I’d been planning on wearing this short, sleeveless number from JJ Park in Camden Market for my Christmas do, but the freakishly cold and shiver-inducing weather made me change my mind! London is too cold for small frocks right now – or am I just easily defeated by the London winter weather? Where do you draw the line between being insufferably cold and looking good?

We had a £5 budget for Secret Santa, and I bought this reusable shopping bag from Museum of London. Its cute design plays on Cockney Rhyming Slang, it says ‘London is a lovely place for a bit of Lollipopping’ (shopping). How true, and perfect for carrying your shopping – I have to confess I bought myself one too!

Merry Christmas!

Setting up a market stall is a great way to introduce your unique product to the marketplace.  This is also a great way to test your market and get valuable feedback from the public.  Here are some top tips for those who may like to introduce their most prized products/ service in a market stall setting:

Be prepared

The amount of planning involved takes longer than you think.  I’ve set up a gift wrapping service stall at my local market.  I only had 24 hours to source all the materials as it was a seasonal opportunity.  I learned that there is always room for improvement in how to display your service, how to decorate, how signage is so important to tell customers what you do.  Don’t under estimate the length of time required to prepare for your first day of trading at the market.

Do Your Research

Different markets operate under slightly different rules so it’s worth chatting with the market manager for some advice and tips on how to run a successful market stall.  Daily rates are available to hire a stall but Traders are responsible to fully decorate their stalls.  Unless you are a permanent trader, stalls are usually assigned on the morning of trading day.  So there is a potential you may get turned away if demand far outweighs spaces available. This is important to keep in mind, especially if you plan to sell food or perishable goods.   There is a chance that you’ve baked all those cupcakes and have no market stall available on trading day.

Be Resourceful shopping for supplies

There are many wholesalers and suppliers available online to help make showcase your products beautifully.  Good, large, easy to read signs will make your stall stand out from the rest.  Consider colour schemes, and general decor when dressing your stall so that you maximise impact and attract the most customers on trading day.  Be sure to confirm exact dimensions of your stall before buying equipment such as drapery for decorating to avoid a poor presentation on trading day.  Below are a few useful links to get your creative ideas started…

Market stall supplies

Cakes & Cupcake display stands

Display stands

Display hooks

Garment rails

Staples office supplies

Lights On!

Always get into the head of your potential customers.  What would most likely draw customers to your stall?  How will you display your products?  Do you plan to drive revenue based on competitive pricing or on the uniqueness of your products?  There are many display stands, market stall supplies, sign and poster providers that can enhance the overall feel and look of your stall.  For example: A market trader who sells handmade cards will benefit from card display stands for the counter top or floor based stands to showcase the products.  Lighting is extremely important especially during winter months when it gets dark by 3pm. (don’t forget to buy power extension cords to light up your stall)

Too much clutter can backfire

Most customers will only have time to pass by each stall once during their visit, so be sure to stand out from the crowd by having good signage, pricing and explanation of what you do.   Although you may have tons of products you would like to show your customers, extra care is needed to consider placement of each item.  Try not to clutter your stall by randomly placing products all over the table.  Try to be creative by pinning or hanging some products on the side and at the back of your stall.  Spend time to create a warm and welcoming, clutter-free market stall for your customers.

Sticking to a budget!

As with most successful business, a well thought out business plan is key to help you focus and not lose the end goal.  Who is your market?  What will your start up capital be?  Avoid going shopping until you’ve completed your budget to keep cost down and under control.  I find when I go shopping without a shopping list, I always find myself spending 50% more than I have to.  By being organised and resourceful, I only needed under £200 to start my stall.  If I had more than 24 hours to prepare, I would be able to save more on cost.

Here is a sample of a simple budget for my gift wrapping stall.

Sample Budget – Gift Wrapping Market Stall “Wrapped with Love”

one [Sat, 12-Dec / Sun, 13-Dec]

I awoke to a beautiful London sunny Saturday shining in through my curtains and onto my bare walls and packed luggage.  This was it, the final day…

Avey and I headed north to the place we shared so many memories throughout the semester: Camden Town.  We strolled through the market stalls, Avey stopped for some nachos, and we ended our brief visit at The World’s End pub, a place we spent several hours and several pints.  We curled up next to the fireplace, sipped our final snakebites, and reminisced about our times there…….and then 100+ Brits dressed as Santas bombarded the pub!  The entire place filled with them while there were hundreds more outside screaming “What do we want?! CHRISTMAS! When do we want it?! NOW!”  It was precisely the note Marie and Avey Camden time needed to end on.

We quickly stopped in Russell Square so Avey could pick up a few final souvenirs at a bookshop she visited during the semester.  We quickly headed back to South Kensington for our 3pm pre-departure flat inspection.  After getting a thumbs up, we headed to Covent Garden and Seven Dials, another area we wanted to say a final farewell to.  I had one final errand on my list in Holborn: visiting the Princess Louise pub, a perfectly preserved old school pub featuring ornate decorations and 8 separate room divisions around the bar.  It was definitely the coolest pub I went to in London, and I’m glad I saved it for the end.  The night was well upon us, so we again headed home for a final pub meal at our local, The Zetland Arms.  We were joined by Mike and all indulged in classic pub grub.  I savored every bite of my Welsch Rarebit with chips and every sip of my final Strongbow pint.

Back to Manson Place we went for final showers and a few hours of shut eye.  We arose at 1:30am for a cup of tea and final packing.  The Marist men returned to the flat and even thought they were drunk they were a great help in getting my 90 pounds of luggage down the 5 flight Mount Manson walk-up, where we stored our luggage in John’s flat on the first floor.  Saying goodbye to our flatmates was definitely strange, but considering we all go to school in Poughkeepsie it was more of a see you later–much more manageable!

Avey and I then embarked on our final London adventure: 3am breakfast at Vingt Quatre, a 24-hour bar/restaurant in the neighboring area of Chelsea.  One of the very few 24-hour eateries in London, it was no surprise that we arrived to a 45 minute queue of extremely drunk and hungry yet still posh (that’s what you get in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea!) Brits.  I can confidently say it was well worth the wait.  Our final meal was a very metaphoric one: Avey had the American Breakfast (pancakes=US) while I indulged in the Full English Breakfast and a Bloody Mary, the final legal cocktail.

We strolled through the borough for the final time and arrived back at Manson Place at 5am with a bit of time to spare before our 5:30am cab.  It came and we were off to Heathrow.  That was probably one of the strangest car rides of my entire life, and I will never forget the last glance of Manson Place I took over my shoulder or the last street sign I saw before entering the airport: the very quintessentially named Devonshire Passage.

My bags just made it in under the weight restrictions (phew!), security went smoothly, and we killed some time in the duty free shopping areas and chatting to a fellow traveler in Costa Coffee.  Our fight crew went MIA so we boarded a bit late, but soon enough we were in our seats with our luggage stowed, our seat backs upright, and our tray tables locked.  And up we went, engulfed by the dense London clouds I so often admired from the ground…

Cheerio!

[Well actually all over london city.]

So we [Craig and I] went to Camden Town.
I’ve always wanted to go there to see what it’s like.
As soon as I stepped of the tube and walked up them god damn stairs I fell in love with Camden.

Apart from all the shop’s seemed to sell the same sort of stuff.
I loved the colourful shemag’s.

I couldn’t resist it but the shemag on the right Blue and Orange I had to have it.

So any way we went to the markets. Here’s a few pictures.

Zip It Bags do it for me.

Busy

The food in camden town is the shit. Mexian fajiti’s had our name over it. YUM

When We left Camden Town we headed into the centre of LDN.

London’s always busy. Like My Brain. Never stopping.

Phaww I’d tap him..

I love LDN.

Camden Town residents, backed by the Local Lib Dem team have forced developers to reveal their full plans for Hawley Wharf. The Hawley Wharf site, one of Camden Town’s markets, was damaged by fire in February 2008. Any new development must respect local residents wishes.

Local Lib Dem Councillor Chris Naylor said, “The plans taken to the local business and residents’ group were incomplete. The developers must now come up with full plans for the site before any work is approved.

“Your local Lib Dem team is working to ensure local voices are heard and that local people benefit from any plans. This is our High Street – a fact too often forgotten by developers.”

To find out more and to help out visit the Hawley Wharf Area campaign at http://hawleywharfarea.wordpress.com

For me, Camden is all about the tacky feast for the eyes. I haven’t actually bought anything there for a long time, but sometimes I go just to take it all in.

Yeps…it’s that time of the year again! Christmas…and with it comes gifts! We are not a very gift-giving  family, but with our partners being in Malta for Christmas (and being appalled at our gift-giving track-record ) we have decided to try to make more of an effort. So last year required finding gifts for Michael’s family (read a bit about that here), but this year I am buying gifts for mine as well…AAAA!

Oh well…a start needed to be made. So over the past few days I have been thinking what to give to my family. As we are going to Denmark next weekend for our ‘Christmas trip’, we needed to get their gifts this weekend, which is why yesterday saw us heading off to Camden Market to make a dent into the gifts we will be buying. Happy to say that I got my mum’s gifts sort of done, as well as my sister’s boyfriend’s and my brother’s girlfriend’s gifts…wippeee! All that’s left is for my brother and my sister (hehe!)…AND for Michael!!! AAA! That’s the worse for me, as for the others I can get his opinion but for his gift he doesn’t look too keenly on him choosing his gift

After Camden market we also went to a Christmas market organised by the Danish YMCA. However, it was too crowded to really enjoy, and the things looked quite expensive to me. So off home we went after a good day of shopping…so glad to have got a good portion of it done! I am sure I’ll get around to finishing all my Christmas shopping at some point…but up to them it is all stress and panic . Will keep you updated!

Yeps, it has been a long time since I last blogged, but please bear with me! It’s been a very busy time!

So first up was a family visit to my brother and Michele (his girlfriend) in Switzerland. My sister and mum flew to London from Malta, and I met up with them at the airport where we took another flight to Friedrischafen in Germany. From the airport we went to Konstanz. With my brother living close by in St Gallen this was one of the places I really wanted to go back to after having done a six week internship there 4 summers ago. Luckily one of the guys from the lab was in town and we could meet up. Great to be back!

That was Saturday (two Saturdays ago). On Sunday we then went to Santis…SNOOOWWWWW! …we didn’t climb but took the gondola up to gorgeous views. After that we travelled on to Apenzell, followed by a visit to the Rheinfall in Schaffhausen. Last I was in the region I never got round to it, so this was high on my list of things I wanted to do. Monday then was a day in Zurich with my mum and sister as brother and his gf had to work/study. Unfortunately all the museums were closed, but we still got a bit of the atmosphere in. Tuesday then we travelled back, from Switzerland going to Austria and then on to Germany around lake Constance, followed by flying to London (yeps…there go your four countries ).

In London then it was my turn to host my sister and mum…AAA…hectic time! We got a number of shopping trips in (yippee!) and a good deal of sight seeing. Mostly I sent them on their own while I went to university to get some work done anyways (though I was on reduced time ). With them on Wednesday night we went to watch Blood Brothers, with Mel C – great show! Was not particularly impressed at first, but as time went I got more and more impressed! WOW!. On Thursday I had tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, which is the ceremony where they shut down the tower each night. It is apparently the shortest such ceremony in the world, but hey! I enjoyed it, and you get to get into the Tower for free (though you cannot wander round). Friday night was an evening of rest in preparation for the weekend.

Saturday was a day of markets! When Michael’s parents were here we went to Camden Market and I definitely wanted to take them there. So we got the bus to St John’s Wood and walked from there along the canal to the market. I really like the market, and it was good to be there now – seeing as Christmas is near I could start getting ideas for gifts – yipeee! (never a very easy thing for me ). From there we then went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde park to show them the closest they could get to a German market (more ideas for gifts ) and then on to TK Maxx in Kensington (shopping ).

Sunday was our ‘day out of London’ – Oxford! I had visited Oxford some months ago for a workshop but only got around an hour to look around. Now we had a day! Unfortunately it wasn’t the best weather (though better than when we went to Canterbury). Fortunately the museums were open so we could duck in there and enjoy them. We got to go to the University Museum of Natural History, the Pitt Rivers Museum, then to the Ashmolean Museum (it is newly reopened in November, so it is still not totally complete – but I really liked it, particularly the -1 level), and finally the Museum of the History of Science. In the evening we then went to Christ Church College Cathedral for Evensong (I didn’t find it as impressive as the ones we attended in Cambridge and Canterbury), and then on to home.

Monday was their last day here, so we went for a walk in Gladstone park, before making our way to Oxford street for some more shopping (hehe!) and then saw them off.

In the evening Michael and I had tickets for a Jack the Ripper Tour by Celebrity Planet. It was an OK tour. We got our tickets for free, but I am not sure I would have been happy if I had paid £10 for the tour! Also – the tour guide had such a smug look on his face! It just made me want to punch him! grrr!

I randig tröja från H&M, ullkjol från Asos, mössa från Camden Market och tygskor från H&M. Smycken från Glitter, BikBok och H&M.

Blusen köpte jag på Primark i London, jeansen är ett par gamla från JC, den ljusblå ringen är köpt på Camden Market i London och den turkosa ringen & tygskorna är från H&M.

We decided to tackle northern London for Madre’s last day.  First stop: King’s Cross for a divine brunch at Smithy’s (special thanks to Allison and Pete Tomasino for the recommendation!) with our dearest Annie.  It’s right around the corner from King’s Cross, so we popped in to snap a shot at the famous Platform 9 3/4 — it was moved due to construction but there were re-directional signs!  Now that’s embracing tourism.

We then headed up to the border of zones 2/3 to Hampstead Village adjacent to Hampstead Heath for an enchanting walk (thanks to a course charted by The Unofficial Guide to London) through one of London’s oldest and most charming areas.  On the way back into central London, we stopped at Camden Town to check out the market, pick up some more Christmas gifts for family/friends (;)), and get Madre her long-awaited Guinness at The World’s End pub.  After heading home to watch our appearance on TV Burp (!) we headed out to get Madre a true London curry at the Indian restaurant down the block, Miran Masala–delicious food and an adorable old Indian man owner!  It hit the spot…especially because nothing gets you in the mood for local, freshly made sweets from Hampstead Village like spicy curry   Yup, there’s a method to our madness!

Vändbar mössa & ringar från Camden Market, örhängen & skosnören från Primark, radhalsband köpt i St Paul’s Cathedral och Twilight köpt på HMV.

Blus & väst från Primark och sammetsliknande tights från Topshop.

Denhär dagen var till för shopping! Några av oss började med att promenera till Oxford street, genom Hyde park.

Vi letade även biobiljetter, till The imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, men ingen biograf som vi hittade visade den filmen.

Efter Oxford street åkte vi till Camden Market. Där stod en man på gatan och blåste gigantiska såpbubblor. Fint.

Vi åkte tillbaka till hotellet, åt middag & lämnade av våra shoppingkassar och sen åkte vi vidare till Westfield shopping centre. Där hade dom allt från Louis Vuitton till H&M!

Dagens shoppingkassar!

Wihoo, hemma från London! Mina fötter är typ döda, vi har gått sjukt mkt och ändå hade vi 3-dagars kort på tunnelbanan ^^ Vi har hunnit med att kolla på fyrverkerier från Alexandra Palace, besöka St Paul’s Cathedral, åka London Eye, se Les Misérables och shoppa på Oxford Street, Camden Market & Westfield Shopping Centre.

IN MONTRÉAL, NOVEMBER 2009

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@ CAMDEN MARKET, LONDON, APRIL 2009

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ALSO SEEN @ CAMDEN MARKET:

Tiendas del Camden Market

El sábado lo comenzamos con un rápido desayuno en un Starbucks cercano al hotel, para coger el metro hasta Camden. Pasamos un par de horas recorriendo los puestos y las tiendas que hay en Camden Market y alrededores (Fer aprovechó para comprarse unas Vans) y paseando por Camden Lock (la zona del río, con las esclusas, es muy bonita), donde compramos unos regalos para Cristina y para Laura.

Camden Lock (detalle y Fernando en unos asientos muy originales)

El río y detalle de las esclusas (Camden Lock)

Un puesto de Camden Lock (con una vendedora muy peculiar)

Interior de Koenig Books

Desde Camden cogimos el metro hasta Charing Cross (os recomiendo leer 84 Charing Cross Road, de Helene Hanff –y ver la película con Anne Bancroft, que en España se tituló La Carta Final–), ya que quería ver libros en Foyles, Koenig Books (especializada en libros de arte, fotografía y diseño –en el nº 80–) y en otras librerías especializadas que hay en esa calle. Después pasamos por el barrio chino, Regent Street, New Bond Street, etc., y finalmente dimos media vuelta para terminar comiendo en Spaccanapoli, un muy buen italiano que está en Dean St. (lo curioso es que estábamos buscando un Pizza Hut que no acabábamos de encontrar y, cuando ya estábamos sentados en este restaurante, vimos a través del ventanal un cartel que decía “Pizza Hut just around the corner”).

El barrio chino y los musicales son parte fundamental de la imagen del Soho londinense.

Leadenhall Market

Después de comer, paseamos por Oxford Street (fuimos a HMV y a Urban Outfitters) y después cogimos el metro hasta Bank. Ya en la City (totalmente desierta los fines de semana, parecía una ciudad fantasma), vimos el famoso “pepino” o “The Gherkin” (Swiss Re HQ, 30 St Mary Axe) de Foster, el Lloyds of London de Richard Rogers y el precioso Leadenhall Market.

The Gherkin (Foster) y Lloyds of London (Rogers)

Detalle de "The Gherkin" (Norman Foster)

Una calle muy "Ziggy Stardust"

La tarde-noche la pasamos en la zona de Brick Lane, un barrio estilo Lavapiés, pero mucho más “currado”: han reconvertido una antigua fábrica de cerveza, la Old Truman Brewery, en un espacio de ocio y cultura donde hay galerías de arte, tiendas de ropa, cafés, restaurantes como Al Volo, bares, pubs y clubes como The Vibe Bar o Café 1001, tiendas de discos como la de Roughtrade Records (en el Soho, en el 34 de Berwick Street, hay una tienda muy buena que se llama Sister Ray –venden por internet a través de Amazon.co.uk–), un mercado, etc.

Roughtrade Records y el bar Rootmaster, en Old Truman Brewery

Un original collage de la exposición "Young Masters"

Estuvimos en la Cynthia Corbett Gallery viendo la exposición “Young Masters” (obras de artistas jóvenes, inspiradas en trabajos de maestros clásicos), compramos un par de vinilos (Girls y The XX) en Roughtrade y estuvimos haciendo tiempo tomando una cerveza en un pub de Brick Lane (teníamos una reserva para cenar un par de horas después).

Instalación hecha a base de billetes de lotería y vista de la exposición “Young Masters”

Cena, música y espectáculo en The Brickhouse

The Brickhouse

La cena fue en The Brickhouse, un curioso local con tres pisos, mezcla de club, restaurante y cabaret. Cenamos estupendamente y lo pasamos mejor, tanto por el entretenido espectáculo de cabaret como por el ambiente y la fauna que allí había.

Al final, entre la cena (un menú de precio fijo con cinco platos), el vino, la propina y el espectáculo (actuaciones de cabaret que incluían a una contorsionista, a un travesti y a un presentador polifacético), la noche salió un pelín cara, pero mereció la pena.

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Kensington Palace

Y llegó el domingo, último día de nuestra visita a Londres (medio día para ser más exactos). Como sólo teníamos la mañana, aprovechamos para pasear por los Kensington Gardens (el Palacio de Kensington, el Round Pond, la Serpentine Gallery, etc.). En la Serpentine Gallery vimos la exposición de Gustav Metzger y el Pabellón de 2009, obra de Kazuyo Sejima y Ryue Nishizawa, de SANAA.

Kensington Gardens

Serpentine Gallery (2009 Pavilion, de SANAA)

Por último, fuimos paseando hasta Harrods (pasamos por el Royal Albert Hall, el Science Museum, el Natural History Museum y el Victoria & Albert Museum) para comprar un par de regalos y un encargo (sí, la dichosa bolsita de Harrods).

Royal Albert Hall y Victoria & Albert Museum

Museo de Historia Natural

En estos tres días y medio de visita a Londres lo hemos pasado estupendamente bien y, además, hemos tenido buen tiempo. Eso sí, nos han quedado un montón de cosas pendientes para la próxima visita. ¿Quién se apunta?

This past week has been the peak. The peak of emotion, the feeling of belonging, knowing my place and loving it. Since the day of London Eye admiring, I have walked the streets and tents of Camden market. The market area is a perfect mixture of punk goths, vintage hipsters, tourist shopping, and hippie incense sellers. My goal the second time was capture the endless amount of faces in the crowds, but it seems that the weekends are the time to people watch. I will return, gladly.

After a full day spent in the market with Beth and MikeV, Beth and I entered into KOKO for a night of NME touring music. Local Natives (new music, new staches) followed our route from LA and brought good American music to the brits. Taylor Rice is a new love. Marina of Marina and the Diamonds brought my obsession with her music to a climax and her performance personality was fit for stage. Airplanes, Sun Hands, I am not a Robot, and Obsessions all in one night is enough to make anyone smile. I am loving seeing and being part of the london music shifting scene. (no photos/I have a great habit of getting my camera taken away).

Homework calls and gladly I am going to answer.

Councillor Chris Naylor, Ben Greening and Chris Richards outside the famous Hawley Arms pub on Castlehaven Road

This past Thursday, 8^th October residents of the Castlehaven / Clarence Way area were presented with sketches and ideas for new developments in Hawley Wharf, an area of Camden Market which was damaged by fire last year. The meeting was absolutely packed out and got quite heated at times.  It took the form of a presentation by the architects for both a new commercial complex for the site next to the canal and a residential development on Torbay Street. This was followed by questions from the audience.

The architects for the commercial space presented sketches for a large development with a roof garden. It would, he explained, have east-west access ways, incorporate three outdoor public spaces next to the canal and the design would pay tribute to the railways arches heritage of Camden.

For the residential development, architects showed us a proposal for 130 new homes in a building of seven storeys in the area of Torbay Street between the railway viaduct and Hawley Road.

Some of the concerns raised by residents included the following;

• There are already too many late night venues in the area and residents wanted the commercial site to include artisan workshops instead.
• People wanted more open spaces in the area instead of more shops which sell tourist goods.
• There were concerns that the proposed residential development was out of keeping with the area and that it was too high.
• People worried that more commercial establishments would lead to more trash on the streets and in the canal.
• There were worries expressed that the developers goal of submitting planning applications by the end of the year was unrealistic given the outline state of the proposals as they currently were.
• Someone expressed unease at the fact that there was a space between the two developments on which developers had not put forward any plans yet. There was worry that a new development would be sprung on residents at a later date.
• It was suggested that Camden Market Holdings, who own the site, should put money into a tube station development at Camden Town Tube, to cope with what residents thought would be more visitors to the area.
• There was also concern about safety.

The developers stressed that no proposal had been submitted to the council yet and that any application would try and take account of what residents had said at the meeting.

The Hawley Wharf working group, which is made up of representatives from residents associations and key groups in the area, will be meeting in the next couple of weeks to discuss how to move forward.

If you’d like Ben to pass on a suggestion or a comment at the working group, please give Ben Greening a ring on 07792 562 977 or email benedictgreening@googlemail.com

London. London, London

Elsket det. Gleder meg allerede til å dra tilbake, selv om det ikke er planlagt enda. Vi hadde veldig lite tid, og fikk ikke gjort alt vi ville og hadde planlagt. Men alt annet var great!

Torsdag: Vi dro. Har allerede skrevet om denne dagen. Overvekt, flyplass, glede.

Fredag: Sov ganske “lenge” Eller, såppas lenge at vi såvidt rakk frokosten. Dvs klokken 9. Etter det pakket vi diverse småtteri til en dag ute i byen, og vandret nedover. Hoppa på en buss, og vips så satt vi i 2.etasje på en dobbeldecker og så utover. Det tok ikke lange stunden før vi var ved Oxford circus hvor vi gikk av og begynte vår ferd i shoppinggatene. Oh lord, så bra! ALT er der. Jeg klarer ikke å tenke på alt engang! Jeg handla på Topshop, MAC og diverse butikker. GIGANTISKE butikker var(er) det. Etter shopping og bøttevis med Starbucks’ sjokolade frappuccino dro vi tilbake til hostellet for å ordne oss til kvelden. Og få tak i gutta. Noe som var veldig vanskelig. Vi trodde faktisk de hadde ditcha oss et sekund eller to. Til slutt fikk vi tak i dem og heada ut. Tube-systemet er faktisk ganske lurt! Litt vanskelig å skjønne i starten, spesielt når man skal et sted hvor linjene ikke går direkte. Sånn som til Angel. Tror vi bytta line 3-4 ganger. Vi dro til Angels, slang i oss litt pizza før vi gikk inn på et utested. Husker ikke helt hva det heter, men et ok sted. Guttene måtte dra tidlig pga college-innflyttning og jobb, men vi klarte oss bra alene.

Lørdag: stod sent opp, tok bussen til Camden market, hang der noen timer. Jeg kjøpte meg en del her; skinnjakke, smykke, t-skjorte og UGGS. En utrolig teit ting der, var de stygge posene. Selv om det er et marked trenger de ikke å ha rosa og blå poser. Man. Etter camden market stakk vi til Madamme Tussauds, som var qlt. Mye folk, men det var ikke så crowded som jeg trodde det skulle være. Angrer litt på at jeg hadde så teite klær på meg, liksom, skikkelig turist med I<3London og shoppeklær. Etter MT tok vi tube til ..husker ikke? for å ta The Dungeon. SOM STENGTE KLOKKA 5!!!! utrolig irriterende, for vi hadde billetter.. og det så vanvittig fett ut. I stedet dro vi tilbake til Oxfordstreet, did some more shopping, fant Primark og gikk berserk. (neida, men det gjorde mange andre). Var faktisk mye fett der! Jeg fant meg 3 par sko, to ringer, armbånd, pelslue, undertøy, strømper, strømpebukser, skjerf, øøh..? Alt det for 700 kr. Kind of cheap, men det ser ikke tacky ut. Jeg syns forresten veldig synd på de som jobber der, for de må jobbe mye overtid, siden det fremdeles er dusinvis av folk der inne etter stengetid. Da vi endelig kom oss gjennom køen og var ute, måtte vi så sykt på do, og vi var slitne. Gikk til Selfridge, for å finne do. Wow. Gigantisk. Dyrt. Fint. Hot. ..ja. De hadde til og med ammerom!! Der satt vi å slækka til de skulle stenge i 9-tiden. Da var det Starbucks på G, før vi stakk hjem igjen. Pakke bagasjen og ordne oss til kvelden. Det lille vi hadde pakka i bagasjen (bestod mest av sko og sånt man ikke kan/bør ha med i bagasjen) veide nesten 20 kg, altså 5 for mye. Pakka om og fikk vekta sånn ca riktig. Endelig ferdige, gjorde vi oss klare for enda en tur ut. Slitne, overtrøtte, sultne og hypre som vi var fikk vi endelig gått ut. Dro til Camden med to aussies fra hostellet. Mills&jeg spiste falaffel på gata. En WEIRD tysker tok bilde av oss (haha) og stod å prata “med” oss en evighet før han endelig tok hintet å gikk. Noe mer spesielt skjedde det vel ikke, bortsett fra at vi slet litt med å finne bussstoppet  takket være en stygg jente som ga oss feil veibeskrivelse (sikkert IKKE med vilje) og en buss som ikke var stappa full. Resten av kvelden gikk med på å vente på at bussen skulle komme. Jeg pakka om håndbagasjen min for ørtende gang, kledde på meg alt det jeg kunne, og brått var klokka så mye at vi måtte gå. Det var vel i halv 5-tiden. (halv 6 norsk tid). Trøtt og sur, og ikke klar for å dra hjem. Småstress på Stansted, kom oss gjennom med all bagasje uten å betale overvekt! :O

London var stress, men supert. Neste gang jeg drar skal jeg ha lenger tid. MYE lenger. Rekke å se noe annet enn Oxfordstreet. Haha Vi bodde forresten på Palmers Lodge, i første etasje, double bed i mixed dorm, noe som var helt greit. Billig var det og, hyggelig betjening, grei frokost, stille område, men fortsatt nokså sentralt. Vi betalte ca 1000 kr for 3 netter for oss to tilsammen.Enda en ting jeg skal gjøre neste gang, er å ta mer bilder. hhoho

!!!!!!!!!!!MISS IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Befinde mich immernoch in London. London spricht sich übrigens “Landen” aus. Hab ich mir sagen lassen. Vielleicht auch eine Ode an die 9 Flughäfen dieser großartigen Stadt. Man weiß es nicht.

Heute morgen hat bereits um 7.15h der Wecker geklingelt. DA war ich doch glatt neidisch auf den Teppich, der konnte liegen bleiben. War DAS früh! Nützte aber nix, ich wollt ja was sehen von der Welt. ich habe mich dann doch GEGEN die High Heels und FÜR Wollabees entschieden, mit denen ich eine Attraktivität wie Uschi Glas und eine Anziehungskraft wie Hausstaub besaß, aber: bequem sind sie und nachdem mich die Rezeptionisten auf den Boden der Tasachen zurückgeholt hat und mir mitteilte, fast schon mitleidig belächelte, dass ich doch einiges an Kilometern schrubben müsste, wolle ich alles sehen, was ich mir so auf die Fahne geschrieben habe, musste ich da jetzt wohl durch. bzw. rein in die Schühchen.

Mit dem Route Bus N52 bin ich erstmal geschmeidig nach Notting Hill, bekannt geworden durch den gleichnahmigen Film gebrettert und habe dem bezaubernden Stattteil mit einem coffee to go auf der kralle beim aufwachen zugeschaut. Ein unglaublich SCHÖNER Stadtteil! Früher der der Armen, dann der der Künstler und jetzt ein Stadtteil der Reichen. Viele bunte Reihenhäuser, tolle Cafés und Shops mit außergewöhnlichen Waren. Habe mich gegen das Continental Breakfast im Hotel entschieden, sondern mir in einem flauschigen Café mein Frühstühstück reingezogen. Mein Timing hätte an diesem Tag nicht besser sein können, denn jeden Samstag ist auf der Portobello Road ein Antiquitäten Markt. Ich liebe Antiquitäten. Nur leider ist der alte Ramsch kaum zu bezahlen.

Bin dann – wesentlich ausgeschlafener – wieder in den Bus gesprungen und habe einen stop-over im Regent´s Park gemacht. 12.30h, alles im Lack, ich hatte noch genügend Zeit. Dort verweilte ich dann eine ganze Weile, beobachtete die Menschen und erfreute mich an meiner Zufriedenheit.

Anschließend machte ich mich dann mit der 27 auf in den Stadtbezirk Camden zu den Camden Markets. Ich war überrascht! Da hats ja ordentlich gefackelt, aber hübsch ham´ses wieder zurechtgebastelt. Tolle Geschäfte, tolle Menschen, tolle Eindrücke und ne Menge Freaks, die einfach mal so sein können, wie sie sein wollen und kein Federviech kräht danach. Im Gegenteil. Würden da nicht die ganzen Vögel rumlaufen, würde der Charme fehlen. Is alles latent szenig da, aber ich mags, wenns weit ab von klassisch ist. Wenn ich es klassisch haben will, kann ich auch bei Muddern zum Mittach vorbeischippern und Gurkenpfanne essen. Ich will aber in andere Welten eintauchen. Und das habe ich in Camden getan. Da sich mein Video nicht wirklich als brauchbar erwies, hab ich mal eins bei youtube gezogen, which auch way more emotions transportiert. Wegen musikalischer Untermalung und so…

Anschließend war tatsächlich noch Zeit für die Tower Bridge. Ein Führung hab ich nicht mitgemacht. Das is irgendwie nicht so mein Ding. Außerdem fand zeitgleich noch die Ausstellung Great Bridges of the World statt, aber auch da habe ich dankend abgelehnt. Ich tendierte eher zu Bridge Lift. Kurz vor 18h ging das Viech hoch. Der Scheitel saß, Stimmung war Bombe und das Timing mal wieder 1A! Themsenluft genoßen (Aroma Fisch mit einer Note Fisch und einem Hauch von noch mehr Fisch), Schiffchen geguckt, Sonne getankt und einen Tag lang Queen of London gewesen.

Gerne wäre ich noch ins Shakespeare´s Globe gegangen oder hätte den Ölscheichen dabei zugesehen, wie sie sich im Harrods in der “Food Hall” die Austern reinschippen, oder vermeindliche Entertainer, die im falschen Körper stecken, nämlich in dem eines Koches und gar nicht merken, dass sich sich mit ihrer Performance “ich versuch mal zu singen” zum Fallobst machen. nur leider…tja, Zeit hatte ich ja nun relativ wenig.

Zeit für ein Pint reicht aber noch. Herr Ober, ick brauch Bier. Wobei, in GB muss man das ja am Tresen abholen. Servicewüste. Immerhin arbeiten die da mit Oberflächenspannung am Glas. Aber bis ich das Glas back to the table geschippert habe, habe ich den Überschuss wohl abgeschwappt und das Pub bekleckert. Trotzdem war´s super! London – ich komm wieder! Ich MUSS! es gibt hier so viel zu sehen und zu erleben, das schreit nach einem längeren Aufenthalt.

“Die Stadt, sie schwingt.” – Ronald Reng über London

MUSTACHES!