| July 30th 2010 |
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New Cycle Hire Scheme
Transport For London have launched a new cycle hire scheme. They have got cycle bays all over town, where you can collect and drop off the bikes.
I was interested to see how vandal-proof they were. They are very strongly constructed, and there's covers over bolts and various bits that could be tampered with. I spoke to a TFL employee who was advising the public, with it being launch day. She said the bikes had a special paint on them that prevents people writing on them, and that pretty-much the only vandalism they could suffer was people putting stickers on them. The only negative feedback that she had had so far, was that they are a bit on the heavy side. The bikes (pictured in Hyde Park) she advised me, had indeed been vandalised the night before, with people putting stickers on them! I wondered if they would have special dust caps on the tyre valves, or even solid tyres. I imagine it would be a lot of fun for kids to go around letting the air out the tyres! They appear to have normal valves on them. The girl told me there was a maintenance guy who visited the bays and would inflate the tyres if need be. I thought this scheme might have been aimed at tourists, but far from it. You need to register to use them, and just now they are only allowing registrations from UK addresses. The new bays are receiving a lot of attention, it's not just tourists who have been looking curiously at them. To use a bike, registration aside, you need to have a special key, or get a code from the payment terminal. Related Links TFL Cycle Hire Posted in categories Transport Events Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=56 |
| July 23rd 2010 |
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Policeman Gets Away With Murder
It was announced yesterday by the Crown Prosecution Service that PC Simon Harwood would not face prosecution for killing Ian Tomlinson as he walked home from work.
Mr Tomlinson, 47, was walking home from his work as a newspaper vendor, which took him through the scene of a demonstration against the G20 summit in April last year. He made the innocent mistake of getting within striking distance of PC Simon Harwood, 43. With his back to Harwood and walking away from him, Harwood hit him with his baton and violently threw him to the ground. Mr Tomlinson initially walked away but collapsed moments later and died from internal bleeding. It could be argued that PC Harwood was lucky to have his job in the Riot Squad that day, as he had previously left the police following a misconduct hearing over a violent road-rage incident. Harwood had his face covered and had apparently removed his ID number from his uniform. Why would he do that? It's common knowledge that police remove their ID so they can assault people in the hope of getting away with it. Just now in this case, it looks like they can kill people and get away with it. The cowardly decision not to charge Harwood is an out and out disgrace. Chief coward of the CPS, Keir Starmer, said he was not confident of getting a conviction and had therefore decided not to bring charges. He said there was a conflict of expert opinion. One pathologist said Mr Tomlinson died of natural causes (a heart attack) while two other pathologists said he died from internal bleeding following a trauma to his abdomen (three post mortems were carried out). This is what Starmer is using as his pathetic excuse not to charge Harwood for his thuggery. The first pathologist in question, Dr Freddy Patel, is currently under examination by the General Medical Council for allegedly bungling four autopsies. He has been suspended from the Home Office register of forensic pathologists and barred from examining others who have died suspiciously. I say, put the three pathologists in front of a jury and let them decide. Did Mr Tomlinson coincidentally suffer a heart attack momets after being attacked by PC Harwood or did he suffer internal bleeding as a result of the attack? The words "brainer" and "no" come to mind. This case is a great travesty of justice. Just now there is no justice for Ian Tomlinson and his family, which is a disgrace. Ian tomlinson was a heavy drinker. He lived in a hostel. He and his family are working class. I wonder what would have happened if the events were reversed? Suppose Mr Tomlinson attacked a policeman from behind, hitting him with a stick and throwing him to the ground, causing internal bleeding and death. Do you think the CPS would say that they could not bring any charges due to a conflict of expert opinion? Answers on a postcard please. This is a complete outrage. It cannot be allowed to stand. So what can be done about it? As is stands, it's a working class family against the establishment. I for one feel guilty doing nothing about it. Not quite sure what to do. Yesterday I emailed the CPS to express my disgust at the decision. Next step looks like contacting the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, who is responsible for the CPS. You can get the Attorney General's website below. ...or email them: correspondenceunit@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk ...and of course, dropping a line to my MP. Apart from anything else, such travesties of justice can cause riots. It needs to be corrected. I had to chuckle, on the CPS website, I saw this: "we are an independent body that works closely with the police". You bet they work closely with the police. They are in bed with them. Added later. I have put up a campaign website, linked below, demanding justice for Mr Tomlinson and demanding that PC Harwood is charged with Manslaughter. Related Links Crown Prosecution Service Attorney General Posted in categories People Events Politics Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=55 |
| July 16th 2010 |
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Lord Sugar's Roller
Spotted Alan (Lord) Sugar's Rolls Royce in Knightsbridge, near the Park Tower Hotel. He wasn't in it but I asked his driver if he was about, which he wasn't presently.
Lord Sugar is a well known businessman and hosts the BBC TV show, The Apprentice. That's how I knew it was his car. You often see the car, with the plate AMS 1, on the show. Funny thing, the driver had one of those fuzzy beards, like Lord Sugar's, must be contagious! Related Links The Apprentice Posted in categories Cars People Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=54 |
| June 14th 2010 |
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Eco-Rally in Hyde Park
Just got news of an interesting event taking place in Hyde Park on July 7th 2010. It's the Bridgestone Eco-Rally, which is a gathering of fuel-efficient vehicles with low or zero emissions, which have just journeyed up from Brighton.
Formula One (F1) fans will have the chance to see, in person, some of the sport's biggest names, including Ross Brawn, Patrick Head and Nico Hulkenberg, with more names to be announced, as they take part in the event. Could be worth attending to see what F1 has to do with reducing emissions! Celebs attending, include Quentin Willson and Gail Porter. The event is also raising funds to build the Royal Parks Foundation's Look Out Education Centre. Related Links Eco Rally Posted in categories Transport Events People Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=53 |
| June 10th 2010 |
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New Ferrari 458 Italia
Popped into the Ferrari showroom next to me, as one does, to have a look at the new 458 Italia which they just got in today. Costs around £170k, you can get on the waiting list for £20k deposit.
Love the style of it. I think it looks like the Boxer around the windows, particularly the curved top of the side window. Michael Schumacher was involved in the design and development of it from the start. The salesman was trying to sell it to me, which as someone without heaps of cash, I took as a minor result! It's in the H R Owen showroom on Old Brompton Road. Related Links H R Owen Ferrari Posted in categories Cars Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=52 |
| June 7th 2010 |
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England World Cup Billboard
Nike have made a large advertising billboard in the style of Mount Rushmore, featuring some England players, for the up-coming World Cup in South Africa.
It's an impressive structure, located on West Cromwell road (A4) near the junction with Warwick road, which is near Earls Court. See the video clip below to see a shot of the whole thing. |
| June 4th 2010 |
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Martine McCutcheon filming in Battersea Park
Visited Battersea Park for the first time today. Nice park. On the south bank of the Thames between Albert Bridge and Chelsea Bridge. The famous Battersea Power Station (as was) is next to Chelsea Bridge.
Saw Martine McCutcheon filming an ad for Activa yogurt. Very interesting. They got a glorious day for it, about 27 degrees, wall-to-wall sunshine. They didn't need any lights, just the reflector you see in the picture. Amazing the number of people involved in filming a commercial...must have been about thirty people in the immediate vicinity! I saw a movie shoot once in London, that didn't have as many people! They had a stand-in actress doing Martine McCutcheon's part so they could work out the camera positions etc, then the big star came on to the set under a gigantic black parasol! She was only doing one line, but she was pretty good at it. The peace pagoda in the park, sits on the bank of the river, looking out towards Chelsea. Nice park. They've got a pretty impressive fountain there and big fish swimming in the lake! Looked like mullet. Related Links Battersea Park Posted in categories Places People Weather Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=50 |
| May 25th 2010 |
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London Riviera!
Nice sunny day today, although not as hot as the unseasonal 28 degrees we had yesterday! Took a walk along the Thames at Chelsea Embankment. A wonderful place, virtually in the centre of town but like being at the seaside! Well worth a walk down there if you are in the area. On one side you have a very nice residential area of Chelsea, one of the most expensive locations in London, with Battersea Park and Battersea power station on the other side. Also on the Battersea side there are a number of new fancy (and doubtlessly expensive) river pads. Personally I would take an old pad on the Chelsea side!
I love the atmosphere of this place. It does NOT feel like being in a city, pretty quiet, great for a moment's escapism! Just now on the Chelsea side, they are having the Chelsea Flower Show, which is a BIG production. The Albert Bridge there is currently closed to traffic for renovation, but you can still walk across it. I took the picture of the boats from it. The work is expected to be completed in August 2011. Related Links Albert Bridge Closure Posted in categories Places Weather Transport Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=49 |
| May 22nd 2010 |
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Elephant Parade
"Elephant Parade is a conservation campaign that shines a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant. The event sees over 250 brightly painted life-size elephants located over central London this summer".
Spotted this elephant sitting outside the Dorchester on Park Lane. Related Links Elephant Parade London Posted in categories Events Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=48 |
| April 17th 2010 |
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Stephenson's Rocket in Kensington Gardens
Glorious sunny day in London Town today. Wall-to-wall blue sky and warm sunshine. Not bad for mid-April! Took a stroll around Kensington Gardens. Very busy but a wonderful atmosphere with people enjoying the spring sunshine and a number of sunbathers with their tops off (sadly just blokes!).
Very spring-like with a lot of greenery showing. The horse chestnut trees are just about in full leaf. The Serpentine Lake was very busy too with rowing boats and pedalos. They are running a replica of Stephenson's Rocket. They have laid about 100 metres of track. This is being organised by the nearby Science Museum, where they have the original Rocket. It's free admission to the Science Museum, fantastic place, they have a whole floor of planes including a spitfire hanging from the roof! This replica rocket was an amazing machine. I was really surprised by how quiet it was when it was running. Related Links Science Museum Posted in categories Transport Weather Events Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=47 |
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