15.

The furthest afield so far. But still Hackney so I think it counts. We were at the very lovely Eastern Curve Garden in Dalston. Nestled between high rise flats and offices and in an otherwise, by turns, totally derelict or sterile urban landscape. Built by and cared for by an eclectic community it is a real haven - with rambling overgrown wild parts and tidy ordered raised beds filled with herbs and flowers. 

But the best things, for me, are still built things: a warm greenhouse using ancient walls of some factory or other, a small squat pizza oven, a lean too full if sofas and home made (by kids I would wager!) and the piece de resistance: an enormously light instsllation in the shape of a greenhouse. It's a work of art made beautiful by black card, coloured tissue paper and disco balls. 

Lovely to see friends old and new and be able to order pale ale and coffee and homemade lemonade at the bar - perfect.