Travels in East London with bike and Camera

So I had to try out a few shots last weekend with my new Camera. R and I headed on a bike round down the river lea, past olympic park and then into victoria park. Here are a couple of

shots.

Lastly here is R on the train on the way home

Clapham with the girls and Ash

So after living there for a year historically since I am less than keen to head back south of the river for a night out. Anyways given that Shweta has moved to Wimbledon and with the presence of Elaine, Anna and Tina I was forced. Can't remember the name of the bar. All I know is that we were near 'Lost Society', which had been the plan for the night, however it was already full at 21.15 (bloody straight bars!)

Anyways here are a couple of pics.

Tim Smith and Ash Jha on the BBC

This week both Tim and Ash have made it onto the BBC. Tim with a huge segment on 'Bang goes the theory and Ash being experimented on! If you are quick you may still catch it on iplayer (Tim features from about minute 21).

I especially like this pic of Ash! You can read about his funny headgear here! Ash is no stranger to the media and you may recall him in his brothers feature on green homes on the guardian website (you can watch the video again here). His brother recently has moved into a more Jesus like role in his recent environment updates (the photo was in a rather useful feature on energy saving lightbulbs!)

I think it must be a sign that I am getting older that friends are now more and more on TV. The last time my friends were so media featured was when I was a child (in and out of the local rag every so often).

Oh though I must not forget about R's proud moment on BBC news a couple of years ago (here below just in case you forgot)!!

Tom's stag

So this weekend I headed up to the lake district for Tom Snows stag do. I was slightly nervous having never been to a stag before (bizarrely I have been to a hen do!). Anyways it was great fun. Above is a little collection of clips that I have put on youtube. As you will see the stag was a mix of country scenery and falcons, with football, karaoke and pole dancing. Overall a great mix.

Of course there are millions of pics. You can take a look at them here. All of Ash's pics are there too.

He's much to blame

So the purpose of our trip to Bury St Edmunds had been to go to the theatre. Basically a comedy by Thomas Holcroft about a two couples in an English hotel and their inter-twinning relationships. Enjoyable and funny, though a bit slow to start. I have to say one of the best things was that it was in the theatre Royal which is a great restored historic theatre. Again more pics (I did say we had bought new Cameras).

Last weekend in Ipswich

So last weekend R and I headed to his parents for a chilled out weekend. It was great as when you get there it is easy to enjoy sitting, eating and relaxing. Anyways we did eventually get out of the house and headed to Bury St Edmunds. I have never been there before and I was pretty suprised by how nice a place it was. Here are a few of the pics.

And finally R and his family (Mum, Dad and Auntie Sarah)

New Camera

So we have been away for the last few weekends. However I have managed to acquire some new toys along the way. I have bought a new Canon SLR and a second point and shoot for quick shots. This all started at Anna's wedding when my camera stopped working. Richard's camera stopped a few months ago, so we had nothing.

Anyways as you will see, you are now in for a flood of pics.

Queen's road Mosque - bringing international attention

So I subscribe to the RSS feed in Google news for Walthamstow. Anyways something that has caused E17 to feature in the worldwide press recently is the Airline plot. Throughout the articles there is constant attention to the mosque less than half a mile away that the ring leader is said to have been a regular attender at.

I don't really know anything about the mosque but I have to say its infamy is at least making my walk to the tube more interesting!!

You can read a recent article in the times with regard to the mosque by clicking here. B

Anna's wedding

So this weekend R and I headed over to Frenchay to go to Anna Crossman's wedding. It was lovely, though I have to apologise in advance. My camera has stopped working, so it was out with the iphone for the photos, hence the poor quality.

The wedding was in a church in Frenchay, followed by the reception in Chavenage house. Perfect. Thanks for a great day - felt pretty tragic yesterday though!

Bryn x

Josh Hunt - Gay about town

So it is coming. I know you are going to say that it is not quality or intellectual but I really enjoy the London paper. I have blogged about it enough and I even got into it once!!

My letter of the day

My biggest sadness though is going to be the end of Josh Hunt's column GAY ABOUT TOWN. I first noticed his column in one of my posts in 2006.

Since then I have enjoyed his weekly updates and quirky advice and ideas. Thankfully you can follow him on his new blog

GAY ABOUT TOWN

Or at least I hope so because despite being advertised in todays London paper it does not appear to be up yet.

The no.1 ladies detective agency

I have heard people rave about this author and despite having watched some of the TV series, I have to say I enjoyed this book. As easy going tube reading goes, you could even read a chapter within a couple of tube stops. Perfect!

Company of liars - Karen Maitland

So I quickly read this a couple of weeks ago for bookgroup (although stupidly I missed the meeting where we discussed it). Anyways a pretty good read, and I loved reading about the Pestilence! Bryn x

E17 art trail

So this weekend R and I headed out into the darkest depths of E17 and we were suprosed to find that one of the things to do for the weekend (in the London paper) was the E17 art trail. So on Saturday we decided to join an organised walk.

Despite the walk not feeling very organised and a woman that kept saying "I am writing a blog, can you give me a comment", or "I am writing a blog, I must take a picture", it was really good fun. By the way you can see her blog here!!

The blog is done by a lady called Valerie Grove, and despite my above comments, when it comes to her art I quite enjoyed her exhibits at Vestry house museum. They are of old suitcases, this one in particular.

Prom 63 last night

So last night R and I went to the proms. The music was all pretty dark but fun at the same time. Here was the programme - click on the links to the BBC programme notes

• 
  
• Xenakis Nomos gamma (15 mins)
• Rachmaninov The Isle of the Dead (20 mins)

• interval

• Xenakis Aïs (18 mins)
• Shostakovich Symphony No.9 in E flat major (25 mins)

For the first piece the orchestra was mixed with the audience (above). Between that and the drums it was a great experience.

Notting hill carnival 2009

So this Monday we headed to Notting Hill carnival. Having not been in a couple of years I was pretty excited go back. Loved the Jerk chicken and R dancing around the Rubbish.

Zachary Quinto as Spock

I have been very distressed recently. I thought that I had missed star treck at the cinema. Earlier this week I overcome my distress. I totally loved it, and especially Zachary Quinto as Spock. How can you not love him!!

Especially in this!! - From So NoTorious

Superhandy - Gaz the super plumber

So I have to do a bit of bigging up. I was working last weekend, hence the lack of updates. Anyways this weekend we have Gaz, Cara and Ivor over from Bristol. We have lived in the Stow for nearly a year now and have lived with doors that do not shut properly and a sink drain pipe that occassionally overflows.

Gaz fixed it all within a couple of hours. Perfect!! He runs a business in Bristol called superhandy. Check our the website here.

Superhandy Gaz! Thanks

Alex and Hannah's wedding

So yesterday R and I had the day off to head to his Brother's wedding in Bath. It was a fantastic day

Order of ceremonies

1. Ceremony in Guildhall

2. Champagne in the park

3. Afternoon tea at the Royal Crescent hotel

4. Dinner at the Bath Priory

It was all fantastic though I especially loved the cheeseboard at the restaurant!! Thanks for a fantastic day. To see all my pics click here. B x

What's wrong with angry

So after the massage I went back to the King's head theatre for another gay play (the previous one was f______ men). This time it was called 'What's wrong with Angry'. It was actually great fun, set in Basingstoke it was a tale of a young boy who meets his dream at school, then it all falls apart. Totally over the top but great. If you have not been to see it and you have a moment then get down there. Bryn

The gin and tonic treatment

So on Saturday I cashed in a great present that had been given to me for my birthday by the lovely Shweta and Ash. I went for my gin and tonic treatment at the Spa at Chancery court. I have to say it was a fantastic present and left me in total bliss. First you are rubbed in Juniper berries, then you take a shower and have an extra long massage. All brilliant. Thankyou both!!!

Romeo and Juliet at the Globe

So since being back it initially took about 4 days before the body clock adjusted and then last weekend we went to see a very pregnant Chelsea in Chesham.

Then this week I headed to town for Romeo and Juliet. I am not a big theatre goer and I have never been to the globe before so this was pretty exciting. However I have to say that after being there from 730pm until 10pm you realise why modern theatres no longer have wooden benches. I like the historic experience but I do like my soft furnishings!

Vancouver

ViewVancouver holiday map in a larger map

So this was our trip. Here are a few of the highlights

Firstly Salt Spring Island

Then the Wedding

Richard's Aunt and Uncles place

Downtown

Whistler

You can see all my pics from the holiday by clicking here

A break

So for the last few weeks I seem to have been having a bit of a break from the blog. This started with a holiday, but I am now keen to get myself back on track! I have been updating my twitter account pretty regularly though!

Walthamstow link in the local rag

Here is report about the link between Walthamstow central and Walthamstow Queen's road in the local rag - The Waltham forest Guardian. Click here to see their report.

I am really hopeful that the link will get built soon.

Queen's road station walking link - an update

View Walthamstow Queen's road link in a larger map

So some time ago I wrote about the Queen's road walking link and how the case was being heard in the High court. Well after a delay which seemed pretty unexplained I have heard from the Council that

WE WON!!

The housing association will still have the opportunity to appeal, but hopefully that may not happen. You never know, we may even get a walking link, if TFL and the council can still afford it (in light of the recession). The above map shows the route of the proposed link between Queen's road station and Walthamstow central.

Channel four logos

While waiting to play in the concert last weekend we went for a short wander to find some food. Anyways I apologise for the slightly washed-out appearance of these photos but I love the umbrellas. B x

LGSO at St John's Smith Square

I could not resist in taking a couple of quick pics last weekend at the concert. Yes I know I was in it! I was not however in the overture hence photos. I had a really great time and it was fantastic to see the concert so well attended.

Pond building last weekend

So this is why I have not been posting. I have been exhausted from last weekend! Richard has been wanting a pond for months, and last weekend it was finally built (though not quite finished). Anyway here are a few pics from the afternoon, though i realise that I am missing the filled version. So to cope after all that there had to be BBQ and ETOH!

The calendar killer - Walthamstow on Crimewatch

I missed it last night but Walthamstow featured on crimewatch last night and it seemed that the Queen's road murder is now thought to be the work of the Calendar killer, a serial rapist, who has been linked to three crimes. Given the heat and the name it is reminding me of the Summer of Sam (clip below). Sadly we do not quite have the glamour of that movie and this case is awful.

Anyways have a look at crimewatch on iplayer here and see the e-fit of the killer above.

Elaine's housewarming

So yesterday I was recovering from Elaine's house warming on Saturday in Balham. Ash and Tina were there for BBQ. Later it was off to Bethnal Green for a birthday party. Somehow despite all that on Sunday I managed to make it Oxford Street to buy a new suit! It was a challenge but I am feeling quite proud of myself now as I never thought it would happen at the beginning of the day.

Yesterday finished with the challenge that was rehearsals for LGSO. I love playing in the orchestra but I have to say I am often feeling like I could just do with a relax instead. Anyways that is a good cue to remind people to come to our LGSO concert next weekend at St John's Smith Square. Above is the flyer with the details.