one hundred and twelve

On Friday evening Hannah and I curled up in The Vintage Emporium Cafe (possibly for several hours longer than we initially intended).

Anyone seen Up?

The cafe's dog - I didn't ask his name.

It's a really lovely place. The staff are friendly (even if they didn't let me buy an avocado they had balanced on some scales by the till); they have soya milk (yay!) and some beautiful looking cakes and pastries (probably not so vegan, alas); and the place is packed full of intriguing little bits and pieces, books and even a scrabble board.


If you are in the Brick Lane area, do go and while away a few hours there.

On the train home I ate (still warm) bagels from Beigel Bake. Yum.

one hundred and eight

Stratford-upon-Avon

Outside Shakespeare's birthplace. We walked past just as the sun was setting, making the windows glitter and gleam.

We sat by the river Avon and drank strawberry cider (well, I tried some of Jen's and made a face something like this. I am not a cider fan).

Not Stratford-upon-Avon

There is a very small clump of woodland roundabout where I live, so we wondered there one lazy, sleep-deprived Sunday (after staying up the night before watching Neverwhere until silly hours).

Victorian explorers; it felt especially appropriate as our walk took us to the old house of W. S. Gilbert.

I was held up for half an hour when my train was cancelled (lack of a driver). Fast trains often rush through this station, not-stopping, on their way to the north, creating waves of turbulent air and a slight ringing as the wheels speed on the metal of the tracks. I was so scared of them as a child, and I still automatically stick my fingers in my ears and tense up when one passes.

eighty-six

Iron men (one by the Thames, one in Camden)

The red light around the edges is a lesson in why never to open your camera before you are sure the film has wound itself all away.

eighteen

today was opening my bedroom curtains to a courtyard full of mist; buying homemade treats at a random vegan bake sale, as part of my mum's birthday present; a trainride across mintgreen fields; annoying fellow passengers on the london underground (it doesn't take much) with bulky bags; and reading fiction/watching television (oh the luxuries of home).

song of the day: the smiths- london

obvious, yes, but it's not only because it fits literally- this is one of the songs that i could listen to over and over. it does something funny to the space just behind my ribs, makes it tighten a little. the mark of a good song.