Brockley Central

I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more Brockley

2009-07-19T22:15:00.003+01:00

Bruce Dickinson: Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!
Gene Frenkle: Thank you, Bruce. But I think if... I think if I just leave... and maybe I'll come back later, and we can lay down the cowbell. [ starts to leave the studio ]
Bruce Dickinson: Aw, come on, baby..
Eric Bloom: Gene, wait! Why don't you lay down that cowbell right now. With us. Together.
- Behind the Music: Blue Oyster Cult

Young, dumb and living off mum - the Brockley-set reality show - debuted tonight and was searingly accurate.

Brockley is portrayed as a sun-drenched paradise, handy for Shad Thames - a place where a night in the pub results in meeting "amazing people."

The show is on a par with Wife Swap - that may or may not constitute a recommendation for you - but it could definitely do with more Brockley.

Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum - starts tonight

2009-07-19T10:07:00.004+01:00

Although BBC3 targets the nation's yoof - and usually panders to their every notional whim - its fun new show Young, Dumb And Living Off Mum (Sun, 9pm, BBC3) actively mocks young aspirational adults with surprisingly refreshing viciousness.

- Charlie Brooker, The Guide

The Brockley-based reality TV show starts tonight at 9pm on BBC Three and should provide plenty of entertainment as feckless twerps get broken down and rebuilt by the stark reality of life in the conservation area.

People who've never done a day's work will be encouraged to get themselves a proper job, like abstract painting or holistic therapy.

The Brockley Mess - coming soon

2009-07-17T19:52:00.006+01:00

Brockley Central regular PaddyOM has followed up on earlier reports that Greenwich favourite Royal Teas cafe was planning to open in Brockley, where once stood Moonbow Jakes.

Raymond, the propiertor told him:

"It is true, we hope to be opening at the beginning of August if all goes well. It won't be called Royal Teas but 'The Brockley Mess'.

"I am looking forward to meeting the good people of Brockley, I hope they will approve of the changes we have made to Moonbow Jakes."

We like the name, which as has already been pointed out, is a play on Eton Mess and continues the fine Brockley tradition of eccentric names such as Toadsmouth Too, Jam Circus and, of course, Moonbow Jakes itself.

Together with the regular signs of life inside Dandelion Blue, this is great news for Brockley.

Green Tea Architects, Brockley Cross

2009-07-17T13:42:00.006+01:00

Lewisham Council's ambitions for Brockley have - for some time - included attracting more small businesses to the area, which is seen as vital to sustaining a vibrant community and local retail. Small businesses bring people, activity and spending to the local area during the day, when the commuter population is away.

In particular, the creative industries were identified as a key target sector. Brockley has all the right elements for a creative cluster - good transport links, a large creative community and low rents. It's a little short of appropriate spaces, although the Martins Yard redevelopment should address this problem. And of course, the Tea Factory has provided new units, including space for the Tea Leaf Arts gallery.

So that's been the theory for the last few years, but just recently, it's started turning in to practice.

Tank Gallery has opened, animators Melancholy Star have set up in Brockley, a lighting design company has moved in and the creative community has begun to coalesce through projects like Brockley MAX, Tea Leaf Arts and the Creative Mums Network.

The latest addition to Brockley's creative cluster is Green Tea Architects. A new practice, specialising in sustainable design - Green Tea Architects was founded by three Forest Hill residents and named after The Tea Factory that will house their studio when it opens on July 27th.

We spoke with one of the founding partners, Anne Dixon about their reasons for choosing Brockley:

"We're locally based and wanted to live the values we promote through our work. So we wanted somewhere local, close to public transport, but somewhere which is accessible for a range of clients. Sometimes things just fall in to place and in this case, all roads seemed to lead to Brockley Cross.

"We also like the building itself, which is a real landmark for the area, we enjoy being part of a really creative community and we have friends who are involved with Tea Leaf Arts [in fact, they helped Tea Leaf Arts with the fit-out of the gallery] and it will be great to be next door to something so new and exciting.

"The list of projects we're currently working on ranges from educational and community projects through to residential and retail developments. We design stand-alone buildings and interiors.

"We're definitely keen to make a positive contribution to the community and we hope that we'll attract new people to the area - I was at an architects party last Friday, plugging Brockley furiously.

"One of the first things we'd like to do is make some improvements to the front of our new office, discouraging cars from parking in front of the windows by softening and greening the area with some simple planting."

Green Tea Architects
The Tea Factory
104 Endwell Road
London
SE4 2LX
e: info@greenteaarchitects.com
t: 0208 469 3637

Designing out crime

2009-07-17T10:43:00.006+01:00

"It turns out that people are many, many more times likely to be helpful in the way of giving you change for a dollar if they're somewhere where the air smells good...

"Actually what determines what people do is at least as much their circumstances as their character - perhaps surprisingly, more their circumstances than their character.

"And what that suggests... is that it's terrifically important to shape the world in the way that gives people the context in which they'll behave well."

Professor Anthony Appiah, Analysis, Radio 4, June 29th

A few weeks ago, Radio 4 broadcast a fascinating programme, which looked at how humans make moral choices. The implication of Anthony Appiah's comments is that we can reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through environmental design.

We were reminded of these comments the other day, when walking past the bottom of Cranfield Road. A group of three lads was parked up in their car, eating their fairly-disgusting looking burgers. The one in the passenger seat, furthest from the kerb opened his window and lobbed a mass of greasy paper and food over the roof of the car, on to the pavement.

We are not particularly brave, but writing this blog means we sometimes feel an obligation to put our money where out mouth is... We picked up the rubbish and spoke to the guy through the window, asking him not to chuck stuff on the ground. People with such a strong disregard for civil behaviour are often those with the strongest sense of personal honour, so we were fairly worried about being stabbed. Instead, we just got incredulous looks: what business was it of ours and why did we care?

Anyway, it's not a new observation that environment and behaviour are strongly linked, but it further underlines the need to take design and enforcement seriously when it comes to our streets. Create the right environment and people will behave better. Allow rubbish to pile up, cars to park on pavements and shops to use security shutters and people will treat the place disrespectfully. Hem pedestrians in behind ugly fences and cars speed up.

So problems like parking enforcement in Brockley Cross and fly tipping aren't just superficial or aesthetic issues, they are fundamental to the way our local community works. Fix the pavements in Brockley Road and the rest will follow.

By the way, the rest of the Radio 4 programme went on to argue that humans have a tendency to decide what is right based on moral impulses that are hard-wired in to us courtesy of natural selection and that we try to retrofit rational argument in order to justify our instincts even when there is little rational basis for our feelings. We're sure no-one using this website would recognise that kind of behaviour.

Brockley Bites

2009-07-16T21:53:00.005+01:00

Harold and Maude @ The Brockley Jack Film Club

On Monday 20 July, 7.30pm, The Brockley Jack Film Club will end its first season with "the dark yet very touching comedy classic Harold and Maude."

There will also be a celebratory glass of wine, a short film by Honor Oak filmmaker Julia Ford and a film quiz.

The Way We See It @ Tank Gallery

This photography exhibition opens with a private viewing on July 21st (apply by joining the Facebook group here) and then runs for 3 weeks, Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm - 6pm.

Misty Moon Art and Craft Fair @ St Hilda's Hall

The Fair is being held at St Hilda's Hall, Courtrai Road, Crofton Park, SE4 on July 25th 2009. Doors open 12pm - 5pm.

Entrance FREE, Refreshments available.

There are stalls covering handmade jewellery, cakes and chocolates,cards, bags and ceramics, hand made toys, beauty products, hand mademosiacs, two local artists, a stall with vintage clothes, a localauthor signing her book, and a photographer for your portraits.

The organisers add:

"We are taking a break during August but will be back in September at a new venue, The Honor Oak, so if anyone would like a stall please contact Stuart on 07960 993737."

Forest Hill pool rebirth

2009-07-16T09:52:00.006+01:00

Mayor Bullock has abandoned plans to build a swimming pool on a new site in Forest Hill, choosing instead to create a new facility on the site of the existing Forest Hill Pool. The project will ensure that the historic facade is retained and that swimming facilities are restored to the area as quickly as possible.

At a meeting last night, the Mayor and cabinet considered the results of the consultation and opted for the existing site on the basis that it minimised the risk of delay and should ensure a new swimming pool by 2012.

The project will involve some death masking - retaining the frontage of the building but redeveloping the rest of the site, to create two new pools. On his website, Mayor Bullock writes:

"In the present circumstances of uncertainty about the funding of future public services across the country I was minded to take a decision that had the lowest possible level of risk attached to it. The Willow Way option was the best financially and had significant support in the consultation. However there was a greater degree of risk involved in achieving planning agreement for a development on that site as there is no previous leisure use. The Dartmouth Road site offers very few planning issues but requires an additional capital sum.

"In the interest of moving quickly and with as much certainty as possible to get swimming going again in Forest Hill in decided to increase yet again the sum allocated in order to proceed immediately with a new facility on the Dartmouth Road site."

The decision follows an extremely active campaign in the local area to save Forest Hill Pool and the result has been welcomed by the Forest Hill Society.

Slowly, but surely, Lewisham is reducing its leisure facilities deficit.

Fusion Fest at the Horniman, July 19th

2009-07-15T13:15:00.008+01:00

Local treasure (and first-class public sector institution) the Horniman Museum is hosting a free festival this Sunday, July 19th called Fusion Fest.

Entry's free and the events run from 1pm - 6pm. Here's the run-down:

Music, dance and food from around the world and family fun at the Horniman

Music on the Bandstand – 1 – 6pm

DJ Abdelkader Saadoon+ Ayon, Dunajska Kapelye, Jazz Orient, We be Jammin'

The infectious Rai rhythms of DJ Abdelkader Saadoon+ Ayon (1 – 1.45pm, 2.45 – 3.30pm and 4.15 – 4.45pm) come courtesy of a nine-piece band which melds North African and European instruments. Fiddle player Piotr Jordan leads Dunajska Kapelye (1.45 – 2.45pm), the trio performs traditional Polish folk music. Jazz Orient (3.30 – 4.15pm) celebrate jazz, eastern European, middle eastern and Indian music and dance, creating a kaleidoscope of rhythms and melodies. We Be Jammin’ (4.45 – 6pm) finish off the day with their reggae standards and funked-up versions of contemporary pop and R&B.

Dance in the Conservatory – 1 – 5pm

Crishna Budhu - Indian Dance, Nzinga – African Music and Dance, Salsa with Roberto

Crishna Budhu (1 – 2pm) leads a workshop showcasing the diverse dance styles of India, from traditional kathak and folk dances to the latest bollywood moves. Lively music and dance ensemble Nzinga (2.30 – 3.45pm) use movement and drumming to bring the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Africa and the Caribbean to life. Salsa with Roberto (4-5pm) completes the dance programme in inimitable Cuban style.

Children’s Area – Makendoo – 1 – 5pm

Arts and crafts all afternoon – a chance for kids to make their own eye-catching masks and hats.

Hands On Base – Hands On Archaeology – 2 – 3pm and 3.15 – 4.15pm

A chance to get to grips with objects from the Museum’s handling collection.

Food from award-winning Babur, Caribbean Queen, Cummin Up and Melody Cakes

Brockley Station - more delays

2009-07-15T10:08:00.005+01:00

A while back, we reported that Council officers were expecting a short delay in the reopening of the bridge across Brockley Station, which allows people to access it from the west side.

The bridge and much of Coulgate Street has been fenced-off for months now, while building work takes place to remodel the station and provide greater access to Brockley Common. It's a great project, which has been years in development. Unfortunately, it feels like years in construction too. The closures have added many minutes to the daily routines of commuters, make access problematic for pushchairs and wheelchairs, make east and west Brockley even more detached from one another and do businesses operating on either side of the tracks no favours. If you happen to live in Coulgate Street, it can't be much fun.

The project's problems were reportedly caused by the discovery of asbestos but the additional earthworks required were completed ages ago and work on site suggests no great sense of urgency to get the project back on track.

Cllr Dean Walton has been trying to get to the bottom of the delay and has written about it on his blog. We don't want to be accused of selectively quoting one of our local councillor's blog posts, so please go and read the whole thing for yourself here.

The upshot of his investigations is that there is no clear timetable for the project's completion or even for the reopening of the footbridge. The last response he got came yesterday from the Highways department, which simply read:

"Dear Cllr Walton We are urgently discussing progress on this scheme with the contractor. We are concerned to get the steps opened as quickly as possible. I will advise you as soon as I have firmer information."

Richard Herring: Hitler Moustache at the Amersham Arms

2009-07-14T12:38:00.006+01:00

A couple of weeks ago we squeezed in to the Chuckle Club, Kings College, to see Stewart Lee's Edinburgh preview show. Last night, we had a chance to compare his former comedy writing partner Richard Herring, who was performing his preview at the Amersham Arms, New Cross.

Although Lee is ostensibly the more 'political' comedian, Herring's show - about trying to reclaim the "Hitler moustache" for comedy - was the more activist and had been lent extra weight by the BNP European election wins.

He enjoys setting logic traps for his audience, like the paradoxes that Joseph Heller plays with in Catch-22. By the end of one part of his act, he'd made a convincing case for why "the racist man", who dismisses much of Asia and Oceania as "Chinese" is actually more of a colour-blind idealist than woolly liberals like us.

We managed to bag a sofa right by the front of the stage, which was fantastic, but hard work. As the show was a chance to try new material and as we were in direct line-of-sight of the stand-ups, we felt obliged to show encouragement by grinning furiously, laughing on cue and, pulling a few theatrical "reaction" faces. Like a knob.

Anyway, we understand that no-one comes to Brockley Central to read our opinions about comedy, so we'll simply add that it was very funny, with more to say than his last show, 'The Headmaster's Son'.

We'd not been to the Amersham since it got taken over by the Lock Tavern team, other than to stick our head inside when it first re-opened and we can't vouch for it as a music venue, but as a comedy venue, it worked pretty well. Perhaps because it was a Monday night, the audience needed a lot of geeing up during Russell Kane's act but the dark wooden walls, the intimacy of the space and the efficiency with which drinks were served eventually helped to create an atmospheric gig.

Brockley Bees - Cross-Pollination

2009-07-14T10:20:00.002+01:00

Following the recent article about Brockley honey (Brockley Kate's twitter feed provides a running commentary on its availability), David got in touch to ask if there are any other local beekeepers who'd be willing to be interviewed by him for a magazine article:

Hi Nick

I'm researching an article about honey for Country Kitchen magazine. I'd like to talk to a couple of local beekeepers.

Please could you post something on Brockley Central with my contact number 020 8692 2861?

New Thames crossing options reviewed

2009-07-13T13:40:00.004+01:00

A while back, with some help from the Greens, Boris killed the Thames Gateway Bridge - the only fully-developed and costed idea on the table for solving the chronic lack of options for crossing the Thames in the east of London.

But it turns out that we do need a river crossing after all - except now we've had to go back to the drawing board and review a list of options, all of which seem considerably worse than the Gateway Bridge option and would take many more years to see the light of day.

Greenwich.co.uk has a very good summary of the TfL discussion document that sets out the main contenders. The noises coming from the Mayor suggest that he's keenest on the idea of a crossing between the Dome and Silvertown. 853blog has an excellent analysis of why this is a very bad idea - not least because it doesn't create any new crossing points from the south side, funneling traffic via the A102. It's also a more car-centric option than the Gateway Bridge was, which should please the Greens no-end.

Boris unveils new ELL trains

2009-07-13T13:22:00.003+01:00

Transport for London today unveiled the first of the 20 new trains that will serve the East London Line when it opens next year.

The trains will be similar in design to the majority of the tube trains serving London, but will be completely walk-through and air-conditioned.

The Mayor said:

“For far too long passengers on our Overground lines have suffered from crumbling unreliable trains that were just not up to muster. Every element on these brand spanking new trains has been crafted to meet the capital’s needs and the standard of design will surprise even the most hardened traveller. Air conditioning, walk through carriages and CCTV, combined with the completion of all the East London Line work by 2012, will revolutionise the London Overground network.”

The new trains will join 34 more, which wlll serve the rest of the London Overground network, that will form an orbital service by 2012, with the further extension of the ELL to Clapham Junction.

London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said:

“By 2011 we will be able to add a fourth carriage, increasing capacity by 50 per cent. As we roll out this new fleet, we will continue our expansion of the line and our station improvements programme, which will make the former service unrecognisable.”

The new trains, which will be three-carriages long, will be able to carry almost 500 people. When Overground platforms are extended in 2011 to cater for trains four-carriages long, the trains will be able to carry almost 700 people each.

Welcome to Dumpsville. Population: You

2009-07-13T09:29:00.002+01:00

"Well the Jerk Store called, and they're running out of you."
- George Costanza*

Time Out's Big Smoke Blog is compiling a list of new names for London's emerging agglomerations - or districts - to join the likes of Chinatown and Tin Pan Alley.

With your help, we'd like to propose one for Brockley - but what agglomerations should Brockley be most famous for?

Time Out's already assigned the title of "The Ukulele Quarter" to an area near Brick Lane - a title which Brockley has at least as much claim to, given that it's almost impossible to think of an event or venue in the area that hasn't been graced by the Brockley Ukulele Group.

So what else is there?

The Jerkstore ought to be a leading contender, given the range of Caribbean food options in the area and that Brockley can lay claim to possibly the only jerk bagel specialist store in London.

Studio City could reflect the fact that the area organises not one but two major open studio events every year, not to mention its arts and crafts fairs, community gallery, public art, The Telegraph Hill Festival, Brockley MAX and Hillaballoo.

Or, in honour of Brockley's uniquely-awful double roundabout, perhaps we could become known as Little Milton Keynes.

All contributions welcome - except for the first person to offer up Mungville.

*PS - we know we have used that quote before, but it works on so many levels...

Ladywell CPZ consultation

2009-07-12T23:03:00.004+01:00

Cllr Sue Luxton reports that Ladywell residents will shortly receive consultation papers concerning the possible introduction of a controlled parking zone around the station.

She points out that the consultation follows requests from local residents and she comes out in favour of a CPZ for a number of reasons in relation to the area's specific parking problems. She also points out that increased revenues could benefit the borough-wide road maintenance budget:

"The more CPZs we have in the borough, the more revenue in the highways budget to sort out the appalling state of roads in this area. Boroughs such as Camden which is almost entirely CPZ, have significantly more revenue to spend on resurfacing works than Lewisham does."

Ode to a Steak and Kidney Pudding

2009-07-12T20:05:00.007+01:00

That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die
- Abdul Alhazred

We hope you wrote the recipe down, because the steak and kidney pudding gravestone has gone from Harefield Road.

The removal men visited recently and took with them one of Brockley's most curious fixtures - a gravestone in someone's front garden, semi-hidden behind bamboo, with a recipe for steak and kidney pudding engraved on it.

We wouldn't have chosen it for our front garden, but we will miss it greatly.

Building a mystery

2009-07-12T13:59:00.000+01:00

So, something is finally happening to the decrepit Wickham Road wall which BC has been moaning about for a good year now. However it appears that in order for re-construction to take place, demolition must first occur. Hence the chaos which has been visited on what was previously a leafy garden ...

These pics were taken a week or so ago, and the situation since then has progressed a bit - concrete foundations have been laid in the trench. Clearly the council's PFI contractor Equipe, which is carrying out the work, values longevity. BC has contacted Equipe to ask them for more detail on their plans, and will keep you posted if we hear back from them.

BrocSoc meeting, July 14th

2009-07-11T16:31:00.002+01:00

The Brockley Society is meeting on Tuesday and you are cordially invited to attend. Kate writes:

The next Brockley Society meeting is on Tuesday 14 July at 8.00 at the Brockley Social Club, corner of Brockley and Foxberry rds, behind the big hedge, ring the bell and say you're here for the Brockley Society meeting and they'll let you in.

Everyone who lives in the conservation area is automatically a member and anyone who lives anywhere in SE4 is very welcome to come along too. This is your opportunity to discuss things that you think need to be done in Brockley and to meet like minded people who might want to join you in starting a campaign to make a change. Recent projects discussed have included transition towns, tree felling on railway lines, use of mews properities and community campaigns against inappropriate developments. Come along and get involved.

Lewisham People's Day 2009

2009-07-11T10:27:00.003+01:00

The Lewisham People's Day festival takes place today, from 12pm - 7pm, Mountsfield Park, Catford.

The organisers promise that it will "reflect the borough’s vibrant cosmopolitan community and showcase an eclectic mix of entertainment including music, dance and wonderful street theatre as well as children’s activities, sports, fashion shows and crafts."

Download the programme here.

The Big Lunch in Brockley, July 19th

2009-07-10T14:56:00.004+01:00

Hippy - There was a lot of new energy in the room tonight and some of it was just so Rainbow Rhythms... and some of it was just so not Rainbow Rhythms.

Mark - You're talking about me, aren't you? Why don't you just say you're talking about me? I'm sorry if you assume that I eat red meat and don't necessarily think money or Tony Blair are a bad thing. But, if there isn't room here for someone who stands against everything you believe in, then what sort of a hippy free-for-all is this?

- Peep Show

Sorry we've not really been pulling our weight around here this last week - we have been consumed by a pitch process from hell, trying to construct an all-singing, all dancing PR campaign for somebody.

In fact, what we ended up proposing was not a million miles away from "The Big Lunch", which is the kind of thing which every marketing agency is trying to come up with these days. If you haven't seen it, it's a feel good, faux-grassroots campaign to get people to plan street parties next weekend. It's the sort of thing Brockley Central should like, but can't quite fully embrace.

Maybe it's the irritating ad (old people like video games!), maybe it's the zeitgeisty fusion of Jamie's Ministry of Food and Sarah Beeny's Streets Ahead. Maybe it's the sugary, Innocent-esque brand. Maybe it's the fact that it's the kind of thing we never manage to get past the pitch stage.

However, we wish the people who are actually organising events as part of The Big Lunch well and we've been meaning to get around to writing about it for some time.

The website is maddeningly unhelpful as a way of telling you what sort of parties are actually happening and while we've been contacted by a number of people who've said they're organising something, when we've written back to ask for more details, we've drawn a blank. So, we're not in the position to give you the full details, but we think that parties in Brockley will be taking place in:

Manwood/Salehurst Roads (this is a cert, as it comes from friend of BC, Patrick)
Wickham Road
Arthurdon Road (thanks to Fabhat for that tip-off)

If you're involved in the organisation of these events and want to let people know what you're planning, please feel to use this thread to post your comments and news.

East London Line Phase Two: Hope for Surrey Canal Road?

2009-07-10T10:56:00.004+01:00

Phase One of the East London Line (which includes Brockley) is well underway, and plans for Phase Two (Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction) are firming up. The community north of New Cross Road were hoping they would be included in Phase Two, via the creation of a new station at Surrey Canal Road. Alas, the powers that be decided against this.

However there may be some small glimmer of hope. Lewisham mayor Steve Bullock has given permission for the council to campaign for the creation of the new station.

The station would provide direct access to Milwall Stadium for visiting and local footie fans, and provide transport access for people living across a swathe of Deptford, New Cross and Peckham.

Lewisham Council will now submit their case to Transport for London, and will work with local land-owners and residents to build public support.

Brockley Road girl convicted of honey trap murder

2009-07-09T01:54:00.002+01:00

Samantha Joseph, 16, has been convicted of murder for luring a Deptford boy to his death at the hands of a south London gang. The Times reports:

Joseph, who had no previous convictions, was brought up by her hard-working mother, Sheila, the head chef at a pub in Brockley. She lived with her mother in a flat above a bookmaker’s on the busy Brockley Road in southeast London.

A total of seven people will be sentenced for the crime, which took place in Thornton Heath, last year.

The Coulgate Street Survey - Please Give Your Views

2009-07-08T21:22:00.002+01:00

Following on from the petition in support of the part-pedestrianisation of Coulgate Street, the Brockley Cross Action Group is now asking for your views on how the project should take shape.

The Brockley Assembly recently supported a motion to carry out a scoping exercise.

To have your say, simply click here to complete a short questionnaire and then please come back to tell us what you think.

Havelock Walk Open Studios - this weekend in Forest Hill

2009-07-08T18:09:00.005+01:00

Not that all we've got to talk about is open studios, but if you missed out on last week’s art-fest in Brockley, or have a thirst for more, it’s Forest Hill's turn this weekend, in the form of Havelock Walk Open Studios.

Things are a bit different to the Brockley setup - with it being centred around one quirky street of live/work units, there's far less walking (and possibly less nosing around getting house-envy) but the quality looks to be just as high. It'll be our first time there, so expect a follow up in the next week or two.

Brockley Open Studios Weekend

2009-07-04T18:47:00.006+01:00

A quick reminder that this weekend is Brockley Open Studios. We've been twittering about it today and will do the same tomorrow.

This picture is reproduced courtesy of Gillian Golding, whose rabbit-gnawing-on-Parliament was one of our personal highlights today.