Going underground.

Three houses stand empty on my street while extensive renovation work is carried out. The owners of two are digging down into the basements. And once the basements arrive, you know that serious gentrification has too. I think my house now earns more than I do and I’m still not sure whether to be proud or ashamed of that. But as fewer and fewer people can afford neighbouring Highgate or Hampstead, the basementeers in their 4x4s have set their sights on Muswell Hill. The Odeon cinema has been re-born as an Everyman, the old hardware store is now Planet Organic and Woolworth’s and KFC have been supplanted by Carluccio’s and Space NK . Still, London N10 is not yet completely gentrified. It can’t be. I still live there.