A busy time for horticulturalists (well this one anyway) and another book finished!

Cage on Soft Fruit bushes (some)

Really admire people with full time job who are able to keep on top of their allotment work at this time of year - I've got a few projects on and must admit that it's a battle to keep things in order on Plot 202.

Cucumber plants doing well

incubating other seedlings

Strawberries under net

I've been particularly  busy with covering soft fruit including strawberries  to protect them from pigeons and other birds also starting other seedlings as a result there earlier appetites.



Poppies (as always) looking dramatic.

Wow

And Reading

This guy is helping my reading renaissance

Perhaps one of the reasons I'm getting behind on the weeding watering and digging as renewed reading -Just finished the truly enjoyable Expo 58 by Jonathan Coe  (there's an interview with Mr Coe here)- it's a mixture of things, part spy story, part historic document but very engaging so much that I've now started another of his books - strangely this one, called 'The terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim'  references Ealing quite a bit- and is a more contemporary but seems like another 'page turner' more to follow, from me in terms of a review I'm sure .





 



Back with the Ealing Gazette

As well as the 'Wheelie Bin' controversy being all over the Ealing Gazette this week there's a couple of other items that were of interest to me :

The first was about Victor Mishiku who campaigns pretty much tirelessly against unsuitable building developments in West London  using his knowledge of the Planning process - I met Victor at the start of the year to talk about the possible demolition of the historic stables on Haven Green - seems Victor was manhandled  at a potential development site, great shame he does not deserve this but does deserve support and credit for his work for the community.

Picture Of The Week

Another item in the local paper that stood out was my  (as in I took it) Picture  Of The Week which featured a local oddity outside a local café, I'm not sure which number this is but I reckon around 15th one, but still a buzz to see it.

Here it as published and my original submission with suggested text:

As it looked in the local paper

"The picture was taken recently just by  Bronek’s Park Café  in Northfield Avenue.

Over recent years the Northfields district of Ealing has reinvented itself as a home for quirky eateries and non-chain retailers, the surreal fish outside Bronek’s Café seems to sum up the area.”

Bit fishy?

Agnes Martin at Tate Modern and Duke of Edinburgh's Birthday treat

Gavin Turk's Now at Somerset House

On Tuesday after wandering across Somerset House courtyard where I this time actually looked up Gavin Turk's Now I took myself to Tate Modern to see exhibition of Agnes Martin works.
and saw high-level.

Agnes MArtin is not an artist I was really familiar and having learnt a little of her life she does seem something of an enigma,

Martin, a Canadian  had been at the heart of Modern New York art but withdrew from art for a lengthy period on time and settled in New Mexico where she lived to the age of 92.

Two factors that surely influenced Agnes work were that she was interested in Philosophy (the Japanese D T  Suzuki was a figure she was influenced by) and also struggled with her own mental health.

Many of the works on show fit into what might be broadly be described as minimal - another rather great fact ( hope it's true) is that Agnes did not look at a paper for 50 years.

A sign of an Artist who struggled

And Double Mounts at RACC

Another Struggle, It's important to choose the right colours and use finesse

Quite a bit of excitement at Richmond Adult Community College  on Monday as Duke of Edinburgh   was due to ceremonially open the revitalised Arts Block on his 94th birthday and also my own work around double mount in Picture framing course, minor cock-up but happy with overall effect.

Ealing Council questions on Wheelie Bins

Yesterday evening I took my opportunity to ask a question at Ealing council meeting, more formal than I had anticipated, being introduced to the Lady Mayor and being accompanied into the hall.

The Lady Mayor's rather large office - Ealing Town Hall

My question was the second one and first question dealt with the poor performance around calls regarding Council services and when this might be addressed.


I then asked the following  question of Councillor Mahfouz who is the cabinet member responsible for Environment .

 

 

 

 

“Following  the public  petition  with 3,000 plus signatures regarding dissatisfaction with changes to Ealing’s refuse and recycling scheme I would like to know when a full debate around the changes proposed will be held? “

A date was duly supplied, I then asked a supplementary  which was

Can councillor Mahfouz progress with the contractors, Amey methods that those residents who would prefer not to have the two large wheelie bins can be accommodated?’

Unfortunately I felt that the supplementary was not fully answered councillor Mahfouz had  no indication ahead of its contents and I was unable to follow up which seems a slight deficiency in the procedure - the Councillor replied about the Survey which is being carried which I believe addresses practicalities rather than residents desires. As I'm not satisfied with the answer I have e-mailed councillor Mahfouz explaining the possible confusion. 

 

Enter here to take part in Ealing Democracy

From people I speak to it seems there are already a number of 'exceptions and I hope that this flexibility can be further extended, I do not believe a profusion of large bins  makes for a pleasant borough.

 

I would recommend that if you have an issue you think needs raising with the council you take advantage of the process.