the size of the walrus

This FREE museum is just half an hour away on the Overground from Shoreditch high street.. It is an amazing place- natural history and this enormous walrus and a very good photographic exhibition of the old cultural festivals of England- and not just May Day.
Even more fascinating was the armies of yummy mummies with their children- coaching them along- toddlers listening to professional story tellers- most of the children were less than a year and could not possibly understand what was going on.  Teaching starts early in this affluent part of South london

Our Saturday workshop

These are some of the results of a three hour workshop workshop at Heba.  Two of these women are complete beginners!   We meet every Saturday at 10am

Free Craft Class

modelling one of the designs

This is a FREE workshop on Monday afternoons at the only school in the City of London.
the teacher, Hafsna, will help with any craft project and there is a friendly atmosphere. The class has some very talented needlewomen and designers and also some beginners.  All are welcome and the classes are aimed at mothers and grandparents-


http://www.sirjohncassprimary.org/familyroom.asp

Olek

http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/03/06/dont-miss-out-street-artist-olek-crochets-an-entire-room/It is a room made of crochet- made by the polish artist Olek and subtitled after Tracey Emin
"I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone"

Ken and the Prophet | The Spectator

Ken and the Prophet | The Spectator:

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Open day at Sandys Row Synagogue

The roof has been restored- this poor place is about a yard from the City Of London boundary so Tower Hamlets is officially it's location. This gorgeous little place, home to the dutch jews originally, gets very little help from the local authority. Jeremy Freedman showed us round on this open day- his forefathers worshipped here and he spends a lot of his time here, keeping the tradition alive    http://www.sandysrow.org.uk/

Flying the flag

hand sewing - more to come we hope

Family Bangla Craft and Textiles Workshop :: Rich Mix

Family Bangla Craft and Textiles Workshop :: Rich Mix:

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Welcome to Sandys Row Synagogue - London's Oldest Ashkenazi Synagogue

Welcome to Sandys Row Synagogue - London's Oldest Ashkenazi Synagogue:

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‘We’d rather side with the bankers than some vegan protester twit on benefits’, say Gilbert and George - Visual Arts - Arts - Evening Standard

‘We’d rather side with the bankers than some vegan protester twit on benefits’, say Gilbert and George - Visual Arts - Arts - Evening Standard:

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Ornish Spectrum Introduction

Ornish Spectrum Introduction

I will never give up... but reading/watching/thinking instead of doing

Meshwi Restaurant

these hand painted robins decorate the walls

This is the newest restaurant in Bethnal Green Road and is owned by a friend of ours. Taizul aims for it to rival the famous Tayab sin Whitechapel and so we decided to try the lamb chops which were as delicious as Tayabs. The restaurant seats 90 and the food was brilliant. Someone also recommended Bunda Khan in Commercial street for their lamb dishes - so at Easter I might well give it a go

The launch of the book 'Spitalfields Life'

Even royalty attended- pearly queen of Upton park no less

spitalfields life

The food stall was besieged. Eccles cakes and cheese

I am not in the habit of going to book launches.  This was a first for me so near home and it was deservedly packed for our local author.  he has faithfully kept his blog daily for two years- it is beautifully written and wonderful descriptions of this great place where we are so lucky to live.  The doors were closed when 600 people were inside and still people were queuing to be let in as people left. Many of the people in the book are well known around here so it was especially exciting.  

The Banner

This is the new large banner that can be bought from Spitalfields market on the Heba stall.
It is made of thick canvas and the branches are of leather. The motifs at the end of the branches are covered in see through plastic and the idea is to put family or school photos in the pockets. It is priced at £80 and can be seen at Spitalfields market by Montezumas chocolate shop or phone Anjum or Anne at Heba in Brick Lane

The new London Hospital

This is the view from the 13th floor where my friend is a patient. brand spanking new, in debt up to its eyeballs, miles of long corridor, separate entrances to the wards for staff and patients and relatives. It seemed a very scary place, not on a human scale at all.  The single rooms are quiet, air conditioned with fridges but no TV or radio- it felt very lonely indeed. The view from the rooms is brilliant but the windows are too high to see if you are in bed.  

Turning 60

It's not a good feeling as I turn 60.  Now viewed as old when inside I feel incredibly childish. 
And learning all the things I missed out on when I was a child-
Missing my sister but learning to apreciate the great family I have around me. And my friends.

And the NHS which  have never given up on me.  The birthday card that arrived in my birthday was...
an invitation to take a bowel cancer test. And I think everyone gets this too.  wonder if I will ever get a card from King William if I make 100.  I am not sure I want to..

'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'

http://extremelyloudandincrediblyclose.warnerbros.com/index.html


This is a great film.  John and I went- mainly because of free ticketsfrom 'The Times'.
I loathe this venue- hate the Greenwich Peninsula with its chain restaurants and lack of any individuallity- but the cinema in the Dome is very comfortable. The film for me has everything that I am interested in- location of the city, experienceof childhood and trying to see the world through the eyes of an autistic child.   And the themee of loss and how to come to terms with it. 

Brick Lane, not Tarmac Lane! | News

Brick Lane, not Tarmac Lane! | News:

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Quiz night with two of 'The Chasers'

Shaun Wallace and Paul Sinha

http://www.itv.com/entertainment/thechase/The chaps were very gracious and posed for me as I am sure some people do not believe me when I tell them about how brilliant it is to be part of the Quiz League of London and meet some really great people
http://quizleagueoflondon.biz/home/default.aspx

Theatre Royal Stratford

The tatty safety curtain close up

The dismal view from the theatre

http://www.stratfordeast.com/the_theatre/working_with_us.shtml

Anyone can join and help the theatre increase its audience and come to life.  Many of my friends are involved with this - I joined them on a tour of the theatre- very fascinating and many of the people who work there are actual east enders- very rare in London. There is a choir attached to the theatre and loads of events leading to the cultural Olympics so it's a good time to get involved