29th October 2009

Mary and Ayo have gone. The house is quiet and the line full of washing-

Decided to see the soldiers returning home from Afghanistan. There were crowds to welcome them in Croydon and they seemed to rush through the town in a moment- accompanied by a bugle. Faint smiles crossed their lips and I wondered what they had gone through- and our vile politicians who should be sweeping the streets to make their way smooth. Knowing too that many of these soldiers would have come from poor homes and they had been sent so far away...

28th October 2009

Tried to get into Tayabs - Joe and Leyla had come to see Mary and Ayo off. The place was heaving so we settled for the Lahore Kebab House. I had been before but always let friends choose the food. This time we ate what everybody else was having- lamb chops( recommended) plain nans and loads of curry. The lamb was superb but the noisiest restaurant I have ever been to- by a long way! And the rest of the food not as good as Tayabs. But our party enjoyed this very London/Pakistani experience

27th October 2009

Mary and Ayo have been staying here at home for 2 weeks. They leave on Thursday and resume their working lives in Washington DC on Sunday. We will miss them terribly

24th October 2009

The Baby is the gorgeous Aira - daughter of Mai and Kabindra. She was on duty with her parents, promoting the rugs and crafts of Nepal. They were selling hot food which was delicious.

The choir were superb: singing down the Lane (Petticoat Lane!)-an evangelical choir from Hackney

27th October 2009

A beautiful day and a trip to see Anne- to pick up my new information from our slimmers club, then a walk around Stratford. Brilliant change from snooty Spitalfields

And Happy Birthday Pat- born in Stratford and whose heart will always be there!

22nd October 2009

Well, the best meal for ages with S. Everyone must try the lamb chops!

Tayabs :http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/

She treated me to a stupendous lunch and although I had been before, I was bowled over by the food- so superior to ghastly Brick Lane.

S and I strolled down Fieldgate street- to see the small synagogue dwarfed by the mosque...

and came across the Fieldgate oasis with this sign- obvioulsy designed to be offensive to nobody so it means nothing

Earlier exploring the possibility of time banking. More later

21st October 2009

Just a day with Mary... and the cutest dog in Spitalfields together with its professional trainer from California

21st October 2009

Bike Works today and a lesson with Bea. The park was bright and brown- this must be the best time of the year in England

Evening with Pathway at Christchurch Spitalfields- we teach English as a second language. We had quite a few students

20th October

Went to Betjeman Arms at St Pancras with Rosemary. Pie and Pint for £10. Very good but child's portion

18th October 2009

Fantastic event on the South Bank and keeping my promise for most outings to be cheap or free- this was nil charge- and in true Bethnal Green pensioner style we took a flask of tea! friend Anne joined us for a brilliant day all about Bernstein and West Side Story.

There was a chance to learn and sing some songs from West Side Story, a steel band playing Bernstein- only spoilt by the seemingly obligatory panel discussing gang warfare in present day London. A boring end to a wonderful day! But I supposed they ticked the boxes and got the funding they were after.

17th October 2009

A very early start- began in Trafalgar Square where I met an old soldier poppy seller - I bought and in return he gave me a joke: Do you know about the Irish pirate? He wore two eye patches!

I saw the hawk sweeping across the square to scare the pigeons. When I came back I was dive bombed by pigeons and the hawk had gone!

Just had to go to the Westminster library at St Martins Street- helping a friend with some research. Popped into the National Portrait Gallery to buy a poster -lots of Beatles stuff and also a book on London Plaques - and the cover had our street on it! I saw a couple loking at the cover and I just wanted to tell them that I lived there!

15th October 2009

In the end I could not resist it- went to see the relics of the sweetest saint that were 'lodging' in the Cathedral.
The crowds were large but controlled efficiently. Once in the Cathedral the sight of thousands queuing patiently for a priest to hear confession was remarkable. So many people, yet it was so quiet. I read about the saint and her 'little way'. She impresses me and in a week of personal sadness and grief (Chris's anniversary was this week- 11years) but St Therese gave me some consolation.

'Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.'

And this was written by a young woman, younger than my own daughter who lives an austere life in close proximity with at times quarrelsome older people. I dare say my daughter would say that will be her situation soon. For she is due to arrive as the relics of the saint leave London.

11th October 2009

Well we were lucky to get free tickets again- from filmfirst. This time to see;

Clive Anderson, actor Simon Jones (the original Arthur Dent), Andrew Sachs, Harry Shearer, best-selling author Eoin Colfer (creator of Artemis Fowl), other members of the original cast and surprise guests, in a celebration of 30 years of the late, great Douglas Adams’ classic British comedy. This will be your first chance to experience the new Hitchhiker’s novel And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer

The best thing was finding a vanilla icecream made by Minghella, an isle of wight company in the family of the late Anthony.
The vanilla was just like Murkoffs in Canning Town. What a find
And on the way home saw Easyjet had a stand at Spitalfields promoting their new service from London to Tel Aviv. They had food and a singer. I wonder what reception they would get 100 yards away in Brick Lane away

8th October 2009

Friends of Westminster Cathedral quiz night. Great night with Celestine, Ann and Yvonne.
We came joint fifth with our team 'The Winners' - well we didn't
Great night, very friendly people, fish and chips and questions on St Theresa of Liseux whose bones are coming into the cathedral next week.

We met some great people... next qui z is in the spring. I left my card to one of our team- 'please invite me again'

Sunday 4th October

Church this morning with Lyn preaching. Met Fay and I was so happy with the card she gave me. Met Kabindra and we talked about the Comonolongmo Fair at half term
http://www.comolongmo.com/ I am hoping anybody who is good at craft will help out - or even come and see the stalls and give Kabindra and his friends some encouragement. The Fair is at half term and more details from me

Saturday 3rd October

We have a new neighbour. A mattress apeared last night and when I left home early this morning someone was sleeping under the duvet. It is just to the right of our front door.

Went to Westminster library by Leicester Square- joined and did some research for Rosemary.
VERY tempted to book theatre tickets at the booth but John needs a night in after a week on lates.
Then to London Transport Museum -bought about eight posters/poetry readings for friends and then home. Matress is now propped up on the wall and has been joined by an ironing board as a sort of dance partner. Could be an entry for the Turner Prize!

This is the poem called Sisu I bought:

To persevere in hope of summer
To adapt to its broken promise.
To love winter

To sleep

To love winter.
To adapt to its broken promise
To persevere in hope of summer

I love it and bought some for a couple for friends. It is by Lavinia Greenlaw- who I have never heard of I must admit