the world famous Portobello Market
just to show you
the varieties of stuffs available here
original copies from the 40’s
15 pounds each
and if you venture further
into these antique markets,
with small shop front
it’s a whole new world in there
have my targets locked down on
two items
or two categories of items
vintage toy vehicles
particularly
and a Paddington bear
I am not sure which one
have been stalking him for weeks already
after one round of survey
finally settled for
first thing attracted by the
“specialization-in-bear” display
basically can’t make up my mind
between the blue coat & black hat vintage version
or the one I always wanted
with boots, standing tall and a P.B. hand luggage
the lovely stall owner
I must say that
he has got that vintage Paddington look too
it’s not a derogative, really
I mean friendly, helpful
soft-spoken (as if I have heard the voice of a bear)
in short,
I like buying from small stall owner like this
rather than big chain souvenir stores
he kinda explained the
and he actually asked,
“how old is the kid?”
oh my
“it’s for collection”
then
next stop
super crowded
flat prices, all the large objects at 9 pounds
small one at the other side at 4 pounds
this is lovely
and reasonable price
the only concern is the size
spot-the-objects
all the dream vehicles of mine
in one row, at one go
Portobello Market @ Portobello Road
how to get here?
nearest Underground: Ladbroke Grove/Nothing Hill Gate
we walked from Royal Oak
which is supposed to be two stations away
thanks to the lovely weather
0.5 miles along Westbourne Park Road
which takes about 20 minutes
as I said,
this is a lovely city,
provided that it doesn’t rain
loots of the day
finally, he fitted all the three job-descriptions
- hand luggage with P.B. initials
- blue coat
- standing tall with rain boots
they fitted the descriptions of my dream
- a Volkwagen Beatle
- a Volkwagen caravan
- a Vespa bike
sneak preview of
how much toys I have looted
P.S.
the pink kitties are excluded, they are souvenirs
the yellow birdies are gifts from Manchester
