Back Yard Market

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Eamon is staying with us - hoping his work will sell at the market

Iain Dale'- from Dale and Co blog

 Look, I’m going to be honest. So far, I have found Liverpool to be a ghastly city. The Albert dock area is lovely, but from what I have seen of the rest of it, it makes Gaza look welcoming. It’s now that I understand perfectly why lots of famous people profess to love Liverpool so much they move away at the first opportunity and never return if they can help it. Driving in on Sunday it was quite apparent that what money the council has had has been blown on regenerating the docks area to the exclusion of everywhere else. There seem to be a large number of second world war bomb sites which haven’t been touched in 60 years. It gives a terrible impression to people visiting for the first time. And then there’s the Adelphi Hotel. A shocker. I vaguely remember watching a fly on the wall documentary about it a few years ago. Believe me, it hasn’t got any better. They are charging £189 a night for a room with no internet, no mini bar, a room service menu which has a choice of two things and which is only available for an hour a day (OK, I exaggerate a little on that) and a TV which was built circa 1976. Oh, and its car park resembles a Kevin Webster style MoT bay. But the bathroom does have a set of bathroom scales, so that’s nice. What an absolute dive of a hotel. I know Liverpool has many fans. A good friend of mine loves the place. She regularly comes here for weekend breaks. God alone knows why. If I never came back again ever, it would be too soon. I suspect the feeling will be mutual after this

I do agree with this.  We went to Liverpool in the year of culture. More to do and see in Plaistow- well perhaps a slight exageration

A Games now so far removed from the Olympic spirit | News

A Games now so far removed from the Olympic spirit | News:

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Autumn Open day at King Henry's Walk Garden

http://www.khwgarden.org.uk/

In our street on a Sunday morning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt2Jd6HVCc8

And more sounds....

The new shopping mall by the Olympic Park

The top floor of the Mall

Boris's 'Piffle Tower' peeps over the centre - it is growing like a Beanstalk

Well we went there on the third day it opened and it was just packed.  It is huge, a maze and the exit I came out which I thought was Maryland turned out to be in the Olympic Park itself. We were told we were not allowed there and to go back the long way round- not me I said- bolshie sod, but the signposting was terrible.  The centre has the usual shops- loads of fashion for the younger customers while Lakeland Baking store attracted older people like me and gay men.  There I could only wince at the price of the mixing bowl I broke last week and at the cost of replacing my cast iron cake tin which I had just left at my baking class and will almost certainly be nicked by now!  The Mall is brash and were it not for the West Ham shop and the smoked salmon cafe you would not know you were in East London at all.

Walk London: Autumn Ambles at Various venues - Festivals

Walk London: Autumn Ambles at Various venues - Festivals

QLL - Venue

QLL - Venue:

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free tickets!!

Lucky us got some preview tickets to this rather unlucky theatre for us.  The last few times we have been there the shows have been awful. This was very racy, perhaps lewd is a better description but it was well acted and danced and the script was very witty and there were some great little performances..  It was not helped by us sitting in row AA where we could see what the dancers had for breakfast and I was terrified the spotlight would go on us- two elderly people and we would be made fun of. It was almost as toe curling as when I took John to an X factor show at the O2. There we were surrounded by teenage girls and we felt so out of place.  This was as achingly embarrassing.  Better in the second half when we switched to the back of the stalls.  I can't wait to see the reviews as this was a preview

Wisley Royal Horticulural Society garden

Maybe the last day of Summer and we went with friends from Gidea Park allotments to Wisley. 
In between driving rain and lovely sunshine we admired the beginning of the autumn colours and I especially admired the grasses and tall flowers as the wind swished through them.  The only down is the sound of the motorway nearby which mixes in with the wind as I think you may be able to hear from the video

Vintage Walk in aid of St Joseph Hospice

Acted as a steward and saw Spitalfields and Shoreditch at 4 in the morning- very unusual for me and quite an eye opener. Wearing my high vis jacket and standing with a colleague we helped marshall the walkers and acted as unpaid advisers/direction givers/fight breaker uppers and general friendly faces for the drunk, lonely, violent and friendless to talk to. This was not our ladies in their vintage dresses- but the thousands of revellers and action seekers who are in action/inaction in the early hours. I like to think we saved a few people from injury and fights! 

Skate boarding 'The Vans'

Another great exciting FREE event in our local market.  We feel so lucky to be living near all this entertainment and seeing so many different people. I just wished Pat's family were around to see this.  It was well organised with a large screen in Brushfield street as well as the live action in the market itself

Vintage Market on Bank Holiday Monday

There were so many people there beautifully dressed but it was so hard to take photos in the crowded market.  Of course many people who after all are 'dressing up' like and mean to be photographed but I was scared some might not. So, only two images of an amazing scene

'My Old Place'

Another trip to this great , though rather erratic restaurant which is almost 100% chinese clientèle.
They have rewritten the menu in clearer english.  We recommend the aubergine dishes and chilli beef