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.

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

Soon the days will grow longer, the evenings brighter

 

Olivia Douglas - A Hug or Two. Maybe next Summer? Happy holidays!

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

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.

Estimated Covid-19 cases (Harrow)

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

Save Arnold Circus

"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." #towerhamlets #savearnoldcircus https://t.co/94UA5gKf4k

— Stephen Moran (@stephen_j_moran) October 31, 2020

'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.

Stunning new council housing in Greenwich

New Council housing we just did for people in Greenwich pic.twitter.com/KuhJx3MDBy

— Peter barber (@PpeterPeter) October 10, 2020

Fire at the Lexi Cinema

28 September 2020: Bad news, northwest London's own Lexi Cinema is closed due to a fire that happened overnight in the foyer.

We are devastated to announce that in the early hours of this morning there was a fire in the foyer of the cinema, the cause of which is still being investigated.

We will be closed for the foreseeable future.

Full statement below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dW34JdLrqA

— TheLexiCinema (@TheLexiCinema) September 28, 2020

The Blitz, 80 years on: Bombing of South Hallsville School

How wartime ‘ripple’ led to 600 deaths in east London school is revealed by BBC investigators https://t.co/O3I1ngmMFa

— Spitalfields Life (@thegentleauthor) September 24, 2020

 "The little-known tragedy of a wartime bomb that never exploded—yet had a “ripple affect” causing 600 deaths in an east London school—is being uncovered by BBC investigators." (East London Advertiser)

Families were sheltering in the school building after being evacuated from their homes due to an unexploded bomb on the first day of the London blitz. But the school took a direct hit the following day causing far more casualties than were announced at the time.

London figs

All these figs were grown this year in a south-facing walled corner in Harrow. The biggest ones were picked in July but the recent Indian summer spell has produced another crop. They bleed a white latex-like sap when plucked.

This plump one today, September 24

Picked on September 20

September 18

September 16

September 12

Some from July 19th

Split fig on a sideplate, July 19

View from the bridge

View

Context

Short Story of the Month, September 2020

We dedicate the last of our 2020 lockdown series, and our last ever publication, to all those who have lost their lives and those bereaved in the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow the guidelines and stay well till all this is over. See you on the other side. (Ed.)

The Willesden Herald Short Story of the Month

September 2020: As Long As It Takes by Susan Haigh

“For Mireille, grief seems like an impossible dream.”

Sue Haigh  is a writer and Creative Writing tutor. She lives in North East Fife when she isn’t living in her cave house in France. Her work has been published in a number of journals and anthologies, including Northwords Now, New Writing Dundee, Mslexia, The Scottish Arts Trust anthology, Cadenza, Sunpenny Anthology, Dundee University Review of the Arts, The Short review and a number of academic journals.

As Long as it Takes was originally published in the Scottish Arts Trust Story Awards anthology (Scottish Arts Trust, 2019)

Storm Ellen tree damage

Update 29 August

After another storm, "Storm Francis," there's another tree down near Atrium Point. It looks like a Wild Service tree - not quite sure, corrections invited.

Another tree down, leaning precariously onto a fence beside
Whitton Avenue West near the junction with Greenford Road

When they go over, they just seem to break from the roots.

An old sycamore (?) tree has been split and had a large part broken off on the green in front of Atrium Point apartment blocks, Greenford Road, North Greenford. 

The fallen split trunk

Another view

Update 29 August: broken part removed, area taped off

Newsflash: You can't trust Trump (ask his sister)

'His goddamned tweet and lying [...] The change of stories. The lack of preparation. The lying. Holy shit.'
In secretly recorded audio [2018-19], President Trump’s sister says he has ‘no principles’ and ‘you can’t trust him’ #LiarTrump #BidenHarris2020 https://t.co/BiatwZOSR9

— Stephen Moran (@stephen_j_moran) August 23, 2020

#BidenHarris2020

 "Are you ready to go to work?" Roll on November!

Let's hope they present the flailing Donald Trump with the Order of the Boot.

Sheryl Crow - Woman in the White House (2020 version).

Short Story of the Month, August 2020

For the fourth in our summer lockdown series, a story of desperation. What could be more appropriate? And you know that light at the end of the tunnel? It's an oncoming train. Yes, it's being so cheerful that keeps us going. Ed.

The Willesden Herald Short Story of the Month

August 2020: Unless He Is Born Again by David Butler

“April. A figure is loitering in the vicinity of the bus station of a provincial town. He’s not the only stranger in the bus yard. There are strangers with almost every arrival and departure. There’s nothing about this man to suggest he’s a foreigner. But all the same, something in his aspect attracts suspicious looks.”

David Butler

David Butler’s third novel, City of Dis (New Island), was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year, 2015. His second short story collection, Fugitive, is forthcoming from Arlen House.

Unless He Is Born Again was originally published in ‘No Greater Love’ by David Butler (Ward Wood, 2013)

J.M. O'Neill "The invisible man of Irish letters"

Definitely putting "Duffy is Dead" and "Open Cut" on the to-be-read list. Strong London Irish interest novels. (Ed.)

Index of contributors to Willesden Stories

The Obscure Object of Desire

We’ve added this index of all the contributors to the Willesden Herald short story book series and Story of the Month.

Counting. Over the past sixteen years, Willesden Herald has published 139 short stories by 113 writers from Bosnia, Canada, China, England, India, Ireland, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, USA ans Wales. 

Daunting new security fence on Wood End Road

The new fence runs north from the railway bridge

The new fence is about 100 metres long

Scary anti-climb spike wheels

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.

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

July 2020: Dodie's Gift by Vanessa Gebbie

“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. 

www.vanessagebbie.com

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)

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.

Train spotted

Chiltern Line train approaching, Sunday

Update a week later, a train going the other way

Tip the tips in the tip

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

Ossian

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

I’ve never leaned in a club doorway,
my poems in my pocket like Frank.@MartinaEvans6 reads "I want to be like Frank O'Hara." pic.twitter.com/mfB4iNfLNf

— Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation (@BrinkerhoffPoem) May 28, 2020