Our really phoney market on the slide

http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/amol-rajan-fairtrade-local-organic--the-myth-of-ethical-food-8509756.html

People are just getting real around here.

After Christmas it is always very quiet but now it should be picking up. Instead we have at least five empty shops in our shopping mall that passes for the market.
Here we have no greengrocer, no bakery,no butcher no fresh fish and if it was not for Tesco, no where to go for ordinary groceries.  Loads of gift stores flogging bits that get caught up in the hoover, overpriced clothes and media savvy places like Leon posturing as wholesome.  Their display of a glass milk bottle on the counter, while serving Tescos 2 pint cartons. 
The market seems to be getting emptier every week- except for antiques day on Thursday when real characters turn up and it is really quite fun to look around.

I have now started taking my visitors to Walthamstow or Green street to look at real markets.
I see Spitalfields Old Market is in the news as it may be resold. And that Smithfield might go the same way as Spitalfields.

The Spitalfields Olympic Trail

One of several figures on the Mandeveille theme that appeared in Spitalfields overnight. I find these figures rather creepy but I think you are meant to walk around and sort of spot them. Going out early one morning I took a photo of our beloved mayor Boris posing next to one. I just called to him to look my way- and although there were banks of photographers there, he posed for me.  He is not too full of himself to pose for photos

http://www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com/home/events/stroll-discovery-walks.html

Skate boarding 'The Vans'

Another great exciting FREE event in our local market.  We feel so lucky to be living near all this entertainment and seeing so many different people. I just wished Pat's family were around to see this.  It was well organised with a large screen in Brushfield street as well as the live action in the market itself

Vintage Market on Bank Holiday Monday

There were so many people there beautifully dressed but it was so hard to take photos in the crowded market.  Of course many people who after all are 'dressing up' like and mean to be photographed but I was scared some might not. So, only two images of an amazing scene