This Sunday was a little busier than usual as we had two jobs to do. The first of these was the laundry.

Costa, Marchmont Street

We packed the shopping trolley with the items to be washed and heaved it onto a number 205 bus. From the bus stop in Euston Road we wheeled it to the launderette in Marchmont Street. To our dismay, the place was crowded but, by some strange chance, two large-size washing machines were free. We emptied the trolley into these, set them going and went off to the nearby branch of Costa for coffee and a half-hour rest.

The launderette – suddenly empty

When we returned to the launderette it was to find it gradually emptying, leaving us with plenty of choice as far as dryers were concerned. We grabbed three of these and set them going with £3 in each.

When they finished their labours, there were still some items not completely dry so we put these into a dryer for another whirl.

Walking through Cartwright Gardens

Once everything was dry, we packed it away in the trolley and set off for home. We passed through Cartwright Gardens on the way back to Euston Road

Chapel Cafe

Having reached home, we unashamedly took a rest. Then, at 1 pm, we set out again with the trolley, having of course unloaded it of laundry. Our ultimate destination was Sainsbury’s to do our shopping but, first, we stopped off at the Chapel Cafe for lunch.

In Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s was fairly busy but it didn’t take us long to gather our purchases, Then we had to face the queues at the check-out though, to be honest, we didn’t have to wait long.

Returning home, we put away the shopping and then the laundry (which we had left decorously piled on the bed), following this with another rest – well, it is Sunday!

Brake lights in Pentonville Road

A bit later, we went out for a coffee and a walk (just to “close the circle” on Tigger’s walk app). Darkness had fallen making the brake lights of the cars waiting at the crossroads seem that much brighter. It also, incidentally, shows how many drivers wait at the lights with their foot on the brake pedal instead of applying the handbrake as you are supposed to do.

Islington High Street

We turned along Islington High Street which was fairly busy with both vehicles and pedestrians.

Starbuck’s

We went into Starbuck’s and had coffee. The nicer upstairs lounge was closed so we all had to remain in the small downstairs lounge.

The Angel crossroads

Afterwards, we went back via the Angel crossroads which I caught in a rare quiet moment during a change of traffic lights.

Penton Street meets Pentonville Road

We walked along Pentonville Road to the reservoir from where I took this photo. Pentonville Road runs diagonally across the picture; Penton Street enters in from the light at the illuminated building; and Claremont Square is over my left shoulder, as it were.

Looking down Amwell Street

We walked down to the SW corner of Claremont Square where you have this view down Amwell Street.

Looking down Mylne Street

My last photo is a view from the SE corner of Claremont Square down Mylne Street to Myddelton Square and the tower of St Mark’s Church.

From here we returned home for a snug evening before another week comes along to fret us with its demands and preoccupations.

At the deli

Even though the weather was a little chilly, we went to the deli and took our coffee outside.

New specs

A recent visit to the optician has resulted in my having specs to wear when walking about instead of just for reading, as previously. I am having to accustom myself to them. At least I can now see the numbers of the approaching buses!

Shrubs in bloom

After our coffee break w passed through Myddelton Square in whose garden we noticed that some shrubs were in bloom despite the season and the weather.

St John Street and the 153
Photo by Tigger

We walked down to the bus stop in St John Street.

Aboard the 153

We boarded a number 153 bus. This carried us to…

Liverpool Street Station

…Liverpool Street Station.

At the bar in Eataly

We were not stopping at the station, however, and walked to the restaurant and shop run by Eataly. We were meeting a friend and sat at the bar until he arrived.

Passage from Bishopsgate

We had a light lunch of Pizza Alla Pala (“pizza on a paddle”) and then walked along Bishopsgate to this passage.

Exchange Square

This led us into an enclosed park called Exchange Square.

The Broad Family (1991)
Xavier Corberó

We left the square by the entrance near this sculpture group. Called The Broad Family (the area is known as Broadgate), it was sculpted in 1991 by Xavier Corberó.

Finsbury Square

We emerged in Finsbury Square in Moorgate. Here our friend left us.

Aboard the 214

We boarded a number 214 bus.

Crossing Camden High Street

The 214 brought us to Camden Town where we crossed the busy High Street.

Ultimate Craft

We had come to visit this shop, Ultimate Craft, where Tigger bought some wool for her crochet projects.

We paused at Costa

Crossing back across the High Street, we made a pause for coffee at Costa.

Backstreet Canden
Greenland Road

Afterwards we went for a stroll round some lesser known parts of Camden. This quiet street, with a couple of shops in it, is Greenland Road.

Gate if St Martin’s Gardens

This decorative wrought iron gate leads into a park called St Martin’s Gardens.

General view

The name might suggest that this was once the grounds of a church called St Martin’s but that’s not the case. It was once Camden Cemetery..

Gravestones

Around the perimeter are stacked old gravestones that have been moved to clear the centre. The cemetery had ceased to be used by the 1880a and was laid out as a public garden in 1889.

Drinking fountain

This drinking fountain still stands, looking a little forlorn perhaps, and is no longer in working order.

All Saints Greek Orthodox Greek Cathedral

We admired this striking church with a tall clock tower. It is now a Greek Orthodox Cathedral and I do not know its history.

The Golden Lion

We admired this tall Victorian pub called the Golden Lion. It exists still today having escaped the predatory attentions of developers.

A Penfold pillar box

We discovered this Victorian pillar box designed by John Wornham Penfold. It speaks of the quality of these boxes that they are still in use.

Crowndale Road

We came at last to Crowndale Road and the bus stop for the 214 bus.

Aboard the 214

We caught a 214 back to the Angel and home.

How did I get on with the new specs? Awkwardly. They enable me to see long distance but not close up so when I take photos, I have to slide them down my nose and peer over them. I may just keep them in my handbag and wear them only when I need to see at a distance.

Tigger again has Tuesday off work and we are going out and about. The sun is shining though the air is cold enough to numb ungloved fingers.

Myddelton’s deli

We started by going to the deli for coffee. For once we sat outside to enjoy the apricity (an old word, fallen out of use, that seems to be making a comeback). (The sun had moved away from the terrace by the time I took this photo, prompting us to move on.)

Spa Fields

We passed Spa Fields on our way to…

London Metropolitan Archives
Photo by Tigger

…the London Metropolitan Archives.

The study area

Having signed in, we left our coats and bags in a locker and went to the study area where I took the above discreet photo.

Maps

An assistant helped us locate the material we wanted to consult, maps and books about the history of our neighbourhood.

Somewhere here…

We live somewhere on this map though the map was drawn a hundred years or so before we arrived.

Back through Spa Fields

We spent some time in the Archives and afterwards walked back through Spa Fields

We met a squirrel

Here we met a squirrel who hoped we had food to give him.

Happy squirrel
Photo by Tigger

He was in luck as Tigger had something he liked – dried apricots – and he retired to a tree to eat it.

Cafe Maya

We continued on into Rosebury Avenue where Cafe Maya stands on a corner.

In Cafe Maya

We went into the cafe and had lunch.

Disaffected Fire Station

Walking out after lunch, we passed the fine old fire station that is no longer used. It is Grade II* listed so will at least be preserved.

Mount Pleasant

We turned along the street called Mount Pleasant which gives its name to the local district.

The road narrows-

Towards its end, Mount Pleasant narrows and slopes upwards but also winds like a sheep track.

Façadism

As we went along, we passed a building site where the old building has been gutted, leaving just the original façade, while the interior is entirely replaced. This is called by the neologism “façadism”. Is it better to at least keep the original façade or is this just adding insult to injury?

The Yorkshire Grey

We reached the main road where Clerkenwell Road becomes Theobald’s Road at the corner occupied by the Yorkshire Grey pub. Despite the inn sign that shows a mounted soldier, the Yorkshire Grey is a famous breed of working horse not the name of a military regiment.

Entering Gray’s Inn

By a gateway, we entered what looks superficially like a street but is in fact part of Gray’s Inn, one of the famous Inns of Court, historic societies of barristers. Members of the public are allowed in by permission only, meaning that this is considered private land.

Exit to High Holborn

We walked through and left by this covered way that debouches into the thoroughfare called High Holborn.

In Caffè Nero
Photo by Tigger

Here we allowed ourselves to be tempted by a Caffè Nero and went in for coffee.

In a bookshop
Photo by Tigger

This branch offers an interesting example of symbiosis as the cafe shares a premises with a bookshop. You walk through the bookshop to reach the cafe.

Lincoln’s Inn Fields

Walking on, we eventually reached a famous large garden square called Lincoln’s Inn Fields which takes its name from the nearby Lincoln’s Inn, another of the Inns of Court.

Drinking Fountain, 1861

At the entrance to the garden is this venerable drinking fountain, dated 1861, though no longer in working order.

Memorial to Margaret MacDonald

Within the garden are several memorials, the most striking of which is probably the Memorial to Margaret MacDonald whose sculpture was made by Richard Goulden.

London School of Economics

Emerging from Lincoln’s Inn Fields, we passed close by the world famous London School of Economics and Political Science.

World Globe

In the street nearby, we came upon this large world globe. You can judge its size in comparison to the human figure to the right. You might also notice its slightly unusual feature, namely that it is presented with the south pole uppermost.

Bush House

We emerged at Aldwych, crossing the road in front of another famous monument, Bush House. This Grade II listed building, built 1925-35, was for a while a BBC centre but is now occupied by King’s College (University of London).

Aboard the 341

At the Aldwych, we had 11 minutes to wait for a number 341 bus. It came at last and we found good seats for our journey home.

Evening light at the Angel

The bus delivered us safely to the Angel where the electric lights were taking over from the fading daylight. The streets, though, were busy with the usual movement of people travelling home after a day at work. We too were returning home and, happily, we did not have far to go!

It’s a fine, dry and sunny day though a few degrees colder than yesterday. We performed our usual shopping run to Sainsbury’s this morning and returned home to relax over coffee bought at Mercer’s on the way by.

St John Street

We decided to treat ourselves to a cafe lunch and thought about where to go. We decided to try a cafe in St John Street called (perhaps slightly incongruously) the Angel Inn. We went there a lot at one time but had ceased for reasons I don’t remember. Perhaps today was the occasion to try them again.

Angel Inn
Photo by Tigger

The cafe was surprisingly busy but we were served without much delay. Lunch was good, justifying our choice of venue.

Aboard the 73

After lunch, we caught a number 73 bus to Oxford Street as Tigger had some shopping to do.

Crowded Oxford Street

Oxford Street was of course crowded, making it difficult to progress without bumping into people, which includes avoiding those silly creatures who think they can attend to their phones while walking in the street. If you want to fiddle with your phone, go to a quiet corner and stand still! Otherwise, you deserve whatever happens to you, including having your phone snatched. (Yes, we’ve seen that happen.)

From the top floor at John Lewis

We walked down to John Lewis and took a series of escalators to the top floor from where I took the above photo.

The electronics department

We went first to the department selling computers and phones. I think I have mentioned that Tigger is planning to buy a new iPhone and she wanted to look at the various current models and versions. This enabled her to decide which to buy when the time comes.

Wool and lots of it

We next went to a completely different department, that selling wool. After carefully considering everything available (and there was lots of choice), Tigger bought wool for her next crochet project.

Cabmen’s shelter with pigeons

We walked to Hanover Square where we saw this cabmen’s shelter. It was closed off for some reason but what drew our attention was the flock of pigeons enjoying the sunshine on the roof.

Taking their ease

Pigeons (or “my friends”, as Tigger refers to them) have a difficult life and it’s pleasant to see them in a rare moment of quiet enjoyment.

Hanover Square Gardens

We walked through the gardens at the centre of Hanover Square. The square was laid out in the early 18th century and took its name from King George I who was also Elector of Hanover.

St George’s Hanover Square

We passed in front of the striking Church of St George, Hanover Square, built in the early 18th century (1721-5).

Sotherby’s

Nearby is the premises of the famous auctioneers, Sotherby’s.

The Coach and Horses

In Bruton Street, we admired the Coach and Horses standing on its corner in all its half-timbered and stained-glass glory. However, it may not be all that it seems: though the pub was originally built in the 1770s, because of damage sustained by an adjacent building, it had to be demolished and was rebuilt in its present form in 1933.

Bus stop, Green Park

Soon after, we reached Piccadilly where it passes Green Park and there, at the farthest point of our outing, we waited for a bus.

Aboard the 38

We boarded a number 38 bus and sat in our favourite rear seats.

Mount Pleasant

We left the bus at Mount Pleasant, hoping to catch the local branch of Caffè Nero still open.

In Caffè Nero

They were still open and there was an hour left before closing, so we could enjoy a leisurely coffee.

Wilmington Square, north side

We decided to walk home and made our way first to Wilmington Square where we walked along the unusual narrow lane in front of the north-side houses.

Lloyd Square

We crossed through Lloyd Square with its “forbidden garden” (that is, a garden accessible only to residents). I’m not envious in the least 🙂

The sunset from Lloyd Square
Photo bt Tigger

Our last photo, taken by Tigger, is of the sunset as seen from Lloyd Square. If the old rhyme is to be believed, a red sky at night is a promise of fine weather tomorrow. We shall see.

We are meeting a friend this morning and the chosen meeting place is Waterloo Station. After breakfast, we prepared ourselves and set out.

St John Street

The weather is grey and dull though the temperature has risen to more comfortable levels (around 11°C). We made our way to the bus stop in St John Street.

Aboard the 341

We caught a 341 bus that has its terminus at Waterloo Station. The journey was longer than normal because road works caused the bus to be diverted but we arrived at the rendezvous at last.

Entering Waterloo Station

We entered the station which was quite busy today. There were no rail strikes in progress so all trains were running.

A view from the terrace

We went up the escalators to the terrace where there are shops and eateries though they all seem to be closing down at present. I don’t know why. From here you have a view of the station concourse with people rushing hither and thither, like an overturned ants’ nest.

Benugo

We had a while to wait for our friend and so we found seats and bought coffee from the Benugo stall.

The Sunbathers
Peter Lazlo Peri

Our friend arrived and we made our way out of the station, on the way passing this sculpture entitled The Sunbathers. It was made by Peter Lazlo Peri for the Festival of Britain (1951) and subsequently lost. Having been found and restored, it is now displayed on a wall of Waterloo Station.

Female face, Waterloo Station

The station has its own set of sculptures, some of which are memorials of the two World Wars and others, like the above face, which are part of the decor.

Lower Marsh

From the station we went into the nearby street with the intriguing name of Lower Marsh. You will find an explanation of the name here.

Vaulty Towers

On one of its corners is this highly decorated pub with the rather derivative name of Vaulty Towers.

Stow-Away Hotel

In stark contrast to the foregoing is the unlovely façade of the Stow-Away Hotel. Why, I wonder, do modern architects deliberately cultivate ugliness? And what is wrong with their clients that they actually accept these awful designs?

Scooter Caffe

We went into one of our favourite coffee places, now called Scooter Caffe. It used to be called Scooter Works and I think it did originally sell motor scooters. This days it is just a pleasant and popular coffee bar.

In Scooter Caffe

We spent some time here, catching up, and then, when our friend had to leave, walked a little way with him.

Into the Graffiti Tunnel

As we usually do, we walked through a now closed-off street that passes under the station. Originally called Leake Street, it has been turned over to street artists and is familiarly known as the Graffiti Tunnel or, more recently, as Leake Street Arches.

Painting, Leake Street

There was plenty of activity there today with some artists at work.

Looking back

The tunnel continues to be well used and paintings continually succeed one another. In my view, however, its glory days have passed – something that I feel is true of street art in general – and much that is on offer today is lacklustre. I emphasise that that is my personal opinion; others might disagree.

Mamúska

Having parted from our friend, we went for lunch. For this we chose the Polish bar restaurant Mamúska.

In Mamúska

The restaurant occupies an arch in a railway bridge and the interior might be described as cavernous. Despite the size, the staff were attentive and we didn’t have to wait long to be served. The menu of course contains Polish dishes, most of which contain meat or fish. There are a few Vegan options, which are Polish dishes in which the meat has been replaced with something else. I don’t know what this is and didn’t care ti investigate. Tigger enjoyed hers but I an not in a hurry to repeat the experience. In a curious twist, we ordered tea and this came accompanied by hot milk!

Iranian protest

We walked to Westminster Bridge and became briefly mixed up in an Iranian protest group. The protest was peaceful and well behaved, the protestors being shepherded by a number of police officers.

Palace of Westminster

We walked along the south bank if the Thames from where I took this photo of the Palace of Westminster, which of course includes the Houses of Parliament and the clock tower known popularly as Big Ben, possibly the best known clock in the world.

National Covid Memorial Wall

We visited the National Covid Memorial Wall which is covered with thousands of pink snd red hearts, many with moving inscriptions to individual victims of the pandemic written by their bereaved loved ones. The sheer number of hearts brings home to one how many people died in the pandemic.

In the shadow of Lambeth Palace

We reached a bus stop in the shadow of Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. We waited there for a bus to take us on the next stage of our journey.

Aboard the C10

We caught a single-deck C10 bus which took us through a maze of streets to Victoria Station.

Already boarding

It was our intention to catch a 38 bus back to the Angel. I was hoping to have a look around Victoria and take some photos but the 38 was already boarding when we arrived so we went aboard.

Back seat on the 38

We were able to occupy what are our favourite seats in these 3-door buses, the rear-facing back seat. This has plenty of leg room and affords a quick exit through the rear door. The large window provides a wide-screen view of the world during our ride.

Back at the Angel and home

The 38 delivered us safely to the Angel, the place that since 2005 has been the centre of my universe or, in common terminology, the place I call home.