Voice of an angel

A complete concert by Rumer from St James's church in London. Jacintha is playing Rumer "Boys Don't Cry" on repeat in Herald House and no one here is complaining.

Rumer: 'Culture is mediocre because most interesting people are under a duvet.' (More)

Paralympics 2012 opening ceremony

The Paralympic opening ceremony launches with a spectacular light-show narrated by Professor Stephen Hawking, who tells spectators: "Look up at the stars, and not down at your feet." (Channel 4)

Undone

Undone from Hayley Morris on Vimeo.

"A drifting man struggles to pull objects from the roiling sea below him and scrambles to keep the objects from slipping through his fingers. A stop-motion animation using textured and tactile materials, as well as personal imagery, that represents the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by my grandfather." (Hayley Morris)

Paralympics torch relay reaches Willesden sports centre

Windy Tuesday evening

 

 

 

 

Some fun was had

Photo: Mark Coughlan. Used by permission

At Notting Hill Carnival 2012

Notting Hill Carnival 2012 - Telegraph

Children's day photo gallery. Fair play to the Telegraph, they're first every year with pictures from the Carnival.

Irish Times gallery

A good lot of pictures from the Irish Times.

Still no sign of anything from the Guardian. And of course zero from the BBC.

New school building

Harlesden Road entrance

View from St. Andrew's Road

The new school is across the yard from the existing Islamic high school. Possibly a primary school? That side of St. Andrew's Road is now entirely occupied by the two school buildings from Harlesden Road down to Willesden High Road. The site was derelict before.

Meadow profusion

Organised chaos. Tuesday evening, 21 August.

Mars panorama

Mars Panorama - Curiosity rover: Martian solar day 2 in New Mexico

Spotted Dog redevelopment

The show home is open

Willesden High Road

Let's hope the Spotted Dog has survived the operation and its heart rate monitor is still ticking. It will be interesting to see how it looks when it's unveiled. Here is what it should look like, which I think will be quite striking. What do you think: dog's dinner or not?

Steve

99 tiny games

99 Tiny Games

In the library centre piazza, Willesden High Road

Field weeds

Ribwort Plantain flowers are out now.
That's our fierce Yorkshire terrier in the background.

Support Pussy Riot against Putin

Putin is a weirdo and a megalomaniac. He's not good for Russia or the world. Will he send someone to drop polonium in my tea?

Feargal

Street weeds

?

?

Bistort (with the spotted leaves)

Park Avenue

More weeds

Red Dead Nettle this morning

Wild Geum* this week with burrs like sea mines.
Started as single yellow flowers & nettle-like leaves.

* Identified by A. Sherlock

Tennis Academy at Capital City Academy

www.capitalcityacademy.org

Trinidad and Tobago at The Tricycle!

Trinidad and Tobago at The Tricycle!

Thursday night

Famous people from Willesden, a short series*. No. 6

Michael Winner

The film director formerly famous for the Death Wish series but now better known as the "Calm down, dear!" man in adverts for car insurance. "Director, Food Critic, Writer, Actor, Personality, Author & responsible for those irritating car insurance adverts. Born in Willesden, 30 October 1935" (Famous Brits)

* Necessarily

Willesden Green baby and toddler club wins top award

Inbox

Busy Rascals, run by local mum Sharmine Chowdhury-Tse, has won the Silver Award for Top Pre-School Activities in Brent from the UK’s biggest parenting site Netmums.com.

L-R Sharmine Chowdhury-Tse, Steph Peel
and Noah Tse (Sharmine's 14 month old son)

Sharmine says, "It’s great that Busy Rascals has been voted for by so many Netmums parents as one of the top preschool classes in Brent. Our classes have become increasingly popular since we launched earlier this year. We have had lots of great feedback from local mums and dads who are so happy that there are now fun activities for parents and their little ones in Willesden Green."

Restore Britain's ironwork

The Willesden Herald: Ironwork restoration

I've noticed the terraces off the Willesden High Road have the same mish-mash of improvised front garden fences, an abominable mess. Was the whole country defaced? When you think the ironwork wasn't even used, it's so appalling. I know it is a small thing compared to the general devastation and carnage of the war, but it's not insignificant. By debilitating the street environment might it not even be partly responsible for a pervasive feeling of shabbiness and hopelessness? A bit of googling reveals Scotland was also affected. Come on Boris Johnson, GLA, local borough councils & National Lottery Townscape Heritage fund, it really is past time the ironwork was restored!

Steve

Save Kensal Rise library (video)

Save Kensal Rise Library from De Novo Arts on Vimeo.

Willesden Bookshop has closed

Ref: Closed bookshop a reproach as new consultation on Willesden Green is scheduled for Wednesday (Martin Francis)

Roundwood Park Sunday

With rumours of park care being privatised, here's hoping the superb quality of Roundwood Park gardening is not compromised. There were a few weeds in the herbaceous borders. The aviary is unchanged but as always, a sad place, no deterioration but could stand a bit of improvement.

On the other hand...

Vandalised London 2012 sponsor advert
outside Roundwood Park today

Mind you, they smash the phone boxes as a matter of course anyway.

Scottish air traffic control celebrates gold medals

Gold medals for Chris Hoy and Andy Murray in the London 2012 Olympics. You knew Murray would win eventually, didn't you? After all, never hurry a Murray.

Never say die

Get behind the sofa. Now!

No, run upstairs! It's the return of the Daleks in the new Dr Who 2012 season this autumn. Dinosaurs on a spaceship! (Link: BBC)

Samsung's invitation to London 2012

Great advert. Ref: http://www.samsung.com/uk

Meadow update

Unknown

Unknown

Various

Various. A lot of pink thistle flowers (top)

Teasel

Teasel

Various

Scabious

Boris volant

The saboteur who nobbled Chris Hunt's handbell has struck again, this time leaving Boris Johnson suspended on a wire 45 feet above the ground. (More: Irish Times)