No window box, just a faded flag

While other houses have splendid window boxes, this one just has a rather tired-looking St George’s flag. Perhaps they are followers of football, something in which I have no interest whatever.

Outside Myddelton’s deli
Photo by Tigger

As we approached Myddlton’s deli, we could see that all the tables were free but in the short time it took us to walk the rest of the way, the best tables became occupied. While I went inside to buy coffee, Tigger waited outside where she took this photo.

The well-stocked deli

I went inside and bought our coffee. The deli is always well stocked with interesting foodstuffs, much of which I have not seen elsewhere.

Sunshine and shade in the gardens

We carried our coffee to Myddelton Square Gardens and sat in what I have come to think of as our usual bench. There were more pigeons present today than yesterday and they soon approached when we produced food.

One-footed pigeon

I spotted a one-footed pigeon and concentrated on him as he found it difficult to scrabble for food with the others.

Hand-feeding
Photo by Tigger

This was not the one-footed pigeon I have previously referred to as “my friend” who is happy to perch on my knee. This one was quite nervous but eventually became confident enough to take food from my hand. I did this because otherwise he kept losing out to others in the general scramble.

Feral pigeons seem prone to injuring their feet and I see many with missing toes, and a damaged or missing foot. I imagine that if they lose or badly injure both feet then they cannot survive.

Squirrel scampering

Tigger, as usual, left some nuts for the squirrels, wedging them in the bark of trees. While she was doing that at this tree, an observant squirrel came down, grabbed a nut and scampered off up the tree. The squirrels in this garden seem quite nervous (both of humans and of pigeons!) and are not ready to accept food from the hand as they are in some parks.

Squirrel eating on the ground

Tigger put some food beside this other tree and this time, there was a squirrel brave enough to sit and eat in the ground.

Leaving nuts on the tree

Tigger left more nuts in the bark of trees. The squirrels find them but the birds are unaware of them.

Leaving the lovely gardens

The air was becoming warmer now and so, as we had finished our coffee and used up all the food we had brought for the birds and squirrels, we set out for home.

When the heatwave finally ebbs, we will think about venturing more widely but, for now, we shall spend the afternoon emulating those sensible Spanish folk who gave the world that noble pastime, the siesta!

The heatwave continues. With temperatures forecast to reach 28-29°C by mid-afternoon, we went out this morning while it was still comparatively cool.

Looking down Chadwell Street

This view of Chadwell Street shows the sunny conditions and the cloudless sky. It also shows that the air is somewhat hazy, no doubt owing to various sorts of pollution.

The hidden church

We walked around Myddelton Square and, in River Street, I took this photo looking towards St Mark’s Church. I have photographed it before from this angle because it amuses me to see how the church is clearly visible in winter, when the trees have shed their leaves, but becomes gradually less visible in spring and summer until now, when it is almost completely hidden from view by luxuriant foliage.

The Bicycle Family
Photo by Tigger

There is a family living in the square who own a couple of bicycles, one for each parent. I suspect they don’t own a car because the bicycles are extenstively fitted out with add-ons. As we went past this morning, they were preparing to go out as a group. Father had, not one but three children on his bicycle. They are quite a sight as they go by but I can’t help thinking that having so many people on one bicycle is rather risky, especially on busy roads.

The deli – no chairs in the shade

On the way, we debated whether to drink our coffee sitting outside the deli but when we arrived, we found that the seats on the shaded side were all occupied. Instead, we carried our cups to the gardens in Myddelton Square, where we had intended to go in any case.

A bench in the shade

We returned to Myddelton Square and found a shaded bench in the gardens. There was a gardener making an unholy racket with a mechanical leaf-blower. Why they indulge in this pointless exercise when the leaves simply blow back onto the path again, I do not know. It’s a waste of time and energy as well as adding to the noise-pollution of the city. Fortunately, he soon completed his task and switched his instrument of aural torture.

A peaceful place

In the ensuing quiet, I could look around at the park and enjoy the peaceful environment that it usually provides.

Just a few pigeons
Photo by Tigger

Once settled on our bench, we looked around for the wildlife. The garden was curiously quiet: there were no pigeons on the grass, as there usually are, nor in the trees. Neither were there any squirrels. After a while, a few pigeons did fly in but they were interested only in the food that someone had left at the foot of a tree.

A corner of the church

I photographed a corner of the church, with a decorative pinnacle, from my seat on the bench. I don’t know whether you can make it out but there is a sign board beside the church here, of the sort that usually stand at the front with the church’s name and details on it. This one, strangely, stands in this hidden corner and is completely blank. Why was it placed here and for what purpose?

Leaving a deposit

In the absence of the squirrels that she had hoped to attract, Tigger left nuts in the bark of several trees, as she did before. The squirrels will find them eventually.

Wood pigeon

I photographed this wood pigeon though he was a bit too far away to make a good photo. Unlike their cousins, the feral pigeons, wood pigeons don’t approach humans. If you do throw them food, they are so slow and indecisive that, more often than not, the feral pigeons jump in and snaffle it.

Butterfly

As we were leaving the gardens, I spotted this butterfly flitting about among the plants. Butterfly numbers have fallen disastrously in recent years and though I have seen a few this year, their numbers are still low.

A lamp and its shadow

This is me being “artistic” 🙂 No, not really. I don’t believe there is any such thing as “art photography”, though some photographs are certainly artistic. This view of the tall lamppost and its shadow appealed to me so I recorded it.

I recounted how we had had shopping delivered to the house on Sunday (see Tigger unwell) but as Chop Chop limits you to 20 items, we still needed to make up the difference. We made a plan to go to Sainsbury’s this evening.

Tigger let me know by text when she boarded her second bus at Liverpool Street Station. That was my signal to set out for Sainsbury’s with the shopping trolley.

Busy Pentonville Road

I crossed the busy Pentonville Road. The sun was still shining but clouds were gathering. According to the Met Office, we could expect rain and perhaps a thunderstorm. To be on the safe side, I put a light rain jacket in my handbag.

Chapel Market is closed to traffic

As it’s a market day, Chapel Market is closed to traffic and this pub and cafe had tables out in the street.

The market was virtually empty

The market itself presented a very different appearance from when we pass through it on Sunday. All the stalls had been cleared away except this one belonging to the fruit and veg shop. Mercer’s, on the left of the photo, was closed, so no coffee for us today!

The bus stop

Tigger’s bus arrives

Tigger’s bus would arrive at this stop, conveniently sited outside Sainsbury’s, so this is where I came to wait. I didn’t have ling to wait before her 153 hove into sight.

Sainsbuary’s = not very busy

Sainsbury’s was not at all busy and so we sped round the shelves easily and were soon ready to confront the checkout queue. Shortly after, were out in the street, job done. My reflex was to shoot off to Mercer’s for coffee and I had to remind myself that there was no point as they were closed.

Passing through the market

As we walked back through the market, clouds were gathering and the light was fading. It began spitting with rain: would we make it home before the downpour?

The electrical goods shop

On the way, we passed Ryness, the electrical goods shop. In the fading light, its windows made a pretty display.

And yes, we did make it home before the downpour. I hope the rains, not to mention the thunderstorms, make themselves scarce as Tigger is free on Wednesday and Thursday and we will want to make the most of them.

I’m glad to relate that by Sunday evening, Tigger was feeling a lot better. (See Tigger unwell.) This week, Monday was a working day for her and, accordingly, she went off into the City to fulfil her role. I, on the other hand, stayed at home all day because I had been informed that the scaffolders would return to complete their unfinished job. (See Scaffolding interruptus.) Guess what: yes, they never came.

Tigger is working again today (Tuesday). SoI have come out for a little walk on my own in familiar territory. I am writing this while sitting on a bench in Percy Circus and conversing by text with Tigger in her City office.

Myddelton Square, west side

It’s another hot and sunny day today with temperatures in the upper 20s Centigrade, though the forecast predicts rain and even thunderstorms this afternoon. That will be a nuisance as we have to go shopping this evening.

Inglebert Street

From the square, I turned along Inglebert Street.

The “Never give up” tree

In that street I photographed the tree stump that I mentioned in my post Never give up. Despite being cut almost to the roots, it is still putting out new branches and these have grown apace since my previous photo. It’s a symbol of determination against the odds.

Looking down Amwell Street

I crossed Amwell Street and entered the sloping Great Percy Street.

Great Percy Street

This broad but quiet residential street, with its handsome Georgian-style terraces, descends to the busy King’s Cross Road but, happily, I was not going that far, only to the trees that you see in the background of the photo.

Flourishing window box

On the way I stopped to admire this window box which is flourishing and seemingly has ambitions to take over the whole window.

Cumberland Gardens

I passed the charming cul de sac called Cumberland Gardens, with the defunct Percy Arms pub, now residential, on the corner.

Percy Circus Gardens

There are many squares in Islington, often with gardens in the centre, but here is an interesting divergence from the pattern. As its name, Percy Circus, indicates, the houses here are set in a circle, with a circular garden in the centre.

Sitting in Percy Circus Gardens

I chose a bench in the central area, under the beautiful tree that presides over it. In this agreeable and peaceful setting, I have written this post up to this point. In a while. I will make my way up the hill to home. Which way shall I choose to go?

A last look back

When I decided to leave this quiet haven, it was with a last look back. “My” bench is the one on the right.

Path to Holford Gardens

To start back, I took this path leading off the Circus. If it has a name, I don’t know what it is. It leads to a small park called Holford Gardens.

The next path

This in turn leads to another path which is also nameless, as far as I know.

The “Cliff of apartments”

It leads past what I previously described as the “cliff of apartments” that is Bevin Court.

Looking rather sad

This grassy area in front of the building was left to grow freely during the spring and became a wild meadow of tall grasses interspersed with flowers. It was beautiful. Now it has been mown and looks rather sad, its beauty destroyed.

Cruikshank Street

I next climbed the gentle slope of Cruikshank Street.

A charm of their own

The houses in this street are not in the Georgian style that characterises much of this neighbourhood, but they have a charm of their own.

A view from Claremont Square

My final view is from Claremont Square, showing a familiar scene with St Mark’s Church prominent. I was soon home where I had lunch and settled down to await Tigger for this evening’s trip to the shops.