A London weekend

A weekend of London.

Pedalling along the London streets, Islington was my destination. I wanted to replicate the perfect weekend I had about a month ago when I had picked up my beautiful blue 1940s skirt. Sadly, the stall was not up in Camden Passage, though the experience did provide me with plenty of opportunities to try out my new Canon EOS 550D. I love love love it.

Today I went to Present in Shoreditch. I wasn't particularly interested in the clothes they had on offer, for they were against my gender. Nay, I wanted to try the coffee that was to be made and served to me by the 2009 World Barista Champion, Gwilym Davies.

Davies is based out of men's clothing store, Present. Using Square Mile beans and a very beautiful machine, my flat white came out perfectly sized to make it a lovely combination of strength and creaminess.

I do recommend.

From there, my companion and I meandered down Shoreditch High St, only to merge right towards Mile End Rd.

My research had led me to a new vintage store in town, well new to my ears anyway. The East End Thrift Store is situated down a shifty laneway, off Mile End Rd. Hemmed in by warehouses that look like they are no longer in use, the store is packed full of vintage, divided somewhat down the middle by ladies and mens clothing.

I was attracted to this store, primarily because I had read promises of many items costing no more than £10. Incredible. London is the home of the overpriced second-hand dress, so this was something to see.

Sadly, the atmosphere in the store lacked the potential exitement that would lead you into that perfect vintage find. It didn't feel shabby chic, it just felt shabby. The concrete floor, dressing rooms that were covered by scrap material (and only three-quarters at that), the two art students who ran the store, though couldn't really care less, all contributed to a disappointing experience. The clothes would have saved the day, had they been something to coo about. Sadly, there was a reason why they started at £10. They simply were not at the quality Londoner's expect.

Of course, the store is a fair size so I would recommend a gaze as everyone has subjective vintage expectations. I wanted to find uniqueness; instead I found clothes that had either been manipulated to suit the look of the present day, or were so unappealing, the fabrics and styles look like they should be retired, not re-used.

Present
140 Shoreditch High Street
London E1 6JE

East End Thrift Store
Watermans Building, Unit 1A Assembly Passage,
London, E1 4UT

Wee Birdy

One of my favourite bloggers Wee Birdy, is flying the coop!

Originally from Sydney, she's seems to be reluctantly heading home after a couple of years in London. Her posts are delightful little morsels of shopping wisdom,  and she has an amazing ability to make you feel like one of her girlfriends on the receiving end of a gushing email.

I've posted her sign off below and I commisserate, because I too have had an agonising decision to make. I now know how hard it is to consider leaving London, therefore I have decided to stay for another 6 months.

Oh the love/hate perils you have put me through London. Minx.

Here's what Wee Birdy will miss...

But it's goodbye London for now...

Goodbye riding in the front seat up the top of a double-decker bus
Goodbye getting mugged
Goodbye marvellous weekend newspapers
Goodbye hot air vents on the buses in summer (oh why oh why?)
Goodbye Tatty Devine, Rob Ryan and Alex Monroe
Goodbye 2am bagels on Brick Lane
Goodbye foxes crying like tortured banshees in the middle of the night
Goodbye proper afternoon tea with clotted cream
Goodbye Sherlock Holmes tiles at Baker Street tube station
Goodbye eternal queues at Monmouth coffee
Goodbye University Challenge and the ever-excitable voice of Roger Tilling
Goodbye perfectly formed snowflakes that sparkle in the weak morning sun
Goodbye Central Line, you served me well (most of the time)
Goodbye narrow lanes and hedgerows in the countryside
Goodbye Sunday roast dinners with Yorkshire pudding
Goodbye sugar mice and Parma Violets
Goodbye brilliant, wonderful Guardian mini mag supplements
Goodbye wild buttercups growing outside Greenwich park
Goodbye picking over 400-year old clay pipes on the banks of the Thames
Goodbye incredible museums and art galleries
Goodbye Time Out (and thanks for employing me in the middle of a recession!)
Goodbye lazy Saturday mornings trawling the stalls at Broadway Market
Goodbye skidding on icy streets because the council couldn’t be arsed to grit
Goodbye daily repeats of Friends on E4
Goodbye 'three for a fiver' bunches of flowers at Columbia Road
Goodbye dusty old bookshops (and rather odd owners) on Charing Cross Road
Goodbye 4pm darkness in December
Goodbye glorious Knickerbocker Glory at Fortnum & Mason
Goodbye pretty little blue tits in the tree outside my window
Goodbye limescale sludge in my tea
Goodbye sitting in the bar at the Tate Modern watching the sun go down
Goodbye walking up Piccadilly in the rain
Goodbye having ice-creams in Hyde Park on green and white striped deckchairs
Goodbye robins in the snow
Goodbye peat bog man at the British Museum
Goodbye getting lost again in Soho
Goodbye ring-necked parakeets in Greenwich park
Goodbye car boot sales
Goodbye Tunnock's Teacakes, how do they make your marshmallow so soft?
Goodbye some of the shittiest customer service I’ve ever experienced in my life
Goodbye installations in the Turbine Hall
Goodbye Waitrose and M&S ready-made meals
Goodbye crazy tile mosaics at Tottenham Court Road tube
Goodbye Selfridges’ Christmas windows
Goodbye people who don’t move down into the carriage
Goodbye geese and squirrels in St James’s Park
Goodbye London sales
Goodbye coots on Regent’s Canal
Goodbye Charbonnel et Walker powdery-pink champagne chocolates
Goodbye shiny mahogany conkers in autumn
Goodbye pink petal showers in spring
Goodbye cheese, coffee and cake at Borough Market
Goodbye grey squirrels - I know I'm not meant to like you, but I do
Goodbye South Eastern trains coming to a standstill within inches of the platform at London Bridge
Goodbye to all my wonderful, wonderful London and UK friends, hope you all keep reading… maybe I can treat you to a coffee in Sydney some time?
Goodbye London, thanks for having me. It’s been a treat and I'll miss you terribly (sob!).
 
Luckily, Ms Birdy will be blogging about Sydney- my favourite city! Woo! It's about time someone shared the love.

Smug

Is an indication of a good weekend purchasing a beautifully tailored vintage skirt? Visiting another cracking East London pub? Having the sun shine whilst walking along the street, popping in and out of interior design stores?

It's got to be, doesn't it?

A cloudy day, turned into sunny skies as my companions and I meandered along Upper St today. I normally ride along this road on my way to work, pedalling along furiously, my internal competitiveness kicking in. So today I wanted to take it in, peruse the boutiques and absorb their wares.

I've been in and out of the laneways that run parallel to Upper St many time before. Today turned a corner however, as it the first time I noticed SMUG, an interior design store housed with just about everything I love.

Filled with deco glasswear, retro furniture, accessories, kitchen utensils and more, SMUG made me smile- it's exactly the store I want to own. Immediately, SMUG made me want to have my own space to fill with all SMUG wear.

I'm keeping my eye on this one; I suggest you pop in when you're around Islington. Make day of it, then maybe your weekend will be as good as mine just was.

Smug
13 Camden Passage
Islington London N1 8EA

Yohan Kim

Spending a cold, wet Sunday at Brick Lane's Up Market not too long ago, saw me stumble across a veritable bargain. I didn't expect it, though a 13 quid tee was too much to pass by.

Made in Korea, Yohan Kim's tee's are soft cotton, comparable to Sass and Bide (the early years), though without the price tag. I've worn mine every chance I can get because not only do they go with everything, they are also cut perfectly (not sqaure and are long- 'yay' says the tall girls).

If you're not in London, visit Yohan Kim's online shop here.

Round 2

Amazing, i've now been in London for a year. As this is my second time around it doesn't feel as significant, though man am I lucky to have had to the opportunity to live abroad.

I've been in and out of Australia since I was 21, hopping around, expanding my repertoire of countries.

Gaining experience, gaining confidence, flying the nest, flying away.
I've seen things, felt things, heard things and tasted things.
I've met people I never would have spoken to.
There are still so many more people to speak to.

Don't worry, we were all scared once.

London love

Living in a foreign country is pretty awesome, though around Christmas time I do miss home, my family and my soon to be doggy mama, Scarlett.

To offset this, I've made a list of all the rad things that I love about London, and the UK.

- Broadway Markets
I think I've blogged about this before though seriously, if you are coming to London, head here for an authentic market experience. It's set along a little street in London Fields, giving it a charming village feel. Some of my favourite things are the yummy Climpson and Sons coffee (with the Aussie's behind the counter, which beckons the question, where do I know the Climpson chick from?! She's worked in Surry Hills before, though it's really bothering me), the Vege stall with their 'Heavenly Halloumi' burgers which are ta-sty, and the scattered couple of vintagey stalls that are a bit of a bargain. Smaller, less crowds, yummy food and cool Londoner's- do it.

- Hyde Park
I love this park, for all of its glory. It's huge, picturesque, doggy friendly, and full of seasonal goodness. In Autumn, leaves coat the greenery; in Winter, frost covers the ground; Summer brings the picnicer's, and Spring brings the bulbs and colour. I love to walk through Hyde Park, though I do avoid the Serpentine- the geese are scary!


- The Gastro Pubs
The UK is known for its pubs, and there is reason why. They're warm, intimate, serve lovely seasonal food and, you can take your puppies into them! My local is as good as any restaurant, making it an easy choice on a night out. And the thing is, all are welcome unlike many at home where you stick to certain places, because they're a certain way. Plus, my alcohol threshold has gone up since schooners were replaced with pints.

- Quirky shops
Ok, I couldn't not mention it, although they've become less important with the popularity of online shopping. When I first got here in 2005, it was all about Topshop, the High Priestess of Oxford St. It's a one stop shop, though the crowds make it monotonous. Some alternatives to Oxford St include, Brick Lane Up Markets (Sunday), Upper St Islington (for one off boutiques and homewares) and High St Kensington (similiar to Oxford St, though far less crowds).

- Come Dine With Me
Channel 4 spoils me with this programme, based on 4 strangers hosting a dinner party for each other over the course of the week. Hit and miss food, akward conversations, drunken antics and bitchy comments make this show super watchable.

- Proximity
...to the rest of Europe, making travel easier, cheaper and more plentiful.

The sea, the sea

As a Piscean, I've always been attracted to the sea.

That's possibly an ambiguous statement, as when I was a little girl I was more fascinated, then attracted.

I remember large waves, going over my heart and splashing into my eyes. I couldn't hold onto my dad's neck tight enough. Then one Summer I learnt to swim. I remember my nana standing at the other side of the pool, as I free styled (a 5 year olds version that more resembled dog-paddle) across. I was so proud, as was she.

Because of this pull, it's fortunate that I grew up in Australia. The pool in the small country town where I lived from aged 5-11, was my hub. I spent weekends there, met friends there after school and celebrated Christmas parties there. In Winter when it closed, it looked like a sad clown, covered and stripped of its sunshine. The Summer was a season where it reapplied it's makeup and made the children laugh.

Having the beach accessible is a blessing to someone like me. Feeling the body of water flow over your skin, the salty sea waves crashing on your belly, feeling the bubbles that were created burst at your feet, are all feelings I now crave.

Living in London, I have not seen the sea in months. I have not been in the sea since last Christmas. I miss it and the peace of which it creates; it is medicinal, the Victorians (not the state, but the period) agree with me.

With Winter approaching I seem fixated on the idea of sinking my toes into the wet sand and slowly letting my body be enveloped in the flowing waters. The sad thing is, I have no idea when I will see the ocean again, or feel it's touch.

Join the craft movement

Attention crafters living in London!

On my quest to find crochet classes, I came across The Make Lounge, Islington's answer to Meet Me at Mikes'.

Located off Upper St, The Make Lounge runs small crafty classes that are conveniently priced and should suitably fit into most schedules. Classes include Cupcake Decorating, Candle Making, you can even make your own knickers!

Frustrated with the lack of choices that were available, former magazine journalist Jennifer Pirtle started up The Make Lounge and hoorah that she did- the competition is slim for what she's offering. Capitalising on the 'craft is cool' movement, was also another good idea!

Check out the website and get your craft on. Plus, Christmas is coming and I bet your grandmother would love a pair of knockout knickers.

The random

Don't you love picking up snippets of conversation as you pass people on the street?

Creating a story around the sentence that I pick up, I imagine what sort of person said it, what sort of people they're around, the context of their conversation and normally, how naughty they've been!

Strolling down a very busy Columbia Rd last Sunday, this sentence hasn't left my head:

'It's not lying, it's being creative with the truth'

This certainly sits in the grey gardens, though I like the words attributed to her cause.

Do you?

London Fashion Weekend

I've just purchased my GOLD tickets to London Fashion Weekend! I'm hugely excited and anticipating goodness. The weekend shall start off with my girlfriends and I cooking paella and drinking cerveza's, followed by eastend Sunday brunch then on to a 12.30pm catwalk show.

Get your tickets here.

Who likes making lists?

I'll rephrase -Who doesn't?!

Inspired by Meet me at Mikes (hit those ladies up, pronto), here's my list:

• Visit Broadway Markets and do my weekly shopping.
  Yes I spent too much money on my Friday off, though this now gives me a totally valid excuse to avoid the supermarket and shop like we were meant to- via the vendor. I also get to do some exercise, I'm drastically unfit.
• Buy a book on crocheting, or book a class;
• Source a fantastic paella recipe, for the weekend that my girl Shani and I will be spending recreating our time in Barcelona;
• Grab my camera and take some shots of my new digs to show mama;

What's on your list?

Walking London

Oui- Hackney City Farm.

Oui- Taste of Bitter Love.

Oui- The abandoned Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children. Tres spooky.

Tis' fun to wander Hackney Rd.

Frock Me!

Frock me it's another lovely vintage fashion fair!

As a kitchsy treat, the fair has the biggest collection of Hawaiian print vintage wear in the UK! Woo!


Sunday 17th May, Chelsea Town Hall, Kings Rd SW3.

Theatre injection

'Impossible to describe and impossible to resist, LA CLIQUE is live at The London Hippodrome in Leicester Square and has just extended its booking period until Saturday 13 June 2009!
A sexy, funny and dangerous experience, LA CLIQUE’s melange of cabaret, new burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary variety the show has taken the world by storm.

Among the acts collected in LA CLIQUE’s international menagerie of the bizarre are Norway’s outrageously bendy Captain Frodo, the astounding Skating Willers, the prodigiously talented and Queen-obsessed Mario Queen of the Circus, the undeniably groovy Marawa and muscle-bound supermen The English Gents...'

Have to see this!

Proud Gallery

I wandered around Camden today and stumbled onto the Proud Gallery.

What a space! If I was a gallery owner and cared about galleries, oooh I'd be green.

After sipping an Estella on the deck chair in the sunshine (thanks nice Kiwi lady), I wandered through and was imagining future birthday parties, dancing wildly to the band on the little stage. My arty friends would be down the back drinking red wine and deconstructing the photographs whilst my young and free gals would be doing little skips in their party dresses, hoping to impress the boys in bands.

Yes, this is the type of place that inspires.

Visit here, or go for real.

Follow the bubble

During the lead up to the London train, I constructed a little Google London shopping map. It featured recommendations from some of my favourite blogger's such as Wee Birdy and Fifi Lapin and I simply could not wait to traipse through dandy streets and spend my bucks.

Although mine is under constant construction, the lovely Susie Bubble has delivered one to the door. Click here to see her style rec's- you could be on a campaign to repair the recession single handedly.

Spectacular, spectacular

Getting lost in Soho sure does uncover some wonderful things.

I feel coffee dyslexic now, though stumbling across Milkbar makes my face smile. How has this little gem evaded my blinkers? Grant it, I was focused on it's older, more mature big brother smoking in the corner all sultry and cool though Milkbar has a little edge of its own.

A 'branch' of Flat White, the miraculous savior to coffee homesickness, Milkbar is cool, calm and collected (and not a cliche). Now I say 'branch' of the beloved FW though what I mean is, the Aussie bloke who owns FW, also owns MB and seems to have hired the similar cool kiwi's to run his joint.

Skip along here to get your fix.

Milkbar, 3 Bateman St, Soho W1D 4AG