I don’t remember snow mounting up so quickly here. Matt and I walked up to Claybury Park to see the sights.
No cars - they were all stuck at Fullwell Cross
Tropical tree, British hearth, pagan lights, Barkingside
Tailback as buses are defeated on Tomswood Hill
The orchard at the Tomswood Hill edge of Claybury Park
Me
The little lights of Barkingside from Tomswood Hill, Claybury Park
Then we followed the shrieks of excitement to the top of Pancake Hill and a family whose father’s shoes we retrieved after they flew off at high speed lent us their plastic sheets and I had my first taste of what we’d seen last year. Very exciting.
Christmas lights on Atherton Road
Snowman, Fullwell Avenue. One of several giants this year.
Christmas lights on Fullwell Avenue
Another giant snowman, Fullwell Avenue
Footnotes. A group of malevolent older boys aimed unwanted snowballs at the sledgers from the top of the hill. When we approached they retreated a little and then threw more snowballs at us with intent, and when we got sarcastic with them one began to scream, until his voice cracked, that Matt was a fat ginger cunt who should take a look at himself and cut his hair. On the way up Fullwell Avenue, a car having trouble turning on the ice evoked pure rage on the part of an oncoming driver who rolled down his window and called the other drive a fucking Paki. Red mist came upon me. I wish such people would go and leave Barkingside to the friendly people who speak other languages and go out as a family to make huge snowballs and huger snowmen.
Nice pictures. Thanks. So there ARE some nice Christmas lights around the borough – not just the boring ones on lamp standards in Barkingside that must have cost all of £3.2s.6d in a car boot sale; nor those ridiculous ones that are supposed to illuminate the tree on Fullwell Cross roundabout but do nothing except burn electricity.
Hi Morris, I have to say I love it when they illuminate the oak and have been missing the lights this year. But yes Barkingside is twinkley today and the snow has made a lot of children very happy. You too I hope.
Amazing. I grew up in Barkingside, first at Tomswood court then at 244 Fullwell Avenue. We used to go down pancake Hill in the snow on various devices. The best, I remember, was an old piece of Lino. On one side there wasa jump halfway down and you get get airborne of you hit it fast enough.