Snow has fallen in London. While snowfalls are not exactly rare here, London often remains clear when there is snow elsewhere in the country. I had hoped we would escape it again this time but in that I was disappointed.

Snow in Pentonville Road
Photo by Tigger

Tigger took this view in Pentonville Road at 7:36 this morning. The snow has already been churned up by people walking on it and it is mixed with fallen leaves, making for slippery conditions. The road has been cleared almost completely by the wheels of passing vehicles but elsewhere, undisturbed snow shows no sign of melting.

Chadwell Street

As luck would have it, we had put together a load of laundry to be taken to the cleaners today. I could have put it off for a couple of days in hope of better weather but decided to go ahead. Rather than take the “scenic route” as I usually do, I went the long way round, following the main roads, where the feet of passers-by had chopped up the snow and, I hoped, making conditions less slippery.

Snow on cars

Having deposited the laundry, I returned via Chadwell Street and Myddelton Square. The snow was thicker and less disturbed here because these streets see less traffic. The disturbed snow on this car suggests passing schoolchildren gathering snowballs to throw at one another!

Approaching Myddelton Square Gardens

Along the route, the trees were white with snow and as I walked, it seemed to be snowing but in fact it was snow tumbling off the branches. The snow was thick on the ground and crunched under my feet.

Relatively undisturbed

People had already walked through the gardens, disturbing the snow a little but not much. I walked slowly and carefully, not wishing to slip and fall!

The walled garden

There were a couple of people exercising their dogs in the gardens and the dogs were rushing about apparently cheerfully excited by the unusual conditions.

Snow on tree and shrubs

The snow has left a thick layer on the tops of the bushes and shrubs as well as coating the trees.

The reservoir, Claremont Square

My last photo is of the reservoir showing the grassy slope that I photographed covered in frost on Saturday (see A walk with lunch).

It usually takes a few days for them to do the laundry and I was hoping that, by the time I went to collect it, the snow would be gone. To my surprise, they said it would be ready today after 3:30 pm. I could put off collecting it today, I suppose, but perhaps I ought to show willing and go this afternoon. Perhaps the snow will have melted by then but, as the temperature is not expected to rise above 1°C today, that seems unlikely.

When we set out this morning, the temperature was hovering around freezing.

Fog in Pentonville Road

The air was veiled by a light fog which made everything damp.

Spider’s web
Photo by Tigger

On the railings in front of the houses were spiders’ webs whose threads had collected moisture from the fog.

Decorated front door
Photo by Tigger

In Baron Street, just before it meets Chapel Market at the Alma pub, someone has decorated this door to resemble a Christmas parcel. This has become a popular form of Christmas decoration in recent years and I expect more will appear as we approach the 25th.

In Sainsbury’s

We went to Sainsbury’s, as usual, to do our weekly shopping.

After lunch, we set off again. We wanted to walk but it was rather cold to be wandering about in the streets. We therefore decided to walk… but indoors!

Aboard the 73

We caught a number 73 bus. It was crowded and we had to go upstairs. I dislike these “Boris buses” because the seats are too close together so that I cannot get my legs into the narrow space and have to sit with my knees out in the gangway.

Oxford Street

The bus brought us to Oxford Street which was, of course, very busy as the Christmas rush is well under way.

Oxford Circus

We crossed the road at Oxford Circus whose road layout includes an innovation in pedestrian crossings: pedestrians can cross diagonally, saving the need to cross two streets separately. I don’t know whether diagonal crossings have been officially implemented elsewhere though it is possible to cross diagonally unofficially where, as often is the case, all green crossing lights come on together.

Walking down Oxford Street

We walked down Oxford Street until we came to the John Lewis department store and went in.

A view from the escalator

As we usually do, we planned to take the escalator to the top (fifth) floor and work our way down from there.

The top floor cafe

It just so happens that the top floor is occupied by the main cafe-restaurant. (There are several other smaller ones on other floors.) So we joined the queue for refreshments.

Coffee and waffles
Photo by Tigger

The place was crowded, as you can imagine, but Tigger spotted someone leaving and pounced on the table. We had coffee and honey waffles.

Looking down the light well

I always have to take a look down the light well despite it making me feel queasy. From this height, the people on the ground floor really did look like ants scurrying about.

Various departments

We descended floor by floor and walked round each floor. We didn’t buy anything but some of the items interested us, perhaps for future reference.

Age-restricted items

I was intrigued by the items on this shelf. Called “découseurs” (sewing unpickers), they are considered so dangerous that you have to prove that your age is 25 or above in order to be allowed to buy them.

Holles Street

On reaching the ground floor, we left by the east doors which lead into Holles Street which is a mini bus station. We waited for the next 73 to draw up to the bus stop.

Cavendish Square

Nearby is Cavendish Square which we might have explored if the weather had been warmer. As it was, we preferred to shelter in John Lewis’s doorway until our bus was ready to take us in board.

Aboard the 73

The 73 finally presented itself and we went aboard. This time there were few passengers and we had a choice of seats, occupying our favourite rear-facing back seats.

Going to John Lewis enabled us to perform our walk but in relatively comfortable conditions. I hope the cold snap will end soon and conditions revert to what is more normal for Britain. As for us, we will spend the rest of the day at home in the warm.

We didn’t set out until 11 am by which time the temperature had risen to around 0°C. We dressed warmly for our expedition and I put an extra jacket on under my overcoat. As a result, I felt the cold only on my face and hands. (I wear gloves of course, but have to bare my fingers to take photos.)

The Angel crossroads

The sun was shining though the air was hazy. The sunshine made us feel more cheerful and it was definitely warmer in the sun than in the shade.

St John Street

We set off down St John Street though without any particular destination in mind.

Hazy sunshine in St John Street

You can see in the photo how hazy it was. We kept to the sunny side of the street as much as possible, crossing to the other side as necessary to remain in the sun.

Casting a long shadow
Photo by Tigger

You can guess who this is! Tigger took the photo while my attention was focused elsewhere.

Smithfield Market

In due course, we reached Smithfield Market. By now, we were ready for a “warm break” and refreshments.

A Paul cafe

Nearby was a branch of Paul and so we went in.

Inside Paul

We found a table and ordered coffee, Tigger a “Salty caramel latte” and I my usual black americano.

La Forchetta Italian cafe

We decided it was now time for lunch. Conveniently enough, it seemed, there was a branch of La Forchetta nearby. We were sure we would find lunch here and went in.

Inside La Forchetta
Photo by Tigger

Unfortunately, it turned out that the kitchen had had to close and all the items we suggested having were not available. We had already ordered drinks so couldn’t simply leave. So we ordered a portion of toast each to go with our drinks.

Farringdon Station

We set out again to continue our walk and look for lunch. We passed in front of Farringdon Station, carefully dodging the chuggers who were operating there.

Farringdon Road

We walked up Farringdon Road. Tigger had suggested a place to have lunch and I agreed with her idea. It was a little bit if a walk to reach it but walking, after all, was what we were out to do!

Handsome building
Photo by Tigger

On the way, we admired this building with crests, a Latin motto (ut prosim means “that I may serve”) and a clock (unfortunately, not working).

Cafe Maya

Our destination was Cafe Maya in Mount Pleasant. There was a time when we went there often but we haven’t visited it recently. It has changed ownership but is still as good as ever. Though the cafe was fairly busy we found a table.

Rosebury Avenue

After lunch, we started back, walking up Rosebury Avenue.

Wilmington Square

We crossed through Wilmington Square with beautiful trees dressed in their autumn finery.

Margery Street Estate

We entered Margery Street where the sun was shining cheerfully on the façades of the Margery Street Estate.

Pigeon snack bar

I think this tree full of red berries is a rowan. A movement in the branches attracted our attention: it was a wood pigeon snacking on the berries.

The “Garden Path”

We walked through this path between community gardens. If it has a name, I don’t know what this is and so I call it the Garden Path.

Inglebert Street

Nearing home now, we crossed the end of Inglebert Street, giving us a view of the Church of St Mark, partly illuminated by the sun.

Frost on the grass

I took my last photo in Claremont Square, poking my phone between the bars of the reservoir’s iron railings to capture the frost on the grass. Even though the temperature had risen a few degrees above freezing, this area was shaded from the sun and still frozen.

That will be our outing for today (yes, Tigger closed her ring!) and we will spend the rest of the day relaxing at home with plenty of hot tea and an occasional use of the heating.

This week, Britain has been experiencing a cold snap. The temperature has fallen to well below freezing and this at a time when the price of fuel has risen to unprecedented levels amid fears that we might actually run out of fuel supplies.

London has not been hit as badly by the weather as some regions. The mercury drops several degrees below zero in the night and during the day struggles to rise a few degrees above freezing.

We use our heating as sparingly as possible, running it only in short bursts, typically when we get up in the morning and during meal times. Even so, I shudder to think what the fuel bill will come to.

Tigger has been to work during the week, of course, but she has managed every day to “close the ring” (see Dull Sunday for an explanation) every day and I admire her for this.

I have gone out daily for my walk though yesterday I went only as far as St Pancras, entering the station to warm up before riding the bus home.

A while back, I recounted that I had bought a new glass teapot from a company called Hario – see A new teapot. I then explained how I broke the lid and made a replacement (see Expensive lid). All went well until – crash! – I dropped the teapot which shattered into smithereens. There was only one thing to do: buy a new one!

New teapot

I ordered the teapot, not from Hario itself but from Amazon. This saved me a couple of pounds on the price of the teapot and delivery was free despite the article apparently being sent to me from the USA! It pays to shop around.

Last night (Friday), because it was so cold, rather than eat out, as we often do on Fridays, we ordered a takeaway. We chose one of our favourites, Holy Cow in Chapel Market. The food is brought by Deliveroo, usually by bicycle but yesterday on foot. Despite this, the food was still hot when it arrived.

I am writing this on Saturday morning. According to the Met Office, the temperature stands at -1°C but will rise to 2°C in a couple of hours. I don’t yet know what we will do today but I’m sure we will think of something! Whatever it is, I will recount it here.

The temperature has dropped a couple of degrees since yesterday with a “feels-like” value of 2°C. Even Tigger, who often feels comfortably warm when I am complaining of cold, called the conditions “bitter”.

Christmas trees on sale in Chapel Market

When we passed through Chapel Market this morning on our way to Sainsbury’s we saw that the seller of Christmas trees has arrived. That and the cheesy Christmas music in Sainsbury’s leaves no doubt as to the season. Ignore it if you can.

Pentonville Road

After lunch, we set out on foot. Tigger had some purchases to make and also wanted to “close the ring” (see Dull Sunday for an explanation).

King’s Cross and St Pancras

We arrived at King’s Cross and found the area quite busy.

Aboard the 91

Here we boarded a number 91 bus.

Seven Sisters Road

We arrived in Seven Sisters Road in Holloway.

Poundland

We took a turn around Poundland. We noticed that a number of items on sale are priced higher than £1. An symptom of inflation, perhaps. As prices continue to rise, will the store rename itself, I wonder?

TheWorks

We next visited TheWorks where Tigger bought a few items, mostly presents for colleagues in her office.

Nag’s Head Market

We also had a look in the poetically named Nag’s Head Market but found nothing of interest, though the Christmas lights were pretty.

Holloway Road

We made our way to Holloway Road. By now the light was beginning to fade, giving us an evening feeling.

At the bus stop

We found a bus stop and…

Aboard the 43

…caught a number 43 bus.

Caffè Nero, Islington Green
Photo by Tigger

We left the bus at Islington Green and went across the road to Caffè Nero for one last coffee.

Office headgear
Photo by Tigger

Here, Tigger showed me the tasteful headgear that she had bought to wear in the office in the run-up to Christmas.

Upper Street
Photo by Tigger

On leaving Caffè Nero, Tigger took a photo of Upper Street which is decorated with Christmas lights.

Islington Green
Photo by Tigger

We stopped to admire Islington Green which was decorated with lights in the trees.

We now set out to walk home, rather than catch a bus, in order to help Tigger “close the ring”. (Yes, she succeeded,)

Angel Central

We walked back through Angel Central which has extensive ceiling lights.

A plethora of pot plants
Photo by Tigger

The open area is no longer quite so open as it is full of plants in pots, and…

Angel Central decorated
Photo by Tigger

…the whole is decorated according to the Christmas theme.

Chapel Market

We walked through Chapel Market where a lot of stalls were still open, no doubt hoping to make to most of the Christmas shopping rush.

Christmas trees still being sold

Along with these vendors was the seller of Christmas trees that I photographed this morning.

We continued on home where we will spend a cosy evening in.