Clapton Pond Blog

Biddles keeps EU flag flying as 2016 ends

A forlorn scene on a gloomy morning during the dead zone between Christmas and New Year, but not without a note of defiance from the builders' merchant turned bar in this heartland of Remain.

Merry Christmas, 2016

He used to operate outside Palm 2 until his high-pressure sales technique resulted in his being asked to move on. So now he's made Tesco his pitch, which is also handy for the bus stop. You can't fault him for enterprise. The picture was taken on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas carols by the pond

"The power of social media," remarked one of the organisers of this heart-warming event. "A few mentions on Twitter and you get a lovely crowd like this." It was a lovely crowd too, which I stumbled across on my way to the shops having forgotten to remember that I wanted to see - and hear - the event anyway. It was a joint effort by the Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group and St James's Church, which provided hot drinks and mince pies afterwards.

Dan's Island meets the Mermaid Fish Bar

New restaurants, cafes and takeaways come and go at such a rate round here these days it can be hard to keep up, so there's something reassuring about the continuing presence of a fish and chip shop and a Chinese takeaway that have been feeding me and my family for as long as I have lived in this corner of Hackney (nearly a quarter of a century, since you ask). Visiting them is always nice, largely because of the welcoming women behind their respective counters. Even if you don't go in for a few weeks, it's nice to know that they are there.