For the love of coffee
January 17, 2012
It’s no secret that piping-hot, thick-as-tar coffee is the way to my heart (well, it sure isn’t now). So when important people in our lives do something so little, yet so thoughtful - like hunt down one of few remaining books for you – you can’t help but serve them another helping of affection.
Now to try out every flat white, skinny latte and choc-dusted cappuccino listed, and drop some blatant hints about red shoes…
The makings of a wonderful Christmas…
January 5, 2012
a long run on a chilly winter’s day
seeking out great coffee with the boy
finding treasure at Snooper’s Paradise
dressing up, heading out
indulging in room service
…and mum’s mince pies
checking out the aquarium
reacquainting oneself with old friends
reading poetry in unexpected places
watching London from above
The Vintage Event at Balham Bowls Club
August 14, 2011
As the sun shines and Londoners put the riots to the back of their minds, today was a day of celebration for all – at least in Balham, where the Vintage Event came to town.
The event is organised by a mother and daughter duo and plotted itself up in the most perfect of locations; the long established Balham Bowls Club.
On stepping into the fair, the amount of dresses, handbags and all manner of accessories from yesteryear were somewhat overwhelming. It was hard not to feel a surge of excitement at the thought of all the wonderful discoveries ahead. At first glance, the Vintage Event was nothing but paradise – where was I to start?!
After flitting between dress and delicious-looking tea and cake stalls, I had already fallen in love with gowns galore and eyed-up a carrot cake to die for.
Settling on a purchase of a 70s leather coin purse and 30s negligee for an impressive £8, I left feeling thrilled (having stuffed my face with said delicious carrot cake, baked by Mother’s Ruin). Thanks to the Vintage Event, the retro lover can find beautiful, genuine vintage pieces so easily in a time when it’s becoming much harder to find a gem within the rubble.
Of course, it’s even better that they’re delivering all this practically to my doorstep, and at refreshingly affordable prices too. Roll on next month’s event!
With so much unrest in London and “criminality” unfortunately being the buzz word, I got to thinking that it was high time we were reminded about some of the incredible things we have on our doorsteps here in the capital.
What better way to do exactly that, than share some of the pictures I’ve captured while living in the city over the last decade.
So here they are. Enjoy, and stay safe.
What have you done lately?
July 10, 2011
The best of Balham
May 31, 2011
I first started compiling this list as a welcome to Balham for my friend Cat. As I was thinking about places to recommend to her, I realised just how good the area I live in is, that I probably eat too much, and that really, the secrets of this little southwest gem ought be shared with you, too.
Cupcakes from Des Lys bakery
8 Bedford Hill
Time it right, and as you walk into this family-run bakery you’ll be overwhelmed by the smell of rising-in-the-oven home baking – it’s phenomenal. Every single delight on sale, from flaky croissant to crusty baguette, is baked on the premises in the downstairs kitchen. The pièce de résistance? Freshly made vanilla cupcakes that are so good, they could easily put Hummingbird Bakery out of business.
The Paddyfield
4 Bedford Hill
This tiny little Thai restaurant is B.Y.O.B (bring your own bottle). It gets busy, you normally can’t book and they do the best fresh spring rolls I’ve ever had – don’t let the idea of them put you off like it originally did for me – they are simply heavenly.
Mr Happy chip shop
Seascape Fish Bar, 9 Bedford Hill
This fry bar not only has the usual fish and chips, but service with much more than just a smile. The owner is one of the nicest men I have ever met, and his business, at least in my house, is therefore affectionately referred to as ‘Mr Happy Chip Shop’.
Duke of Devonshire
39 Balham High Road
It’s huge, it has a garden, it serves beer. Enough said.
Bertie and Boo
162 Balham High Road
Although often slow on the service front, sometimes sold out of toasties and randomly, detox drinks, I still meet the same friend here every time we catch up – there’s just something so quaint about it.
Eggs Florentine at The Exhibit
12 Balham Station Road
Tried and tested, this is the place that changed my opinion of poached eggs from scary to scrumptious. It’s great for a simple, yet really hearty breakfast (and not so nice coffee). Best of all, most of the brunch menu is priced at a wallet-pleasing £6.50 too.
Sri Lankan Roti at Hop & Spice
53 Bedford Hill
For £8.95 you can eat in or take away a delicious mix-up of Sri Lankan street food (a little like bubble and squeak). Lashings of mango chutney, yoghurt raita and mini popadoms complete this mouth-watering dish.
The Kebab Company
85 Balham High Road
Try the jam-packed halloumi and falafel wraps. Not only are they so good (who doesn’t love halloumi?) one is more than enough to feed two with some chips on the side.
Balham Bowls Club
7-9 Ramsden Road
A cool little original bowls club (now a pub) which has recently been refurbished. On Sunday 26th June, the people behind Judy’s Affordable Vintage take over the club with their retro garms and goodies. Vintage on my doorstep? Who’d have thought Balham could get any better. You can certainly bet I’ll be first in the queue.
Drama in Dahab; playground for the weird and wonderful
January 14, 2011
If you happened to read my last post, you’ll know that I was taking a well earned break over New Year and spending time with camels, Pharaohs and fish in Egypt. The trip began in Cairo, where a friend and I spent two sleepless nights embracing the sounds of quadruple lane traffic honking their horns, with us breathing in exhaust fumes and the most polluted air in the world. Top way to unwind.
Once accustomed to the Cairo Cough, we ventured out to The Egyptian Museum which is an awe-inspiring place to say the very least, and not to be missed if you visit the capital yourself. Seeing the world-renowned Tutankhamun’s mask in person was one of the best moments of my two weeks. Of course, like proper tourists we took in the pyramids too, but the holiday really got started when we arrived in the not-so-sleepy dive resort of Dahab. Never did we think such a small, almost falling-apart-at-the-seams town could be filled with so much adventure.
While a good chunk of our time in Dahab was spent hanging out at Yalla Bar on the seafront, we also took to our saddles for a two-hour pony trek and then donned our best Village People-inspired outfits to escape to the desert on quad bikes. After and action-packed start, pretty much the rest of the holiday was spent getting acquainted with the local beer (Sakara), BOGOF White Russians and the odd entire bottle of tequila.
Hangovers aside, nine nights in Dahab is up there with one of the best holidays I’ve ever had, partly due to the company of a bunch of hardcore drinking teachers (whom for obvious reasons, shall remain anonymous), a body building Essex boy with a heart of gold, Vodka Sherberts and everything else that went in-between. For all of our sanity, it’s far better to leave the ‘drama’ of Dahab unpublished. Instead, I’ll leave you with a few shots (of the photography kind) which capture some of the top times of our two weeks in Egypt.
Seeking Shakespeare in the Cotswolds
November 9, 2010
Downpours and inventions at Vintage Goodwood
August 18, 2010
On Friday afternoon, after a few back seat beers and cheesy poofs, we arrived at Vintage Goodwood just in time for the heavens to open, as if on command and right as we began to pitch our tents. Thankfully, the boys became men (momentarily at least) and allowed us ladies to saunter off in the rain in search of yesteryear’s treasures.
With a bit of careful footing through the mud, we reached the main event where everyone from The Body Shop to Oxfam had created pop-up shops on the festivals retro ‘high-street’. In Oxfam we discovered rails set out by decade which were home to everything from 70s chic chiffon maxi dresses to 50s rockabilly skirts. The prices may have been a little high, but still affordable should you have fallen head over heels with one of the many special pieces.
After the outburst of “There’s hundred’s of vintage stalls over there!” from one of the boys upon their return, we naturally made an instinctual diversion from the high-street like lions chasing gazelle. While his numbers may have been somewhat overstated, we certainly did find some amazing stands where we promptly lost a good few hours and emptied our already well-worn wallets.
One-of-a-kind fashion aside, we played on the vintage cars and scooters like both children and pin-ups (see below). We were also lucky enough to get backstage dressing room passes and got to check out where rock legends Faces got ready for their first performance together in 25 years. As Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan, Mick Hucknall and Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock walked past us, heading towards the stage, we traced their footsteps. However, on arrival at the rear of the main stage, we were quick to decide that for us, it was right in the thick of the crowd that was the only place to be.
Just before laying our heads to rest after a jolly good day, my fellow tent sharer, upon expressing how he could never find anything in his jacket exclaimed; “Wouldn’t it be good if you just had one really big pocket?” To which I responded; “Yeah, with a strap?” His reply; “What, like a bag?!” Had it not been for the fact that we had been long been beaten to it with such an invention (and the copious amounts of vodka, whisky and beer consumed) I could have sworn we were onto something…
Crowd pleasers - vintage fashionistas spotted at Goodwood
Polka dots and pin-ups
Smoking smock
Where fairytales are made
Wayne Hemmingway, promising sunshine from 5.30pm onwards
From the farm
shaggin' wagon?
Original up-dos
One true diva
A stitch in time
Introducing Terry Shakira…
June 17, 2010
...the latest edition to The Eco Office, thanks to two lovely friends.
