Leek in Staffordshire Moorlands

One of the loveliest places in the UK.  Unspoilt, unpretentious and beautiful countryside around- love Wetley Rocks and the old Catholic college nearby
The town does seem a  bit run down though and charity shops abound.  But a very kind place to be and I can never understand why tourists don't seem to favour these places.  It is far prettier than many of the Derbyshire villages and towns

Covent Garden and Spring feels closer

We decided to go into Covent Garden just for a change and came across this beautiful wistful music from the Chinese musician.  The music felt lonely and you could imagine someone exercising in a huge landscape- at times then it just felt great to have someone you love by your side.
Spring feelings are not just for the young. 
I never much like Covent Garden as it all seems a but phoney but the musician struck me as plying much the same sort of trade as people must have done many years ago

The workers united will never be defeated… » Spectator Blogs

The workers united will never be defeated… » Spectator Blogs

Our Festival starts after Easter

http://www.huguenotsofspitalfields.org/


It seems very varied- and quite a few locals are involved.
If it is very popular then maybe it will be repeated......

Loads of the events are free

John Cornwell RIP

John Cornwell- the Gentleman Bear Daddy long legs bounce the window Hugo's in his snoring chair He potters round his pocket cottage Sipping green cut-grass soaked air So finely dresses, so debonair; A touch of frost upon his hair Back in grubby, wheezing London, Home in 15 Red Lion Square, All business matters carried out With a gentlemanly flair His rose-pink shirt is pressed with care By shining,whirling dervish Clair All legal London knows John Cornwell Ever wise and ever fair Save for when he hears a siren, American or hip hop blare Then don't approach,no, do not dare! That roaring, great indignant bear John was very tall with lovely thick black hair. he dressed beautifully and always looked very stylish.

Fusion Musical Theatre

Our really phoney market on the slide

http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/amol-rajan-fairtrade-local-organic--the-myth-of-ethical-food-8509756.html

People are just getting real around here.

After Christmas it is always very quiet but now it should be picking up. Instead we have at least five empty shops in our shopping mall that passes for the market.
Here we have no greengrocer, no bakery,no butcher no fresh fish and if it was not for Tesco, no where to go for ordinary groceries.  Loads of gift stores flogging bits that get caught up in the hoover, overpriced clothes and media savvy places like Leon posturing as wholesome.  Their display of a glass milk bottle on the counter, while serving Tescos 2 pint cartons. 
The market seems to be getting emptier every week- except for antiques day on Thursday when real characters turn up and it is really quite fun to look around.

I have now started taking my visitors to Walthamstow or Green street to look at real markets.
I see Spitalfields Old Market is in the news as it may be resold. And that Smithfield might go the same way as Spitalfields.

Spitalfields Market reportedly for sale

Spitalfields Market reportedly for sale

The NHS

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9874234/Mid-Staffs-crisis-No-one-wants-to-talk-about-the-real-scandal-of-our-time.html#dsq-comments

The great Julie Burchill

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/197b54c8#b01qhd0p

My idea of bliss on Sunday is a cooked breakfast, Sunday service and then catching up on Desert island discs.
Today one of my heroines, the drippy voiced, squeaky, fearless Julie Burchill.  I was thinking about the reason I have not been blogging so much this year- I know it is a lack of courage

I have such strong feelings about what is happening locally and nationally- and a lot personally and if I was to write them down I would get a lot of flack and I am just not willing to take it.

Julie goes for the jugular and a lot of her passions are close to mine- especially a fascination with the Jews.  She shows her dedication by trying to learn hebrew.  I can only show my regard by donating my parking scratch cards to The Sandys Row Synagogue and listening like Julie to 'Exodus'
'http://sandysrow.org.uk/

Happy New Year

Old kilns next to Gladstone pottery museum

dilapidated buildings in central Longton

Old factory in central Longton

We decided we had to at last leave our comfortable nest and have a good walk over Longton. 

I have stayed here with my friend for over 20 years and this beautiful area, with it's hills and chimneys  chapels and pie shops is very dear to me.
We crossed the road and then over the A50 by the walkway.  It is a depressing walk. I hate to see Longton so run down and shabby. I took  these photos today in what is meant to be the industrial quarter. We met nobody in a 3 hour walk except a group of eastern Europeans who may have been squatting in one of the near derelict buildings or possibly working on a small enterprise.  It looks indeed like an area of how I imagine parts of Bulgaria or Rumania . I would not have dared going round here alone- for fear of loose guard dogs.  But we did not even hear any of them, nothing much to guard.

Not a bus running today and no place to even get a coffee.  Smashed shops, a broken down pub and the precinct. The MP for the area is Tristram Hunt- I wonder where he lives in his constituency- nowhere near we were walking I am sure- not many 'Tristrams' in Longton

The E15 choir

On LB C radio there has been a lot of discussion on the legacy of the Olympics.  Of course most of Newham is still very shabby- the Olympic shopping centre gross and ugly - full of stuff nobody really needs and very few round there can afford. I do expect loads of shops to close there in the New Year.  It is a place with no history, no traditions.No room for any sentiment- a Gradgrind sort of place.
But The Theatre Royal, sort of re branded as Stratford East did get some money and used a little to form a choir. Now the funding has stopped and individuals mostly from the Borough, including a few of my friends, now self fund their choir and we went to the Christmas concert at the theatre.  A wonderful hour and showing that excellence (ie Spitalfields Festival) does not always make the best entertainment

East End Sunday Service: The St Parish Church of St Chad's, Haggeston, Dunl...

East End Sunday Service: The St Parish Church of St Chad's, Haggeston, Dunl...: Every time I visit a Catholic church I want to confess, not necessarily to expose my fraudulent faith but instead to grapple with some guilt...


I must be one of the 'nans'!

Tower Hamlets Fairness Commission

Tower Hamlets Fairness Commission:

'via Blog this'

totally agree- Giles Fraser - Yuk!

Heba Family Workshop :: Rich Mix

Heba Family Workshop :: Rich Mix:

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join us!

Rejoice! The rejection of female bishops is a wonderful day for Christendom – Telegraph Blogs

Rejoice! The rejection of female bishops is a wonderful day for Christendom – Telegraph Blogs:

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BBC News - East End Trades Guild to be launched in Spitalfields

BBC News - East End Trades Guild to be launched in Spitalfields:

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In fact it was launched with some style last night at Christ Church
Ushered in with banjos and trumpets and traditional London songs
Paul Gardner the market sundriesman surprised us all by wearing a suit- and giving a superb address

Welcome to Poppies Fish and Chips Spitalfields

Welcome to Poppies Fish and Chips Spitalfields:

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even better now- and a loyalty card too

Brick Lane women's group to play a leading role at the Lord Mayor's Show

Brick Lane women's group to play a leading role at the Lord Mayor's Show:

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Lord Mayor's Show 2012 - Festivals

Lord Mayor's Show 2012 - Festivals

Heba will be there - look out for us
Our lorry has a huge bobbin winding.
Lots of children and women dressed up with somewhere to go