We're moving
Well, virtually. I've been playing with Wordpress on behalf of the Friends of the Livesey Museum, and I was quite impressed.
Our family site is getting very tired and out of date now, so I've decided to consolidate our various web presences into one. This way, Mr P can also update everyone with his band activities, and I can carry on grumbling about things, posting pictures and offering access to the CV for any recruitment agents intelligent enough to google me...
So, for further updates, please go to At Home with the Slades. It's still a work in progress...
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
3 March: On the way to Sandra's
We've been having a bit of a time recently.
Aside from the Livesey museum stuff - latest news is that the core group is meeting with Nick Stanton tonight to see if a trust can continue using the building - we've had a few other exciting bits of news.
The most exciting bit of news is that Posie had her baby at 3:58am today. He weighs in quite light at 5lb 9oz, but he is a bit early, so that's understandable. Hope the mother and baby are doing well, but I think they're fine.
Everything else is a bit dull after the baby news. But here goes.
Ceej has managed a whole week without her buggy. She walks or bikes everywhere without (much) complaint. Walks to Sandra's are much more fun these days: we can take shortcuts across grassy bits, tell stories and look for bears.
On Friday night, it was my turn to put Ceej to bed. As usual I ended up dozing next to her. Until I was woken by a rap at the bedroom window. Anybody who knows the layout of our house will remember that the bedrooms face onto Asylum Road, and the living room faces the garden. You can't access the flat from Asylum Road, so it could either be a neighbour or a lost person, or a person with a gun (that's happened once already). I realised where the noise was coming from, and opened up the blind, to find two plain-clothes police officers waving their warrant cards. I indicated our window and crept out of Charlie's room.
Martin was standing in front of the curtains, getting ready for bed, so I had to say: "Get dressed, it's the police..." He ducked into the bathroom, and I opened the window.
They started with some questions about the people in the flat upstairs. Did we know them (not really). Did we know their names (ummm...Alex, David and ummm...Mark the pest control guy). Could we describe them. Is the guy in the front room black? etc etc. That's when they admitted they were talking about Dealer McDope. Well, we relaxed then, and told them that Dealer had moved out about three years ago. They told us that he was in custody right now, and he'd given this as his address. They had been contemplated breaking the door down to search the place before deciding to check with us. Well, I told them that I thought he was living at his cousin's, but that's the last I heard. They went off to do voter checks on the dodgy estate, and shout at kids throwing traffic cones at passing cars...
Aside from the Livesey museum stuff - latest news is that the core group is meeting with Nick Stanton tonight to see if a trust can continue using the building - we've had a few other exciting bits of news.
The most exciting bit of news is that Posie had her baby at 3:58am today. He weighs in quite light at 5lb 9oz, but he is a bit early, so that's understandable. Hope the mother and baby are doing well, but I think they're fine.
Everything else is a bit dull after the baby news. But here goes.
Ceej has managed a whole week without her buggy. She walks or bikes everywhere without (much) complaint. Walks to Sandra's are much more fun these days: we can take shortcuts across grassy bits, tell stories and look for bears.
On Friday night, it was my turn to put Ceej to bed. As usual I ended up dozing next to her. Until I was woken by a rap at the bedroom window. Anybody who knows the layout of our house will remember that the bedrooms face onto Asylum Road, and the living room faces the garden. You can't access the flat from Asylum Road, so it could either be a neighbour or a lost person, or a person with a gun (that's happened once already). I realised where the noise was coming from, and opened up the blind, to find two plain-clothes police officers waving their warrant cards. I indicated our window and crept out of Charlie's room.
Martin was standing in front of the curtains, getting ready for bed, so I had to say: "Get dressed, it's the police..." He ducked into the bathroom, and I opened the window.
They started with some questions about the people in the flat upstairs. Did we know them (not really). Did we know their names (ummm...Alex, David and ummm...Mark the pest control guy). Could we describe them. Is the guy in the front room black? etc etc. That's when they admitted they were talking about Dealer McDope. Well, we relaxed then, and told them that Dealer had moved out about three years ago. They told us that he was in custody right now, and he'd given this as his address. They had been contemplated breaking the door down to search the place before deciding to check with us. Well, I told them that I thought he was living at his cousin's, but that's the last I heard. They went off to do voter checks on the dodgy estate, and shout at kids throwing traffic cones at passing cars...
Dennis Irwin...
...is one of the great sidemen of modern American jazz. He is also the brother of one of my online acquaintances, and currently undergoing cancer treatment. He's fantastic, and I hope he gets well soon.
...is one of the great sidemen of modern American jazz. He is also the brother of one of my online acquaintances, and currently undergoing cancer treatment. He's fantastic, and I hope he gets well soon.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Well, we didn't save the Livesey. The museum will close on 29 Feb 2008. The reason for the early closure is to ensure that the collections and exhibition can be dismantled and packed away safely, by people who know what they're doing.
Some of us are talking about trying to constitute a trust to get funding and continue the Livesey's good work - hopefully in the building, if Southwark Council will let us.
The horrible thing is that the council is closing a museum that works. It's a wonderful place that reaches out to the local community and has a very special place in all our hearts. I've heard plenty of rumours over the past few weeks about why it's closing, and had a few arguments with LibDem councillors about the matter, but none of that seems to matter now. The museum in its current incarnation is closing down, and it's time to see what we can build on.
I have no idea what will happen to the building. There are rumours that it will be auctioned off, but I can't think who would buy a Grade II listed ex-library surrounded by boarded-up shops, and only a few hundred yards from a dirty great recycling facility, on the main road out of London to the Kent ports. Hopefully we can negotiate with the council to let us stay on there.
View Larger Map
A group of Austrian artists has knitted a giant pink rabbit that can be seen from a satellite (go on, click on the link to see...). The giant bunny will apparently sit on the hillside for the next 20 years, so I hope they've used an easily-washable yarn. Not sure what will happen if it shrinks...
Some of us are talking about trying to constitute a trust to get funding and continue the Livesey's good work - hopefully in the building, if Southwark Council will let us.
The horrible thing is that the council is closing a museum that works. It's a wonderful place that reaches out to the local community and has a very special place in all our hearts. I've heard plenty of rumours over the past few weeks about why it's closing, and had a few arguments with LibDem councillors about the matter, but none of that seems to matter now. The museum in its current incarnation is closing down, and it's time to see what we can build on.
I have no idea what will happen to the building. There are rumours that it will be auctioned off, but I can't think who would buy a Grade II listed ex-library surrounded by boarded-up shops, and only a few hundred yards from a dirty great recycling facility, on the main road out of London to the Kent ports. Hopefully we can negotiate with the council to let us stay on there.
In other news...
View Larger Map
A group of Austrian artists has knitted a giant pink rabbit that can be seen from a satellite (go on, click on the link to see...). The giant bunny will apparently sit on the hillside for the next 20 years, so I hope they've used an easily-washable yarn. Not sure what will happen if it shrinks...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
19 Feb: Moon over Canary Wharf
The sunset yesterday was beautiful. I couldn't find a good enough vantage point on the way home, but this shot was taken just as I was leaving work.
This irate letter has been sent to a bunch of local councillors in advance of tomorrow's full council meeting.
Here goes nothing...
Livesey News
This irate letter has been sent to a bunch of local councillors in advance of tomorrow's full council meeting.
Dear Councillor,
I am writing to protest against the Southwark Council Executive's proposals to close the Livesey Museum for Children, and to urge you to vote against this proposal at the full Council meeting on Wednesday 20 February.
The proposal states that closure of the Livesey museum would ensure a saving of £140,000 per year. Cllr Stanton has also suggested that the building housing the museum - a gift to the people of Southwark from George Livesey - could be sold by auction to raise more money for local services.
As a Southwark resident and parent, I am appalled by this proposal. The Livesey Museum for Children is a local service that offers education and enlightenment to primary age children in an economically blighted part of the borough. Situated within walking distance of four local primary schools, and offering its services to schools across London, the Livesey offers a safe, unintimidating space for children to explore concepts such as mathematics (2007) and geography (2008) through ingenious interactive exhibits, created by local artists on a very limited budget.
According to Audit Commission figures, the Livesey Museum entertains and educates nearly 18,000 individual visitors during its nine-month exhibiting period. In addition the museum plays host to over 100 school parties from all over south London. Livesey staff are recognised nationally for the excellent work work they do, and the museum was shortlisted as one of the most family-friendly museums in the UK in a recent poll. Closing this museum would deprive thousands of children, including my four-year-old daughter and her friends, of an imaginative, inspiring educational resource within walking distance of home or school.
Southwark should be celebrating this museum, not closing it!
Here goes nothing...
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Here's the finished article.
I screwed up and forgot to make a button hole for the big button. But then I looked again and decided that the button would spoil the line. The buttonless jacket has a nice austere, Soviet look . Most unbaby like, but Posie was a bit of a Prada queen in her day and likes clean lines.
Now working on a raspberry pink cardigan for Ceej. She kept giving the jacket jealous looks and demanded something for herself...
In other news, the council executive committee voted to close the Livesey to "save costs". They also admitted that they were going to auction off the building, which is what they're really after. A Grade II listed Victorian library will make a lovely set of warehouse flats for some developer. Though who on earth would want to live on that bit of the Old Kent Road? There's no garden to speak of, you back on to council estates, a Kwik Fit and a BMX park, and the noise from traffic is frightful at all times. Added to that, I'm not sure if they've noticed that commercial property is in a slump right now.
My guess is that they'll sell the building off, and it will remain empty until the market changes, just like the other development about ten doors up that was supposed to be shared ownership housing and the Bird in Bush Nursery. The BIB nursery is installed now, after a two year wait, but I can't see any residents in the flats upstairs.
Anyway, we're demonstrating outside the council meeting again on Wednesday 20 Feb, so, please sign the petition at http://www.gopetition.com/online/16681.html, write to your MP (Harriet has already sent messages of support) and Andy Burnham, Secretary of State of Culture
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
12 Feb: Millie on a cart
Shot on the cameraphone, using Night Mode, hence the strange colours.
Well, we went to the protest. There were about 20 or so people there. We waved lovely placards that had been hand-painted by various small Livesey regulars. We shouted (politely) at councillors and council staff tried to look neutral as they passed us. The Kings Grove Irregulars ( about seven or so kids aged between 9 and 2) made a terrific racket, and really engaged everybody. They also managed to stomp all over the town hall lawns and not harm a single petal of the carefully-planted primulas.
Whether it has any effect, I don't know. But we made our point.
I met Ceej's pal Millie and her mum at the protest, and spent most of my time chatting to them and a couple of chaps standing close by. On our way home, we noticed a strange rickshaw contraption parked outside Camberwell Art College, so Millie climbed into the seat and I took a picture...
Well, we went to the protest. There were about 20 or so people there. We waved lovely placards that had been hand-painted by various small Livesey regulars. We shouted (politely) at councillors and council staff tried to look neutral as they passed us. The Kings Grove Irregulars ( about seven or so kids aged between 9 and 2) made a terrific racket, and really engaged everybody. They also managed to stomp all over the town hall lawns and not harm a single petal of the carefully-planted primulas.
Whether it has any effect, I don't know. But we made our point.
I met Ceej's pal Millie and her mum at the protest, and spent most of my time chatting to them and a couple of chaps standing close by. On our way home, we noticed a strange rickshaw contraption parked outside Camberwell Art College, so Millie climbed into the seat and I took a picture...
Southwark Council exec meeting tonight!
It's a pity that I don't have a picture of the Livesey, so here's another photo of Park, taken from my usual spot yesterday morning. It looks spooky, doesn't it?
Tonight is the Southwark council executive meeting. I've been given a family pass to go and lobby the council executive about the planned closure of the Livesey Museum for Children, as part of a posse of concerned neighbours (don't mess with the Kings Grove parents). I'm not optimistic, but we have to remember that the LibDems only have a toehold on power in Southwark, and the adverse publicity may force them to think again. If we aren't successful, then I suppose we have to start thinking about alternative funding.
Other news. Ceej has a touch of croup. She's at home with her dad today: no doubt curled up on the sofa with the cats, watching SpongeBob and croaking for juice every five minutes. I have to take over at lunchtime.
Tonight is the Southwark council executive meeting. I've been given a family pass to go and lobby the council executive about the planned closure of the Livesey Museum for Children, as part of a posse of concerned neighbours (don't mess with the Kings Grove parents). I'm not optimistic, but we have to remember that the LibDems only have a toehold on power in Southwark, and the adverse publicity may force them to think again. If we aren't successful, then I suppose we have to start thinking about alternative funding.
Other news. Ceej has a touch of croup. She's at home with her dad today: no doubt curled up on the sofa with the cats, watching SpongeBob and croaking for juice every five minutes. I have to take over at lunchtime.
Monday, February 11, 2008
10 Feb: Greenland Dock
Taken on our little odyssey around Deptford and Surrey Docks. We had a child-free morning, so we went on a little bike ride, exploring cycle paths and possible routes to the river...
I was also looking for an alternative to my usual route to Greenwich, as the East London Line extension has closed my usual cut under the railway bridges at Cold Blow Lane. The given alternative was pretty horrible, and I nearly got run off the road.
We found a path that runs parallel to Ilderton road that joins the cycle path on Surrey Canal Road. This is the one I should have been on instead of the road. Only it's not immediately obvious, and there's no safe way of joining Ilderton Road at one end, or Trundley Road at the other.
BTW, Trundley Road is so named after Johnny Trundley, the Fat Boy of Peckham. I love that little snippet of Local History. He probably had Prader Willi syndrome, or something, and was considered something of a marvel in working class Victorian London.
Actually, when I'm more confident, I'm going to blog some of the madder ideas that road designers come up with for cycle routes. There's a bit between New Cross and Deptford where the green path suddenly stops, and you go straight into the back of a row of parked cars...
I was also looking for an alternative to my usual route to Greenwich, as the East London Line extension has closed my usual cut under the railway bridges at Cold Blow Lane. The given alternative was pretty horrible, and I nearly got run off the road.
We found a path that runs parallel to Ilderton road that joins the cycle path on Surrey Canal Road. This is the one I should have been on instead of the road. Only it's not immediately obvious, and there's no safe way of joining Ilderton Road at one end, or Trundley Road at the other.
BTW, Trundley Road is so named after Johnny Trundley, the Fat Boy of Peckham. I love that little snippet of Local History. He probably had Prader Willi syndrome, or something, and was considered something of a marvel in working class Victorian London.
Actually, when I'm more confident, I'm going to blog some of the madder ideas that road designers come up with for cycle routes. There's a bit between New Cross and Deptford where the green path suddenly stops, and you go straight into the back of a row of parked cars...
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