Until recently, Woodford was just a giant unknown to me, despite its proximity to my house. It’s impressive in that it has two tube stations to its name but what else is there? Well, we’ve been on a mission to find out.
To be completely honest, we were actually on a mission to pick up some daffodils. I’d got in from work to find a “Sorry we missed you” card and a florist’s address is South Woodford. Sensing an opportunity for adventure, I picked up Roo and we battled a gale-force wind to see what lay in store in the store. This isn’t going to be a surprise – it was some daffodils. I said that already. But I was surprised, as I really wasn’t expecting them and they turned out to be a thank you from someone for humiliating them in song in front of everyone they’ve ever met. What most people would class as bullying, Shirley clearly thinks is worthy of a floral thank you. Any time, Shirlz. Really.
What we didn’t expect to find were some giant daffodils twice the size of Reuben, and other assorted flowers. I think Eva would really like these:
South Woodford seems to be full of cute little things – antiques shops that look like beach huts, a tube subway that’s echo-y and good for running through and the world’s most sparsely populated KFC. Roo wanted McDonalds, but that’s only for special occasions dontcha know? I’d vaguely mentioned a playground but there didn’t seem to be any of those about, so fast food and big flowers had to do instead. Besides, the weather was crazy-assed today. The aforementioned galeforce wind didn’t really let up much all the time we were out and was occasionally accompanied by torrential rain and hail. Though by the time we were back on the bus, the hail had given way to a rainbow. Like I said, crazy-assed.
It wasn’t my first trip to South Woodford, oh no. That had been an illicit trip to Waitrose with Mrs Rabitt. Illicit mainly because we only had one of our collective four children and at least one of us was meant to be doing some work. But they had a lovely coffee shop there and served tea in pretty willow print teapots. Eva had a gingerbread wand:
Totally worth the danger. I also bought cake to take home. See, danger.
I also took the kids to the other bit of Woodford that’s on the other side of the North Circular. There we found a park called Elmhurst Gardens that isn’t the motorway verge that Google Maps suggests it is. In fact, it’s a spacious park with some comedy animals to ride:
You can tell from this photo that the weather wasn’t much cheerier that day either. Nor was it when we passed through Woodford on the way to the Discover Centre. The sun may always shine on TV but it doesn’t always shine in E18. Maybe we’ll revisit the park during the summer as it’s really a nice space:
I feel there’s more to discover in Woodford yet. I haven’t yet mentioned the Shepherds Bakery on Snakes Lane East that does a lovely hot and cheap sausage roll. But maybe I won’t mention it, or you might all get there and snaffle them before I get another chance to…
