Item 89: Greenwich Market - Sika Boutique

Location: Greenwich Market, London

Revisiting the markets from four years ago, the intriguing odds-and-ends on sale have now been overtaken by stalls thrifting standard imports from south-east Asia at ridiculous margins.

Luckily my favourite little find - Greenwich Market - is still bustling with a good selection of locally made food, fascinator stands and handy crafts contained in an under cover square. I've crossed the city of London a number of times to visit, via Thames ferry to approach Cutty Sark by river level and also DLR on weekends when the train line has been free of weekend engineering work.

Tucked in the corner of the square is Sika Boutique (Cherry Picked) run by the lovely Phyllis Taylor whose designs flatter everyone looking for something unique and not on the standard high-street, sold at a resonable price. Each time I've visited the store, one of my girlfriends or I have made a purchase. The dresses are tailored with a 1950's flare and made in Ghana, using their local materials and prints.

I attended a wedding recently and needed a dress in the style of 'Sunday Best'. I fell in love with one of the designs but the problem was it was a bit 'black' for a happy occasion. The lovely ladies at the store offered to have it made for me and helped me pick out navy waxed cotton and complementary lace from their samples book. Confidence I wouldn't show up in the same outfit as anyone else, it was really refreshing to find friendly service and the team even raced the dress from Ghana to London the weekend before the event so everything went well for me on the day - and I wasn't even the bride.

I can not recommend this store enough, and it's no surprise their success has them moving to a nearby location next month.

Let's hope that the weekend transportation challenge of getting to Greenwich Market remains that extra barrier for entry so it can maintain it's niche products and friendly store owners for a little bit longer.

Item 89: Greenwich Market? CHECK!

Item 88: Chin Chin Laboratorists

Location: 49-50 Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF

Hello Summer! And what better way to celebrate than with an ice-cream.

In the craziness of Camden Market, a very well mannered queue was formed outside the Chin Chin Laboratorists - ''London's first nitro ice-cream parlour".

We patiently joined the end of the slow moving line and peeked through the windows to glimpse past the engrossed patrons as they watched liquid nitrogen being poured into the mixing bowls to create their made-to-order ice-creams. Three flavours are offered each day: Valrhona chocolate, Vanilla and the weekly special.

Like children, our excitement rose as it became 'our turn' to order directly from the shop's owner Ahrash Akbari-Kalhur, standing behind the electric mixers with his industrial safety glove and glasses. We selected the special flavour 'Tea and birthday cake', as he explained to us how the cake and earl grey tea was infused overnight and there was less sugar and bubbles whipped into it compared to your stock-standard ice-cream to provide a smoother and 'healthier' option - ignoring the sauces and intriguing toppings that were to be added later.

Such friendly and patient customer service is rare in London and he captivated our attention as we watched the science experiment being demonstrated in front of our eyes.

As our feet tingled with a slight chill from the over-flow of liquid nitrogen from under the counter, we selected raspberry sauce and grilled white chocolate to complement our afternoon treat.

What a delicious highlight to a weekend in London, and what better anti-aging cream than ice-cream!

Item 88: Chin Chin Laboratorists? CHECK!