Had a good time at Latitude. Was surprised by Brian Patten, sang along to Chrissie Hynde, couldn’t stay up for the whole of the Pet Shop Boys (I’d been up since four something) their set was amazing. Checked out Scott Mathews, Camera Obscura, and the end of Newton Faulkner. Daljit Nagra was older than I expected. Loved the coloured sheep, the chilled out atmosphere and oh the family toilets were a find. Didn’t like £8 for a programme, being asked to pour bottled water out (I didn’t), the stressed out London crowd (including myself here), the bonkers weather – pouring with rain then scorching hot. What happened to Jenene Garafalo, so disappointing, Ed Byrne filled in, although surprised to hear him tell a joke I’d heard a much better version of on the radio only a few days earlier by someone completely different. Thanks to Jo Brand for letting us sit down, even if it was a bit of a squeeze. Had a really good dance at the Melon Temple (I’d bring that back to London along with the Guardian tent from Glastonbury). Gaslight Anthem were great, although wow did they sound like Springsteen. I didn’t really get Rigina Spector and didn’t last long at the Vivienne Westwood thing (too, too pretentious). Stumbled across a strange and wonderful puppet show in the woods and Jeffrey Lewis was brilliant late Saturday/early Sunday in the poetry tent. Missed a lot on Sunday being sociable instead, but not the rain! Nick Cave – way too loud and too much base – so different from Glastonbury – shame. Two big requests to make it much better, one do something about the sound pollution, it was really bad and two some better food – vegetables and salad would be great.

Thanks to everyone for making the day so wonderful. Lovely to see you all. And what weather… my first day in sandals… Good company, good food, and champagne – perfect.

Jumping out of a plane…. her own idea of a rite of passage… very brave.

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

These are new I think… first time I’ve noticed them anyway. The future perhaps?