Dear Readers, today we decided to attempt a whole block of the County Roads here in East Finchley, from the High Road to Bedford Road, Durham Road and Huntingdon Road. First though It was a quick stop off at La Gourmandise café for a much-needed pain au chocolat. But then the moment could be put off no longer, so off we go along the High Road, passing this London Plane Tree that seems to be pretending to be a doughnut, or maybe that’s me imagining further patisserie delights.
I am always intrigued by this plaque on a house at the top of Bedford Road.The house that it is attached to looks much more recent than 1897, but this could well be the date of the original house (my house dates to 1899). It’s clear that the house has had a lot done to it, but maybe the bones of the original house are still there. At any rate, it’s an interesting vestige of colonial days.
It has clearly been a great year for hydrangeas – look at these big blousy flowers! Sadly for all their colour, the larger flowers are sterile but they do make quite the splash. Climbing hydrangeas, or ones with more of the smaller, fluffier flowers, which are fertile (Hydrangea paniculata comes to mind) are usually better for pollinators.
The gutters at the side of the road are absolutely full of little ‘weeds’ – I suppose there’s a tiny accumulation of soil, plus a bit more moisture than on the road itself. I spotted lots of species: knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare), one of the small willowherbs, and a tiny nipplewort (Lapsana communis) – I love how the size of this last ‘weed’ depends so much on the available nutrition and water. I have seen nippleworts grow to 3 feet tall in the right condition, but this one is just a couple of inches, and still flowering.
Knotweed (Polygonum aviculare)
Nipplewort and small willowherb species.
“I’m just photographing your lovely daisies” I said, “Is that Ok? I’m not showing your house”. People are sometimes worried that I’m casing the joint for a burglary.
“No, that’s fine”, said the man, “But it’s my wife who does the garden, she has the green fingers!”
“Well, she does a lovely job”, I say.
“I’ll tell her!” he says.
I often think that I should get Bugwoman business cards printed for just such an occasion. Maybe I’ll have a serious think about that.
Incidentally, is anyone old enough to remember a campaign run by various newspapers, in particular the Daily Mirror, in the 1960s, concerning an individual called ‘Chalkie White’? This person was actually a reporter and would visit various seaside resorts in the UK. If someone thought they’d identified him, they could walk up to him and say “You are Chalkie White and I claim my five pounds”. My Canadian husband was completely mystified by my garbled explanation of this phenomenon, so I’m hoping I didn’t just imagine it. Help, Readers!
Onwards! (Very slowly and carefully)
Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)
Honestly, the front gardens of East Finchley really do hold a whole host of treasures. I love these California poppies bursting forth.
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Yellow corydalis(Corydalis lutea)
Agapanthus
And I always love the glass animals in this garden, peeping out from behind the species geraniums.
The Mountain Ash/Rowan berries are really quite something this year. There should be plenty for the birds.
There’s a tangle of honeysuckle…
And the bells of Pieris
And yet, what I’m most moved by is this single Welsh Poppy peering out from a most unpromising crevice. That’s what I love about ‘weeds’ – their endurance, their cheekiness, their wildlife value and their beauty.
So by now my ankle and knee and fracture site have all had quite enough, thank you very much, so I pause opposite my house to take a breath, and take a quick film of the honeybees swarming all over this lovely lavender. Again, it’s still in flower because it’s on the north side of the street, and someone is going to be getting lavender honey for sure. I was sorry not to see any other species of bee except for a lone bumblebee, but then many species have already finished their work for the year, and the queens will already be hibernating or gathering in their last stores. I did notice that the ivy is starting to flower on one of the houses, so let’s see when the ivy bees reappear! In the meantime, here’s a little film of the honeybees going about their business. And for the record, 1934 steps today so far!
Pain is definitely more bearable with chocolat. Pain au chocolat…see what I did there? Heh. Rather lame dad joke, I know. But hopefully elicits a smile.
I’ve never seen a Welsh poppy, but it’s very pretty. Rather like Iceland poppies. I saw a roadside weeping willow the other day that was trimmed to allow busses to pass underneath and I was charmed at how much it looked like an elephant! I can’t post a pic here, but will on your FB posting.
Congratulations on whizzing up to nearly 2000 steps! I expect by now, you’ve already surpassed that.
I love a Dad joke. Keep them coming!
You’re not imagining the ‘Chalkie White’ thing although I remember it as ‘Lobby Lud’. My father used to often quote it and said that he did, indeed, claim his £5 whilst on holiday sometime in the 50’s I’m guessing. I looked it up and again, Wikipedia, has a piece on it with both names mentioned. I’m amazed that £5 back then is the equivalent of £380 now – no wonder my father was chuffed with himself.
I’m so pleased that your leg is improving day by day and I’m following your progress with interest as my knee situation is getting worse and I’ve now been (not so) fast tracked through to have a complete knee replacement operation in January. The reason for the delay is that I had a steroid injection into it a few weeks ago and that, the surgeon said, increases the chance of getting a post-operative infection for 6 months afterwards. He also said he would hope I would go home the same day (really!?) and warned me that I would hate him for the first 2 weeks. All things to worry about during the next 5 months of poor sleep and pain.
Take care – Phil awaiting the ivy/ground bees
So glad I wasn’t imagining Chalkie White. But so sorry about your leg – what a nightmare about the steroid injection, it sounds as if the different departments/doctors are not talking to one another. Mum had numerous steroid injections into her back, but then there was no chance of performing surgery on her so there was no alternative. The pain is so difficult to cope with, I know – what painkillers are you on? In the end I found that having a couple of ice packs ready and waiting in the bedroom did help a bit. Might your GP have some suggestions on pain management? They’re all so concerned about people becoming addicted that they don’t always consider what living with chronic pain and sleeplessness does to someone’s mental health. Sending you a big hug, Phil, and hoping for ivy bee news!
Hug warmly received thank you after a particularly bad night and morning. Painkillers have been discussed with and requested from my GP since the beginning but nothing much works – as you imply, gone are the days of the ‘good stuff’ being given out. I’m on low dose Morphine which I rarely take as it doesn’t do a thing, and an off-label drug for all sorts including pain called Gabapentin. I’ve subsequently found out that a friend of mine became badly addicted to that and took 5 years to come off it. The surgeon has suggested Tramadol, another one known for its addictive properties, but that note hasn’t got through to my GP yet. Ice packs and heat packs help a little and can be a good distraction at least. Social interaction is one of the best distractions I find but friends are less easy to find at 3am. Luckily my wife is one of the most positive people I know so she’ll keep me going until January and beyond 🙂 Take care, Phil
Gabapentin is often used for neuropathic pain in particular – Mum was on it for years without any ill effects. It’s true that it can be addictive, but it can also be effective. I believe that pregabalin is a ‘better’ variant of the drug, that can be taken less often and has fewer side effects. Re distraction, yep, I lost track of how much rubbishy-TV I watched in the wee small hours. So glad you have a supportive person in your life. It was my husband and friends who’ve helped to get me through this!
I think the murderee in Brighton Rock does a sort of Chalkie White job for a newspaper- will check, but you’re definitely not making it up!
You’re right, Sophie! Thank you!
Well done you, but take it gently today ,going to be hot ,just back from my morning walk by river, fed my swan friends, glad to be back out of the sun , welsh poppies ,weeds? Love them ,have yellow and orange in my wilderness.
Welsh poppies are not weeds, for sure, so I always put “” around them to show that I’m being sarcastic. I don’t think of any plants as ‘weeds’, it’s such an unhelpful designation. Some plants are in an inconvenient spot, for sure, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t exist.
What a delightful hobble we have been able to enjoy with you!
You are not imagining Chalkie White also Lobby Lud and Kolly Kibber in Brighton Rock they were both real and the last fictional!
Thanks Anne! I’d forgotten about Brighton Rock!
Thank you so much for forwarding this.
You’re most welcome!
In August 1927, the Westminster Gazette newspaper created the promotional character Lobby Lud. Reporters would assume the identity of “Lobby Lud” and travel to seaside resorts, doing their best to be spotted by tourists who would then be rewarded with a cash prize for spotting the right man. (Graham) Greene modelled the Messenger’s Kolley Kibber promotion after the real-life Lobby Lud. Charles Hale is in Brighton as the Messenger’s Kolley Kibber man…and comes to a sticky end.
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/brighton-rock/terms/kolley-kibber
Thanks Alun! So glad to know that I wasn’t imagining it 🙂
Mexican Fleabane is a great name for the wonderful daisies that grow profusely in our garden, and in many gardens here in south Cornwall. Even if it’s mistreated, it comes bouncing back again. It mostly likes being beside or on stone walls – it just happens.
It’s such a wonderful little plant, and much beloved by tiny bees and hoverflies in my front garden.