Waking up early Saturday morinng, alone in a big city, I knew at once what I wanted to do. Visit Portobello Market. I had been there twice before, on our honeymoon back in 1980, then again nine years later, a few months before Ingrid was born, when Terje and I had a week in London together, without two active, high and low boys. Sweet memories, both the travels with Terje, the active boys and the upcoming birth of our first daughter. But that was a long time ago. The leaves in the trees have grown alot since then, the two boys and the first girl have grown up, this morning it is Marta's messages coming to my cell phone which follows me. She is together with her three cousins though, and is not missing me too much.
A musician is greeting me when I arrive at the market. he is playing only for me, he must have known that the snow had prevented me from visiting Roz, now he wanted to make my unexpected London week-end a colourful one.
I soon found the stands with old china, and I was in heaven. My mother has promised to give me some money for my upcoming birthday, and I sent her a message, letting her know that I would use the money to buy a treasure at Portobello Market. She wrote me back; "do you know how much money you will get?" "Well, I think so........."........well, I didn't, and all of a sudden I had a little pre-birthday party, all by myself :-) I knew I would buy china and lace, but first I wanted to explore.
What about a walking stick, after all I am a 50+.....
Or a stamp? I bought a B and a BA......
May be an antique camera? I was not the only one dreaming, photographing.......
Cutlery, silverware, isn't this bone colour just beautiful? I could need some silverware for the new dinner china we bought last week, for our big family party.
I enjoyed walking around, dreaming. Knowing that my suitcase didn't have much extra space, and the extra space which actually is there, is needed for books (after Portobello Market I planned a visit to Charing Cross Road and Foyles). I walked back to my first china lady, and ended up with this 1860 cup and saucer, further down the road I found an amazing laced table cloth from around 1920, and as an extra treat I bought a blue hardcovered antique travel book from Italy. With all colour maps to unfold. Will be perfect for our upcoming travel to Italy in May/June.
My Saturday morning at Portobello Market was over, I sat down to enjoy a hot chocolate, and walked back to the hotel to leave my purchases there before I kept on with my day. The musician knew my visit was over, and let his instrument have a well deserved break.
Photos from my Saturday morning visit in Portobello. Have you ever ben there? What story can you tell?
