Here's a little shop I encountered on Edgware Road over the weekend. It seems to sell a bit of everything -- chocolates, produce, water, clothing, household goods and shisha pipes. I can't for the life of me translate the name of it but maybe some of you out there are Arabic speakers and can tell me what it says?
I took two versions of the photo. I like the one above because it's clean, but it's also very static. Here's one with a little more street life:
Well, things are about to get a lot more exciting around here. Dave got a text yesterday from the contractors doing our interior painting/decorating job, and they want to start on Tuesday! We're supposed to choose paint colors but we're uncertain how to do that, given that we don't have any samples. They say we don't have to move furniture or anything -- they will supposedly handle all of that -- but of course I'll take down all the smaller stuff and tuck it away somewhere.
And our tree work is supposed to be happening at roughly the same time. Never a dull moment!
Did I tell you that when the tree man came on Sunday to do his assessment, he said, "I love a naturalistic garden," or something like that? I suppose that's what we have but it also sounds a little bit like a slam, doesn't it? Like, "Well, you've certainly let this go."
On the positive side, I got my test results back from my doctor's office and everything was normal -- even my calprotectin, which hasn't been normal in the last couple of years. Woo hoo! Calprotectin measures intestinal inflammation, and the doctor's theory is that my inflammation came from that polyp that my gastroenterologist removed last May. Now that the polyp is gone, things are back to normal. Sounds good to me! I'll take it!
An 8th Grade student -- the same one who wanted me to do his photography challenge -- asked me yesterday, "What's the worst pandemic you've lived through?" Which is kind of a weird question, but whatever. At first I said Covid, because that was strictly defined as a pandemic and had such an acute effect on the whole globe, but then I realized of course the answer is AIDS. HIV and AIDS definitely altered my life, on a deeper level, more than Covid ever did. This led to some questions about what it was like living in the '80s. I had to remember that for this kid, who was born in 2011 (after Dave and I had moved to London!), that's ancient history -- kind of like the 1930s were to me!
Well, Google translate suggests that shop sign says al-mustafa. Must be his name?
ReplyDeletePaint colour choice for me would be easy ... white or white!
Thanks! Yes, it must be his name. How did you translate that on Google Translate? I tried it and I couldn't figure out how to enter Arabic characters.
DeleteI used Google Lens on rhe picture then cropped it to display the sign then Lens offered to translate it 😄
DeleteAh! Crafty!
DeleteWith my extensive knowledge of Arabic, I can tell you that the shop sign means "Bargain Basement". As for that irritating eighth grader, when quizzed at home about the day's events at school, he will have said, "Oh Mr Reed, the really friendly librarian, was telling me all about HIV/AIDS".
ReplyDeleteI love colour on our walls, not bright in your face colours, I would move your plants, just to be safe. Your garden is a wildlife haven, my neat lines are OK, but I have to allow for wildlife, and keep messy spaces.
ReplyDeleteAs one who also lived through the HIV epidemic, I would be interested (perhaps in one of your future posts) about how that period of time "definitely altered my [your] life, on a deeper level, more than Covid ever did." We all have our reasons for experiencing that time - you may prefer not to elaborate - but I would still be interested in swapping notes about our respective experiences. And yes, it is bizarre seeing teenagers around who were not even born when I met my partner (John) 19 years ago.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts on our personal histories. I agree it feels strange to be around people who weren't even born when (fill in the event) happened. The AIDS years were frightening even to cishet people, because we knew so little about how this awful illness came about, but so much more to the gay community. I learned a thing or two about love and loyalty from hearing of gay couples taking care of each other to the end, because nobody else would, little medical help available.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of that student. He seems to have a fondness and respect for you. I would have responded as you did and then immediately rethought it, too. Of course, the AIDS crisis. And it does remind me of my wonderings about the “Spanish” Flu of the 19-teens from my viewpoint in the early 1960s. Thanks to JayCee for that translation. Curious that the owner doesn’t include the English version. How do you know where to say you’re going? And how is the business registered?
ReplyDeleteIt must be nice to have a student so inquisitive about things, instead of just scrolling on his phone. I had a plumber once come fix my dishwasher/sink. While he was working, he told me this story about a hoarder's house he had just been in. I was like, oh my god, did my messy house trigger that memory? (Your tree man's comment made me think of that.)
ReplyDeleteWell, first off, three cheers on the test results! And good news on the painting and such. Lots happening in your world. I would not take that as a slam, but a compliment. I might say the same thing. Formal gardens where everything is too "Versaille-ish" are cold. Yours has a warmth and wonderful feel of being nature-in-the-city. I envy that. I see it as high praise!
ReplyDeleteAh, I remember asking my seventh grade science teacher what it was like teaching school during the Depression, after which she told me she was only nine at the time. This kid sounds interesting and clearly he trusts or respects you, which doesn't happen all the time with eighth graders. That was a thoughtful, deeper answer to the question. Covid seems so obvious and for some of us, landmark. (For me, that was a good period, for the most part.) I always forget AIDS was a pandemic, not just an epidemic in the US. But as I remember the loss of so many friends during that time and the impact those deaths had on my life, I see exactly why that would be a powerful one.
As one who lived through AIDS it was dreadfull. I volunteered at a dinner for people with AIDS and watched men fade and die. I lost a number of friends. And the fear!
ReplyDeleteCovid was bad but for gays AIDS was worse.
Peter
Codex: It's a compliment. Tempted to write my natural garden experience but it didn't end well.
ReplyDeleteYou've certainly got your work cut out for you.
Working with students always made me feel old, especially in the later years of my career. I remember once I found an image of an old ditto machine online and I showed it to them and asked them what they thought it was. They had really crazy answers. When I told them it was a "copying machine" and explained how it worked they were amazed.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounded like what I would call "a backhanded compliment." I'm not sure of the origins of that phrase.
ReplyDeleteAIDS made a huge impact in my life and I'm not gay. I only knew one person personally who died from the disease. Mostly though, it was just a hard transition from an era of "free love" to one where death was a possibility with any sexual encounter. I still remember one person in a neighboring county tested positive for it when I was a senior in high school and then a girl in my class, who happened to have date him for awhile and was known to "get around" was leaving to get tested and by the end of the week, it felt like half of the high school was out for testing. Fortunately, she tested negative. I wish I could remember the guy's name but time has erased that from my memory.
Well done on the test results, it's always a relief when things come back normal isn't it. My first response would have been Covid, but you are correct in saying the AIDS/HIV was in many ways for so many people. Surely the 1980s was only about 20 years ago!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSadly, for many people the AIDS epidemic seems to be ancient history when it's not.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your calprotectin has gone down, one less thing to worry about.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange that they tell you they're going to paint and that you should choose your colours but don't give you options. What if you chose royal blue, or black, or orange?
And AIDS was a horrible pandemic. I was thinking about it the other day and can't believe it was 40 plus years ago already. They all died, all my patients with AIDS and we had no treatments that worked. I still remember some of those young men.
ReplyDeleteGreat news from your doctor. That's a good thing. One less thing to think about while your house is in a bit of upheaval. On one of my trips to London, I stayed near the South Kensington tube station. I remember there being a lot of Arabic shops like the one in your photo in that area.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your tests results were all good. Take the compliment on your lovely garden and don't second guess it. The painting and tree trimming will be fine. Will you keep the color the same or do you want a change? I would probably keep it similar so it still goes with all of your stuff. ;)
ReplyDeleteI would have simply asked the vendor what the name of the shop was. Seems the most direct way to get an answer!
ReplyDeleteGeez ... I recall getting sugar cubes with the polio vaccine on it! There was the Swine flu as well as the other various flu strains going around! The flu vaccine has been a blessing! As well as the Covid vaccine!
Your yard is exactly how you prefer it ...
I am very happy to hear about your calprotectin level. Yes, absolutely- one less thing to worry about.
ReplyDeleteHow ARE you supposed to choose paint colors without samples? There has to be more to this story. And take the tree man's statement as a true compliment. Why not?
Do you think it's possible the young man at school is possibly seeing you as a role model of sorts? It's good that you can communicate with him about things you've experienced in your life and the times you have lived through.
There's always one or two kids around who ask questions other kids would never think of. t's interesting to think about what makes them tick.
ReplyDeleteI like the second image..pity about the car, but good with added life.
ReplyDeleteThat was a proper compliment about your garden. Far better than manicured to within an inch of its life!!
Good news for you and Dave...nice.
If you do have to go for white, try something like Ivory....brilliant white is so cold!!!
That student asks good questions. Yes, you don't realise how far back the 80s were..my "teenagers" are nearly all in their 40s....help !!!!
AIDS was the big one for me too; I remember assemblies, speakers, classes, etc. Covid was a big deal too and scary because it was new and none of understood it.
ReplyDeleteTwo projects at the same time makes life busy.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot go wrong with a soft white paint color.
The 8th grade student is inquisitive and has taken a liking to you. He has some great interests and questions.
I notice that some landscapers want to shape all shrubs and garden spaces into a precise square or circle. To me it looks stiff, uninviting, and very un-natural. I would love your garden!
Hi there. I'm a bit behind in my blog reading but wanted to mention to you that when you are in Malaga for your February break, you should really try to get to the Caves of Nerja. I was there a few years ago we really enjoyed ourselves. I believe you have to book a time in advance but it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteI was in the Army when the AIDS epidemic was just coming on our radar. I was working in Preventative Medicine at the time. I remember long serious discussions with our epidemiologist as the new information was coming in. How different our approach to that was compared to the response to COVID. Back then, new information was seen as 'we are learning more'. Every new bit of information was being greeted with 'Fauci's lying!' Different world.
ReplyDelete*every new bit of information about covid
DeleteAfter reading the title of your post, I wondered what it was going to be about. It could cover SO MANY things right now!!
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well with the painting and tree trimming ... I'm sure it will.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
The eighties were terrifying- ghost friends , misunderstood virus for so long. That was the absolute worst! Still. is.
ReplyDeleteYou can go online to choose paint color sort of. It all depends on how light hits your flat. In our house I would have to choose something light and something that responds well to green coming in through the windows. So, naturally, being unimaginative, I choose off white. Warm white. Not very clever....