Power corrupts. Unless its at Battersea Power Station because they don’t make it there any more. They used to. Then they abandoned it. Forever. But if 24 hours is a long time in politics, ‘forever’ is a very short term in property development. (I’m going to mix in a few more metaphors to create a proper stew of them. Make it even more confusing.)

So the power station was empty and they were going to knock it down but… it was probably listed. Which it should be because its a fabulous building and those 2 chimneys are totally iconic, even though it looks like one is growing out of my head, like a mal-formed unicorn. They can’t knock it down, even though it sits right on the river, in about 5 acres of primo-valuable residential space. So they left it standing and developed the whole area around it and did an internal re-fit to convert the upper parts into expensive flats. The lower parts became a shopping mall.

Which is why, even though they opened it about 5 years ago, I’ve never been there. And they not only re-opened it, they built 2 new tube stations to extend the Northern Line right into its plug-hole. So people can start their shopping as they’re getting off the tube!

Its a very very upmarket shopping mall. Not an Asda, Aldi or Primark in sight. They don’t do Greggs nor KFC. What they do is… poncey. Its a bit like walking through Terminal 5 ‘duty free’ at Heathrow. With the Louis Vuittons and Watches of Switzerland and upmarket eateries and coffee fraps for 6 quid, and a candle for £65, but its nicer than Heathrow. They should say that on their advertising. ‘Nicer than Heathrow Airport’. ‘And just as unaffordable’.

Its essentially: everything I hate. Basically: shops. And if that’s not bad enough, add a few thousand tourists into the mix. There was a Levis shop, so obviously I bought a pair, otherwise its all about being on the outside. The fab building, the River right there, the open spaces and lovely little boulevards. And coffee shops. The acceptable face of shops.

Happy Friday

A xxxx