Sunday, as planned, I made my way down to Columbia Road for the Flower Market. The weather was misty again, with wet pavements and receding grey-tone distances. Quite dramatic. The market was as manic as expected, with the traders jokingly telling each other off for deafening volume. Cries of ‘two bunches for a fiver’ or ‘two orchids for a fiver’ were everywhere. By the end they were selling Christmas trees for a fiver too. In fact the fiver obsession was a bit annoying as I had about £4.50 on me. There also didn’t seem to be as much range this year as last. I didn’t see any African Violets, and nothing really unusual caught my eye either. Still, I eventually scored two orchids (a mini, and one with flowers only in bud) for £3. I’m awaiting the flowering of the latter with some anticipation. Who knows what it will look like?
I also ran into someone I hadn’t seen for years and we went for a ridiculously priced coffee (£1.20 for a mouthful of espresso?!?), before walking towards home together. Of course you try and sum up all those years in a few sentences, and it made me realise that perhaps the major change in my life is that I’ve taken up fitness in various ways. In the last couple of years I’ve gone from huffing going up stairs to being able to run three miles without stopping. I’m lucky, she has health conditions that make exercise very difficult. We talked about swimming, but both agreed it’s too expensive an option for someone on a low income. A couple of quid doesn’t sound much to most folks, but three times a week can mean that adds up to too much out of a benefit-level income. Haggerston Baths used to have free sessions for the unemployed, something that really would help many people if it could be brought back.
Yesterday was the Christmas shopping dash. Bracing myself for the Dalston crowds with thoughts of the time I got a pheasant for £1.24. I was really fancying pheasant. You see, as you may have gathered by now, I’m not exactly rich. There’s no way I’m spending £20 on a turkey, even if it will do me a week’s worth of meals. So I look for a last minute bargain or two. I hit Dalston Sainsbury’s early. I have it on good authority one Christmas there they had to call the police to a fight over half a cucumber. Even at mid day there were slightly edgy looking crowds hanging around the staff with the reduction guns and some guy trying to get a reduction on a turkey, and getting nowhere. They were already sold out of chickens. I got my basics and headed back out. Sainsbury’s Angel this time. Again no luck on a suitable bit of bird flesh. I did however get myself some lovely reduced-price items including lots of breads, some dressed crab for 50p and lamb burgers with coriander and chili, a real favourite of mine. Result! Unconventional, but lovely Chrissie dinner coming up…. Then I dropped into the nearby Tesco Metro and found them reducing loads of ready meals… more unconventional options, and some for the freezer! Finally I found a shelf of Tesco’s Finest Turkey joints, all ready with stuffing and bits of orange. Reduced from £15 to £3. In budget! I started choosing my prize… and realized that just one was not a Turkey, but a pheasant. Same price reduction too, sitting there waiting for me. So, I’m having pheasant again. Ready stuffed with hedgerow fruits and wrapped in bacon. And my freezer is bulging. I resisted heading back to Dalston for the last minute scrimmage. It may be a yearly event, but my chest infection and my freezer didn’t need it.
This morning I woke to rain tickling the window. A depressing sound to many I know, but I love it. It reminds me of the sound of rain on canvas during camping trips when I was a kid. Going camping and getting rained on is also not a positive to many I know… But it’s the ultimate in relaxation. You’re on holiday, and there’s no pressure to do anything. No-one nagging you to get up and go somewhere. Maybe it will clear up later and you’ll go somewhere fabulous, but no hurry. It’s the contrast too: knowing how horrible it is out there, but you’re curled up warm and cosy in bed. It’s a nice way to be on a Christmas morning.
I also ran into someone I hadn’t seen for years and we went for a ridiculously priced coffee (£1.20 for a mouthful of espresso?!?), before walking towards home together. Of course you try and sum up all those years in a few sentences, and it made me realise that perhaps the major change in my life is that I’ve taken up fitness in various ways. In the last couple of years I’ve gone from huffing going up stairs to being able to run three miles without stopping. I’m lucky, she has health conditions that make exercise very difficult. We talked about swimming, but both agreed it’s too expensive an option for someone on a low income. A couple of quid doesn’t sound much to most folks, but three times a week can mean that adds up to too much out of a benefit-level income. Haggerston Baths used to have free sessions for the unemployed, something that really would help many people if it could be brought back.
Yesterday was the Christmas shopping dash. Bracing myself for the Dalston crowds with thoughts of the time I got a pheasant for £1.24. I was really fancying pheasant. You see, as you may have gathered by now, I’m not exactly rich. There’s no way I’m spending £20 on a turkey, even if it will do me a week’s worth of meals. So I look for a last minute bargain or two. I hit Dalston Sainsbury’s early. I have it on good authority one Christmas there they had to call the police to a fight over half a cucumber. Even at mid day there were slightly edgy looking crowds hanging around the staff with the reduction guns and some guy trying to get a reduction on a turkey, and getting nowhere. They were already sold out of chickens. I got my basics and headed back out. Sainsbury’s Angel this time. Again no luck on a suitable bit of bird flesh. I did however get myself some lovely reduced-price items including lots of breads, some dressed crab for 50p and lamb burgers with coriander and chili, a real favourite of mine. Result! Unconventional, but lovely Chrissie dinner coming up…. Then I dropped into the nearby Tesco Metro and found them reducing loads of ready meals… more unconventional options, and some for the freezer! Finally I found a shelf of Tesco’s Finest Turkey joints, all ready with stuffing and bits of orange. Reduced from £15 to £3. In budget! I started choosing my prize… and realized that just one was not a Turkey, but a pheasant. Same price reduction too, sitting there waiting for me. So, I’m having pheasant again. Ready stuffed with hedgerow fruits and wrapped in bacon. And my freezer is bulging. I resisted heading back to Dalston for the last minute scrimmage. It may be a yearly event, but my chest infection and my freezer didn’t need it.
This morning I woke to rain tickling the window. A depressing sound to many I know, but I love it. It reminds me of the sound of rain on canvas during camping trips when I was a kid. Going camping and getting rained on is also not a positive to many I know… But it’s the ultimate in relaxation. You’re on holiday, and there’s no pressure to do anything. No-one nagging you to get up and go somewhere. Maybe it will clear up later and you’ll go somewhere fabulous, but no hurry. It’s the contrast too: knowing how horrible it is out there, but you’re curled up warm and cosy in bed. It’s a nice way to be on a Christmas morning.
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