Britain is in a state of flux. By Britain I do of course mean myself. The English have been enjoying our second double bank holiday weekend. Last week there was a total of only 3 working days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the rest of the week has been national holidays. It is a rare event to have two long weekends of national holidays back to back, which has been made even better by some fine sunshine.
As I left my apartment in Shoreditch this morning, the evidence of yesterday’s and last night’s Royal wedding celebrations was still evident as the discarded remains of the street parties wait pensively for the street sweepers to get to them.
It’s a Saturday morning. I ventured to Borough market, formerly a foodies market but more recently has become overrun with tourists which make any actual food shopping quite unfeasible. Still, if you get there early enough it’s not too bad.
With some supplies purchased I jump onto a Boris bike. Continuing my research into collaborative consumption, I find I’m having to do a lot weaving in and out avoiding the tourists which are spread thick along the riverside this morning. There are more then usual which is another indication of the human wake left from yesterdays Royal wedding, I head towards my goal: a cafe in Soho.
I’ve found that cafes are a productive place for me to write and think, and while coffee is the drink of choice for most, I am much fonder of a good cup of tea. How English. The café in question I’m heading for is one that hosts a wide selection of teas; black teas, red teas and green teas, some of the teas taste of fruit, some flowers and some taste like bonfires. I’m slowly working my way though all the flavors they have to offer.
As the day moves with each passing cup I bury my head in to the writing which has brought me here, only popping my head up occasionally to observe the other customers which come and go. I count the time in words written and flavors of tea I have consumed.
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About the author: Oli Shaw is part anthropologist, part creative and part strategist. What interests him most is the ever-changing culture around us, how technology is seamlessly integrating with our lives and becoming more and more essential to our everyday living. He tweets at @olishaw.
