Velochick

Escaped Riots in Peckham

velochick — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:53:27 +0000

I had a hospital appointment yesterday and came back via South of Peckham so I missed the worst of the riots.

The atmosphere was scary so I didn’t want to hang round people in the area.

There were lots of bystanders but you didn’t know whether some would join in.

I saw cyclists trying to get away and whenever I saw a cyclist, strangely, I felt safer, rather than being stuck with young male pedestrians.

It got very very close to me but I am ok.

Horseguards Parade & Volleyball Court 22nd July

velochick — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:14:49 +0000

Am at Horseguards, seeing rather a lot of mess at Horseguards Parade, think it is pretty pointless sticking it here!

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

velochick — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:55:07 +0000

I am off to the Summer Exhibition tonight as it has late night opening. Not sure if there are any cycle racks near there but am waiting for a reply from the RA.

I am looking for sometraditional ‘pretty landscape’ paintings’ of Britain, as opposed to the iritating and boring type of conceptial art that seems to be plaguing art galleries everywhere. I am really looking forward to the variety and perhaps some textile work too.

Bike gets a respray!

velochick — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:47:39 +0000

I got a bit fed up with the colour of my bike so I have brightened it with lashings of blue paint and added loads of buttons which makes it stand out from the other bikes. It looks like a fun commuter bike as opposed to a shopper bike.

Been away!

velochick — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:44:45 +0000

I have been away doing other bits for a few months, had the odd family crisis thrown in so, to be quite frank haven’t been in the mood for writing.

Even now my boss at work says there may need to be cutbacks because of the recession and some staff are losing hours and I may need to work a 48 day hour week, even though this takes me below the Minimum Wage (and they can face proscecution). So things are hairy and once again I may have to look for another job.This is going to be so difficult in the current climate.

In the meantime I have had some successes. I have started writing for a women’s magazine and some people have bought one of my photographs and textiles pictures, so one door closes and another opens. So I need to expand on writing and art which I like best anyway.

Anti-pollution cleansers

velochick — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:34:49 +0000

Because I cycle a lot my face gets covered in pollution, so I am looking for a good anti-pollution cleanser, so far I found Almay (sensitive) cleanser which is excellent (it cleans and it also has moisturiser which leaves your skin soft) and Superdrug facial scrub which is great for cleansing but it leaves the skin rather dry. I think I can put up with the Almay one but there may be other good ones on the market.

Handmade Cycling Apparel in London!

velochick — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:20:36 +0000

I was very pleased to see on Twitter that there’s a place selling British Made Cycling clothes in East Dulwich “Velodog” (on twitter ‘velodogworld’)

I’ve just had a look at my cycling clothes and already the pink cycling jacket I bought from Halfords, is machine made and ‘Made in China’.

I think it is very important to support local manufacture where possible and I will be targeting cycling organisations to see if they stock locally or British made items.

The Cuts

velochick — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:10:01 +0000

Though I agree that we have to make some cuts I am not happy with too many cuts being made in policing, the NHS and local radio.

I have been making my views known on Twitter on the BBC London Vanessa Feltz show. I think local radio is very important in bringing lonely people together, and informing people of charity events and important issues such as road safety, particularly in these so-called ‘Big Society’ times. I have asked the Mayor of London for his comments but have had no reply.

A few of my friends were out marching against the cuts but I was at work but took part in the Armchair Facebook site so I wouldn’t miss out!

Stabbing in Peckham

velochick — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:00:19 +0000

I was in the library in Peckham recently and someone had been stabbed again nearby in broad daylight. It was done about 11am in the morning.

I was lucky to have been warned by Twitter than a knifeman was on the loose.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krkkFcoDcUY&w=480&h=390]

Channel 4 reporter & cyclist Jon Snow in Sendai, Japan

velochick — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:55:22 +0000

Just getting some tweets coming in from him:

“Very nasty after shock 20.33 local (11.33 London) building I’m in wobbled and swayed..bad news for the two reactors 60 odd miles South
11 minutes ago”

Am in Sendai too close to nuke reactor for comfort..meltdown appears real..conditions terrible and yet large parts up here utterly untouched
16 minutes ago via web