Tuesday 27th December (Mr. Kite's Bag of Shite)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence window into a dark December sky. The baubles on the London plane trees were siloutted against the sky as they moved in the breeze. Once again the birds were still asleep but the colourful berries and green foilage were just beginning to show their colours and shape as the dawn progressed.


As the dark December days drew to an end Mr. Kite was still amazed by this years display of flora; the most spectacular he had seen and one to be enjoyed as new growth is now visible in the plants. Today Mr. Kite has a plan.

By nine thirty Mr. Kite and His Lady were on The Tube traveling to London Bridge. From the station they walked over London Bridge ot the memorial for The Great Fire of London designed by a Wren; not a small brown Jenny wren but Sir Christopher Wren. Today Sir Chris was not here so Mr. Kite could not put wren on his London list but walking back over the bridge cormorant and herring gull were added to the list. A slow stroll to The George Inn in Borough High Street was followed by a sit down looking at the  galleried coach inn.

Mr. Kite and His lady then walked to the last remaining wall of Marshalsea Prison and sat in the garden by it: St. Georges Churchyard Garden. Now Mr. Kite had brought with him a bag of shite to feed the prisoners just in case they were hungry. But because there was only one wall the prisoners had left so Mr. Kite gave the bag of breadcrumbs to His Lady.

Now she had a good idea; feed the pigeoms instead. Looking around she spotted one feral pigeon walking on the path near Marshalsea prison wall so she threw it some breadcrumbs. Within seconds thousands of feral pigeons surrounded Mr. Kite and His Lady. "Crumbs", she cried as thousands of birds headed for Mr. Kite's bag of Shite'. So the feeding of The Five Thousand took place by the prison wall where those grateful feral pigeons descended to eat the morsels. Feral pigeons of every shade, tone and colour came to feed. As this was a Charles Dickens walk Mr. Kite thought that: "Dickens would be proud to see the feral city urchins fed by The Kites".

Mr. Kite and His lady walked around the part of London looking at buildings, sign, courtyards and Southwark Cathedral where the surrounding trees were full of starlings and a song thrush could be heard singing. By this time Mr. Kite was thirsty and went to The Barrowboy and Banker for a pint; bloody hell its closed.

Smelling beer nearby Mr. Kite and His Lady went to The Bunch of Grapes where they sat in the window. Mr Kite had tipples of Young's Bitter and Young's Special and His Lady a pot of tea.  Looking out of the window Mr. Kite noticed two pied wagtails fly and perch on the roof of the building opposite. This is the way to watch birds; drinking beer and sitting in a great pub.

Mr. Kite and His Lady then returned to Hampstead where a female chaffinch was added to the list. Mr. Kite and His Lady had a great day and Mr. Kite had a few tipples of Fullers London Pride.