The price of fruit

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It has always annoyed me how some people complain how expensive certain fruits are - specially the exotic ones that have travelled far or familiar fruits grown the organic way - but then buys a pricey cake or plenty of drinks in a bar without raising an eyelid. Today in Tropiganica, run by Frankie (in the photo) and her brother, a guy came in and thought 70 pence was too much for an Ugli. He left empty handed and some vitamins poorer. 

The replacement acitivity

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Man is most happy when hunting an animal or making things grow in land that belongs to him. It is wonderful to sew a seed, look after the soil, watch it grow, harvest and eat it. Unfortunately not many people get to experience this activity in this day and age. After the industrial revolution and before computers many had physical jobs to replace the farming and hunting activities. Then everyone got job titles without any meaning and went to the gym to replace the farming and hunting activities. Some people use this spare energy to fight against the system on MayDay/Labour Day. Ibrahim is a proud supporter of Labour Day and fought hard for labourers rights when he was younger. He is also a Cypriot and he has lived in London for 54 years. 

A visit to the dentist is not always painful

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Many people go to private views to drink free alcohol and talk non sense. Sometimes the level of sense equals what the politicians talk about in the Parliament on a normal day - talking talking talking for the reason of having an opinion. In my opinion a piece of art is not very good if I have to read a page of text explaining what the art is about. It gets even worse if they quote someone like Roland Barthes , Jean Baudrillard or Susan Sontag because they feel it adds credibility. I just want to experience the art and I want to enjoy looking at it. This is exactly what I will do tonight at the exhibition Shura (in photo) is working on in The Dentist on Chatsworth Road in Clapton. From what I saw it looks promising!

You visit it. You fund it.

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Pedro Boxing Club in Clapton seems to appeal to celebrities of many sorts. Elizabeth Taylor supported it, David Cameron probably read about it in the 'how to stay street-wise'-page in the Eton Allumni Paper before he visited in 2010, Millionaire Ben Way made a good appearance in the Secret Millionaire and now Brian Paddick is trying to make up for all the kids he arrested during the 30 years he served in the London police force by lauching his manifesto in the run to become the next London Mayor. Do you think he will remember Pedro's need for funding if he gets elected? 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

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In England parents give their kids crisps for lunch, and sometimes for breakfast too judging by what I have seen. In Norway when I grew up the teacher would send me home if I brought crisps in to school. An apple on the other hand was a very common sight. In England kids are not encouraged to play outdoors in a nursery, and climbing in trees is strictly forbidden. They don't even have trees. In Norway kids are encouraged to climb trees and icy rocks. The Norwegian nursery teacher I saw in a programme yesterday said it is healthy for kids to fall over and even get hurt sometimes. Here is a video I wish British politicians and nursery teachers would see. The problem is that I don't think they will understand it, and I don't understand the average Brits attitude towards weather and outdoor activities. Timur Karakas (left) is the owner of M.F.R. - a fruit and veg shop - on Chatsworth Road in London. He is having a well-deserved break outside his shop with Ayer Ozyureki from the drycleaner across the road. 

 

 

 

Ethiopia - more than the origins of humans

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In Hackney, London, there are coffee bars popping every week. One more hip than the other, and God forbid if you don't know what flat white is when you order or if you order an americano instead of long black. I llke my coffee black and strong, and to be honest I make a pretty good one using my AeroPress. It was very exciting today when I discovered Camden Coffee Shop run by George, who is originally form Cypres. He has been running the Camden Coffee Shop for 34 years, using the same equipment that someone gave to him as a gift. He drinks his coffee the real way; strong espresso and no sugar. George told me the origin of coffee is Djima in Ethiopia, which I bought half a kilo of. He was also slagging off the coffee chains' mocca. Not the real thing, he said. 

Dedication is the real thing

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I recently discovered an amazing short-film by the streetartist Blu. The animation painted on public walls blew my mind. Now, I am pretty excited to see the end result of Jo Peel's new project on the wall outside my office, Village Underground, in London. She is making an animated short-film using the famous brick-wall as canvas. In total she will be spending three weeks on the lift up and down, spraying, painting and photographing. 

Back to faith

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Sorry for the lack of portraits lately! Some of you have been asking me about them. Even the biggest writer has experienced writing blocks, your favourite musicians have done shit albums and I have experinced photography block due to lack of confidence lately. It happens to all of us. I don't think Simon the painter has any problems focusing on his art. He told me to hurry up so he could back to painting.