Book a summer course at City Lit

Established in the aftermath of the First World War, City Lit began life as the City Literary Institute, one of five literary institutes across London established by what was then London County Council to provide non-vocational adult education, and allow people with full-time jobs to take evening and other courses alongside their work. Today, we are told, the City Lit offers over 4,000 courses, and maintains a base at Keeley Street in Covent Garden, as well as three other sites in the area.



Though the other other Literary Institutes which were once found at Plumstead and Woolwich, Marylebone, Dalston, Peckham have sadly died, the City Lit continues, to the benefit of thousands who work in London and seek education after work. Though your author has perhaps been unnecessarily scathing recently about what the youngsters would probably describe as 'hipster' courses in things like cup-cake-baking and ukulele-playing, it is important not to dismiss the great work of the institution, the fine courses that do run, and the value of the scores of courses running at any one time to those who take them. Long may it continue.

For more, see http://www.citylit.ac.uk/

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Face off with Ramesses II

A huge statue of Ramesses II, also known as the 'Younger Memnon', stands in Room 4 at the British Museum, remembering a man who became ruler of Egypt around 1279 BC, and stayed in power for more than 60 years.


We are told that the statue was cut from a single block of two-coloured granite, and weighs more than 7.25 tons, with its sheer size apparently catered for by the sculptor, who angled the eyes down to make it appear to acknowledge slightly more those that view it.
For more, see http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/c/colossal_bust_of_ramesses_ii.aspx
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Play in the Horniman Sound Garden

An innovative idea, that your author hopes is not a constant source of frustration to those who live within earshot, the Sound Garden is found in Horniman Gardens in South East London and was developed as part of the £2.3m garden renovation project which will shortly be complete.


The large outdoor musical instruments can be played by visitors of all ages and are a nod to the Horniman Museum's interesting instrument collection in the Music Gallery of the main museum, which has its own interactive instrument area and is well worth a visit.

For more, see http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/displays/gardens#image-0

Buy books at the Lewisham Pensioners' Forum Booksale

Your author has bought countless books over the years at the Lewisham Pensioners' Forum booksale, and with a strong selection and paperbacks priced at 25p or five for £1, it isn't hard to understand why.

The latest booksale takes place today from 11am til 3pm and as well as the books there is tea, coffee, cake and squash, and a bric-a-brac stall. However, above all it's a great place to pick up as many books as you can carry - and more than you'll ever read - knowing that the money will go to a good cause.

For more, see http://www.lewishampensionersforum.org/

Tour HMS Illustrious

Thanks to Ian for highlighting that HMS Illustrious is back in Greenwich this weekend, and is once again open for public tours today and tomorrow.

Unfortunately, your author is away in Yorkshire for the weekend and will therefore miss the ship, which is in town as part of events to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic which will also include a Fleet Air Arm flypast over Greenwich this evening at 7pm.

For more, see http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2013/05/03/public-tours-of-hms-illustrious-next-weekend/

Visit the inaspace Gallery, Crystal Palace

A interesting little private art gallery on Westow Street in Crystal Palace, the inaspace Gallery sells contemporary and traditional paintings, prints and pottery from a range of artists.

Your author enjoyed the eclectic range of paintings by artists he - as a philistine with little knowledge of the London art scene - had never heard of but regardless the staff were welcoming and friendly and the experience was a positive one.

For more, see http://inaspacegallery.co.uk/

See the Horniman's Ijele mask

Found in the Africa gallery at the Horniman Museum in South East London, the Ijele mask is up to 15 feet high and was created for the Museum by Ichie Ezennay and others from Odawa village in  Nigeria.


The Mask is constructed from bamboo and cane structure is covered with multi-coloured cloths. We are told that the town near Odawa, Achalla, is one of the few in the area to have kings, and hence this Mask is thought to be fit for a king.

For more, see http://www.horniman.ac.uk/object/1999.11

See the Queen in Westminster

The Queen heads to the Palace of Westminster today to open the next session of Parliament, and whilst we're all hoping that the Government will have put some decent ideas in the speech they have prepared for her, the decision to invite Prince Charles to attend for the first time in 17 years reminds us that she will not be around forever.

TV schedules suggest that events run between about 10.30am and noon, and those who find the time to stand out on Whitehall or Parliament Square will get to enjoy a spectacle of pomp and pageantry with military bands, a series of horse-drawn coaches bringing the Queen and various hangers on to and from Westminster in a fine setting.

For more, see http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/stateopening/

Sit out in Parliament Square

Your author has been spending more time in and around Westminster than usual in recent weeks, and has been quite amazed as the weather has got better to see scores of people sitting out having lunch in Parliament Square, enjoying the sunshine.


It's all thanks to the new crossings which - though controversial in their reasons for being established - have breathed new life into a space which had too long been cut off from real people via three lanes of traffic, allowing them to take time to enjoy their surroundings and see statues of some great men up close. After all that it seems that Brian and the village unwittingly managed to be a democratising force after all.

For more, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Square

Celebrate May Merrie in Kingston

Kingston-upon-Thames celebrates May Merrie today, with seemingly scores of activities around town and down by the river, with summery activities such as Morris Dancing, juggling, face painting, live music, craft fairs and hula hooping at various venues.


We are told that the event will have a special focus on traditional games with giant versions of Hungry Hippos, Magnetic Fishing, Kerplunk, and the old favourite, ‘Crown Those Saxon Kings’ all playing a part and a programme that turns Kingston into a Monopoly board.

For more, see http://www.kingstonfirst.co.uk/visitkingston/whatson/maymerrie2013.aspx

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Celebrate Vaisakhi in Trafalgar Square

Today, Trafalgar Square marks Vaisakhi from noon until 6pm, a traditional Punjabi celebration of harvest that holds particular significance for Sikhs as the moment in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh ji 10th Guru of the Sikhs, established the Khalsa.
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In the Square today, we are told to expect music and Bhangra and Punjabi dance from the like of Alaap, Shin of DCS, Navin Kundra, Juggy D, Foji, The Phat Kat Koalition, as well as food and family bits and bobs like face-painting, henna artists and a mango festival.

For more, see http://www.london.gov.uk/get-involved/events/vaisakhi-2013

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Attend the Canalway Cavalcade

The annual Canalway Cavalcade begins at Little Venice today, with a collection of boats having made their way there over recent days for an event that runs until Monday, and which we are told this year features floating events and competitions, guided walks, boat trips by various operators, food stalls, a licensed bar, a trade and craft show, music, theatre, puppets, kayaking and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.


Nowadays, these sorts of events need a specific theme - often thought up by a lot of earnest people sitting around a table for a long time - and we are told that this year's is 'Celebrating London’s Waterways*' (the star seems important), which your author is pretty sure it has been doing since its inception in 1983. Nevertheless, it's a great event, now part of a series of events organised by the Inland Waterways Association.

For more, see https://www.waterways.org.uk/iwa/calendar/event/view?id=418

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Step into St Simon Zelotes, Chelsea

A pretty little church on the corner of Moore Street and Milner Street in Chelsea, St Simon Zelotes was built in 1859 to designs by Joseph Peacock and was, we are told, later describe 'eccentric' by Sir John Betjeman, known for its carving, including that on its interesting font, which plans are afoot to move as part of a restoration project.


When your author dropped in yesterday, the evening sunshine was streaming through the large four-light window above the entrance, and through the high trefoil clerestory windows. In the darkened interior, noted for its polychrome brickwork, the atmosphere was calm and cool, with a solitary pair of reading spectacles resting beside a book in one of the wooden pews the only sign of life. It provided a welcome place for some silence.

For more, see http://www.stsimonzelotes.com/

Take tea at Alexandra Nurseries

A quiet little haven on Parish Lane in Penge, Alexandra Nurseries is a garden centre, café and second hand home and garden ware shop with a lot of charm, run by landscape gardeners John and Sarah - who live next door - and at its best on the sort of warm sunny days we've been having this week.


We are told that the nurseries occupies a former caretaker’s office and maintenance workshop for the Alexandra Cottages, a development of 181 homes built during the 1860s by the Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes. It's a nice spot, and even though your author doesn't have a garden of his own it was a nice place to have tea and cake among the flowers and pretend he did.

For more, see http://www.alexandranurseries.co.uk/

Mark International Workers Day

The first of May has been celebrated as International Workers Day since the 1880s, when it was first established to commemorate the Haymarket affair which occurred following a strike in Chicago. Though the struggle for workers rights has thankfully moved on a great deal since Victorian Britain, many still march in solidarity with workers around the world.


Today, a march meets at Clerkenwell Green around noon, leaving for Trafalgar Square around 1pm. Though numbers are no longer as high as they were when many marched (and more) with vigour it in the late 1990s, there will still be a rally featuring the ancient tradition of a speech from Tony Benn, which has been part of International Workers Day in London for roughly centuries.

For more, see http://www.londonmayday.org/docs/MayDayA4flyer2013-v2.pdf


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