Sunshine in Amwell Street
It’s a beautiful sunny day today, good for rambling around without a fixed destination.
Bookshop goose
I noticed that the window of what used to be the rare book seller’s (and might still be, for all I know) was bare except for a stuffed goose, caught in mis-stride towards some unremembered destination. A poet might make something of this but the Muses abandoned me long ago.
Lloyd Square
After our traditional coffee at the deli, we walked past Lloyd Square where I admired the beautiful trees. I mentioned that I felt a little sad to think that soon, the trees will lose their leaves and this beauty will be gone until next summer. Tigger reminded me that each season has its own store of beauty that we can enjoy.
First cat
If meeting cats on our rambles brings good luck, as we tend to think it does (only half-seriously, of course!), then we are quadruply lucky today, having met, not one, but four cats. The fourth was somewhat shy and we were unable to obtain a photo but we caught the other three. This one consented ti brief ear-tickle before moving on.
Fire damage in Granville Square
Photo by Tigger
We walked through Granville Square where we found these signs of fire damage. By chance we met an inhabitant of the house who told us that, thankfully, there had been no casualties and virtually no interior damage as the fire had been in the basement “area”. The house, however, remains without gas or electricity with no indication as to when these services may be restored. Our informant and his family are in the meantime living in a hotel.
Second cat
In Granville Square, too, we met our second cat. He acknowledged our presence and interest to the extent of wrinkling his nose in our direction but, apart from that, was too busy to give us closer attention.
King’s Cross Road
We continued down to King’s Cross Road. We did not stay on this busy thoroughfare but took to the backstreets. Tigger could probably tell you exactly where we went but for me, the route was a maze with the occasional identified place. I do know that we went into Bloomsbury where much of our time was spent.
Cubbit Street
For example, this pleasant- looking road is Cubbit Street, named after Thomas Cubbit, the famous master builder.
Old Telephone Exchange
We passed this old telephone exchange, now “repurposed” (in this era of mobile phones, are telephone exchanges doomed soon to disappear altogether?), and…
The Harrison
…a local pub, called the Harrison, sporting an impressive collection of mobile phone masts on its roof – not a place for radiophobes to feel comfortable in.
Third cat
Photo by Tigger
Nearby, we met our third cat. Like the others, he paid us distant attention but obviously had his mind on other things.
Solid street ar
This piece of street art caught my attention. It is not simply paint, as a quick glance might suggest, but…
Modelled in relief
…has been modelled in relief as you can perhaps see from this photo.
Patisserie Deux Amis
Photo by Tigger
We stopped for coffee at this charming little pattisserie.
Chocolat Révillon clock
Inside the small cafe (it has just six tables) I saw this antique-looking advertisement clock. Whether it really is antique or only pretending to be so, I do not know, but it was showing the right time and Révillon still exists as a manufacturer of chocolate.
Mary Ward Centre
It was what they call “a blast from the past” to find myself in front of this building. Half-a-century ago, I first came to London where I was to be an assistant lecturer at Birkbeck College (University of London). Birkbeck was short of space in those days and my little office and the lecture room were in this building. I worked here for two years before moving on to another post elsewhere.
Russell Square Gardens
We took a stroll in Russell Square Gardens.
Mahatma Gandhi statue
Fredda Brilliant
There are several memorials in the gardens, including this one of Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi by Fredda Brilliant.
Busy squirrel
There were pigeons and other animals in the garden, including squirrels who seemed unafraid of human visitors.
Leo’s
From Apple Maps by Tigger
For lunch we went here, a cafe called Leo’s. I forgot to take a photo so Tigger extracted this one from Apple Maps.
Lunch!
Photo by Tigger
We both chose vegetarian cheese omelette with chips and salad.
Art by Dan Kitchener
Back in early September, we had visited Dan Kitchener who was busy on a contracted painting for a hotel (see Art and about). Finding ourselves nearby, we went to take a look at the finished version.
Theobalds Road
Finding ourselves in Theobalds Road, where Holborn Public Library (run by Camden Council) resides, Tigger wanted to visit it to look up some of the buildings that we had seen during our outing.
Holbourn Library, ground floor
The library is quite pleasant, light and airy.
Holbourn Library, first floor
We went up to the first floor. Here is where the books on architecture are to be found. Tigger found a selection to study.
Upside-down human figures
The library is decorated curiously by upside-down human figures hanging from the ceiling.
Aboard the 38
Leaving the library, we walked a few paces to the nearest bus stop. Here we caught a number 38 bus back to the Angel and home where we will spend a pleasant relaxed evening.
SilverTiger 3 