Christmas craic: Mince pies in Soho

On December 18, 2014July 26, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Art, Entertainment, Life, London, People you may have heard of, The Cuban BrothersLeave a comment

Christmas takes you where Christmas takes you. On a warm Wednesday afternoon with shin splints – to Soho as it happens.

Starting off with a gingerbread latte in S’bucks, Vigo Street, I had my work cut out for me: Amongst other things I’d committed to popping in to see Los Hermanos Cubanos at Soho Radio with a few mince pies.

Four bearded men welcomed me and offered me another coffee on the house. Everyone was in red.

I ventured into the studio and offered my wares. Miguel was on the mic “Thanks for the mince pies S, but I cannot do them, the raisins they play havoc with my stomach. I think it’s a raisin inside – no?”

Kenny had two, Archie – one, Brent declined. I felt they were going down well.

“Get in touch with Bibi!” Brent called after me as I exited to Chopper’s hilarious monologue.

The record store I’ve intended to go to for aaaaaaaages beckoned. Sounds of the Universe is pure disco. I chatted to Neil. “I need something along the lines of Vince Montana – you know ‘Love is the Message’ or Raw Silk – that kind of thing.” He pulled a CD out for me as I proffered a pie. He took a bite: “Mmmm, nice.”

A pit stop at a Swedish gentleman’s outfitters provided the venue to change shoes, and Sam – the conversation. Trying to get into the music industry as a producer was tough at 25 he told me; ‘This city is hard, but I keep chipping away to manifest my own destiny’. “Tell me about it” I said and took out the goodies. His eyes lit up on spotting the Christmas vittles as I held out the tupperware.

Riflemaker bid my time before drinks. I chatted to Darren and Ian about the art on the walls. Welsh Ian talked ferries to Ireland, I talked about the craic. Darren told me he was an artist and interested in the process – what got someone to put the marks on the page that they did? Speaking of that I must crack on I said, snapping a pic of one of Josephine King’s gripping paintings.

The Campari bar at Polpo was my final stop. Ivan the bartender told me about the drink that seems so right in Italy. He mixed us a cocktail, we raised our glasses – cherry red with a splash of Prosecco, all Christmassy. “Hold on a second” I said, “I’ve got something here might go quite nicely with this.”

Favourite disco instrumental ever – sublime: http://bit.ly/13C1EhG

Local Lights

On December 18, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Life, LondonLeave a comment

I went to make a coffee. No milk entailed shoes on, coat, cash and a brisk walk down to the local shop.

Cold, dull and grey, I thought about what I might do this evening, what I might do this afternoon, and my shin splints which have put paid to much Christmas activity.

On leaving the shop I was startled to see someone on the balcony opposite. Not just any old balcony it must be noted, but one which for as long as I can remember has seen the most spectacular private display of Christmas lights in London: Shirland Road, W9.

There wasn’t even a nanosecond of doubt about meeting this man. “Hello!” I called up. A smiley chap in a hooded top grinned at me. “So nice to finally meet you” I said, “I’ve been wondering who does these forever!”

“Oh yeah? It’s me and my missus Sandra – I’m Tony. We’ve been doing it for twenty years! I’m just putting this Christmas tree up today, I’ve had to ask the neighbours if they mind because as you can see we’re pretty much stretched over the whole building.”

I looked along several balconies. The Nativity was represented by illuminated life size figures, a nodding reindeer (new), soldiers, a flashing stocking and train, bows…a snowman tipped his hat.

“It must cost you a fortune?” I said.

“Yep, £300 for the ‘lecky alone! And the figures ain’t cheap. Have you seen this Reindeer? I got him yesterday. His head moves – he cost me £130. They had one in Argos – but he wasn’t as nice.”

My neck was starting to ache from standing looking up at Tony and the soon to be lit decorations. But I hadn’t as yet broached one of my favourite topics.

“Tony, you know I can’t stand those LED lights that everyone has now – the cold blues and yellows and really any other colour, I’m so glad you don’t have any of those.”

He looked surprised. “Oh! You don’t like ‘em?!” Well, quite a few of these are LED, much cheaper to run you know, get a lot more out of them, and they’re much easier to move about.”

I stood corrected. “Point taken” I said.

He told me how he wanted to start collecting for charity as so many people had offered him cash in the past for the display.

“Excellent idea, probably need to plan it for next year – maybe approach a local one?” I said. “I’ll come take some pics later and write a blog post for you.”

A beautiful fella

On November 28, 2014December 7, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Life1 Comment

Peak dog walking time in the park. I strode across quickly ever so slightly late for my physio appointment. There they were – the usual suspects. The Pekingese, cross breeds, Jack Russells, Whippet but no sign of my personal favourite – the Bulldog. When all about him gallivant saying ‘Hi’ to one another, frivolously fetching this and that for their owners, getting into meaningless scrapes, he single mindedly and passionately pursues his football.

I’ve never seen a Bulldog like him. His face is ginormous – almost bigger than the whole of his body. It should make him exceedingly unattractive, but somehow it has the opposite effect.

As I approached the door opened and Philip welcomed me. ‘I’m not sure I should be here today’ I said, ‘My shin is so painful right now that any of your pummeling work will probably cause damage.’

P looked at the bruise. “Hmmm, not good. I can’t understand why it’s not getting better?”

“Me neither” I replied, “But being on my feet almost all the time and walking practically everywhere probably doesn’t help.” After a bit of discussion we decided to suspend treatment for the next while, just concentrating on some painful ‘massage’ for my calves.

“You do need to rest it.” Philip told me as I gathered my things to go.

“Okay” I said. “I must say I feel the need for heat, I think that might do me the power of good.”

“Well, they do say as you get on a bit it helps – arthritis and all that.” I glared at him and chastised his insensitivity.

On leaving, I passed dog owners sitting in the cafe chatting amicably as I started out for home. Their pooches sat patiently listening to them. Yellow and red Autumn leaves littered my path, I put my hat on for extra warmth.

Then I saw him. Tearing around the grass just happy to be. I called out to his owner. “Could I take a picture of your dog please – he’s so beautiful?” A dapper hacking jacket wearing man walked towards me. “Of course” he said, calling him. ‘Toby, Toby – here boy!” Toby came closer, gave my hand a cursory sniff and obediently awaited instructions from his owner.

“No football today I see” I said.

“No, thought we’d leave it at home for a change; sometimes I need a break” he said grinning.

“I know what you mean” I said smiling. “They say it’s as good as a rest.”

Letting go

On November 16, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, LifeLeave a comment

I arrived at the West London Synagogue on a Thursday night. Clad in trainers, shin splints aching, I had no idea how I was going to get through an hour and a half of Tango at this incongruous location of a dance school.

Jenni, grande dame of the establishment filled me in. “We’re the only school in the UK – as far as I know – that give you a guaranteed dance partner. Not only that but they’re all professional dancers.”

I thought about how many Salsa sessions I’d attended in the past where I’d been paired up with another woman or worse still a heavily sweating unattractive man with roaming hands. I looked forward to a different experience.

“Now, this is the intermediate class for Tango, so it’s going to be a bit difficult for you” Jenni told me commandeering a passing dancer while she spoke. I was introduced to Paul to whom she said ‘She’s never done this before, so just do what you can’ before rushing off to attend to other clients arriving for the evening’s entertainment. “Just follow him!” she called out hurriedly.

My dancing partner told me he was from Lithuania and had been ballroom dancing professionally for four years. I started talking nervously like I’ve done since time immemorial when I anticipate a man holding me in his arms on a dance floor. “Um, I’m wearing trainers because I’ve got shin splints, in fact I’m a bit dyslexic too”… “Really?” said Paul. “Don’t worry, you’re very brave to come and do Tango if you’re only done some Salsa before.”

I skipped over to Jenni. A diminutive supple looking gentleman had entered with two rather glamorous looking ladies. ‘That’s Alex” said Jenni glancing over. “He’s the Tango teacher. The girls are his entourage, they always come with him.”

Some Argentinian flavoured music started as Paul turned to me. I cautiously held onto his arms. It was no use. I needed to concentrate. I tried to follow but several embarrassing ‘dances’ later I was no further on.

Paul stopped and facing me looked directly into my eyes. “There is something missing. I don’t know what it is, but I’m not feeling a connection. I don’t feel you with me…together with me.”

Perhaps it was the firmness and heartfelt plea of his words that moved me.

The music started again. I allowed myself to relinquish control, not think and move with him.

It was fabulous. When he turned me so that my right leg kicked out – proper Tango style, I shrieked with delight. We felt connected, it was magic and like every piano exam I ever took – paralysed with nerves to start with – at the end I wanted to do it all over again.

http://www.simplydancingpartners.co.uk

Getting there

On November 4, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn LifeLeave a comment

“Too early for you?” I asked M as I sat in the waiting room ahead of my first-thing-Saturday-morning appointment thinking of the enormity of the moment: The big reveal. When finally, after five and a half months my braces (the top ones at least) would be removed.

He grinned. A smile almost as bright as his new fluorescent turquoise scrubs. “What’s with the new outfit M?” “I know! Welcome to Hawaii!! He told me his attire had been acquired for him by his brother-in-law in the States. “I asked him to get me the orange ones – you know in keeping with the colours of the practice, but he came back with these.”

“Come on through S.” I followed him to the by now familiar dentist’s room and lay down in my chair. M’s assistant, Carmen bustled about looking for tools and other paraphernalia.

“Okay, I’m just going to numb you up first for the filling, then we’ll get to the braces.”

“Fine” I said closing my eyes.

A minute later: “My shin splints are really bad today, M, could I go and fill my hot water bottle and put it on my leg while I lie here.”

“Sure, no problem. Use the fountain in reception – it has hot water too.”

An embarrassing few moments later I walked back into the room, burst water bottle in hand. “You’re kidding me!” M exclaimed.

“Sorry! I just filled it up and it exploded all over the waiting room floor – I’ve cleaned it up though.” “You need to take that back to the manufacturer – where’s it made?”

Carmen scrutinised a stamp at the bottom. “It says ‘India’ Mr M.”

We giggled. “I notice you limping, M. What did you do?”

“We had some people over for a party recently.”

“Were you wearing that suit?” I interrupted.

“No! But I did try to do the splits and hurt my leg while doing it.”

“Aren’t you a bit old to be doing that M?” I asked.

“None taken” he replied lowering me down in the chair again and filling my mouth with all the contraptions that come with having a huge filling and your braces removed.

An hour and a half later with a helpful running commentary from M and the odd gentle ribbing I couldn’t reply to, I looked in the mirror.

There they were: My teeth. Straight.