It is nice to be back

The Bell Tower, Hackney

1930s house, Hackney

It is so nice to have finally found a room in Clapton after such a long search - I am back home once more, eating roasts by fires and walking the slightly rotting terraces which are as fascinating as Venice streets. I have found a large double room near Chatsworth Road, which is fast becoming overly gentrified, but still interesting. I am part of that gentrification too and my presence is disturbing Clapton's natural beauty.

Narrow Way, Mare St, Hackney

My room features a large amount of Victorian floral castings on the ceiling which would normally have been ripped out, but luckily the landlord seems to not be too keen on modernising the house. I am very happy here.

The more time I spend in Hackney, the more it becomes like a familiar town, away from London, with its own identity, focused around the Town Hall, Mare Street and Chatsworth Rd. And now the Christmas lights are up and winter is becoming a romantic time of year. It is dark at 5pm, as I leave work and cycle through the parks to reach home as other bike lights pass me by and silhouettes talk.