Overseas: Bonkers for Borough

SHIPS LOG: A catches up with Chantal for a cup of coffee at Borough Market and a wander around Londons Southbank. For more travel photos, click here. Oh floral skort, you serve me well. Readers, you must all be deathly tired of seeing this item repeatedly over the last few weeks but I have to admit that it was the best thrift buy ever. For a measly PhP 125.00, I have something that looks like a girly skirt but is perfect for climbing up trees or fancy monuments (coughTrafalgarSquareLionscough) and sitting cross-legged at a summer picnic. I wish I could track down every copy made and buy em all up.When I was in England I lived with friends behind Butlers Wharf and everyday I would take a fifteen minute walk to London Bridge station, passing by crazily shaped glass buildings, tightrope walkers, and splashy fountains, but I loved Fridays and Saturdays best because Id walk an extra half-mile to Borough Market where Id find stalls serving up a world of delight. Every food craving known to man would probably be satisfied at the market. Paella, mushroom pate, tripe pies, vanilla fudge . . . you name it, its there.Once I had Turkish baklava, a fried duck sandwich, puzzle cake (is it chocolate? Coconut? Or Victoria sponge?), a chorizo and rocket bun, mulled cider, and a glass of Pimms. And I havent even started on all the free samples. No wonder I gained ten pounds. ;PFantastic Mr Fox, my friends, you must download/rent/buy a DVD of Wes Andersons adaptation of Roald Dahls classic childrens book. And yes, the ad for cider speaks the truth—a cup is indeed pure, melted gold especially on a nippy day in London when youre wearing shorts and no tights. The spicy warmth spreading from throat to toes is such a lovely, lovely feeling.Over a cup of flat white, Chantal and I discussed how to bring Monmouth Coffee Company home. She didnt think the communal tables and honesty bread-and-butter bar would work well in fastidious and gutom-mata Manila (neither do I) but I would absolutely love to get sunny light from green industrial lamps and cups of deliciously strong coffee at the UP College of Law. I am so sick of dark, generic Starbucks.Come on, Chants, franchise Monmouth na! I dont care if everyone here is going to mispronounce the name, you can call it MCC. :))A wears aunties 80s navy blazer, thrifted skort, Dorothy Perkins shirt, canvas bag, and Dooney & Bourke purse.