Politics | The Guardian
A tribute to Grunwick strike leader Jayaben Desai written by Jack Dromey. Here is a link to our 2003 feature about the indomitable Mrs Desai, Famous People from Willesden #3.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
BNZ Katherine Mansfield Award 2010 goes to Wes Lee
Update: Willesden Herald finalist Wes Lee wins New Zealand's preeminent prize for the short story, The BNZ Katherine Mansfield Award, judged by Booker shortlisted author Lloyd Jones (Mister Pip).
The $10,000 prize is New Zealand's longest standing most prestigious prize for the short story. Past winners of the award include NZ literary greats such as Keri Hulme, C.K. Stead, Frank Sargeson, Vincent O'Sullivan.
Lloyd Jones had this to say about Wes Lee's prizewinning story 'Furniture': "This is a very accomplished story that hides its sophistication beneath language that proceeds effortlessly ... Sophisticated in its construction, persuasive in its telling, this story is in a class of its own."
Since her shortlisted story 'The Dead Don't Do That Kind of Thing' was published in Willesden Herald New Short Stories 1 (2007) Wes Lee has won a number of prizes for her short stories. For more information and to read the Katherine Mansfield Award winning story please visit www.weslee.co.nz.
The $10,000 prize is New Zealand's longest standing most prestigious prize for the short story. Past winners of the award include NZ literary greats such as Keri Hulme, C.K. Stead, Frank Sargeson, Vincent O'Sullivan.
Lloyd Jones had this to say about Wes Lee's prizewinning story 'Furniture': "This is a very accomplished story that hides its sophistication beneath language that proceeds effortlessly ... Sophisticated in its construction, persuasive in its telling, this story is in a class of its own."
Since her shortlisted story 'The Dead Don't Do That Kind of Thing' was published in Willesden Herald New Short Stories 1 (2007) Wes Lee has won a number of prizes for her short stories. For more information and to read the Katherine Mansfield Award winning story please visit www.weslee.co.nz.
Friday, December 24, 2010
For mothers everywhere
All Over The World - Françoise Hardy
Happy Christmas to mothers everywhere, and to everyone.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas video treats
This is so good it could be re-released or featured in the soundtrack for a "rom com" film, surely? Maybe it's been done.
Jacintha
When push comes to shove
Kettling video 'appalling', police watchdog panel chair says | UK news | The Guardian
The police compressing the students between two lines and you can hear people saying "There is nowhere to go", "There is no space" and "You're going to kill someone". It looks like the police are trying to crush the students to death. This is what it has come to. "When push comes to shove" the ruthless and degenerate ruling class reasserts its ancient powers.
The police compressing the students between two lines and you can hear people saying "There is nowhere to go", "There is no space" and "You're going to kill someone". It looks like the police are trying to crush the students to death. This is what it has come to. "When push comes to shove" the ruthless and degenerate ruling class reasserts its ancient powers.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Warning: local hill impassable
The hill at Peter Avenue NW10 should be considered impassable for practical purposes. If you drive up there is a chance you will get stuck halfway and start to slide out of control.
The 6th annual short story competition is now closed
Announcement
385 entries were received and each one is a contender for a place in the short list come new year. Thanks to all who entered for entrusting to us your stories, it is an adventure and a joy to start reading them. There is no set date for the results. There will be an announcement online most likely in February and the short-listed authors will be contacted by email at that time.
Steve Moran
385 entries were received and each one is a contender for a place in the short list come new year. Thanks to all who entered for entrusting to us your stories, it is an adventure and a joy to start reading them. There is no set date for the results. There will be an announcement online most likely in February and the short-listed authors will be contacted by email at that time.
Steve Moran
Friday, December 17, 2010
Reminder - deadline today
This is the last day to enter the short story competition. The number of entries has just passed 350 so it should be a good year. I am way behind with the reading and looking forward to catching up over the Christmas break. There is still all to play for as I have nowhere near a short list yet. (SM)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
BBC iPlayer - Accused: Frankie's Story
BBC iPlayer - Accused: Frankie's Story
Brings the reality of war home better than any documentary, I think. Maybe BBC should make iPlayer viewable overseas, it would only be to the good and not a waste of the licence fee but rather an added merit.
Brings the reality of war home better than any documentary, I think. Maybe BBC should make iPlayer viewable overseas, it would only be to the good and not a waste of the licence fee but rather an added merit.
Looking southwest
Most of the pictures from Herald House on here are to the west and north. This is the other view looking as southerly as possible from this vantage point, which is only as far as about southwest. The picture is of a lovely striated red sky from last Thursday evening.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Whose streets, whose images and why?
Citizen Surveillance | Brrnrrd
Interesting reflections on the selective use of images by the media to support accretion of more power to the establishment and its removal from the general public. Brrnrrd contrasts the "rogues galleries" of protesters and miscreants with the paucity or removal of images of police and police crimes.
Interesting reflections on the selective use of images by the media to support accretion of more power to the establishment and its removal from the general public. Brrnrrd contrasts the "rogues galleries" of protesters and miscreants with the paucity or removal of images of police and police crimes.
Short story competition latest
Update, December 2010
To date over 200 entries have been received and hopes are high for another set of oustanding stories this year but I am still asking for more better stories, please. They are currently arriving at a rate of about 8 or 10 per day and I am behind with the reading. Looking forward to lots of fascinating stories over the next few weeks. The closing date is 17 December, 2010. Meanwhile previous finalists continue to conquer the literary world, so there's encouragement for you. Thanks. (SM)
Bloomsbury to publish first novel by Vanessa Gebbie
'The Coward's Tale' by Vanessa Gebbie, previous winner of the Willesden short story prize, will be published in hardback in UK by Bloomsbury UK, November 2011. Then in paperback late spring 2012, UK and simultaneous trade paperback in USA by Bloomsbury USA. Bloomsbury publishes major writers including J K Rowling.
Laura Solomon wins Hong Kong's Proverse prize
Another prodigy from our previous competitions, New Zealand writer Laura Solomon has won Hong Kong's international Proverse prize, for her novel Instant Messages. "Hilarious! Excellent! Its light and ironic touch makes Instant Messages a page-turner and gives it substance.' (International Proverse Prize Judges)"
To date over 200 entries have been received and hopes are high for another set of oustanding stories this year but I am still asking for more better stories, please. They are currently arriving at a rate of about 8 or 10 per day and I am behind with the reading. Looking forward to lots of fascinating stories over the next few weeks. The closing date is 17 December, 2010. Meanwhile previous finalists continue to conquer the literary world, so there's encouragement for you. Thanks. (SM)
Bloomsbury to publish first novel by Vanessa Gebbie
'The Coward's Tale' by Vanessa Gebbie, previous winner of the Willesden short story prize, will be published in hardback in UK by Bloomsbury UK, November 2011. Then in paperback late spring 2012, UK and simultaneous trade paperback in USA by Bloomsbury USA. Bloomsbury publishes major writers including J K Rowling.
Laura Solomon wins Hong Kong's Proverse prize
Another prodigy from our previous competitions, New Zealand writer Laura Solomon has won Hong Kong's international Proverse prize, for her novel Instant Messages. "Hilarious! Excellent! Its light and ironic touch makes Instant Messages a page-turner and gives it substance.' (International Proverse Prize Judges)"
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Spotted Dog update
dexter moren associates
"Status: Planning Secured
"Located within a conservation area in Willesden, this new mixed-use development will provide a 5-storey building accommodating 44 apartments, a retail unit, and will importantly retain and 'celebrate' the 1762 'Spotted Dog' public house."
There is a picture of how the result will look. Thanks to anonymous commenter for the link.
"Status: Planning Secured
"Located within a conservation area in Willesden, this new mixed-use development will provide a 5-storey building accommodating 44 apartments, a retail unit, and will importantly retain and 'celebrate' the 1762 'Spotted Dog' public house."
There is a picture of how the result will look. Thanks to anonymous commenter for the link.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Come all ye
6th annual Willesden Herald international short story competition
Competition entries are now coming in at a rate of about eight per day and rising. I look forward to finding stories with real attack, humour, a distinct and compelling voice, sense of adventure, landscape, time passing, engagement beyond solipsism, perhaps themes that rise a little above the problem of which fork to use for the starter and which for the main, which is not to say that nothing of any interest ever takes place in a tearoom. Didn't the boy eat oysters, shell and all in a Moscow café, and did we hear anything about their annoying neighbours or disgusting spouse? No. Give me something that matters, something that makes me pace like that boy's father. What is it that makes you angry, where is the love, the satire, travel, conflict? I'm sick of the tinkling of teacups and the swimming with waterwings. Do you read Hemingway, Chekhov, D. H. Lawrence, Denis Johnson, David Means, Annie Proulx, George Saunders, Maile Meloy, Hanif Kureishi, James Lasdun, Angela Carter, Lorrie Moore, Bernard MacLaverty, Arthur Shnitzler, Arthur Miller or Arthur Askey and Arthur Guinness? Aim high to allow for the trajectory of the narrative curving towards the target. Or something like that.
Steve Moran
Competition entries are now coming in at a rate of about eight per day and rising. I look forward to finding stories with real attack, humour, a distinct and compelling voice, sense of adventure, landscape, time passing, engagement beyond solipsism, perhaps themes that rise a little above the problem of which fork to use for the starter and which for the main, which is not to say that nothing of any interest ever takes place in a tearoom. Didn't the boy eat oysters, shell and all in a Moscow café, and did we hear anything about their annoying neighbours or disgusting spouse? No. Give me something that matters, something that makes me pace like that boy's father. What is it that makes you angry, where is the love, the satire, travel, conflict? I'm sick of the tinkling of teacups and the swimming with waterwings. Do you read Hemingway, Chekhov, D. H. Lawrence, Denis Johnson, David Means, Annie Proulx, George Saunders, Maile Meloy, Hanif Kureishi, James Lasdun, Angela Carter, Lorrie Moore, Bernard MacLaverty, Arthur Shnitzler, Arthur Miller or Arthur Askey and Arthur Guinness? Aim high to allow for the trajectory of the narrative curving towards the target. Or something like that.
Steve Moran
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Protest outside Bertie Ahern's office today
On a day of mass protest in Dublin a lone picketer makes his verdict clear outside Bertie Ahern's constituency office.
Burn the bonds
Defend security of tenure, fight evictions. Don't let the ruling class pull up the ladder. They had free education and inherited wealth. Now their bank accounts are in jeopardy after decades of robbery, graft and corruption. Let those who benefited from the bonanza pay to clean up their own mess. Burn the bonds. Let the banks bury the banks.
If they should lose their fortunes who have destroyed our home industries by dumping their goods produced by cheap labour, prison slave labour, child labour, oppression of unions, expropriation of workers and peasants, good. Let the money stay with us and let us say to them now it wasn't cheap labour after all.
Feargal
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Facebook heresiarch carpeted
Church of England bishop suspended over royal wedding comments | World news | The Guardian
The suffragan bishop of Willesden has been heretical on Facebook and got himself set to Hidden by all his friends.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The fall of Capitalism
Every day brings news of more financial collapses. It started with Lehman Brothers in the US and at present there is no knowing where it will end. The ominous metaphor that comes to mind is the collapse of the World Trade Centre towers. At present we are in the phase after the initial plane impacts, equivalent to the multiple financial shocks (that money is heir to). The economic collapse that follows might be as far beyond anything we have imagined as the collapse of the towers on that day. It could mean starvation, destitution and disintegration of the civilisation we have known in recent centuries and the advent of a new dark age. We saw the fall of Communism with the Berlin Wall in 1989; are we now seeing the fall of Capitalism?
Feargal
Feargal
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Fogbound
1: Willesden Library Centre. 2: St Mary Magdalene's. 3: Harlesden Road.
Copyright © Craig Moran 2010
Craig
Fog - visibility about 50 metres
On a clear day you can see Gladstone Park but last night's fog is still here on a windless morning, 11:40 am, with visibility only as far as the next garden or two.
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