More gearing up for Christmas

Saturday, 15 December, 2018

In this neighbourhood, there are houses being sold all the time. The real estate market is booming, even now with things looking so precarious.

When we first moved to Hackney no one wanted to live here. Over the years this has reversed to Hackney being one of the most desirable areas to live. In between there has been much buying up of cheap properties, large gorgeous renovations and the cheap, hasty ones, and the scenery is changing quite rapidly.

The cost of a one bedroom flat has gone from around £100,000 and less in 2000 to £500,000 and more in 2018. All of the buying, reno, selling cycle translates to scaffolding. What a business to be in! If I had invested money in it back when I first arrived, by now I could have been buying and renovating a home of my own.

Earlier this week, I was a bit dismayed when a truck pulled up out front with a large amount of wood planks and metal rods. More scaffolding was on the way. That would make about five houses in this little block that were being done over. My fear was that it would be this one, since there’s been a For Sale sign outside for some time. Scaffolding spoils my view and takes away my privacy, with men outside the window without warning. But phew, it was for three houses over. Sorry, guys!

I suppose the farmers’ markets have been around long before the real estate boom but I’m sure they will have changed. They probably started as honest fruit and veg stalls, bread, cake, a few wholesome crafts – I think I even remember going to the Stoke Newington one when it was like that, and not so many years ago. Now many are artisan markets with stuff no one really needs, but it’s fun to look.

Some places are quite Christmassy along Stoke Newington High Street. This year I’ve noticed that the shopping has begun very early. I’ve never seen such queues at some of the shops. Until the last couple of years you could go into a shop or supermarket on Christmas eve or even the day before and find completely empty shelves. One year we found ourselves without Christmas dinner and from then on, we shopped a little earlier too. Last year it seemed to have improved and I was surprised to see there was still a little selection.

The one thing I did that was Christmassy myself was go to Geffrye Museum to make a wreath. I’d done a wreath workshop at Mary’s Secret Garden a few years ago and quite enjoyed it. The museum one was a much bigger and more professional affair. The workshop leader was the gardener, Heather.

There were wheelbarrows full of greenery outside. Inside were more tables heaped with greenery, and one heaped with decorations…and mince pies and biscuits! No booze at this one. At Mary’s it was more intimate. We sat in companionship eating hot mince pies with custard, drinking tea laced with whisky – very pleasant. But the wreaths we were about to make were rather more grand.