I'm just gonna rant a bit about my final weekend here in London. I don't know how long I'll be away, and I want to remember this weekend. Hence I feel compelled to write this down as I have a rather shitty memory which chooses weird things to remember and very apt at forgetting the really important ones. Nothing spectacular happened, but it was just another nice weekend in good old Stoke Newington where a lot of Orthodox Jews, Muslims, and apparently lesbians live. I swear I didn't know before I moved here.
It was a pretty relaxing weekend. I went all the way to Portobello Road in west London yesterday to find something for dear Pak Lang, and although I didn't manage to get you riding goggles as promised for your Norton, I bought a pocket watch designed for the Russian KGB for you. I remember you berating me for not getting you that Chairman Mao watch when I went to Shanghai, and I'm not about to make the same mistake again. Though the only watch/clock I think iconic enough for London is the Big Ben, I don't think they'll let me take it home for you. Hence the pocket watch. For someone who is creative enough to turn old gauges from the oil rigs into clocks, I reckon you'll be able to appreciate the pocket watch. It's a real beauty. I'm haf in love in with it actually.
Of course since I was in Portobello Road, a part of town which I rarely venture into, I just had to pop in to Hummingbird to get some cupcakes. Credit to Mooke for introducing the cupcakes to me. It was a life changing moment. My life has a purpose now. Those cupcakes are worth living for. I heard that there's this craze for cupcakes in Bolehland now, maybe I should check out the cupcakes scene in KL when I get back. i like cake, big or small. And cupcakes are just so handy because of the size.
As a firm believer in spreading good things around, I got cupcakes for the Scandinavians too (Tall Dane, Mad Bag Lady [also Danish], and Mad Bag Lady's friend who's Swedish). And so I sat with them at the Safehouse later that evening and had my second cupcake for the day. Red velvet to the fore baby. How such a small thing like that can taste so good is beyond me. Really.
Spent the rest of the evening talking to the Tall Dane. It was like the old times; society, religion, personal issues all thrown in. Went to bed very late as I was surfing the internet like mad on her laptop. I still haven't bought a Mac yet ever since I lost my laptop in January, and although living in London without the Internet is comparable to having your right hand amputated (I'm left handed so maybe that doesn't apply to me), at least now I have the time to read No Logo. So you can understand that I just go berserk when I come across a laptop with internet connection. (I am typing away on her laptop now).
Went to this nice Turkish place on Stoke Newington High Street for brunch this afternoon. The food was excellent and it doesn't break your bank. I had this Menemen thing, it's like scrambled egg with minced meat and spices and spinach (I think that's what the green thing was). It was rather spicy so it was gorgeous. Downed it with a glass of OJ and I was happy. Credit goes to the Tall Dane for introducing us to that place.
After making a pit stop at my place, we went for a walk in Abney Park which is really close to my flat. Abney Park is a cemetery which is wonderfully messy. It's so dense with a lot of graves and almost forest-like with the trees and plants growing wildly. I've spent 3 Sundays going for walks in that cemetery now. I've seen it in 3 different weather and it was gorgeous whether in snow, rain, or plain old sunshine. The dates on the graves range from the 1800's to 2000's and reading the inscriptions on the headstones, I couldn't help but think about the person lying inside. I thought about the life and aspirations and dreams and loves and lovers and families. I couldn't help but to contemplate on my own life.
Almost immediately after emerging from Abney Park, we found ourselves seated at the Tea Room on Stoke Newington Church Street. We all had Rose tea which tasted very delicate save for the Mad Bag Lady who had Peppermint tea. We sat too dangerously close to the cakes on the counter and it was with Herculean effort that I managed not to stuff my face with any of them. I lost my battle with the Rock Candy though. In my defence, they were within hand reach. I fell in love with them and took 4 to take home to Bolehland.
And here I am now back at the Safehouse typing away. I am going to walk home in a bit. I'll just plan my week ahead when I reach home. From the look of things, I am going to have a tough week ahead. I'll just have to bulldoze my way through until Saturday night when I get on that plane.
To friends and family in Bolehland, I look forward to seeing you!
To London, I look forward to coming back.
It was a pretty relaxing weekend. I went all the way to Portobello Road in west London yesterday to find something for dear Pak Lang, and although I didn't manage to get you riding goggles as promised for your Norton, I bought a pocket watch designed for the Russian KGB for you. I remember you berating me for not getting you that Chairman Mao watch when I went to Shanghai, and I'm not about to make the same mistake again. Though the only watch/clock I think iconic enough for London is the Big Ben, I don't think they'll let me take it home for you. Hence the pocket watch. For someone who is creative enough to turn old gauges from the oil rigs into clocks, I reckon you'll be able to appreciate the pocket watch. It's a real beauty. I'm haf in love in with it actually.
Of course since I was in Portobello Road, a part of town which I rarely venture into, I just had to pop in to Hummingbird to get some cupcakes. Credit to Mooke for introducing the cupcakes to me. It was a life changing moment. My life has a purpose now. Those cupcakes are worth living for. I heard that there's this craze for cupcakes in Bolehland now, maybe I should check out the cupcakes scene in KL when I get back. i like cake, big or small. And cupcakes are just so handy because of the size.
As a firm believer in spreading good things around, I got cupcakes for the Scandinavians too (Tall Dane, Mad Bag Lady [also Danish], and Mad Bag Lady's friend who's Swedish). And so I sat with them at the Safehouse later that evening and had my second cupcake for the day. Red velvet to the fore baby. How such a small thing like that can taste so good is beyond me. Really.
Spent the rest of the evening talking to the Tall Dane. It was like the old times; society, religion, personal issues all thrown in. Went to bed very late as I was surfing the internet like mad on her laptop. I still haven't bought a Mac yet ever since I lost my laptop in January, and although living in London without the Internet is comparable to having your right hand amputated (I'm left handed so maybe that doesn't apply to me), at least now I have the time to read No Logo. So you can understand that I just go berserk when I come across a laptop with internet connection. (I am typing away on her laptop now).
Went to this nice Turkish place on Stoke Newington High Street for brunch this afternoon. The food was excellent and it doesn't break your bank. I had this Menemen thing, it's like scrambled egg with minced meat and spices and spinach (I think that's what the green thing was). It was rather spicy so it was gorgeous. Downed it with a glass of OJ and I was happy. Credit goes to the Tall Dane for introducing us to that place.
After making a pit stop at my place, we went for a walk in Abney Park which is really close to my flat. Abney Park is a cemetery which is wonderfully messy. It's so dense with a lot of graves and almost forest-like with the trees and plants growing wildly. I've spent 3 Sundays going for walks in that cemetery now. I've seen it in 3 different weather and it was gorgeous whether in snow, rain, or plain old sunshine. The dates on the graves range from the 1800's to 2000's and reading the inscriptions on the headstones, I couldn't help but think about the person lying inside. I thought about the life and aspirations and dreams and loves and lovers and families. I couldn't help but to contemplate on my own life.
Almost immediately after emerging from Abney Park, we found ourselves seated at the Tea Room on Stoke Newington Church Street. We all had Rose tea which tasted very delicate save for the Mad Bag Lady who had Peppermint tea. We sat too dangerously close to the cakes on the counter and it was with Herculean effort that I managed not to stuff my face with any of them. I lost my battle with the Rock Candy though. In my defence, they were within hand reach. I fell in love with them and took 4 to take home to Bolehland.
And here I am now back at the Safehouse typing away. I am going to walk home in a bit. I'll just plan my week ahead when I reach home. From the look of things, I am going to have a tough week ahead. I'll just have to bulldoze my way through until Saturday night when I get on that plane.
To friends and family in Bolehland, I look forward to seeing you!
To London, I look forward to coming back.
6 comments:
Finally eh..
Don't leave behind your 'To Eat' list, wouldn't want to lose that now would ya :)
Have a safe journey home!
I did not read your posting coz too long and small font but mak busu told me that you are coming back this weekend...welcome back and have a safe journey, if you are in KL, do lepak at my house but you room is alrady occupied...Syahir made a u turn
47,
That's the beauty of posting it online, hehe.
Busu,
Thanks for the invite!
not feeling to sunny these days, are we?
i think spring is finally here. it's bloody warm now (comparatively of course).
Welcome back :)
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