To Stir Or Not To Stir

Well it only took me five days to write up a posting about last weekend – I have been in “recovery” mode. But I was also waiting for my photos to be developed, even though I know that photos can never truly justify an experience or moment. So you will just have to take my word for it!

So let’s start from the beginning. I arrived in London on Friday evening and met Jo at Baker Street and we headed up to Shazz’s house. We just mellowed out there until Shazz and Justin (who I hadn’t seen since New York two and a half years ago) arrived. We then went out to Brick Lane in the East End. The evening was warm and mild and there were so many people on the street outside 1001 Café that it looked and sounded like a street festival was on.

We met up with Shelly and Kerry upstairs (it was like a New York reunion of sorts!) and stayed for a few hours. We didn’t do an all nighter, as we were preparing ourselves for Saturday night. Upon waking on Saturday morning (after sleeping on the biggest bed I have ever been on!! Seriously it was like a King and Queen put together!), we were entertained by Shazz’s flatmate Nathan and his friend. They had just come back from a night out in Willesden, so needless to say there were pretty mashed. Shazz made us breakfast in bed and we chilled out there until Jo arrived and then we started getting Shazz’s bags together (as she has taken up care work outside of London) and got a cab down to Jo’s place near Canada Water/Surrey
Quays. Pic below of us by the water.

Justin and Shazz then trekked to Camden, while Jo and I lazed at home and attempted to watch The Fifth Element, but we passed out before halfway. I made us dinner, then we got dressed, were joined by Jo’s mate Craig and made our way to Vauxhall (where we met up with Bryony and Mariano). Finding our way to Stir, we entered the Renaissance Rooms. Ill let you read the review:

“Psy Trance and Breaks two of the fastest-growing underground dance music scenes in the UK are set to merge at STIR the new night from a joint venture by Nano records and Breaksday. STIR follows on from the successful merging of the Breaks and Trance crowds at last summers festivals creating an indoor festival vibe, with two banging dance rooms supported by 2 other tripped-out areas, plus an outdoor chill, chai café, markets and lots of colourful nutters for a pre summer hit of festival feeling. There’s not been anything like it before... Make sure you can say you were there for the first one.”

Now to those that are new to the trance music/party/festivals, it is difficult to define or explain what it is, but this guy wraps it up pretty well:

“I think it’s misunderstood, it’s certainly not easily accessible music - you have got to be in the right frame of mind and that can be challenging,” he suggested, “But like so many things that are acquired tastes, once you get it, you’ve got it and it has long lasting rewards. Another great thing about psy-trance is that the people who are into it are some of the friendliest, most creative people on the planet.”

Happy, Shiny People!!

Anyway….yes so the night kicked off, the rooms were all amazing and the music was trancetastic! We ended up staying in one room, mostly, with us drifting to different rooms and outside. The vibe was really comfortable and not invasive. People just going about doing their own thing, chilling out, chatting, dancing, wandering.



Pics (from left to right): Jo and Shazz ripping up the dance floor. Mariono, Jo and Justin. Mariono, Me and Justin. Byrony, Jo and Me.

We ended up staying until 5am, by the dawn had broken. Shazz, Byrony and Justin took a cab home. Jo and Mariono stayed on. Which left Craig and I to make our way back to Surrey Quays. Now I had printed off a TFL (Transport for London) itinerary earlier in the day, so that we would know which night buses to take. So off Craig and I head on our merry way home, we manage to get two buses to get us to Parliament Square where we had to catch another bus to get us home. That was the plan. Of course, plans rarely go to to plan. So instead of walking all the way round the square to find our bus, we flagged down two lady police offers to guide us the way. Which they did…over the bridge to Waterloo. But hey, I got to see Big Ben and the London Eye on our way – Craig did say we would be doing some sightseeing! So we are standing by the bus stop waiting for about 30 minutes, when we see the bus we want heading in the opposite direction. So off we trot down to Waterloo station, wander along there for a further 30 minutes. Then we see the bus we want, hop on it, head upstairs and rest. About 5 minutes later the bus stops and everyone gets off – but we were in the centre of London – we had got the right bus, just not the right direction!!! So we walk aimlessly for about 10 minutes until we get to Tottencourt Road. By this time we had had enough. And I had run out of change for the bus. So we went into some café and grabbed a juice (which got us going for a few more metres) and finally Craig saw a bus that would take us to Surrey Quays. Which we did and we walked back to Jo’s – finally arriving back at 7am. Two hours later!! Our own little mini adventure! I made us a cup of good ol Rooibos tea and we sat outside, chatting and listening to the birdies chirp their morning tunes.

Jo arrived back soon after and I showered and then headed to meet my “ex” boss from South Africa at her hotel near Hyde Park. By this time I am running purely on ovetiredness – auto pilot mode. We go to Camden and I showed Ann all the crazy, weird and wonderful sights, people and markets. We had a yummy Thai vegetable curry lunch and then I took Ann back to her hotel. From then I just missioned back to Jo’s and arrived just in time – because my feet were about to fall off and I was going to burst into tears because I was soooo tired (29 hours straight, no sleep) and my brain felt like it was all dryed up and I was going delusional!! After a 3 hour nap, I trekked to Euston to jump on the train back to Coventry.

That night and Monday and Tuesday I was pretty knackered and getting ill – nothing an overdose of Vitamin C wouldn’t cure! But it was all worth it.

And that is the just of my weekend – now I am going to hibernate and relax this weekend!

Ta da !!

Love Orangeblossom xxx