Exciting Sweet News Part 2

Yep, yet more spots, this time of Mr Happy, Me Tickle, Mr Bump and Mr Small and Little Miss Tiny.  Mr Tickle looks the most tasty and reminds of the blow up Mr Tickle chair I had as a kid…

I also spotted some Mr Sneeze tissues – obvious really – but forgot to photograph them.  They’re really going all out of this 40^th anniversary stuff.

The week’s events

I have been a bad blogger and taken off at weekends enjoying myself and then *gasp* actually working at work closely followed by going out again to enjoy myself.  It’s a tiring lifestyle but I’ve garnered a few cool snapshots along the last week to make a start.

So, starting off with Thursday’s trip to Vyner Street in Bethnal Green for First Thursday.  First Thursday is basically when everyone East with a passing interest in art and/ or drinking congregates around Vyner Street to get drunk on the pretext of there being new art in all the galleries there.  The art was alright, there were some cool paintings of bones and some drawings that looked like the characters from the washing powder ads BUT I did then spot some more STIK men on the side of the road.  

We then went for more drinks (in for a penny…) at the Redchurch (I never learn) and saw yet another one.  Bonus.

On Saturday there was a trip to Brighton for the day to occupy me.  I used to live in Brighton as a student and I really love it down there, the seaside, the kooky shops and the potential for infinite people watching.  Some of our fellow daytrippers decided to cycle down from Clapham, we got the train and had a lie in and a wander and a coffee and then met them.  It’s up to you which you think was the better option…

Brighton is a bit of a place of two halves, the 'real' and the 'surreal'.  Watching a dancing 'bride' on her hen do and then realising she had an audience above falls into the latter.

We sat on the beach and got thoroughly blown about by the wind, had a few drinks in the pubs around the South Laines and ate fish and chips in the presence of a very menacing seagull.  I then slept all the way back to London Town as I was tired, what with having not cycled anywhere and having had a lie in.  *cough*

This slightly surreal sight greeted us on our return home from lazing on Wandsworth Common on Sunday...small boy + bike + many, many balloons...  I half expected him to start floating upwards.  He didn't though.  *sigh*

Last night whilst wandering around Soho having dinner I saw this giant switch on the side of a building.  I’m not sure what it’s for, I can only assume it turns off London or something.  Probably.

And last but not least I would like to show off a little as this is a picture of my latest attempts at green-fingered-ness – two chilli plants grown from seed.  Ta-da!

Exciting Sweet News

I saw these in the shop the other day and felt the need to share.  I appear to be focusing quite a bit on exciting confectionery but hey-ho.  Little Miss Sunshine.  In edible sweet form.  Brilliant.

The packet is quite exciting.

And so are the sweets.

Unfortunately though they do not taste that great.  Hmm…  I’m reliably informed they taste like ‘Percy Pigs’ but never having had one I can’t comment, and given the nasty foam-y taste of these I won’t be trying any.

In other news, I went to Alibi, my favourite Dalston dive bar, with Mary, my favourite Brick Lane resident to watch The Big Lebowski….one of my least favourite films of all times.  BUT, I have no idea whether it was the unpromising surroundings of Alibi, the red wine (thanks Maz!) or the fact that this is about the 7^th time I’ve seen this film, BUT I actually found it funny.  And charming.  Wonders will apparently never cease.  The Dude abides…

Marathon – Park – Balcony - Aahhhh....

Yesterday we took a little trip to Canary Wharf to watch the marathon, cheer on some (mental) friends who were taking part and support someone running for a friend’s social enterprise, the DoNation by wearing some fetching t-shirts.

There were some interesting outfits on show in amongst all the black leggings/ vest combos.

Cops and robbers seemed to be a popular theme.

As did outfits that, seriously, cannot have been comfortable to run in.  We saw rhinos, Mr Men and a BUS, but I was particularly taken by this Rubik’s cube ensemble.

And, erm….yep, all for a good cause….

We were stood at a prime spot, where the runners have to double-back on themselves but wound up watching the Mile 18 side most, as opposed to the Mile 15 side, and not entirely because of the added drama of the St John’s Ambulance stand.  Honest!

There was a great steel band keeping the mood positive and happy and this fabulous sculpture, I think it's called the Traffic Light Tree.  I last saw a picture of it on a noticeboard when I was temping at a government agency, tagged as 'TfL's answer to traffic congestion'...

It was such a lovely day we decided to head away from the crowds to the park, exhausted after all that watching to lie on the Common and relax in some dappled shade.  

I also had a crash course in the complexities of board slides, following on from last week’s lesson on kick-flips.  I’m still not sure I can tell the difference as they go too quickly, but I can identify the general area of ‘trickery’.  If none of the above is making sense you are clearly not involved, nor have you ever been involved, with a skateboarder.

We had a lovely dinner at the Fish Club on Clapham High Street, which is a very cool, relaxed and small little restaurant selling fresh fish in a number of ways.  I particularly like the potted crab…mmmm…  Then we watched Submarine.  If you haven’t seen it then you MUST.  It’s lovely, very British and awkward, but lovely.  The idea of a teenager seeing their entire existence as a series of film scenes rang some bells…

The last stop of the day was Sam's balcony (the subject of much painting, carrying and planting of plants, arrangement of astro turf and agonising over deck chairs vs hammock discussions) for a cup of tea as the sun set.  If the weather carries on like this for the rest of the year I figure this picture may be repeated most evenings.  It pretty much kicks my ‘Juliet’ balcony into touch.  Bah.

Day out in Brixton

Now,  ‘day out’ and ‘Brixton’ are not normally words you would see in the same sentence, or uttered by me, I admit but it turns out that it is more than possible to have a lovely day out in the Sarf London heartland…especially since a few people in the last week (random - I suspect a Brixton conspiracy) told me about the Brixton Village Market and I discovered that The Ritzy sells beer.

  

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day so I met the lovely Sacha for a wander round Brixton Village Market, coffee and a lovely Anzac biscuit (for which I must find a recipe) and we sat outside, inside to enjoy our beverages.  I like the concept of a sheltered outdoors area.  It’s like an acknowledgement that the British weather is not necessarily great the majority if the year but that we’re a hardy bunch who like to sit outside.  Sort of like a helping hand for our health in its continuing war with our wishes, which often put it in jeopardy.

 Also, there was....bunting!! Who could ask for more than bunting, snacks and bright surroundings?

I liiiiiiiike this arrangement.  Sort of rubbish but cool, bright and makes me smile, which pretty much sums up my favourite aesthetics.

After coffee we explored a bit and saw Florence Welch, from Florence and the Machine in a teensy tiny vintage shop, which was rather exciting.  Turns out we have similar tastes in vintage knick knacks also, which is nice.  I haven’t got a picture though as that would be a bit weird and stalkerish.

I did get a picture of these giant snails though, yours for only £3.50 each.  They were, no joke, as big as my hand, maybe even bigger.  I would have put my hand in for scale but they were a bit gross and we were already making a bit of a fuss and I didn't want to risk offending the shop owner.  I'm assuming, since these were at a food stall/ shop, that you're supposed to eat them?

The lovely weather was fading just a little bit so we decided to head to the Ritzy, where we were met by our handsome significant men-folk, and watch the world go by with a cold beer or four.  Although it is a lovely spot, it is on a massive cross-road so not really an ‘al fresco’ spot.  We therefore sat inside, near the doors, for the best of both worlds.

The Ritzy had the most beautiful flower arrangements on the tables, which were themselves fabulously shabby-chic.  I'm definitely going back to watch a film there. 

This was followed by a few quick games of pool.  They were quick because the men-folk were playing, Sacha and I would have gotten far more value for money out of each £1, but there you go.  Thems the breaks (boom, boom). 

Fourth Plinthism Sunday Viewing

On Sunday I found myself, my favourite wandering companion and my hangover in Trafalgar Square admiring the new fourth plinth installation - a giant replica of Horatio Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory.  In a bottle.  By Yinka Shonibare.

The material used for the sails is especially beautiful African type fabrics, which are a bit difficult to see here as the angle is awkward and the sky was so beautifully bright it's made the photos go weird....

Lovely though, eh?

It was also a good opportunity to check out the Olympic count down clock, albeit with added paint-bomage after the Cuts protest the day before (wrecking, kettling, outrage etc).  It's a shame that a few idiots feel the need to wreck everything in their path and completely sideline any legitimate protest that goes on.

I for one though will not have my Olympic spirit dampened.  I am VERY excited about it all and am currently working out what tickets to register for.  I'm thinking opening and closing ceremonies, some athletics and maybe some sort of water sport....and definitely a large amount of sneaky at work iplayer-in-the-corner-of-my-screen watching.

The most exciting thing about Sunday was the lack of coat required.  Yes, I was a bit chilly, but I'm British damnit, I refuse to give in!  (I did refuse a 99+flake though.  It's not quite that warm yet.)

Trip to the Beach

Once again we boarded the (packed) Friday evening train to the Isle of Wight for a weekend out of the city and by the beach.  We ate fish and chips, threw rocks at the sea and visited a local competition that seemed mostly to involve daffodils of various varieties and random crafts but also had kids poems and cakes.  Lovely.

First stop was Freshwater, near Yarmouth.

This small hut is right by the pier, selling beverages and snacks to those of us who were too polite to stuff their faces at lunch.  This is soon to be developed into some sort of modern shopping centre and accommodation for holiday makers, which seems a shame as it's lovely how it is but that's progress I suppose.

Skipping stones...

Staring out to sea - check, hands in pockets - check, nonchalant stance - check...

The sun was so bright that my iPhone camera couldn't cope and made it look like some sort of dark alternate reality.  It was THAT sunny.

On Sunday after a lovely roast lunch and apple crumble we drove (not me obviously, I spent the trip rubbernecking the countryside and cliff top views) down the coast to Ventnor and had a wander along the sea front.

I have a minor obsession with beach huts and one day, one will be mine...  Not this one though, I want one of the ones that comes in a row, with electrics for the kettle to make tea.  The older I get, the more I see tea making facilities as a necessity, not an optional extra.  I'll sit outside in a deck chair, with my wind breaker, which my parents would NEVER buy and be utterly British, sitting on the beach in ALL weathers, albeit in a 1950s sort of way.

The bandstand.  How Victorian seaside this this?! It's my perfect idea of the seaside, quaint and unspoilt.

A little bit of glitz at the Gaiety amusement arcade, again very retro, I approve.

We attempted to find some interesting rock pools to poke about in but had to settle for some whelks on a rock.  We later thought we spotted some teenage boys looking through rock pools and were quite jealous...until we realised they were just bending down to light their cigarettes.  Hmmm....

The Spyglass Inn, truly, amazingly tacky but with spectacular views from the outside seating.  Having a coke and a bag of crisps huddled outside a pub after being on the beach took me back to my childhood.  

The weekend wouldn't be complete without some sort of travel issues though.  This time they blamed the moon.  It was close, the tides were weird and the ferry was late.  The man who asked if they would be holding the train (for 30mins) in order to allow us to connect gets a gold star for sheer audacity.