The Odd Chronicle: a date with myself

If you live East, you'd probably have noticed that there was no train at all on the hammersmith&city and the district lines this weekend. Apparently, there're some improvement works going on for the Olympics. But frankly, when you find out about this on your way home from a very long night with way too many intoxicating substances, you're pissed and want to kill the world. Instead, I boycotted tfl in my own terms by staying home and waited until Monday to reconnect with the life outside my flat by going on a date with myself to celebrate this recovered freedom.

On a traditional date (understand with someone else on your side to pay for all your expenses), you go to the movies or restaurant and finish the day under your sheets even though you only meant to have "a last cup of coffee".

Mine was a bit different given that it was just me. I walked around Portobello and did absolutely everything I never do on an actual date.

• I went to Hummingbird and had the most wonderful brownie. 300 kilo calories of pure happiness - normally you fake pretend not eating sweets because they're unhealthy but here I had no one to lie to. 

• Then I stopped at a pop-up shop, the French Designer Sale "Petit Bazaar". The reason I went in was the weather: windy, cold and wet. Cheers to London! But once in I took my camera out and started shooting this emulsion of colours and cuteness. Usually, I'd want to throw up in front of such an alice-in-wonderland-like atmosphere (plus you don't want to freak out your date by going into a kid's shop). But strangely, everything was well-balanced, peaceful and very attractive. Like a trip back to your 6 year-old bedroom. The concept is simple: 7 designers getting together for a couple of days. And because it's a pop-up, you should probably run by asap before it vanishes - it goes on until Sunday 27th of November.*

• My next stop was around the bridge down Portobello road. I wanted a cup of tea after my frosted brownie so I sat down next to two women who were arguing about how people don't take time to just sit and have a conversation with strangers - or perhaps was it because I precisely did it that the subject came up. 

•  Afterwards, as I was walking and stopping at every little furniture and vinyls stores, I ended up at the Graffik gallery which is usually closed on Mondays. Well actually the gallery was closed, but Rosanna, the tattoo artist from the tattoo shop below the gallery was sitting inside, drawing some new designs for her portfolio. The conversation started off on the eventuality of me getting a tattoo and ended on how London - and the rest of the world - was packed of useless people, prententious enough to pretend knowing everything about life (no offense).

•  As I walked back towards the station I entered The Gold pub, literally pulled into it by the smell of mulled wine that had my brains erase any other thoughts. I sat in a corner, drank my wine and finally read my newspaper. In the process, I also managed to burn my fringe with the candle on the table (I told you it was a date) and was rescued from what could have turned into serious hairstyle injuries by one of the members of the band that was sitting in the boot in front of me, getting ready for their concert.

• At the end of the day, I got home but not for "coffee". I did however order myself a nice dinner and enjoyed it under my blanket while watching the latest episode of Top Chef. 

In overall, I have to admit, this date was one of the best I'd ever had. I wish I had gotten this beautiful teddy bear though, but my "escort" was broke.

*Here are the websites of the designers's collections: check them out, you might catch them on the road to do some of your Christmas shopping in case you miss the pop-up shop (it's on until this Sunday 27/11)

Ville et Campagne , Kensington Imaging, Juliet and the Band, Batchi Batcha, Les Tricots de Margot

 and Febronie

TV SHOW: EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS