Laundry, shopping, close ring

This is where we spent an hour or two this morning:

The Golden Launderette

It was laundry time once again and we loaded the shopping trolley and carted it round to the poetically named “Golden Launderette” in Marchmont Street. We commandeered two of the largest machines (at far right in the photo) and set them merrily spinning.

Costa Coffee

The wash cycle takes about 40 minutes and as the machines cannot be opened when they are running (a sensible safety precaution) we felt free to leave the launderette and stroll down the road to visit the local Costa Coffee.

Cartwright Gardens

Washing is easy because you just leave the machine to get on with it. But then comes the drying which is a different story as you have to keep feeding money into the dryers and checking their contents to see whether they are dry yet. At last everything was dry, folded and packed into the trolley. We could then walk through Cartwright Gardens down to the main road and catch a bus for home.

Opposite the Euston Flyer

Our bus stop is opposite the pub called The Euston Flyer, no doubt named after a famous train but, if so, one that I have not so far managed to find out about.

We had to check the buses before going aboard to make sure there was room for us and our trolley. The second bus, a number 30, met the conditions.

The Chapel Cafe for lunch

We still had the weekly shopping to do, of course, and so, after a modest rest, we set out again. We decided we deserved lunch out and for this went to the Chapel Cafe in Chapel Market. This has now become our regular cafe because, unaccountably, our favourite, Cafe Sizzles, is closed on Sundays.

At Mercer’s

As we usually do after shopping, we called in at Mercer’s for takeaway coffees to drink at home.

In order to do the shopping, we had to discharge the trolley which left a large and unprepossessing heap on the bed. This needed to be sorted and put away but before we did that, another small matter had to be attended to: Tigger had not yet completed her daily walking schedule as recorded by the walk app on her phone. A further walk was required to “close the ring”.

St Mark’s, Myddelton Square

We put on our shoes and coats and set out bravely. We headed for Myddelton Square which is a pleasant enough place for a quiet stroll.

Cloudy skies

The sky was cloudy but the sun seemed to be struggling to break through. It made a bright point of light. I tried to photograph it but the camera frustrated my efforts by evening out the light and suppressing the bright sunshine. There’s possibly a way round this but I have yet to discover it.

Myddelton Square Garden

We didn’t go into the garden and so I made do with a photo taken over the railings. I have happy memories of our visits to the garden in warmer weather. I look forward to doing so again when the weather improves.

The Curvaceous Tree

Our little stroll round this pleasant and peaceful neighbourhood was enough to satisfy the walk app on Tigger’s phone that she had met the daily target. Before turning for home, however, I photographed my beloved Curvaceous Tree, its twisting branches dramatically silhouetted against the sky.

I often wonder about other species, whether they are conscious and perhaps aware of themselves and of the other inhabitants of their environment. Is there any chance that trees are aware of our passing presence and even of our interest in them? Probably not – at least, not in any way that we can understand – but every day science makes new discoveries and perhaps some magical surprise awaits us in the future.

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