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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2017 13:20:58 GMT
Gosh. Looks like you've had some nice weather for your exploring Dot. Balham looks quite nice or are you only showing us the clean bits? is it very busy? what's the traffic like? is there an Marks & Spencers and a decent Indian/Italian/Chippy restaurant? I need to know...I'm VERY nosey Nosey is very flattering to the thread maker, Cheery! Ennyway ~ Balham appears to be quite "discovered", with many of the businesses that cater to the well-heeled and fairly leisured crowd. My landlord pointed out that it appears to be the international champion for numbers of cafés in one place. Lots of very nice places with liquor licenses as well. Many lean, on-the-way up young men whom LL says are traders in the city with yearly £million bonuses and their attendant wives and young. Any place not already renovated seems to be for sale or being cleared out and you can practically hear the bushes breathing with speculators and real estate agents. It's not nearly as busy as downtown London (or whatever it's called) -- Balham High Road is well traveled, but no big deal to cross, for instance. Honestly, so far I've mostly tromped back & forth between Balham Station and my apartment (sw of Blhm Stn), and only ventured a block or so NE of the station so far & onto Bedford Hill Road. Besides name-brand supermarkets & Boots, the only chain store I've seen is TK Maxx. Yes, several fish&chips places, with one in particular recommended to me. Ditto Italian and Indian. The Indian restaurants are more in Tooting & apparently are southern Indian rather than the Bangladeshi fare for which Brick Lane is known. This place intrigues me. Despite the name, it's a nice white tablecloth restaurant and, if I'm ever able to eat again, I will try it. Finally, to round out the picture, the borough I'm in is Wandsworth, so delightfully Harry Potter sounding. the URCs retained a building at the back of the site for their meetings. I am going to make a point of going back there to find the URCs and see what I can see. Will report back. Yes! Thank you for reminding me! I'm really enjoying this visit! Thank you, dear lass! Mmmmm London. Now I very much wish to return. Surprised to see that Nigella growing from a crack in the pavement already going to seed! Fumobici: $1,073 Portland--London & return, June 6 to July 6. You only live once and you could meet me and The Others. I think that plants with protected roots often perform more efficiently, i.e., more like weeds in their flowering & seeding cycles. Just on the other side of that wall, in the landlords' rather blank front garden, is a volunteer poppy I am watching closely.
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 1, 2017 14:31:18 GMT
Now that you mention the nigella, mine are in full bloom too. I really like them, even though once they are just seed heads they are not as pretty. And they self-seed everywhere. That's perhaps another reason why they're known as Love In A Mist. My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by bjd on Jun 1, 2017 14:42:40 GMT
I just learned yesterday that Americans also call nigellas Devil in the Bush.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 1, 2017 15:03:25 GMT
I sent you a private e-mail about stuff at the London Review Bookshop - out of envy, I suppose.
The publisher I'm working with is in Brixton, which was known as a very tough area a few decades ago but is not of course gentrifying, though still not as genteel as the place where you are staying. Brixton was the setting for Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue", about it when it was a rough area, and a place where many BWI people had settled upon arrival, but Electric Avenue was originally a posher area, as its name is due to it being the first high street (shopping street) with electricity. That is also south of the Thames, but more central.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2017 15:07:51 GMT
Moving right along, I'd like to share and to highly recommend something I did yesterday afternoon, which was to visit the Geffrye Museum. Yesterday was open day for showing their pensioners' quarters, restored to how they would have been in 1780 and in 1880. This was strictly done, right down to the lack of electric lights, so no photos as it was too dark. At any rate, their docents are extremely personable and knowledgeable, their gift shop is wonderful, and the grounds worth a visit on their own. I was there so late that I only dashed through the museum on my way from the gardens to the gift shop. Quite honestly, I didn't think it would interest me, but what I saw convinced me that I must return. The museum is free, but you'll probably find yourself wanting to give them money. Here is a well-written, excellent history of the place, with pictures of the rooms I saw: spitalfieldslife.com/2011/05/04/at-the-geffrye-almhouses/I emerged from the tube at the Old Street Station and set off through a trendyish area, thence through a scruffy one that featured quite a few apparently highly regarded Vietnamese restaurants before abruptly reaching the quite startlingly green expanse of the Geffrye.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2017 15:48:57 GMT
Sorry ~ it looked as though I was ignoring y'all, but really was called away by a visitor while making my post, so didn't see anyones replies until after I posted. I only know nigella (which is what I call it) and love-in-a-mist -- never even read the devil name, which sounds very old-fashioned and maybe from New England. Thanks for the info, LaGatta -- the bookshop looks wonderful. I can't risk buying any books because of space limitation. However, while waiting around to have my tablet battery checked, I wandered into a charity shop in Tooting with the most wonderful used book section -- 5 paperbacks for £2! These are the nice 5x7 paperbacks, not the flimsy "airport book" type. I even found one book I've yearned after for ages.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2017 16:05:18 GMT
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Post by mossie on Jun 1, 2017 19:19:49 GMT
I like the juxtaposition of the umbrellas and fancy lighting(?) in the last shot. Unlucky to catch some of our famous variable weather.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2017 23:57:43 GMT
Thanks, Mossie! Naturally, you got exactly what I was going for. I believe that thing actually is meant to be an umbrella. I was only unlucky in that my camera decided to deal with the weather by sucking in more light than was needed -- my fault, really, for not taking the time to deal with it. Quite honestly, I was enjoying the brooding day & very light rain. Today was quite pretty by contrast. I have nothing really to show except for a few snaps from what I've come to think of as surprising Tooting. I say surprising because what I've seen of it so far often seems to have an air of not exactly economic struggle, but not of burgeoning prosperity either. For instance, you'll be walking down a section of the kind of street that somehow seems darker -- the noodle restaurant with the faded facade, the thrift shop, the betting parlor -- then abruptly come across a M&S filling station with attached "Simply Food" full of nicely dressed young women earnestly confabbing on their cells. Mildly shocked, you notice a spate of expensive cars and a street of high-end renovation.
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Post by mich64 on Jun 2, 2017 1:59:21 GMT
Loving this report.
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Post by bjd on Jun 2, 2017 6:59:14 GMT
As much as I have no desire to live in England, they sure do make nice gardens.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 2, 2017 11:00:32 GMT
I always appreciate how big cities so close together can have such completely different architecture (captured with immense talent by Bixa). Same bees, though.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 2, 2017 14:20:02 GMT
Stunning pics Bixa...especially the bombus terrestris I'm struggling to image them in my garden because every time I approach a bumblebee the dog tries to eat it...*sigh*
Simply stunning...I'm looking forward to Balham. You realise that if the Tories get back in on June 8th I'll need a bottle or six.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2017 20:17:46 GMT
Echoing what so many have posted. I have been savouring, pouring over this report in every way.
Such great pics. And, why are you apologizing for the quality of some of them I have no clue.
The roses alone make me green with envy (do you think that some of these are David Austin's?). Doesn't matter as we could never grow roses here to perform that lavishly. Not a lick of black spot or mildew. Sheer perfection.
The herb and knot gardens while so typically representative of what many associate with British gardens are perfectly designed to take full advantage of texture, foliage and of course the blooms. Understated in the most tasteful of ways.
I so long to be there.
Your choice of "digs" seems so well suited to your needs. Village like and yet, part of London. It is nothing that I would have imagined which attests to my total ignorance of all the possibilities available to being in the city itself.
I so "get" why you made a return sojourn there.
Keep us enthralled please. More, more, more!!!
Glad you are feeling better and can easily understand why you would be shy about trying out any of the usual British fare save salads and familiar safe bets.
Also, the streets etc. are so clean!!!!
Carry on dear with more treasures we all know you will see and share wit us.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 3, 2017 20:39:31 GMT
Hey ~ thanks, Mich! Bjd, I would love to live in England, but love might fly out the window with the first really cold day. Thanks, Kerouac. I was reading something about Australia where the inevitable comment was made about how they attempted to recreate England there. Then, looking out the window on the train I started musing that well, of course they did. In fact, how odd to think that they'd immediately come up with something totally different. Cheery, eventually he's going to snap shut on a bumbler & wonder why he has a mouth full of fuzzy disappointment. Don't even think about a negative outcome! Kerouac has already suggested that countries are going to start asking me not to visit. The US embassy got bombed when I was in Istanbul, I was in London for Brexit and in Marseille when the Nice tragedy happened. But if bad things happen in threes, maybe my presence will actually make you safe from the Tories. I can see you're stressed, though, so will be sure to cool your fevered brow and make sure bottles get poured down your throat. Now it's time to venture further afield. I wanted to visit Nunhead Cemetery but the internet routed me to Peckham Rye station, even though there is a Nunhead station and it's closer to the cemetery. Never mind, as it turned out to be the happiest of accidents. Setting off from Balham station, I was intrigued by this old sign. Is it neon? Those lumps on the letters are pigeons ~ Stepping out of the station into Rye Lane I thought I was in another country ~ As I took the picture above, two guys working in the store barked "no pictures!" Naturally I took another one. The day people understand telling me not to do something for no reason is the best way to get me to do it is the day we'll all be a lot happier. Street preacher. His popish garb is hiding it, but he's standing at a rather nice wooden lectern ~ All kinds of intriguing alleyways ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 3, 2017 20:52:35 GMT
Whoops! Sorry, Casimira. I was putting that post together and didn't see your post until after mine was up. Thank you so much for the flattering and encouraging comments. I said it last year and I'll say it again -- if anyone would love being in England as much as I, it would have to be you. Nunhead Cemetery: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/8073/nunhead-cemetery-london
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Post by lagatta on Jun 4, 2017 0:56:32 GMT
Oh horrors bixi, another terror attack...
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Post by bjd on Jun 4, 2017 5:29:06 GMT
What was that you said earlier about countries not letting you in, Bixa?
Those market stands with fruit and vegetables seem to be below a train or metro line, given the brick archways. And I really like those planters in old tires -- nice colour combinations of heuchera and sage.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 4, 2017 7:46:37 GMT
I really like the flowers in tyre stacks continued beautiful pics you clever girl! For some reason I don't think of British cities as being colourful and sunny but you are showing me how wrong I was. I'll maybe appreciate the markets a bit more now. I must admit that the current terror attacks have given me pause for thought, but nothing could stop me coming to meet Bixa and the other Anyporters. Maybe we won't stay out late on 8th Dot Security will be increased in London and we just have to be vigilant on Friday. I can imagine all the Anyporters arranging themseves into a meercat-like group...with Bixa as the clan leader and the rest of us taking turns to stand watch...maybe in a tree....
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 4, 2017 10:09:56 GMT
What was that you said earlier about countries not letting you in, Bixa? Right, Bjd?!! I'm starting to feel like some kind of international Typhoid Mary. Those market stands with fruit and vegetables seem to be below a train or metro line, given the brick archways. And I really like those planters in old tires -- nice colour combinations of heuchera and sage. I hadn't thought about that, but you must be right. All of the market pictures were taken quite near the Peckham Rye station, so it stands to reason. I saw quite a bit of that sage planted around Peckham Rye and Nunhead. I managed to appreciate it even though I harbor a certain resentment towards it. That's because it's almost the only one available commercially around Oaxaca, despite Mexico being the home of various glorious sages. I'm pretty sure that one is Salvia microphylla, called mirto in Oaxaca and supposedly good for ear problems.I really like the flowers in tyre stacks continued beautiful pics you clever girl! For some reason I don't think of British cities as being colourful and sunny but you are showing me how wrong I was. I'll maybe appreciate the markets a bit more now. Right, Cheery?!! I thought about that in the last post from Tooting. You all are always saying how colorful Mexico is, how blue the skies, but those pictures show a real British verve for use of color and dramatic plants and certainly the skies couldn't be bluer.I must admit that the current terror attacks have given me pause for thought, but nothing could stop me coming to meet Bixa and the other Anyporters. Maybe we won't stay out late on 8th Dot Security will be increased in London and we just have to be vigilant on Friday. I can imagine all the Anyporters arranging themseves into a meercat-like group...with Bixa as the clan leader and the rest of us taking turns to stand watch...maybe in a tree.... Hmmmm. Nothing like being appointed point man in a dangerous situation. All will be well. We are as likely to be struck by lightning or felled by a falling tree limb. Life goes on.
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 4, 2017 12:03:41 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 14, 2017 21:56:49 GMT
It's past time for me to update dear diary, so here goes ~ After the visit to Nunhead cemetery linked above, my energy was focused on the impending arrival of Cheerypeabrain, followed the next day by the Anyport get-together. Heady stuff! Sunday, the first day of The Big Week Ahead, I went to Hampstead to immerse myself in an old garden & in some early 20th century architecture. Read all about it here: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/8075/heavenly-hampstead-fenton-garden-goldfingerThe day before Cheery got here, I thought I'd do something culturally enriching and probably calming, so I went to the The Japanese House: Architecture and Life after 1945 exhibition at the Barbican, covered here ~ anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/8080/japanese-house-architecture-life-afterWhen I left there I was in that slightly wiped-out state an intense museum visit can cause. Nevertheless, I was so close to the Museum of London that I thought I'd just stick my head in. A kind librarian at the Barbican helped me find my way out (the place is a maze with not nearly enough signage!) and walked with me along the Highwalk. He pointed out this salient feature, the old Roman wall ~ Gawd, but London is a beautiful city!!! Okay, I barely popped into and out of the museum, so this is just the teeniest taste of its many glories. I zipped through all of pre-history and only paused at this statue in the Londinium section ~ And that wasn't the only piece of art used and abused as though it were an H-block ~ That's it for the Roman section, although I have some lovely stuff from other parts of the museum. Windows keeps interrupting me because it wants to do an update, so I'll be back later.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 15, 2017 6:27:24 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 15, 2017 7:17:00 GMT
The next day I finally got to meet Cheery, who is the sweetest, smartest, most fun person ever. We didn't take any pictures, but trust me that the sound track was squeals of joy followed by endless yakking and laffing. Cheery! That same day we visited the Into the Unknown science fiction exhibition at the Barbican, which Cheery reported on here: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/8077/unknown-exhibition-barbican-june-2017And then it was June 9, the long-awaited meeting with our online pals. As Cheery and I padded the streets around Hyde Park looking for a way in, we came across an odd sight. All credit goes to Cheery who spotted this, but I happened to have the camera out ~ Apartment-dwelling horses! We got to the Serpentine Café gathering and I can't stress enough what a treat it was, and how relaxed everyone was with each other. Endless gratitude to everyone who attended. ❤After everyone dispersed, Cheery had some time before she had to catch her train. Kerouac is always up for a walk, so the three of us set off.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 15, 2017 9:12:09 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 15, 2017 14:11:01 GMT
The following day I was privileged to spend some time with Kerouac before he had to fly back to Paris. Knowing that I'm a neophyte London tourist, he cleverly suggested this meeting spot ~ Camden is a place that likes to having things sticking out of other things ~ This lad was obviously born well after the era he's channeling, but it's a role-playing for money schtick. Another performer was doing the heavy metal thing & had people lined up to pretend perform with him. Even with all the crowds, it seems peaceful by the water ~ This silly fad has obnoxiously run its course, but at least this lock is appropriate to the setting ~ This floor to ceiling window of a clothing store recalls its former incarnation as a factory ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 15, 2017 14:15:10 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 15, 2017 14:39:00 GMT
The Georgian pleasure garden is a new one on me. The London Museum looks like it might be a refreshingly different place.
One thing that I like about the Camden market is that all of the people are just as colourful as the buildings. The Paris flea market seems totally staid in comparison.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 16, 2017 5:42:19 GMT
I agree about the London Museum. There is a nice sense of spaciousness inside, but so much stuff and so many eras covered that I'd say the way to see it would be either to go early and spend the day or (my choice) just to nip in repeatedly and take in whatever interested you at the moment. Please let me thank you again for suggesting the Camden market and for meeting me there. I think people would be very interested in comparing my few pictures from the other day to your very full report from 2012. Also, your report provides some valuable orientation for people intending to visit: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/6063/camden-marketsTo round out the Camden picture, Tod's January 2015 report of arriving there by boat is fun: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/7322/canal-boat-camden-market
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 16, 2017 13:49:44 GMT
Since its last re-arrangement a few years ago, the Museum of London has felt rather compressed to me, given what they moved out to make room for additional contemporary material. They will be moving in a few years' time, to the Smithfield market building, which will be or is being re-modelled. I don't know how much of it they're getting, but likely to be a lot more space than they have at the moment so a thorough visit could take up a lot more time! I should also point out for the sake of completeness that the area from Hyde Park Corner down Constitution Hill is, in a way, war memorial central, at least as regards the Commonwealth countries. Canada is not forgotten, and has a simple memorial nearer the Palace; at the top end of the Hill is a more recent collection of memorials to those who, not without justice, could have thought themselves forgotten - India and the African and Caribbean Commonwealth countries, and our own Bomber Command. My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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