Today’s outing was mainly a bus ride to Muswell Hill, a district of Haringey in North London. To reach it, we took a number 43 bus from The Angel.

Front seat, upstairs

We managed to have front seats upstairs from where you have a good view of the landscape you pass through.

Pausing at Archway

The bus pauses briefly at Archway, a district that is still within the Borough of Islington.

The road bridge
Photo by Tigger

The name of the district comes from the “archway” formed by this bridge carrying one road over another. The current cast-iron bridge dates from 1900 when it was built to replace an earlier brick structure of 1813.

Muswell Hill Broadway

We left the bus here, on Muswell Hill Broadway. The name, by the way, comes from Anglo-Saxon times. There must have been a mossy or boggy area with a spring because the name derives from moes (“moss”) and wella (“spring”). The second word, Hill, was added in the 17th century.

W. Martyn’s
Photo by Tigger

This was our intended destination, W. Martyn’s, tea and coffee specialists and delicatessen. Tigger had a few purchases to make.

Old church now a steakhouse

After the shopping, we crossed the road to a cafe that was serving coffee through a window. While Tigger was buying coffee, I photographed this striking building. Built in 1902 as a Presbyterian church, it is now occupied by Carter & Miller’s Steakhouse. I wonder what the original founders would have thought of this change of use? Perhaps it is as well that they do not know.

A view from Hillfield Park

We went for a little walk and were impressed by the view from this street appropriately called Hillfield Park. Incidentally, this view of the terrain shows plausible reasons for the addition of “Hill” to the name of the district. It is indeed atop a hill.

Roundabout or circus

Continuing our walk, we passed round this feature which no doubt has a name though I haven’t been able to discover what it is.

We walked past at least two bus stops both in order to have a walk and to give Tigger time to finish her coffee. (I did not have any.)

Here comes the bus

We missed a couple of buses but that didn’t matter. When we were ready for a bus, we had to wait only 5 minutes for one.

Aboard the bus

We sat on the lower deck for the return journey. The red stuff on the front seat is from a notice telling people not to sit there. Keeping this seat vacant is supposed to help protect the driver from infection. Whether it really helps, I cannot say, but I hope so, because 51 London bus drivers have died from Covid-19 so far.

Door no more

I took this photo from the bus because I was intrigued by the doorway in the wall that is no longer a doorway. To where did it lead and why has it been closed off? The decorative arch and the engraved name suggest that it was once an important entrance.

Phone box greenhouse
Photo by Tigger

A number of phone boxes have been decommissioned and some of these have been taken in hand by street artists or other people with inventive minds. This box has been turned into a greenhouse and its inhabitant has already spread out through the gaps where panels have been removed.

Back in familiar territory

We left the bus here, once more in familiar territory, and made our way home.

Skyscape
Photo by Tigger

And to end with, here is a dramatic skyscape taken by Tigger.

Today is Good Friday and for me it is a good day because Tigger doesn’t have to go to work and we can spend it together.

This afternoon was sunny and in the sun it was warm but there was also a breeze with a cold edge to it. Despite this, we decided to take our coffee to Percy Circus. First, though, we went for a little walk around our neighbourhood.

Under repair already

To my surprise, the new water leak that I discovered yesterday is already undergoing repair. Maybe it was flooding local dwellings and this prompted a fast response.

Still leaking

Meanwhile, this old leak, despite being supposedly repaired twice, is still leaking.

Still here

The mysterious “street door” that I speculated would lead to a hyperworld, is still here. No one seems to need a door.

Window cat
Photo by Tigger

On our way through Claremont Square we always watch for the cats – there are two, at least. Today we were lucky and bagged one. It was busy grooming but consented to pose for a few seconds.

The Circling Cyclist

We also spotted the Circling Cyclist going round and round Myddelton Square. She gets up quite a speed as she goes so take care crossing the road!

Ice Cream van

Another sign of the fine weather was the appearance of an ice-cream van, complete with music-box chimes. I didn’t see people rushing to buy so perhaps the cold wind was a disincentive.

Tree in blossom

We crossed through Myddelton Square Garden where I photographed this lovely tree in blossom, positively shining in the sunlight.

Fine Georgian style houses in Wharton Street

Coffee in hand, we walked down Wharton Street whose fine Georgian style houses were bathed in sunshine. Note the BT Tower visible in the distance.

Bedding in Percy Circus

In Percy Circus, we found bedding belonging to a rough sleeper. Finding bedding, as I often do, always puzzles me: do they just abandon their bedding or do they assume that no one would steal it or dispose of it and that it will still be here when they return?

Coffee in the Circus

We consumed our coffee in the Circus. Cheers!

Fine old trees

Percy Circus is home to some fine old trees and I photographed this venerable example contrasted against the background houses. Tree and houses are probably about the same age!

The path to Bevin Court

On the return journey, we passed through Bevin Court, as we usually do. Today, there were more flowers and more blossom than ever before. So, to end with, here are some pictures of flowers and related things taken by us both, the first by me and the rest, the better ones, by Tigger.

Tree blossom

The rest are by Tigger.

“Golden bush”

“Greenbells”

Tigger called these “greenbells” on an analogy with bluebells. Yes, we don’t know their more usual name.

Hoverfly

This is our first hoverfly of the season. (We like hoverflies.)

Bee

This is our first definite sighing this season of a bee.

(I don’t think the above needs a caption!)

The afternoon turned out warm and sunny but, being on my own, I did not feel like straying far and so I made do with a stroll around Myddelton Square Garden.

Dumped or lost?

The first thing I came upon was this object, apparently lost or dumped. I have no idea what it is but guess (well, it is a cross) that it has something to do with Easter.

Wild Kong defaced

I haven’t photographed Wild Kong for a while but today I noticed that something had been added to him and went for a look. Someone has defaced him by applying a couple of stickers promoting one of the candidates in the forthcoming election for Mayor of London. Shame in them (especially as they are supporting the wrong candidate!)

Pigeon couple

I photographed this pair of pigeons foraging because they made me think of Tigger and me on our walks un search of coffee!

St Mark’s Church

St Mark’s Church was locked up, of course, but as they have been putting objects in the doorway that are relevant to the season, I went to look.

Flowers and notices

The flowers are, I suppose, symbolic of Easter. The upper notice gives a list of church events. As these all occur between March 28th and April 4th, I assume they must refer to services held online as the church itself would not be open.

Whose postbox?

This is something I had not noticed before but that jumped out at me today. It is a postbox affixed to the railings of the garden. But who does it belong to? It looks in good condition and the lock is shiny, suggesting regular use. But who its owner might be is a mystery!

There were a lot of flowers in the garden, as you might imagine, and I took a lot of photos. I will just post a few of these without captions as captions would be superfluous, I think.

Calm and peaceful

I had a slow stroll round the garden, taking in all the details. There were quite few people sitting in the benches and the atmosphere was calm and peaceful.

Unsuccessful suitor

The garden’s pigeon population was present in large numbers and they were generally relaxed and at ease. This presented an opportunity for single males to play suitor to females. It’s curious but most of the encounters I have witnessed have led to the male being snubbed, as here. It seems that it’s hard work being a male pigeon!

“Pigeon Central”

This area in the centre of the garden is where the main group of pigeons come to rest and on sunny days to sunbathe and I think of it as “Pigeon Central”. If something disturbs them, such as a loose dog, they all fly up in a great flurry of wings to perch in the trees. Then they begin to drift down again in twos and threes when the disturbance is over.

Something to eat in the tree

There must have been something good to eat in this tree because some of the pigeons were hopping about in it, with much flapping of wings as they tried to balance on the flimsier twigs, and then pecking at what they had found.

Someone’s feeding the squirrels

As I left the garden and walked round the outside, I came upon this tree in which several squirrels were moving about – someone on the other side of the tree was putting out food!

A “Georgian corner”

I took a last photo of the Georgian style houses in Myddelton Square and then made my way home. That walk, though, was not entirely without incident because…

Another water leak

…I found another water leak in Claremont Square!

Down the drain

All that lovely, useful water is pouring into the drains. Perhaps I should apply for a job with Thames Water as a leak scout, if such a thing exists. There would be plenty of opportunities to exercise my craft, it seems.

I did not tarry, however, but made for home to brew tea, write this and follow Tigger’s progress on her homeward journey. With the bank holiday tomorrow, we have a long weekend to look forward to.

As I hadn’t been to Duncan Terrace for a while, that is where I went for my walk today. Unlike Monday, which was a gloriously sunny day, today was overcast but it was still warm (20°C). I made sure I was not too warmly dressed!

The clock tower

I crossed the road by the triangular area between Goswell Road and City Road so that I could photograph the Smith & Sons clock tower. I forgot to check whether it was working (it has been still for several months), but checking now, the time it is showing is about right for when I took the photo.

Crossing City Road

I crossed City Road at the lights. I had come this way to avoid passing the bus stop which is always crowded. The Covid infection rate in London is relatively low but there is no sense in taking unnecessary risks.

Duncan Terrace Garden

Duncan Terrace Garden, you may recall, is a narrow strip of a garden between Duncan Terrace and Colebrooke Row. It covers this section of Hugh Myddelton’s New River, now culverted beneath it. All along the path there are benches and I toyed with the idea of sitting for a while but many benches were occupied and when I found one empty, someone beat me to it! So, like Felix, I kept on walking.

Blossom and flowers everywhere

Everywhere one looked, there were flowers in the grass and blossom on the trees. If only the sun had been shining to enhance the colours!

Wood piles or bug hotels?

I was interested to see these piles of wood in a fenced-off area. Are they just bits of old wood waiting to be carted away or are they bug hotels? I hope they are the latter and think they probably are.

Rough area

As well as the more obviously “gardened” parts, there are areas like this that have been left rough and so form a perfect habitat for smaller creatures.

Rock dove aka pigeon

The garden, like all parks, has its resident population of rock doves or, if you prefer, pigeons. As I approached, this male was courting a female but she snubbed him and he flew onto the fence post, perhaps to spy out the terrain and look for a new prospect. He didn’t seem to mind being photographed though I didn’t go too near so as to avoid disturbing him.

The second garden

There is really a string of gardens known as Duncan Terrace Garden and Colebrooke Row Gardens, running over the course if the now hidden river. The difference between them, I think, is that Duncan Terrace Garden comprises the two sections that you can walk in and Colebrooke Row Gardens is the part that runs along beside the road but is fenced off and too narrow for use as a park. The above photo shows the second section of Duncan Terrace Gardens and this part is characterised by its landscaped collection of rocks. Are they real or artificial? I don’t know. They look real and I think that’s good enough!

Tree in blossom

There are fewer flowers and more trees in this part of the garden but this tree in blossom was making a colourful display.

Charlton Place

At the end of Duncan Terrace Garden, I turned up a street called Charlton Place. There is something odd about the arrangement of the houses in this street. On the right, they are in a straight line but, on the left, they form a gentle curve. These two rows of houses don’t go together, making the road an odd shape. I wonder whether originally there were only the houses in the left, perhaps looking out over parkland and then developers came along and slapped in a second row of houses, less elegantly disposed than their older neighbours.

Camden Passage

From Charlton Place, I entered Camden Passage and had some idea of following it and then the High Street. In non-Covid times, Wednesday is one of the three days in the week when the antiques market takes place. There was no sign of it today, of course. Perhaps it will resume after April 12th. Even without the market, Camden Passage was fairly busy today and so, on reaching Duncan Street, I decided to go down it to rejoin Duncan Terrace.

Duncan Street

We used to come here in the “old days” when there was a no frills Chinese restaurant here that Tigger liked. It disappeared a while ago, though.

Duncan Terrace

Back in Duncan Terrace, I walked along the road this time. The houses here are in the Georgian style, what you might call “middle range”, not as luxurious as in some areas but with details here and there hinting at a more affluent original clientele. For example:

Columns and lantern

For a clue to the status of Georgian style houses, look at the front door. In the cheapest houses, the door is narrow with a plain surround. As the houses increase in status, the doors become larger and have more decorative surrounds such ad the pillars here. Also, look at the fanlight over the door: it’s not easy to in the photo but, built into the fanlight is a lantern with a functioning light! Several houses along here have lanterns but in others they are missing, victims of time and accident.

Chadwell Street

For purely sentimental reasons, I returned home through what I have come to feel is my “home territory”. I crossed St John Street and walked up Chadwell Street. From there I entered Myddelton Square.

Myddelton Square

Though I of course knew the neighbourhood before the pandemic, I knew it vaguely, not intimately. The pandemic, obliging us to stay in the locality, led to us exploring it and my coming to know it in detail, learning to distinguish features to which I was previously oblivious. I came to know the streets and the houses, their similarities and differences, their details and quirks, to notice changes, such as the arrival and disappearance of Christmas decorations. I enjoy walking around these streets, “keeping in touch”, as it were. Wandering further adield is interesting and fun but I like to return here, to where I feel confortable and at peace.

Tigger is at work today and so I have to make my own entertainment. As our visit to Culpeper Community Garden last Thursday had been brief because of the rain, I decided to return today for a more leisurely exploration.

The weather was certainly favourable: the sun was shining and the temperature was nudging the mercury up to 17°C. I decided to wear my lighter coat but, even so, I was a little too warm.

Sunshine in Pentonville Road

This view along Pentonville Road will give you an idea of the conditions. Just look at that blue sky!

White Conduit Street

I crossed Chapel Market and entered White Conduit Street. Even though the market is closed on Mondays, there was a good deal of activity in and around Chapel Market.

The Culpeper pigeons

Crossing Toluddle Street, I of course stopped to visit “my friends”, the Culpeper pigeons.

Culpeper Park

Unsurprisingly, in view of the weather, the park was relatively crowded. There were quite a lot of young people of student age and some young enough to be using the children’s playground. This struck me as odd: aren’t they supposed to be in school?

Entrance to Culpeper Community Garden

The Community Garden was open. I went in and found that it too was crowded. People obviously find this amenable place to their taste.

The pond

The string barrier around the pond had been removed but the breeding season was still in progress to judge from the activity in the water. I spotted two denizens but whether they were frogs or toads I was unable to see. Their colours were too dark against that of the water for them to show up in a photo.

Another view of the pond

Though not huge, the pond is fairly extensive and well supplied with plants. A notice warns that the water is “deep”, so I imagine it must attract a lot of aquatic species.

Plots under cultivation

The garden has curvy paths for visitors to stroll along and open areas with benches and chairs where they can sit and enjoy the atmosphere. Much of the garden consists of plots under cultivation. These are all different and contain different combinations of plants and flowers.

“Burning bush”

My attention was caught by this bush. I don’t know its real name but in my imagination called it “burning bush” because that is what it looks like!

Denser vegetation

Some areas are more open and sunlit while others, as here, are denser, forming a welcome habitat for plants and wildlife that prefer shadier conditions.

Working on their plot

From this point on one of the paths, I could see a row of plots and people working in them. Later, I met and spoke to a lady who was a member of the community garden and she explained that they each have a plot of their own. She showed me hers which was well tended and she told me how much she enjoyed it. That, of course, explains why the plots are all different: each is designed and planted according to the choice of its owner.

Covered path or loggia

I photographed this covered path on Thursday but I photographed it again today because it is so pleasant and attractive. It is one of my favourite features of the garden.

Here are a couple more pictures of the garden, without captions, leaving them to speak for themselves.

Leaving the community garden, I decided to go for a little ramble round the neighbouring streets.

Denmark Grove

This short street is called Denmark Grove. It contains apartment blocks, each with its name.

Elsinore House

This one, for example, is called Elsinore House. Do you see a pattern forming? 🙂

Copenhagen Street

Denmark Grove leads out into Copenhagen Street, so I think we were right to detect a pattern forming!

Meeting a neighbour

In Denmark Grove, I met one of the neighbours who greeted me amiably enough but…

He has important business elswhere

…let me know he had important business elsewhere and departed.

Once an adventure playground

I went as far as the end of Copenhagen Street and found I had arrived at Barnard Park. I didn’t go in but contented myself with this photo of what was once an adventure playground. It has been closed off for years and stands like an abandoned village in a forgotten corner, quietly rotting away. (Update: according to an email received privately, the playground is still in use at certain times of day.)

Church on the Corner
once the King Edward VII

I photographed this old pre-Victorian pub, once called the King Edward VII and now repurposed as The Church on the Corner, and then made my way back along the way I had come.

Back through Culpeper Park

I crossed through Culpeper Park again – still crowded with people enjoying the warm sunshine – and thence into Chapel Market.

Mercer’s for coffee

Passing Mercer’s, I was tempted by the smell of coffee and gave in to temptation! Well, and why not? A pleasant end to a ramble on a sunny day.