Homesick

How many times have I not walked this road? Last weekend I found myself really longing back to one of the many places I've lived, one of the few places I've really felt at home and part of the local community, and came across this fantastic photo of the road I once lived on:

 

I found this on a campaign site for my then local pub (actually, I've even worked in that pub, and working in a pub has many similiarities with blogging or running an online community, and I also happen to think it's really good training for a journalist). Sadly, the campaign didn't save the pub, it's now been turned into a rather standard modern gastropub/resturant with little personality, and all the regulars - this pub had some really great characters, several of whom have helped me in small and big ways - have moved to another pub. As for the photo I hope the campaigners don't mind too much me posting it here, it's simply the best photo I've seen of this street in the evening, and I couldn't find an email address on the site.

As for being homesick for a place I've only lived for two and half years: well, I've always operated a bit on the "wherever I lay my hat, is my home" premise, and yet some places have felt more like a home than others...

Comments

[Kai Arne Armann]

The campaigners don't mind too much you posting it here!

The Grand Opening of the Kinks Room at Clissold Arms is on 21st of December 2010 from 6pm onwards. So the memories of the neighbors on the other side of the street is back, but it's still a rather standard modern gastropub/resturant with little personality. As one of the regulars told us: "They have ruined it all" (A friend of the Davies brothers father!)

Since Ray lives nearby The Flask it is more likely you will meet him there this days.

Kai Arne Armann
editor
www.whykinks.net

[Kristine Lowe]

Wow, thanks for the comment and the information! Great to hear of the upcoming grand opening of the Kinks room, though I perfectly understand why someone would prefer The Flask to The Clissolds these days. The atmosphere of The Flask is hard to match, and the food there is great too. The last time I was in this part of London, most of the regulars of the old Clissolds had moved across the road to The Alex. But that was some time ago, 2008 or so, and things may have changed.