Yesterday was about as nice a day as we could possibly want. A bit cold, perhaps, but sunny and bright. It drew everyone outdoors like a magnet. This was the high street in the early afternoon, when I took a walk around the neighborhood for some exercise.
I walked down a nearby street where, in February 2018, a house collapsed while it was under renovation. What didn't collapse was eventually torn down, and although I believe there were plans to rebuild (which I haven't heard anything about in years), so far there's still just a big gap in the street, with the two adjacent buildings supported by some temporary beams. Here's the original story on a local news blog, with links to more photos and coverage.
Free chairs, anyone? Kind of fun! If we needed chairs I might have taken them. They're a bit battered but they have character.
Some brilliant tulips were growing along this fence on the street, along with some euphorbia.
Fair warning -- this is probably what my blog is going to be from here on out, now that I'm retiring: "Here's what I saw on the street today." Do not expect any deep philosophizing.
I forgot to mention that I did get some seeds planted on Sunday. I planted six sunflowers in a seed tray, and five more in some big pots at the side of the house. (Probably too many for those pots, which already contain a few other things, to be honest.) I also planted a tray of zinnias and some cosmos. I'm keeping the cosmos indoors on the windowsill for now, but I'm hoping the others will sprout just fine outdoors, despite our chilly nights. (It's 47º F out there now, or 8.3º C, at almost 8 a.m.)
I've almost finished "Flashlight" -- I should polish it off today, finally. I also archived all my photos yesterday, which always takes time -- culling the ones I don't want and saving the rest to my portable disk drive. It's nice to have it done.
I can tell the world is waking up because I've already begun my summer ritual of rescuing insects that blunder into the house. I keep a little drinking glass and a notecard on the end table next to the couch, and when a bee or hoverfly comes in and I hear them buzzing and thumping against the windows, I pop the glass over the insect and slide the card beneath it, and transport the critter back outside. I had to do it twice yesterday already!
Sad to see that happen to the house. Either something structurral rotted or somebody removed something vital during the building work...but houses should never. be left empty for that long.
ReplyDeleteIt is even a pleasant day here so far too!! Starting by watching the moon set through a pink and apricot coloured sky as the sun rose
What you need is another dog to write about along with the street scenes!!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy your urban scenes and things you stumble across, I do love we can pop things in our front garden we not longer want, and some will take it for free.
ReplyDeleteThe house collapse is quite interesting, and it is hard to imagine any other cause than something the machinery operator did in the basement.
ReplyDeleteWest Hampstead Life is an unusual newspaper title. I am surprised there weren't any comments on the story but sometimes it is just too hard to leave comments on newspaper articles.
I like those abandoned chairs, not that I would want them in my home.
"...a bit battered but they have character". Therefore the chairs would have been perfect for you and Dave. As for what you will write when you are retired...
ReplyDelete"April 7th 2029...It's my second hip replacement operation tomorrow. I have to write everything down on the calendar these days - in case I forget. Last night Dave told me that I was once a school librarian here in London. I knew he was joking but he insisted, "Yes you were!" As if I would do anything like that! I know for sure that I was an astronaut with NASA and I was the first to step foot on Mars."
All creatures great and small. You are so kind. I find those chairs interesting, too. I’m surprised you managed to control yourself. I have a feeling you’ll still be philosophizing. There will be a hole new world in front of you. The house collapse story is sad, but amazing no one was hurt. I guess someone forgot to support the structure during the renovation. Oops! The tulips and euphorbia are stunning.
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