at Joe and Leila's

We had our celebration meal last night. Leila has made us this wonderful cake- weighs a ton but there are loads of us to eat it in Staffordshire

Don't close your eyes to India's reality, Brangelina | News

Don't close your eyes to India's reality, Brangelina News

George's marvellous medicine

The photo is Pat at Liverpool Street leaving for home after 4 days in London. The three Muskateers are with her and her beloved Rebecca

We saw this great show with Pat and family.

Coming back I became a character in a Dahl book. Fell three times in the snow John said my shoes acted like skis I left my boots at home. I was nearly killed in the Euston Road. Pat said I was like Bambi in the film, learning to walk!

Embarrassing, Dahl-like and dangerous to hang out with.....

Julie Burchill: Spare us these pampered protesters who riot in defence of their privilege - Julie Burchill, Columnists - The Independent

Julie Burchill: Spare us these pampered protesters who riot in defence of their privilege - Julie Burchill, Columnists - The Independent

127 hours

This was another Times + offer. We got tickets at this posh hotel to see this latest Danny Boyle film. Free drinks and food before hand and a very comfortable seat in this gorgeous hotel. Afterwards there was a Q and A with Danny Boyle who was the most unassuming natural person- such a change from the tossers from Channel 4 who were spouting at Rich Mix a few weeks ago. Danny Boyle is preparing the opening ceremony for the Olympics. I would love to know what sort of entertainment is going through his mind. He must have the basis of an idea by now. By the way the film is brilliant- it made me think of Mary and Ayo and some of the things they get up to and how awe inspiring the scenery and potential for danger is. I did not appreciate this before- perhaps it's a shame I do now

The March of the Fathers through Spitalfields

In the earliesh Sunday morning, we heard the sound of a few hundred Father Christmas (what's the collective noun?) and John rushed out and managed to take a few snaps and this video-which might take too long to see. A bit of a change from the moaning students.

Our stalls

Susan rented the stall and as part of Christ Church Fair, stitched and baked and arranged to make money for the projects of the church. Zoe, her niece, joined her to flog her lovely homemade earrings and I sold some of Joan's lovely woollens.

The Messiah

The Nonsuch singers performed the full version of The Messiah. Seats at Christchurch are always reasonable but my although some of the views from the upstairs are great they are very uncomfortable for leg room.

The choir sounded excellent, not that I know much about music but I have heard The Messiah many times. One thing though. All the principal singers are from Oxbridge or private schools. We sang (though not me) this sort of thing at my grammar school and it seems a shame that its is now performed mainly by a tiny elite

St Helen's Bishopsgate - About - Events

St Helen's Bishopsgate - About - Events

Oculus

We visited St Paul's which was as brilliant as always- huge jewellery box of a place. They have this amazing film showing in a side chapel called 'Oculus' that actually makes you feel dizzy. It shows the inside and outside of the cathedral and the galleries. The effect is so mesmerising I could not help feeling disorientated.

I snapped Geena on top of the 'New Change' shopping centre. The usual hideous overpriced clothes and Jamie Oliver's new restaurant where a meat platter for one is £48.

In contrast although st Paul's costs £12.50 to get in - Oculus is free, plus the galleries and there is a good picnic area in the crypt.

The Water Poet - Events

The Water Poet - Events: "The Water Poet Christmas Fair
Saturday 4th December 2010 from 1.00pm
Christmas Carols at twiglight wiith Christ Church Spitalfields Christmas Choir, Foodie Treats & Tipples, Gift Stalls & Knitting Workshop, Mulled Wine & Winter Cocktail Menu, Mince Pies & Festive Cookies, Hog Roast & Traditionally Roasted Chestnuts, Parlour games, plus prizes for the 'Best Christmas Jumper'. Oh, and did we menion that we'll have snow....!
Full details on our wonderful printed brochures available from The Water Poet ..... Please email info@waterpoet.co.uk for more info."

meeting 'Babs' Windsor

She opened the fete. It was surprisingly for me wonderful to see her. As you went through the gate, she was there- even smaller than me it seemed, extending a hand and saying to everyone 'Welcome to St Joseph's. I found myself star struck.

The Fete was as usual fabulous- prices were very cheap but they had gone up a bit I felt. However the place was packed- incongruous for a hospice whatever they say. It seems strange to be in one of the liveliest places in London and with so much excitement on sale days. 'In the midst of life we are in death'

comolongmo

I ran a stall at this fantastic Nepalese festival.

We did quite well selling Joan's knitted hats and gloves but were not as good as the fabulous dancers at the Fair

Kabindra will organise another Fair next year in October 2011

Film: The Social Network

This was a really great film. The telling of the story of Facebook through the court case was a stroke of brilliance. I loathed the identical twins who thought they could buy everything.
As I keep saying concessions at Genesis are very generous- £4 for all on Mondays and £3 concessions any time. This is a great cinema well worth patronising. Much better than poncy 'Rich Mix'

Klezmer Klub

A great night of music -sung mostly in Yiddish and very evocative of Whitechapel as I first remember it in the fifties. They have this wonderful song about Whitechapel. It made me sad to think of what had been....and how much less learning and culture we have now in the East End

New low for London’s most rotten borough | News

New low for London’s most rotten borough News

Needless to say we did not vote for any of these bigoted people Labour or not!

But we get what we deserve most did not vote at all and those who voted for Rahman will have to live with this. Sadly we will too

Louise Jury | Blogs | Evening Standard

Louise Jury Blogs Evening Standard

The Opera 'Alban'

Our friend is Joanna Judge was a member of the chorus so we decided to give this a try.
St Alban's church in Holborn was a magnificent venue and the opera was superb. Although why they decided to make Alban a doctor rather than the take the soldier he really was- a mistake I think. One of the points about the story is that the soldier had not achieved much in his life except in his last days. This only runs till Saturday and is so good and moving it is a must see.

The wedding of our neighbours

Congratulations to Ruby and Ali

The two faces of Blackpool

You know who you are

Our wonderful relatives in Blackpool

The haute cuisine of Blackpool

It's hard not to take the p**** but you cannot get a decent meal in Blackpool unless it is fish and chips. Even the chinese buffet misses out the spare ribs. The people look ill and dejected and my fat frame looks sylph like in comparison to the locals.

Ken Dodd show

The show lasted for FIVE hours and Ken Dodd -now 84, was brilliant in depicting working class life- admittedly the show could have been from the 50's but it was funny, humane and poignant in parts. It was a sell out and the Grand Theatre in Blackpool is a beautiful place in a town of poverty and depression. More of that in later blogs..

..

Our gardening competition

Our garden won a merit award- creditable but I must admit I was disappointed. But the winner was Mr(?) O'Connor and his magnificent balcony is shown in the photo. Lady Mico's almshouses scooped the first prize in the communal garden category

What was interesting was that the school gardens were not shown due to 'issues showing the faces of children' and that many prize winners from so called community groups did not bother to turn up to collect their awards. Congratulations to the Cherry Tree school where the headmaster and caretaker bothered to come and collect their award a first or second prize I think

The sewing group

Some women gathered together at Susan's house. Sharing some food and sewing- modern women in a Vermeer scene. Some rather more creative than others!

John Owen-Jones - Bring Him Home (Hi Quality)

We were so lucky to see this performer at the Barbican at a special performance of les Miserables. This was so special

Spitalfields What's On Guide

Spitalfields What's On Guide

Mary with her Alaskan boyfriend

About the festival | Greater London Authority

About the festival Greater London Authority

An Old fashioned pub

We had our first round match of our team 'The Flutterers' tonight. We won!

I love this pub it's nickname is 'The Scrubby'

We had the best chips I have tasted for a long time and some lovely sandwiches

At The Dance

Every month in the summer our superb market manager Ray Dervin puts on a tea dance with a sizable band. Hundreds come of all ages and nationalities and these two are brilliant dancers! Very stylish.
The lady below visited us for the first time. She was impressed with the goings on around here!

George.M.Cohan Tonight

The 22nd September was the opening night of this one man show created by our friend Edmund Sutton.

It traced very movingly the story of this great impresario and vaudeville artist. We enjoyed it tremendously and were proud to have played a small part in bringing the show to the theatre.

Here is one enthusiastic supporter on the red carpet

POPE'S UK VISIT: Gross discourtesy to an honoured guest | Mail Online

POPE'S UK VISIT: Gross discourtesy to an honoured guest Mail Online

Near the Olympic Park

The new bridge was declared open - and the reception in the pub by the Bridge was very impressive- the best breakfasts served to a mixture of local people, mainly elders, and Olympic Delivery officers

Sadly the engineer who designed the bridge died this year and did not live to see it finished.

Visiting a grand house

As a part of Una's programme of visits from her allotment group we coached to this fantastic interesting place.

Entrance is about £12 but you can buy membership of English Heritage and get the visit free!