At about 8:30 a.m. the doorbell rang. I hoped it might be the postman but, given the previous incidents this week of scam callers (see Suspicious caller and False alarm), I didn’t buzz the front door open, as I would done before, but went and opened it in person. Just as well I did.

Standing on the doorstep was a tall young man in dark clothes, his face covered by a black face mask, carrying a tool box. He announced that he was from the Council and had come to check the security of the communal area. He offered no ID.

I replied that we had received no letter to this effect and that I had already contacted the Council who had informed me that no such jobs had been commissioned on this prioperty. They had also emphasised that all such work would be notified to tenants in advance by letter.

He asked me to confirm our flat number and muttered something about “a lady”, pulling out his phone, as though searching for a reference or phone number. I told him that it made no difference as I was not allowing him access. With that I shut the door.

I next went through the by now familiar routine of contacting the police on the 101 phone number to update my existing report. My information was duly noted and the officer told me that details would be forwarded to the local police as there might be a gang operating in the area.

Then I called the Council’s Housing Department to report to them. The last time I called, I had spoken to a gentleman who was very much on the ball and had responded well to my information. This time, I was put through to a young man who was obviously out of his depth. I believe, but am not sure, that he took notes and if so, perhaps these will eventually be matched up with my previous report. We can but hope.

That today’s caller shoiild mention our flat specifically as the point of contact shows that these scammers have targeted us specially for some reason. I can only hope that the fact that I have now sent three of their callers packing will persuade them not to pester us further.

Update at 12:25 p.m.

The hope expressed in the last sentence above has already been dashed. The doorbell rang and on the doorstep was a man carrying a bag of tools and claiming to from the Council to carry out “a front door survey”, whatever that is meant to be.

“You will have received a letter,” he said.

I told him we have had no letter, that this is a scam and that I am not admitting him.

He took it all calmly and remained polite as I shut the front door.

I am beginning to wonder whether these are in fact genuine tradespeople who are themselves being conned, perhaps by a gang of people taking finders’ fees for for non-existent jobs. Does that sound far-fetched? It would fit the picture and explain why these people seem genuine.

It is another coolish day – 12°C (53° F) – and breezy too. The sun is shining, though, leading to contrasting conditions: warm in sunny but sheltered corners and chilly in exposed areas.

The new rules allowing people to go out and to go to work, using public transport if necessary, has increased traffic flows noticeably. How people are supposed to maintain “social distancing” on crowded buses, I don’t know. They can’t, of course: it’s impossible.

Traffic on Pentonville Road

It was Jusaka’s turn to supply the coffee today and so we headed that way but took a turn around St Mark’s Church before heading to St John Street and the Angel crossroads.

Georgian style houses, Myddelton Square

I photographed these Georgian style houses because (a) I like them and (b) they looked cheeful in the sunshine. (Inexcusable anthropomorphism, I know 🙂 ) They are classics of the style with graded window-size, “area” giving access and daylight to the basement, and elegantly styled ironwork in front of the ground-floor windows.

Arlington Way

This is Arlington Way, which I mentioned in a previous post. What’s special about it? Nothing much, really, though it does contain several Grade II listed houses and the Shakespeare’s Head pub (also mentioned previously) which was described in a document of 1742 as offering refreshments and harpsichord music! It has been rebuilt since then but I don’t know what happened to the harpsichord 🙂

If you are interested in historical associations, the street was named after Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618-85) who was, among other things, a Secretary of State between 1662 and 1674.

We reached St John Street and then passed along a narrow passage leading to Owen Street and thence to Goswell Road – a diversion to prolong our stroll. On the way we passed this building: do you know, or can you guess, what it is?

I haven’t put a caption in case you want a couple of minutes to think about it.

It is in fact the old entrance to the Angel Underground Station.

The station, which opened in 1901, had a central “island” platform between the two tracks. It was still like this when I first visited Islington. I remember feeling slightly nervous because the large numbers of people waiting for trains filled the platform and I could easily imagine being jostled and falling in front of a train!

In 1992, the station was enlarged with separate platforms for the two directions. The new entrance is round the corner in the High Street. Most maps have caught up with the change but Apple Maps hasn’t: it still shows the entrance here in City Road.

There were already two customers in Jusaka and as only three are allowed at one time, Tigger went in and I waited outside, rather like those dogs you see tied up outside the supermarket!

Then we made our way home, washed our hands and enjoyed our coffee. Tomorrow, we can do it all over again!

Today is the first day when the government’s new and much criticized rules for easing the lockdown come into force. I am not going to comment on this (you’ll no doubt be glad to hear 🙂 ) as there is enough information about this in the media. “Social distancing” is still meant to be enforced and so, for us, it has made little difference so far. We are still keeping our distance from other people.

As the title indicates, it is not a very cheerful day with regard to weather. The sky is cloudy and the temperature stands at 11° C (52° F) but “feels like” 2 degrees colder. The damp atmosphere makes it feel chilly.

Squirrel finds a treat

We spotted this squirrel, sitting on the kerb, happily chomping on some titbit that he had found. Our presence didn’t disturb him in the least, perhaps because he was more concerned by the pigeons that were circling him, looking enviously at his snack.

Strategic withdrawal

The pigeons wouldn’t attack the squirrel but if he were to drop his prize they might well be able to grab it from him. He decided to move to a position beside the railings, probably because, here, they couldn’t surround him as they could on the open pavement.

Continuing our walk (and dodging other passers-by as we have become accustomed to doing) we made our way gradually towards – you know where – yes, the deli!

Original tiling

Many, perhaps most, of the houses in this area have plain concrete front door steps but I think this is only because in the nearly two hundred years since they were built, the steps have worn down and been repaired or replaced. Some, like this one, still have the original tiling or perhaps a facsimile replacement.

When the houses were built in the first half of the 19th century, the new owners would have been shown a catalogue in which they could choose alternative designs for such details as tiling and the pattern of ironwork in the railings and in front of the windows. Some of these differences from house to house can still be seen today.

We collected our coffee from our friends at Myddelton’s and then made for home. Despite wearing my winter coat, I was glad to be indoors again!

We set out around 4:15 today which is later than we usually go. Perhaps the excitement of dealing with two fraudsters where we expected only one slowed us down.

It’s a bit warmer today (13°F, 55° F) I’m glad to note, and sunny to boot. That helped raise my spirits.

Roses are blooming in Islington

Misquoting a famous song, “Roses are blooming in Islington”. In Chadwell Street, to be precise.

Where two roads divide to form City Road and Goswell Road, there is a stand of large Georgian houses. At the apex of the site stands what was once a very fine town house, now Grade II listed, together with some of its immediate neighbours.

Dalby House

I refer to Dalby House. I wrote about it on SilverTiger. Here is what I said there (see Brewers and beer engines):

The area where Goswell Road and City Road meet was anciently common land that was used for, among other things, prize fighting and executions. Housing development ended that use and in 1803, Dalby Terrace (or “Dalby Tarrace”, according to the original ceramic name plate, still in place) was built by a certain Mr Dalby (first name unknown), who retained the end house, suitably named Dalby House, for his own use. Mr Dalby was a manufacturer, who was credited with the invention of a successful beer pump.

Mr Dalby is long gone and I have no idea whether his beer pump is still used, but his house remains to recall his name to the curious passer-by.