Brick and cake

The lyrics of Soul II Soul's classic Back to Life (back to reality) have been wandering through my noggin today as I speed up and get work back on track. Oy is all I can say, since I'd rather be sitting in the garden reading than catching up on e-mails...

London's Brick Lane was the other market I was going to tell you about, though its changed an awful lot since I first started going in the '80's. Then it was crazy busy and very junky, now it's crazy busy, less junky and very trendy. Don't get me wrong, there are still people selling random tat on blankets on the pavement, but these days everything feels that bit more genteel. Definitely worth checking out are both the Backyard Market (where we scored a cool limited edition print by a French artist) and the Sunday (Up)Market (where we scored some delish Italian snack action). Plus, don't forget to head down Cheshire Street for Mar Mar Co, Labour and Wait and Shelf, as well as a few other hot spots.

Not too far away from the market madness you'll find the Albion, a lovely Terence Conran owned caff/bakery/food shop located on the corner of very buzzy Redchurch Street and Boundary Street, where you'll also find Shoreditch House a chic private members club, vintage shops and new condo projects. It's definitely worth stopping in at the Albion for a reviving slice of cake and a cuppa, or even a Full English breakfast if you fancy! [Images: Market, Catched22 on Flickr. Albion, Mydeco]

  

Market daze

If you ever do find yourself in London then there are a wealth of fab markets worth hitting. Portobello Road is a for sure (my sister says Fridays are best), and Columbia Road and Brick Lane are always must-sees (and are a short walk apart). We trundled off to Columbia Road the other Sunday and had a great wander about. It's ostensibly a flower market, crammed with beautiful blooms and plants, but there's great shopping for vintage gear and some lovely shops too.

Ezra Street, just north of Columbia Road is where you'll find most of the vintage bits and bobs. There are market stalls, shops, bakeries and coffee shops cheek to cheek on cobblestone streets. Take a boo below for a few snaps. I loved the junk - ahem - vintage finds on the stalls and was wowed by the French-ish store with battered furniture set against grey painted walls. Check out that ceiling too, smothered in ceiling medallions, what a brill way to display lighting! Be sure to check out Ben Southgate for a well edited selection of furniture and accessories, and artist Rob Ryan's Ryantown for all his pretty artwork, prints and cards.

There's oodles more to tell (Brick Lane, my London address book, etc.), but since I'm rocketing north on a train to Blackburn you'll have to wait!