The International Brigade - A small memorial sculpture by Ian Walters in the shadow of the 'london eye' dedicated to those who made their way to Spain fight against Franco in the civil war
"IN HONOUR OF OVER 2100 MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEERS WHO LEFT THESE SHORES TO FIGHT SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE SPANISH PEOPLE IN THEIR HEROIC STRUGGLE AGAINST FASCISM 1936—1939 MANY WERE WOUNDED AND MAIMED 526 WERE KILLED THEIR EXAMPLE INSPIRED THE WORLD"
We've just got back from a long weekend by the Kent coast.
Dungeness is a fabulous, bleak place even on the sunniest of days. It's all shingle beach and power station. and this strange construction.
I'm back to work tomorrow - long weekends are too short.
This bearded lady stall just appeared on the heath this evening. There was nothing else around other than a few empty coffee cups. I couldn't find the bearded lady anywhere.
From various Flickr groups and RSVP:
"Plans for the new railway development and sensitive restoration of the Grade II listed Victorian carriage ramp at Deptford Railway Station will begin with the interim use of the empty site as home to a highly decorative & superbly glammed up graffiti art 57 seater railway carriage. The 35 tonne South East train carriage will be making its way from Essex on Thursday evening as it edges slowly towards Deptford at a painstaking 2 miles per hour down the A11 and into Deptford High Street. It aims to reach its final destination around 9pm. Challenges will include clearing Deptford rail bridge with a tricky 2 inch gap to spare as it gingerly makes its way to its new home beside the railway station.
"The carriage will act as a central point cafe & funky bistro which will act as a headquarters around which a weekend market will take place (to be launched in mid April). Locals and visitors will be invited to come shop, eat and check out the artistic carriage and information point as they discover exciting plans ahead for this heart of Deptford. A revitalised area which will be creative, inspiring and great place to work, live and play. Interim plans will include the market which compliments Deptford's existing traditional market with additional arts, crafts, fashion and food as well as plans for through the year film, music and festival events... "
A little late for blogging this. But isn't life fun when you're busy busy busy?
Christmas stamps for 2007. Take your choice. Renaissance angels - Peace, Goodwill, Joy & Glory - or Madonna & child
Barcelona is fascinating!
There is everything from the sublime cathedrals to the ridiculous scams that people fall for on the Rambla.
Then back to London and within days I'm bunged up and sneezing. Yeuch
The Department for Transport wants to allow motorbikes to use bus lanes. The London Cycling Campaign is less keen
According to the CTC "per mile travelled, [motorbikes] are about 1.5 as likely as cars to be involved in collisions which cause serious injury to cyclists, twice as likely to be involved in causing them serious injuries and about three times as likely to be involved in killing them.
Hopefully Lewisham Council will get back to me soon with their plans for allowing motorbikes in bus lanes.
Buses tend to be patient and tolerant of cyclists and happy to warn me of problems. Cars are rare in the bus lanes that I use - possibly because of better enforcement (although they use the bus lane to undertake right turning vehicles). But motorbikes and cyclists don't seem to mix at all.
Cyclists use the bus lane to overtake other bikes, to avoid potholes and to move around buses at bus stops. Allowing a fast moving motorbike into the mix of buses and cyclists will only increase the risk of collision - especially as the number of cyclists and motorbikes increases.
