To West Harrow to see Jean. Quite handy leaving from Finchley Road Station. Had originally intended to go yesterday but postponed it as it took the morning to get back from Thames Ditton. We’ve visited her here pretty regularly over the last thirty-five years in the same house (1906). And her next door neighbour, Jean says, was born two streets away when the neighbourhood was more like a village. 1906 is two years after the section of the Metropolitan line of the underground was constructed (although it’s completely above ground this far west). As in other parts of Britain, the expansion of railways allowed suburban growth as people could live near the railway and work in the city. And, much earlier than this the Metropolitan has the distinction of being the first underground railway in the
A community of Victorian and Edwardian houses, many with flowers still blooming. Jean’s fuschias are brilliant and we pass luxuriant window boxes on our way back to the station. By the time we reach home the moon has risen - very nearly the full Hunter’s Moon it will become this weekend.
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