As we all know, in a time of stress, socks are an important matter.

For me, the socks that are getting me through this winter are those Bambusoides ones, made partly from bamboo. Thick but elegant (I have the black ones and the stripey ones), warm to the touch, toasty on the feet, quick to wash and dry 

Here's the link to the website.



I was being a little over-rational yesterday on the EU and Brexit

Here is @DavidLammy

“Blame us. Blame Westminster. Do not blame Brussels for our own country's mistakes and do not be angry at us for telling you the truth. Be angry at the chancers who sold you a lie.”

And here is @GuyVerhofstadt in response

"A fine speech. Yes, the EU needs reform. EU laws are often
imperfect. But it's all too easy for national politicians to offload their failures on "Brussels". We all have a duty to fight for a more effective, united Europe." #IamEuropean

I published my 'Thoughts on the European Family' just before Christmas - please see below

A reiteration:

Should we 'remain', or, if after a second referendum we remain, we will rresume our place as a member state of the EU. 

But we should acknowledge that not all of our countrymen and -women feel the same way about Europe.

There is no triumph in my opinion in remaining - it's more a matter of common sense. 

And we should work willingly with those of our compatriots who voted in the referendum to leave by setting up some sort of UK/EU liaison group. 



In order to take my mind off our Great British political class for a moment  I sometimes just go for a walk. So at the weekend, I went 'rambling' in the City of London.

Among the glass and steel, the venerable, the much loved, the functional and the new, are men and women going to and from work in the 24-hour span of city business. Some shops, bars, supermarkets and many City businesses are open. However, I did notice something even newer this time: the superlative quality and cleanliness of the walking surfaces. It's as if the City is indeed being made to fulfil the dreamscape of its late-medieval Lord Mayor, Sir Richard (Dick) Whittington, as a City paved with gold.

Of course the metaphorical meaning remains: the City where men (and increasingly women: sorry chaps) can settle down to business, work hard and make a fortune. Look at the paving around this ancient water fountain (public water fountains were one of Whittington's many gifts to the City). The golden tone is warm and inviting to the feet. Even when it rains, the sand-size grains in the rock will never let your foot slip but at the same time the paving stones will gleam so much they will indeed resemble gold.

The church of St Michael's, Cornhill, the vicar's or the organist & choirmaster's bike parked at the door, the street swept and clean. Forgive me for clipping the wings of the angel standing on his plinth behind the bike. These stones, of wall, of step, of plinth, of paving, breathe. 

Back to the everyday or, rather, the magical network of the City's Alleyways. And of course watering holes. Just to the left of the narrow George & Vulture Alley lies the even smaller and narrower Bengal Court - and so on throughout the City - as back lanes, shortcuts and access paths to courts, yards and service areas.

There is such an urge to hibernate during winter that I sometimes wonder if we're being a bit stupid not to. Ha, I try not to follow the example of my cats too closely in this regard. 

Here are three (3) unmistakable signs that winter will cme to an end.

 1. New leaves and the start of fruiting

2. Flower buds













3. The fact that 3 nights ago I heard a blackbird sing lustily as blackbirds do (I think they're the first British bird to start nest-building) from a rooftop garden just up the road. 

I am trying to get out for as many hours a day as possible before it gets dark - at which time I am as happy as anyone else to snuggle in the duvet.


My imagination took flight on Friday when the Standard published more detail about the transformation of Tottenham Court Road. 

The whole area, from Euston Tower in the north to Centre Point in the south, is in the process of becoming a calm, creative and thoroughly commercial boulevard (those shops!) instead of a one-way racetrack for vehicles. 

During the working day (from 8am to 7pm), it will form a congestion-free zone for 6 bus routes. Were they trams (and hopefully at least some of them will be low or no emission), the area is set to become its very own mini-Holland.



Two destinations to help with your *best* 2019

Velorution: e-bikes, including retrofits. Free test rides.

Velorution
electric


59 Great Portland Street
London W1
info@velorution.com

Opening times
Mon-Fri  8:45 am - 6:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

London Green Cycles: e-cargobikes, including retrofits. Free test rides.

London Green Cycles

4 Chester Court
Albany Street
London NW1

Opening times

Sun – Mon CLOSED
Tue – Fri 10am - 7pm
Sat – 11am - 5pm
info@londongreencycles.co.uk

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE


I Am Constantly Amazed by the many tasks my cargobike, a Christiania Cargo, helps me with. 

On Monday I discovered a new one: taking my bike for a walk. 
       There I was spending my lovely Christmas gift cards in Robert Dyas, and picking up practical items such as a rectangular bucket (my mop is rectangular after all), stoneware pie dishes for new year and a fresh supply of black sacks. Such was the beauty of the morning I decided to walk home. 
       The bike carried the load while I walked beside it (cargobikes don't need you to balance them). One-way streets? Just keep to the right so that you face and acknowledge oncoming traffic. 
       As the London Green Cycles website says, the Christiania Cargo is a 'solid workhorse with very little to go wrong'. Look here for just some of the tasks this bike can accomplish. 


Many people in W1 occupy what are popularly known as shoeboxes - I am one - and time over weekends and holidays is well spent following New London Architecture's sage advice: Don't move, Improve.
       This is W1 Hardware in Great Portland Street. At No. 18, it's half a block away from Oxford Street itself.

The shop is a total joy to walk in to. Along with the paints, PVA and wallplugs, they offer customised advice as well as reassurance. You can also ask questions, compare prices, and swap tales of DiY derring do with other customers. I'm off soon to calibrate my cable detector. 
       So, key to such endeavours is the presence of such shops as the local DiY, shoehorned in among the many fine buildings, gleaming shop fronts, and magical side streets of London's West End.

I am finding expected and unexpected benefits now that I've replaced my mattress with one that is bigger and springier (see sallycrawfordartanddesign.com). Medium density foam on top of springy plastic bases turns out to be my back's perfect sleeping surface. 
      My back's entire length - including the bit between shoulder blades and neck that I'd almost forgotten existed - feels lighter, warmer, and less stiff. I sit more upright on my cargobike; I turn my head with more ease; I put on my socks in the morning with nimbleness. 
     Don't put up with an uncomfortable bed a moment longer.

Walk, cycle, sit and contemplate. The beauty of London's built environment, with far less traffic on the roads, is all there for you to enjoy. 

So-o-o, all rested up now (see pic below) and loving my new bed (go to sallycrawfordartanddesign.com), I'm truly ready for more effort. Show me work . . .

Fresh bread from the one and only Le Pain Quotidien