N16 and beyond

My sister, Angela and I had our long awaited day out in North London visitingsome of the places that were important to us as children. Many places have changed beyond recognition, others are just the same.

The Friday afternoon rush of Jewish families to pick up their children from school and get the shopping before sunset and the start of Sabbat...that hasn't changed. This bakers shop was part of our childhood and Angela lost no time looking for their delicious baked cheesecake. It makes me sad that the news is so full the stories of discrimination against different ethnic groups. As an Irish Catholic family we were a minority, surrounded by kind Jewish "aunties", our father, a carpenter mainly worked for local families. Our convent girls' school is still right next door to Jewish boys' school. I dont remember any
racism. Our lives were made richer by sharing their culture, food and celebrations.

The extra photos were taken at the Walthamstow Wetlands , a development of the local reservoirs and surrounding land and marshland into a nature park for walking, cycling and birdwatching. A museum and tea rooms have opened up the Victorian pumping stations. The old timber yards beside the river Lea have long gone, replaced by flats with river views. Everything has changed in this part of our childhood landscape.

A lovely meal in central London, awful train problems all day...and then home, exhausted! Thanks to Jane Scanlan for making me aware of the Wetlands development.
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