Columbia Road Market 1
Each Sunday morning I visit Columbia Road Flower Market and arrive before eight just as the stallholders are setting up, in order to get the best pick of the plants. With rising expectation, I pass the bleary-eyed clubbers stumbling home down Brick Lane and then arrive at this weekly horticultural paradise. Every week I buy plants for my garden, and each week I will show you what I get and tell you what I paid for it. This morning I bought these two large Chrysanthemums for £10 to bring some freshness to my tired garden now most of the summer’s blooms have been and gone.
Saturday ritual, Bethnal Green
At the tiny church of St Peter’s Bethnal Green in a corner of the even tinier churchyard, they are growing Dahlias. As the priest explained to me, they found they had a suntrap, so they piled up the leaf mould from the surrounding trees into raised beds and hey presto – spectacular dahlias. I passed by on Saturday afternoon as the flower ladies were proudly harvesting the blooms in preparation for display on Sunday.
St John, the Daily Loaf
I have been all around the world but the most delicious bread I ever tasted is baked here daily in Spitalfields by Mr Gellatly, the baker at St John Bread & Wine. At least three times a week I head down to Commercial St, visit the counter inside the restaurant and return with a beautiful round loaf of brown sourdough tucked snugly under my arm.
Mr Pussy in Spitalfields
Take a close look at this character because you are going to see a lot more of him. In a previous life in Devon, he used to catch rabbits and even moorhens but now he is learning the ways of the alley. A small creature with a large personality.
Welcome to the Neighbourhood
Umbra Sumus – We are shadows. These are the words on the sundial here in Fournier Street.
Over the coming days, weeks, months and years, I am going to write every single day and tell you about my life here in Spitalfields at the heart of London. How can I ever describe the exuberant richness and multiplicity of culture in this place to you? This is both my task and my delight.
