Travel: London

The day started with an early - surprisingly busy - train from York to Kings' Cross.

We headed to the market not long after arriving. Picking up doughnuts and becoming intoxicated by the smell of fresh bread and spices.

The view from Bankside was incredible! Pretty much clear blue skies and boats passing through every few minutes. 

I may have developed a slight infatuation with Soho. It was completely my kind of thing, interesting shops, eateries, buildings. I could have happily wandered around there all day.

I got a little snap happy!

The sandwiches were to die for! Full of quality ingredients and sold by the chattiest fellow.

Freshly squeezed blood orange juice reminded me of being home in Bari (Italy). Packed with flavour, made from oranges straight from Sicily - I can assure you it was worth the £3.50 it cost.

The three images above are all from Fernandez and Wells. A small but well utilised space. It was packed with locals and the staff were more than helpful - willing to chat and advise, ideal!

The view from the front window of Fernandez and Wells.

In the end, we calculated that our feet travelled around 14km, it was killer and I'm a little achey as I write this but it was so worth it!

One of the many amusing A-boards we passed on our journey. Spotted another that said 'Topless baristas here..." - cheeky, but I'm not sure it would go down too well in Harrogate!

Labour and Wait  - Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to take a peak inside but with all the commotion seen from inside and out it looked pretty cool.

Coffee beans from Nude Espresso.

Everything in London looked stunning! So well thought out and it really felt like people wanted to be there, selling their products.

The versatility of the art and graffiti that stretched throughout London was astounding!

Much to my dismay I did have to return to the North that night. It reiterated just what you can do 24 hours.

I am completely besotted with London. The amount of culture, fashion and food inspiration, coffee, art, writing (and all the rest!) that I absorbed in that one day is beyond measure.

A trip that was more than worth the 5:30am wake up.

❊ 

The Velveteen Rabbit

                                     

"What is REAL?" Asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become real."

"Does it hurt?" Asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

❊

8am Sunrise

It turns out there are some beautiful benefits to forgetting to turn your 6.30am alarm off.

Initially, waking up at 6.30am felt miserable. Although, after half an hour reading and half an hour of intense yoga, I found myself incredibly energised. Lazing around the house until half ten didn't really feel like a good use of my time.

So, after checking what time the sun was due to rise, I packed my camera equipment, threw on some scruffy clothes and headed out.

Taken on Fujifilm Instax 210 - 8.01am

My first breath after stepping outside was bracing - I think it's easier to forget what the air feels like when you've been inside over night.

The roads were still, the trees tranquil and the odd chirping bird flew past every few seconds. Only walkers and their canine friends braved the crisp early hours (surprisingly, these are some of the friendliest people I've met, all willing to discuss their own morning routines).

View from the Skatepark at 8.27am - Taken on Fujifilm Instax 210

I strolled to the top of Valley Gardens to find a desolate skatepark and playground. Although I'd love to say I went for a 'Sunrise Skate', I really didn't. However, perching at the empty skatepark and taking photos was more than enough for me.

Valley Gardens at 8.33am - Taken on iPhone 4s

Following a long walk through Valley Gardens, from bottom to top, I started for home and the views were just as idyllic on the way back. 

Busier were the roads now and it wasn't easy to stand in the middle of traffic and shoot. Although, I am elated with this picture.

Taken on iPhone 4s - 8.37am

Reaching the point of my first photo, I thought it was only fitting to see how the sky had developed in 40 minutes. And here it is!

Taken on Fujifilm Instax 210 - 8.40am

The colours appeared a lot softer now and the vibrant pinks from the earlier shot had developed into a subtle rose tone. And the church's spire adds an additional focal point.

Walking up the drive, I realised just how contented I was. If you can't appreciate what you have at home, how can you appreciate anywhere else?

❊  

An Act Of Kindness

Not too long ago I spent a day off in York. Generally milling around aimlessly and absorbing the atmosphere of the cobbled streets was how I spent the most part of my day. 

In the early afternoon I found myself walking around the food market, my thoughts and day dreams consuming the greater of my head, only pausing to absorb the familiar smell of roasted chestnuts. No more than five minutes after recognising this scent was I handed a bronze button and petite pink pebble.

The mysterious lady placed them in my hand and wished me great luck throughout my life. It was unexpected, delightful and admired.

I suppose the point I'm making is that surely life would be a little lovelier and a little easier if more people knew it takes less energy to have a positive effect on someone's life than it does to have a negative one.

❊