Observations in Leadhall Market – Harry Potter, an optician, the 2i's cafe and a tobacco shop

Last Sunday 28th July I went to Leadenhall Market to have a mooch and around Judy's Vintage Fair, a which occasionally uses this marvellous space as a selling space for bric-a-brac, furniture, clothes and more.  

Usually, on a weekend, the only people you see here are large groups Harry Potter fans on a guided tour hearing how a shop here is the inspiration for, or a location used in one of the movies (hands up that I haven't a clue about all this, having never read any of the books and I fell asleep during the first movie). As I headed out of the market via Bull's Head Passage I noticed that the name on that shop has changed. It most definitely was not called 2i's the last time I was there. 

Some girls were taking snaps and I asked if this was the name used in the book/film. They said yes. I suggested that this shop has recently been renamed to echo the book, which is interesting because 2i's was the name of a popular café in Old Compton Street, Soho, back in the 1950s through to the 70s. See here. 

I went on to enlighten them that Platform 9 and 3/4 at Kings Cross Station as a portal in the HP book(s) also has connections with London's history – it was there that Boudicca was said to have died after fighting her last battle. I don't think they really understood what I was on about.

Ah but no. I think they misunderstood me, as it turns out that 2i's is an opticians. I dunno, perhaps it's also a Harry Potter reference. I am losing the will to live here!

Further along this narrow street, at No.4, is one of my favourite little details in the market and it's this mosaic doorway threshold which is reflected in the mirror to the side and the glass within the door:

This was Baylin's Tobacco Stores, here from the 1920s. The shop is listed in the 1939 directly but I am unaware if the business continued after WW2. Do let me know if you have any further info.

I crossed over Gracechurch Street and went for a wander around the streets around Cornhill. I'll leave it there for now. 

My old GT6 Mk2 is still on the road – a reunion at the Classic Carboot Sale

On Saturday afternoon I went for a mooch around the Classic Carboot Sale at Kings Cross. I have traded there in the past but this time I thought I'd have a weekend off and be a punter.
The first car I saw inside the market area was a 1971 blue Truimph GT6 Mk2:

April 2018 – Granary Square, Kings Cross 

I said to my friend, "I had one just like that"
And then I did a double-take...
OH
MY
GOD!
"That's my old car!"
Or was it wishful thinking?
But the number plate was so familiar – EPK is in Parker, I was 20 when I bought it, and J is for Jane – I'd always thought this too much of a coincidence when I had it.
Could this really be my car?!
So when I got home I dug out my old photos.
And.... YES!

1983 – on the front garden in Albert Road, Romford, and in Bedfords Park

I'd bought it from a man in Collier Row, north Romford, and two years later sold it to another local man. Steve, the latest owner, tells me bought it in Essex and that's where he lives too. So it's never gone far.
The black and chrome-wire number plates on it today are the ones that were bought for me as birthday present by my friend Gary (an ex-boyfriend) who had helped me buy the GT6 and did all the maintenance/mechanical stuff. In fact, I think that's why he'd encouraged me to buy it because he loved working on old cars. He used to drive round in a subtlely converted Imperial Maroon Ford Anglia with "big boots and Ecobra seats". As he'd say, "Tidy!"
I notice Steve has made a few modifications and additions to the car. He as replaced or recovered the seats – they used to be tan vinyl which could be rather uncomfortable/sweaty on a hot day – no air con back then! And he's changed the wheels to those spokey ones – as you can see I never got around to replacing the hubcaps that were on it when I bought it.
It was a joy to drive, though I sometimes did feel as if I was going to take off and fly especially when on open motorways. And on returning to a car park I was often thinking it had been stolen being as it's so much lower than most other cars – and then there was that "phew!" moment when I saw it hiding behind an estate car.
I only sold it because I barely used it. I had a job in Covent Garden and went out mostly in the West End after work or used my British Rail season ticket to go back and forth at weekends. Though the car was great for local nights out or trips away and I visited friends all over the the country.
Also, though the engine was excellent, thanks to Gary, it needed some body repairs specifically to the floor and the cills and finding the correct parts had proved difficult so, seeing as by 1985 I was looking to fly the nest, I sold it and spent the money on stuff I needed for my new home.
Ah... happy memories though.
And at 52 I am glad to see it's still looking good.
I didn't get another car until about eight years later. They'll be no chance of seeing that one again because it died on me in Camden Road and the prognosis was that the cost of the repairs would far exceed the value of the car. So I made some phone calls and man from the breakers came and collected it for scrap. I watched as the claws took hold and squished it then lifted and dropped it onto the flat bed lorry. And then we waved goodbye. That was 2007. I haven't had a car since.

All Offers Considered

Last weekend I spent two days in Lewis Cubitt Square, Kings Cross trying to sell off some of the bric-a-brac I have somehow amassed over years at the Classic Car Boot Sale. Apparently the green Roller I was paired with belongs to a famous artist. He wasn't there though; a friend of his was borrowing it for the weekend.

Markets like these are lively events but I have now had enough and the two pics of me in the bottom row, above, sort of say it all – doing stalls etc is fun but it's just so tiring, so energy-sapping. All I want to do at the end of each day is have a bath, eat comfort food, stare at rubbish on the TV and then go to bed early.
I have therefore decided no more markets of this kind for me – my achy old bones can't take it any more and in a couple of weeks I will be eBay-ing what's left at very low starting prices. I can't even be bothered to do a carboot sale!
If there is anything in the pics above that catches your eye (excluding me, the car and the cards) do contact me and make me an offer. And there's plenty more stuff not shown... grunt...

Classic Car Boot Sale, Kings Cross 1&2 October 2016

Another colourful weekend coming up at Kings Cross – bric-a-brac, clothes, household, crafts, cards, and more. Plus cars, food, music, drink and dancing.
This time I will be in the covered area. Do come and say hello.
Here are some pics from previous events:

More info here

Vintage Car Boot at Kings Cross this weekend

Find me selling all sorts of bric-a-brac, tins, accessories and what-not tomorrow and Sunday at Cubitt's Yard, Kings Cross.
For more info see the website.
Here's a video of last year
And some pics:

Kev's taxi will be there on Sunday only this year

Previous events at different locations: September 2014,  March 2015

The Classic Carboot Sale returns to the Southbank this weekend

Two days of cars and collectables, good music, great shopping, yummy food and drink, and dancing too.
Next to Hungerford Bridge and Jubilee Bridges, near the London Eye.
See you there – I will be selling some lovely stuff out of an old 1930s taxi cab.
More info here.

Classic Car Boot Sale this weekend at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

You'd have probably thought I'd be banging on about this being Open House weekend, but I'd booked up for the Classic Car Boot Sale before I realised the clash.
And anyway, I have worn myself out in previous years chasing about London looking at interiors.
Tomorrow and Saturday you will find me and my friend Kevin outdoors selling all sorts of bric-a-brac from the boot of one of his cars – a black 1965 Zodiac (see bottom right) as used/featured in Endeavour, a Dr Who special and a Dizzee Rascal promo.

Pics from the March 2014 event along the Southbank

The Classic Car Boot Sale – Southbank 15 & 16 March

After the success of the first vintage market in October 2013, The Classic Car Boot Sale returns to the Southbank this weekend.
Two days of beautiful old cars and lots of stalls selling antiques, bric-a-brac, clothes, crafts and more, plus lots of great food stalls, live music and a pub.
Hope to see you there – I will be trading on both days, selling collectibles, old tins, ceramics etc, plus a few selected items from my handmade range. Do come and say hello.

The Southbank area including a dancing junction