Paper and Cup - St Paul's Way

Here's my piece for the latest NCT Tower Hamlets newsletter. Thought there was no harm in putting it up on my blog seeing as it's a bit unloved at the moment due to work commitments, boo...

Paper & Cup Coffee Shop Opens

Stop press. A coffee shop has opened on St Paul’s Way in Bow. Having grown up in this area, I can confirm that it has been completely bereft of any decent eateries (unless you rate Perfect Fried Chicken) for over 30 years, so when I pushed the buggy past the snazzy blue frontage last week my heart all but skipped a beat.

Paper & Cup is a community spirited venture that trains and creates jobs for former addicts who have successfully graduated from an addiction recovery programme. It has opened on the ground floor of the new St Paul’s Way Centre social housing development. If all of that’s not already making you feel warm inside, pop in for a decent latte (they use Fairtrade Union coffee) and a homemade peanut butter cookie and you almost certainly will be.

The café is light and bright, offers wifi throughout and opens out on to a grassy communal area out back that will have additional seating in the summer. There’s a little kid’s area with toys and games, a sparkling new baby change and high chairs.

Ingredients are sourced from local, independent suppliers and homemade cakes are made daily. When I visited a batch of flapjacks had just come out of the oven and raspberry mini muffins, apple & toffee cake and chocolate cheesecake were all on the counter. 

The weekend breakfast served on trendy white and blue striped enamelware consists of beans, grilled tomato, a fried egg, toast and a Cumberland sausage - all non-greasy and for a mere £4. 

Local art is on the walls (for sale) and you can browse an interesting collection of second hand books and ornaments also up for grabs and all reasonably priced compared to any ‘vintage’ finds you might come across in neighbouring Hackney.

 Do pop in for a cup of tea if you're passing by.

Paper & Cup

St Paul’s Way Centre, 83 St Paul’s Way, London, E3 4AJ

T: 0207 537 4427

http://www.paperandcup.co.uk

Stanley’s First Birthday

It seems like only yesterday that I was wapping my boobs out in public all over East London (primarily at DLR stations and on the D8 bus) to feed my tiny, screaming baby. At the time, unwanted comments from passers by included, ‘Your baby wants’ feeding’ ...no shit! And, ‘Enjoy every moment, it goes so fast, mine’s 18 now….”. Yawn, really? I don’t believe you but I’m so tired I only have energy to smile back at you through gritted teeth.

Part sleep-deprivation and part disbelief I couldn’t quite believe that this little screaming ball was ever going to let me sleep again. But here we are a year on and like all the rest of those clichéd people – I’m not sure where the time has gone.

 

We had a little party at the weekend to celebrate Stan’s turning 1. In the end I opted for a Victoria sponge birthday cake – as it was the simplest cake to make and I was running out of time. Inside I filled the cake with Bonne Maman Berries & Cherries Conserve and I topped with raspberries and whipped cream.

I made some baby-friendly banana & apple cupcakes – made with fructose sugar. Okay there was a little bit of cream cheese frosting on top with some icing sugar in – but hey it was a birthday party. These seemed to go down very well with the kiddies but they were a bit messy.

I also bought iced gems and party rings for retro effect - a reminder of the parties I went to when I was a child.

Lucky little Stanley got lots of amazing gifts including  Mon Premier Piano from Auntie India and uncle Tom, a tambourine from Auntie Ames and bumblee bee maracas from Auntie Becs – thanks guys I’m going to have a constant headache for the next three years : )

Stanley was in his element all day with so many people to play with and so much going on at home that he skipped his afternoon nap and crashed straight out at 7pm at the end of the party – bliss!

Happy birthday Stanny B, love Mom. xxx