We’ve all
had those kind of weeks. When someone enquires after your health and for the
sake of hassle, you plump for “great thank you” rather than beat down the poor
unassuming person with a list of peeves and problems. For some reason or other,
I’ve had backache all week. Of course, Mum had something to say on the matter.
“It’s your
own fault, you never do as I say and take two Ibuprofen before the pain kicks
in”.
My Mum is
the only person I know, or have indeed heard of that believes in preventative
medication. She will take two Ibuprofen regularly in the course of her day, i.e
before driving or going for a walk so that she’s one step ahead of any pain
that might conspire to bring her down. This made me howl with laughter when she
first told me of her scheme. Needless to say, Mum is having the last laugh.
Luckily, I did
anticipate that somewhere down the line in the grip of winter I would quite possibly
(unquestionably) require a pick-me-up when I felt like hibernating forever.
Over the summer I started to stockpile lots of photos; not unlike the manner of a squirrel storing
away pine-nuts for an unadulterated feast when things got bleak.
The
afternoon I took these photos I was having a casual stroll through the
delightful Old Spitalfields antique market (not to be confused with the Traders
Market or Arts Market). Spitalfields is the oldest market in London, nestled in
the heart of the city by Liverpool Street. It dates back to 1638 when Charles I
issued a licence for the sale of livestock. The market evolved ever since and
underwent significant structural renovation in the Victorian period. The old
part of Spitalfields remains largely unchanged and it is there, as you walk through
the red brick archway that it is possible to feel a whisper of the past. It is
extremely atmospheric; and it is these types of places whose histories and
stories can all too easily evaporate in the face of modernity.
Old
Spitalfields antique market teams with people as soon as the doors open.
Dealers, traders, antique enthusiasts, collectors, whether professional or
casual soon merge into a simmering brew of punters, all beadily searching for a
find. It is impossible to comprehensively describe the wares for sale. The market
truly is a treasure trove. Tables and trestles teeter with piles and boxes of stock,
jewellery hangs in bunches off meat hooks and fur coats are stuffed in
wardrobes.
As I was
meandering along, I heard some wonderful Argentinian music drifting down the
mall. Upon following the tune I discovered that outside underneath the
Amphitheatre Canopy, complete with DJ, were a whole crowd of tango dancers
spinning in the summer sunshine.
There was
seating all the way around the circular dancing area for the public to watch. And
watch they did; it was clear to see people were captivated. The crowds grew
larger but fell quieter under the spell of the dancers and melodies alike.
For the next
two and a half hours I sat drinking tea and taking photos of the dancers. What
amazed me the most was how proficiently they moved around the small space, skilfully
rotating round each other like satellites, never once colliding. And as each
song ended, and partners swapped, the new dancers would move in synchronicity
once more like they’d known each other for years. It was beautiful to watch
such a diverse group of dancers interact and perform. This is part of the
beauty of Argentinian tango; allowing people from all walks of life to come
together in the tango embrace to share a connection and create a moment.
Unbeknownst
to me, this event is an initiative between Tango-Fever, a community dance group
run by René Hellemons and Hiba Faisal, and Spitalfields, which runs
annually from May to September. It allows Londoners to participate in a unique
opportunity to tango outdoors in a public area. You can read more about this
wonderful collaboration here.
I hope that
these dancers have brought a little sunshine to your day as they have done for
me. As a little something extra, I have photographed just some of the gems that
I have ‘magpied’ along those very aisles. Everything is vintage or antique-this
is the only jewellery that I wear. The craftsmanship and beauty is generally unparalleled
nowadays, and allows you a sliver of that history belonging to a bygone age.
