Branch fall

Cavendish Avenue after the storm

Flowerland

Greenford Road (opposite Sudbury Hill station)

Spotted: Friends of Barham Library shop

Wembley

Link: Friends of Barham Library. In addition to demolishing the Willesden Library centre as part of an asset stripping scheme, Brent Council closed six other libraries in the same year, in further deals with property developers. They are under the impression that these deals "cost nothing". Children's study time in libraries is lost, but that is nothing. The borough loses the assets of civilisation put in place by previous generations. But that is nothing. Neighbourhoods are turned into industrial dormitories, but that is nothing. Flats are built and advertised as investments for wealthy clients in Singapore and other far flung places, guaranteeing in the adverts "no affordable housing". But that is nothing. The libraries and historic buildings the community owned have been burning holes in councillors' pockets. The parks may be next. Brent Labour are selling off your local birthright in supine compliance with their wealthy Tory/LibDem masters. "Now I ask you, members of the jury: is that nothing?"

This evening near Sudbury Hill

Cavendish Avenue

A long walk

Chiltern Line

When I cross the railway bridge on Wood End Road the moon is far away in the mist on my right. Yet when I turn and walk all down South Vale it is far away on my left. I have walked from one side of the moon to the other.

Ossian

What's on

Including "La Belle Hélène" cabaret style, with music by Offenbach.
The Questions Theatre, Ealing, 20-23 November 2013.

Fireworks display, Harrow Cricket Club, Nov. 2, from 6 pm

Moscow State Circus, Ealing Comon, 22 Oct. to 3 Nov.

Tech jibber jabber

Soz, unable to update links (eyes left) due to glitch in Blogger. If awaiting, hang on. Over.

Simon

Later... It's working now.

Wes Lee update

New Zealand writer and New Short Stories 1 contributor, Wes Lee, has been selected as one of 3 joint winners of The Grist Chapbook Prize in the UK. Her short story collection 'Cowboy Genes' will be published by Grist, at The University of Huddersfield, and launched at The Huddersfield Literature Festival in March 2014. Wes Lee has won a number of awards for her writing, including The BNZ Katherine Mansfield Literary Award 2010.

My other beautiful launderette is a laundrette

This evening

My other beautiful laundrette is a launderette.

Amazon KDP versus Willesden Herald

Amazon: "Our records still show we haven’t received valid tax identification information for your account. In order for Amazon to comply with U.S. tax reporting guidelines, you must complete our short online tax interview by 10/25/2013 to avoid your books being removed from sale on Amazon."

WH: 'I am not obliged to conform to "U.S. tax reporting guidelines". When Amazon pays its fair share of U.K. tax I might consider it. Until then you can get stuffed.'

Update (September 2014): I relented and filled in the form.

Moonlighting skiver does okay, we suppose

Naturally we're beside ourselves with joy for our very busy intern, Steve Moran, who has somehow managed to win himself a prize for some sort of "slam", whatever that is. If you want to find out more, it's down the bottom of this page. It doesn't mention him but I suppose we can take his word for it. It was Small Wonder's tenth anniversary but since Steve has won something there, I think we can assume that it's finished now. Although there were some great turns, the closing session was no great shakes this year by the way, v. poor. Not up to the usual standard and nothing to do with short stories!