Building The Big Society

Building The Big Society
Originally uploaded by hedgiecc

CallmeDave and Boris helping out in the window of Trinity Hospice Shop, Clapham High Street

Halloween

Halloween has really taken off as an annual event and Claphamites celebrate it with gusto - here is my random selection of creepy ghouls and beasties prowling the clubs and bars of South London.

The Muffin Man

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Emma inducted me into the secret society of Muffin Man devotees this weekend. This cosy teashop blushes unseen just off that orgy of consumerism that is the Kensington High Street - it’s a quietly seductive little slice of Ye Olde England: original retro, not the expertly designed ironic kind. Imagine a country teashop circa 1955; a haven of peace to meditate on the eternal verities of fresh, tasty cakes and perfectly brewed, real tea in china teapots. And scones. Weighed down with cream and jam.



The place was full but relaxed and our waitress was friendly and the kitchen obliging - Emma doesn’t do tomato so they substituted without fuss avocado in our high tea sandwiches, which arrived promptly. Emma’s passion cake was light and high-keyed with bright spicy flavours; my Queen Mother’s cake (walnut and date; hold the gin) was topped with seriously toffee-ish black sugar icing. Both were absorbing enough to command our full attention despite the fact Brian May and Anita Dobson were having tea at the next table. No doubt they were as impressed as we were with the very reasonable prices for the scrumptious tea.




The Muffin Man is a delightful oasis to sit and gossip and recharge for a further bout of serious shopping on the High Street, it is now high on my list of favourite London places. Thanks Emma!



Details for The Muffin Man are on my Qype review

Kiddies and Kitties

Well, it's been a wonderful Bank Holiday Weekend here in Clapham, with glorious weather, mostly, even (the angry jinx gods of Bank Holiday weather clearly didn't get the memo until almost too late).

To round off the weekend, and to keep the joy flowing, I am posting two cute videos. I mine the interwebs for cute, so you don't have to . . .



The above is a live streaming "kitty cam" set up by one of my twitter contacts, @jenblower (so I don't know how long it will be up; sorry if it's gone by the time you read this). The kittens were born on Eurovision night. How cool is that?

I teared up about 2.5 seconds into the next video - see if you can do better . . .

Springtime in Clapham - part 2

Strange fruits . . .

I spy with my little eye . . .

Yay for the vernal equinox! - Spring is busting out all over on Clapham Common, with sun-happy commoners soaking up the rays. Hard to believe just weeks ago we were all frolicking in the snow. I’m just back from a quick sortie to Sainsbury’s to pick up some fruit (just off a stressed 36 hours) and the Guardian. Just enough time to share some blog love with you all before heading off to the Royal Academy to meet Catriona and the Byzantines.

Guess who I saw in Sainbury’s?? Vivienne Westwood, that’s who!!! Amazing! Of course always knew La Westwood lived in Clapham but never in a million gazillion years did I think I would bump into her at Sainsbury’s. She was buying flowers and lots of fruit and vegetables. She was reusing shopping bags!

She was wearing a rather gorgeous lime green coat, and had beautiful glasses (own brand? - couldn’t tell). I pass over her footwear in silence.

Yep, unfortunately I spent my time in the queue scoping her out (I hope relatively discreetly) - I did however manage to refrain from asking for her autograph or a mobile phone photo.