Coming Home to Roost

I lived in Margravine Gardens in 1976. After that I tried out different parts of London before coming home to roost, in the house next door to my old lodging, in 1984.

I’m slowly getting to know a few of the neighbours – I don’t want to rush things. Barons Court is a most agreeable “village”; not part of London yet an hours walk from Hyde Park Corner through two parks. I’m not the only resident to roost here. Tom, the peregrine falcon, moved onto his ledge a-top Charing Cross Hospital ten years ago. He is still there but like so many of us his family life has been dysfunctional – a Greek tragedy.

Charlie, a female peregrine, arrived at Charing Cross in 2007 and Tom opportunistically saw a chance to live in an attractive location prepared by her. Last year they hatched a single male chick and Charlie ran off with him. Tom found a new mate, Azina, and they had a single chick this year. Walnut fledged and then disappeared much sooner than empty-nesting is advisable. Tom and Azina are still an item and repelling intruders.

The canna is flourishing in an Indian summer and a West London micro-climate. The BP filling station by the Hammersmith flyover has re-opened; there are no queues; tanker drivers have somehow, somewhere been found. We can buy a tank of unleaded and a prawn sandwich (there is an M&S outlet) again.

Migration happens at this time of year. Neither Tom or I are tempted to join the swallows and swifts; Robert and Bertie ditto. It’s everlasting love.