Cafe culture

This is a view from one of the nicest of the many East Dulwich cafes called Le Chandelier. It was a glorious day and the tea was in a pot, the cake was yummy and the company was perfect.

So my five weeks in transit are coming to an end and it is time to review and reflect a little. I have really enjoyed having time to reconnect with the area I live in and also to get to know some local friends a little better. One of the joys of where I live is the vast number of cafes and bars of all description. If I was staying around I was thinking of reviewing each and every one of us so it is just as well I am off to Madrid on Saturday.

My favourite local establishments at the moment are:

1. Le Chandelier for its pots of speciality teas and its eclectic and refreshing decor

2. Green and Blue for its delicious wines and tasty platters

3. The Old Nun's Head for its proximity to home and for its first rate puy lentil and mushroom lasagne

4. The corner caff in Nunhead for its great scrambled egg on toast and mugs of builders tea

5. Constance's coffee shop in the Indoor Warehouse for more tasty cake and proper tea in a cup and saucer.

And then there is the chocolatier in Bellenden Road and the cafe in Peckham Park and well, I could go on. I am going to miss this aspect of London life but it will be more than compensated by the tapas bars of Madrid.

I am flying on Saturday morning and have almost packed. I have somewhere to live for at least two weeks and I am really looking forward to going now. I can never thank my friends enough for all the love and support and words of encouragement I have had over the last few weeks.

sabbatical Thursday

Writing group tonight was all about images and one of mine was this selection of stripy socks seen in a Mayfair shop.

Feel more like myself today after three days of adjusting to a life without going to work. No I am not ill or on holiday - I am definitely in transit. I have been writing and reading poetry today which felt like such a luxury. I am working on the poem about an ice cream van that I began on St George's day. The theme was England and as I had just heard the first chime of spring, that's what inspired me. Planning to publish it on the cryptwriters website when it is finished and will be chasing icecream vans to get a suitable image to accompany it. Icecream vans evoke so many memories of childhood. High days and holidays always meant icecream and if lucky a crumbling chocolate flake and that red juicy stuff that dripped from the whipped folds of cream.

Just watched a programme on BBC4 about Sylvia Plath's Yorkshire poetry. Very enjoyable as it was filmed in an area I know well - the North Yorkshire moors. It was good to hear this neglected area of her output given an airing and I enjoyed the glorious photography and, once I was used to it, the super-imposition of the words onto the landscape. I particularly enjoyed hearing Wuthering Heights with scenes of Bronte's Top Withens, which is said to be the inspiration for Heathcliff's house.

Public appearances!

I meant to say that I have appeared as a film extra again. this time for a short film called Tears. I was at a funeral in Ladywell cemetery on Saturday where a fake vicar blessed an empty coffin and we all looked sad and tearful - especially the actress with the fake baby bump! The scene was repeated at least five times - I lost count. It was interesting to do as the weather was gorgeous and my brother was directing so it was lovely to see him and various other family members in action. For more info see www.bigdipperfilmcompany.co.uk and for a write up by David (writer friend) go to www.cryptwriters.info

My other public appearance will be on Saturday. I am appearing at the Poetry Cafe as part of the Shuffle poetry night. I will be reading a few of my poems (about five minutes) and will be appearing alongside some professional poets. Gulp! Come on down if you can - it kicks off at 7pm and I bet I am on at the beginning. Now what shall I wear? How will I introduce myself? No panic! Actually looking forward to it as it is a great feeling to perform my own words and get feedback.