There is a reason why most people trade mainly during the spring & summer, and leave London for the winter; some of them going to cheap & exotic destination like Thailand or India. Not so many people are willing to go out in chilly weather, resulting in takings going down, unless you have a strong & loyal customer base who requires daily bread.
With several attempts of snow, this winter has been particularly harsh, the coldest one I can remember in my 10 years in London and I am sure, as about the amount of chocolate in my brownies, that the Retail sector would feel the frost.
When my wife asks me, from time to time, why you have to do this outside in the cold, I always answer that I do it for my regulars. They deserve my chocolate tart more than me. Even when it was snowing lightly in Roman Road Market last Saturday, white sourdough loaves vanished quickly, so who cares? When they are happy, I am happy. A simple philosphy for simple men!
By the way, sometimes the weirdest things can happen in a cold & dark winter morning, especially when you are in the right place. Last Sunday, at around 5 am, when I was already in full swing setting up my stall in BrickLane, an old lady approached me, carrying several heavy bags, asking if I was interested in buying some lemons.
Such an encounter at such unsociable hours must prove the fact that the elderly find it difficult to sleep. It may be part of a spreading syndrome including people enquiring about the same things at regular days.
There was one guy passing by every Friday in Greenwich and asking, each time, for the price of the same bread: a loaf of Campaillou. I haven't seen him in the market for few months now & I am honestly worried.
Plus there is an old lady who comes around every Saturday in Roman Road & pops the question:
-Do you have scones?
What's a scone? I don't know... but I am always happy to answer.
Spring is coming!
With several attempts of snow, this winter has been particularly harsh, the coldest one I can remember in my 10 years in London and I am sure, as about the amount of chocolate in my brownies, that the Retail sector would feel the frost.
When my wife asks me, from time to time, why you have to do this outside in the cold, I always answer that I do it for my regulars. They deserve my chocolate tart more than me. Even when it was snowing lightly in Roman Road Market last Saturday, white sourdough loaves vanished quickly, so who cares? When they are happy, I am happy. A simple philosphy for simple men!
By the way, sometimes the weirdest things can happen in a cold & dark winter morning, especially when you are in the right place. Last Sunday, at around 5 am, when I was already in full swing setting up my stall in BrickLane, an old lady approached me, carrying several heavy bags, asking if I was interested in buying some lemons.
Such an encounter at such unsociable hours must prove the fact that the elderly find it difficult to sleep. It may be part of a spreading syndrome including people enquiring about the same things at regular days.
There was one guy passing by every Friday in Greenwich and asking, each time, for the price of the same bread: a loaf of Campaillou. I haven't seen him in the market for few months now & I am honestly worried.
Plus there is an old lady who comes around every Saturday in Roman Road & pops the question:
-Do you have scones?
What's a scone? I don't know... but I am always happy to answer.
Spring is coming!
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