A block away from us the New Dawn Hotel has turned its tiny courtyard into a Middle Eastern garden, featuring a bamboo screen, relaxed seating, a canopy and sheeshas - bubble pipes. Supposed to be much harder on the lungs than regular cigarettes but always intriguing, with hints of opium. Not cheap either - featured at a restaurant round the corner for £9.95 ($15.32), rather more than their advertised meal. Not doing too well in this cold weather though.
Outside the 99p store in Camden Town a BMW sedan pulled up and being loaded by two Asian women with box after box of purchases from a shop where nothing costs more than 99p ($1.52), although many items - brand name shampoos, 3 tins of brand name beans, packs of 12 AA batteries, brand name deodorants, etc - are surprisingly good value for a pound. Noticeably better than Canadian dollar stores, particularly in that many of the things on sale are necessities that would otherwise have to be bought elsewhere at higher prices.
Outside the 99p store in Camden Town a BMW sedan pulled up and being loaded by two Asian women with box after box of purchases from a shop where nothing costs more than 99p ($1.52), although many items - brand name shampoos, 3 tins of brand name beans, packs of 12 AA batteries, brand name deodorants, etc - are surprisingly good value for a pound. Noticeably better than Canadian dollar stores, particularly in that many of the things on sale are necessities that would otherwise have to be bought elsewhere at higher prices.