Number Seventy News

…in London. Starting from Euston station I just ambled wherever the whim took me, Euston Street leading to a wrought iron archway proclaiming “Tolmer’s Square” - just a small space between flats (50s?) with bushes, and trees, winding paths and a pub. Just the opposite of the windy wastes and dead stone of the Euston Centre just down the road. Then a winding course dwon Bolsover St. , Great Titchfield Street, Langham Street to Cavendish Square - loads of people sitting on the grass and on benches enjoying the afternonn sunshine - and across Oxford Street to Hanover Square. Brook Street looked interesting but I was quickly diverted to Avery Row and Brooks Mews - lanes and alleys lined with restaurants and interesting small shops. Via Davies Street to Berkeley Square - off which is the delightful Bruton Mews - interesting-looking pub half way along- back to Hay Hill, Dover Street, Grafton Street and so to New and then Old Bond Street where there’s a bench where you can sit between Churchill and (?) Truman, and then the street is lined with large cars parked on yellow lines with the chauffeur lounging on the bonnet or the boot while the nobs or the wags do their shopping. Steel dinosaurs in the Royal Academy courtyard, craft and tat market across the road in St. James churchyard. Peaceful interior, Wren, gallery on 3 sides, magnificent organ at west end, man sleeping beside Grinling Gibbons font. Swallow Street and under the arch to Regent Street gridlock. Walked between the traffic rather than over it to the other side and into Brewer Street. A very welcome cafe stop - I forget its name, but it’s a hundred yards up on the left, on a corner. Pressing firmly onward into the porn belt now - Soho as crowded and excitingly tacky as ever - Old Compton Street and across Shaftesbury Avenue. There’s a stret beside Blackwells which leads to another of those odd small squares - this one a wild garden - Phoenix Garden I think. Weeds and cottage garden flowers - and anyway what’s the difference? Back onto Shaftesbury Ave, Princes Circus, and the familiar environs of Museum Street. Over the years, I’ve worn a track from here to and from Kings Cross, but today brought a new version by crossing Southampton Row and taking one of those broad pedestrian accesses, Cosmo Place, again lined with cafes and pubs that just reminds you how perfect life would be without motor vehicles. This revealed Queen Square, yet another green space for the soul, and so to Judd Street with the towers of St. Pancras at the far end, and Euston Road and Kings Cross. Three hours in London could hardly be spent more enjoyably, and at only the cost of the shoe leather and refreshment on the way.

I think there are six. Two have died for certain. The others send out 1 to see what’s happening if they sense me coming (ground vibrations), then three to sweep the entire pond area, then maybe the rest if it seems safe.  It doesn’t often seem safe.

They’re messing me about ! One day I go out and there’s nothing to be seen, however hard I peer into the depths and under the pond plants, the next there are 8 of them, then 3, or 1.  Sneaking up on them doesn’t make any difference. I think one died - but usually dead ones float, and I don’t see it.

Perhaps if I keep feeding them they will get too b ig to hide.

A beautiful sunny but not too hot June afternoon - Millenium Bridge, Walmgate Stray, University, Heslington Long Lane, Gypsey Corner, Bridle Paths to Scoreby, tea and lemon meringue pie at the Ballon Tree(and asparagus to take home), Gate Helmsley, Warthill, Stockton on the Forest, Deans Garden Centre for the ill-fated fish (see today’s other post) and home via Stockton Lane.  Flowers and leaves at their most vivid, lots of glossy brown cows, merciful absence of oil seed rape.  Almost all of this on bridleways and quiet lanes - could have increased that but for the fish.

Or, to be precise, gold-fish? I bought ten of the little buggers yesterday and there only seem to be three left. No sign of herons and the cats are too incompetent. Can only think that one of the old fat frogs has chomped them up. Next time - pike !