My beautiful launderette

Launderette on Greenford Road

"No re-entry after 8:00 PM. Thank you for your custom."

Interior 1

Interior 2

My other beautiful launderette is a laundrette.

London builders: "Mayo for Sam"

Cavendish Avenue, Harrow

"Mayo for Sam"

And who do we turn to for a commentary on this? Why none other than the Belfast Telegraph: Dublin v Mayo All-Ireland final: will it be east or west?

Blood on the street (not?)

Greenford Road near Sudbury Hill station, last night

Update: I think it's not blood, it's paan spit marks. Disgusting. At least blood has dignity to it.

Sudbury Hill station last night

"Service information" noticeboard with amusing text

Roddy Doyle's Singing Rabbitte

Roddy Doyle's Singing Rabbitte » Sabotage Times

"The Commitments show begins its residency at the Palace Theatre this month, capping off a surreal and emotional journey for its writer."

Part 2: The Problem With Hindsight

"I went to have a look at the Black Market Clash exhibition on Berwick Street a few nights ago, during a break in rehearsals in the Palace Theatre. I didn't have much time, but I didn't need much. It's a quick, witty charge through images and sound - a bit like a Clash song. But it got me thinking about the past and the present and the music we take with us from then to now."

More: Roddy Doyle's The Commitments website

Sudbury Hill / North Greenford common land?

Behind Kellogg Tower, Greenford Road

It's between Kellogg Tower, Greenford Road and the David Lloyd sports centre. You can reach it via the lane leading from the parade of shops and you'll most likely pass a couple of groups of Polish (?) lads standing in the trees, talking and drinking. There are a few empty bottles strewn by the road. There were no dog walkers around when your reporter ventured down the lane, only a couple of hardy souls walking to and from the sports centre. Most of its patrons swish by in cars. There's an open field with a wooded area behind and to one side of it. Nearer the sports centre there is a hilly clearing (see above), with tracks and a couple of benches. So the question remains, is this common land? Google maps is no help on the question.

Update 29 July 2014: It's called Grove Farm Nature Reserve. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grove_Farm,_Ealing: Grove Farm is an 8 hectare Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in Greenford in theLondon Borough of Ealing. It was declared an LNR in 2002 by Ealing Council, which owns and manages the site.^[1][2]
The site has ancient woodland, and woodland flower species, while trees include thewild service tree. Plant species include welted thistle, hairy violet, pepper saxifrageand adders tongue fern.^[1][3]
There is a circular path, and there is access from Whitton Avenue West, Dimmock Drive and Lilian Board Way.^[3]

Seamus Heaney: Out of the Marvellous

"An intimate and original look at Seamus Heaney, the man and the artist. The film explores the key personal relationship in Heaney's life, that with his wife Marie, and follows him to Harvard, New York and London, to readings, signings and public interviews." Video: RTÉ Player. Available till 21 September 2013.

Competition update - good news

We have upgraded the prize for first place in this year's short story competition to include one week at a writing retreat in Knighton/Tref-y-Clawdd, Wales, which is set "in the lush, rolling countryside of the Welsh Marches", half board, not including travel expenses. Pretty cool, no?