I was saddened to hear of the death of Ted. He was a good age (87) and had battled ill heath for decades but I have lost a good comrade. Ted was “old school” East End. He lived in West Ham ward but if you asked him if he was local, he would be ta…Read more…
UNISON Labour Link elections 2021 – ballot papers out from 7 Sept
Labour Link is the name of the UNISON political fund that supports the Labour Party. Elections for the National Labour Link Committee (where there are contested regional seats), starts this Wednesday (when ballot papers to start to drop at members home…Read more…
Launch of “Out of Sight, Out of Mind – Abuse, Neglect and Fire in a London Children’s Workhouse, 1854-1907” By John Walker
Yesterday evening I went to the launch at Newham Bookshop of this work by local historian, John Walker. I haven’t read it yet but I know that the story of this Victorian workhouse for children (which is only 10 minutes walk from where I live) is pretty…Read more…
UNISON Housing Association Branch says Goodbye & Thank You
Yesterday I went to a “real” leaving “do” in central london for our temporary branch case worker Susan (with members of our executive, branch and regional staff).
Since Susan was employed during Covid pandemic, I had never actually met her in person …Read more…
“Lost in UNISON” online courses
UNISON is of course the most wonderful organisation ever but it has 1.3 million members who work in a number of very different public services (public, voluntary and private) in all parts of the UK.
So its structures and what you have to do to be…Read more…
“My advice to anyone is to get the vaccine” – Young COVID patients share…
Young victims of Covid & medical professionals explain why their advice is for everyone to get the vaccine. Read more…
Walton-on-the-Naze walk to Frinton-on-sea
After a lovely day with extended family at a rented beach hut in Walton-on-the-Naze (with lots of paddling, sandcastle building and fish n chips) Gill and I decided to walk to Frinton-on-sea to catch the train back to London.
A fantastic 2 mile …Read more…
Developer defends plans to put social homes in blocks serving as a ‘noise buffer’
A dreadful story reported in “Inside Housing”
“Developer Lovell has defended itself after sparking an outcry by describing blocks of flats containing most of a proposed Bristol development’s social homes as a “noise buffer” between industry and other …Read more…
“Plight of desperate Afghans highlights UK’s cruel refugee plans”
MPs from all parties must defeat Westminster government’s plans to further criminalise and punish those fleeing for their lives
Hat tip UNISON General Secretary Christin McAnea blog “We are witnessing deeply upsetting scenes from Afghanistan. Pe…Read more…
ONS Covid survey – Swab test went ok but failed to complete blood antibody test (again!)
Since October 2020 I have been a volunteer taking part in the random mass survey by the ONS on Covid infections. Every 4 weeks someone from the ONS would visit me at home and collect a PCR test and for the first several months also take a blood sample …Read more…
“Homeowners £326,000 richer than renters over 30 years, report finds”
Check out the indie. The problem is not so much home ownership, but the fact (in my view) that the market is rigged by the Government in favour of home ownership above other tenures.
Now prices are so high then this may change since in man…Read more…
“Robert Roberts was a north-Walian quarryman. His death on 23 April 1888 resulted in a churchyard break-in by candlelight, an illicit burial, and the rise of a Prime Minister”.
“Robert Roberts was a north-Walian quarryman. His death on 23 April 1888 resulted in a churchyard break-in by candlelight, an illicit burial, and the rise of a Prime Minister.
All because his final wish was to be buried beside his daughter at their lo…Read more…
National Cyber Security Centre – Grass up a Phisher
After many months, if not years, of just deleting phishing emails, texts and voice messages (you know the ones – “you are about to be arrested by HMRC for tax evasion” etc by a bloke who sounds like the one parodied by “Frankie Goes to Holl…Read more…
Hunsdon North Loop walk
Off message but Gill and I had a marvellous countryside walk today in near perfect walking weather. I had come across a new free web site this morning https://www.hertfordshirewalker.uk/ and selected this Hunsdon North Loop walk . It is …Read more…
Labour E20 Canvass & #HappyBirthdayHardie
This morning there was a physical “Labour doorstep” canvass in Stratford, Newham followed by a celebration of Keir Hardie’s Birthday (tomorrow 15 August) and his links with the borough. The Keir Hardie Society encourage supporters to post pictures to s…Read more…
Triathlon Challenge 2022
Picture of London Aquatics Centre (Olympic Pool 2012). After work this week I went for my first swim since Sept 2018 (I am amazed at this but Google timeline is pretty scary and insistent).
I have kept myself fairly fit during the pandemic but I…Read more…
Newham Labour – Deadline tomorrow (Friday 13.8.21) at 12 noon “We’re hiring a Campaign Organiser”
Reminder
Role: Newham Labour Group Campaign Organiser Working For: Newham Labour GroupSalary range: £36,108.99 – £40,000 per annum subject to experience (gross and inclusive of London Weighting. Full-time and based on national Labour Party pay sc…Read more…
“Out of Sight, Out of Mind – Abuse, Neglect and Fire in a London Children’s Workhouse, 1854-1907” By John Walker
I was really pleased to be invited to the launch later this month of a new book by local Forest Gate historian, John Walker. Check out @e7_nowandthen
This will take place at https://www.newhambooks.co.uk/ where you can also order the book&nb…Read more…
Proportion of Workers ‘ Salaries covered by Sick Pay
WANTED: your experiences of Labour membership
If you are a Fabian member you should have got an email invite to this survey (with a live link). An “interesting” survey to fill out if you have 5-10 minutes. . “For those of you who are Labour party members, we invite you to complete our …Read more…