What a Week
It’s been quite a week on the heat, football, rain, flowers and trips to the tip, but a midweek visit from Elaine Delmar (see picture) was a total joy. While I was working for Haringey Council as an Equalities Events Officer, I first heard of Elaine. I’d been listening to a vintage episode of Morecambe & Wise on Radio 4 Extra when I heard her sing during their halftime cabaret slot. Intrigued by her name and voice, I googled her and discovered she’d been raised in Wood Green and that her father had been a well-known jazz bandleader. Of course, I sent her agent an email to ask if she might like to collaborate with Haringey’s young jazz musicians. I heard back from her address in New Barnet that she’d be delighted, and at the end of the summer term in 2011, I had the greatest pleasure of watching their collaboration. Cut to 2021, and who walks into the shop? Elaine hasn’t aged one bit during those 10 years. To cut a long story, short Elaine is a near neighbour who’s clueless about gardening. In conversation, she tells me that she’ll be back performing at Ronnie Scott’s soon, which she loves - I subsequently hear from a friend that she’s just received a lifetime achievement award from them - what a star. Today is our second zero-waste market is happening, and I’m awake cripplingly early worrying about the weather, the rain and questioning if I’ve collected enough gazeboes from the fantastically kind and helpful Bob Burstow. This is the last time we’ll be providing the marquees for free the process of collecting and erecting them is exhausting and not for a keen amateur like me. Anyway, I digress our market today from 12.00, and we’ve got lots of exciting stalls that, fingers crossed, won’t get rained on. Eternal thanks to Helen Harte, a social media genius, Julie Wiater and 2 rather lovely Turkish/German sisters Bilge and Gamza, who’ve been transforming the back garden over the past week, which is why I’ve had so many trips to the tip.
If you haven't had a chance to visit our Zero Waste Market here is a little taster of what you have been missing. Hope to see you at the next one, which will take place on the 18 July, at The Flower Bank, 45 Leicester Rd, EN5 5EW.
Have a great week, and I hope to see you later. Ursula