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.”

Duke’s Bar

On December 12, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Food and drinks, London1 Comment

We all look this happy when we’ve had one of Enrico’s dry Vodka Martinis with a twist at Duke’s Bar in St. James’. Christmas has got nothing to do with it. I don’t know ANYWHERE in London that makes such a good or strong cocktail. One can only have one and even that’s pushing it.

I was meeting a friend of a friend – new to London having lived in Italy for the previous so many years. As you do when you first meet another woman – any woman, you talk work, men, marriages, divorces, children, and life now when you know you’re not 25 anymore but you still feel it.

It was the kind of night you go to bed after with all your make-up on. Those nights are rare and possibly the skin care routine that has to follow should be billed to that notorious place which counts Ian Fleming as its most famous patron.

Half a glass down and the mists were beginning to form. I tried to stay with it. Julia started talking Italian to the chief bartender which resulted in us being invited behind the legendary bar itself for a momentous snap. Alessandro and Enrico remained calm, I wish I could say the same for the two of us.

“It’s just occurred to me. Why don’t you come to Italy for New Year? I’ve got my daughter’s house, it’s by the sea – we could have a lovely time.” A generous invite from someone you’ve only just met indeed.

Julia called our mutual friend Fabienne on the phone and handed it to me. “Fabienne, we’ve been invited to Genova for the New Year – isn’t that sweet?!” “Yes! I could pick you up from the airport after dropping the kids off!”

We hung up and chinked glasses. It was all looking very promising. A gentleman at the next table leaned over: “New Year in Italy?” “Come if you want!” exclaimed Jules. “Where do you live?” I asked. “Actually not too far away: Southern Switzerland.” “Perfect” I said. Julia let’s get his card and we can invite them. His wife looked on knowingly as she sipped her Tiger Tanaka.

“How are you getting home?” her husband asked. I giggled. “Really? You really want to know?” Julia and I carried on chatting and presently she settled the bill. “Are you going to be okay getting home?” Mr Switzerland asked again. “Of course!” I replied laughing.

We put our coats on. “Are you getting a taxi?” he enquired. We said our goodbyes and walked out past the twinkling Christmas lights as he called after us: “Good luck on your journey!”

Meeting Mr Turk

On December 2, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Art, Entertainment, Fashion, London, Parties, People you may have heard ofLeave a comment

“Oh yeah. I know Gavin, he’s a friend of mine – great guy” said Pinky as I related having met him at a recent night out in Shoreditch.

“He knows a good biscuit, that’s for sure” I said slicing into an Eggs Benedict weekend brunch.

I’d been invited to come on down to a pop-up jewellery shop at Boxpark on Thursday night. Locating the event – sparsely populated but with the suspended air of more exciting times to come – I introduced myself to the founders of True Rocks – Emily and Dawn.

I got out my trusty Lumix and snapped away whilst we chatted.

“Oh, here’s Gavin!” Emily cried as a mammoth bearded gentleman made his way through a now increasingly crowded kitchen-at-a-party type space. I slipped one of his Rich Tea necklaces over my head.

“What was behind all this?” I asked the artist of said piece. “What were you thinking when you created it?”

“I wanted to do something about buying biscuits – cheap biscuits. I was interested in that exchange.” I looked at the necklace – a delicious treat in rose gold. The concept contained a dollop of quintessential British humour I felt. I wanted to know more, but first I had a burning question.

“Tell me something. Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea and think I won’t bother writing that down because it’s so good I’ll remember it?”

Gavin interjected: “I know what you’re going to say next! Yes, I keep a piece of paper and pen by the bed. But the thing I’ve decided is, it’s not the final idea itself that’s important (often looks rubbish in the morning) – it’s the thought process that led to it. Essentially – what’s more interesting is how you got there.”

I looked into his green eyes (or were they blue?) – made more so by a double shiner (malevolent muggers), green sunglasses and the bushiest beard I’d seen in a while. “Does your other half like that?” I asked with a nod to it.

“Yeah! Women either love or hate it. I’m compiling a list of those who want me to shave it off for money. Maybe one day I will and donate the proceeds to my wife’s charity – House of Fairy Tales .”

I finished my Verveine tea, and relating the evening’s events to Pinky. “It was nice wearing that necklace for the evening” I mused, admiring my brunch date’s newly hair free handsome face. “I hope they do the earrings.”

Cake, for three days

On November 8, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Food and drinks, London, PartiesLeave a comment

“Breakfast?” asked my local shopkeeper as I rolled up at the cash desk with a packet of Shreddies and a pint of milk. “No actually. It’s dinner.”

Twelve O’Clock at night and what are you supposed to do when you’ve been out since 7pm carousing at a birthday party under the vaults with copious champagne and a good prosecco. The thing that finally hits you on that fifth glass is that your very own celebration is imminent, plus you need to smuggle a cake into the Groucho Club in between.

Despite someone calling me a ‘generic’ example of my age at said party, I felt rather not that. I didn’t have any peers in fact who would rock up to the birthday celebration of someone they’d only met twice – and the second time being entirely by accident – on a Friday night.

On my third cigarette (only with champagne; only for my birthday celebrations) I ran into a couple of fellow Bloggers. “We’re from ‘Le Guide Noir” one of the Spanish duo told me. Wearing identical outfits – pink furry coats, matching tights and Spanish accents, they informed me they were dressed as the Barbie sisters. I took a photo as Toby and I descended the staircase in time for cake.

I noticed Anna had left the number off and there were only four candles. Good girl, I thought. Let’s leave it to the imagination.

Soul music predominated. “What is this?” I asked the barman.

“Fat Freddy’s Drop.” He told me. “They’re a New Zealand band – kind of a retro sound, actually they’re pretty old, ex crayfish fisherman.” He shook his cocktail shaker and poured what looked like steam into two glasses. “It’s hickory smoke” he told me and showed me the implement he used to produce it.

I was offered birthday cake. “But I wanted you to have some of mine!” I said to the belle of the ball. “I’ve got half a one here from today at work, fresh cream, chocolate, banana, strawberries… I can’t have any right now anyway because of my teeth.”

“Oh, you have Invisalign” a dentist nearby interrupted.

“No, they’re retainers actually. You’ve had yours whitened haven’t you?”

“Yes” she said.

As I do on my birthday weekend, I feel a bit like I’m on holiday. Like it’s Monopoly money and all bets are off. However, talk of teeth made me think about mine, eating and how I was unbelievably hungry. “I’ve got to go” I said, “I have to be at The Groucho in the morning at 10.”