Pour Some Misery Down On Me

Victoria, Mile End, E3
Originally uploaded by Ewan-M

The Victoria's jukebox plays the insides of my head. From when I was 18 up until now: The Cure, The Smiths, The Pixies, Joy Division, David Bowie, The Shangri-las, My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins... on repeat. And stuff like The Damned and Lords of the New Church too, which I don't know well but can appreciate in a setting of black Victorian wallpaper and stuffed animals that would make Norman Bates squee like a fangirl. The pub even has a photo of Boy George above the bar, not too far from the stuffed squirrels playing cards.

We spent the afternoon indoors, with all the leather couches in the world to choose from, while London enjoyed the sunshine. We ate late breakfasts, overdosed on coffee, read the papers, set the world right, wrote in our journals, proofread novels, and generally watched the hours go by in the most relaxed way possible. sushidog met desayuno_ingles and her boyfriend A., and plans were made for hanging out together again in the future (a Regina Spektor concert, a night at the movies, a dinner party.)

I worry that the pub isn't getting enough customers and will get shut down soon. It would be a tragedy. London needs more spaces like this, that play the sort of music pubs don't play anymore, that is a home to folk that don't want a telly above their heads showing Sky News or football. Even the bar staff, so sweetly ineffectual and not-quite-there, only add charm to the place.