2nd lockdown in London

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Unfortunately, Covid (coronavirus) cases increased rapidly between September and October 2020, and the government enforced 4 week circuit breaker between 5^th November and 2^nd December in England. We have found this lockdown was not as strict as last one – quite a few shops like independent hardware, electronic shops, newsagents, dry cleaning centres, garden centres and WHSmiths – have remained open. We have been told that public toilets are open in the parks and have been encouraged to visit Priory Park, N8 and Olympic Park near Stratford.



Priory Park, N8

Having taken my day off on 20^th November, Mark took a day off on that day. We decided to visit Priory Park. Although we had seen this park from bus No.144 on the way to Muswell Hill Methodist Church several years, Mark had never been there; I had only visited once with one of my ex-work colleagues. We entered the park from the corner gate between High Street and Middle Lane. This small residential park had a wide range of evergreen conifers, shrubs and trees thriving – many of these golden, brownish, reddish and yellowish leaves had fallen on the ground. We strolled through the park and reached tennis courts and bowling ground which were facing on the Priory Road. There were people playing tennis and families and dogs walking in the park. This small residential park is not far from Alexandra Park; we could see Alexandra Palace on the north direction. What’s more, this residential park possesses the historic fountain which used to be standing at St Paul’s Cathedral.



Visit to Olympic Park on 28^th November 2020

We last visited Olympic Park near Stratford to meet up with Bryn, Steve, and Rhiannon on 27 June, a couple of weeks after the first lockdown being lifted. At that time I was waiting for a call regarding the returning date/reopening date for our shop. This time, the government announced that the lockdown will end on 2 December and replace it with tier systems. I have been told by head office that shop managers (and designated volunteers) are to return to their shops on 1^st December to be ready for reopening on 2 December.

After having lunch, we headed for Stratford. We walked through Westfield Stratford City and noted restaurants were open for takeaways. Like last time, we entered from Main Entrance near the Podium and Arcelormittal Orbit sculpture. This time, we decided to explore north park of the park near Olympic Rings, Velodrome Stadium. We walked along the River Lea and went past several modernist bridges, and turned around Northwall Road. There were a lot of cyclists, joggers and people with children and dogs in the park. Playgrounds were open – there were many young people playing with swings, trying challenging bars, climbing walls, and crossing bridges, etc. There were a number of intriguing, modernist garden ornaments erected among collections of leaves, shrubs with vivid coloured stems, and conifers, and we thought they were well harmonized with modern residential houses around the park.

Christmas decorations had been put up in Westfield City – it reminded me of the time when we visited Westfield City with John, my father-in-law, who sadly passed away in September. I asked him if he likes Christmas; he used my question for his sermon for Christmas service at one of the local churches in Suffolk.

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Comments

[Mary Goddard]

Brilliant Blog
After having read you Blog about Priory Park , and Olympic Park , I really thought I was there myself . Great descriptions . It was even better, because you spoke of John