A barley took any pictures from my visit to Stockholm and the archipelago. I had no time, too much fun. And too much fun sums pretty much up my life these last few weeks.

It all started on the last Friday of april, the 29th of april. We met up at Strongroom, this pub with a great outdoors space, or more of a yard actually. All my best people dropped in one after one, we talked about the week that’s gone by – as you do on Fridays. After a couple of beers we headed over to another pub to say hi to a friend and his visiting family. It was literally across the street. We moved on to Translate for some groovy dance moves and drinks. They usually play great music, but not this night. So I jumped into an Über and endued up at NT’s opening night. Like all the cool kids. I danced, met a girl on the terrace. We talked till the first rays of the sun warmed our faces. Then I walked home, met my flat mate in the kitchen and we went trough her relationship. More often than not I start to really like being single.

On Saturday, the last day of April, I met up with Adam, Elin and Amalia down on Broadway Market. We had rosé wine in the sun. You know, the first really warm spring sun and how happy it makes you?! Yes, this was exactly that day. When the sun moved so did we, over to NT’s. Again. With champagne in our hands we met new friends, had truffle chips and danced to in the afternoon sun. At NT’s they have these really big industrial windows, a perfect location for a music video. If there ever was one we would surely make the main event of said music video. There was so much pure joy in the air, as it is when you celebrate spring and life. In the evening we made our ways home to The Village, had a pizza and then crashed in bed before 10pm. Daytime parties are the only parties worth having (it’s not really true, but to 55%).

On Sunday, the first day of May and a bank holiday Sunday, we continued the festivities!

Pizza in the park (I was not in my finest condition) and then over to N360 and the rooftop of my dreams. After some cocktail popsicles we were all back on track again. Random friends dropped by and are small group grew into an eleven people squad, which I later on presented to the doorman at NT’s as “me and my squad”. Obviously. We made our ways up the stairs and out onto the terrace. Having the banter of our lives.

In the evening almost all of us walked the short distance (it’s ten minutes) to The Village and The Lauriston for some crazy karaoke rumble. It basically works like this: 1, pick a song. 2, go up on a stage. 3, hope you choose a crowdpleaser and the crowd does not boo you off the stage. I did not sing. I booed, and occasionally cheered. And had another beer. As you do. After we left, we made pasta in Adam’s kitchen and I was in bed before midnight. Daytime parties.

Next thing that happened: I fly off to Sweden for an unexpected archipelago treat. But it’s another story.

Somedays I go to the Deli two streets away, the play classic music or some very sweet soft jazz all day. And for moments, this smal place gets totally overcrowded in seconds, like it’s the only place to be, and then as if someone waved a wand it’s super quiet again. The staff are joking around and are ever so friendly. 

If I don’t pay straight away I always forget it and have to go back. Two out of two times its happened. Once I didn’t notice I skipped pay my breakfast until I went back in the afternoon for a flat white – they do great coffee, great coffee. The other time I started to walk back home to pick up my headphones and I was ‘shit, I did it again…’. Now I’ve spent the better part of my day here, trying to find a proper job, making up my mind about the future and procrastinating, drinking lemonade and becoming one of the hipsters of the area. I have my hat on!

This is a very interesting little village in the east corner of London. Not really the corner, it’s still only in zone two, but it’s a well kept secret, as if very few people knows about its existing. There’s only locals at all the places around. And all the places are great, the deli, the sourdough pizza pub, the fancy pub, the vietnamese restaurant, the café and all the others, they are great. Good food, nice and friendly staff, interesting locals, and better friends. No, I’ve to continue on my to do-list.

På söndagen sov vi lite längre, helt klart välförtjänt. Och solen tittade fram, jag blir ju glad för mindre saker. VI hoppade på tåget till Liverpool St, för att inte lämna deras väskor där. Det var så dumt, en kunde bara betala för tre eller tjugofyra timmar, vi hade behövt typ fyra timmar. Och tjugofyra timmar var dubbelt så dyrt. Så vi släpade med väskorna till Flower Market på Columbia Road, vilket var lite av en surrealistisk upplevelse. Det var för mycket folk för att kunna gå framåt, och för mycket folk för att kunna stanna och titta. Men det var intressant. Borde ha fler blommor på mitt rum, nu har jag bara en vissen påsklilja.

Jag snappade mer än jag fotade så blev inga bilder från den här dagen. Vi åt lunch på Franco Manca på Broadway Market innan jag vinkade av min familj på Liverpool St. Så sorgligt. Jag gick hem och var en crybaby. För att inte försmäkta i min ensamhet hade jag styrt middag med min Londonfamilj på kvällen. Först tog jag och Seb en drink på Hector & Noble för att vänta på Annie, sen begav vi oss till Boxpark och mötte upp några fler. Det är en av de saker jag gillar så mycket med London, en möts bara upp och det är helt naturligt. Stockholm är mer, stängda till sina egna gäng.

Vi satt där tills det blev kallt och vårt bord var redo. I upphetsning skuttade vi (jag) bort till Redchurch St och den hemliga rooftopen jag hittat! Det är min bästa grej, hitta bra ställen som få vet om. Eller i alla fall hitta bra ställen. Det här var helt galet bra. Magi. Och skaldjursplatå till halva priset, total inklusive allt £15 ! Helt klart värt.

Och med en solnedgång över London i bakgrunden var den dagen över.