Blogs are brilliant places to write about things that you do often & that is, well, often what I do write about - dinner recipes, trips to Columbia Road, books I'm reading, day trips to art galleries - but it's also worth mentioning things that aren't such frequent occurrences. This post contains one such occurrence, namely my being found on Kingsland Road at almost two o'clock in the morning or, more specifically, dancing around the lampposts on Ridley Road. At the risk of sounding as if I'm twenty-two going on one-hundred-and-two, my boyfriend & I have been wildchilds in our time but whereas Andrew only now lacks the stamina, I have also been known to lack the required enthusiasm.
This Saturday night was different as it was Andrew's birthday-eve &, as befits the sense of occasion, we decided to make the effort, me pulling on some skinny jeans & my Swedish Hasbeens, first heading up Tottenham Road. Once we had finished reeling from the £18 (£18!) a round price tag, the two of us settled into a plush leather sofa in our woefully-undervalued Hunter S. up towards Islington that we've always loved for its 1920s taxidermy-clad, gloomily-lit, speak-easy impression that has lulled us in on many a winter's evening. A couple of drinks here proved perfect & we were soon planning on where we were headed next. Always inevitably having to factor in a trip to Efe's pool hall, it was there that we ambled up to to count down the minutes to midnight but the music was lame so we left soon thereafter & decided on 'Market Bar' on an otherwise desolate Ridley Road. 'Market Bar' is a venue that Andrew had always wanted to take me to but the queue never seemed worthwhile - how wrong I could have been! Five pound cocktails (tequila & watermelon was my favourite but I can also recommend the pina coladas & mojitos, the gin & grapefruit not so much to my tastes but heh) & a heaving dancefloor screaming along to Nelly's 'Hot in Here'. It was so much fun & we stayed until well after last orders. The rest is slightly fuzzier around the edges but we wound up in 'Birthdays' for the last drink of the night before grudgingly swaying our way through the streets & home.
The next day, Andrew's birthday proper, we had planned meticulously - a big vegetarian fry up for the two of us before an afternoon spent rummaging through the stalls of Battersea Boot Sale. These plans, however, were quickly abandoned in favour of sleeping until eleven & finally dragging ourselves out of bed, propping sunglasses over our noses & walking as far as the corner of our street for some much-needed coffee from our favourite Betty's. Once present opening was under & out of the way, we didn't seem up to anything beyond a walk northwards towards Stoke Newington & lying face up in Clissold Park. This is exactly what we did. Bundling up blankets to take up there & buying our trustworthy hangover cure - blue packet Doritos that is, praise be - en route, the two of us couldn't imagine better satisfaction than feeling that sunshine on our faces & awaiting the ominous roar of hunger that follows that sickness for so long. Luckily we had planned ahead for such an eventuality & ambled back towards home & Broadway Market for 'Franco Manca' pizzas that are yet to be bettered.
The next day was one of similar recuperation or at least for Andrew as I sleepily pulled on slippers at ten o'clock to get things going in the kitchen for our belated birthday brunch. For the most part originating from my desire to try Ava of Guac & Roll's homemade vegan baked beans, the oven was warming & pans were soon on every ring as I set about making roasted tomatoes, hashbrowns (with thanks to Mr. Sainsbury, ahem) & garlic buttered chestnut mushrooms to go alongside it all. The baked beans were the absolute best & will be made again - in fact, they're so easy I would make them on a weekday & not regret it. We were lucky to have another sweltering day on that Monday in which to wander down to Shoreditch & back again with very good memories of the day that went before.
I'll be back again soon with a Cornwall update but first we've got some bicycles booked & some rain in which to cycle, here's hoping that 'fish' & chips at the end of it all is ample incentive!
Speak soon - O.
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