In memory of Nala

My close friend Alex is absolutely heartbroken that over the Easter Holidays she had to have her dog Nala put down.

Dog lovers will know it is not an easy decision to have to make but it is the only humane thing to do when there is no hope.

A Rhodesian Ridgeback - Reared from a pup, she was such an affectionate pet. Alex and her were inseparable. When they used to live in Islington she used to play at Cantelows Park on Camden Road - such a loveable dog.

When Nala started to be ill those mournful eyes touched the heart of all those close to her. It was a shock when 6 months ago after an an emergency operation to remove her spleen and further tests, the vets eventually found out she had Histiocytosis Sarcoma - a rare cancer, normally occurring in large breed older dogs that carries a death sentence once diagnosed - she was given only 2 months to live at the time.

Unable to part with her 'friend' Alex continued to look after her but when Nala picked up an infection and due to her condition, became lethargic, anemic and could not eat, was losing weight and unable to go out there was no choice but to end her suffering.

Alex wrote: She passed away on the 17 April at 12.45pm in my home where the vet and nurse attended. She was only 3.5 years old, a very young dog to die from such a horrible condition. She will be missed. I had her cremated and made a little section in my garden for her in her memory and sprinkled some of her ashes there.

I am having to come to terms with it, and doubt I will invest in another dog as the heartache is too much. She was an adorable creature and loved people and other dogs. She was a very lovable and affectionate kind hearted dog. She will always remain in my heart and truly missed.

She said that I should write about it on my blog so other dog lovers can be made more aware of the condition Histiocytosis Sarcoma and to express her sincere appreciation to the vet, his nurses and carers at the vets who all supported her throughout her traumatic experience.

Gurkhas triumph today

Couldn't help but feel a real sense of elation today at Brown's defeat over Gurkha rules.

MPs decided by 267 to 246 to back a Lib Dem motion offering all retired Gurkhas an equal right of residence in the UK, with the Tories and 27 Labour rebels backing it.

Have always felt ashamed the way the various British Governments have treated the Gurkas in the past - they fought and died for this country for Gods sake.

The fight for their right to be treated like any other British soldier has taken years - the lukewarm change in the law in 1987 still denied some 36,000 former Gurkhas who served in the British Army before 1997 UK residency.

Can remember as a child, my father an officer in the India Army telling me his memories about his men (Gurkhas) fighting the Japanese in WW11. Bit graphic some of the stories but in those days they didn't think of the sensitivity of children - nevertheless he always gave them the highest regard - tough little characters he used to say.

The Gurkhas memorial which stands at Whitehall between the Embankment and Horse Guards parade had no real meaning except today.

Bluebells in abundance

What a lovely picture - it's been reported in the media that this years bluebell session has produced a bumper crop.

The Mail online has some breathtaking photos.

What makes it so special they are native to Britain bluebells.

Hadn't given a thought to the various species until I was give some of the native variety by Islington Greenspace. Planted in back garden, around the tree in the front and along the hedge edges they have come up a treat. Even the builders have been taking care not to damage them.

Self propagating, next year they should be in abundance - Well that the hope anyway. Least have some photos to show them.

St George's Day

Today is St George's Day - what does it mean to most English people? Not much except a date on a calender. Haven't got a clue about it myself except having vague memories about a childhood story of St George slaying the dragon.

The English Patron Saint of England, every year there is the usual debate as to why we don't celebrate the date. Good old web looked up info about him Royal Society of St George

Quite surprised to learn he wasn't even English. He was probably born in Cappadocia, which is in present day Turkey, to Christian parents, a Roman father and a Palestinian mother.

St George was apparently imprisoned and tortured for his faith in Christ. Having defended his faith was beheaded at Nicomedia near Lyddia in Palestine on the 23rd of April in the year 303 AD.

An act of Christian martyrdom - more surprised to learn he's the patron saint of several other countries as well as England - including Palestine, Lithuania, Greece as well as Istanbul and Moscow.

He was probably martyred because of his protests against Rome's persecution of the Christians. The story about the dragon seems to be a metaphorical reference to the the might of Rome.

There are many fictional stories about his slaying the dragon to defend the princess - many children's books as well.

Dadabhai Naoroji - commemorative plaque

An interesting snipit of local news. Next month, 8 May, Islington Council will be unveiling a commemorative plaque to honour Dadabhai Naoroji MP(1825-1917), who was elected to Parliament representing Finsbury Central in 1892.

He has long been regarded by Islington as the first ever Asian MP. In 1993, Islington Council put up a plaque at Finsbury Town Hall saying: “The first Asian elected to the commons was Dadabhai Naoroji. He represented Central Finsbury for the Liberal Party from 1892-1895.”

The plaque will be placed outside Clerkenwell Parochial School in Naoroji Street.

Google images - found his old election poster - bit different from what we get shoved through our letter boxes these days.

A week with the builders

This week with the builders doing a strip out in the flat below was a real experience. Almost like living in a building site. Cement mixer outside the front door was a shock. The noise from below was incredible. The grinding sound of cutting the pipes grated on my teeth. With the banging on the roof at the same time could hardly hear myself think - callers from Cyprus and Nigeria could hear the noise as they were talking to me, it was so loud. Least the works teams cleaned up each day.

The rain the last couple of days stopped work and even the roofers were held up. The missing bit of the roof window has just arrived so that should enable the roofers to finish this coming week.

Can't fault the workers in anyway - even today, was so surprised when a scaffold inspector with his identity card rang the bell to inform me he was going up on the scaffolding.

Also today sent in my nomination form for the Residents Forum in the nick of time. All the 'shilly shallying' about, just couldn't make up my mind. Felt very proud when people kept reminding me and two locals asked me if I was standing again. Just shows people do read the Partners Gazette otherwise they wouldn't have known there is an election looming.

My decision was finally made because of an act of kindness from the Partners works team. I need an outside tap for the garden. A hosepipe dangling out of a first floor window is not ideal and I'm getting too old to handle the unreasonable stress from other residents - health and safety is another consideration. Thought I was going to have to buy all the extra bits for them to install it for me. Feel chuffed to bits, the site manager confirmed Thursday they were going to put one in the back for general use but positioned so as not to inconvenience anybody. Should be available before they need water for the cement for my flat.

Just hope we get enough people coming forward for the Forum. If there are more than the required number of nominations an all Partners residents vote will be necessay - that would be far more interesting.

Britain's Got Talent 2009 Susan Boyle Sings Les Miserables

The story of 48 year old Susan Boyle and her singing has captured the imagination of the world.

Like millions of others, I watched the Britain's got Talent 2009 programme on Saturday night and like most of the sceptical audience and the judges was stunned by her incredible voice singing I Dreamed a Dream by Les Miserables.

She said she was going to rock the audience and by jove she did just that!



Since then the story of her simple life, living in her childhood home, singing in her local church and caring for her mother until she died has touched so many hearts. Having received several email You Tube links about her, looked up more about what people are saying.

Amazing it is all over the world, reported in different languages with one commentator in USA claiming over 50,000,000 people have looked at the various You Tube video's of the show since the weekend.

She has become an instant star. Whatever the outcome of the show she will no doubt have a dramatic change in her lifestyle from now on....

Kicking Gas Safety to the curb!

Annual Gas safety checks are a necessary irritant - a legal requirement. This years usual round of letters to make appointments have been sent out. As the flats in this property are being refurbished and the dates confirmed I've ignored mine - fresh certificates will be issued when the works are completed.

Received a Red Letter 2nd reminder this weekend so out of courtesy phone them up to explain the situation. The flat downstairs is starting tomorrow and mine immediately after. Thought that would close the matter.

Couldn't believe the rigmarole I went through - the young man on the end other phone insisting there has to be record for the current reference so I should go ahead to book the appointment and my being trying to be as polite as I could telling him to cancel it.

A frustrating wait on the phone while he said he had to check with a supervisor - almost put down the phone in annoyance. Eventually he came back with the same statement like he was reading from a script and saying if I didn't agree to an appointment the letters would continue coming with possible consequences.

Told him point blank I wasn't going to agree - a legal requirement or not, there are enough gangs of workers all around the place at the moment don't want any unnecessary people wasting my time - he said he would make a note and the call ended.

Gosh I was fuming - will wait and see if after all that they do send me another letter. If so, I won't let it rest - it's harassment nothing more and nothing less. If Partners are co-ordinating the refurbishment programme they should automatically send a schedule of the dates work is commencing on each property to the Gas Safety department. The whole thing is just ridiculous - I'm going to find out why it is not being done in the first place.

Guido's collecting scalps

The hot topic at the moment the is the email scandal and resignation of Damian McBride over the affair. In his resignation statement he blames his downfall on Paul Staines's Guido Fawkes' blog expose.

Everybody loves the buzz of a scandal - since 2004 Guido is renowned for picking up insider-tips around the Westminster village and writing about them, adding his own brand of wit and humour in the mix.

There have always been claims that the blog has the backing of the Tories - Paul has always claimed his blog exists "purely to make mischief at the expense of politicians" and for his own "gratification". - regardless of any political party affiliation.

The furore over McBride has now made Guido Fawkes' blog. a national must read - With one scalp under his belt and top stories like this and this developing, those in the corridors of power will be nervous about who is next on his hit list.

What has made me smile about the whole issue is the hypocrisy of some of the power brokers and the media who claim they don't read his blog when it's obvious they do otherwise who would have known what was going on - it's like those who buy the Guardian and hide the News of the World inside.

Well after this, Guido's bound to receive loads of hot stuff from the Westminster minions whilst those who may have something to lose by a Guidos expose will nervously be reading every post hoping they're not the next target. Will be interesting to read what comes out of the woodwork....

Real family 'Fathers for justice' story

This weekend gives me a chance to write about progress with my family tree.

Loads of emails asking can I find out about bits of their family - have been quite successful so far. Now well into family research networking groups, finding records has become relatively easy especially as more and more stuff is coming online. When it is distant or in-law relations one can stay impartial but I never expected to become involved with a close to home story that made me burst into tears after it was all over - was all so intense and very traumatic.

Readers of this blog will know about my mum's cousin Joan. I found all her very personal stuff which gave her peace of mind and info about her own father's family the Smallbones, going back to mid 1700's.

What a laugh we have, two generations with names like Bonaparte, Nelson, Inkerman with many of the men working for generations on the railways and others in the military - some of the war records now online about them are fascinating.

Least some of Joan's father's decendants have the historic family names as second names. However, somehow along the way the spelling of Bonaparte has been changed to Buonaparte. It's mind blowing to think of a child going to school these days with a name like that even if it is a second name.

Have printed off so many records for her the envelope is getting fatter and fatter.

Even with all the exciting stuff she still wanted me to see if I could find out what happened to cousin Ronald Blandford - she doesn't know why thoughts of him were constantly popping into her head. Kept going over my notes with her on the phone as she remembered more stuff. Joan and her memories - no dates but many stories. Then comparing my age, her sons age, great grans death plus when other family and finally my mother all went to Australia made approximate dating of events a little easier. One day she suddenly mentioned having met Ron's wife who she said was Greek.

What happened next is one of the strangest catalogue of bizarre coincidences and events I don't know how to explain it all except there had to be some divine intervention somewhere along the way. Only took me less than 10 days from start to finish all by email - just have to accept it was meant to be.

Somehow just knew the key to it all was to find the death cert of my mother & her aunt Lizzy (the one I've mentioned before who couldn't speak because of contacting diphtheria as a child). Within a few minutes of that thought, I suddenly found her death record - then Ron's birth cert and marriage cert references one after another - took me completely by surprise.

When great aunt Lizzy's cert arrived within 3 days not the usual 7 days wait, I was more shocked. Reading it - there it was, Ron's name as the informant living as I expected in Brighton and the address where Lizzy had been living.

The electoral register researchers who do look ups for that period, within an hour of my request for info about the two addresses emailed me the names of my family including Rons wife - hadn't expected a response from them for at least a week. I put the names immediately on my GU family tree. As it's online contacts flashed up - was so shocked to see a flash beside Rons and his wife's name.

Turned out it was one of his daughters Julie a few years younger than myself who has been looking for him for years. What an emotional journey it was for both of us - with emails and phone calls. My sister Anne-louise and Joan kept propping me up because the stress was really getting to me - kept wondering what would happen if I did find him. Joan bless her kept repeating her catchphase "it's better than any detective story on the TV" giving me encouragement.

Julie sent me a photo of Ron's marriage to his current wife, her half brother Nick's details which she had also found researching and amazingly an old photo of our great aunt Lizzy, the sister of her gran Edith, Ron's mum. Just couldn't imagine her keeping them safe since she was a little girl together with a letter from Ron and his wife when they were going overseas.

Having her brothers name I found all the same names on the electoral registers 2003 - 2008. Took pot luck on an address which for some reason kept jumping out at me and wrote a brief letter. Within 48 hours I got an email from him confirming I'd got the correct person and his parents were retired living abroad asking why I was looking for them. Where would they be - I suddenly thought of my friend Alex a British Greek who'd probably know by the family name of Ron's wife - she usually calls at night for long chats. Was completely blown away when a few minutes later she called from work - easy she told me - Cyprus. She couldn't explain what prompted her to call me either. Still in a bit of a daze, I rushed off a long explanatory email to Ron's son not even thinking he might not know much about his dads former life and dashed out.

What a caring son he is - back home a few hours later, before I could catch my breath found an email from an excited Ron himself living where Alex had suggested saying he would take time to write a summary of his life which I could pass on to anybody who was looking for him - It was just mind blowing the speed everything was falling into place hour by hour.

All this time Julie was living a roller coaster of emotion following what was going on unable to keep the story from her work colleagues who apparently were all excited for her - she was constantly in my thoughts. Just told her I couldn't explain the heck of what was going on but my head just told me everything would be OK.

The email from Ron came the following day - just amazing he's the same age as Joan but the history of his life from his memories was incredible - after a rough start in life wasn't anything like being the bad guy he presumed we expected especially his military life after WW11 which explained a lot. I sent him Joans, Julies and my phone numbers and just waited - just knew in my heart that the situation was out of my control. I didn't even have the bottle to tell him he had two grown up grandsons as well.

Well it's good news all round Ron took the bull by the horns and contacted Julie. Just knew who it was when I got my call - he's just as chatty and open as Joan - he told me loads of stuff about my mother and gran which helped me fill in some of the family history blanks. Since then he's contacted Joan and everybody who is still alive like my aunts in Australia - says he's got a lot of catching up to do after all the wasted years.

What made me cry - Ron's wife thanking me for making her husband a very happy man and Ron saying that since his son sent him the news after my contact he has been praying that God would help Lou's daughter, me, to answer his prayers. I'm not into religion but the feeling of warmth just overwelmed me. Then again later the same day a huge bunch of hand delivered flowers from Julie was the final straw - I just couldn't stop crying.

Everything has worked out to a positive happy result but on reflection the whole story is a real longtime Fathers for Justice story. Never thought about it before but parents should think about what they tell their children when parents split up. Now with the freedom of information act it is easy to find people and information.

Since then Ron is in regular contact, has even taken to reading my blog. His wife says from my photos she can see the resemblance. My sister Anne-louise said Ron as as young man also resembles our mother which now I've had chance to look at all the photos have to agree with her.

Like so many other family members his interest in my work on the family tree has been roused after I sent him some of my stuff from the archives.

Just by chance I came across the actual marriage reference for Ruth Bibble & Angus Alexander 1817 who were my maternal great grandmother's great grandfathers parents. I've already sent it to him and so we continue....

Britain's Homecare Scandal - a national disgrace

This week Panorama's investigative programme - Britain's Homecare Scandal

Supposed to be care in the community so elderly people can remain in their homes surrounded by their personal possessions. Couldn't believe what I was seeing - how dare they treat elderly people in such a degrading way.

Panorama reveals that homecare contracts in England and Scotland are being handed to the lowest bidder

Research conducted for the BBC found that some private companies are delivering care for £12 an hour, £10 less than what it costs local councils.
The so-called 'reverse e-auctions' involve firms bidding against rivals over the internet for the lowest price.

Never heard of anything so ridiculous, cutting care just to save the councils money - its a case of maximising profit never minding what happens to the elderly people being looked after by these companies. Edinburgh, York, South Lanarkshire and Harrow in London are some of the councils that were investigated,

I felt so angry at the degrading inhumane way some older people are being treated by the carers employed by the the care companies. The care plans of individuals just dumped inside vehicles.The injuries of one lady after being hit by a hoist are horrific. Another left to sit in her own excrement.

Have to give 78 year old Andrew Wilson my full respect for allowing himself to be filmed during the investigation. The local care company, Domiciliary Care, were supposed to provide four 30-minute visits a day but some visits only lasted 4 minutes. The humiliation he endured is all on film.

The programme will undoubtedly put fear and dread in the minds of many people who will need the help of the care services in the coming months and years. What is going to be done about all this - millions are waiting to see. It's not an issue that can be brushed under the carpet hoping it will be forgotten. The council can't abdicate their responsibility in all this by blaming the private care companies. I'd like to see some legal action against not only the companies but the councils involved with the scandal.

Remember 4d in old money

Part of the front wall has to be rebuilt. The cement has blown and it's wobbling dangerously. Decided to remove all the dead hedge branches and rubbish from behind that section.

For as long as I've lived here, behind one part there has been a chunk of I don't know what - difficult to access but quite determined, decided to sit on the ground and poke away with a stick to clear it once and for all. All the muck cleared had to continue digging down with the stick as it was the only way I could access the spot - out came two bottles covered with thick black mud and other gunge.

Could have knocked me down with a feather - What a surprise! The larger one was obviously an old pinta size milk bottle from back in the days of home deliveries - took it inside to wash.

Absolutely fascinating. Can't date it but the writing moulded in the glass on one side under a Star of David Logo, reads Golden Seal contents 1 PT. On the other side THIS BOTTLE COSTS 4d PLEASE RINSE AND RETURN.

That got me thinking about learning tables at school chanting, 4 farthings = 1 penny, 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1£ and 240 pennies = £1 etc... Many things used to cost 4 pence - called a groat in some areas.

For the life of me can't work out the the equivalent in today's decimal money. Also as the bottle is made of clear glass - still fathoming out how to take a photo of it so the embossing is readable

Sadly can't find any info on the internet except there was a Golden Seal Dairy in London 1916 -1944 and another in USA which were both started from a farm in Ireland. How long the one in London existed can't find any info whatsoever. To be continued....

Building works in progress

The pointing of the external walls and replacement of the roof has been going on for nearly a week now.

Different gangs for different work. The pointers were all Polish - least I think so from the language they were shouting to one another over the noise. Ever so polite and respectful to us residents. Took them just three days to go round the property - what a racket with all their banging. Mind you it was a bit dodgy going out the front and down to the garden - Great dollops of cement and stones kept falling.

Least they cleaned up everything at the end of each day.

The roofers striped the roof putting the old slates and wood in bags. With the pointers gone they lowered everything in red bags using an empty dust bin. Couple of times there was a loud crash when the down load fell outside the front door. The photo is of one of the workers picking up the remaining bits of broken slates. A chirpy young man who didn't mind having his photo taken one bit.

As expected, the front looks like a builders yard with slates stacked up everywhere. Up to now can't fault their work in anyway.

I've never seen a roof off and covered with a kind of white insulating sheeting before. Told they'd be working all Easter in between the showers of rain. Bit of a stress but the faster they work the faster they finish - it's actually quite impressive the speed they are working. Not very sensible having small children around at the moment so there will be no grandchildren visits this hols.

Sainsbury's - has this happened to anybody else?

Sainsbury's have really pissed me off. Occasionally you can buy foodstuff anywhere which are a little off. Usually I can't be bothered with the hassle of taking it back to the store so it ends up in the food recycling box.

Not a great lover of meat anyway but at times it's good to have a change. This weekend I couldn't believe it when a packaged British lamb joint from my freezer turned out to be beef. In a hurry to go out didn't look properly - took the joint out of the wrapper and bunged it in the oven.

To be honest as it's a Sainsbury's product, couldn't believe what I was seeing when it was cooked and cut up - had to double check the packaging. It reads 'Traditional reared British Lamb joint - boneless butterfly leg -100% British - £7.24. Thought as this is packaged as part of a production line with a batch number how many others must have complained.

This morning feeling concerned did telephone them - was told from their computer records there had been no reports of any other incidents. Find it very hard to believe unless everybody else just ignored it. The customer services rep seemed more interested in which store it had been purchased from, like that makes a hoot of difference. Was told to go to a local main store customer services which is in Camden and take the wrapper with the meat. Take the meat what a laugh!

Normally wouldn't bother but as it's school hols I'm going tomorrow just to see what they are going to say. Under the circumstances their logo, Sainsbury's Try something new today , is rather ironic.

Update: Wednesday - Took the packaging along to Sainsbury's Camden branch. They gave me a refund and a £5 gift vouture. The money is not an issue - I'm waiting to see what they eventually write and tell me after their investigation.

Islington council Leader James Kempton is going!

Emails galore this evening - Islington, Lib Dem James Kempton has announced he is stepping down as the council leader. His decision will take effect on 14 May 2009 when the council holds its annual meeting. He will however remain a back bench councillor for St Mary's ward until the 2010 May elections.

Hardly a surprise since February's crushing budget vote defeat in favour of the Progressive Budget - free school meals for primary school children and £100 council tax rebate for pensioners - speculation has been rife. Deputy Leader Terry Stacy has even publicly claimed he wouldn't challenge James to a leadership contest but now he's the obvious choice.

LGC has all the glowing stuff about James - Cllr James Kempton has been the leader since 2006, was deputy leader 2000-2006 and has served on the council since 1994 etc,etc..... The news however hasn't as yet been reported by the local rags. They will definitely put a different spin on the whole issue.

Regardless of what may be reported in the local media it's an obvious knock on effect of our local ward councillor Andrew Cornwall's decision to stand down from the cabinet in protest over the councils monetary wastage and remains as an independent Lib Dem. His ideas for cost saving measures are being effected across the council. The reduction in some of the councillors' allowances became effective on the 1st of this month saving the council over £100,000.00

Labour, the main opposition on the council will probably be crowing, claiming that it's a result of their success with the Progressive Budget that pushed James into making his decision. They are taking full credit for the whole plan when actually it was Andrew's idea in the first place.

One thing that is for sure, Terry Stacy, a real East End Londoner, if he does take over as leader, there will be a dramatic change in the leadership style. Terry is an interesting character - can be most vocal at times - the kind of person that feeds the media.

Update: Seems the bets are on - email from Richard a Tory local activist on his hols in Africa - Will be back in Islington at the end of the month. Will be interesting who ends up with the poisonned challace. My money's on ece or watt. - Lucy Watt or Meral Ece that would be interesting, but I don't think so somehow.

Obama-Mania came to Islington

Like millions of people I've been caught up in the excitement of President Barack Obama's visit to Britain and following all the financial stuff -Barack Obama's G20 visit casts warm glow over 10 Downing Street.

However a more touching aspect of the visit for local residents - Obama-Mania came to Islington. Yesterday his wife, Michelle Obama paid a surprise visit to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Language College for girls.

How exciting for the students - Michelle Obama to them, ‘You can be what you want’

The local Tribune reports -

Screaming children – who had performed a special concert that, according to teachers, drew tears of happiness from Mrs Obama – poured out into the playground jumping up and-down and swapping stories of their big day.“I told her she was hot stuff – and she said ‘you know you’re all hot stuff!’” said Kimmoy Harris, 15....

Wish they had sent along a female reporter to write more about the feelings of the children. Have to laugh sometimes the way some media reporters put out the news - Tom Foot, probably as excited as anybody would be, comes across as if it's just an everyday event.

Partners Gazette Easter 2009 & more

Partners residents newsletters have been dropping on household mats this week.

The key issues are the coming Residents forum elections and the planned garden competition in June. I just hope that this time around more residents will come forward - we need some fresh blood. Some of the existing members of the forum have worked hard for years putting strategies in place up to where we are today but it's time consuming and often a thankless task.

Helping people and the local community is most rewarding - at times it's stressful but to see a successful result and smiles on peoples faces afterwards no words can express feelings.

I've been in two minds about submitting my nomination this time around after about 7 years pre contract and the current forum. Not very good at blowing my own trumpet on election nomination forms and some snidey spiteful remarks as I'm passing from some locals, at my age I can do without.

The garden competion on the otherhand is right up my street - Partners are trying to encourage as many residents as they can to try and improve their surroundings. The back of this property has been visited on numerous occassions with some snapshots taken much to my great pride.

This evening went along to the an extraordinary meeting of the forum to vote on the amendment to the Terms of Reference and the Code of conduct. Couldn't help but feel a little nervous about the outcome. Going through it line by line, to my great delight except for a few minor changes, wording and the order set, the bulk of it was accepted by members as it was and even my preferred options were the ones decided upon when it came to a vote. The formal adoption of the document will take place at the next General meeting in May, the final meeting of the current term of office.

Working on such a document with all the legalities and confirming references under current legislation is not easy - tedious at it's best. The overall outcome of the member votes certainly boosted my self esteem making it all worthwhile.

Who's a silly plonker then?

At times I'm completely lost for words. After all these weeks of waiting since the scaffolding was erected around this property the roofers arrived to start work. Expected full steam ahead but... they couldn't start much to their frustration. The scaffolders, silly plonkers, forgot to set up the pulley on the top level.

All they could do is to offload their planks of timber in the front of the building. They were very careful not to damage the plants and growing bulbs - a most unusual act for building contractors - but made my day.

Seems the roofing slates are being delivered Monday. Looks like all the recycling boxes are going to have to find a temporary home over the next few weeks because where they are presently is the only place building deliveries can go and rubbish can be put.

Will be interesting to see how they dispose of all the rubbish. Since the main road was refurbished Islington council does not allow skips to be positioned outside properties. Contractors have to find a space in one of the smaller side roads. It's the logistics of moving all the heavy bags of old slates and other junk down the road once they are lowered to ground level I'm thinking of. Hope they have something sensible like a trolley.

Going to have to keep the windows shut when they really get going. Found a small piece of sharp slate on my kitchen windowsill which must have slipped through the scaffolding planks when they were doing the testing. As careful as they might be it can't be helped but a zap on the head could do one an injury.

Late this evening heard some noise and noticed somebody had put up the missing pulley in the front - looks like a sore thumb sticking out over the whole building.

Suns out so will be able to take some photos. We'll see what happens tomorrow...