I’d describe this weekend as “One scrumptious Sunday in London photographing with my heart and mouth.” Yesterday, I spent a rather delightful Sunday with my good friend Marcos. We got up pretty early for a Sunday, and decided to wander up to Stoke Newington, Hackney to check out a few places where we could have breakfast. I’d never been to Stoke Newington before, so it was quite an adventure! The weather was crisp and bright, perfect for a Sunday stroll.

We eventually found ourselves with lots of lovely cafes to choose from and so decided to try out The Blue Legume - Cafe Restaurant and Juice Bar, 101 Stoke Newington Church Street, Stoke Newington N16 0UD. With it’s pretty painted ceilings and bold European flavour this place would be perfect for a Breakfast date.

Marcos and I are pretty big fans of Eggs Benedict/ Florentine, respectively, and so after spotting it on the menu we ordered at the till. I opted for a cafe latte and a freshly squeezed orange juice, whilst Marcos went for a Jasmine tea. Breakfast cost just under £10 per person, and was delicious! We sat in the back in their conservatory bit and tucked into our breakfasts with gusto.

After polishing off our food we headed for a wander around Clissold Park, smiling at the yummy mummy’s and daddy’s walking their children and dogs around this quaint little park and admiring the animals in the animal enclosure. What gorgeous folk the S. Newington people are!

After a good walk eyeing up the beautiful houses and trying to imagine what it’d be like to live there we fantasised our way back to Dalston and had a little rest. It was still only 12pm?!? What a difference getting up and out of the house early makes! What else could we do with our day?? Oh yes! Broadway Markets and Columbia Road’s FAMOUS Flower Markets are just 15 minutes walk away, (in the opposite direction to S. Newington) and so we ventured out again.

We meandered our way in and out of antique and vintage shops, pretty Perfumeries, bookshops and as JMG would say ‘trinklet’ shops full of cute little gifts! We stopped off for a pan-Mediterranean lunch at Solche Cilician, 1 Broadway Market, Dalston, London E8 4PH. We weren’t absolutely starving and so decided to share a platter from their hot starter menu and a couple of other smaller dishes, and a basket of Turkish bread. I had a glass of Ginger Ale and Marcos had a glass of the Homemade Lemonade. Total for two people with tip came to £25. Perfect picky food! I loved their colourful Turkish lamps hanging from the ceiling.

After demolishing the yummy spread infront of us, we made our way down to Columbia Road. The scent of fresh flowers fills your nostrils just as your eyes are assaulted, in a good way, by the blaze of colour and texture lining the little street and the market stall holders yelling out their offers of the day. If you head over there just before they are due to close you can often get yourself a decent bunch of Lilies or a pot plant for a couple of quid.

The Rob Ryan shop, Ryan Town, is also on Columbia Road. I spotted this delicate and rather poignant paper cutout and desperately wanted to part with £85 I dont have so that I could take it home to show JMG. (Yes, I’m a sap!)

It was probably one of THE best Sunday’s I have had in a while! It didn’t half tire me out though, I was in bed and asleep for 8pm! This is what happens when you hit 27! God knows how I’ll cope having a social life when I eventually have children to look after too… for now, I’m quite happy being a little selfish and catching up on some shut-eye.

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