Confirmation hearing

BH was intrigued by the report of a Wellingtonia in Hookfield noticed at reference 1, Hookfield being a road she knew much better than I did, and had a much better claim to any intellectual property rights that were going. She was also interested in the local history angle. So on Boxing Day, we set off on a slightly circuitous expedition to review the tree in question.

First stop, Stamford Green pond where we found two or three rats scurrying around the margins, appearing to be nesting under the overhangs at the edge of the pond. I was far too slow on the draw to get a snap, but luckily a correspondent had better reactions and was able to pass on this one.

Second stop, the slightly forlorn festive arrangements outside the Cricketers. Must be a bit discouraging to go to all this bother to be stopped in your tracks. While a bit further down the road the Coopers had erected a small marquee out front, taking up a good chunk of what is usually their car park.

Round into Wheelers Lane and from there BH was able to take me through the cut-through to Hookfield, which I had missed on my travels.

It turned out that she knew Wellingtonia 19 rather well, often having parked in its shade, in the days before she had become Wellingtonia aware. She knows better now, and can usually recognise one at 100 yards, given a reasonably clear view of the crown.

Interesting mix of houses in Hookfield, varying a good deal in size and grandeur, although all much of an age. In that regard, rather like our own estate. The builder clearly thought a tasteful mixture would sell better than uniformity. Wouldn't want to be mistaken for hospital houses, or, heaven forfend, council houses. A principle which did not fly in Belgravia, where there is a good deal of uniformity - although even there I noticed the other day that the four very grand houses at the four corners of Belgrave Square were allowed a bit of individuality. Noticed online that is. I forget why.

A little short of the junction of Hookfield with West Hill, we paused to admire this suburban street art. This one looking much more bright and cheerful than some of its competitors, scattered about the borough.

Note the chimney just to the right of the telegraph pole, belonging to the handsome bungalow at the West Hill entrance to Hookfield, a bungalow which was once the lodge for the big house. I wonder now whether such places were called bungalows at the time of building? OED tells me that it is an Anglo-Indian word, in use since the seventeenth century, but in India, more particularly Bengal, rather than here. When was the suburban bungalow invented, too urban for the word cottage to be appropriate?

And so home to cold chicken with fried leftovers, as already noticed at the end of reference 2.

The nearest we came to Brussels sprouts this year. An entirely satisfactory substitute.

Reference 1: http://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/12/wellingtonia-19.html.

Reference 2: http://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/12/part-iii.html.