Marques Toliver at the Tabernacle.

Some reviews are a joy to write. Some performers defy the laws of probability. Sometimes the Tabernacle buzzes. sometimes all these things collide to create a memorable event.

The Art Explosion opening, attended by the Mayor, in the Gallery combined with a late start to the sell out show in the auditorium ensured that the place was rammed. There had been a lot of buzz about this one. time out had made it one of their picks for theweek and tickets had sold out in advance.

Mr Toliver is impossible to categorize; a classically trained violinist with bucket loads of sass and showmanship who also happens to write and sing a kind of soul. Backed by a happy band comprising a string quartet, drums, a couple of keyboards and a pair of backing singers he produce something pretty cool and totally unexpected. He produced an auto harp for one number, referencing P.J. Harvey as he introduced the instrument. Rock n Roll.

Photographs: Thomas Pegoraro.

I noticed a number of music industry bods in the audience; an indication that this man is hot!

A great show, a great night at the Tabernacle and a joy to write about.

MARQUES TOLIVER - WHITE SAILS.

Stalked and poetry.

Stalked

I am being stalked by the coolhunter
How cool is that

She is good
she frightens death
and chills out hell

She can stalk in high summer 
without working up a sweat
she can stalk on the ice pack
invisibly
while casually clubbing seal cubs

She can stalk you at truck stops
or at Soho house
she is just too cool to be noticed.

Except by Phil Spector



And she dealt with him.

Poetry defined.

A friend calls from canada and asks: '

What are you doing?'
and I say I am drinking milk and reading Bukowski
and she laughs and it is that laugh, 

you know, 
the laugh of someone you really like
and straight away you want to make her laugh again
not to make her happy so much
as to make her laugh again
so you can listen to it.

And when she hangs up I think of poetry
and what defines poetry
It is not as if
writing a shopping list of metaphors is enough

to make a poem!

Confusion.

I find these signs a little confusing!

You know you want to go... But where to go? My advice: Piss on the lamppost.

Gateway Women Coaching group.

Dear Friends,

There are still 6 places left on the Gateway Women Coaching Group which takes place on Saturday mornings 10-11am in Notting Hill.

All the info is in the flyer below and if you click on the image it will take you to the Gateway Women website - or use this link to take you directly to the page:http://wp.me/PssHp-2W

I would be so grateful if you could forward this email to any women you know who would have liked to have had a family (or who are still hoping it will work out).

The Group is intimate, friendly and safe and completely groundbreaking.

I am now a qualified counsellor and am part way through my training to be a psychotherapist - so it's is a safe, fun and supportive space. We'll be doing exercises to help us uncover some of our unconscious issues around motherhood, and techniques for finding our missing mojo. The first week was last Saturday and the Group will be running for another 9 weeks till Saturday 26th November.

Please don't hesitate to contact me for further info jody@gateway-women.com

Thanks for your help in spreading this important work - with 1 in 5 women now not having children, there's a lot of work to be done changing attitudes around being childless -- or childfree as I prefer to term it!

Thanks again, Jody x

JODY DAY
Founder: Gateway Women

jody@gateway-women.com
www.gateway-women.com

Loco Cabaret, Jono, Wig, Rob Alder and Delphi Newman.

I'm assured it was the best night at Loco to date. I cannot possibly comment as I was part of it. It was certainly fun. Dancing took place which must be a good sign.

5 X 15 Unbound, Alan Yentob and fish pie.

The Tabernacle took a literary turn yesterday. Alan Yentob, armed with a BBC film crew, was interviewing Kate Mosse in the conservatory during the afternoon prior to a special, one off, 5 X 15 Unbound, in the auditorium.

I managed to have a chat with Alan during a break, on the theme of the evenings event; the future of the book. The word Kindle featured quite prominently. I suggested that Kindle may indeed be the way forward until we hit the post I.T. winter. It occurred to me that one day storytelling will return to it's natural medium; spoken narrative. Curious how we seem to have forgotten that books, certainly books

available to the general public, are quite a recent arrival.

5 X 15 Unbound: Here's the idea: you will be treated to an evening of riotous literary entertainment as 10 authors go head-to-head pitching ideas for books they would really like to write.

Authors include the international bestselling novelist Kate Mosse, Booker shortlisted comic novelist Tibor Fischer and creator of cult 90s TV show This Life, Amy Jenkins. Robert Llewellyn (Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge, Carpool) will be presenting his utopian fantasy, News from Gardenia. Graham Smith will offer up We Can Be Heroes - a lavishly illustrated insider's account of London's club scene in the early 80s.

Vitali Vitaliev, the Russian Bill Bryson, presentsCattivo Recordo, a journey through italy in search of a bad meal. Keith Kahn-Harris, a sociologist and expert on Jewish heavy metal shares Big Fish, Small Ponds, his attempt to find obscure heroes (like the best waterskier in Luxembourg). George Chopping, former Sainsbury's 'shelf replenishment technician' now performance poet unleashes Shelf-stacker Blues. Elliot Rose (aka awarding winner novelist Will Davis) reads fromDemonica, his chilling tale of a woman who loses her face (and also performs an aerial trapeze display piece). And sensational Oxford band Little Fish unveil The New Official Little Fish Paper Club Handbook, a guide to starting modern rock band and perform their new single. After they've all delivered their pitches we'll be gathering everyone's (silent) pledges.

The auditorium was packed, with a peppering of literary names and the odd rock star in attendance. It was a light hearted affair and made a change from the usual 5 x 15 format.

Chef Mark Richardson Knocked up a fish pie for the event which I can assure you was splendid.

The next 5 X 15, back in it's usual guise will be on Monday September 19th with AS Byatt, Misha Glenny, Simon Baron Cohen, Lucy Worsley and Alexander Masters

Alan Yentob's telly thing will be shown in November on the BBC.

High tide in Porchester Gardens. W2.

Actually it is yet another burst water main. details HERE

The nurse.

A year ago I was admitted to St Mary's Hospital Paddington; they got my lungs going again. the staff were great, the food not great but to misquote the fabulous furry freak Brothers:

Good nursing will get you through times of lousy food better than lousy nursing in times of good food.

I was looking through my notebook for that time. I found this:

The nurse

She leans in

and for one moment

supplements my weak breath

with hers

then whispers

Elephants graveyard, Back view and Italian sports cars. Portobello scenes!

Actually more like telephones graveyard.
I wondering if perhaps she had the dress on back to front.

The Hurlingham comes to All Saint's Road.

I'm not joking either.

I really do not understand the thinking behind the naming of a new 'nightclub' in All Saint's road. You know the place; heart of Notting hill, flash point for the riots, home to Mangrove. surely not the ideal place for a venue named after that toff's sporting club in Fulham.

It was very quiet last night, I did however get to chat with the door people. they were bored.

I guess I'll look in one of these days and report back but for the time being I shall just look on in amazement.

Charity Auction? Portobello.

I'm confused.

There is an event calling itself a charity auction today. When I asked the organizer how much of the proceeds were going to charity I was told: "30%". yet there is no indication of this on the publicity material.

Surely the bidders should be informed that the majority of the sale price will not be going to any charity.

People tend to be generous at such auctions because they assume the money is going to a good cause.

Clarification please.

Maison du Chien returns to the bumpkin, Westbourne Park road.

From the 28th of september Maison du Chien begins a residency on the top floor of Bumpkin. Expect the unusual as usual. I'll post more information as and when I get it.

Read more HERE

Michael Horovitz needs space.

At the opening of the Urban Art Exhibition at the Muse at 269 Portobello Road last night I bumped into Michael Horovitz. michael is one of the reasons I am doing what I do now... An inspiration. I nicked the following from the Evening standard:

Can you dig that? The big daddy of the British Beat movement, co-organiser of 1965's legendary Poetry Internationale at the Albert Hall and founder of the Poetry Olympics is making the scene. He is the editor of Children of Albion, the influential Sixties underground verse collection, publisher of New Departures anthologies since 1959, husband of the late, renowned poetry reader Frances, father of another poet, Adam, and friend of every cat from Damon Albarn and Samuel Becket to Patti and Stevie Smith.

Monumental chaos: “Indoor skip it may seem to you,

but compared to Francis Bacon’s studio, my pad here is

Versailles,” says Michael Horovitz of his Notting Hill flat

Michael's newsletter popped into the inbox this morning. At 75 he is still performing and painting. He does however need studio/storage space in London. I've cut and pasted the following:

ARCHIVE/STUDIO SPACE/S NEEDED
I’m still pretty desperately seeking STORAGE/WORKSPACE – if anyone knows of or might lead to anything at lowish rental (or even free as an act of patronage) by all means pass on my contact data to any potential lessor/patron, or tell me directly. Anywhere round Greater London, large or small, might be welcome (tho West/Central would be ideal).

If you can help house one of Britains national treasures please get in touch. tristanhzll@gmail.com

Layla Wiseman. Performance at Energy Lines at the Tabernacle. W11.

Layla Made a wonderful contribution to Joanna & Caroline Lazzarini's Exhibition last night.

Ah Ballerina Ballerina!

Roxanne and the Painkillers. Live at the Ink Rooms.

LOCO at the Grand Union, Tammy Weisgerber and Rob Alder.

LOCO has gone weekly, demonstrating that one can never have enough of a good thing. Despite having put out a call for cowbells none were forthcoming and I was forced to shelve my planned premiere of the 'Poem for Cowbell'. Oh well! Another time. Many thanks to Odrin for the rock n roll poem guitar solo.

This weeks surprise was provided by the appearance of Tammy Weisgerber in the audience who very kindly allowed herself to be persuaded to do a couple of numbers accompanied by Paul Greendale...  then came back on later to duet with Rob Alder. Powerful stuff.

                                                  Tammy Weisgerber.

Rob finished the evening off with, along with 'The Freak Elite', a couple of Led Zeppelin numbers. Loud, rowdy and rousing. Rob has a great rock/blues voice. Check him out!

Carnival postcards. Carnival people.

                                Gaz Mayall & Ishmail

                                                    Gaz

All photographs courtesy of CHRISTOPHER SCHOLEY.

The Golborne Variations World Premiere. Portobello Film Festival.

The 'pop up' Cinema under the Westway, Portobello Road was the perfect venue for the Premiere of JC Carroll's 'Opera'.

the evening kicked off with a couple of films. Michael Horovitz did a little of his uniquely mad somethings; age is not withering his unique madness.

JC surrounded himself with an eclectic ensemble with which to take us (with the help of a film backdrop) on a slow journey down Portobello to that wonderful place called Golborne road. Infused with Spanish and Moorish elements the 'Variations' perfectly conjured up the multicultural melting pot hidden away in North Kensington. Excellent stuff.

The 'Rice N Peas' film of Frank Crichlows funeral was shown as was (a rare occurrence) 'Mangrove Nine' documenting the attempted bullying and subsequent acquittal of nine members of this community back in the 70's.

the Popup was packed with a predominantly local crowd. Portobello road at it's best.

Originally recorded in 2010 by JC Carroll, Nick Cash, Guy Pratt, Nigel Bennett, jennifer Pearl, David M. Allen and Chester Kamen. The Golborne Variations is an Opera about the Sights Sounds Smells Shopkeepers and foods of Golborne Road. It celebrates the ethnic diversity and the unique character of a special road in North Kensington.This premiere Will hope to bring together most of the original Players plus Special Guest Opera Singers String Section Percusssionists. A Film has been commissioned to be screened in conjunction with this event... Its free.. Its an opening party for the Portobello Film festival.... JC Carroll is a Composer and Songwriter whose career has spanned Punk, Folk, and Electronic Music. he has scored soundtracks for movies had hits all over the world with his band The Members and he has also recorded supermarket commercials....... This piece of music has taken 25 years to complete.. there will be music dancing singing and poetry......Come! Its Free! MORE

Why Cocaine should be legalized.

Ok. I know I have ploughed this furrow before but it is rich soil.

Picture this at Carnival...

Scene 1: Black kids being stopped and searched on a regular basis; any trace of weed or crack and it is a nicking, the assumption being that they must have stolen something to buy the drugs.

Scene 2: Middle class white kids openly snorting Cocaine off their mobiles in the street witnessed by the police who allow them to continue unchallenged on the assumption that they have not stolen anything to buy the drugs with but have had it handed to them by Mummy or Daddy.

Scene 3: Scores of white middle class girls lying in the streets having drugged themselves stupid on a cocktail of coke, mdma, alcohol and more.

Something is very wrong here.

Here is an idea... Legalise Cocaine. Tax it highly. Spend the revenue raised on making life better for the kids in the sink estates and those on or below the poverty line. they wouldn't need to steal anything then and the little rich kids can continue self medicating in order to block out the fact that they are far more troubled than the poor kids. And the rich lids parents can continue forking out money in order to assuage their guilt.

Of course it will never happen. The government wouldn't consider real solutions.

From the Evening Standard yesterday. Carnival summary.

Carnival postcards from the Tabernacle. Notting Hill.

Photographs courtesy of

Cristopher Scholey.

Hat put to shame.

And most importantly the Tabernacle crew.

ENERGY LINES. Joanna & Caroline Lazzarini.

 Joanna Lazzarini

Caroline Lazzarini
















An exhibition of  Painting and sculpture by Joanna & Caroline Lazzarini (Often to be seen moving ethereally through this cityscape) opens on the 1st of September at the Tabernacle Gallery. W11 2AY. 10.00am - 9.00 pm.

TWENTY SEVEN.

As a response to the Rock n Roll poem the following arrived from my French corespondent...

Twenty Seven

Make twenty seven iconic in heaven

and rock reputations get made:

all the old songs get replayed

winning a Grammy displayed

the hip lip service repaid

dream of a lifetime portrayed

summative meaning conveyed.

Make twenty seven laconic in heaven

on rock reputations pre-paid:

friends and family dismayed

fans make a final crusade

pray by the house where you stayed

sad silent funeral parade

plaque on the wall where you played.

Make twenty seven mnemonic in heaven

and rock reputations don’t fade:

stardom afresh, unafraid

cutting edge voice like a blade

sold as somebody self-made

height of the talent parade

an internet site for the trade.

Make twenty seven sardonic in heaven

and rock reputations get flayed:

trust in the tabloids betrayed

celebrity savaged, surveyed

hype of the night of the raid

stoned and drunken tirade

the dealers of death all got paid.

Make twenty seven ironic in heaven

and rock reputations upbraid:

talent abruptly decayed

illness was like a grenade

exploding the soul’s serenade

unable to sing without aid

no audience left to persuade.

Make twenty seven Byronic in heaven

for rock reputations re-weighed:

sign with an airbrush resprayed

the end of it all masquerade

your careless cool disarrayed

god awful end in the shade

postmortem details degrade.

Make sixty seven bucolic in Devon

and rock reputations are staid:

Gibson exchanged for a spade

organic low cal lemonade

worry the livestock have strayed

past where the neighbour got laid

“Hope to die young”, got delayed.

Make believe heaven for children aged seven

rots reputations homemade.

Copyright Bob West. All rights reserved.

Notting Hill Carnival 2011 post mortem.

FRIDAY.

There is a god or at least there is a god of Carnival. A secular god though; keen on a bit of spliff, a drink or two and steel pan.

Having been forbidden to practice in All Saints Road Mangrove Steelband played in the Tabernacle courtyard. Wow. The rain stopped, the sky turned blue and we were treated to carnival of our own. A brilliant event.

SATURDAY.

The god of Carnival turned out to be a Mangrove fan. Our resident (at the Tabernacle) Steelband won 'Panorama'; a battle of the bands held annually. For 12 months they are now ' The best steel band in the UK. Well done Matthew Phillip (manager and drummer) Arranger Andre White and everyone involved. It is a 12 month labour of love for the whole team.

Photographs: Christopher Scholey


Saturday night found me at 'LOCO' Carnival special at the Grand Union on Great Western Road... A marathon 6 hour session with some great performances from some of our favourites. I managed to get in 20 or so poems with backing from James Simmins and Jono willis. Delphi Newman was great as always as were Mario Nardi, Chrystina Tomlin and Rob Alder. Roger Pomphrey delivered on of his pyrotechnic performances. Fishslice Pbrowse defies description; you would not believe me. It was a happy night.

SUNDAY.

I was wakend at Midday (I had gone back to bed for a little nap) by the loudest fucking noise on the planet. I was house sitting in the middle of Carnival, about 30 metres from the sound system in All Saint's Road. The house was vibrating. The only thing to do was to get out into the thing.

There was a big police presence, far greater than last year. High viz vests in abundance, every street corner held a group of them. It turned out that they were not needed after all. As the day progressed it became more and more clear that this was going to be a very peaceful and happy Carnival. I spent a lot of the day either at Gaz Mayalls stage or at the nearby Tabernacle. It all ended on the dot of 7.00 and I spent the evening walking through the detritus with a friend checking it all out. A lot of police lined the roads as the army of street cleaners went to work. It is extraordinary how they get the place ready for the Monday; they do an amazing job.






To be continued...

Poetry is the new rock n roll. (Revisited)

An old poem rewritten for Amy Winehouse.

They say poetry is the new rock n roll

Write another poem buddy. Go buddy go

Write about a rock star

write about her vices

write about her falls from grace

her personal crises

but write about a rock star

and dress her up in sequins

for rock n roll ain't a world

in which Jo meek wins.

Yeah poetry is the new rock n roll

Write another poem buddy go buddy go

Write about a rock star

write about he cocaine

talk about her cocaine

talk about her cocaine

talk about her...

Oh buddy push the needle on

and write about a rock star

sing it when you're done

sing it to a techno beat

badum badum badum

Yeah poetry is the new rock n roll

Write another poem buddy go buddy go

Write about a rock star

but not about her rehab

no don't write about her rehab

NO NO NO

write about her drinking

and write about her gear

because happy stories of the cure

are not what we want to hear

Yeah poetry is the new rock n roll.

(Guitar solo)

Yeah poetry is the new rock n roll

Write another poem buddy go buddy go

Write about a rock star

then kill her when you're done

kill her with a fatal dose

her vomit or a gun

but kill that fucking rock star

don't let her get too old

that way you'll get to number one

before the body's cold

Yeah poetry is the new rock n roll.


My poetry can be found Here

Mangrove Steelband rehearsing at the Tabernacle prior to carnival.

This is what goes on round here at this time of year. What a magical thing to find.

Offer.

A poem by yesterday's muse.

you appealed for help

I offered.

Please do not ask me for that which I offered.

That would be embarrassing

I don't have what I offered

I only have the offer.

Surely the offer is enough.

Enough to make me feel good.

About offering.

I will always love you. Brilliant lipsync performance.

Borrowers or squatters.

A friend phoned this morning. Concerned that squatters were breaking into the flat next door to hers. Initially they had said that they were from the council then owned up.

I went round and spoke to them. they seemed to think that stealing someone's home was acceptable. "It is not theft". They said. "We are just borrowing it".

The blue dress.

He gave her red things. Trinkets. He had no money but she would not accept the one thing of value he could give her.

she gave him blue things. Trinkets. She had money but she could not give him the one thing that he valued.

Until.

She called him. 'Where are you?' 'At home'. 'I am at the shop down the road, you know the one we talked about this morning. Come down here'.

He walked. Across the road from the shop he saw her, she came out of the door, beckoned, smiled, danced. In a blue silk dress.

He knew.

he crossed the road. The Red bus was doing 30 when it hit him. He died happy.

Which is more than could be said about her.

Pink shoes

The ghost of carnival past and the detritus of the Muse.

Bottle tops pressed into the tarmac by crouds at past Carnivals, Powis Square, Notting Hill.
The Muse left in a hurry leaving me with nothing to do but write poems about ballet shoes.

Sirens but no mermaids.

Dreaming of sirens I awoke to find next door on fire. Fire engines do not resemble mermaids.

Not a poem but the surreal start to my day; dozing and dreaming I was brought round by the sound of many sirens and they did not pass the house. I thought 'Strange, A bit early for the looters. Surely they are still asleep or playing grand theft auto on their stolen consoles'. I went up to the roof and saw that I was surrounded by fire engines and smoke coming out of the school next door.

downstairs I opened the front door to the fire brigade who asked me to leave immediately.

What to take, what to take?

I took my false tooth and stetson. I should have put some socks on, That was a mistake, not putting socks on.

now, later, the fire is out, my flat is smoky and greyish like someone has been burning car tyres in there. I have to keep out for a day or two until the smell has cleared but it could have been far worse.

It was caused by builders working on the roof earlier this week, had been smoldering for a while. I had been very lucky that it did not go off at 1.00 am when no-one would have seen the smoke.

Fire brigade were great. They had to take some of the school roof off to get water into the fire. "Most of it came out through the school" said a fireman. Some of it didn't!

MANGROVE STEEL BAND PRACTICE ON ALL SAINTS ROAD 25TH & 26TH AUGUST

UPDATE: Mangrove Steelband will now be having their final rehearsals in the Tabernacle Courtyard Tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night. It will finish at 9.00 pm due to noise restrictions. The Tabernacle is on Powis Square W11.

The following is from Matthew at Mangrove. Please read this and give your support. It is important.

PREPARATIONS FOR CARNIVAL 2011

MANGROVE STEEL BAND PRACTICE ON ALL SAINTS ROAD 25TH & 26TH AUGUST

We are contacting businesses and residents of All Saints Road to seek their support for our

local steel band to be able to continue a tradition that has been taking place since 1980.

RBK&C have advised us that a Temporary Entertainment Licence will now be required for

these ‘performances’ to continue with much restricted hours. Mangrove would like to point

out that the band’s appearance on All Saints Road is not intended to be a performance, and

no action has ever been taken to advertise or attract an audience.

We would propose that the band sets up both evenings by 8pm and rehearse until 10pm on

Thursday 25th and midnight on Friday 26th. It has been our custom and practice to set up

in the street order to give our young members the experience of playing on the float and

in the open prior to taking part in the Panorama steel band competition in Kensal Road on

Saturday 27th August.

Our young people have been working hard practising every night in Tabernacle so they may

give their peak performance at Panorama and this is the goal they work towards throughout

the year.

Over the years we have gathered informal feedback from businesses and residents and the

general view expressed has been:

• These informal rehearsals attract large numbers of people to All Saints Road giving a

very positive and happy ‘vibe’ to the street. Restaurants and the off-licence have

reported a welcome increase in business on the evenings the band is on the road.

• There has never been any unpleasant incidents or criminal activity during these

rehearsal sessions

• Local families look forward to coming to the street to support their local band and to

meet their friends and neighbours in a safe and informal setting

• The people of Notting Hill show extreme patience each year as up to 2 million people

come onto our streets, and many local families enjoy this annual pre-carnival get

together prior to being invaded by the outside world

• SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING THIS POSITIVE MUSICAL ACTIVITY BY OUR

LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD BE A WELCOME COUNTERPOINT TO RECENT

DISTURBANCES AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE TO BE

SEEN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.

WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY SIGNING OUR PETITION TO RBK&C.

MANGROVE STEEL BAND – MANAGER MATTHEW PHILLIP 020 7243 9999

EMAIL: matthew@mangrovesteelband.com WEBSITE: www.mangrovesteelband.com

MANGROVE STEEL BAND PRACTICE ON ALL SAINTS ROAD ON THURSDAY 25TH AND FRIDAY

26TH AUGUST 2011

We the undersigned would like to declare our support for Mangrove Steel Band to continue

their 30-year tradition of bringing the young band members to All Saints Road to practice on

their carnival float from 8-10pm on 25th and 8pm-midnight on 26th August. We welcome the

positive activity offered by Mangrove to local young people throughout the year.

This annual tradition brings a festive atmosphere to the street and will be a welcome

counterpoint to recent disturbances in the area which impacted on at least one business.

DATE

NAME

ADDRESS

RESIDENT

OR BUSINESS

COMMENTS

Notting Hill Carnival will Go ahead but All Saint's Road on the Friday is stopped.

I have learned today from a Police source that the Carnival will be proceeding but with much tighter Security and Policing.

The Popular (among locals) Friday night final rehearsal by Mangrove Steelband in All Saint's Road is in danger of being banned. A petition is being drawn up now and will be published here soon.

more later.

Looting and thuggery in Portobello, Westbourne Park Road. #2

This is local Restaurant Bumpkin in Westbourne Park Road W11. Boarded up and closed after Sunday night's looting spree. The whole area was boarded up and closed last night. Police everywhere and fortunately no sign of the gangs of looters that we saw the previous night.

The Cow was thankfully open for a while where I met up with Gaz Mayall, Ray Roughler Jones and others to drink a beer or two and try to get on with life. The Cow closed early, I went for a walk about with a friend, found the Cock and Bottle open; another pleasant surprise.

The atmosphere here had been tense all day. Surreal.

I'm not going to say much more on the matter other than it occurs to me that parents have lost control of their children and need to clamp down and where are the community elders right now? Who is talking to the kids.

We are going to be battened down again this evening with a massive police presence.

UPDATE: Wednesday night was quiet but spooky, a big police presence on the streets and gangs of youths hanging out. A couple of strange faces appeared to be moving from group to group. Nothing kicked off. Curious to find that I am being treated as the enemy by some because I talk to the police about the situation. A raddled over the hill 'rock chick wannabe' had a go at me for talking to the "filth". What is wrong with some people. It is our home that is being threatened by these thugs. We need a Police presence.

good to see that the Castle and Portobello Lounge were open last night with some live music.

Parliament is being recalled on Thursday.

This is the Message sent to MP's by the chief whip.

Notting Hill riot,Portobello Road, westbourne Park Road,The Bumpkin, Ledbury and Walmer Castle.

It was not a riot. It was an organised crew of thieves using recent events to go on the rampage. The atmosphere here is very unpleasant this morning. I have been screamed at by a middle aged guy trying to justify last night's scum activity. When will people stop blaming everything and everyone else and start taking responsibility for themselves.

I would like to ask the apologists for last night if they really think that robbing people in restaurants is an acceptable act.

The following account is from the Naked Sushi blog.

NAKEDSUSHI

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August 8, 2011

London Riots Come to The Ledbury

Will and I were going to celebrate with a night out at 2 Michelin star restaurant The Ledbury. I had come to terms with the fact that it would be an expensive dinner, but boy, I had no idea how expensive.

Around the fourth dish of the tasting course, there were loud bangs outside. The restaurant staff was yelling at us to get away from the windows. Before I knew it, the front door, a solid piece of glass shattered and people came crashing in with hoodies, masks, and random weapons.

The looters were yelling at us to get down and throwing stuff all over the place. I got down and started taking off my wedding and engagement ring to hide somewhere, but unfortunately wasn’t fast enough. One looter came up and demanded my phone. I didn’t have it with me since it was in my purse and it was out of arm reach. I also didn’t want to lead him to my passport, so I said I didn’t have one.

He told me to take off my rings and grabbed my hand, trying to yank them off. His friend tried to help too, but the rings wouldn’t come off and I just yelled at him that I’d take them off myself. In hindsight, now that I know that gun control is so fierce in England and he only had bat, I should have held on to my rings better and maybe slugged him in the face.

The kitchen staff at the Ledbury went beyond their call of duty by rushing up from the kitchen with rolling pins, fry baskets, and other dangerous kitchen tools and scared off the looters. Then they provided well-needed glasses of alcohol including champagne and whisky. When word came that the looters were coming back a second time, they ushered us into the bathrooms and told us to lock the doors. A few minutes later, they led us into the wine cellar and told us to lock ourselves in there.

Well, that was certainly a memorable dining experience. I was kind of hoping to finish the rest of my tasting menu, but all the broken glass, turned over tables, probably wasn’t conducive to a nice dining environment. I was sad for the wonderful smelling cheese cart that had glass littered all over it. So much cheese gone to waste!

Guy who took my ring, I hope you put it to good use and don’t just dump it in the street. Also, I hope you get a case of flaming diarrhea for the rest of your life. Ledbury staff, thanks for keeping things under control and giving me some petit fours to munch on.

http://www.runawaysquirrels.com/2011/08/london-riots-comes-to-the-ledbury/

Time lapse fires over Tottenham riots.

Portobello postcards #52

Back of house


Gratuitous dog picture

Lisamarie, jogging and wine.

I met Lisamarie a couple of months ago at a gallery opening. Naturally I invited her to come and have a coffee at the Tabernacle some time.

She arrived yesterday afternoon, she was out jogging and stopping traffic. I introduced her to the concept of mid-jog white wine.

Lisamarie is absolutely delightful and ought to be on TV presenting something. Producers take note.