Though it may be a subjective view, it seems to me that Christmas is proceeding at a very low-key pace this year. Many shops already have SALE splashed all over them, perhaps hoping to pick up trade in the expected last-minute rush.
Unusually quiet
Last night, on the way home from work we stopped off for coffee at Costa in Eldon Street, behind Liverpool Street station. There are usually quite a few people in the cafe around this time but today it was unusually quiet.
An ancient highway to the north and Islington's main shopping street
We made a leisurely start today and then set out to look for breakfast. Should we go to one of our usual places or seek out somewhere new? We decided to walk along Upper Street to see what might turn up.
The popular singer stayed here when in London
In Upper Street is a Cuban restaurant and bar called Cuba Libre. It was closed so there was no chance of finding breakfast here but we did stop to take a photo of the plaque recently affixed to the wall above it. This is in memory of the popular Lancashire singer Gracie Fields who used to stay here when in London.
Breakfast at the Turkish cafe
We found Cafe Gallipoli open for breakfast. As the name suggests, it’s a Turkish cafe. It’s called Cafe Gallipoli Again because it is one of a pair in Upper Street. Did we have the Turkish breakfast with olives? No, we had cheese omelette with mushrooms and chips.
Richly decorated
The interior of the cafe is richly decorated with Turkish ornaments and furnishings. There are lamps everywhere.
An exotic centrepiece
After breakfast we went for a little walk. St Mary’s is the parish church and its characteristic spire is a local landmark.
Islington's parish church
Behind the church is the Little Angel Theatre and we went thither to photograph the plaque on the wall memorializing John Wright who founded the puppet theatre in 1961.
Puppet theatre
Behind the church is the graveyard but as is usually the case in London, this was converted into a public garden in the Victorian era.
Looking a little bare in its winter garb
Some of the larger tombs have been left in place and all the gravestones have been moved and stacked against the wall. Most are now hard to read.
It actually still works
There is a drinking fountain here which was donated in 2001 by the Brewers’ Company but which is obviously much older than that. I have no idea of its history and am still investigating. It is of a curious design because it sends the jet of water downwards – most inconvenient for human drinkers – to where a plastic bowl has been placed for dogs to drink from. Turning the knob on the right produces water but unless you hold it, the water stops after a few seconds. To get the photo, Tigger twisted the knob then ran away while I clicked the shutter!
As good as a cliff face
At the end of the church building, these false windows and the guttering above provide perches for pigeons. (Did I mention that I am fond of pigeons?) The other name for pigeon is rock dove because the ancestors of our feral pigeons lived among rocks and cliffs. This is why they feel at home on narrow ledges on city buildings.
A gated community
In Andersons Square, we found the gate to this gated community open, so we went in for a look. It seems to be a clean and pleasant enough environment but well outside our price bracket.
But what is it?
I was intrigued by this glass roof indicating an underground facility of some sort. But what is it – a swimming pool, a gymnasium or a winter garden? I have no idea.
...surveys the garden and pond
The garden in the centre of the square is decorated with a small pond. Watching over the whole is a bronze angel. We are not short of angels in this quarter of Islington. In fact, angels have become something of a cliché.
Curly angelic tresses
The gate leading to Essex Road was open and we left by that route. For once, we didn’t feel like going on a longer expedition and returning home seemed a good option. My last photo was of this face on the wall of The Old Parr’s Head, once a pub and today a clothing store.
2 comments:
Sounds like you had a a relaxed and laid back Xmas. I like the Turkish lights in the cafe. Your omelette and chips sound delicious.
One of the curiosities of cafes in London (and probably in the rest of the UK) that serve typical British cafe fare is that they are run by Turks, Italians, Greeks, etc.
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