Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day. Crisp and cool but still sunny.
It’s been raining basically non-stop for weeks now. Or at least that’s what it feels like. Especially at the weekends which is typically the only time we can enjoy the outdoors. Coupled with the nights drawing in, I’ve not really felt like going out with my camera. But yesterday I felt differently. I had some plans but not too many, and had just enough time to take my camera out with me.
I live close to Southwark Park in south east London and I’m lucky enough that my route to work in the mornings means I have to walk through it. In autumn it’s absolutely lovely, so colourful covered with a layer of fallen leaves.
I ambled towards Rotherhithe and decided to take a few pictures there. The above is the Brunel Museum in the Brunel Engine House. It was designed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel who constructed the Thames tunnel which connects Rotherhithe in South London to Wapping in North London. I live in Bermondsey but Rotherhithe is just a ten minute walk away. I suggested it as a place to live in London, in my post how to find a room in London.
Rotherhithe has some of the best views of the Thames I think. This is taken from a little public garden in Rotherhithe that I sometimes like to go to and read in the warmer weather.
What I love about Rotherhithe is the old cobbled pavements and roads, and warehouse conversions. It gives the area so much character and autumn has given it a little flash of colour. In the photos you can see quite a popular pub called The Mayflower. It’s a tiny pub and it’s absolutely lovely inside – all old and rustic. It’s just absolutely impossible to get a seat in there at the weekends though – it’s that popular.
I took the Overground to Shoreditch High Street in East London and had a little mooch around the markets. Lots of food trucks line Spitalfields market and the smells entice lots of visitors. I highly recommend checking them out if you’re ever in London.
There are also lots of shops that line Spitalfields market for those wanting to pick up some extra bits and pieces.
I grabbed some food and read my book with a coffee, as I still had an hour or so to kill before I went to a friend’s for dinner.
I’m not sure what it’s like where you live, but in London we rarely go to each other’s houses. We usually go out for drinks or to a museum, or brunch or just for a walk. I think I’ve invited friends back maybe twice in six months to my house. I’ve been to other friends’ houses maybe twice in six months too. It’s really rare as in London communal space is compromised in place of extra bedrooms.
Haha this is like a London family portrait, with Fred the Flamingo. I’ve mentioned before that London can be lonely. I’ve lived here for eight or so years now and I’m fortunate enough that now I have a good group of friends and my weekends are never lonely. When I first arrived it was a different story though. Aside from work I could go weeks without speaking to anyone else. It was quite depressing and I did write tips on how to make friends in London as I did it and I understand how others feel.
When you find people you have a laugh with and make your heart happy – well that’s everything isn’t it?
How was your weekend?
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