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Published: April 17th 2014
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Camden High Street
A cornucopia of shopping - most of it inappropriate for my lifestyle! Great day! Camden Market and British Library card!
Having done too much yesterday, I had a slow morning until about 10:30. Then off to
Camden Market, a simple walk of about thirty minutes. Long before the market, the walk was fun, because on
Camden High Street there was every kind of shop – from hardware through grocery to clothes and shoes. After a while the variety turned more punk and goth, with a liberal sprinkling of charity shops. Then the first of the markets appeared, called “The Camden Market”, perhaps a trademarked name, because it is a bit away from the others. It was full of clothing stalls – either modern baby-doll dresses for young women or coats for men and women, plus lots of T-shirts with edgy sayings on them. Across the street was a small street market with accessories and fruit and veg.
Further up the street were stores with a very edgy party dresses and studded men’s clothes. Then the
Camden Locks came into view and beside them an endless cornucopia of punk gear, T-shirts, crafts, accessories – think of it and they have it. Around every curve were food stalls, looking very clean and with delicious-looking food. Getting close
Camden locks
Hidden amongst hundreds of shops are actual locks! to lunchtime, but I had no appetite after eating too much last night. Tea and fruitcake suited my taste.
On the weekend, the Market must be mad. By the early afternoon I couldn’t take any more hyper-stimulation. Rather slowly I walked back along the High Street. I did stop at the little street market to buy an ultra-modern scarf that I will wear. And I bought another paperback at a charity shop. Finally, close to the hotel, I paid a quick to the
St Pancras Parish Church. It is Victorian but claims history back to the first century.
A good rest and some tea, then off to the
British Library, armed with my utility bill. At the information desk I asked how to get a Reader Card and was given both an explanation and a pamphlet. Actually I didn’t need the utility bill as proof of address - driver’s license and a credit card were sufficient. Required though was list of materials wanted, complete with shelf marks. I struggled through learning how to use their search system and through finding search terms that would yield results. I was disappointed that the materials were so modern in my effort to find out how
St Pancras Parish Church
Around the corner from my B&B, a couple of blocks from St Pancras Station Jane Austen’s novels were critiqued upon their release, i.e., in her own time. Nevertheless, I reminded myself that the long-held goal was to get a Reader Card, not to do original research on Austen. As advised, I wrote down the references on the pamphlet front cover.
A brief pause in the washroom to get my driver’s license out of its secure storage in my security “holster”, and then on to the office for card acquisition. Waited behind the white line; preliminary check by a receptionist; filled out the online form; waited a couple of minutes in designated seating; called to a desk. The lovely, friendly clerk asked several questions and reviewed my id documents; I gushed about how exciting this was to me. With no fuss, she swallowed my thin reasons for needing a card, took my photo and issued me a Reader Card good for a month. She recommended I order the books immediately; they would be held for me for three working days in my chosen Reading Room. Again I struggled to learn the system and was disappointed to discover that four of my selected six books were stored offsite and would require more than 48 hours
Reader Card
My own, long-desired souvenir of the British Library to arrive – beyond my Wednesday departure. I again reminded myself that mission had been accomplished with gaining the Card.
Stopped at the
Mable’s Tavern for
steak pie – quite good.
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