Lullaby by Leila Slimani
Due to the general lack of, well, anything else to do, our next virtual meet-up came around quickly. One benefit of lockdown seems to be that reading time is up exponentially, especially when one group member’s husband (mine) is reliving his teenage years by hogging the television with an eBay...
Global Warming in a Decade: A Timeline Review
Global climate change can seem like a lot to process and understanding all the moving parts behind it can be overwhelming. This is especially true when trying to comprehend every change in Earth’s history. To make it a little easier, let’s look at how our climate and ecosystems have changed...
School’s Out
In this uncertain era, there is some comfort to be taken in the opportunity to appreciate the here and now. Many of us may no longer use the excuse ‘I just don’t have the time’. Yet it’s easy to over-romanticise the notion of having less, technically, to do. Learn a...
On the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of Homosexuality in the UK, LGBT lives still criminalised in 72 countries, report finds
Whilst England and Wales saw the decriminalisation of homosexuality fifty years ago today, 72 other countries and territories continue to criminalise same-sex relationships, including 45 in which sexual relationships between women are outlawed. According to an annual report released by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA),...
“Democracy Has Prevailed” – The Inauguration of Joe Biden
On January 20th Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, after one of the most fiery and controversial transitions in American history. His predecessor Donald Trump, who has still not formally conceded his loss to Biden over claims of electoral tampering, was only the fourth...
The Social Media Decade
In 2010, The Social Network was released, a film based on Mark Zuckerberg’s creation of “Facebook”. Originally branded ‘thefacebook’ it was intended as a platform through which Harvard students could connect. One of its main innovations was the so-called ‘Wall’ upon which you could share your opinions, thoughts and day-to-day...
London Antique Rug & Textile Fair goes online
LARTA Virtual 2021 is taking the place of the originally planned 11th edition of The London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair (LARTA). The dates are extended this year, as the whole event is taking place online at www.larta.net, and on Instagram @lartarugfair opening on Tuesday 26 January until Sunday...
Stirling Moss: Rally Driver by Vic Quayle
He was one of the greatest racing drivers the world has ever seen, and he died earlier last year at the age of ninety. He was so famous in the 1950s and 1960s, that when traffic cops pulled over a ‘boy racer’ for some speeding indiscretion, the admonition would usually...
London council tax hike to plug Khan’s COVID budget
Council tax will rise 9.5% in April 2021 as Sadiq Khan tries to make up the budget shortfall left by COVID-19. Khan announced the increased tax will be used to fund the police, free transport for pensioners and schoolchildren, as well as provide support to the London Fire Brigade to...
On Reflection
Some things are just really hard to love, even though you’re supposed to. Most turn up at Christmas. Racist relatives, scented soaps, the Queen’s speech, Brussels sprouts. And then, especially in January, the hardest thing to love is your reflection. I f we were happy narcissists, in love with our...
Calls for greater protection for TfL staff as deaths mount
A leading transport workers union has called for greater protection for TfL staff following the deaths of three TfL employees due to Covid-19 in recent days. The RMT union has written to the Mayor of London and TfL demanding “urgent action” to protect those working on London’s transport network as...
We Remember….
A personal list of notable people that we have lost in the last decade. 2011 It is always surprising at the end of each year, usually published in a colour supplement, to find how many of the notable people who have died in the previous twelve months one had forgotten...
Statement from Royal Parks
During this new lockdown, the parks will continue to remain open as they have done throughout the pandemic, and the opening and closing times remain as advertised on our website. The parks provide vital green spaces where local visitors can get some fresh air, enjoy the natural environment and do...
TfL needs £125 million to keep free travel
Transport for London needs up to £125 million to keep providing concessionary fares such as free travel for under-18s and over-60s, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Under the terms of an emergency funding deal for TfL agreed in October, the Government will no longer cover the cost of 60+...
