Ted is reunited ...

… with an old girlfriend and the Doll didn't mind in the least now that you ask (yes you did I heard you).  There is a great Cypriot restaurant in Camden town in what was originally known as the “Peloponnese Triangle” due to its large Greek and Cypriot communities. While a lot of these communities have moved to north London (looking for sun presumably) Daphne’s remains and provides some of the best Greek Cypriot cuisine in town.

So why the “reuniting” Ted?  Well Daphne’s closed down temporarily for building works and it took a lot longer to complete than ever imagined, and only relatively recently did they fire up their charcoal grills again in the refurbished handsome restaurant, where naturally they retained all the interesting historical photographs.

The family behind Daphne's are long-time residents of Camden. The woman behind Daphne’s is Anna (now the truth comes out Ted) who ran the restaurant for many years and created a really warm and welcoming atmosphere that along with the excellent food accounts for why about 70% of their customers return again and again. Today it’s son Nicholas who runs the restaurant and he is every bit as warm and welcoming and knowledgeable on the cuisine and passionate about Cyprus and Greece as his Mum. 

Cyprus has been invaded many times over the centuries and as a result while the core of the cuisine remains Greek and Turkish it also shows the considerable influences of Byzantine, French, Italian, Catalan, Ottoman and Middle Eastern cuisines.

I ordered a bottle of soft juicy plummy cherry and very moreish Agiorghitiko red wine from Nemea in the Peloponnese in Greece, and we perused the menu while nibbling fresh nutty marinated green olives.

I went for Greek sausages on the charcoal grill for starters and they were all meaty and seasoned and smoky, just like they should be.  The Doll had stuffed aubergine and pronounced it delicious. I couldn’t resist the Kleftiko which is lamb slow baked in the oven with lemon and herbs and onions, until it literally falls off the bone and this one just melted in my mouth. The Doll went for lamb souvlaki from the grill and ate every bit of it (and there was a lot) and all her spinach on the side and sat smiling and looking replete. Sadly we were too full for desert.  I finished the evening with a snifter of the famous Cyprus brandy – 5 Kings.

There is a reason why we all return to Daphne’s time and time again – next time you’re in the Camden pop in and discover why all for yourself. Go at lunchtime and the chances are you'll that you'll meet the lovely Anna as well.

Late Night

Windows that caught my eye.

The Old Market

A stone lion sits guarding the remanants of the stalls and food outlets that were part of the Camden Market overlooking the canal.  The stalls were demolished to make way for a new infant school and of course for new housing.  Progress I believe it is called. 

....Psst

Spotted in colourful Camden.

Dogs Rule

With  the SPCA just around the corner this dog can have as much attitude as he likes.

Security

This time no-one is going to pass through these doors!  

Are they Gnomes?

Is this a happy work place or are they all garden gnomes?

Bug House

It might look like a bunch of discarded old pipes, however it is a bug farm.   All sorts of creepy crawly things to amuse the children at the nearby school.

Mosaics of the critters made by the children in collaboration with artist Monica Shanta Brown, surround the animal farm.

An Early Trade Union

Painted on a wall in Camden is this tribute to the Tolpuddle Martyrs.  Who were they?  Well they were agricultural labourers who worked on farms around Dorset during the 19th century.  Landowners of the period kept cutting wages until the labourers rebelled.  They formed a secret society to enable better organising of their protest.

One landowner decided he wasn't having a bar of this and wrote to the prime minister demanding that they be charged under some obscure 18th century law that forbade people swearing oaths to one another.  Makes me wonder if marriage is legal then.  That aside, the leaders of the friendly society were duly charged and convicted.  Their sentence was to be be shipped out to Australia.  You did know all those Aussies are a bunch of criminals didn't you?

The sentence did not go down very well with the population at all.  The protest grew even bigger.  Marches and petitions ensued until the government relented and brought the men back from Australia.  Well not quite all of them, a couple of the men who had other convictions remained there. 

Hubbing Along

I think I found the mysterious hubcap thief.  Or maybe just the most difficult street to park in.  It certainly makes for a very unique fence. 

Museum Visit - Jewish Museum

Tucked away in Camden is the Jewish Museum in an early Victorian townhouse that reopened in 2010 after a £10 million transformation.  The story of Jewish life in London (mainly the east end) is told with artefacts, photographs and video.  The diversity of Jewish life and the festivals celebrated is shown with a glimpse into individual families stories.  There are special exhibitions which in the past have included a family portrait of Amy Winehouse, refugee stories, and stars of music, stage and screen.  The current exhibition looks at Football, fans and faith.

Wall of Memories

A group of young people were asking passersby to write a memory from their childhood on a slip of coloured paper and place it on the wall of memories.
It is part of a Camden Council initiative to raise awareness of child abuse.

What would you write on your coloured slip of paper?

The Traveller

Luckily I'm not travelling in this today.  I'm not sure if the owner parked it and then forgot where they left it, or if it is abandoned.  The art work suggests that perhaps it was grand once upon a time.

Jones Bros

The entrance to Jones Bros, closed now but still hints that once this was a grand department store.  William Jones a draper's apprentice arrived in London in 1867.  He and his brother eventually opened a small store on Holloway Road in Camden.  Within 30 years the brothers had expanded to include several workshops, warehouses, stabling for 50 horses and accommodation above the store for his workers.

These days part of the building houses a Waitrose supermarket.

Floral Bike Lane

A bike lane that white van man can't enter! What a great idea.  We need more of these in London. Well done Camden Council.

St Pancras Public Baths

A grand Victorian building in Camden, originally public baths and public hall.  A further indication to life at that time is seen via the two separate entrances, "mens first class entrance and mens second class entrance".  

Koko and the Goons

Prince Charles is one of the biggest fans of the Goons and their unique humour ever since he was a boy.  Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe played the very last Goon show here at Koko Theatre in Camden in 1972.

Roundhouse Beach

It's hot and you want to go to the beach and you live in London.  No problem we custom make beaches here.  On the terrace of the roundhouse, in Camden, add 150 tonnes of sand, deck chairs, umbrellas, beach huts and food and drink - wallah instant beach.

Parrots

Parrots brightening an otherwise dreary wall.

Colourful Delivery

The colourful delivery bikes of Hare Krishna.  They give food to homeless people in Camden Town, Kentish Town and Kings Cross.