17.3.14

Start Again




This feels like such an unusual thing to do, where once it was such a usual thing to do... It's been very quiet around here lately, I know. Blame it on 2013 being the death of the blog (though I'm still reading) or the fact that I changed cities, or that it was winter and now it isn't. 

What better way to start again than with a London cliche: the Columbia Road Flower Market on a Sunday morning. One of those places that (apart from the teeming crowds) feels like someone thought up a perfect Sunday and then planted it, piece by piece, into East London: jazz bands (see here), spring sunshine, tulips, 10 roses for £5, be-tweeded chaps carrying thistles, girls in dresses with bouquets wrapped in paper parcels... it was a bit ridiculous really. 


I almost never buy flowers as I've always felt quite conflicted about buying them from supermarkets (where they are most often to be found for sale). On one hand, whenever I have, I've felt like I've been somehow emancipating them from a miserable artificially temperate end, carefully looking after them for the brief hours that their unfortunate beginning in life has left them for the end of it. They die quickly. 

On the other hand, I always feel as though I don't want to encourage supermarkets to sell, and subsequently mass produce, something so vastly unnecessary in such an unnatural setting. (I also once spent half an hour watching men panic over sad supermarket roses one merry 14th February evening, which put me off even more.)

While I have no idea about the relative heritage of the Columbia Road flowers, buying them felt better somehow. My multi-coloured tulips are still blooming, the paper parcel they were handed to me in felt reassuringly heavy, and combined, that all makes them seem absolutely necessary somehow.

8 comments:

  1. So glad to see a post from you pop up in my reader! Happy spring, Siubhan!

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    1. That's very reassuring to hear - thank you! Hopefully there will be more to come. Happy spring (and St Patrick's Day of course!) to you too.

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  2. Lovely photos, as always. I too feel guilt about buying flowers!

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  3. Delighted to see you back blogging :) I have similar wrestles with my conscience when it comes to buying supermarket flowers - I generally prefer to buy from a florist but every so often I'll be swayed by the supermarkets. I got a lovely bunch for 35p last week in Marks and Spencers that were languising in a bucket of water at the tills. A bunch that were hours away from the bin and would otherwise have been plucked for no reason. Well that's how I try and justify my bargain purchase anyway. This flower market looks beautiful and your pics are so pretty - will definitely be adding this place to my itinerary next time I make it to London.

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  4. Hi! Beautiful photos and feel your pain about buying flowers. Miss Columbia Road.

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  5. Ridiculously pretty. ;)
    I usually prefer planted flowers, even if it is in small pots... I get the feeling they're still alive and blooming.

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  6. somehow missed the fact you've moved to london - welcome!

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