Today was rather a bitty day when we did this and that and nothing very much. Consequently, all I have to show you are a few random photos.

Window box in Myddelton Square

To the deli for coffee

Doppio Coffee Warehouse, Kentish Town

How many different ways are there to make coffee?

Damp and cold at Kentish Town crossroads

Foundation stone of the Abbey Tavern, Kentish Town

“I hate how they keep us hanging around”

Shops and bus stop, Kentish Town

On the 214 bus

Crossing through St Pancras Station

The Eurostar Terminal

No trains, no passengers

King’s Cross Station from St Pancras Station

Food market in King’s Cross Station forecourt

Well, I said they were random photos. Yes, we did go out for coffee this morning and we did pay a brief visit to Kentish Town this evening, but that hardly constitutes an adventure worth recounting.

Tomorrow is another day and we will see what it has in store for us.

For once, the weather seemed to be in our favour so we started out early (early for us, that is), heading first, as we usually do, to the deli.

A day to make the most of

The sun was shining and it seemed to be shaping up to be a fine day.

A view from the terrace

We drank our coffee on the terrace at Myddelton’s then set off on our main ramble.

Percy Circus

We passed by that other favourite spot of ours, Percy Circus, but did not stop there.

Shelter for dining al fresco

In King’s Cross Road, we passed a Portuguese restaurant and I noticed that it still had a tent to protect diners from the weather, obviously installed during the “outside only” period and I wondered whether this would now become common, even though restaurants can serve customers inside. Perhaps Covid has started a new trend: dine outside in all weathers.

The Thames from London Bridge

We took a number 17 bus which deposited us on London Bridge where I took a quick photo of the Thames.

London Bridge Station

We crossed through London Bridge Station which was quite busy though perhaps not as much so as at “normal” times.

Eames Fine Art

We had come to Bermondsey Street and the gallery of Eames Fine Art where there was an exhibition of prints by Paul Catherall that Tigger wanted to see.

Print by Paul Catherall
From a photo by Tigger

Above is an example of the creations of Paul Catherall and you will find more on the cited website.

Where does it lead?

Also in Bermondsey Street we had an intriguing glimpse down this alley but did not explore it. Another time, perhaps.

Artwork, Tanner Street Park

We ventured into Tanner Street Park where we found a bench to sit on. Tigger bought coffee from a nearby outlet and we ate a picnic lunch. The above artwork was in the park but I saw no details as to the artist’s name or the title.

A corner of Tanner Street Park

The park has grass and trees and also tennis courts. Naturally, there were also people walking their dogs. This reminded me that there has been a crime wave of dog thefts. Dogs have been stolen from houses but also snatched from their owners on broad daylight. If you own a dog, beware.

The Pommeler’s Rest

We passed this striking pub, now owned by Weatherspoons. The name, Pommeler’s Rest, gave me pause as it is not a word I knew. According to Weatherspoons, the word has to do with the leather trade for which the district was once known. However, this dictionary gives an entirely different meaning. (I think I would probably put my money on Wetherspoons.)

Approaching Tower Bridge

Our next destination lay to the other side of Tower Bridge, which we now crossed.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge opened in 1894 and has a unique design, intended to harmonise with the nearby royal palace cum prison cum place of execution, the Tower of London. Its central sections can lift to allow tall ships to pass.

The Thames from Tower Bridge

When a bridge “lift” is in operation, road traffic and pedestrians are barred and have to wait. This operation can take some time. Fortunately, none were scheduled while we were there and we were able to cross unimpeded.

A view from Costa’s terrace

On the other side of the bridge, we stopped for coffee at a Costa Coffee shop. They were not serving inside but we could sit on their pleasant terrace which, as the weather was fine, was quite acceptable.

Walking beside the Tower of London

The next part of our route took as along the pedestrian path beside the Tower of London. This massive building has had a somewhat gruesome history. It was of course founded by the Normans in 1066 and was used by kings both as a residence as well as for less pleasant purposes. It is now a prime tourist destination though I think it is closed at present.

First glimpse of St Dunstan’s

The end point of our ramble was a ruined church called St Dunstan’s-in-the-East. The church dates originally from the 11th century but was damaged in the Great Fire of London (1666) and repaired. Bits were added at various times until in WWII it was gutted by bombs. It has not been rebuilt but it and the land it stands on have been designated a public park. Its location means that it is a popular place to explore and for office workers to eat lunch on fine days. You will find more information about St Dunstan’s here. Below are a few more photos of the church.

A last look

Leaving the church, we had a bit of a walk to reach a bus stop where we could catch a bus for home. In the photo below, taken from the bus stop, is another famous monument.

The Monument to the Great Fire

The slender tower is commonly known to Londoners simply as “(the) Monument”. Built 1671-7, it commemorates the Great Fire of London of 1666. The viewing platform became a place for suicides to jump from until it was enclosed with netting. There is more information about the monument here.

We soon boarded a 43 bus that carried us back to the Angel and home.

The weather forecast was not promising, showing rain throughout the day. However, the morning looked marginally better than the afternoon so we hurried to make the most of it.

Rain on the pavement, Claremont Square

As luck would have it, rain started falling as we stepped over the threshold. Nothing daunted, though, we continued on our way.

Stormy skyscape

The look of the sky was not promising but, as we did not expect there to be any improvement, we kept going.

On Myddelon’s terrace

We called first at Myddelon’s deli for coffee and consumed it on their terrace where the canopy offered some protection from the rain. There were also brief sunny intervals during one of which I took the above photo.

The Union Tavern – work in progress

We then set off for our next destination, zigzagging through the back streets. At the end of Lloyd Baker Street stands the Union Tavern, one of the few pubs to possess a clock. The pub is undergoing work and I shall be interested to see whether the clock will be restored to working order.

Crossing Rosebery Avenue

Some more zigzagging brought us to Rosebery Avenue which we crossed.

Staircase to Vine Hill

On the other side of the road is a stone staircase which is the beginning of a street called Vine Hill, which we entered.

Vine Street steps

Islington is quite a hilly borough with sloping streets or with neighbouring streets being at different levels. Steps like these are one way to deal with the problem.

Walking up Vine Hill

As its name suggests, Vine Hill is a sloping street. Having climbed down at its beginning, you climb up again along its length!

Clock House, Leather Lane

We reached Leather Lane which is actually quite a long street and began walking along it. A noteworthy inhabitant of the lane is a Grade II listed pub called the Clock House. Built in the mid-19th century, it is a member of the elite group of pubs possessing clocks.

Leather Lane Market

Leather Lane, which lies in the borough of Camden, possesses a market, founded in 1666. The market runs from Monday to Friday and so was functioning today. Most of the stalls seemed to be selling takeaway food and were protected from the weather by tents. Mixed in with these, were tents covering tables belonging to restaurants.

Formerly the Pewter Platter

Tigger spotted an old name plaque for this building, high up on the roof. Now given over to retail and a restaurant, it was originally built as a pub and was called the Pewter Platter. The original pub dates from the early 19th century though its present form dates from rebuilding in 1876.

Hatton Garden

A few more steps brought us to another famous street, Hatton Garden. It derives its name from the fact that it was built on land that in medieval times was occupied by the palace and gardens of the Bishops of Ely. Today, of course, it is known as London’s primary market for jewellery and precious metals. It is full of jewellers’ shops and workshops.

Ely Court and Ye Olde Mitre

Leading off Hatton Garden is a narrow passage called Ely Court wherein is found an old pub by the name of Ye Olde Mitre.

Ely Place

The passage leads into a rather exclusive street called Ely Place. This is no ordinary London street as is indicated by its entrance guarded by gates and a beadles’ lodge.

Entrance to Ely Place

As Wikipedia explains it, Ely Place “is privately managed by its own body of commissioners and beadles”.

St Ethelreda’s Catholic Church

Ely Place contains the Catholic Church of St Ethelreda, built in the 13th century. The door was open so we went inside for a look but as there was a mass in progress, we discreetly left.

Holborn Circus from Pret A Manger

We felt it was time for lunch and went to the Holborn Circus branch of Pret A Manger.

Pret A Manger

This branch of Pret has a covered terrace where we could dispatch our lunch outside but protected from the rain which ever and anon made itself felt.

Church of St Andrew Holborn

Nearby is the Church of St Andrew, founded in the 15th century but rebuilt by Wren in the 17th. Gutted by bombing in WWII, it was rebuilt in the 1850s. Today it is a Grade II listed building. We went to take a look.

The ornate gate

It has an ornate gate opening, curiously, onto steps which descend to the level of the church. We found the church open and empty.

Blue Coat Boy and Girl

Flanking the church door are figures of Blue Coat School pupils, a boy and a girl.

Interior, Church of St Andrew

The church is of galleried design but fairly plain. Most of the windows are plain glass, whether by design or because the original stained glass windows were destroyed by bombing, I do not know.

The pulpit

The pulpit is possibly the most ornate piece of furnishing in the church.

Leaving the church, we began our journey home. We started by going back more or less the way we had come except that in Rosebery Avenue we gave our tired legs a treat by taking the bus back to the Angel!

My final photo was of another pair of Blue Coat pupils, this time in Hatton Garden.

Blue Coat pupils, Hatton Garden

According to the weather forecast, the sky was covered with dark clouds, rain was falling and there was a thunder storm in progress. The view from the window showed the sun shining from a blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. Who do you trust: the forecast or the view from the window? We plumped for the window view and set out.

If at first you don’t succeed…

In Claremont Square, we found that work on the water leak has started again.

The excavation

This is the third attempt to repair it, the third time that they have dug up the road. Will they succeed in putting it right this time? I’m sure the neighbours hope so.

Sunshine and blue sky in Claremont Square

Meanwhile, I was photographing the square to show how pleasantly sunny the weather was. I was beginning to chide myself for wearing my heavy coat.

Ominous dark cloud in the north

Then I turned and noticed the ominous dark cloud to the north. It had a leaden colour, presaging stormy weather. It was still far away, though, so nothing to worry about.

Sunlit window box

The sunshine was still bright and made this window box glow cheerfully with colour.

Sunshine in the trees

In Myddelton Square, too, the trees were bright with sunshine.

The dark clouds coming closer

A glance to north, however, showed that the dark clouds were coming on apace. But surely, nothing to worry about…

The dark clouds roll in

The made our way in leisurely fashion to Myddelton’s, still bathed in sunshine, and decided to take our coffee on the terrace. That was when the dark clouds came rolling in, the rain began to fall, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Fortunately, we were fairly protected under the shop’s canopy. We would have to stay here until the rain eased off – assuming that it would do so.

The rain began to fall

It began to rain – hard. Fortunately, there was virtually no wind to blow the rain in on us so we were sheltered under the canopy. On the other hand, as Tigger had a light coat on, we would be prisoners here until the rain eased off.

Caption

Fortunately, after a while it did ease off and so we made a dash for home. There was water running running in the gutters and rivers flowing across roads.

An eerie light shone on the church

The clouds thinned slightly, allowing an eerie light to shine on the church and the surroundings.

Reflected in a puddle
Photo by Tigger

There was still plenty of water about in rivers and in puddles, as in this photo of the reflected church by Tigger.

Blue sky appears in the north
Photo by Tigger

There were hopeful signs that the storm might be over as blue sky appeared in the north.

Water dripping from trees

The splashes in this puddle, although made by water dripping from trees, argued for caution.

Sunshine but an ominous sky

The sun was now shining again but there was still ominous cloud cover in the sky making for dramatic contrasts.

Threatening sky at the crossroads

We took a chance and walked down to the crossroads to take more photos of the dramatic sky in contrast with the sunshine.

The Angel clock tower with sunshine and storm clouds

We went as far as the clock tower then turned back to return home.

No storm clouds

In the direction of home, the sky was completely different: there were no storm clouds and it looked like a fine sunny day. You would not know it had rained at all. We reached home safely in the dry.

The storm was not really over, however. As I write this at home, I can hear thunder rumbling and the forecast is for more of the same to come. Then again, forecasts are often wrong, and things might yet turn out better than expected!

By the time we were ready to go out again, this morning’s sunshine had been replaced by clouds and a drizzle of rain. Bravely, we set out nonetheless.

An old friend

Though I had my Bluetooth button protected from the rain by keeping my hand in my coat pocket, it took me a moment or two to awake my photographic mood and by the time I did so, we were already at Myddelton Square. So I took a photo of the Curvaceous Tree, just to be going on with. The fresh green of the new leaves seems to make it glow.

Church screened by trees

As the trees of the square’s gardens become clothed in green, the church seems to fade from view. I an not anxious for winter to come to reveal it again though this must inevitably happen.

The cat in the basement
Photo by Tigger

In a basement bedroom, Tigger spotted this cat. This one is new to us, a bonus cat, you might say. He gave us a thoughtful stare but was otherwise unconcerned at our interest in him.

Cloudy skies over the square

Despite the rain, we walked round the square and headed to Amwell Street although we knew that we had missed Myddelton’s as they close early on Sundays.

Myddelton’s closed

Though it would have been nice to go in for a coffee, I don’t begrudge them their early closure on Sundays. They work hard, opening from 7am to 5pm on the other six days of the week.

The George and Monkey

The George and Monkey was open, of course, with a few customers huddled under the pull-down canopies. Next week will probably present an entirely different scenario, rain or no rain.

Rain puddle in Penton Street

As Myddelton’s was closed, we bravely decided to go to Mercer’s despite the rain. In Penton Street we came across this impressive puddle of rainwater. You can see the rain splashing on the surface.

Godson Street

We walked along this curious little street that runs from White Lion Street to the top end of Chapel Market. Called Godson Street, it was created in the 1880s when the existing buildings were demolished.

Where the Farmers’ Market was this morning

Here we are in Chapel Market where the Farmers’ Market was this morning. It had completely vanished – almost magically, it seems, not a trace left.

The pub tent

The pub’s tent was still in place with a bunch of determined customers sheltering beneath it, one of whom has had to unfurl his own umbrella for extra protection.

The Delhi Grill

By now, the Indian restaurant called the Delhi Grill had also erected a tent so that diners could dine al fresco but without getting wet. Well, not very wet, anyway.

No tent, just a big umbrella

The Millennium cafe has chosen a big umbrella rather than a tent, though I don’t know how effective it is.

A few more steps brought us to Mercer’s, where we bought our coffee. Then, with a last look at Chapel Market, now almost empty of stalls (I think the blue tent belongs to the Turkish restaurant), we made quickly for home. Tomorrow is another day and we shall see what it brings.

A last look at Chapel Market