Now incorporating The Sudbury Hill Harrow and Wherever End Times

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Daunting new security fence on Wood End Road

The new fence runs north from the railway bridge

Fence perhaps 100 metres?
The new fence is about 100 metres long

Spiked fence top
Scary anti-climb spike wheels

Fence starting from railway bridge
A small, abandoned (?) caravan behind a gap
subsequently blocked with four huge concrete cubes

That's one seriously mean fence! It would be interesting to hear from anyone who knows what moved Harrow council or whoever (TfL?) to erect it. It's a pity that the parkland and woodland around Sudbury Hill is not open to the public, as it is owned and used exclusively on three sides by the Post Office union sports club, John Lyons School and Harrow Cricket Club. However, we do have access to Grove Farm, and part of the Capital Ring, both nearby and a little further up Greenford Road (hiking boots on) to Horsenden Hill. "Mustn't grumble!?"

Update 2022: The site is protected for work on railway sidings, which is ongoing.

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Short Story of the Month, July 2020

For the next in our 2020 lockdown series, we revisit the joint-winner of our inaugural short story competition. Some of you may be running around without face or leg coverings for the allowed daily exercise but it's not compulsory, you know. Happily, we can still stay home and read short stories. (Ed)
The Willesden Herald Short Story of the Month


“Later, in The Tinners, they sit together in Dodie’s corner on sagging burgundy plush cushions. He has bought her a cider, he drinks beer from the bottle. They talk. Dodie is half listening, looking at the scratches through the varnish on the table…”

Vanessa Gebbie
Novelist, short story writer, poet, Vanessa Gebbie has won awards for both poetry and prose, including the Troubadour International Poetry Prize, a Bridport short story prize and a much-coveted Willesden Herald short story prize. Author of ten various books, her novel The Coward’s Tale (Bloomsbury) was a Financial Times novel of the year, and her debut poetry pamphlet was selected by the TLS as one of the best of its year. She is commissioning and contributing editor of Short Circuit, Guide to the Art of the Short Story, editions 1 and 2 (Salt). She teaches widely. 

Dodie’s Gift was first published in Words from a Glass Bubble, (Salt Publishing, 2008)

"The author of “Dodie’s Gift” cares about character. It is a beautiful piece about two people circling each other, wondering whether to make contact." (Zadie Smith – Judge’s report, 2006)

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Dreams for Safe Ireland - Women in Harmony



"All funds raised go to Safe Ireland, you can check out all the great work they do on their website https://www.safeireland.ie/ [...] A huge thank you to Kevin Cassidy and his team at Document Films for the beautiful video edit."

"Collaborators: Ailbhe Reddy, Aimée, Áine Cahill, Allie Sherlock, Caroline Corr, Elaine Mai, Emma Langford, Erica Cody, Eve Belle, Faye O’Rourke, Fia Moon, Imelda May, Laoise, Lilla Vargen, Lisa Hannigan, Loah Lyra, Melina Malone, Moya Brennan, Niamh Farrell, Orla Gartland, Pillow Queens, Roe, Róisín O, Ruthanne, Saint Sister, Sibéal, Soulé, Stephanie Rainey, Tolu Makay, Una Healy, Wyvern Lingo" 

"Musicians: Aoife Dennedy, Louize Carroll, Lucia McPartlin, Maria O’Connor, Maria Ryan, Sarah Lynch, Theodora Byrne"

Safe Ireland: "Can you imagine an Ireland where women and children are free from violence and abuse?" (Donate)

"Dreams" is a Cranberries song written by Noel Hogan and Dolores O'Riordan.

Monday, June 08, 2020

Train spotted


Train approaching, trees and clouds viewed from road bridge
Chiltern Line train approaching, Sunday

View a week later, train going the other way
Update a week later, a train going the other way

Thursday, June 04, 2020

Tip the tips in the tip

I hereby renounce and disown all my earlier tips for writers. Except the good ones.

Ossian

Monday, June 01, 2020

"I want to be like Frank O'Hara" by Martina Evans