I’ve been back in London almost a week now, and done a fair bit of sketching; but not much scanning or getting online. I did post this picture on the urban sketchers site though – it’s the Gatehouse pub in Highgate, an area I used to live in, and one which I love. The Gatehouse is right on top of the hill, and while the wetaher has been really mild and bright since we arrived, it was a little nippy while I sat drawing this.
I hadn’t intended on going to Highgate that day. I was on my way in to the City to go to an exhibition (This Tiny World, by my cousin, and it was very good) but the tube stopped in Golders Green (typical; welcome back to London). So I detoured to Highgate and had a little mooch around my old stomping ground: Highgate Village, Waterlow Park, Hornsey Lane, Archway. I used to go to this pub sometimes, but I didn’t on this day – I finished the wash in the warmth of the nearby Angel Inn. I miss this part of the world a lot.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Pete.
merry chrimbo to you too!
Hi Pete,
This brings back memories. I used to live in Dartmouth Park Hill, in a house at the back of the hospital, right in the corner behind the wall. The boy who became my husband used to live in Waterlow Park Road. The Gatehouse pub once threw a party for my brother Tom because he managed to go through a whole Christmas and New Year without responding to all the chancers who tried to fight with him!
Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Happy New Year.