Forum Topics

Polish Food Shops

I have noticed yet another polish shop open where Loop used to be.  Has anyone shopped in any of these shops if you are not polish?I am curious about the food, but as everything seems to be in polish would have no idea really what I was buying and what the local delicacies were!

Diane Gill ● 6325d6 Comments ● 6322d

Reel to reel tape players

Hi, does anyone know if/how/where I might be able to hire/borrow a reel to reel tape machine? I have about a dozen tapes of my Dad's, one of which holds a recording very dear to him. If I can just find out which tape it is I would dearly like to get it recorded for his 84th birthday (yes, the recording is pretty old!)Many thanks.

Anne Rowe ● 6327d11 Comments ● 6323d

Twyford Gospel Choir at Bedford Park Festival

Nice to see information on the ChiswickW4.com website about Twyford High School's choir.Twyford Gospel Choir, this year’s BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year, will sing on Green Days weekend at the start of this year’s Bedford Park Festival. Its members – from Twyford Church of England High School in Acton - are among dozens of young performers who will take part in Chiswick’s biggest community event, starting on June 13th and 14th.“We’re delighted to welcome the Twyford Gospel Choir back to Green Days” says Torin Douglas, co-ordinator of the Bedford Park Festival. “They performed brilliantly to win this year’s BBC senior school choir of the year competition and since then they’ve been in big demand - they even sang at St Paul’s Cathedral during the G20 summit of world leaders!”The two-day Green Days fete takes place opposite Turnham Green tube station on Acton Green Common. It opens at 11am on Saturday June 13th with the children’s fancy dress parade (theme: Wild West 4) and includes a funfair, five-a-side football, children’s corner, and lots of refreshments.There’ll also be a performance by the Arts Educational School in Chiswick – which trained stars such as ballerina Darcey Bussell, Will Young and Summer Strallen, who was chosen by Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Maria in the Sound of Music. Young performers from Chiswick Theatre Arts are also taking part in the Festival.On Sunday afternoon, June 14th, there’s ‘Bedford Park’s Got Talent’, the Festival’s annual talent show for under-17s. A previous performer, dancer Daniel Pirie, performed on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent last year. You can find out how to enter at www.bedfordparkfestival.orgThat afternoon, the prizes will be presented in the Green Dads competition, organised by the ethical food company Turnham-Green.co.uk. Children must draw a picture or write a letter describing their father’s healthy eating choices. “We put children and young people at the heart of the Festival” says Torin Douglas. “One parent told us their sons think Green Days is the best time of the year after Christmas!”Another Festival highlight will be Annie Get Your Gun, the children’s musical performed by the Junior Choir at St Michael & All Angels church, Bedford Park, which organises the Festival. That’s on Saturday June 20th, with a matinee on Sunday June 21st. The Wild West theme is continued in the annual Treasure Hunt, which has just started in the shops of Turnham Green Terrace. Children can win a Disney goody-bag or a prize from Trotters, by finding all the Wild West pictures in 21 shop windows. It closes on Friday June 12th and they can pick up an entry form from Trotters at 84Turnham Green Terrace.Wild West 4 is also the theme of the children’s fancy dress parade, which opens the Green Days fete at 11am on Saturday June 13th. Children should meet at 10.30am at St Michael’s Parish Hall.Later in the Festival there’s an art exhibition by children from Chiswick & Bedford Park Preparatory School in St Michael & All Angels Church.This year’s Bedford Park Festival runs from June 13th to 28th and has lots of events for adults too! It’s raising money for two local charities, the Microloan Foundation and the Upper Room, as well as the organ project at St Michael & All Angels church. The full programme is at: www.bedfordparkfestival.org. The 21 shops taking part in the Turnham Green Treasure Hunt are: Oxfam Bookshop, Zecca, Trotters, SweatyBetty, Snapdragon, Macken Brothers, Something Nice, Oliver Bonas, Sports Centre, Whitman & Co, Chiswick Cobblers, LA Menswear, Marmalade Jewellery, Mortimer & Bennett, Andreas Georghiou & Co, Covent Garden Fishmongers, Tots, The Natural Food Store, Theobroma Cacao, Melbury’s, Tops Haircutters

David Archer ● 6325d0 Comments ● 6325d

Greenford Branch Line

I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction for some basic history to how and why this line was ever built?  It certainly seems a strange (pointless?) route and not cheap given the viaduct and tunnel.  Was there perhaps some industrial use at the beginning?I also understand that come , CrossRail, it will merely shuttle between Greenford and West Ealing.  Will this be the shortest branch line in the country.  And will be it be viable?  I do use it fairly regularly, and very useful it is, but most passengers are from West Ealing and Greenford and not the intermediate stations?

Philip Coe ● 6327d3 Comments ● 6325d

Live debate in response to London bus slogan campaign

Laurence Truett ● 6336d7 Comments ● 6325d

Swine Flu at the West Mid

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23682329-details/Pig+flu+tests+on+first+Londoner/article.do

James de Vivenot ● 6363d26 Comments ● 6325d

Childminder available

Hi I haven't posted here before but am a regular poster on the Chiswick forum so hope you don't mind me posting here!I have a good friend who is looking for some childminding work over the next few months.  Might suit someone who is looking for some help over the school holidays....She is Australian and I have worked with her (not in a childminding role) for the past year, so can vouch for her personally and would be happy to provide a character reference.She has previous experience with children from newborn to 3-4 years old which involved: cooking/preparation of meals, cleaning/housework duties, grocery shopping, educational play, trips to the park, swimming lessons, bathing and getting the children ready for the day and also bedtime.  She’s a very organised and efficient person and could be trusted completely to run things efficiently in the home.  She can provide relevant references to anyone who may be interested and is available for work for the month of July (4th July to 3rd August) then available again from 17th August.Please PM me if you are interested and I can pass on her contact details.

Elise Verder ● 6328d0 Comments ● 6328d

Question Tine!

Watching Question Time last night it would appear that the most popular questions from the audience was 'Why can't we have a General Election now?'This raises further questions:Would it be a good idea to call a General Election now or would it be better to wait to see the outcome of the enquiry into expenses claims by Members of Parliament and a completely independent body to ensure nothing like this can happen in the future.How would one decide who is worth of our votes bearing in mind all that has been going on?Would fringe parties get a larger share of the votes?Perhaps it would encourage some to spoil their ballot paper by saying 'None of the above' but this would not solve anything.If people don't vote then they can't comlain when they are unhappy with the government.No wonder members of the public are totally fed up with MP's who seem to have been living on another planet whilst taxing everyone else to the hilt.Is this a good time for Democracy? If so then everyone sholuld use their vote when the date for the next General Election is announced.I just wish the papers would publish a list of HONEST MP's!  It might well be a short list!Gordon Brown said what the MP's did was within the rules but as they made their own rules I guess very few will actually be sacked or indeed deselected.As far as the European elections are concerned - well they have all been on the gravy train too - who does one vote for?

Jean F Fernandez ● 6339d6 Comments ● 6329d

India India Restaurant

Just wanted to encourage all you lovers of Indian food out there to try this restaurant. The food is so fresh and full of flavour without a hint of oily residue. The service is excellent and best of all you are welcome to take your own wine and there is no corkage charge! The prices are unbelievably reasonable but if all this was not enough to tempt you there is a 2 for 1 deal every Wednesday.I have eaten there on 4 occasions and the standard of food has been consistent. They also do takeaway which I haven't tried yet but I have friends who have and they were so impressed they started eating there regularly and that is how I discovered it. A real local gem.206 Northfield Avenue, London, W13 9SJTel 85794433 / 3322

Jean Heaphy ● 6349d5 Comments ● 6329d

Does anyone know of a local belly dancing class?

I live in Perivale, and can't seem to find any!Also looking for aerobics or keep fit classes too - If anyone knows of any, please let me know!

Samantha Tubbritt ● 6333d1 Comments ● 6330d

Catalan vs Matalan

Was anyone else secretly pleased that last night exposed how desperately over hyped the Premier League is and that by far the best team in Europe won? The papers are already claiming that United would have won if a journeyman Scot had been available to close down Xavi and Iniesta in midfield but wouldn't it have been better if they had players that were as skilful as them?

Paul Cavanagh ● 6334d8 Comments ● 6332d

Late May humour

A lorry leaves Dover harbour bound for the North. On the underside, clinging on for dear life, is an undiscovered non-EU citizen.The lorry driver pulls into a lay-by to adjust the vehicle's wing mirrors. Task accomplished he climbs back into the cab. He drives off abruptly causing the fellow underneath to fall off.This fellow gets up and notices he wasn't the only thing to fall off the lorry for there is an old oil lamp rolling about. He picks it up and wipes the dirt from it.Suddenly there is a puff of smoke and a genie appears."I can grant you three wishes" says the genie.The fellow says he is hungry and asks for food. After a cloud of smoke has disappeared he finds before him a table laden with food.While he is eating the genie asks if he wants a second wish. The fellow replies he would like somewhere to live.After the smoke disappears, the fellow finds himself and the table in a nicely decorated Edwardian villa."A third wish?" asks the genie."Yes please. I'd like to be British."A huge cloud of smoke dissipates and the fellow finds himself in Acton High Street."Where's the food and the house gone?" he asks the genie."You're British now" responds the genie, "You get F*** All!"If anyone is upset by this parable(?) then may I cordially suggest that one's MP is lobbied as to why this state of affairs exists.

Alan Brainsby ● 6344d5 Comments ● 6332d

Off cuts of Plater Board

I have a number of Off cuts of Plaster board. Good Sizes.They are good sizes, so it seems a shame to throw them away. Does anyone want them before I have to do the sad thing and take them to the tip?

Mark Yates ● 6332d1 Comments ● 6332d

Mr Pound earning his pay rise?

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=speaker%3A10484+section:debate&o=d

Graham Weeks ● 6390d14 Comments ● 6333d

Boeing B17 Flying Fortress

Does anybody know of a museum in the UK where I could go to see one of these aircraft.

S. D. Brock ● 6346d5 Comments ● 6333d

Recycling collections ...NOT!

I just watched the bloke doing the green gardening waste collection walk right past my front gate, totally neglecting the five pink canvas bags of garden rubbish piled up JUST INSIDE the gate per instructions on the sacks (i.e. dont leave them on the pavement where they'll be an obstruction).Marvellous.Maybe I should have put them out on the pavement too, along with the green recycling box, the green foodwaste box,the white plastics sack and the black bin bag, just to make sure nobody could walk past.at least the rubbish men (dustmen? recycling operatives?) wouldnt have been able to ignrore them.. again.Now i've got to drive down to Greenford Dump at the weekend, using up petrol, adding to CO2 in the atmosphere etc not to mention wasting my time. And not getting the service we all pay handsomely for.

David Dix ● 6335d3 Comments ● 6335d

Mower service

Does anyone know of a local place that will service petrol mowers (an old suffolk colt)? Thanks

Andy Deeley ● 6336d2 Comments ● 6335d

Pollarding

'The best time for pollarding many trees is in late winter or early spring when food reserves are high and the tree is not under water stress.'So why are our streets being denuded of leaves in late spring? I would ask councillors direct but communication with them is down.

Graham Weeks ● 6338d1 Comments ● 6337d

Reith must be turning in his grave

       The following is an e mail forwarded to me by the recipient and is another stab in the back. Editing of the Oxford Dictionary has been entrusted to an Asian, who has seen fit to remove many traditional english words.            "  ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 8:58 PMSubject: Muslim appointed BBC Head of Religion Muslim appointed BBC Head of ReligionThe reaction of many to the appointment of Muslim, Aaqil Ahmed to the post of Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC must be—“How is this possible”? Until now, our public national broadcaster has been charged with reflecting our Country’s Christian heritage and ethos. Aaqil Ahmed’s appointment is controversial because his background and previous work at Channel 4 has revealed a noticeable bias towards Islam and multiculturalismAccording to The Daily Telegraph, senior bishops wrote to the BBC’s Director General Mark Thompson when it was envisaged that Mr. Ahmed might be appointed, to question the BBC’s commitment to Britain's Christian audience. The Archbishop of Canterbury had also raised concerns with Mr. Thompson that the ‘Christian voice is being sidelined’ after Mr. Ahmed was first connected to the role.The appointment could be seen as the inevitable result of our multicultural society, in which all religions are viewed as of equal value. This is the secularist point of view—that religion should be confined to the home and the church and excluded from the public square and the workplace. A cursory survey of the Christian Legal Centre’s website (www.christianlegalcentre.com) will reveal the increasing intolerance of this ideology as far as Christians are concerned. It could also be seen as another sign that our country is in danger of becoming Islamised, alongside, for example, the fact that under pressure from Muslims, the Qur’an is now placed on a higher shelf than the Bible in courtrooms, or the fact that Shari’ah Law is used to judge disputes in Muslim Arbitration Tribunals (now officially part of the English Legal System). Our Government appears to make concessions to the Muslim community, in contrast to its marginalisation of Christianity and the rights of Christians in recent years.Another interpretation is that the appointment is the result of the European Directive of 2000, which was implemented in the UK by the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. These ‘equalitarian’ provisions force employers to appoint an applicant to a role who is broadly the ‘best person’ for the job—if the candidate’s religion is ignored, that is. This applies to every role, except where there is a ‘genuine and determining occupational requirement’ that they should be of a particular religion. According to The Guardian, Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, said that the areas of broadcasting that the ‘Knowledge’ jobs commission (such as religion and ethics) ‘go to the very heart of the BBC's public purposes’. Clearly, the BBC did not think that the Head of religion and ethics in our country where 70% of the population still align themselves with Christianity needed to be a Christian. The Lord Jesus said that if the eye is single the whole body will be full of light. He went on to warn that if the light becomes darkness how great will be that darkness (Matt 6:22-3). When Christianity is no longer the light of a nation then the nation becomes full of darkness. Christianity is the only way by which man may know God. What is required today is for Christians in this country to stand up for the Faith and act on what they believe—that Jesus Christ is indeed the way, the truth and the life for all that live in 21st century Britain. Please see also our web article entitled: Controversial Muslim programme-maker appointed head of BBC religious broadcasting at: http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=736 Christian Concern for our Nationhttp://www.ccfon.org

Tony Price ● 6347d47 Comments ● 6339d

Ealing council  phone network down

Website & email now phone system down!!

Nadia Shaw ● 6341d0 Comments ● 6341d