Clapton Pond Blog

Joys of Hallowe'en

That nice lady at the top end of Thistlewaite Road topped even her own very high standards this year with this fantastic Hallowe'en creation. The house was constructed from the packaging of someone's new bed, by the way. Genius. And it attracted small ghouls by the horde.

I love it that our neighbourhood embraces Hallowe'en with such enthusiasm. As well as being a lot of fun for the kids there's something valuable and satisfying about families occupying the darkened autumn streets. True, a did feel a cold shiver each time I bumped into a pint-sized and resolutely silent Grim Reaper, but in general the evening bore out the adage that a place feels - and probably is - safer when there are plenty of friendly people out and about.

I'm also grateful to Clapton's Hallowe'en - perhaps particularly the Millfields end of Mildenhall Road, where there seemed to be hideous jack 'o lanterns everywhere - for massively reducing my household's outgoings on confectionary for the foreseeable future.

See what I mean? 

Home Alone

Suddenly, I am without company. Down with school!

Journalist Claims To "Do Work" Shock

Here is the news. Last week, a local blogger and alleged Guardian journalist went to Millfields school in Hackney with his eyelids propped open and goodwill in his heart to speak to a class of Year 1 pupils about whatever it is he thinks he does for a living. In his stylish reporter's shoulder bag (£8 from the Narroway, circa 1998) he carried his usual array of gadgetry - pens, notepads, digicam, camera, recording device - most of which he can't use properly.  He took his place in the classroom "hot seat" sustained only by bravado and a desire to keep his promise to Inspire! Watched closely by some 30 endearing infants, their teacher Miss Bukie and assistant Paulina he told tales of a funny man called Boris whose activities he monitors closely at all times and tries to tell the world about, principally by means of his Guardian London blog. Then he sought to establish some facts. Initial reports that the class contained 32 pupils proved to be incorrect after intensive head counting revealed there to be only 30 in the room. However, a spokesperson - believed to be Miss Bukie herself - explained that that was because two children were off sick. Having jotted all this down, the blogger-hack pressed the assembled to reveal their unhealthy food preferences. How many liked ice cream best, how many preferred jelly and how many would choose chocolate milk? Of the respondents, some of whom declined to be named, eleven went for ice cream, 17 for chocolate milk and all 30 for ice cream. This proved that the supposed reporter hadn't asked a very intelligent question. He left quietly, but not before taking the exclusive photograph you see here. Despite his deep incompetence he hopes to be invited back next year. And now, the weather forecast.          

Vivian Gamor Inquiry Report

To recap, Vivian Gamor who is mentally unwell, was convicted of the manslaughter of her two children last August. A report has been published into Hackney Social Services conduct of the case. As the BBC reports, the children's father Jimi Ogunkoya is very unhappy with its conclusions:

"It doesn't take a genius to work out that that there needs to be some sort of risk assessment done, you can't just throw the children in there and hope for the best. My children were living with me, they were taken out of a safe environment and... placed in to an unsafe one. If someone's been sectioned for violence - brandishing a knife - I don't see how that person can't pose a risk."

The Today programme this morning carried an interview with Jimi's solicitor Bali Gill and Fran Pearson, of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Board. Listen again from 7.25.

Young Hackney Discovered

From Headliners:

"We love living in Hackney because of the many cultural activities going on in the borough. After the success of the first Discover Young Hackney festival last year, which many young Hackney residents took part in and enjoyed, we were looking forward to getting inspired again at this year’s event.

This year, Discover Young Hackney ’08 provided more chances for Hackney’s young people to get involved in different leisure, art, music, dance and media activities – giving them the opportunities to express themselves in different ways, make new friends and share experiences. There were projects on everything from fashion to film and live performance to project management, with young people working alongside their peers as well as professionals to showcase the best of the borough in events such as the talent contest at the Hackney Empire."

Now read on.

Teenage Pregnancy

From 24dash

"Figures published today show the biggest drop for five years in teenage conception rates, confirmation that the Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy is working. The Office of National Statistics figures show teenage pregnancy rates continuing to fall with a reduction in both the under 18 and the under 16 rates during 2006."

Apparently, the change is particularly marked in Hackney. Now read on.

Millfields Swings: That's Better!

Last week, Mr Locker of Stamford Hill was walking past Millfields swings and took this photograph of what he saw - a man using a high-powered jet-spray device to clear the moss that had made the surfaces so treacherous. This morning, I had a quick look for myself and saw that the lush, green coating featured in the photographs I had previously taken had gone. Now all they have to do is clear off the graffiti. I can't claim that my blogging - here and here - is responsible for the work being done. Perhaps it would have happened anyway. But I'm sure it helped concentrate minds, including that of the mayor who left a comment on my first post. Holding local authorities to account is one of the things that "hyperlocal" blogging can achieve. We need more such bloggers in Hackney. Why don't you become one?

Millfields Swings: Slow Progress

On 6th January I posted about The Shabby State Of Millfields Swings. I later brought it to the attention of the Council press office. Then, last Friday, I was impressed to find that Jules Pipe, Hackney's Mayor, had posted the following comment.

"I was very concerned to read this post. I have been assured that the park rangers have thoroughly swept the site and removed the tufts of grass between the surfaces. The moss was removed by jet washing on 16th January. As soon as the weather dries out the Council will start on work to paint the toilet block to remove the offensive graffiti, and the rangers have made a start on the removal of graffiti on the play equipment."

Yesterday morning I returned to the swings, camera in pocket, to see for myself. I was disappointed. You can see from my photos that those tufts of grass have indeed been tackled - well, most of them - but if any moss was removed the evidence for this was not obvious. My new long shot of the play area shows the same carpet of green on the tree side as before, while the soft area around the roundabout was still treacherous. My fourth photograph shows the shutters on the toilet block. I'm not sure if these have been freshly re-painted, though they look as though they might have been. Perhaps that is the start of the graffiti removal Jules was referring to, which would be something. In general, though, the account of the clear-up the Mayor passed on to this blog only partly tallies with reality.

That's a pity, because it was good of him to respond to my first post on the subject. I hope he contributes to this blog again and won't be deterred from doing so by my highlighting the final part of his comment:

"I would also like to take this opportunity to say that we do take complaints we receive very seriously and aim to resolve them as quickly as possible."

I'm afraid it's over to you again, Jules.

The Shabby State Of Millfields Swings

Took these pictures this morning having visited the swings last Tuesday with two of my kids. The ground surfaces have become so slippery that the soft area around the roundabout is positively dangerous. Weeds are growing in the cracks. The graffiti just gets worse and worse. It looks as though no maintenance has been done since the summer's end at least. Not good enough, I reckon.

Hackney Playbus: Need A Job?

It says here:

"Hackney Playbus offers mobile play provision, preschool activities, creches and holiday play provision to children under five years old in Hackney and surrounding boroughs. We particularly seek to offer services to children and families without easy access to play provision. The Playbus has been established for over 30 years and is a registered charity governed by a management committee.

A new post of Playwork Manager has been created to develop, deliver and manage a high quality of service and equality of opportunity in all the work that we do. You will have a professional under fives qualification NVQ Level 3 equivalent and have 2 years project management experience.

For an application pack please contact Hackney Playbus at c/o Albion Kids Show, Eastway Depot, Eastway, Hackney Wick, London, E9 5JH or e-mail us at info@hackneyplaybus.org. No c.v.s please!

Closing date: Friday 30th November 1pm.
Interviews: Friday 7th December."

So now you know.