A wonderful setting of afternoon tea

This is a sumptuous display of goods. It is one of the few times I have wished I had a big house with big rooms for entertaining.

Woman died after doctors failed to spot toilet brush in her buttocks - Telegraph

Woman died after doctors failed to spot toilet brush in her buttocks - Telegraph

Nothing to do with sex- and in England not USA

Exhibition 'Garden within Doors''

A wonderful couple of hours with a friend- a talk on herbalism and a look at the exhibition - wonderfully done, of the use of flowers and plants in English interiors of the 16th and 17th century. A pianist played on a balmy evening and the garden was really beautiful and sweet smelling.

The event was FREE

They are repeating this in July

The best Top Tips from 30 years of Viz | The Sun |Features

The best Top Tips from 30 years of Viz The Sun Features

Please read this- hilarious!

Canon Andrew White

"Wed 26 May 7pm - Spital Sermon in the Nave - Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad - Christianity - a view from Iraq"

This pretty special man is coming to speak to us all and as it's 100yards from where we live, we will welcome anyone for tea and supper from 5.30 onwards.
Susan is having a stall in the church beforehand (and after) selling delicious cakes, cookies and cordial) She is a superb cook so we are in for a treat. All profits are going to Canon White's charity in Iraq. By the way entrance to the talk is £5 and that money goes towards the poor people in Canon White's congregation
By the way even for people who are not interested in the church or Christianity, then this man is a bit special to say the least. He copes personally with chronic illness and disability and the constant fear of sudden death by fanatics- many of his congregation have been murdered.
Please reply to me if you can come

All Hallows by the Tower | Taize

All Hallows by the Tower Taize

service on Wednesday at 6pm

Four Lions is comedy of terrors| Film | This is London

Four Lions is comedy of terrors Film This is London

Saw this at Genesis last night- terrific.
We really ought to take the micky more out of these ludicrous characters

The Neasden Hindu Temple

'In the Joy of others, lies our own ' The guiding principle of the Shrine

We took photos from the outside of the Temple but they were not very good. And we were not allowed to take photos inside.

The welcome we got was amazing and tremendous kindness from the volunteers who manage the place. We took part in the ceremony of Arti- I have no idea what it was about- the figures in the shrine are uncovered and incensed- I think.

They have a lovely vegetarian restaurant there- no time for that but John and I will return in the summer

'The Old Grey Matter' our team at quiz

Angela, Yvonne, Anne (captain) Celestine, Jan and Vika

London Chest Hospital. Election night. Our Quiz team with new member Angela and guest Vika

We came about 6th out of 50. Not bad at all. Fish and Chip supper and a good night -£8

With Vika in Brighton

Myself and Vika had a chilly day in Brighton. We saw there Caroline Lucas, the green contender for Brighton Pavilion constituency - she was rushing from the station. (now the first Green MP)

We then had lunch in 'Bill's' a place I first visted a few years ago with Fiona. Pricey but very different from most - a cross between Leons and a whole food shop. The dancers were from a local theatre school

Bow East council election

Bow East

Andrew sadly lost- but worth going for.
Great courage and effort from a fantastic person.

This was the scene early morning at a desolate, freezing polling station. Councillor Francis is canvassing and will regain his seat on the council

Spitalfields & Banglatown Ward

Spitalfields & Banglatown Ward

And this was the scene at my polling station in Brick Lane

My Old Place- very distinctive chinese restaurant

Jing- Jing, one of our favourite students from Pathway took us to the local restaurant 'My Old Place'

The food was very spicy and very delicous- we loved it!

Another student, Chrystal, is on the right

Vika is staying with us from Moscow- it's her second time staying with us and I think she found the food a bit hot! She was disapointed not to find

'sweet and sour' on the menu!

'The first punch came, landing on my nose, sending blood down my face' - UK Politics, UK - The Independent

'The first punch came, landing on my nose, sending blood down my face' - UK Politics, UK - The Independent

Corruption in Tower Hamlets re election- what a suprise!

Campaigning in Bow Road

This is so beautiful and opposite Bow Court in Bow Road

The Hustings for Bethnal Green and Bow

Hustings were held for the candidates. Nobody came from RESPECT which says a lot I think.

And the audience were amazing- hardly any Bangladeshis in a constituency where they are in the majority (probably). The church then said prayers for the election and for our country. Andy reminded us how fortunate we were to live in such a stable country- in spite of the problems

Blogs

Blogs

Andrew Coles

Andrew is standing for Bow East ward. His daughter Amy took the photo.

Andrew,along with two colleagues, is an independent standing for upholding the needs of residents and against the bureaucracy and carelessness of the present Tower Hamlets council

Labour’s contempt for the white working class

Labour’s contempt for the white working class

Canvasssing for Andrew Coles and Leaseholders Alliance

This is 'Fish island' believe it or not- in industrial Bow. In the shadow of the Olympic Park and around the site beloved of east-enders- Percy Dalton's peanut Factory.

Sadly most of the housing here is luxury- no social housing as far as I could see- but also the remains of old London light industry, real workman's cafes (not pastiches), the canal and River Lea and a more than a hint of London's past.

Very atmospheric and evocative and suddenly I was a small child and running past the rag factories and wood sheds of Silvertown

St George's Day and a Fashion Show in the market

This was such a fun day in the Square. The horse was not part of the fashion show- her name is Queenie and she was the star of the medieval jousting between St George and a hapless french knight.

Guess who won?

Polly Hope's house

Myself and Fay went to a concert at Polly's 'estate' in Heneage street. Full to bursting and the music was played by Tangissimo. There was dancing and food and we met a russian lady who now lives in Walthamstow and toasted each other in Russian (I have forgotten all of the toasts).
The chandelier is made of colanders and kitchen utensils and the birds accompanied the concert. The sun was shining and it was a wonderful afternoon.

5 Days in May | Southbank Centre.

5 Days in May Southbank Centre.

On Sunday 9th at 5pm- tea and cakes for sale and the chance to watch the dancing or even try to dance! anybody coming with us? Email me if interested

Andrew Coles

One of the greatest people in Tower Hamlets- is standing for the council in Bow East.
if you live there, please vote for him.
I shall blog more about his manifesto soon

Our day out in Ely

I have to try to stick to my blog brief of London on the cheap: return fare to Ely for old crocks £16.50. From Kings Cross or Liverpool street (slower)

It was a wonderful Spring day with Jan Bev, Linda and of course John

We toured the cathedral and met St Etheldreda. I love the statue of her which is in the Lady Chapel at the cathedral- the best I have ever seen in that pose of benediction

Baptism on Easter Day

Penny, our Pathway member, was baptised today

family news

Mary, in Cambodia with the cutest baby. Joey and Leila are now in Kiev.

Brain Roberts Roman Road

The best butcher for working class londoners (imho)

Salt beef, any cuts you want and he will deliver if you order lots.

Old eastenders go there to stock their freezers

The number 8 bus from Spitalfields stops outside.

Good Friday

with Sister J. to follow the Way of the Cross in Westminster- walking around the Abbey, Methodist Central Hall and back to Westminster Cathedral- in silence and large crowds. The rain fell steadily and it was very cold for April.

The Cathedral was also very cold, inspite of it being packed with hundreds standing. The choir sang this beautiful motet in latin:

Faithful cross, among all others one noble Tree. what sweet wood,what sweet nails, what a sweet burden it bears.

The Artisans

I met Ann and we enjoyed the concert of medieval Marian music. It was a shame Christchurch was embarrassingly empty- the audience stretched out like camels across the desert.

I was happy to hear some favourite carols- a funny time at Easter but right to be focusing on Mary as well as Christ.

The Prevent strategy: a textbook example of how to alienate just about everybody - Telegraph

The Prevent strategy: a textbook example of how to alienate just about everybody - Telegraph

Forthcoming Events - Westminster Cathedral

Forthcoming Events - Westminster Cathedral

I am going to the talk on Cardinal Newman. Anybody fancy coming?

Move Over Mary Seacole, There’s a New Kid In Town | The Spectator

Move Over Mary Seacole, There’s a New Kid In Town The Spectator

Hackney Free School

With Rita, Mary and Joe's esteemed and respected music teacher. She bought me a huge lunch at 'The Old Ship' in Mare Street. Lovely location, friendly, good food, newspapers and right next to the now dark 'Hackney Empire'

Then to the rather sparse underwhelming exhibition in the museum about my children's secondary school Hackney Free and parochial church of England secondary school'

A tough school, but with a long history. Founded in the 16Th century!

Ask the Queen to strip Stephen Byers of his Privy Council Membership - Petition - Sign this petition here - Signature page - GoPetition

Ask the Queen to strip Stephen Byers of his Privy Council Membership - Petition - Sign this petition here - Signature page - GoPetition

Bernstein

West Side Story part 4 at South Bank. It was brilliant- dancing and singing 3 songs, 'America' 'Officer Kruptje' and 'Somewhere', then a showing of the film.
Free, but cocktails at £7.50 pricey and nothing special.
But Bernstein is the composer to make you want to flash the cash. He wants us to be generous and open hearted

sh'koyack

Saw this terrific group at St Ethelburgas. Wonderful music which made me think of Jews dancing in the villages of Russia and Eastern Europe. Fabulous singing and haunting, fast, whirling music. I could see the black cloaks circling around. This is one of many concerts Wallee runs at St Ethelburgas and it was one of the best. John helps and takes the money at the door.

'This Room in the Sunlight'

Bernard Kops came to Brick Lane and Eastside bookshop last night and a small group came to hear him last night He read some of his poems from the book and very movingly described his struggle to 'fit in'. He spoke with some bitterness about Christianity and the likely hood of a conservative government- he had very old fashioned views I think but spoke with passion and hope. I last met him about fifteen years ago and he looked and sounded just the same.

in 'the stacks' under the Barbican

We visited the Barbican Library and were guided on a group tour by librarians Jonathon and Cathy. The beautiful book on the left can unbelievably be borrowed and taken home.

There is a group of books called 'The London Collection' , mostly underneath the Barbican (which we saw) called 'The Stack' which can be borrowed.
Anybody can be a member of this fantastic library in such a great location. It is comfortable, warm and has wonderful staff. There is a fantastic collection of sheet music and Cd's and is very strong on travel and information about the City of London. How proud we are to live near this place- our dream is to live at the Barbican -must do the lottery this week

No Greater Love released in cinemas in the UK on 9th April 2010 « Hot Property Films

No Greater Love released in cinemas in the UK on 9th April 2010 « Hot Property Films

Southbank Centre - Dance & Performance

Southbank Centre - Dance & Performance

waiting for Godot

Take two great actors- Ian Mckellen and Roger Rees- and they act wonderfully in what for me is a dreadful, pretentious, tedious play. The only drama was a group of sixth formers in the row before us who were attempting to unwrap toffees in a silent theatre.

The other good bit was, in one of the silences, you could hear a distinct snore from one of the back rows.

John liked it and I thought - very Beckett this, what a funny way to spend your thirtieth wedding anniversary. Even stranger than our distinctly low key wedding day which consisted of Stratford Register office and sausage and chips in a pub in Plaistow High Street.

In keeoing with tradition we had free tickets for the theatre

Andrew Gilligan – Telegraph Blogs

Andrew Gilligan – Telegraph Blogs

Alice in Wonderland (film)

This was very enjoyable. Reminds me of C.S. Lewis and that world of the past, just out of reach.I liked Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen but found Alice too posh and neat to take on the jabawocky .
We enjoyed the film - £4.50 concessions-extra- because they hire the 3D glasses
Went home via Stratford and the 'International station' - a fraud of course because the trains will not stop here from Europe

East London Advertiser - Tower Hamlets Tories pick their MP hopeful for Bethnal Green and Bow

East London Advertiser - Tower Hamlets Tories pick their MP hopeful for Bethnal Green and Bow

John and I went to this packed meeting. Met Mohammed who is launching a new soft drink
It's made from pear juice called 'drop' and perhaps more about this later

Bullying | The Spectator

Bullying The Spectator

Lobbying the council

Myself and a few friends went to Mulberry Place to meet our councillors and protest about these divisive arches. As I predicted they withdrew the item at the last minute but Andrew Gilligan has warned it may be back. We met our local councillors, hastily backpedaling over the allegations in recent Dispatches' programme. We decided discretion is the best part and accepted their kind offer of a lift home.
NB Council elections and general election are almost certain to be in May! Our comrade Mavis stands on the DLR while the young passengers sit.....

Andrew Gilligan – Telegraph Blogs

Andrew Gilligan – Telegraph Blogs

East London Advertiser - Bid thwarted to oust Tower Hamlets top Tory over C4 Islamism exposé

East London Advertiser - Bid thwarted to oust Tower Hamlets top Tory over C4 Islamism exposé

Jan's got wheels

I have a new set of wheels!

Its my badge of getting frailer- my two fingered sign to the world that I don't care about image- its my top of the range shopping trolley the 'sholley' and its already been 'bloodied' while out to Sainsbury's Whitechapel.

Ron Arad exhibition

With Rosemary to this 'private view'

nothng posh as I am a member and it's only £20 a year. So free admission and a drnk thrown in.

Also saw the beautiful garden room which is pretty sepctacular lit up at night