Down to D.....

 

Forget Shoreditch and Hoxton, the trendies are on the move. For hidden in the depth of north east inner London (well, zone 2) is a place with so many secrets even Harry Potter would hold his hands up in awe. If you haven't already, do yourself a favour and hot foot it down to Dalston. It's so on the edge you might tip over but stay strong and fend your way among the Caribbean corner shops and numerous authentic kebab houses. I admit, a number of bars don't seem to have names, just door numbers and laminated signs on the gates saying 'NO DRUGS', but don't let this put you off. I find myself down this neck of the woods increasingly often, to enjoy underground jazz or eat at Mangal One Ockabasi, notoriously one of the best Kebab houses in London. I thought my eyes deceived me when I stumbled upon 'Kaffa Kafe' (don't be offended), the music was pumping and atmosphere buzzing.  If you fancy a razzle, look no further than Dalston Superstore and of course  Dalston Jazz Bar, where the magic happens. So undo your top button, grab yourself a Caipirinha and go with the flow, that’s how it seems to work in there. It just leaves me to say... Don't hide. You know who you are. Dalston will find you.

Countryside V City

What with Royal Wedding footage deprivation looming and the assasination of O-BL, I chose to take my refuge in Royal Norfolk over the weekend. Basking in al fresco style lunches, fine Mellasat wine and old school friends I realised how much you actually slow down when you leave the great city. People basically have to jog to catch up with your subconscious power walk, and you find yourself applying mascara when you are just popping to the local co-op to get the sunday times. It then starts to strike me, at what point do you start to realise you're turning in to a Londoner?  When you need the sirens as an alarm clock or when you start to wierdly miss the city after leaving for just one weekend? Sleeping for a seamless 10 hours and waking up to nothing but chickens clucking would put a hop in anyone's step but what about the crave for bright city lights, the constant buzz of different nationalities and 24 hour just abut anything....Just as I was unpacking and making myself at home again in the safe confines of North London I received the news of the 3rd great success story of the weekend... a promotion to the premiership for Norwich City. What a cracking weekend. Maybe my country roots do still take over sometimes.