My tentative itinary for the day ahead incorporates a museum or two, the free ones obviously, winter coat shopping, Korean burritos, a matinee screening of Sicario, a free Waitrose coffee, making good use of Transport for London's much welcome daily capping, and lots of walking in between. And the odd overpriced pint for good measure. Of course the overpriced pints may rob me of any ambition. I'm well down with that.
12.52pm The first stop on my journey was the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. An ode to objects of adolescent stimulus, it was unsurprisingly crammed full of kids' toys and games, ranging from the home made to the cynically and exploitatively expensive. It was also crammed full of screaming and excitable kids. I lasted 20 minutes.
A wander down the length of Bethnal Green Road quite literally provides a London history lesson. At the eastern end there are still remnants of its multicultural modern past, E Pellicci caff and jellied eels. As you head west, witness gentrification take over, culminating in the edifice that is Brick Lane. The transformation divides opinion, as the Cereal Killer cafe knows only full well. Regardless if you're nay or yay, it's at least resulted in some fine street art.
I took in another symbol of the up-trending of East London in the shape of Boxpark. A 2 storey retail and food emporium housed in disused shipping containers. Yes really. Came across this little number in the sale for a measly £13.
My wardrobe wasn't really crying out for another printed sweat in grey melange (wearing one today even) but an iconic line from an iconic alpha male is just too good to resist.
2pm Planned to visit the Sir John Soane museum but there was a sizeable queue so fuck that.
2.25pm The Korean Burrito didn't materialise so opted for a more authentic offering instead. Beef bibimbap from Naru in Bloomsbury. Tried ordering a side of kimchi but it only came in share size which is a bit too much of a good thing, even for me.
3.15pm Digesting the somewhat underwhelming bibimbap with a Negroni in Bar Termini, Soho. Correction, the food was ok but their approach to customer service was a bit too authentic. En route to Soho I did a quick pit stop in Primark and purchased a cheapo mustard jumper for a tenner.
This time my wardrobe was indeed lacking. Not entirely sure why as mustard in colour as well as flavour is a firm favourite. I was trawling the net for mustard apparel earlier in the week and needless to say online items would have dented my wallet a tad deeper. Primark as always to the rescue.
5.10pm Beer o'clock. Rather stupidly strolled onto Regent Street in search of a coat. On a Saturday afternoon Regent St's akin to a mild form of rendition. Luckily I at least identified a coat to buy. I tend to get palpitations when faced with parting with large chunks of cash in one swift move so I hesitated and came away empty handed. A friend once told me that alcohol acts as a beta blocker so chances are I'll make a beer infused purchase later on. And then feel like a twat on the tube, brandishing a bulky shopping bag. Maybe I'll just buy it online. Noone likes a tube twat
5.25pm Apparently it's World Zombie day today. Who'd have known?? That's a zombiefied Ella from Frozen. Coming soon to a kids party near you.
6.40pm A girl on the tube has the best tote bag, apart from the Homogenic one from Bangkok that J has worn out. It said 'I went to the museum and got an erection'. Genius
12.52pm The first stop on my journey was the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. An ode to objects of adolescent stimulus, it was unsurprisingly crammed full of kids' toys and games, ranging from the home made to the cynically and exploitatively expensive. It was also crammed full of screaming and excitable kids. I lasted 20 minutes.
A wander down the length of Bethnal Green Road quite literally provides a London history lesson. At the eastern end there are still remnants of its multicultural modern past, E Pellicci caff and jellied eels. As you head west, witness gentrification take over, culminating in the edifice that is Brick Lane. The transformation divides opinion, as the Cereal Killer cafe knows only full well. Regardless if you're nay or yay, it's at least resulted in some fine street art.
My wardrobe wasn't really crying out for another printed sweat in grey melange (wearing one today even) but an iconic line from an iconic alpha male is just too good to resist.
2pm Planned to visit the Sir John Soane museum but there was a sizeable queue so fuck that.
2.25pm The Korean Burrito didn't materialise so opted for a more authentic offering instead. Beef bibimbap from Naru in Bloomsbury. Tried ordering a side of kimchi but it only came in share size which is a bit too much of a good thing, even for me.
This time my wardrobe was indeed lacking. Not entirely sure why as mustard in colour as well as flavour is a firm favourite. I was trawling the net for mustard apparel earlier in the week and needless to say online items would have dented my wallet a tad deeper. Primark as always to the rescue.
5.10pm Beer o'clock. Rather stupidly strolled onto Regent Street in search of a coat. On a Saturday afternoon Regent St's akin to a mild form of rendition. Luckily I at least identified a coat to buy. I tend to get palpitations when faced with parting with large chunks of cash in one swift move so I hesitated and came away empty handed. A friend once told me that alcohol acts as a beta blocker so chances are I'll make a beer infused purchase later on. And then feel like a twat on the tube, brandishing a bulky shopping bag. Maybe I'll just buy it online. Noone likes a tube twat
5.25pm Apparently it's World Zombie day today. Who'd have known?? That's a zombiefied Ella from Frozen. Coming soon to a kids party near you.
6.40pm A girl on the tube has the best tote bag, apart from the Homogenic one from Bangkok that J has worn out. It said 'I went to the museum and got an erection'. Genius
7pm. Home and knackered, having opted for coat-less non-twat travel. Mission partly achieved.
