Random city wanderings

I'm a great believer in the 'Streetcation' : that's a Staycation for lean times. Normally I would spend a week in summer, getting on a bus and going where the fancy takes me, to explore parts of the city away from my normal South-East patch.
This year, because of the monsoonish weather, I have had to snatch a day here and a day there, when the sun showed its face.
Last Saturday was pleasant, so I made a pilgrimage to my favourite ancient tree at the back of Spon Street, and had a look at a few other features along the way.

Old gnarled mulberry tree, growing out of a sandstone wall

I have always loved this tree, which is so old that some of its extensive boughs are on crutches. In late summer it bears fruit which look and taste a bit like blackberries. If you try to pick them, you get into a dreadful mess with the juice, and the pavement all around it is stained purple where the berries have fallen.

Crutches

One of the favourite haunts for music lovers was The Tin Angel on Spon Street. Alas it had to close, but it will be fondly remembered for its poetry evenings and open mic sessions which gave aspiring young musicians a chance to shine. There was always a crush in there; it was amazing how many people could cram into such a small space and still breathe.

Dear old Tin Angel, sadly missed

St John's Church remains a constant and watchful presence over the area, frozen in time. With apologies to Rupert Brooke:
                   'Stands still the clock at five to three, and is there honey still for tea?'

Ancient clock, tells the right time twice in 24 hours

Indeed, honey butties might be on the menu if the bees who have made their homes in the Foyer Wildlife Garden do their job properly.

Homes for insects and solitary bees