Market Merriment
If you read yesterday’s blog offering yesterday you will have been subject to my views on internet shopping. As I discussed shopping online has its place but it certainly doesn’t beat the hustle and bustle of the real market place. In these current viral times an open air market may well be a safe way to shop if you are able to maintain the required social distancing measures.
There are a number of great markets in London. By far my favourite is Borough Market adjacent to London Bridge and the Shard. This is a food lovers haven. Gorgeous products including meats, fruits and vegetables, cheese, doughnuts and more cheese can be found amongst the sights and sounds of delicious street food. All there to tempt the senses.
The sounds of a market are also unique. The market sellers have a very particular sound. They speak in a particular way that encourages you to engage and hopefully for them to make a sale. I like to imagine that this particular dialogue has been passed down through time and that if I was able to venture back to the 1600’s the scene would be similar. Just smellier and muddier!
Today Columbia Flower Market in Hackney was a riot of colour, noise and smells. Every Sunday Columbia Road is closed to traffic and the market sets up. All manner of flowers and plants can be found there. In the streets all around people can be seen carrying bunches of brightly coloured blooms or larger vegetation all ready to be arranged in a vase, planted in the correct spot in the garden or located in the corner of the patio, terrace or roof garden.
I love a market. I love the sights and smells of the marketplace. At a food market you can probably manage to eat an entire meal by just snacking on the free samples that are provided. Slightly annoyingly I have noted that since the markets have reopened the ‘new normal rules’ seem to have curtailed the frequency that these little morsels are made available, leaving me with a slightly empty feeling.
There are a number of great markets in London. By far my favourite is Borough Market adjacent to London Bridge and the Shard. This is a food lovers haven. Gorgeous products including meats, fruits and vegetables, cheese, doughnuts and more cheese can be found amongst the sights and sounds of delicious street food. All there to tempt the senses. The sounds of a market are also unique. The market sellers have a very particular sound. They speak in a particular way that encourages you to engage and hopefully for them to make a sale. I like to imagine that this particular dialogue has been passed down through time and that if I was able to venture back to the 1600’s the scene would be similar. Just smellier and muddier!
Today Columbia Flower Market in Hackney was a riot of colour, noise and smells. Every Sunday Columbia Road is closed to traffic and the market sets up. All manner of flowers and plants can be found there. In the streets all around people can be seen carrying bunches of brightly coloured blooms or larger vegetation all ready to be arranged in a vase, planted in the correct spot in the garden or located in the corner of the patio, terrace or roof garden. Arguably the best time to visit a market is in the last hour. Although some stock may be low, at this time you can always haggle to get yourself a bargain. No florist wants to take stock home to wilt to become next years compost when at least some money can change hands.
Today we bagged ourselves a couple of plants and found a delicious sourdough toastie for lunch and just enjoyed the atmosphere even if wandering around the market had to become a one way route event.
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