Living the Freegan life
I think it’s safe to say I’ve got this freegan thing downpat in a few areas of my life, and it’s pretty cool.
Of course, our little adventures don’t ever run trouble free, that would just be boring! Last Tuesday’s jaunt out to Hackney was supposed to be smooth – go to Lija’s for dinner and then catch the bus from outside her house to Hackney. Of course when I get there the power is off in two of the apartment buildings in Lija’s area, which meant no cooking for us. So we had to rush down and find somewhere to eat, which ended up being a glorified kebab restaurant. I swear they’re all the same though – I went for the chicken which came out so pink I thought it would start flapping and fly off my plate.
Despite amazingly not getting sick from it, we only just made it to Hackney for the 8pm show – it was a bit further than Lija’s Oh it’s only like two stops from my place (plus the other ten I’d like to add). We asked the guy handing out tickets outside if that’s where we got our press tickets from, he sort of just threw these two tickets at us for the gallery – five floors up (can you imagine Lija with her knee) and it was literally the scrags off the streets of Hackney (well known as one of the worst areas of London).
So at the interval I went down to the box office in the theatre and said we were supposed to get press tickets not these gallery ones and the guy was just like, we’ve given out thousands of tickets tonight so…to which I replied, well how am I supposed to review a show that I can’t see because I’m stuck in the rafters?! I’m sure he’s ears started burning when I said review, and next minute we’ve been given two tickets for our own table at the back of the stalls. So we sat with drinks and enjoyed the rest of the show. Luckily the power was back on when we got back to Lija’s, so we could heat up the mini bread and butter puddings I had brought from M&S. Mmm.
The show we went to see was the Shaolin Monks, it told their story and then included feats like standing on two fingers, lying on swords and planks of nails, and using nun chucks and swords. Only for safety sake they were fake swords, which was pretty funny. I actually enjoyed the little kids the most. They would play fight and throw one over the other. The adults I found a little disappointing because in big groups when they were supposed to be doing things in absolute unision that wasn’t always the case.
The next night we met up at Henry’s in Piccadilly, for a Qype event. We got a free cocktail on arrival and hand massages from the people at Lush, as well as some free yummy smelling soap. It was interesting because the store manager I was talking to said Lush never has sales because the guy who began it still runs it and has never allowed anything but the sell price. Lija found out all the Lush staff are trained in hand massage and when you go in the store you can always ask for one. There were six cakes to choose from – I had the coffee and walnut before we had to head up to Shaftesbury Avenue for the Flamenco Flamenka show. It was not nearly as good as the Spanish dancing Sarah and I went to in Madrid, but it was a good night out. I really enjoyed the music.
I spent the weekend with Imogen, which was heaps of fun because we also had Clem and Nico. Clem, Imo and I went down to this nice Turkish restaurant in Clapham for dinner on Friday night, and stuffed ourselves with dolmades, grilled lamb and salad. We even got complimentary desserts of baklava, ice cream and apricots mmm. We got up early the next morning to catch the train down to Billingshurst where their grandparents are. It was lovely to see them again, though this time we were stuck inside because it was raining cats and dogs, but the wood fire was roaring which was nice. B made a delicious lunch of cottage pie with vegies, and us three girls all had seconds, and then had an apple turnover with ice cream for dessert. Clem and I were on the wine so we had a quiet journey back on the train to Waterloo, where we watched the Lord Mayor’s fireworks. Clem went off with her friends and Imo and I went home to have a pasta surprise made with leftovers – she still enjoyed it though! – and watch chick flicks.
On Sunday Imo and I went into Whitehall to the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph. We met an older couple who are veterans themselves, and experts in the ceremony. They let us know who was marching and that we were in the best position to see the royals coming, because they turn down the street opposite us. Lija got stuck closer to Big Ben so we had to meet up after. The 2 minute silence at 11am was amazing. I have never heard Westminster so quiet. The sound of seagulls and other birds, as well as the chiming Ben, was all you could hear for miles. Then the veterans started marching along with the current serving members of the army, air force and navy. It was very moving, seeing these men proudly marching through the streets. Some limping, some with a child or grand child proping them up.
There were men in wheelchairs, and two rows of motorized scooters (if it wasn’t such a sombre day I would have suggested they race each other hehe). There were many women as well. Our friend had been part of the land army, she was proudly wearing her badge. She told me she had to work in an amunition factory at the beginning of war, and the only way you could get out of it was if you were very sick. She never told her mother this, but she went with rouge and a pseudo fever and was promptly dismissed and went and joined the land army.
On their way out in a procession of Bentleys, we saw Princess Anne, Andrew and Edward, Sophie, Wills, Charles and Camilla, and Prince Phillip and Queenie. I swear that when the car turned out, Prince Phillip looked right at me and gave me one of those twinkles he has in his eye. I felt special!
We met up with Lija and walked over Waterloo Bridge to have lunch in a little bagel cafe, before Imo and I went back home to crash. It had been so cold that we had half frozen despite scarves and gloves and jackets – standing in the one spot made my toes go numb. But Nick was home with Clem, so we all sat camping down in the lounge having a laugh (everything is down there because their kitchen is being redone at the moment).
This week I’ve been busy with work, but progression has been happening in the hostel. The Phoenix pub around the corner was taken over with new management, who decided to close their hostel so we now have half of that crew. We also have a new fridge because they just left them on the street, so here’s Lee and I on Tuesday night heaving a fridge through the back street, into the hostel, up the stairs, and finally into our room. Mel and I then cleaned it and turned it on – voila!
So yesterday I went down to Church St Market during my lunch break and bought a heap of vegetables, and got back from work and spent the night chopping and cooking soup in the kitchen. It made two huuuuge pots worth which I divided into eight chinese container size boxes and one huge container that I’ve frozen until needed. It was fab – I just had some for lunch! Au revoir!
Tags: Travel
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