Boats going home after the Gay Pride Boat Parade.
The Beigel Shop, Brick Lane, London.
Last night was the night was truly horrible, as it got later it got hotter so much so Richie put the fan on at midnight.
When it was time to turn off the lights, the fan stayed on right next to me and even so it barely kept the air fresh.
It was like lying in a hot, sticky bath, both sheet and top were damp with sweat, when I heard Richie was awake I asked for some THC so that I could finally sleep.
Had been lying awake desperately wanting to sleep, seemed to drift off initially but the tremendous heat stopped sleep for hours.
After Richie got me the THC I did manage to drift off into an uneasy sleep where I was totally aware of lying in sweltering room.
When the rain that had been forecast for the day arrived, it was a deluge according to Richie, who got up and turned off the fan as the temperature dropped considerably with the rain.
After the fan went off we both fell asleep and when I was awake again several hours later another lot of THC helped me sleep on very happily for another couple of hours.
Really strange night all because it got so unbearably hot, seems to be getting unbearably hot now too.
Hope Richie and the dogs are having a real good time in the park, they seemed to need a big walk today.
Richie made a great smoothie for me, of orange, carrots, banana really delicious and healthy.
When he is back from the park the bread will be put in the oven, am looking forward to a tasty bread roll not too long after the merry band return.
Talking of bread makes me think of bagels and the wonderful bagel bakers there are in London.
The bagel bakers that I first went to was on Brick Lane, they call themselves Beigel Bake and are open 24/7.
The first bagel I ever ate was a classic salmon and cream cheese which is yummy as is the cream cheese or humus, other fillings include smoked salmon, chopped herring and hot salt beef.
The bagel is a Brick Lane staple, which has been around for years, and serves as a remnant of the area’s Jewish past.
At the Beigel Bake they are made the proper way, by boiling then baking, creating the dense chewy consistency which is so more-ish.
At the back of the shop you can watch them making and boiling and then baking the bagels.
They encourage you to watch them preparing the bagels the traditional way.
This is a welcome change from most bagel chains, who essentially serve bread rolls with a hole in the middle.
When we lived in Hackney there were lots of good bagel bakers around where we lived, we would visit Brick Lane every now and then but we got our bagels close to where we lived.
Usually we go them from Ross’s on Stamford Hill road, Ross’s was a small family run place, their bagels were excellent.
I was getting some bagels one day, when I overheard some talk of the community having a festival at the weekend.
When the other people had gone Mr. Ross tallied up what I owed, which I paid saying, hope you have a good festival this weekend.
Mr Ross was so funny in the way he replied that this was not that sort of festival and rolled his eyes as if fun would be the last thing on their minds.
A great man Mr Ross, with a great sense of humour, like when I knew I was moving back to Amsterdam.
I went to tell him at the shop, that I was moving back to Amsterdam and would miss his shop so very much.
Asked him if he couldn’t start an Amsterdam branch of Mr. Ross’s Bakers as otherwise I would have to miss his tasty bagels.
Mr Ross rolled his eyes and said ‘’ But I could not bear to live in an attic, can you guarantee that nothing untoward will happen.
Sadly we have missed bagels here very much, good bread is not easy to find here and bagels are here but sadly they are bread rolls wsith a hole.
One shop here makes good bagels and that is a Jewish shop over the other side of town.
Amsterdam is I find much improved by the communities that have established themselves here.
Now there are Suriname and Indian and Pakistani and Turkish and Moroccan shops to choose from.
The Turkish shop near us is very much a neighbourhood shop and is open later than most, just like other Turkish shops.
They really make the neighbourhood so much livelier and streets are bustling and everyone feels happier and safer.
Personally, as a Trini I like a mix of people, I enjoy the cultures meeting, love being able to get a Suriname filled roll with tempe or saltfish with lots of pepper.
When I was first here in Amsterdam you could only get a cheese roll.
Racism seems to restrict people in a culinary way as well as emotionally and socially, a cosmopolitan life seems to be a healthier.
It is good to know about other people other lives, the blog world is a great place to find others and exchange stories.
THC
I am going to post this and visit some other blogs, both those I follow and some I don’t and see how my lovely blog friends are doing.
Have a great Sunday.
