Dear readers — It’s been a good weekend to be a Londoner. On Saturday you had Pride, which saw 35,000 people attend the parade in central. It was one of those days where the city really comes together, from little kids waving Pride flags to groups of old-timers putting on their gladrags to watch drag at the Admiral Duncan. A vision of the capital at its absolute best.
This morning, in contrast to the bustle and party of Pride, the city was eerily quiet. Photos show deserted streets and commuter-free stations. The reason, of course, is that everybody was asleep, having celebrated the England win when the match finished at 5am (or, if you’re Mexican, commiserated). In fact, Andrew has taken the day off, the better to savour the victory.
It’s rare that the capital gets a weekend of non-stop summer joy, and there the palpable feeling of camaraderie and goodwill is infectious. Long may it continue.
Back to scheduled programming: in today’s Monday briefing, we’ve got a horrifying property of the week to rent — without basic amenities — for £770 (in Haringey, no less!); a Cold War stand-off in Herne Hill and a recommendation for the summer’s hottest new literary hang-out. Enjoy.
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A £770/month garden shed “room for rent”, sans toilet
Viewers to one fine property in Haringey were in for a surprise last week. Not only was the “studio” somewhat poky for the £770 being charged per month, but the place happened to lack a toilet. And, on closer inspection, wasn’t really a property at all, but in fact just someone’s garden shed with a bed and a TV thrown in (which you have to also pay a month's rent upfront for).
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