Established 2003. Now incorporating The Sudbury Hill Harrow and Wherever End Times

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Short Story of the Month, November 2021

Give your mind a workout with a short story that I, for one, will not forget any time soon. Ed.
The Willesden Herald Short Story of the Month

November 2021: The Blood of Our Virtue Smells Like Dirt

Her mouth is wide and painted royal blue, her teeth stark white in comparison as she bares them at the ceiling in thought. She can pass for a corpse pulled cold from the salty water of the ocean outside her window, frail and blue and perfectly preserved.

“What do you want to be?” She asks me.

Jessica Fogal
Jessica Fogal 
lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest (USA), where she’s a full time legal assistant, amateur street photographer, and author. She’s been published in The Ilanot Review and has had many prints showcased in art galleries such as Terrain Spokane, and continues to use her lifelong passions for performance, visual, and literary arts as an inspiration for her creative writings.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

The fight for the soul of Spitalfields

"Tonight, Tuesday 14th September, Tower Hamlets Council’s Development Committee makes its decision upon the Truman Brewery’s controversial planning application for a shopping mall with four floors of offices on top, as the first step in the redevelopment of the entire brewery site into a corporate plaza." (More)

Monday, September 13, 2021

Short Story of the Month, October 2021

We're back with all new stories. Here's something to think about because, you know, nothing at all is happening in the world these days, is it? Read the whole story before you make up your mind about this one. It might not be just what you think. (Ed.)
The Willesden Herald Short Story of the Month

October 2021: How They Do by Jack R. Johnson

“Al Nash kept the dark secret of his hair loss hidden under his favorite blue canvas Navy cap, and pulled it even lower as he told his son, Troy Nash, about Robert E. Lee …”

Jack R. Johnson
Jack R. Johnson is a monthly columnist for North of the James Magazine in Richmond, Virginia; an editor of The Alliance for Progressive Virginia blog and a contributor to Style Magazine. His published works include short stories, articles and the novel, An Animal’s Guide to Earthly Salvation. His latest novel, In Black and White, is scheduled to be published by Propertius Press in 2022.

Sunday, August 22, 2021

It's 20mph for a reason

Not long ago replaced lamppost smashed again near a bend on Wood End Road

The scene is an S-bend where the road crosses the Chiltern Line. There's a blind bend at each end of the bridge. Here's hoping no one was badly injured. (Ed)

Monday, August 02, 2021

Crime scene: Wood End Road closed

The scene at 1pm 2/8/2021

One or two police cars have been parked in the driveway of the same house for the past few days. Today there are crime scene tents and the road has been completely closed, including to pedestrians. If you are on foot, and need to get to the other side of the closure, there is a very narrow, winding alleyway that connects South Hill Grove to South Vale.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Sweet Corner - Greenford Road

Sweet Corner

Cakes, Ice Cream and Coffe

Choosing the flavours

Birthday cakes to order

All kinds of chocolates and sweets too

The shop is opposite Sudbury Hill underground station.

Friday, July 09, 2021

Alarming rise in Covid cases in Harrow

Updated 10 July 2021: Number of active Covid cases in Harrow is 1694 up 617 from last week. Source www.covid.joinzoe.com

Walk-in centres are available for anyone at all to walk in and get your Covid vaccine. It's free and you don't need an NHS number. Click here for links and details of London walk-in mass vaccination centres

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Wood End Library boarded up

It's not looking too good for Wood End Library and Children's Centre, Whitton Avenue West, in the borough of Ealing, this Sunday.


The windows and doors are metal-shuttered.


Another view with the shelter

The library is next door to a very large school population from Wood End Infant School and Greenwood Primary school. 

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Vaccine poster defaced - Harrow

Billboard on the corner of Greenford Road and Cavendish Avenue near Subury Hill underground station

It looks like white paint has been hurled from a can repeatedly at a government poster that says "Join the millions already vaccinated." The area around the poster is covered with splashes of paint from this very sloppy bit of vandalism.


Update, the view next day (Sunday)

Update 23/6/2021: The worn-out hoardings on that side of the road have been completely renewed, pigeons evicted from behind them and the edges sealed. There are two matching billboards on the other side of the street, and those are in an equally decrepit condition, with pigeons nesting behind them too. It's a pity for the pigeons but in that location, there are so many that they could be a health hazard to passersby. [Not the only health hazard around there. Ed.]

The second of the old worn-out hoardings was replaced today.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Monday, May 03, 2021

From The Yard to Tiffty's Tavern and from Maher's to Moloney's

A signwriter changing the name of this pub in North Greenford from "The Yard" to "Tiffty's Tavern" 

The font and colours suggest "an Irish pub." There are Irish pubs all over the world, and if the Irish state had marketing rights, it could probably live on the proceeds. But like the Murphy's, we're not bitter. My California/Filipino air steward friend says wherever they stopover, she always looks for the Irish pub. From Kuala Lumpur to Montevideo, from Cape Town to Anchorage, Alaska [You just made that bit up, didn't you? Ed.], you'll see the Gaelic font and assorted bicycles, mirror adverts etc and find a cold pint of the Dublin ambrosia awaits you, though it might have been brewed in Nigeria. So wherever you may be, "Sláinte Mhaith!"

The result. Tiffty's Tavern



And before it became "The Yard" it was "Gerry Mac's".

So, what gives? Is there really someone called "Tiffty" and was there someone called "Gerry Mac"? It seems unlikely. Further down Greenford Road, the same sort of name-changing has been happening with what was Ryans Bar, which then became Tommy Maher's Irish Bar and lately Moloney's Bar.

A photo of "Tommy Maher's Irish Bar", which used to be "Ryans" and more recently "Moloney's Bar"

According to WhatPub.com, Moloney's Bar was previously named Dugout Sports Bar, Ryan's, Maher's Irish Bar, West Bar, Old Bull and Captain Morgan's.

Harry Lemon

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Day of the Flying Leaves by Stephen Moran

Cover flat - Day of the Flying Leaves - Stephen Moran

“Like everyone, I go around imagining things, trying to identify what I see and hear and conserving memories. My poems are thoughts portrayed in words, in the belief that sometimes a word is worth a thousand pictures.” (Stephen Moran)


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Short Story of the Month, December 2020

We're back to sharing favourite stories. How could anyone not love a story that contains the line "I was a cactus."(?) And don't tell me it's not December, months last for years now! Ed.

The Willesden Herald Story of the Month

December 2020: Christmas Present by Lynsey Rose

I wrote this a few years ago, when we were asked to write a story with the theme of Christmas for my writing group. Of course, Christmas is a crappy theme so you have to go the full ‘Carrie’ with it. Happy Christmas!

Lynsey Rose

Lynsey Rose is the author of the novel First Aid Kit Girl, described as “girl meets razorblade meets boy…”

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Chemist shop: "Covid tests available" (Sudbury Hill)

CuraPharm chemist shop, 154 Greenford Road. Scrolling sign says "Covid tests available" 16 January 2021. (Twitter video). N.B. You can get a free test. Google "Covid tests near me" or visit this official site to request a free test online.

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Lifts being built at Sudbury Hill station (photo)

View from Greenford Road bridge
These lifts, when complete, will enable step-free access from the platforms to the ticket hall. From there to the street is already step-free. However, from platform to train is not.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Social distancing outside the Post Office

People queueing down the street for the Post Office this evening. Only three people allowed inside at a time.

Greenford Road near Sudbury Hill, Harrow

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Looking up trees again, November 2020

Pictures taken on a sunny, cool Sunday morning

Wood End Lane

Same tree (lime?)

Next tree along

Wood End Library and Children's Centre, Whitton Avenue West

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Greenford Road closed at Sudbury Hill after shooting

At least 15 police officers are patrolling the cordon, which also affects the Piccadilly Line station and two sideroads. This follows the shooting yesterday evening of a 19-year-old at the crossing outside the station. Witnesses say they heard five shots.


The scene at midday today (Thursday 19/11/2020)


There is no easy way through, even for pedestrians, as the only practical detours are miles long. This is affecting local people's ability to get to and from their essential work.


According to a police officer, only people who live inside the cordon are allowed in. Access to or from the station is problematic, and there are no 92 or H17 buses, which usually serve this route.

Wednesday, November 04, 2020

Estimated Covid-19 cases (Harrow)

Help end the pandemic, sign-up to report daily and get updates for your postcode at covid.joinzoe.com

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Save Arnold Circus

'The historic Arnold Circus was not the place for “expensive and ill-conceived enhancements”, an area celebrated worldwide for its unique design and architecture, the trust pointed out. The simplicity of the Arnold Circus design “should not be tampered with”.

Conservation groups are calling for “a proper heritage assessment” before digging up Arnold Circus, the centrepiece of the listed Boundary Estate which is the world’s first municipal housing scheme built in the 1890s.' (Hackney Gazette)

Tower Hamlets council has already broken up some of the original Yorkstone paving, apparently without waiting for planning permission.