Market Trends

A little goes a very long way… Late morning on Electric Avenue in Brixton, a young man in a blood stained white over-all selling halal meat is tapping his foot to the blaring gospel beats from across the way. Food everywhere, on market stalls, in small shops on the periphery of the market and even more down slender alleyways. You’ll be wise to take a second or two to observe. I spot a lady with what seems to be the must-have accessory around here; a wheelie shopping basket - in tartan preferably. A TARDIS bursting with what can only be assumed is food, lots of it. I have a sense nothing goes to waste in her kitchen as she selects the perfect amount for the job, keeping her eye on the scales, one less plantain here add two more sardines there - a lady on a mission. If she needs more tomorrow, she will be back to replenish her pantry with fresh food. After making her selection the produce gets bagged up and disappear into her already full basket, then a slight hesitation. Here comes the bartering, the lady asks how much she owed while fiddling for her purse. She feigns shock at the price and asks for a punnet of oranges to be thrown in. It falls on deaf ears. The vendor only half listening now turns his attention towards the next customer. I can only assume he has heard it all before. He takes the warm coins from her hand, it is fifty pence short, he winks at her and shouts: ’You can sort me out tomorrow Love!’ she smiles back. Love indeed! As I turn the corner the get some of my own shopping done I get stuck behind a lady and her tartan trolley, no longer annoyed at their snail’s pace, but comforted by the knowledge that she is counting in head, turning every penny and calculating how many mouths there are to feed until the next trip to the market. I have a sneaky feeling I’ll bump into her again if I were to be back here at the same time tomorrow. Watch the experts at work, you could learn a trick or two!

Comments

[Shu Han]

lovely post. the descriptions are beautiful and fit brixton market so well!

[bkxubv bkxubv]

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