Probably the Worst Film Ever Made
Or that’s what this sign outside the Screen on Islington Green says.
Poster Advertising The Room
Do they claim that The Room is actually worse than some of the crap the Americans have produced lately and especially in 3-D.
Let’s Ban Mother’s Day
Signs like this really get my goat.
Mother's Day Promotion
After all, I haven’t got a mother and C, the mother of my sons died three years ago.
And I bet the free meal on offer doesn’t have a gluten-free option.
How about a widows day?
The Ford Transit Connect
You see these vans all over Europe, but I can’t remember seeing one here in Greece. Is it because they are made in Turkey?
Giving Up on the Bin
I hate the SimpleHuman rubbish bin, I bought for my kitchen, with a vengeance. Quite frankly, it’s absolute rubbish.
The main problem is that every time you take out one of the containers, it traps your fingers and as mine are sensitive after the stroke, it’s hurts. I forget the fact that it needs expensive special bin liners, the lids don’t stay up when you want and that it takes up valuable floor space in my small kitchen, but it has to go.
But lets face it, evety other one I’ve seen is expensive and/or a useless design.
So I’ve now relegated it to a bin for my dry recyclables.
My Useless SimpleHuman Bin
Note how I’m using two IKEA hooks to hold up a Waitrose carrier bag for my food waste and other non-recyclables.
I’ve bought a few useless things in my time, but I believe this is the worst husehold item I’ve ever bought.
Would John Betjeman Be Amused?
John Betjeman didn’t like Slough. So what would he made of this workboat on the Regent’s Canal?
Pride of Slough
He’d have probably giggled at it. But then he did write.
Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough!
The complete poem is here. Slough has probably improved since he wrote the poem.
How The City of London Gets Its Electricity
I did mention briefly in an earlier post about this, but today as I walked from home along the busy towpath of the Regent’s Canal I saw this notice.
Notice on The Regent's Canal
Note that it says that it links St. John’s Wood and West Ham.
This closure is due to essential works being carried out by National Grid to refurbish the cable cooling system between our substations at St. John’s Wood and West Ham.
It also links up to the City Road Basin, where there is a major sub-station that actually supplies the City. For more details of the work, there is a press release here. It’s all good engineering combining the best of modern technology with some superb historic infrastructure.
City Road Basin, Regent's Canal
The sub-station is to the left of the Basin in the picture.
Where the cable is is quite obvious, as this picture shows.
Cable Duct in the Regent's Canal Towpath
But it is well-marked.
High Voltage Warning
It could almost make a story for a James Bond film.
Imagine an evil megalomanic, who wanted to do some sort of share coup. What better way to disable dealing in the City of London, than to cut the power supply, by attacking it along the Canal. But of course the film would end with an amazing chase through the East End of London, all the way to the Olympic Park.
On the other hand working on high-voltage cables without the proper precautions is not to be recommended, unless you want to end up as little more than a collection of atoms.
PeacePlayers International
I’d never heard of this group, until I read William and Kate’s wedding list in the papers.
They are definitely worth supporting.
It does appear though that the royal couple have had the right idea over their gift list.
I was also impressed by his speech in Christchurch.
The Real Olympic Legacy
The Wellcome Trust has made a bid to run the Olympic Park and the Village after the 2012 Games finishes. Read about it here.
It seems to me that this could be a real lasting legacy for East London, especially if they eventually create a science and technology park, as they are indicating.
A Very Emotional Day
Looking back on Thursday, I can now see how it was a very emotional day for me. But not in a dark and unhappy way, but more in a celebration of the happy times I have had in the past, and what despite the loss of my wife, C, and our third son, and the stroke, I can do in the future. Was I loosing the unhappy shackles of the past?
I think that truth be told, I was very worried about the lecture. But I was given a warm welcome and I have been told it went well. It is not for me to say, but I hope that I’ll do some similar things in the future.
The walk around Liverpool in the sun, brought back many happy memories of the first few years of my life with C.
If there was a blot on my day, it was that I behaved in a rather silly and almost rude way with the celebrity. I apologise to them unreservedly. I’ve also paid a self-imposed fine to Comic Relief.
So would C be proud of what I accomplished on Thursday?
She told me to be strong and carry on many times, as she lay in bed dying.
So at least I have done that!
The Anonymous Widower 