Host-London Issue by sofia grillo

host

Editors-in-chief Lucyann Mortimore & Sofia Grillo Creative writer Ella May Kirby Sub-editors Ella May Kirby & Sofia Grillo Editorial director Lucyann Mortimore & Sofia Grillo Creative director Lucyann Mortimore & Sofia Grillo Designers Lucyann Mortimore & Sofia Grillo Photographer Victoria Jouvert Contributing photographer ClĂ udia Grosche Illustrator Katie Grimes

Editors’ letter We are very excited to welcome you to the first issue of Host -the London issue. This cosmopolitan capital happens to be our current home and has been for almost two years now. That being said, we’ve never seen it through the eyes of strangers - the real people that collectively make London the special place it is. It’s the friendly face that sells you fruit and vegetables every week, the lady who speaks her stories in the form of a poem, the new comer that lives above your local pub or the passer-by that fell in love and decided to stay. Each and every person has a unique story to tell. A story that Host wanted to hear. We’ve been travelling around this exciting city, transported to the beloved places of its people. Despite living here, this journey has opened closed doors and shed light on detail, ways of living and the palpable truths of happiness. From one incredible character to another, each piece of this puzzle was willing to leave behind the fast life of London for 10 minutes. We discovered that the city wants to stop, talk and listen. They’ve made us see a London we hadn’t seen before. Through their eyes we distinguish different colours and shapes that we couldn’t wait to explore. From East to West, North to South, we never thought that a chain of strangers would have led us on such an incredible adventure. We’ve walked the streets of vibrant markets, listened to the voices of poets and engaged in the serene surroundings of London’s breath-taking nature. But of course none of this would have been possible without our amazing Host team. A special thanks to our very talented writer Ella May Kirby, the unique vision of our photographer Victoria Jouvert and the truly incredible drawings of our illustrator, Katie Grimes. We’ve started this chain of people; formed from friendship, finishing with the irresistible unknown. Who will we meet next and where will they take us? Love Lucyann & Sofia x

Led to by Giulia

Led to by Aaron

The Gallery Cafe 16-21

Kyoto Garden 22-27

Led to by Nabil

The Dickens Inn 28-33

Led to by Stephanie

Wimbledon Market 72-75

Led to by Cristine & Cecile

William Morris Gallery

Led to by Flo & Bertie

Led to by Maureen

Geffrye Museum 50-57

Ophelia bar 34-41

Led to by Lee

Broadway Market 64-71

Led to by Alex

Ridley Road Market 58-63

Our journey

42-49

Giulia Frigieri Giulia is a warm-faced, Italian, photographer that has been living in London for the past five years. She studied anthropology and media at Goldsmiths University and graduated in 2013. She is currently juggling through different jobs, life aims and paid/unpaid projects. Her home is a boat on the canal called “Wolf” that belongs to her close friend Elena. It’s her second winter there now and it’s apparently proving quite exhausting despite the ongoing love she has for it. A painful contrast between beautiful summers and tiring winters. Although she has not decided where her photography wants to go, one thing she is sure of is that studio-life isn’t for her. Her photography goes further than just a standard portrait, consequently labeling her profession as: visual anthropologist. Her angst for interesting people and her unique way of capturing, with only one photograph, the essence of that person, urges us to follow her down the narrow path of the canal to her home.

Hello Giulia. Before we begin we would like to know where you’re sending Host to begin our journey through London? I would like you to start your journey at The Gallery Cafe!

vegan! Yum! What kind of people can you find there? Really random! Sometimes loads of families with beautiful babies, people studying with laptops. Generally “Zen” people. I see people doing some sort of yoga sometimes.

Lovely. Why have you chosen this place? First off I’m a vegan, so going there allows me a selection of things I can eat. I usually sit in the conservatory, which is my favourite place. They open really late and they are really chilled, so if you sit there for the entire day charging your computer and doing stuff, they won’t say anything. They’re really friendly.

What, on the table? Yeah! Well she was doing it like this [imitates yoga movement with hands]. That is very…weird? Well, yeah but why is it weird? If you feel like you have to express something, why not?

So it’s a gallery café? Does this mean there is art exhibited? If yes, is it a place you go to for inspiration? Do I have to be truthful?

Very true. Expression is key. What about traveling? I’m guessing as a photographer you’re very much a free spirit. Yeah exactly. Travelling is the thing. Recently I started off in Greece and I travelled through Turkey and Iran by bus and train. That was one of the most amazing trips I have ever taken. After that I was in America for a project on Italian/ American immigrants for a whole month, driving through 25 states, which was really awesome.

Of course! Then, not really. I’ve never paid attention to them. That said, I know they have film nights on Tuesdays, which I’ve never attended but I know that’s something they do. The gallery aspect of the cafe is not the part that is most important for me, it’s just really cozy and one of those places you can stay for the entire day and it kind of feels a part of your home. Coming back to the food, have you tried everything on the menu? Pretty much!

So we know you define yourself as an anthropological photographer. What is visual anthropology? Well I’ve been studying anthropology for three years and I’m still struggling to define it. It’s difficult to narrow it down. I’ve learnt that it is how to ask questions and how to question everything. If you

What’s your favorite thing to order? They do one breakfast called the “The Gallery signature” which is tofu based. It’s an English breakfast but completely

study humans, cultures and cross cultural themes like death, birth, childhood or rituals, you have to wonder and certainly not take anything for granted. Visual anthropology brings in the visual aspect. It could be photography, drawing or anything visual that portrays human beings. I think a photographic portrait is the perfect medium. It is all about the relationship that both parties create together they have to allow me to take their image, and

between their 20’s and 30’s struggling to earn money, living in precarious conditions, hopefully surrounded by loads of friends. Also someone who has multiple jobs, probably doing something creative or something that they like and then doing something on the side. London is a great opportunity for everybody but it doesn’t pay and it is expensive. I see loads of people relating to this life, maybe now in my mind this is London.

consequently help me represent. That’s what I like about it.

Obviously there is a huge universe outside.

Do you believe it’s possible to represent a place in the style of a portrait? Could you apply that to London? I’m not sure I have the answer to that question. But something I remember, a really nice anecdote from my mum when she visited me in September: “Where are all the adults? I only see young people around!” So perhaps for my portrait of London - subconsciously relating it to my experiences, I’d photograph someone

I think you’ve really nicely summed up London for what you see - through the lens of a photographer. Do you take pictures of other things around you? I’m not visually stimulated by everything I see. Mostly people, their stories and their profile. That’s very interesting, especially how you share Host’s ambition of discovery through people. How has your journey been in London so far? What does it mean to you?

Why do you think you have this love hate relationship with London? Because it gives you loads of chances and opportunities that other cities can’t. There’s so many people that start up companies and projects with photographers and creative people. But it is extremely competitive so you’re not always on top of your energy and ready to be your best. Sometimes you’ll think “why am I doing this?” “Why am I fighting against this battle?”. There are lots of people that deserve it as much as I do and I can’t keep up with it anymore. But then you get little rewards, little things that make you think about trying more and getting the most out of it. I love it, I hate it. I like to think it has beautiful things, however I also think beautiful things come to an end at some point too. Why’s that? Is that your philosophy? I think so. If they last forever then they loose

that peculiar thing that made them so beautiful and so great. For example, I would rather freeze my time in London for a few years rather than just carry on until I completely hate it and I completely forget why I came to London in the first place. So maybe I should just accept that this time in London has gone, that it has been special, that it has been amazing. But then again maybe I’ll change my mind in a few hours. What don’t you like? What don’t I like about London? Well the fact that the city is so broad and it takes you hours to cross it. The thing is, you end up seeing the same group of people and they become part of your routine. Everyone who exists out of that you end up not seeing, or you just feel like you don’t have the time. It’s alienating and it takes you away from what I believe is most important in life: relationships, both personal and professional. It is literally the end of humanity. That is what I hate about London. And on a good note? What do you like about London? What I like the most is that you find everything you want, especially live music. I was in this venue last night called the Jamboree and it was £5 to get in. People were playing 1920’s/1930’s jazz and dancing. It looked like the Great Gatsby. What I mean is that you

The people

I think if someone can survive a few years in London, you can do everything else after that. It’s weird. It’s home, family, the place where I refer to and where I see myself now but it’s also a place I hate, I feel the most antagonist with. Sometimes I feel good and sometimes I feel really fed up with this city and I don’t want this alienation to be part of me anymore.

It is interesting you say that because a lot of people fear coming to London because of the money and because everything is perceived as being expensive. So as a local, do you believe you can live in London on a budget? I think so, but it is hard and energy consuming. For example it has been a week I haven’t taken the tube. The other night I cycled to Camden and back. It’s hard to cycle, especially at night with this weather, but if you’re really short on cash, you do it. You can buy healthy but basic food and cook at home. You try not to eat out. You can do it, especially with going out as there are places that are free entry or very little money. So yeah, I think you can, it’s just hard sometimes. Okay, so you’re from Italy. What made you want to come to London? At the time I wanted to study to become a translator and I was going to apply in Italy but I realized I could came to London and study English. When I was here I was lucky to meet really intelligent people that told me: “Don’t go back to Italy, just study here, you’ve got the skills to do it”. Okay, going back to the fact you’re living on a boat, do you believe it has given you a unique perspective of London? Definitely. I think people with electricity and water are so lucky. You learn not to waste because if you use too much water today then you will have no water tomorrow. It is definitely not for everybody, I realized I

could do it because I don’t have a job that requires me to be perfectly clean and well groomed. For example you come back from work and you need a fire. Last night I stayed for one hour in front of the stove and it wouldn’t catch fire and then eventually, after an hour and fifteen, it started burning. By then I had frozen to death. Is that why you come to The Gallery Cafe so often? You’re too cold on your boat? [laughs] I’m too cold on my boat yes. Could you picture yourself in London for a long time? Is it somewhere you want to stay? I really don’t know. If I see myself in a city at all, I see myself somewhere warmer to be honest. I love London but I don’t think I would stay here forever, because of the cold. I can see myself outside of Europe, somewhere like Capetown or New Zealand. Somewhere where there’s more land and more space. I want land and space! If you could go back in time would you still come to London or would you pick another city to live and work in? No I would come to London. Why? Because I think there wouldn’t have been any other place. If I went back to Italy (I wouldn’t go back to Italy) or anywhere else, I would be really happy to have lived in London for some years of my life, my youth. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else. I’m happy; I would have done exactly the same.

The people

can find anything you want for all types of people and it is also possible to do things with a small or restricted budget.

#1 The Gallery Cafe 21 Old Ford Road Bethnal Green London E2 9PL

The place The Gallery Cafe, embedded four feet below the bustling city, has this translucent connection between what is within and the world outside. Natural warmth spreads to those who often gather there, the resembling book ends of light create a magical sidelight effect, settling effortlessly on the tables. The smell is fresh yet tinted with coffee - the outside drifting in through the open doors and the warm aromas from the kitchen all swirl together into an atmospheric haze. Despite the white backdrop, colour comes from the people; a doctrine Host truly believes in. The walls are scattered with exhibited work and chalk-scrawled wholesome recipes. This busy hive has reserved room for thought, a numerous mix of people coming and going with an aftertaste of sweet contentment. The hanging clock ticks five minutes slow, which seems appropriate, given the general character of this homespun niche. A family of customers is endlessly summoned here, perhaps due to a range of ecological warm teas and a vegan slices of cake.

Aaron

Hello Aaron, nice to meet you! What are you doing here today at the Gallery Cafe? Taking a break. My housemate is busy in the kitchen so no time or space to cook. I thought I’d just come out and have lunch here at the Gallery Cafe. Do you come here very often? Yeah, I live just round the corner so I come here quite a bit. Do you work in London? Yes, I’m a tattoo artist That’s why you’ve got those amazing tattoos! Where do you work? I work in Soho. I tattoo three days a week and then the rest of the time I paint, draw and come here (laughs). What brought you to London? Do you have family here? I live in London because my girlfriend lives here. I stay here three or four days a week and then at the weekends I go back home to my family in the countryside. I like to get away from the city if I can. It drives me crazy if I’m here too long. It’s too hectic. Despite London being so hectic for you sometimes, do you like it? I do like London, yeah. It’s busy where it needs to be and then there are places you can go, like The Gallery Cafe and parks, where you can get some quiet. You need to take time to just stop and breathe and think.

London’s good because it does have spaces for that. It’s nice to have the balance. It’s true. I think many share this love/hate feeling. If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you? Twenty six Okay. What did you study? I’ve tried studying art history and fine art, but I dropped out of both because I didn’t like the rules. I didn’t like the approach, and ended up going to college four times for different things. And then I learnt to tattoo through an apprenticeship and have been tattooing professionally for four years now. Where did your passion for tattooing come from? I’m not sure. My mum and grandad used to paint so I was always surrounded by certain forms of art but interests like art, music or photography are all pushed into the hobby category by the education system. So I guess I never really thought it could be something I’d do as a job, until I started getting tattoos. It was then I realised that tattooing was something I could actually do in life, as a real job. What do you like most about tattooing people? I like the permanency of it. As morbid as it sounds, it’s the one job in the world where you can give someone something that’s going to stay with them their whole life. Nothing is forever, but the most permanent thing you have is the skin that you live within and so to be able to give someone something that’s going to be with them forever is... You can’t match it with anything.

The people

Hello, thank you for talking to Host. What’s your name? Aaron

Very true. I’ve never looked at it that way. How interesting. Do you think a tattoo has to have a meaning behind it or is it more just a form of art? I think the meanings tattoos have are whatever is attached to them. One of my favourite tattoos I have is just three dots. It was just crudely done by my brother - who is my best friend, and another close friend. We all got the same three dots. They’re so awfully done, but that doesn’t matter. It is the most beautiful tattoo I have and that’s because we each did each other’s dots. It doesn’t have to be an incredible tattoo to have meaning. The art of tattooing can be quite controversial, but when you put it like that… I like its simplicity. Thank you. One of the most enjoyable

experiences I have from tattooing is meeting other tattooists and getting tattoos from them so you can admire their work. When you work with someone and have a really good connection with them, it doesn’t matter what they tattoo. The experience and the look of the tattoo is the important meaningful part. I respect the craft of tattooing and what people can create. Some of them beautiful tattoos that are being made nowadays keep getting better and better and better. But then it doesn’t make it any more beautiful than the crudest tattoo that means something to someone. Definitely! So is tattooing your work and also your passion? Yeah. I only work 3 days a week because I feel that my job would go from a passion to a career. I don’t know if I want a career that would take up 5 days a week and however

So what do you do when you go to this place? If you go to the Kyoto garden I’d say to just sit there and try not to think about anything. If you’re with people don’t talk to each other, just enjoy their company. Are you familiar with Eckhart Tolle? He is a German philosopher. He wrote The power of now, that talks about the essence of living life in the moment. I try and be alive in the moment and realize that there’s no such thing as a past, no such thing as a future, there’s just now.

That’s very inspiring. Aaron, where

The people

many hours a day because then it would feel like I’m sort of a machine that has to produce. I only ever have 2-3 clients a day and I never rush them. I sit with the person and get to know them to be able to create something for them. I think if I did that 5/6 days a week it would just be for the money instead of the people. I wouldn’t want to rush anything like that. In regards to mixing work and my passion, tattooing is definitely my passion but I think that it’s not going to make me ultimately happy unless I can use it to do better in the world. I try and do a lot for charity. All the prints that I make - I rarely paint but when I do - 100 percent of it goes to charity and goes to helping either animals or the homeless. Both are close to my heart. I think if I could combine it with charity work it would make tattooing a true passion.

would you host us in London if you could? Do you a favourite place in London? There’s a Japanese garden called the Kyoto garden. I think Japan sent over their best gardeners and made this incredible garden in the middle of London. It is quite bizarre really because you get off the train, you walk for 10 minutes into Holland Park, and there is this quiet garden. There’ll be people doing tai chi and people sat drawing koi fish. It’s just strange that you can go from a busy park to this calm garden. It is strange the effect it has, you don’t feel like you’re in the middle of London. There are peacocks roaming around and there’s this surrounding sound of a park. It’s nice to have all them natural sounds around you. You have to go visit, its really good. I’ve only been there a couple of times, I need to go more often but it only took me a few visits to make it one of my favourite places in London.

#2 Kyoto garden 100 Holland Park Avenue London W11 4UA

Around the lush green bends ofÂ wanderlust Holland Park, excited hearts and strolling souls are brought to a halt. Before them lies open a doorway into another culture, a trip back home or a place to rest a troubled mind. Kyoto Garden allows a perfect balance of beautiful buzz and water calm. The webbing trees cast delicate shadows upon those who curiously enter, seeking an adventure or a well-known comfort. This garden appears to be a strong communal link between those who search for stillness within our forever-pumping city, as many share with Host how much this nourished sanctuary is loved. This globe of nature holds many colourful secrets that explode onto a forest of light green - the peacocks; kings and queens, grace us with one million turquoise watching eyes, the flower gems bring delicate beauty within the open and closed petals, and the koi carp tinge dark waters with orange as they swim amongst penny gold.

The place

Nabil

Following his footsteps our next location for Host is St. Katharine Docks. As described by Nabil, the smell of contentment mixed with the misty waters of the Thames makes it special. He recommends we find an old British pub and just sit. Watch. Because that is what makes this city. For him, no matter how far you go, from America to the Middle East: “London is a crossroads; [where] people eventually end up for some reason or another.”

The people

Warm faced Nabil let us peek inside a pocket of his well-worn jacket of appreciation for the city we’re discovering. He wears it proud as we met in his favorite park by a bench under a cascading tree. This is a place that he’s been walking for thirty ticking years. He is happy - the depth in which this city has engraved its people, traditions and everyday life brings color to his cheeks. He talks about acceptance, the cosmopolitan stitching of London and how it allows him to not feel foreign or alone within something so big. He seems completely captured by life here, both its beauty and danger spontaneously intricate. “It’s busy, but relaxed…” he says, filled with content souls.

#3 The Dickens Marble Quay, St Katharine Docks Saint Katharineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Way London E1W 1UH

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.” -A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens. In the shadows of the famed Tower Bridge, St Katharine Docks’ Mediterranean sizzle of life brings us face to face with The Dickens Inn. Scattered with quotes and gently lit, this inn and pub has an air of uniqueness among its simplicity. People from all backgrounds gather in this homely nest of laughter, games and great conversation. The walls, however, tell their own stories, mapping the building and areas history with intricate drawings of boats and sailors. Just being here, we are following the footsteps of the infamous characters of Charles Dickens, from which the establishment takes its name, as this brewery is brimming with the stories of those who gathered here with expensive coats and top hats or begging hands and dirty work clothes. Amongst the light-hearted boozy chuckles a selection of board games hides behind the glass scattered bar. We challenge you to a game of chess.

The place

Illustration by Ella M.Kirby

The people

#4 Ophelia bar 574 Kingsland Road Dalston London E8 4AP

Number 574 Kingsland road hosts the candle lit home of fruity cocktails, heavy laughter and the type of music you find yourself singing along to. There is space here for expression - that â&#x20AC;&#x153;anything goesâ&#x20AC;? attitude renowned in drunken karaoke, fills with courage the inspiring up and coming comedians, musicians and people with stories to tell. If there is anything in abundance here it is art, relaxed spines and thousands of tea candles. Who could say no?

37 The place

Cristine and Cecile

enjoyed the most? Ce: I don’t know.. the Dogstar was quite a nice venue. I liked the vibe. Now it has changed a lot. Now it is white middle class but back then it was more rough and I think it was better then.

Where are you from? Cr: Spain. Ce: France. What are you doing here tonight? Cr: We are having a girls’ talk and a drink.

Why did you decide to live in London? What did London have to give you at that time? Cr: For me it was adventure at the beginning but then it turned into a “ I don’t want to go back”. There is something different happening every day. This evening we came to have a drink and you are here asking us questions! There’s always something going on, I like it! Ce: You know, it’s all about adventures. When I first came to London I was a kid, only 12 years old, and I really loved it. I thought I was going to live here as an adult and here you go.

What do you do in London? Do you work? Ce: I work with disabled adults. Cr: I do kind of the same job... Do you like living in London? Ce: Oh yes. We’ve been here for ten years! Wow, 10 years! That’s a long time! What would you say has been your most treasured moment? Cr: Just one? I know, the gay pride march. I went on the top of a bus! Cecile was there as well and it was fantastic! It was a sunny day, everyone was cheering at the sun. I felt like we were stars, and it was amazing.

You have 24h in London. What would you do? Ce: I would go to a Spa for 24h (laughing) Cr: I would just go wander the streets and find different people. Just go with the flow and you will find something nice. For me it must be in East London. Ce: Yeah East London for me as well. I don’t know, there are so many things to do.

What about you Cecile? Ce: It’s very difficult, I have so many treasured moments in London I mean in ten years. Maybe going out, loving.., perhaps the first few moments when I first arrived in London. I was in Brixton then and going out was really nice.

Why would you spend your 24h in East London? Do you live in that area? Cr: Yes we both live in the east. I think it’s

What was it about Brixton you

The people

Hello! What are your names? Cr, Ce: Cristina and Cecile.

got a different vibe. Ce: It’s lively you know? Things are happening here, you go to west London and it’s boring.

fake. Maybe it’s harder to find genuine people but that’s not just London, it is big cities generally. Life is faster, there are more people and you feel like you don’t have to commit. It’s just easy come easy go. How did you and your boyfriend meet? Ce: When I first started working as a volunteer I had a friend I was working with and she went out with a guy and then friends of friends really

What excites you about East London? Ce: You have all these different types of people living here and there are lots of artists. I work in Hackney Wick, so you’ve got all these nice communities and it’s vibrant. Where I live you have turkish supermarkets and you go there and you barely think you are in the UK. The cafes as well have more foreigners than British. It’s like travelling without moving anywhere.

Do you think the best way to meet someone is through friends? Or are you a hopeless romantic and think that you will find love just casually bumping into him/her one day? Cr: No, I don’t believe in this kind of romance. I just think sometimes you are more open for things to happen.

What’s the thing you like the most about London? The thing that screams “that’s why I’m here” ? Ce: Well, I guess my boyfriend. He loves London but I don’t know if I would still be here if it wasn’t for him. As much as I like London I probably wouldn’t be here.

So no romance ladies? Cr: Sometimes I am a romantic but I’m also very pragmatic. Ce: I don’t know what being “a romantic” is. It’s difficult because sometimes you feel butterflies in your stomach but I think I’m pragmatic too. Maybe it’s British guys

Do you think it is hard to fall in love in London? Ce: People say that you meet people more easily here but then it’s also a bit

You are Spanish and French so I was wondering do you feel that there is a difference between the two cultures, French-British and Spanish-British? CR: Even if I’m very shy and my friends back home think I’m quiet, here people think I’m very loud! English are very polite. Do you think British are more polite than Spanish? Cr: Yes, probably in their manners. But I don’t like this separation between English and Spanish. It’s true that with some people there is a barrier because you are talking in another language. Ce: I think, in general terms, English people might be more controlled and you think “c’mon you can’t be that controlled” surely they are going to explode like all of us. I think it takes time to adjust but I quite like that they have more manners. They don’t push you in public transport for example [laughs] British I think are more polite and patient - it’s nice.

Now to conclude our interview I just need to ask you where would you like to host us if you could in London? Cr: I know where! Wilton’s Music Hall! I used to pass by it every day going to work. Ce: Perhaps the William Morris Gallery. It’s hard to give you a place because London is the place!

The people

But then there are people that perceive English as cold. Do you agree with that? Cr: No I don’t think they are cold I just think they are different from Spanish but there’s no better or worse. I think they are less offensive - they try to please generally speaking. Ce: But then the result is pretty much the same because maybe in our countries we shout more but you get more out of it.

who are colder [laughs]

#5 William Morris Gallery Forest Rd, Walthamstow London E17 4PY

“Not on one strand are all life's jewels strung.” -William Morris Smiles from the front door in, this grand structure of dreams and accomplishment holds people and art with things to say. Like playing hide and seek with a child, the floorboards creak under our soles as history unfolds under a sky of stories - socialism, design and above all passion. Romantic William Morris’ spirit seems to have sown into all the grasping individuals that gather here to talk about art, recite poetry, play intricate folk music and serve warm pots of rose tinted tea. As we listen, this warm feeling of Mr Morris overcasts as if he’s watching, proud, leaning against one of the corners with his eyes closed in utter happiness. Magically, the artist is scratched into every little detail here - his words lining the ceiling, the wallpaper his own natural designs and book spines in golden letters spelling his name.

45 The place

Maureen

Nice to meet you Mo! So what brought you here today? Well I’m part of this group (Forest poets) who every now and then is invited by the gallery to read our poetry or William Morris’s poetry. So there were about 8 of us that got together and came here tonight. So do you write poetry a lot? Well I have a little pamphlet of poems

that I’m in the process of getting re-printed because it sold out. I do readings, I belong to two different poetry groups: the poetry group in Walthamstow and another one in Kings Cross. I started writing poetry about 10 years ago and before I used to work in theatre. When I decided I was going to stop doing that and just do ordinary things, I realized I had my evenings free and I could attend evening classes! I did art classes and I was also doing a creative writing class and I thought, “Oh I’ll write lots and lots of short stories” and every time we got any homework my work always made itself into a poem. Tell us more about your poetry then! What’s something different about your poetry? Some of the poems that I write are in Scottish

The people

Hello! Thank you for giving us some of your time. What’s your name? My name is Maureen but everyone calls me Mo. My poetry surname is Gallaccio, which is actually an Italian surname. It was my ex-husbands surname (He was a Scottish/ Italian) and so when I started to write poetry I thought Mo Gallaccio had a very nice ring to it.

How did you find your life in Dalston, did you like it? When I first moved there, there was nothing going on. It was really quite scary but it was very cheap. And everyone either said “Where?!” or they went “You can’t possibly go there!” Now it’s changed so much. Now there are all the really young people in that area and emporiums and nightclubs have taken over. I mean certain bits are the same as they ever were like the Rio Cinema but loads and loads of places are really different. I like it though. I mean, everywhere should change nothing should stay the same.

because that’s where I come from. I can speak in a Scottish accent too. Can you switch that easily then? Yeah I just switch like that. I’ll give you a little Scottish poem, this is called (in a Scottish accent)

All buttered up Wise old bird me Ah know Glasgow men well - they’re not up tae much hen ken what I mean? but when he said gaunnae come back to mine then? Ah lost the nut went a’ tae mush a right pushover pathetic! yesterday’s crumpet drowned in butter

So are you familiar with the ‘New Dalston’. How do you feel about it? To be perfectly honest I don’t think I would feel comfortable living in the ‘New Dalston’. I think it’s much faster, much noisier. I went to see a film at the Rio Cinema a little while ago and coming out on a Friday night was like being on Oxford Street whereas before it wasn’t so busy. That’s why I moved here. My time of life suits me a bit better here.

Do you think your English and Scottish poetry are two different things? No not really, it just feels like two different sides of me, I am both them people. These two different places influence you and make you who you are.

It’s interesting that you’ve been in an area of London where you’ve actually seen it develop into something else, are you perfectly fine with that? Yes, I really like the way it has changed. I wouldn’t like it to go any further though. The only major problem with it now is that property is so expensive that it is pushing out a lot of people and if it becomes a

Where are you from in London? I’m a refugee from Dalston. I moved here (Walthamstow) in 2007 but I lived in Dalston for about 25 years.

The people kind of white middle class rich kids place then that’s not going to be good. You seem to be a well informed and a well-travelled Londoner. Where is a place in London that has always been special to you? I would like to recommend to you, the Geffrye Museum. I really like going through all the different houses whilst thinking about the people who lived there. From 1600’s right the way through to the contemporary ages. When I first moved to Dalston I used to go there on a Sunday because I didn’t have any heating in my flat and it was really cold. I used to walk down there and go and have a look in the little rooms and then there was a tiny little café and I used to sit in there and have a coffee and look at all the magazines. Gradually they’ve improved the museum and they’ve got a beautiful herb garden which opens in spring and it’s just such a nice peaceful place to sit – strong smells of lavender and different herbs. That’s one of my favorite places.

#6 Geffrye Museum 136 Kingsland Road London E2 8EA

The place

With only thirty minutes to go before closing, a swift walk down the timeline corridors of this hub of London history definitely allured us to come again. The interactive room-to-room experience shows time passing in a compelling and unique manner. Like time traveling, you watch from the outside how simple chairs change colour, size and shape. The people visiting share the adventure of blurred conscience, as your surroundings change. The garden room in particular, with wicker seats and wide windows onto the green lawn bellow, has a spinetickling feel of long lost adventures and stories.

Alex

25 right, and are you a local Londoner? I live in Dalston. Ok cool! And are you a student? I was. I graduated university in 2012 in Hull. I’ve lived in London for 15 months; before I lived in Whitechapel. As a fairly new resident to London, what would your advice be to other people moving to the city for the first time? Move in with people you don’t know but make sure you meet them / get a feel for the potential house or flat before you move in. I moved in with really great people and it’s a good way to meet lots more people through them. Also it’s good to live with people from a variety of countries! What made you want to move to Dalston? It was out of necessity because my landlord was selling his house so I kind of had to move. It was really lucky that I moved because now I live above a pub called The Victoria. It’s a very good pub. Do you know who Jaguar shoes collective are?  They basically bought this pub and then they wanted to do up the upstairs and rent it out so I moved in there. It’s really nice! So your house must be pretty nice if they’ve just done it up then? Well it’s really big but cheap because on Fridays and Saturdays it gets quite loud

because it’s a music venue. I think it’s really cool. I live with three Spanish girls; it’s quite interesting so I’m learning Spanish. Why are you in London then? Have you got a job here? Yeah, I work in the city. The company works to investigate cases of fraud. It’s very researched based. I kind of support everyone in the company so I’m kind of like a PA and I’m also a researcher. So you do a little bit of everything? Yeah little bit of everything. So you’re in a career that doesn’t directly relate to what you graduated in and you’re taking on more than one responsibility in your workplace. Is that something you think is becoming more common these days and something students should expect and be able to do? I think it’s really helpful if you’re flexible and open minded about what you can and will do. For instance there are a lot of graduate schemes in the civil services or the government or massive companies. So what would your ideal job be? I mean I’m not sure, I think my ideal job is in International development. Travelling around the world and helping people. Some of the clients we have in fraud are in the development sector within massive charities, which have cases of fraud also. So that’s quite a big problem, they call it loss rather than fraud. As you graduated in History, we were wondering what time period you would go

The people

Hi! What’s your name? Alex. Hi Alex, how old are you? I’m 25.

back and live in and why? What would you do if you had 24 hours in that time period? Very good question and hard to pick one but, okay 2 answers, first slightly depressing but back to whenever I could sabotage all plans for nuclear (weapon) technology i.e. stop nuclear weapons from ever being made, second I would go way back to the time Jesus was alive and document it. So now you’ve lived here would you live anywhere else? Can you see yourself anywhere else? Maybe. I lived in Hull, then Liverpool, then I worked in Manchester from Liverpool and then came to London because the other places just weren’t big enough. So my highlight for London is just the people I would say. What do you mean by that? In the sense that you can meet people from every culture, every country and finding that there is community between people of every background which is quite amazing really.

When would you say you’ve experienced this sense of community in London? In Whitechapel there was quite a good community. I mean I have only just moved to Dalston but the community there is amazing. It’s a really good mix of all different types of people. So where are you going to recommend we go next? The place I’m going to suggest is Ridley Road Market in Dalston. I took my parents there this morning. It’s a really good cultural experience. When I was there for the first time I felt like I was in another country, potentially Africa because it’s that different. There are millions of meat and fish stalls and they’re not just selling the normal meat, they’re selling every single part of the meat like ears and noses and stomachs. It’s really cool! Did you buy any of this weird meat? I didn’t today but I’m going to buy some fish, it looks amazing. Really fresh and good

in London) people can fall into a way where they are really busy and they are just rushing all the time and don’t have the time to stop and talk. Do you feel like that? Do you feel like London makes you feel like you are always in a rush? In the week I do definitely but I think that’s why I like the weekends. You can drink with your breakfast and not feel like you’re being judged. Really, that’s a thing? Yeah! Well I think so…maybe. Although a man did come up to me with a leaflet earlier which was for a ‘get clean’ event. [laughs] I don’t know if that’s telling me something! I was literally standing there with my parents when they gave it to me. H: Perhaps you are being judged for that drink with your breakfast after all! [laughs]

The people

quality. My mum was speaking to every single shopkeeper and person there. There’s such an amazing mix of people there: Caribbean, Turkish, Kurdish, Asian, etc. It sounds like you’re very much interested in the idea of culture. Yeah definitely!   What is it about different cultures that interest you in particular? It’s just people! I mean I find people interesting in general like how everyone is different and how everyone can get on no matter how different their background might be. People can always get on. People always have things in common and sometimes people aren’t ready to look at those things but sometimes they are. I mean, for instance today at the market my mum was looking at everything and I think the shopkeepers wanted her to buy something but then they realized that she was willing to talk. It’s the conversation that was more important. I think a lot of the time (especially

#7 Ridley road market 51 - 63 Ridley Road Dalston London E8 2LH

A never-ending line of colour coordinated goods as real as the smell of curry bubbling from one of the shop windows. Everything is laced together - the thriving multinational LondonÂ gives a raw sense of what the capital has become. Flags of all colours held high in pride. As we swerve through puddles of popcorn and potted aloe vera plants, the curious shop owners peep over our notebooks with grins from ear to ear. Explore a little further and hidden among the carpets are mystical, tired, torn faces waiting to share their journeys. Do their carpets fly we wonder. We get the feeling they might.

61 The place

Lee

Lee is in love with what she does. “I’m a people’s person. Here you meet the good and the bad”. After approaching numerous sellers and being rejected, Lee accepts that “She’s got nothing to hide” and that “She’s the nicest greengrocer on Ridley road”. She speaks the truth. Her contagious laugh gives her away.

The people

The nice lady down Ridley Road market, also known as Lee, has the biggest of hearts filled with heritage and tales from the market. She has seen all the changes. The weather, from hard suns to boneshaking winters and the excited young faces turn older with time. She’s the fifth generation guarding a beloved stall. Decades ago, the fresh smell of citrus and strong herbs flooded from her grandmother’s stall. A couple of decades later her father, born between lemons and mint, became a well-known friend to all the workers along the market. People still talk about the “Cauliflower man”.

#8 Broadway Market Broadway Market London E8 4QJ

Home to quality food, this trendy market is buzzing with smells, sounds and wonderful people offering from mango cheese cake to fine Spanish marinated olives. After that hard decision, you can enjoy the conversations of those who work here - the market, their safe home full of friends and very welcome visitors. Like the many honey pots lined together on chequered green table cloths, the simple sight of the whole ordeal is so sweet. Like a present, from the early hours this parade of beautiful food, clothes and whatnot unravels for all to enjoy. We dare you not to smile at yourself at least twice.

67 The place

Stephanie

Hello! What’s your name? Stephanie

We’ve stopped you because we noticed your amazing bike right there next to you, and we would like to know a bit more about cycling in London. Would you consider yourself a London cyclist? Yeah, I suppose so, I cycle pretty much everywhere I go. I try and get on my bike every time I can.

Yeah, winters can be difficult but I still try and cycle. As long as it’s not snowing or gale force winds, then I tend to cycle most places. Do you think London has plenty of routes to offer for cyclists? Yeah I think the more you cycle, the more routes you find, that’s something I’ve definitely experienced myself.

Is it your main form of transport? Yeah, it’s my main form of transport, I do have a car as well but I mainly use it outside of London. Is there a reason you cycle? Is it to save money or because you don’t like public transport? A bit of both actually, I think firstly it was to save money and then I realised how much closer and easier things were when you cycle. Buses, for example, take you the longest possible route around to fit in the most people, but when you cycle you realise places are much closer together. So yeah, I guess I’ve become dependent on the bike.

Do you feel like cycling is dangerous in London? It can be quite unsettling cycling here. I’ve definitely seen some pretty dangerous, near misses and incidents. Sometimes you see cyclists doing really dangerous things and putting themselves at risk but then you also see motorists doing dangerous things that are putting cyclists at risk. I think the problem is that roads aren’t really laid out that well for cyclists, which makes it a bit dangerous at times.

And it’s perfect weather to cycle right now, but what about winter? Do you find it a challenge to cycle then?

Is traffic something that makes you

The people

Stephanie, nice to meet you! How old are you? I’m 29

feel endangered? Yeah, I definitely try and avoid busy roads

go fast enough, ill get across the junction quicker than you”. I ended up going into the side of his car and he was actually really angry and asked me why I didn’t stop. That kind of put me off cycling for a while.

So do you use the quite roads instead? How exactly do you find them? Well, I’m from London, I’m not from this area (east) but I’ve lived in this part of London for 5/6 years now so I know most of the roads quite well. I think if I don’t know where I’m going, I’ll tend to check the route first on Google maps and then if I see some roads that I’m familiar with I’ll definitely try to follow them.

Were you ok? I was ok in that accident actually, my bike got a little bit damaged from the impact but I was ok. I was just a bit shaken at the time, it just really shocked me that he had no care whatsoever for my well-being and was actually angry even though he was in the wrong. It kind of made me think, if people can drive around doing what ever they want and not paying attention to the laws then what place do I have on the road, I have no assurance that people are going to obey the rules set out for driving and cycling.

You were saying how you’ve seen other peoples near misses but what about you, have you had any bad experiences yourself? Yeah I’ve have 2! And one, not that long ago. The most recent one was really random (laughs) it was no one’s fault, I was carrying a lot of stuff and I braked really harshly and ended up going over my handlebars. I came out with a cut lip and lots of cuts and scratches. The worst thing about it though was that it was completely my own fault (laugh)

Do you think something can be done to improve the roads for cyclists? I think people’s attitude towards cyclists is a good start but it’s really hard to change that because it’s kind of engraved in the person. But when you think about it, you’re really vulnerable when you’re on a bicycle, the motorists are the ones who are in a position to cause harm and more damage. Obviously as a cyclist you can endanger yourself, but I think the focus really needs to be on the motorists being cautious when around cyclists, to be aware of the people around them. If roads could be better designed then that would naturally help but it’s a massive task to take on, there just isn’t enough space on the roads to be honest. It’s not

That must have been quite “funny”/ scary to observe! Yeah it would have been interesting to see what it looked like, luckily there was someone behind me that was really nice and helped me. I was a short distance from my home so they carried my bags and walked my bike with me to my house. The other incident that I had which was maybe 3 years ago was when a car didn’t stop at a junction and I was on a main road. They should have stopped but I think the driver kind of thought “If I

something that is easily done. I guess space it’s the thing that could solve this problem, but I’m not a town planner (laughs).

So that would be your advice, be aware and safe? Yeah, I’d say definitely go for a class because its free and it’s going to boost your confidence and I think it’s important to be confident and understand the rules when cycling so you’re not endangering yourself. So what’s your favourite place in London, where would you host us? Wimbledon car boot is really cool; it’s where I bought my first bike. What do you usually do there, is there anything in particular you do? I just buy a lot, I studied set design after graphics so I used to be a prop buyer so I used to go and buy things for little film projects. It’s huge and has a really interesting atmosphere; the variety of people and their items make it a really unique market where you can find literally anything.

The people

What advice would you give to someone who was considering taking up cycling in a big, busy city like London? Be aware of what’s around you and cycle safely! A friend of mine teaches people to cycle safely on the roads; she’s employed by the council so I know you can actually get free training from the council if you’re worried.

#9 Wimbledon carboot Wimbledon Stadium Plough Lane London SW17 0BL

Noorie “My special place is Wimbledon car boot, the sense of community spirit here is fantastic, but it’s my special place because every time I come here and buy things I find something truly unique and individual that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.” -Noorie

Frail lean-to tables, buckling under the weight of hats and pots and pans and books

Chitter, chatter, laughter, haggling, bargaining, the microphones voice of the butcher at his stall Dusty articles strewn across tables, glistening underneath layers of time