Frizzworld

20% off voucher until Sunday – Selfridges & Co. Go have fun!

Was walking along and the people sitting outside in this alleyway caught my eye.  Had a stroll down to see what was there and found this completely unexpected restaurant.

Watching One & Other – in a moment of weakness I applied to go on the fourth Plinth… here’s hoping I don’t get picked!  I think you have to have something to do, at the least a book to read.  At the moment I’m watching someone with nothing to do, it’s quite interesting watching, but it doesn’t look much fun for her.

Anthropologie Opens in London – the American shop owned by Urban Outfitters (I didn’t know that until just now) is opening two new stores in London.  I’m not a big fan – but might be interesting.  And T liked the store in New York.

Been listening to demo’s (still at the Apple Store). Some good, some not. Ears hurt a bit. If you are in town over the next few days check out City Showcase – there’s lots of new music being played in shops – quite fun.

To prove a point… last Saturday Sandy, I and a friend went for a walk… an hours walk turned into a glorious four hour walk… if there had been parking charges, it just wouldn’t have happened…

OK, so it’s always been free to park in Richmond Park and now the government is proposing to start charging.  The park has pretty poor to non-existent public transport.  It’s also the place to bring bikes – A and I taught John to cycle without stabilizers  (well mostly A).  That day we had two small children, two bikes and Sandy – how we would have got there without a car I have no idea.  The walk from the gate is in inself longer than the kids could manage.  It’s a marvelously large park, I think at least three times the size of Hampstead Heath (as per D’s map of London at the weekend). Lots and lots of locals who live just that little bit too far to walk to the park take their dogs there everyday.  It’s safe for them to walk, their dogs can be off the lead, and away from traffic.  The  proposal is to start charging by the hour at rates in line with roads in local areas eg. Richmond and Kingston.  If you use the Park on a regular basis to walk your dog or just yourself that could mean something like £400 a  year or more.

The argument is that it will mean less traffic in the Park.  But also part of the proposal is to start to allow private taxis to use the park.  OK so you can then go to the park if you can either afford to pay for the car park or afford to arrive in a taxi.  The reality will be that the taxis will use the Park as a cut through avoiding traffic outside the Park.  This seems kinda crazy.

One of the best things about the Park is that the whole experience is stress free – an evening walk can be half an hour, two hours or even three hours.  Having to have the right change to pay or getting back before the hour is out – is just against everything the Park has always been about – it’s about exploring the park and going where the path takes you.  Richmond Park is not like other Royal Parks – it’s more like a Common.

What can you do?

Respond to the consultation paper – has to be done by the 1st May

Sign the petition: on the number 10 site

Sign the petition on Susan Kramer’s site

Join the Facebook group