{"id":15690,"date":"2014-11-25T14:35:42","date_gmt":"2014-11-25T14:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=15690"},"modified":"2015-05-25T02:13:26","modified_gmt":"2015-05-25T01:13:26","slug":"a-depressing-trudge-in-the-rain-around-northolt-park-north-west-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/a-depressing-trudge-in-the-rain-around-northolt-park-north-west-london\/","title":{"rendered":"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north-west London"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-01.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>My trip to see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brixtonbuzz.com\/2014\/11\/harrow-borough-overwhelmed-by-dominant-dulwich-hamlet-sat-22nd-nov-2014\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dulwich Hamlet play Harrow Borough<\/a> on Saturday took me through Northolt Park, a singularly characterless suburb of north west London.<\/p>\n<p>It didn&#8217;t help that the rain never ceased, but apart from the pleasant oasis of Alexandra Park, the walk to the football ground took me through a bleak rolling landscape of relentless, soul-crushing suburbia.<\/p>\n<p>Almost every front garden had long since been paved over, with multiple shiny cars replacing the rose bushes and carefully tended lawns. Barely a soul was seen on the pavements, with motorised transport &#8211; even for the shortest distances &#8211; seeming the norm here.<\/p>\n<p>Feeling peckish, I popped into a Londis mini store and\u00a0had what I can only describe as a wet cheese sandwich. The label said &#8216;cheese and onion&#8217; but it turned out to be\u00a0a bizarre and thoroughly inedible semi-liquid mush peppered with bright orange bits.<\/p>\n<p>Sorry, Northolt Park, but I hated you. All I could think of was <a href=\"http:\/\/www-cdr.stanford.edu\/intuition\/Slough.html\" target=\"_blank\">this poem<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d0LeL9BUPtA\" target=\"_blank\">this song<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-02.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Speared cans on the walk from the station.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-03.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-04.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-05.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Closed business.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-06.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Skewers.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-07.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Station Parade.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-08.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Rusting mail box.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-09.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Dry cleaners with signage that appears to have come from the 1950s.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-10.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Always good to know.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-11.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Both old and new Chung Wah have left the building.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-12.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Harrow Nail post box.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-13.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Spicy nights for Northolt Park.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-14.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A \u00a0walk around the deserted Alexandra Park raised the spirits.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-15.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-16.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-17.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-18.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-19.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-20.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-21.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A lone cyclist passes by.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-22.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Autumnal hues.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-23.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These trees looked startled.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-24.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-25.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-26.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-27.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Empty baseball court.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-28.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-29.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This was just about the only house that had anything left of\u00a0its\u00a0front garden.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-30.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Every garden paved over for miles.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-31.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Discarded fridge.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-32.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Not sure if the idea of a &#8216;messy church&#8217; appeals.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-33.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Station sign at Northolt Park. There&#8217;s only one train every hour and I&#8217;d just missed that, so I walked up to\u00a0the bright lights of\u00a0South Harrow.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/northolt-park-london-photos-34.jpg\" alt=\"A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>South Harrow. It was still raining when my train came in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My trip to see Dulwich Hamlet play Harrow Borough on Saturday took me through Northolt Park, a singularly characterless suburb of north west London. It didn&#8217;t help that the rain &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[194,17,193],"tags":[38,277,10,1030,31],"class_list":["post-15690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-london-features","category-photos","category-places","tag-autumn","tag-harrow","tag-london","tag-northolt-park","tag-rain"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/northolt-park-london-photos-01.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-454","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15690"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16322,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15690\/revisions\/16322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}