Weekend wanderings

Oof, this was a busy but oddly lazy weekend, off the back of week of sleep deprivation thanks to the young men who’ve decided that the porch on the flats opposite mine is the perfect place to while away a night, drinking, smoking and yelling at each other at ridiculously loud volumes until 4am.  It’s enough to make you reconsider living in the centre of town.

Saturday was a lovely lazy day.  I wandered about Shoreditch and went into all the shops I usually by-pass as I’m too busy.  I chatted to a lovely lady at Tatty Devine and fell in love with a table at Unto This Last.  I also had a coffee at Brick Lane Coffee, which is appropriate as apparently Lonely Plant has today decreed Shoreditch a “coffee crescent”, whatever that is, and meandered along Brick Lane, which is really only sensible on a Saturday morning as it’s far too packed on Sunday due to the market and frequented by drunks and curry hunters at most other times.

The only picture I thought to take however is this one, which amused me as it brought to mind images of the local (rather ropey) fox population being retrained to serve cocktails, or tidy up litter or something.

My wanderings ended at The Woodcock’s BBQ in Dulwich Village.  The sun put his hat on and came out to play, Sacha did her usual amazing spread of food while Alan BBQ’d and we all sat around and nattered until the sun went down.  The brie baked in pastry with jam was especially amazing…

My friends Matt and Ceri brought their little bundle of joy, Alice, who is currently obsessed with her feet, along to join in the fun.  Cue, ‘pass the baby’ and many attempts to elicit a smile.  She’s not a grizzly, screamy baby either so is very popular…until she has a ‘movement’, at which point she becomes a bit persona non grata until Mummy or Daddy have sorted her out.  

This belongs to Alice and is supposed to be a baby entertaining device but looks a bit like Freddy Krugger attempted some baking if you ask me.  Still, I’m not the target audience so I’ll have to let it slide.

Saturday night was spent out with the lovely Laura (seen here having a hold of Alice) and some friends doing our best to avoid the invasion of the stag parties that seems to have overtaken some places in East London Town.  Yelling at ladies, stealing people’s seats and doing their best to start aggravation is not terribly nice behaviour to be around.  Thank god then for the Macbeth on Hoxton Street, funny looking people with directional haircuts, next season’s fashions and happy go lucky attitudes.  Muuuuuch better.

Sunday, Sam and I wandered about East for a bit, had a breakfast feast at S&M in Spitalfields Market, where the poor waitresses were clearly struggling with their hangovers but sitting on the pavement was nice (I suspect ‘summer’ may be getting a look in at last), and then mooched about in Covent Garden buying camping essentials such as a hoody (it gets cold in the wilderness y'know).  Phew.  All that walking took its toll and I had to have a whinge and a lie down before….we practised putting up the tent.  This was very exciting and surprisingly easy, which is relief! 

And, best of all on this rather unmotivated Monday I’m having, it’s only 4 days to go until our HOLIDAY!