• AT last, a semblance of order has been restored to the shady groves of The Village.

For nearly one month our peace has been destroyed by the roar of tarmac-laying machines and hiss of steamrollers.

A side benefit was that the evenings were curiously still when traffic, either one way or the other, was mercifully stilled.

Hundreds of us did have to strain our powers of logic to work out how to get into or out of the village. Lots of walking was called for and many new acquaintances were made.

One of the quaint hangovers was the signs that appeared in the village. The most entertaining one was that to be found at one point at the top of Heath Street which was pleased to announce that if you turned left you would go to Haverstock Hill – not Swiss Cottage – and if you turned right you would go to Pond Stree; yes, Stree – and not Highgate!

Who knows where all those sad souls going to those places would have ended up!

CHRISTOPHER MASON
Hawley Road, NW1