London Lives

Christmas trees just never quite lose their magic, do they?

The snow is back, announced the radio this morning. I was expecting a fine dusting, or nothing at all. In fact, a fair amount had accumulated overnight. Nothing on the scale of last week’s snow (and just as we were getting used to walking around safely), but a decent amount of fluffy stuff to trudge through. I took this photo (left) outside Euston station. The snowy branches make striking patterns.

Further on (right), Bloomsbury was dusted with a decent coating of snow, lending it a silent air, as in this picture looking towards Gordon Square.

Tavistock Square (left) with the statue of Gandhi visible beyond.

Russell Square with frosted trees (below).

I’ve been cooking and eating splendid soups all week. Tonight: leek, potato and pepper with a smigeon of chilli.

Okay, it is Deep and Crisp and Even in London today. This warranted a visit to Hampstead Heath to stand in splendid deep snow and take pictures.

Hampstead Heath in the snow

Spaniards Road, Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath

Frosted trees, Hampstead Heath

Laden twigs, Hampstead Heath

Foraging Squirrel, Hampstead Heath

Icy wonderland, Hampstead Heath

Snowbound bridge, Hampstead Heath

Ice stream, Hampstead Heath

Snowbound Bridge II, Hampstead Heath

Hopeful squirrel, Hampstead Heath

Striking branch formations, Hampstead Heath

Striking branch formations II, Hampstead Heath

Lovely leaf patterns, Hampstead Heath

Robin, Hampstead Heath

Wonderful branches, Hampstead Heath

Looking upwards, Hampstead Heath

This log looks like some sort of dinosaur with a long tail

Close-up of twigs, Hampstead Heath

There is a blurry outline of a fox just above the centre of this picture

Snowbound avenue of trees, Hampstead Heath

Icy stream, Hampstead Heath

Lots of dogs of all shapes and sizes explore the snowy Heath

Houses towards the eastern Heath

Icy twigs above the frozen lake, Hampstead Heath

Ducks seek food in the icy lake, Hampstead Heath

Birds on the frozen lake, Hampstead Heath

Robin on snowy branches, Hampstead Heath

Frozen lake and surrounding trees, Hampstead Heath

Victorian clocktower and Christ Church Highbury, London N5.

I walked to Angel yesterday. It’s about three miles (4.5km) away. The days at present are my favourite possible winter days: sharp, bright, chilly and lush. It is very, very chilly in fact at the moment and below freezing some nights. Warm coat, scarves and gloves definitely needed. But it is perfect walking weather, which fits in well with getting out and about in the New Year.

On the way is this lovely Victorian clocktower in Highbury, which I’ve been meaning to photograph for some time (and I want to put more of my photos on this blog). Further on, and hidden behind the bustle of Upper Street, is the district of Canonbury.

Canonbury is quiet, serene and Georgian. Low winter light filters through the tree-lined streets. It is the kind of area Hercule Poirot would be visiting only to find himself with a winter mystery on his hands. A lot of Canonbury looks like this and it’s beautiful to stroll through.

At Angel, I did reasonably mundane shopping (buying a tablecloth in the sales, that kind of thing)  and got the bus back home. A brilliant, refreshing, unhurried walk.

This has been one of my busiest Christmases in some years: December was more or less a round of theatre, dinners out, dinners at friends’ houses, dinners at mine, work-related socialising, shopping and spending. Long may it continue (although probably not in January when things are quieter and leaner). There was also the weather to deal with. The snow in London wasn’t quite Deep and Crisp and Even,  but what there was turned to ice that hung around for at least a week (and saw your correspondent slip over three times). The journey to my parents’ home in the Midlands (where the snow was Deep and Crisp and Even) was the prettiest Christmas train journey I’ve ever made.

In Canonbury yesterday, the real Christmas trees were sensibly placed outside front doors, ready for Islington Council’s recycling vans on the Monday. No surer sign that Christmas is over. All the food, fruits of the season, colour, expectation, socialising and the great fat wintry-ness of it all is gone. And that’s always a pity.