Hackney WickED
It was the Hackney WickED Festival this weekend and I went to see some of the artists, who were having an Open Studios in the area.
It was well worth it.
Afterwards I walked past the locks at Old Ford.
Old Ford Locks
And then under the Northern Outfall Sewer on a newly restored towpath on to the Olympic Park.
Sunday on the Greenway
It was good to see so many people about on the Greenway.
Amazingly, the blackberries were out and people were picking and eating them.
Simple Recycling
I have one of my new recycling boxes permanently on the front patio by my wheelie bin.
My Recycling Box and Wheelie Bin
At least it means with Coke cans that I can recycle them without walking up and down the stairs or going outside. I just open the window and drop them straight down. Is this good practice for my eyesight after the stroke?
At least, I haven’t missed yet!
But then I haven’t chanced it with glass bottles either!
Where Have All The Jobsworths Gone?
I’ve had a friend staying for the last few days and I accompanied her to Stratford to get her train back to Ipswich this morning on the North London Line. Changing from the North London Line to the main line at Stratford is particularly easy, as the platforms are virtually next to each other. And there are lifts, if you aren’t so good on your pins.
My friend had bought her tickets on the TrainLine, which is a company, I only use as a last resort, as I know the system and can often get a better deal elsewhere. Her tickets were actually to Ipswich via Colchester and I know that ticket inspectors can take non-compliance with rules seriously. So when the first train came, which was going to Colchester and then on to Ipswich, she took it. But to be fair to National Express East Anglia, the inspector on the train accepted her ticket without question.
Then when I got home, I found that my recycling had been collected. Nothing special about that, except perhaps that they’d done it an hour or so earlier than normal. But they had replaced one of my recycling bins with a brand new one, which they had clearly numbered.
So sometimes people do use a bit of initiative to do their jobs better! And of course make things more pleasant for their customers and clients.
There was slight downside this morning. A guy was cleaning the train between Stratford and Hackney Wick. In trying to remove one of the disposable newspapers, he inadvertantly touched someone. The guy mouthed him off in no uncertain terms.
Hackney Bans Smoking In Parks
According to this story, Hackney Council is going to ban smoking in children’s play areas.
I would support a wider ban in the borough to include all parks and bus shelters.
My Dustmen Do Sundays
As I left this morning, a Hackney Council truck was outside with its flashers blinking. It had wire sides and seemed to be collecting junk like old sofas and other furniture bought years ago in places like MFI. The driver turned up after a few minutes and I asked him if he’d mind taking an old wooden shelf that I’d left outside my house, hoping someone would steal. But the shelf was obviously too poor to even half-hinch for firewood! But the driver said “No problem, Guv” and chucked it on the truck.
So what happeneded to the renowned jobsworths, who wouldn’t take anything unless you obeyed a set of rules that weren’t published?
Rubbish Disposal a la Paddington Bear in Hackney
If I want to get rid of anything that might have a bit of value, I just put it outside my door beside the street, with a note saying something like “Please give this sofa a good home!”
It always disappears! Whoever takes it can take it to the dump, when they find out why I got rid of it.
Hackney’s Junk Mail Sticker
I had to contact waste disposal at Hackney Council and mentioned how much junk mail I got. I did this by e-mail on info.hackney.gov.uk.
They have sent me a sensible sticker which now adorns my letter box.
Hackney's Junk Mail Sticker
It will be interesting to see if it cuts the amount of unaddressed rubbish I get through the door.
They also sent me a form to stop the Royal Mail sending me any.
On the back of the form it states that Hackney households receive approximately 35 million pieces of unwanted mail each year. This weighs 900 tonnes and takes 6,000 trees to make.
Incidentally, according to the 2001 Census there are 86,042 households in Hackney. So on average each receive 407 pieces of unwanted junk mail each year or over one piece a day.
I was also pleased to see that Hackney Council used tonnes and not tons on the form.
What Is Happening On This Site?
Now that the Western Curve which connects the East London line to the North London line is fully operational, there is a sizeable site between Kingsland Road and Dalston Lane, surrounded by a blue fence opposite Dalston Junction station.
What is planned for this site?
Note :-
- The unusual shaped structure is the ventilator for the railway underneath.
- Ashwin Street leads to the old Reeves factory and the Arcola Theatre from opposite Dalston Junction station.
It would seem there is space for a garden and perhaps a safe walkthrough between the two Dalston stations. This could be linked to a light-controlled pedestrian crossing by the station entrance.
A Nice Touch From Hackney Council
Today was recycling day and my box came back with my house number on it. It must have been the recycling crew.
It saves me buying some paint and a brush!
Good for them!
Coal Hole Covers
There are a few coal hole covers still left in Hackney and Islington.
Sadly many of these nice pieces of Victoriana have been collected or stolen and then melted down for the metal.
I don’t have one as my house is new and there are none down the road, as they have the wrong type of cellar.
The Anonymous Widower 