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London
Dear Ones,
Prices may be high in London, but there is so much to see and do that you have to make sport of it. At least one needn't
stay in the hotel to watch the telly - an amazing experience in this country. There's two women who tell you What Not to Wear
while admitting that yes, you do look fat and two other women telling you its naff, definitely not done ( my dear), when you
bring wine to a dinner party. On another night, a woman comes into your home to tell you how clean it is (or isn't) and yet
another program, The House Doctor, redecorates a dog that's been on the market for a year so it can be sold for greater profit.
TO MARKET, TO MARKET: profits are much wanted in a country where the cost of living is so high that even casual shoppers
wonder how locals can manage. But then, the lifestyle seems to be changing and markets are getting bigger and better. Columbia
Street Flower Market in the newly somewhat-chic East End is not just for flowers (despite its name). In fact, plants and flowers
are sold in the streets, but on the curb is a row of adorable shops - only open Sundays from 9AM until 1PM.
Nearby, Spitafields Market isn't nearly as cute as it was (sob) due to construction and the invasion of the modern world,
but Brick Lane Market is as much fun as any street party in Hong Kong. Clothes, videos, DVD's and home style all come out
of bins and boxes on Brick Lane itself and on the cross street Cheshire Road. This is another Sunday market. The stores lining
Brick Lane are known for their hip fashions for teens and tweens.
The news for foodies must be munched on weekends only-- Fridays (12PM-3PM) and Saturdays (9AM-4PM) -- at Borough Market,
right out the door from the London Bridge tube station. This market is covered, in the midst of renovations, and filled with
local Yuppies who come to buy not only produce and flowers, but a variety of products from France, just ferried in. There's
a huge wine section (free tastings); there's fresh foods from local English farmers and even home- made chorizo sandwiches,
which are so good there's always a long line. In fact, I'm drooling just from the memory.
SUPERDRUG AND MORE: In terms of regular retail, since prices are so high I have fun in drug stores, like Boots and SuperDrug.
High on my shopping list are beauty products - not just makeup, but treatments and hair products. The English must keep their
famed skin abloom by avoiding sun and artificially tanning with a three step program called St. Tropez, considered especially
chic in the winter. Springing for the three bottles will set you back over 100 euros, but Step 3 - the bronze gel - is a
mere E35 and actually does the trick. You can buy it at John Lewis, the department store on Oxford Street.
The biggest news for fashionistas is what's old is new - I don't mean vintage clothes (this is old news). In fact, I
actually mean what's new is old - many big name brands have recently moved from New Bond Street to Old Bond Street, including
Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and even Alexander McQueen. If you walk the two parts of Bond Street from Oxford Street to Piccadilly,
you'll find that everyone is doing the chacha. One, two, move the store. Emporio Armani is across the street from it's old
digs; Pringle has moved in.
These brands may be great for window-shopping, but real people (like me) are probably happier with the changes going on
at Marks&Spencer and Selfridges, both giant department stores with flagships on Oxford Street near Marble Arch. In fact,
the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street has several new shops and some are fancy smancy, like Bally. Watch this space.
Big kisses from the wrong side of the road,
SuzyKG
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