Columbia Road Market 24
I woke in the night several times to the sound of rain falling and, sure enough, I found myself walking up the road to the market in the wet early this morning. The market was the emptiest I ever saw it, with just the stallholders huddling under their canopies clutching cups of hot tea after a long night, loading their vans, travelling and setting up in the pouring rain. I was admiring all the additional herbs on sale this week, when I saw the herb women shivering and congratulated them on their courage in making it here. “We’ve got no choice, this is our living,” they replied brightly, “Let’s hope we get some brave customers today!”
Certainly, the prices were as ridiculous as the weather, with cut flowers at four bunches for a fiver. Anyone that braves the rain today can buy armfuls of flowers for just a few pounds. I bought four pots of tiny lustrous Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) for £5 and replanted them in this bowl to place on my old dresser, continuing the display of plant life that I have maintained through the Winter while I await the Spring flowers in my garden.
How cheering for a wet Sunday! Lovely bowl as well.
Good luck to all of them, I must admit I won’t be venturing over to the Market today, braving the weather to take the kids swimming has been enough courage from me today! I’m hoping to grab a nice cup of Rosie, turn the heating up & watching a good movie. Well a guy can dream can’t he?
I was at the market this morning! Came home with some lovely tulips. It was a miserable day but the stallholders seemed in good enough spirits!
i would love to get in touch with hugo we met years ago when i made eleven and a half in fournier street into a home for my family …i would like to do a show for him at eleven spitalfields chris
lovely article… shame they all had to go – i suppose this is progress – perhaps another philanthropic owner might do the same again…so much life…i hope spitalfields is not becoming a museum