Columbia Road Flower Market

It’s about time I got blogging again…

I’ve recently been struggling with terrible back pain having done the most extraordinary exercise of opening a blind at home.  Ever since my car crash in 2002 my spine has been fairly weak but when it goes ping I normally get better after a few days.  However the latest painful episode just doesn’t want to heal.  Walking has been difficult and the pain really takes my breath away. 

I decided that I needed to do something different this time and paid top dollar for a Canary Wharf based osteopath that has been able to get me walking again but with some limited range of movement.  It just seems that since passing 40 my body is taking longer to heal.  Sadly the money runs out soon and I can’t afford to continue the plan much longer.  I really hope I don’t have a relapse and end up using a walking stick full time.  Once my treatment plan is completed I intend to start swimming in the local pool, which everyone tells me will help.  Painkillers do nothing for me; so I really hope I can get pain free and maybe one day, go for a run.  I’ll take a long walk as a compromise.

As a keen photographer I sometimes get asked to take pictures and a couple of weeks ago I was asked to take shots of some warships in Victoria Dock.  The British, Swedish and South Korean Navy’s were visiting for the DSEI event, which is a defence event at Excel London. 

The bridge that spans the dock was closed for security reasons as the event has attracted demonstrators.  The bridge was opened for my exclusive access and I managed to get some pictures that nobody else could take.  A real privilege seeing the state of the art ships up close, including some new missiles for sale.

Living in London you would imagine that I’ve seen most places in the town that I love but I’d never visited the Columbia Road flower market. 

It is only a narrow street in London, E2 but it is full of great character and characters from the market stall sellers to the live music.  The short strip of road has over priced and in some cases questionable art for sale in the small shops that sit behind the stalls of flowers, trees and plants.

I loved the atmosphere and vibe and could have wandered around for longer but it just isn’t that big.  Having arrived early I missed out on having a drink and some food at the Royal Oak pub that sits nicely in the middle of the action.   I can’t wait to go back soon…

I think that catches up on the past month,

M