Two successes and two disappointments today.
Success no. 1.
Back to Notting Hill/ Holland Park and I found Hugh Thomas’s coal hole cover. It was only about a hundred metres further down the road from where I was yesterday, exactly where it was supposed to be. The map of the coal hole covers doesn’t show every road in the area and that’s what put me a block out. Can’t believe I couldn’t see that corner ahead of me though, as it was a little haven of green and shops among all the houses. In the photo of the shop called “The Rock”, look below the sign that says Portland Road and you will see the coal hole cover.
Disappointment no. 1.
The only one left was a few blocks away and the spot was very clearly marked on the map. Nevertheless, I walked all around and up and down and it wasn’t there. What was there, in the exact right spot, was a circle in the pavement where a coal hole cover used to be. Someone has destroyed or nicked it!!! How dare they! The one you see here is what should be there. I got it from the internet.
Success no. 2.
Caught a bus from Holland Park, about 20 metres from the absent coal hole, all the way to Clapham Junction, which Rob and Judy will remember very well. From there it was a train to Balham and hooray! Our favourite little card shop was still there and flourishing. Apparently they’ve opened a few more shops. They still have the BEST assortment of cards and though I tried to restrain myself, I still bought a lot. Trouble is, they’ll be gone in a year and I can’t pop back for more.
Disappointment no. 2.
The lovely French restaurant with the giant Scrabble and the fab soufflés is gone! There are big renovations happening where it used to be. As compensation I found a nice little corner cafe with a shady seat outside and had a tuna toastie and 2 berry smoothies. 26 degrees is pretty hot in the big city.
A train and a bus brought me back to Paddington. Decided to have a coffee in a little cafe opposite my hotel. Felt a bit weird as there were only Middle Eastern men in there, but once I was in I wasn’t going to be intimidated by that. The coffee was exceptionally good which might be why the men gather there. I might even go back as the the women behind the counter could use some female customers.
Well done Heather with your successes.Sad about the cafe but love your card shop success
ReplyDeleteLove the coal covers adventure. The shop in the pic with plates or coal covers over it???? And lovely warm weather, while we're freezing here. First kings weekend here. The sun is out but not much warmth. Enjoy Rutts.
ReplyDeleteFeeling very nostalgic for Balham. Thanks for the pics of our 'home for a month'. So sorry to hear about our French Cafe. What a loss! You should have gone up to Bar 61 in Streatham Hill to see Tony in his usual seat, and the barmen .... they would have cheered you up. 😉 Can't wait to see the cards. I'm outraged about someone stealing coal hole covers - as you said, how dare they! Lorraine: we just discovered by chance that if you click on a photo in the blog it enlarges and becomes sharp so that you can read the signs properly! It's the Cross Shop and you can also read the road sign. You can enlarge the map and it's amazingly sharp, clear and readable! I'm not certain but I think Heather meant The Cross rather than The Rock.
ReplyDeleteI did mean The Cross.
DeleteFancy nicking a cover. How RUDE.
ReplyDeleteSounds hot over there. Hot here too.
Unusually hot l would have to say! We are happily ensconced in our new hotel which we change daily. Heading into town for a walk and dinner.
ReplyDelete