Portobello Road

Summer is finally upon us! It feels so good to wake up to sunshine and blue skies every day. To wear outfits that only require just the one layer of clothing- no heavy coats, singlets or stockings. I'm happy to report that, with tops of around 30 degrees, Britain is experiencing a heatwave! I couldn't help but let a laugh slip out when I noticed posters had sprung up all over the tube stations warning passengers to arm themselves with a bottle of water and to exit the tube at the next possible stop if feeling unwell. Not because it wasn't very valid advice, but simply because it exasperates me that this kind of heat is taken so seriously! In Brisbane, it's rare that the temperature drops below 20 degrees (all year round), and I've been missing Australia's climate something chronic. To celebrate this lovely weather, I've been spending as much time outside as possible. That means lunch breaks spent eating salads in the park (often ending with an ice-cream to accompany me on the walk back to work), picnics on the weekends, Cinemas under the stars and (my favourite) wearing dresses and sandals again! The best thing about Summer in Europe is that the days are so long. The daylight literally stretches from about 5.30am until 9 or 10pm at night. Something that I found disorientating to begin with- eating dinner at 8 or 9pm at night because I would simply lose track of time, waiting for the night to come and tell me it was time to get dinner. But now I think of it as an absolute blessing. Even after a full day of work, there is still so much time to go out and enjoy the day or get things done. We spent this Saturday browsing Portobello Road Market. Portobello was a breath of fresh air, not having done much to satisfy our new found love for vintage goods lately as we have missed the last few car boot sales in our area. The market was huge, lined with rows of pastel coloured buildings and climbing rose bushes. It's little shops were filled to the brim with antique trinkets and furniture and I tasted some of the most amazing vegetarian street food I've ever had (except maybe Borough Markets).