Boudicca Redd

We were having a chat about characters. One of the regulars a Londoner from Acton was having a chat about London in the 70s when he lived in the capital and worked for London Transport. I know London well and we spoke of our favourite bits as well as characters. I liked Camden and used to visit the place a lot. He lived for a time in Spitalfields and mentioned Boudicca Redd- a local character in the East End. On the subject of eccentrics Lord Berners came into the conversation and his habit of painting doves different colours.

The next man was also a liker of London and said he used to drive a lorry down the AI before the motorway was built. He said he had seen some sights in the 60s. I was intrigued.

A rather short tempered Eastern European who was tutting and ramming her trolley into the legs of the elderly couple who were moving slowly out of her way. I would have thought she would be used to the principle of queueing given her age and nationality

Man buys a meat pie, 4 cans of Lager and a girly magazine. It looks like an afternoon in

Like Old Camembert

Londoner at the till. He is not engaging with me and seeming that I am not there. I  decide on a bold ruse as I scan a French Cheese. " Did you know that Camembert features in two Cole Porter songs? " Well, did you ever" and "Your the Top". he looked at me as if I had said something odd. I don't think he knew who Cole Porter was.

Shortly afterwards an elderly couple buy alcohol and ask me to ask them whether they had proof of age. I humour them and ask them if they are over 18 ( In reality they are in there 80s). A line from a Gilbert and Sullivan pops into my head. "She may very well pass for 43 in the dusk with the light behind her". They like Gilbert and Sullivan as does the next shopper who is especially fond of "Mikado.

Woman buys 3 solar powered Meerkats who are wearing cravats. The Meerkats are made from fibre glass. I have never understood the appeal.

A couple knew someone I used to work with in the 80s. Walter who worked in Social Services was something of an attention seeker. He used to feign heart attacks. he would carefully collapse in a chair and palpitate going redder and redder. No one would take any notice and he would get up and wander off back to his office