Go 5 Ways

Back On My Feet Again ???

2010-08-23T18:43:00.006+01:00

I've been off track for some considerable time now. Some of you will know that my little brother took his life getting on for a couple of years ago. On top of this my mother, who was destitute in Spain suffering from dementia lived out her life in a spanish Care Home and eventually passed on last December. My more immediate nuclear family has been dogged with illness - my daughter has ME and Fibromyalgaea while my partner has a chronic form of leukaemia. All this has added up to me not coping so well. I certainly have neglected my blogging and record reviewing.

After 8 months grief counselling with a Jane, a lovely lady from Cruse, and some therapeutic art at a mental health drop in unit in brighton, I am feeling like I want to get back to writing etc. So her I am.

I''ll start gently by just showing you a few of my drawings. I've found the process intriguing - although I have occasionally drawn before, I have never really quite found it so absorbing and comforting. Please let me know if you like it.

The materials used are pencil crayons and wax crayons - I especially like the chunky varieties that are sold for toddlers to use with their pudgy little hands. They seem to suit my clumsy style!

There are plenty more where these came from. If anyone likes them enough to comment favourably, I'll put up a few more. Thanks for visitng and come back soon.

Halloween 2009 @ Blaker’s Park

2009-10-25T19:04:00.001Z

Halloween 2009 @ Blaker’s Park

Next Saturday 31st October 2009 is Hallowe’en.

As usual, Blaker’s Park in Brighton is the venue for a great Halloween party hosted by Dishy’s Café.

The event runs from 4pm until 9pm and activities include…

Fancy Dress
Apple Bobbing
Doughnut Dangling
Pumpkin lantern Competition
Mulled Wine free with every large coffee
Seasonal foods

Creepy music supplied by Spin Doctors Mobile Disco

Be there to be scared!

Brighton Urban Rangers in attendance – OOO-OOO-OOO

Halloween 2009 @ Blaker’s Park

2009-10-25T19:03:00.000Z

Fiveways Networking Group

2009-07-06T11:54:00.006+01:00

The Fiveways Networking Group ha been meeting at Birdcage Walk now for a number of months and a good number of local businesses have attended and contributed to the structure of the evening meetings.

The pattern that is emerging is to hold a monthly Monday meeting upstairs at Birdcage Walk, Fiveways at 7.30pm. All the details can be found on page 11 of the June edition of The Fiveways Directory.

The meeting dates for the rest of the year are:-

Monday July 13, 2009

Monday August 17, 2009

Monday September 14, 2009

Monday October 12th, 2009

Monday November 16th, 2009

Monday December 14th, 2009

The entrance fee for each meeting is £5 with tea and coffee provided. By booking 3 meetings at once, the fee is reduced to £12.

The meetings include a period of informal networking and then each attending business gets the opportunity to present their business to the rest of the Group for 60 seconds. Attendees will be able to pass out their business cards and will be encouraged to support local business by passing these cards on to prospective clients they may meet during the course of their working week.

A copy of each person's card will go into a bowl and, at the end of the evening, a draw will be taken with the winner receiving a prize.

Members of the Group will also be able to post descriptions of the services they offer on this web page.

The organisation of meetings and running of the Group has now been taken over by Fiveways resident Jennie Lawes, who runs the Inner Leaf business promoting Forever Living Aloe Vera products. You can contact her with enqiries about the Group on 01273 270501.

This Sunday - Art Show & Picnic Planning

2009-05-08T15:03:00.002+01:00

BLAKER’S PARK OPEN AIR ART DISPLAY
SUNDAY 10th MAY 2009

The Friends of Blaker’s Park are organising their first ever open air display of local art at the Tennis Courts on Sunday 10 May next from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It will be opened officially at 12 noon by Open House Art Show inventor Ned Hoskins.

Are you artistic in any way? Do you or any of your family create paintings, drawings, photographs, collages or even clothes and jewellery. If so, bring them along to show other local people. There are no prizes, just an opportunity to display what you have made. Remember that this art display is open to all, of any age, from toddlers to pensioners.

This first Blaker’s Park Art Display will be on the second Sunday of the Brighton Festival and we hope it will form the largest gallery wall in the city. The Park is surrounded by the Fiveways Artists’ Trail and the show will be opened by local artist, Ned Hoskins, who pioneered the first Open Houses back in the 1980s.

This display is not only for people who describe themselves as artists, but for anybody who has something which they have made and of which they are proud.

All are welcome.
HERE IS WHAT TO DO

1. Fix a hook or string to attach your entry to the tennis court fence.

2. Bring it to the desk by the Café between 11 a.m. and 11.45 a.m. on Sunday
10th May.

3. Pay a donation of 20p. to the Friends.

4. Give 30 minutes of your time during the day to act as an attendant at the site.

5. Take down your art between 5 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. that same day.

We hope for good weather on the 10th May and look forward to a lovely display.

Address queries to: Philip Smith, Chairman, Friends of Blaker’s Park, 109 Havelock Road, Brighton. Tel: 553330. e-mail: pccs109@yahoo.co.uk
Music planning meeting for picnic

The first planning meeting for the musical arrangements for this year's picnic will take place on Sunday 10th May in/around the Cleveland Pub directly after the official opening of the Blaker's Park Art Display which happens at 12 noon.

If you'd like to be involved in the running of the musical part of the picnic please feel free to turn up and make your mark.

We have arranged twice the stage area we had last year so we can plan for one act to be setting up while another is playing. We will need helpers in setting up stages and turning round acts. There may be opportunities for budding sound engineers to help our team headed by Roy Weard and Cliff Dowding. We will also need people to act as security in the back stage area and possibly to help performers with tuning up etc. A number of other tasks will no doubt be identified at the meeting.

Please come along if you'd like to help this great event which is fast becoming an annual festival that people talk about for the rest of the year!

for more details of the picnic go to www.myspace.com/bpcp2008

Fab Poster for Blaker's Park Community Picnic

2009-04-27T20:21:00.001+01:00

Fab Poster for Blaker's Park Community Picnic

Designed by Susan Sly of the Rockheart band. Thank you Susan!

The Woodstock theme is to celebrate 40 years since that momentous event took place.

We hope to ask each act appearing at BPCP2009 to consider inserting something into their performance in memory of that occasion. And we'd like to end the event with a monster jam/singalong on the Woodstock Theme. so put on your thinking caps and suggest songs to sing/play.

Please feel free to print off, duplicate, distribute and display the poster.

www.myspace.com/bpcp2008 http://blakerspark.blogspot.com

Thanks you

Abi Rhodes/Ian Lawes

BLAKER’S PARK OPEN AIR ART DISPLAY

2009-04-19T21:41:00.000+01:00

BLAKER’S PARK OPEN AIR

ART DISPLAY

SUNDAY 10th MAY 2009

The Friends of Blaker’s Park are organising their first ever open air display of local art at the Tennis Courts on Sunday 10 May next from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Are you artistic in any way? Do you or any of your family create paintings, drawings, photographs, collages or even clothes and jewellery. If so, bring them along to show other local people. There are no prizes, just an opportunity to display what you have made. Remember that this art display is open to all, of any age, from toddlers to pensioners.

This first Blaker’s Park Art Display will be on the second Sunday of the Brighton Festival and we hope it will form the largest gallery wall in the city. The Park is surrounded by the Fiveways Artists’ Trail and the show will be opened by local artist, Ned Hoskins, who pioneered the first Open Houses back in the 1980s.

This display is not only for people who describe themselves as artists, but for anybody who has something which they have made and of which they are proud.

All are welcome.
HERE IS WHAT TO DO

1. Fix a hook or string to attach your entry to the tennis court fence.

2. Bring it to the desk by the Café between 11 a.m. and 11.45 a.m. on Sunday
10th May.

3. Pay a donation of 20p. to the Friends.

4. Give 30 minutes of your time during the day to act as an attendant at the site.

5. Take down your art between 5 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. that same day.

We hope for good weather on the 10th May and look forward to a lovely display.

Address queries to: Philip Smith, Chairman, Friends of Blaker’s Park, 109 Havelock Road, Brighton. Tel: 553330. e-mail: pccs109@yahoo.co.uk

Blaker's Park Community Picnic

2009-04-04T22:08:00.002+01:00

This year's Blaker's Park Community Picnic is on Saturday 20th June from 11am till 6pm. So far we have Saravian, Dave Woozely, Caitlin Stubbs, Paradise9, That Legendary Wooden Lion, Jules Franks, Jack Psychosis and Xanthus lined up. We hope to present a number of new acts from the local area. Rising Star Pippa Drysdale has expressed an interest in performing but this will depend on her being able to timetable us before going off to Bramfest for her set later in the day.

We will have to be careful not to overbook what is really quite a short day but we may be able to fit in a few more acts provided we can build a big enough stage are which enables us to be setting up one band while another is performing. This will mean that performers will have to be not-too-precious in sound-checking etc

We will be pleased to accept offers of help backstage - as well as offers of equipment loans - mikes, stands, cables, stools, drumkit, etc

please get in touch:-

Abi Rhodes/Ian Lawes

35 Waldegrave Road, Brighton BN1 6GR

abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk

01273 270501

www.myspace.com/bpcp2008

http://blakerspark.blogspot.com/

147 - Maximum Break

2009-03-30T14:09:00.002+01:00

Blaker's Park Community Picnic 2009

2009-03-04T20:24:00.000Z

We are getting together a list of names of potential helpers for this year's picnic. Although the date has not yet been fixed we'd like to ask you to consider volunteering as early as possible.

Jobs on the day will include preparing and decorating park, stalls, setting up stage etc, marshalling bouncy castle, litter collection, general dogsbodying etc, etc, etc

Also anyone wishing to take on tasks prior to the event such as publicity, printing, liaison etc would be welcome to step forward too

please get in contact by emailing ianhowardlawes@lineone.net or ringing 01273 270501

In anticipation of your generosity - "Thanks"

HALLOWEEN 2008

2008-10-20T23:13:00.001+01:00

HALLOWEEN 2008

HALLOWEEN @ BLAKER'S PARK WILL BE CELEBRATED FROM 4 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER

ORGANISED BY DISHY'S CAFE

REALLY NASTY FOOD AND REVOLTING COCKTAILS

PUMPKIN LANTERN COMPETITION

DISGUSTINGLY HORRID FUN & GAMES

SCARY SOUNDS FROM Spin Doctors Mobile Disco

TOTALLY AND TRULY TERRIFYING COSTUME COMPULSORY

Abi Rhodes' Zigzag Wanderings

2008-04-29T17:01:00.000+01:00

Abi Rhodes' Zigzag Wanderings
Twenty Thousand Lemmings Can't be WrongBlaker’s Park Community Picnic 2008
Blaker’s Park Community Picnic 2008

If you’ve been in the Fiveways area for some time now, you will probably know that every year The Friends of Blaker’s Park hold a Community Picnic in the Park every year, in conjunction with the Stanford Avenue Spring Fair. The Picnic is essentially meant to be a break-even affair aimed at giving the local community chance to get together in a spirit of neighbourliness and enjoy some simple entertainment whilst sharing a bite and a beverage.

This year’s event is due to be staged on Saturday June 28th running from 11am till 6pm. So far, a number of plans have been hatched and preparations are being made as you read this. Besides the traditional attractions which occur as the Spring Fair, there will hopefully be a Bouncy Castle and a variety of fun and games. Entertainment will be provided by local bands – about 15 booked so far – linked together with music from Spin Doctors Mobile Disco. Any performer wishing to appear should contact Ian on 270501. Besides stage acts, we would welcome jugglers, acrobats and other entertainers who might like to busk it around the site, showing off to small groups of picnickers etc.

Food and drink will be available at Dishy’s wonderful Blaker’s Park Café and the Cleveland Public House for those who wish to supplement there own picnic and anyone who forgets to bring sustenance.

Any local group, society, business or individual wishing to run a side-show or a stall selling art and crafts, or workshops displaying activities and skills or demonstrating services such as therapies etc are welcomed – there is a charge of £10 for most of these – money which goes towards covering costs. Prior booking is advised and can be arranged by phoning Philip Smith on 553330.

We would be pleased also to hear from any person or group willing to help out with preparations and on the day itself. As well as the above-mentioned organisational stuff, there is distribution of publicity newsletters, tidying of the Park and Garden Beds, stage building and technical jobs associated with the music, decoration of the site, various stewarding tasks and litter clearance afterwards. The main burden of the work is usually shouldered by a few trusty stalwarts, but they will not always be available. New blood is always welcome both to lessen their load and to ensure continuity from one year till the next. So please consider offering your services – ring Philip on 553330 or Ian on 270501.

We look forward to welcoming you at Blaker’s Park for our 2008 Community Picnic. Please come with your hamper and a cheery smile. If we’re lucky we’ll all be blessed with a warm sunny day which will see us through till next year’s event!

Visit http://www.myspace.com/bpcp2008 to keep up to date on progress and news.

Abi Rhodes

Blaker's Park Community Picnic 2008

2008-04-13T15:45:00.001+01:00

... will be held on Saturday 28th June. Go to www.myspace.com/bpcp2008 to read full details.

If you wish to have a stall, perform or help out on the day please contact us at 01273 270501 and ask for Ian or email abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk

Xmas at Blakers Park

2007-12-19T08:27:00.000Z

This Saturday 22nd December 2008 - Blaker's Park

Sally of Dishy's Cafe has organised an afternoon of Christmas Joy

Santa will be there as well as Festive Food and Drink

Music provided by Spin Doctors Disco

Parakeets

2007-11-10T10:06:00.000Z

Last Saturday morning I was walking my dog in the region of Upper Lodges, Stanmer park when I heard an exotic bird call. It's origin seemed to be in a large Beech tree and i approached in order to identify the caller. Unfortunately a Crow arrived in the tree with the same idea and frightened the stranger away - it flew off in the direction of Stanmer village. And that was that...

...until this moerning when I was there again. And so was the bird. This time it flew across a gap in the canopy and I managed to see it in silhouette only and partially identify it as a parakeet of some sort. It then disappeared from both sight and sound. So I was not able to pursue it.

Hopefully I will come across it next time I visit the area.

There is a history of such exotics in the area. Hollingbury Woods was once [1970s-90s] as the home of upto 20 breeding ring-necked parakeets which made text books on the subject. These gradually dwindles and disappeared after the nesting tree which stood on a slope by the children's playground fell over one windy night.
Last winter, there was a bit of excitement in Waldegrave Road near Fiveways when a pair of green parrots with yellow faces arrived in the street regularly feeding on fruit of a particulalry abundant crab apple and the seed etc put out by residents. They stayed several weeks and were reported and photographed in local magazine 'The Fiveways Directory'. After disappearing for a few weeks they reappeared with a third bird in tow. Whether they had bred or not remains uncertain, but their residency this time was shrt-lived. As far as I know their present location or fate remains a mystery - as does their origin.

If you have any information on any of these matters I would be pleased to hear them. Meanwhile I shall try to keep you up to date on the Stanmer parakeet.

Fiveways Hosts Double World Film Premiere

2007-10-23T20:24:00.001+01:00

Fiveways Hosts Double World Film Premiere

On a balmy early autumn evening in October, The Red Carpet was rolled out across the yard of Balfour Junior School as not one, but two, hard-hitting new documentary films were released upon an unsuspecting public. The Shoot It For Yourself production company in association with BJS had pulled out all the stops been working overtime to make sure that “The Amazing Adventures Of A Plastic Bag” and “Revenge Of The Rubbish” were rushed through all the stages of post-production in time for this glamourous and prestigious event.

And what a glitzy affair it turned out to be. The Paparazzi were out in force led by representatives from ITV Local and the inimitable press-pack from Balfour Junior TV. Former Mayor and Mayoress of our city Mr Bob & Mrs Merle Carden were in attendance but their limelight was somewhat upstaged by the antics of Brighton & Hove Albion FC mascot and superstar Mr C Gulley, who entertained the expectant hoards of fans with demonstrations of his Prowess without the Ball.

The crowd was so vast and eager to see the blockbusting double-bill that, in the interests of Public Safety, it was decided to quickly organise 2 showings. So while the first audience was admitted to the auditorium, the remaining fans waere allowed to extend the pre-cinematic revelry by spending extra time and cash at the bar so professionally provided and run by The Friends of Balfour Association.

Once in at the main event, MC Mark eloquently introduced Head Teacher Mr Jones, replete in penguin suit and startling red dickie bow. The Head welcomed the assembled multitude and acknowledged the hard work of all the children, staff and helpers who had made these films and reality. He then called forward The Director Ms Fiona Adams who was presented with 2 dozen magnificent pink roses, and she in turn made the traditional acceptance on behalf of all concerned….

Once the formalities were over, the hall settled down to watch the movies they had all come to see.

“The Adventures Of A Plastic Bag,” much as expected, chronicled the ups and downs in the life of just one of the millions of bags consumed in the city each year. It concentrated on the dangers it presented to wildlife and the environment as it progressed through its seemingly endless existence. Particular emphasis was placed on the effect on marine ecology which seemed especially relevant to a City By The Sea. “Revenge Of The Rubbish” featured two vicious little items of litter – a plastic drinks bottle and a beer can who continually conspired to do their worst to spoil things for the planet and the population at large. Guest appearances by the ubiquitous Fat Boy Slim and artist Lou McCurdy, who spoke about the effects the rubbish has on city life, among many interviewees including students from Balfour provided some food for thought to the audience who went home with plenty to think about. A selection of Ms McCurdy’s sculptures made from beach-combed litter were on hand for all to appreciate.

Asked for his comments on the films, Mayor Carden described the work of the film-makers as both “Fantastic” and “Educational.” And he recalled days gone by when he’d been sent to the corner shop for two pounds of potatoes and a pat of butter armed only with a few pennies and a string bag – never a plastic bag or packaging other than a sheet of greasproof in sight. And the response to the same question from Gulley?? Merely, “Kaaaargh!”

**** DVDs of both films are available in a single package from WigWam at Fiveways

Halloween Party @ Blaker's Park

2007-10-09T12:27:00.000+01:00

Halloween Party in Blaker's Park 2007

Halloooooo.....!!!!!!!!!

It's time to get out your scary cossies and get down to Blaker's park for the annual Halloween bash. Sally at the Cafe has organised all sorts of goodies to eat and join in with. Special scary food, lantern competition, apple bobbing etc etc etc.
Music supplied by Spin Doctors Mobile disco.

Witching Hours 4pm- 9pm. Wednesday October 31st - of course!

Come for a trick or Treat

SUMMER BRIDWATCHING

2007-07-23T11:17:00.000+01:00

This is a fairly quiet time of year for birdwatching. The breeding season is more or less complete for many species – although certain residents will have several broods over a good summer – and many birds are concentrating on feeding up before their return migration - often in places where they are less easily seen. The deciduous trees are fully clothed with leaf-cover and much of the feeding goes on high up in the canopy. The countryside is loaded with bounty so many town birds have escaped to feed in quieter areas.
Birdwatchers have to rely on their summer vacations to bring interest to their activity. Its well worth finding out what species you can expect to see when you go abroad in advance as English Language field-guides are often hard to find when you’re actually there. If you can’t find what you need in the library or local bookshop, then go on the Net to get a good choice of material. It’s also useful to look with titles such as ‘Where to Watch Birds in Rubovia’ As these will point you to the best locations near your holiday destination. A day or two’s birding can make a foreign visit that much more interesting once you’ve exhausted the beach, the shops and the local tourist haunts.
Much the same applies if you’re holidaying in the UK. Different parts of the country can offer quite differing types of birding. Mountain and Moorland, Marsh and Fen, North and West, Coast and Country all present varied habitats and a whole new list of possibilities. What’s common here may be a rarity there and vice versa. Again, find out before you go and plan a birding excursion into your trip. Of course, RSPB reserves are always a good bet for seeing something unusual but be aware that summer is also quieter there in many cases.

When you come home again, perhaps you could be thinking about making or updating your provision for birds in your garden. Do your feeders need cleaning or replacing? The sooner you start providing food, the bigger your contingent of garden regulars will be by the time autumn and winter start diminishing the natural food sources. But you must keep the feeders replenished once you start feeding or else the birds that come to rely on you will go hungry. You may care to obtain a book like Robert Burton’s ‘Birdfeeder Garden’. This is an excellent guide to things you can do to attract and nurture birdlife in your own habitat. Besides notes on feeders, bird-tables and so forth, it has plenty of ideas about planting to attract birds – shrubs with suitable berries, plants to encourage insects which birds feed on. There’s advice on ponds and other habitat ideas, plans for a variety of standard and specialist nesting boxes, which you might like to construct on otherwise dull and dingy autumn weekends.
We have heard a lot, in recent years, about the decline in the numbers of common bird species such as the House Sparrow. By making quite simple provision in your garden you can contribute to the task of supporting declining birdlife, which has to be a positive outcome of what often starts out as the quite innocent pastime of birdwatching. With many of us doing this, there is a cumulative effect and in no time a species can recover from virtual extinction. Not only that, for quite a modest investment, you can gain hours of enjoyment and entertainment from the amusement generated by a handful of little brown jobs squabbling over food in your garden!

Ian Lawes
ianhowardlawes@lineone.net
http://abi-rhodes.typepad.com

Blaker's park Community Picnic 2007

2007-06-19T22:26:00.001+01:00

LAST ORDERS PLEASE!

Well, Blaker's Park Community Picnic 2007 has come and gone

I think it was pretty much a successful event. The weather was kind to us - a bit gloomy at times and draughty too but in some ways that was better than blazin' hot sun which we've had some years when it got like wading through treacle or the terrific thunder starm we had a couple of years ago just after we'd started. It only started drizzling just as we were packing up this year so no major problems were caused.

There seemed to be a few more stalls and activities this year and people apparently enjoyed most of what was on offer. The numbers attending were somewhat down but I think this can be put down to two things. One might have been the uncertainty in weather prospects putting people off risking picnicing. The main thing though was the absence of Rock's Kool - I think a large part of previous crowds have been frinds and families of the kids playing in the bands.

However the difference in atmosphere was quite remarkable. Previously everything seemed to centre around the music, which impinged on everyone else's enjoyment or otherwisw of the event. this year it was altogether more relaxed with music from the disco for the most part just providing a pleasant backdrop to the partiicipation in the various activities on offer. There were a small number of performances which punctuated the day, but I think these enhanced this relaxed atmosphere rather than interfered with it.

Last Orders, a newly formed troubadour rock band were the first to entertain us with their pleasant mix of covers and self-penned ditties. The present 2-piece line up of drummer & singer/guitarist came over as confident and very much at home as performers despite this being only their 2nd public appearance. They want to expand into a quartet including a fiddler, so anyone whose interested should contact them.

Fiveways Quartet was next up - impressive as their combined ages probably only just exceeded that of the deejay - they wowed us with their renditions of their own jazz originals and standards such as Dave Brubeck's Take Five. the line-up - sax, keyboard, bass & drums - worked well together and perhaps with a few more gigs under their belts they could become contenders for National recognition. thanks go to last Orders for leaving their mike-stand for their use.

Saravian arrived by bike, entertained us in her very gentle and inimitable way with songs ranging from one in the style of a less morose Nick Drake to a fabulous arrangement of Joanie Mitchell's Woodstock and then turned out to be worth her weight in gold as she generously loaned all her equipment to following artistes.

Jazmine Ava was scheduled as our last act and she enchanted us with her humour and very professional singer/songwriter style of folk-pop. she oozed confidence and enchanted us all.

Just as we thought all the excitement was over, a lady calling herself, simply, Al stepped up and using borrowed equipment, enthralled the kids in particular with her sublimely funny singalong and act-out children's song, covering subjects from dinosaurs to food. They were hilarious and had little budding stars queuing up to sing into the mike and hopefully not make it too soggy!

If we do it all again next year, I think it would be good to keep the same sort of atmosphere so even if Rockskool can return perhaps they could be encouraged to bring performers who can perform in this vain.

Anyway - thanks to all those who gave their services so freely and willingly.

A great day was had by all.

Up A Gumtree???

2007-06-03T13:08:00.000+01:00

Brighton Gumtree is a brilliant site for info and ads about Community Events and Small Ads of all kinds.

I have directed you to the Brighon section but press the link anyway if you're somewhere else and you can navigate to your locality.

HELP!!!!!

2007-05-17T20:50:00.000+01:00

Every year The Friends of Blaker's Parkhold a Community Picnic in the
Park

Traditionally we have always been able to provide live music as the
main entertainment at the event and it has usually been presented by
the brilliant Rock's Kool organisation which enables local youngsters
to develop their musical skills and form bands to perform to their
families, friends and the public

This year our Picnic will take place on Saturday 16th June between
11am and 5pm but sadly Rock's Kool is not available to perform.

So we are looking for performers and bands who would like to perform
short sets (about 15 minutes) through the day

We have got a couple of bands lined up at present but need several
more

Sadly we are unable to provide any offer of payment but performers
are
welcome to pass the hat should they be so inclined

There will be an electrical supply available but acts will need to
bring their own amps, mikes etc or go acoustic

If anyone is interested they should contact me, Abi Rhodes via

01273 270501

or

abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk

1984 is here again

2007-02-10T20:30:00.000Z

Big brother is watching us....please consider signing this petition, or perhaps you already did?
...my name will be there right now! Happy motoring

If you drive a car, please read - Sarah Kennedy was talking about this proposed car tax scheme on Radio 2. Apparently there is only one month left to register your objection to the 'Pay As You Go' road tax.

The petition is on the 10 Downing St website but they didn't tell anybody about it. Therefore at the time of Sarah's comments only 250,000 people had signed it and 750,000 signatures are required for the government to at least take any notice.

Once you've given your details (you don't have to give your full address, just house number and postcode will do), they will send you an email with a link in it. Once you click on that link, you'll have signed the petition.
The government's proposal to introduce road pricing will mean you having to purchase a tracking device for your car and paying a monthly bill to use it. The tracking device will cost about £200 and in a recent study by the BBC, the lowest monthly bill was £28 for a rural florist and £194 for a delivery driver. A non working mother who used the car to take the kids to school paid £86 in one month.

On top of this massive increase in tax, you will be tracked. Somebody will know where you are at all times. They will also know how fast you have been going, so even if you accidentally creep over a speed limit in time you can probably expect a Notice of Intended Prosecution with your monthly
bill.

If you are concerned about this Orwellian plan and want to stop the constant bashing of the car driver, please sign the petition on No 10's new website (link below) and pass this on to as many people as possible.

Sign up if you value your freedom and democratic rights -

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax

Crying Shame

2007-01-16T17:34:00.000Z

It is almost impossible to pick up a leaflet issued by B&H City Council without being struck by the PC virtues it apparently espouses. Whether it be their consideration for the environment, the concern they lavish on minority and disadvantaged groups or the lip-service they pay in encouraging community initiatives, they impress by the commitment they seem to give to every section of our very diverse society.

The Fiveways area is noted for a lack of facilities for the youth in its community and The Children's Musical Playhouse, currently operating from Beaconsfield Road, has been struggling to fill a gap in the culture of the area for several years now. Apart from the classes in music and dance provided to the children of local families, there have been successful projects working with handicapped and mental health groups - the very sections of the community the Council is so keen to support.

I was therefore saddened and somewhat surprised to hear that the Environmental Health Department has just refused to allow the music workshop to carry on its normal activities from the present address. This is about the sixth time this popular and worthwhile organisation has had to seek new accommodation. It must be very frustrating indeed for the folk who have put so much effort into developing each venue as they have moved from place to place. It is a mark of the importance and commitment they have in the community that supporters have not allowed them to become totally discouraged to the point of giving up. This is not to mention the amount of expense incurred and the time wasted in finding new funding at each relocation.

Is the Council incapable of putting its money where its mouth is by finding this excellent community initiative a permanent home from where it can get on with the job it has striven so hard to do for so many years without having to worry just how much longer it has to wait before it is forced to move on yet again?

Embassy Court

2005-12-20T21:58:00.000Z

Thanks to Fred's Blog I came across this site giving a virtual tour of the recently refurbished Embassy Court on the seafront

Although the site doesn't seem to operate perfectly, I thought it might prove to be of interest to local residents who don't yet know about it

Christmas Dishy

2005-12-20T21:35:00.000Z

Well, the event in Blaker's park on Sunday was, I think, an unqualified success.

Despite traffic problems in Bournemouth Santa arrived just a few minutes late and dished out prezzies to lots of good little girls and boys who came to see him in his grotto and he only managed to make one or two of them cry

The music played all afternnon while folk strolled in the park, played in the playground or just sat and sipped tea and read the Sunday papers

The cafe did its usual roaring trade in coffee & cake and supplemented these with hot toddies and seasonal fayre and the occasional hot dog

Then at 6 o'clock, their mummies and daddies all took them home to...

No that's wrong...

At six o'clock crowds gathered carrying torches and lanterns to sing carols and imbibe good cheer

A thoroughly good time was had by all

Thank you once again Dishy for all you've done for the Park and the local community throughout 2005

We look forward to more of the same in 2006

REALLIFEISGOODENOUGH

2005-12-15T19:44:00.000Z

REALLIFEISGOODENOUGH

Had a great night out at the Komedia on Monday

As I told you last week I was going to see my friend Sam Walker aka The Muel performing both on his todd and as the backing band for John Watts - ex-Fischer-Z

It was a storming night out

They played a zonking set of the first order and confirmed that the fashion in recent years for duos (White Stripes) etc is fully justified in economic terms

There's just no need for the full orchestra when you've got a good singer and a totally empathetic multi-instrumentalist sidesperson

John is an absolute hoot - his sense of humour is right off the scale and his songs are funny, pithy, pathetic and everything else you could wish them to be
His style varies from Neil Young heavy grungy Country Rock (particularly good on the Rust Never Sleeps and Freedom type sounds) to 70s punk and all stops in between
He jumps about like a slow-motion Pete Townshend - someone once said every teenager's fantasy is to be in the Who - John is living this fantasy at 50!

Sam's drumming and melodica playing (!) was shit hot - very funky but tight to the extent of anal retention and was able to follow John's every wayward twist and turn

The photo is a bit out of date - they didn't look 1/4 as studious as that but I forgot to take my camera - sorry!

About 100 were in the audience and although many were clearly existing fans of one or the other musician it was clear that those who'd just come along for the ride had a stonking good time too

REALLIFEISGOODENOUGH is the title of the current CD album release
www.johnwatts.co.uk is Watt's website - visit it to try the sample track and then buy it!

The outfit deserves much wider recognition & appreciation than it currently has in the UK - they're huge in Germany apparently - but it's nice to feel part of a very well kept secret

Turning Green this Chrissie?

2005-12-12T18:17:00.000Z

Hello Abi

Two dates - one mission:

To dance, drink have a stonking great time with as many of you as possible before Christmas. Our present to you is our new show which we like to call 'The Wind Free Opera Show'. It contains the cream of our old favourites mixed up with our freshest new tunes - all naturally stuffed full with dirty grooves for your pleasure.

First off we'll be at the Landsdown on Station Street in Lewes (near Brighton) this Saturday the 17th.

Then it's to the Lion on Church Street in Stoke Newington (London N16) on Thursday the 22nd.

We hope you can join us on one of these dates - if not we'll take this opportunity to wish you a very fine Christmas!

Whoop!

Dunstanmattsamanddan

TURNING GREEN

ITV Local Brighton

2005-12-11T20:51:00.000Z

Copied from GavPOLITICS

ITV is piloting a local TV station for Brighton and another for Hastings.

This is the start of a new era in television - use of the internet to reach an audience smaller than is economical or logistically possible using traditional transmission methods. And the omnipresent BBC is planning to do something similar soon.

A brief watch this afternoon has convinced me that this is the future. In the connected home where this can be streamed onto TVs in living rooms and where internet TV and Freeview/satellite can be switched between seamlessly, the very local focus of the channel will have many, many viewers.

The weather forecast is focused on the Brighton area with attention directed from Worthing to Newhaven along the coast and not as far north as Crawley. There are separate, concurrent channels showing News and Sport, Weather, What’s On, Classified Ads, locally-produced films and a couple of others I haven’t watched yet.

The channel’s not completely finished yet - you cannot upload content or classified ads yet - but the power to communicate via the televisual medium to a very local audience will be very, very useful.

ITV Local

I do believe it is long past the time we should have been able to watch BBC television on the internet - but I can see the licence fee problem for this availability… But commercial television (Channel Four and ITV) - they’ve got nothing to lose by having a new audience consuming their adverts! I look forward to further exploitation of the internet’s potential!

Montreal Summit

2005-12-11T20:32:00.000Z

I'd just like to say how pleased I am that the summit came to such a positive end. The Americans will be damned whatever they choose to do and there is some evidence that they have achieved as much not having subscribed to Kyoto as most of those who did.

Before we get bogged down by the avalanche of cynicism that will now start in the the wake of the summit, I just want to say well done to all those concerned for this magnificent achievement.

Many of us have who have 'light green' credentials will see this as real and genuine progress - I know there are plenty of deep green fascists and anti-globalisationists who will pour on plenty of scorn - I hope they choke on it!

Dishy's Christmas Celebrations - Blaker's Park

2005-12-10T11:05:00.000Z

Sunday 18th December

Santa's Grotto open from 3pm till 6pm

Seasonal Music and Popular Tunes of the Day from Spin Doctors Mobile Disco

Then Carol Singing led bySam Whiting and her group. Song sheets provided. Bring a lantern or torch to Light up the Park

Mince Pies, Hot Toddies, Dishy's Special Hot Dogs

Bring the Family to a great afternon of Festive Fun

Last year some 200 folk came along to make a great event - let's make it even bigger this year.

???Why not come in Fancy Dress???

Let me have digitised photos of the event and I will put them up for the World to See

Dispersal Notice for Fiveways Area

2005-12-10T10:26:00.000Z

I should have posted on this matter before.

It seems to me that although the problems of teenage behaviour around the area at night seems to have grown recently, the response to issue a dispersal order is a particularly heavy handed and negative way of responding to the issue.

Firstly I dislike intensely the fact that the authorities think it's OK to communicate with the local community by sticking up notices on lamposts as if they were planning applications. It smacks of distain for the intelligence of the population at large. The notice includes an invitation to direct comments to Chief Inspector Kerry Cox on 0845 607999. It has proved almost impossible to get through to this person directly and promises of a response to comments have not been kept. Has anyone managed to speak to her?

Where was the public consultation before this draconian action was taken? No-one I have spoken to was aware of any.
Why didn't the Council or the Police call a Public Meeting to discuss this issue and see whether any positive steps could be taken to occupy the kids more constructively in the evenings.

I have commented many times before that in so-called affluent middle class areas such as this the Young are very poorly catered for and are the most easily ignored until they find themselves in trouble. Those facilities which are available cater to an agenda - sport, church, anti-drugs etc - but there is essentially nothing for kids to do that allow them to set their own agendas. It's a great shame that the scheme for a Community Centre on the St Augustine's site came to nothing. So much for the C of E showing an interest in community needs.

Can we not utilise all those playing fields and school buildings which stand idle evenings, weekends and holiday times? There is an excellent resource for a wide variety of community led opportunites for our youngsters and others.

It would appear the only way to get things done around here is to make a big noise about it. No-one wants sensible discussion on the subjects of the recycling scheme or wheelie bins, it seems. They just cause a holler - whether it gets them anywhere I'm not sure. But if you feel passionately about the welfare of our kids - the next generation of responsible (or otherwise) citizens and future leaders of our community, perhaps it's time to start kicking up a fuss!

News from Blaker's Park

2005-12-10T10:18:00.000Z

Issue 43 of the Friends of Blaker's Park Newsletter is being distributed at the moment. It contains a variety of news and views relevant to local residents including...

Details of the visit of a Very Important Person to the Park on 18th December
Notes from the AGM and synopsis of the illustrated talk on the history of Brighton Station
Teenagers & Dispersal Order
The Blaker Family
Update on Toilets for the Park - due next Spring hopefully
An idea for a new picnic table
The Community Composting Scheme
Midland bank refurbishment
Fire at St augustine's Church
New Pub Licensing arrangements

If you are not within the usual distribution area and would like to find out about any of this or how to join the Friends please call Philip Smith on 553330

2005-12-09T22:49:00.000Z

Cover of "Rough in the Bedroom"

The Muel

Doin' anything Monday evening?

2005-12-09T21:44:00.000Z

Doin' anything Monday evening?

I am

I'm going down to the Komedia in Sydney Street.

A great friend of mine is appearing Live from 7pm

The Show stars John Watts - poet/musician who made his name back in the 70s as Fisher Z - better known in Germany than here in Blighty

He is supported by Sam Walker aka The Muel, who will also be performing music from his home grown album 'Rough in the Bedroom'

Go to the website

Rough in the Bedroom to find out more about this. I will be reviewing the album very soon on my other blog
Spin Doctors Disco
very soon - so watch out for that

Anyway back to the gig .... entrance is a mere £7, concessions (whatever they are) £5

Hope to see you there

Thanks to The Fiveways Directory

2005-12-09T21:25:00.000Z

Once again I must thank Tim Clark for mentioning this blog in the December edition of The Fiveways Directory.

You can contact Tim on 01273 562691 or email info@fivewaysdirectory.com

Here are a few up-and-coming highlights stolen from the Calendar pages....

Mobile Library in Sandgate Road 11-12.30 Wednesday 14th & 21st December

Learn African Body Percussion - St Augustines Church 5.45pm Thursdays 8th, 15th & 22nd December

Fathers Who Football - Saturdays 10th,17th & 24th December - Preston Park
contact Mal by email - fatherswhofootball@hotmail.co.uk

Once again I ask for your news of events or information concerning the Fiveways area so that this site can grow into a useful service to the Local Community.

Any local club & society organisers or even traders are welcome to submit articles about their activities, offers etc - it'll cost you nothing - but a pint wouldn't go amiss!

contact me at abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk

What's Happening

2005-11-27T17:17:00.000Z

Please let us know of any events you are organising or you are aware of coming soon in the Fiveways area
email me at

abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk

or list details in the comments section below

and i will put them up for all to see!

Christmas Celebration in Blaker's Park

2005-11-27T17:11:00.000Z

Advance Warning

Sunday 18th December will see Dishy's Cafe stage some fun for all the family

Last Year we had Santa's Grotto, Carol Singing, and music from Spin Doctors Mobile Disco

What will be on the menu this year?

Check back here for news soon

Sorry Folks

2005-11-04T13:35:00.000Z

Hi
I've been getting so many spam comments, I've had to turn on word verification for comments. Sorry for the inconvenience this causes but please do leave legitimate comments even if it takes those few extra seconds

Thank you Sally

2005-11-02T17:40:00.000Z

A big thank you is due to Sally Griffiths and her cafe crew Tony, Kirsty and the rest for the brilliant Halloween party in Blaker's Park, Brighton on Monday.
There were games such as apple bobbing and donut-on-a-string, a lantern competition and fancy dress. Hot dogs and free mulled wine were on offer as well as an array of halloween fayre. And entertainment from Spin Doctors Mobile Disco -
http://spindoctorsdisco.blogspot.com

THANK YOU SALLY _ YOU HAVE BROUGHT A NEW LIFE TO THE PARK OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

we're all looking forward to the next do - Saturday December 17th - Santa Special

See You There

New weblog

2005-10-28T09:30:00.000+01:00

try
http://fhbw.blogspot.com/
for news and information about The Friends of Hollingbury & Burstead Woods

Book Liberation Front

2005-08-18T20:59:00.000+01:00

Commit random acts of literacy! http://www.bookcrossing.com/friend/AbiRhodes
Book Crossing is fun
when you've enjoyed a story, do you REALLY want it to sit gathering dust on a shelf ad infinitum?
If not, liberate it on an unsuspecting world
Join Book Crossing & register the book
Put one of their labels in the book
release it - leave it to be found by a friendly passer-by
follow its progress on its intergalactic travels by tracking it on the website
Sounds like anarchy, sounds like fun
Go on - spoil yourself Go get book crossed!

Sweet Relief

2005-08-12T10:37:00.000+01:00

I don't wish to get involved in the debate as to whether, taking inflation into account, spending 20pence to use the new facilities at Brighton Station compares well with the penny of byegone eras.
I would however like to argue that the ease with which one can use a decent public toilet when one needs to is a significant indicator of just how civilised a modern society may be.
Sadly, nowadays, both as a city and nation, Brighton and UK fail miserably.
I'd like us to take a leaf out of Spain's book where it is a legal requirement, I believe, that cafes, bars, hotels and restaurants are obliged tyo make their toilet facilities available to the general public, whether or not the person is conducting any other 'business' at the establishment.
To encourage this practice here in Britain, proprietors could perhaps be offered the incentive of a 'relief' on their commercial rates bill. It would have the added possibility that once someone hads entered the premises they might be tempted to spend more than the intended penny!

Brighton Stuff Shop

2005-08-08T23:09:00.000+01:00

I've just started a new blog

http://stuffshop.blogspot.com/

check it out please

Thank You

Win! Win! Win!

2005-08-08T22:43:00.000+01:00

Music Lovers may wish to know that an opportunity to win tickets to see The magnificent Kronos Quartet performing in Londinium in October will (hopefully) be appearing soon in the Spin Doctors Mobile Disco blog at
http://spindoctorsdisco.blogspot.com
very soon
Keeping checking to be the first on your street to enter

What's Happening?

2005-08-08T21:58:00.000+01:00

Here's a selection of local events coming shortly

Anyone concerned in running them is welcome to add comments or email me with further details of the event or their organisation. This also applies to anyone wishing to notify other events. Thanks in advance

Wed. 10th, 24th August - mobile library Sandgatate Road - 11am- 12.30

Sat 13th, 20th, 27th Aug, 3rd Sept - Fathers who Football - 9-10am Preston Park - contact fatherswhofootball@hotmail.co.uk

Sat 3rd Sept - Hollingbury Bowls Club Charity Day 10.30am - 3pm in aid of Martletts Hospice

Sat 3rd Sept - Hollingdean Good Neighbour Scheme - Cream Tea & Fun Afternoon - St Richards Church, Beale Crescent

Sat 10th Sept - Hollingbury Park Avenue Street Party 1 5pm - in the street & St Matthias Church Hall

All the above are gleaned from the absolutely essential FIVEWAYS DIRECTORY - monthly mag of community news - contact Tim on 01273 562 691

Beautiful Brighton Marina???????

2005-08-02T21:27:00.000+01:00

Have you been down to the Marina lately?If you haven't, then get yer arse down there pronto. You will witness one of the Wonders of the Western World.I'm not talking about the fabulous sand sculptures at Black Rock - but they need to be viewed in all their fantastic kitsch glory before they're removed in September - they are great.No, I want you to stroll along the main road through the Marina passing The Seattle Hotel and the Walk of Fame - and imagine you are strolling along Ocean Boulevard in Los Angeles. You will be aided in this flight of fancy by the recent addition to the landscape of a regiment of carefully positioned PLASTIC PALM TREES!!!!!!!
Naff - or what? You tell me!
I'll take my camera next time I go to prove it!

Double Yellows

2005-07-21T22:56:00.000+01:00

There's more trouble brewing round here in Fiveways.It's to do with a reported proposal to put double yellow lines 5 yards each side of all the road junctions in the Golden Triangle. This is not a new idea - it has been proposed and rejected before. It's bloody stupid!

Now we appreciate that parking on corners is a nuisance and needs to be discouraged - it causes danger for motorist and pedestrian alike. But the extent of the yellow lines is what's open to question. 2 yards each side of junctions would be plenty.

It's been calculated that the 5 yard proposal would take awat some 50 or so parking spaces from the area. We poor residents have been struggling not to get into double parking at night for some years now and often have to walk a couple of streets to get home after an evening out. There is just not enough parking as it is!

What are the council's motives for this threat? I guess it's a neat way into putting meters in the streets round here. Like they've done quite unnneccessarily in Port Hall and other parts of town. This means residents will have to purchase annual parking permits. Of course it's all about generating income for their coffers.

I suppose this means another boring campaign against council madness. With embarrassing exchanges between the fascistic minions of Jenny Rowlands and the locals who think they're oh-so-radical in their approach to living here. It's a shame they can't all get together to produce some local resources of real value - a community centre, youth activities, elderly persons clubs etc rather than expending so much hot air.

What do we elect our councillors for if not to fight our corner for us - they seem incapable of doing so. We rejected cabinet style local government a couple of years ago but it seems to have arrived by the back door. That's Leninism for you!

Anyway I suppose we'd better get together and kick this daft proposal into touch pronto and then move onto something more productive - but I suspect the radicals will go back into their shells until there's something else to get ANGRY about!

Fiveways Directory

2005-07-13T10:02:00.000+01:00

Many thanks to Fiveways Directory for the mention in the Community Pages of this month's issue.

Any of you who have discovered this site as a result - welcome and thanks for checking it out.
You will notice that the postings have been a bit thin lately - this being due to holidays. But I'm back now and I'm looking forward to receiving details of your local news and events ready for posting.

Please send them to abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk and please tell your friends to check out the site.
The more people visiting and sending in details - the better and more useful the site will prove to be.

Fiveways Directory is delivered to every home in Fiveways.
It is published from 10 Hollingbury Road, BN1 7JA.
Contact on 01273 562691, fax 01273 501913, email info@fivewaysdirectory.com

Music programme for Blaker's Park Community Picnic

2005-06-17T23:00:00.000+01:00

and some advice for performers

Running Order For Blaker’s Park – Saturday 25 June
11.30 – 1.30 then 2.30 – 4.30. Everyone is Welcome.
Please remember to ensure that your guitars are labelled both on the case and on the inside with both your name and the name of your band
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before you are due on stage. This gives us a chance to tune your guitars and for you to get yourselves ready.
11.30 A Resounding Thumbs Up
11.40 Jaffa
11.50 Cloud Runner
12.00 Farmyard Boys
12.10 Spotlight
12.20 Big Wig
12.30 Band of Many Hats
12.40 Glasnost
12.50 Ideosynchrisy
1.00 New DT
1.10 Tangled Web
1.15 Taste of Tarmac
Spoilt
1.25 Minty and Alex
1.30 – 2.30 Break for Covers Band.
2.30 Last of the Silver Skins
2.40 Memphis Reigns
2.50 Taste of Tarmac
2.55 Rebel Yell
3.05 Pulse
3.15 Ravens
3.20 New Band 14
3.30 Trio (The Nigels)
3.40 Between The Acts
3.50 Mad Hatters
4.00 Middle Finger
4.10 Undone
4.20 Methadone Pretty

Some Forthcoming Events

2005-06-06T21:55:00.000+01:00

Saturday 11th June - St Matthias Church Summer Fair 11am-3pm
Saturday 25th June - St Bernadette's Primary School Summer Fair 11am-4pm
Saturday 25th June - Blaker's Park Community Picnic & Summer Fair 11.30am-4.30pm
Saturday 2nd July - Hollingdean Festival 11am-10.30pm

Send us dates you know about please so that we can make the list as comprehensive as possible.

Plea to visitors to this blog

2005-06-05T20:31:00.000+01:00

If you know of events of any nature happening soon in the Fiveways area or nearby, we want to publicise it for you. All we ask in return is that you undertake to tell your friends and neighbours about this weblog, so that we can continue to expand the frontiers of communication locally.
We are also happy to post items advertising shops, businesses, goods and services acvailable in the area. No charge, but the same sort of reciprocation appreciated! Why not respond by pressing the 'comments' button below?

FRIENDS OF BLAKER’S PARK COMMUNITY PICNIC

2005-06-05T20:05:00.000+01:00

FRIENDS OF BLAKER’S PARK
______________________________________________________
COMMUNITY PICNIC
& SUMMER FAIR
(Jointly with Stanford Avenue Methodist Church)
__________________________
SATURDAY
25th JUNE 2005
__________________________
11.30a.m. to 4.30p.m.
__________________________
DISHY’S CAFÉ BARBECUE ROCKSKOOL STUDENTS
PARACHUTE GAMES CAKES& JAMS
PLATE SMASHING STALLS
BRING A PICNIC AND
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS

Spin Doctors Disco will be appearing at this event playing Nostalgic Music between acts of Rockskool's Student bands.
For further details of Rockskool please visit http://www.rockskool.co.uk/

Jennie Lawes will also be present with her stall of information about and stock of Forever Living Aloe Vera and Propolis products to meet your health needs.

New local blog

2005-06-03T09:36:00.000+01:00

http://spindoctorsdisco.blogspot.com/ for news and information from Spin Doctors Mobile Disco

Hollingbury Goes Wild

2005-06-01T16:53:00.000+01:00

FHBW

Posted by Hello
HOLLINGBURY GOES WILD
FREE GUIDED WALK
Explore the area - identify trees, wild flowers, birds and butterflies
&Learn about the work of The Friends of Hollingbury & Burstead Woods

SATURDAY 4TH JUNE
A WALK IN THE HOLLINGBURY WILD PARK LOCAL NATURE RESERVE
LED BY LOCAL BIRDER PETER WHITCOMB
GATHER BY WOODBOURNE GARAGE, DITCHLING ROAD
FOR PROMPT 9am START
(parking by recycle bins opposite)
for further details phone 270501

Local Blogger alert.

2005-06-01T15:48:00.000+01:00

For anyone who is not sure, a blog or web log is a sort of online diary which is like a website but much easier to maintain on a day-to-day basis by someone who is unfamiliar or can't be bothered with regular web design. It free or very cheap to run depending which provider you blog with and the level of sophistication you require. To start your own blog try Blogger - click the icon in the top left corner of this page - it's free and pretty easy to use.
http://abi-rhodes.typepad.com/abi_rhodes_zigzag_wanderi/ is a blog posted by a local Fiveways resident and covers items of local interest as well as general, more global, stuff. Abi is particularly involved in writing a music column and record reviews for a bi-monthly tabloid for consumers of cannabis and supporters of moves to get the herb legalised. Most of Abi's published items also appear on the blog.
Check out www.ccnewz.com for further details of that paper. Any local bands looking for exposure please contact Abi at abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk - Abi will review your releases on the blog even if they fail to be published in CCNewz.

Any other local bloggers wishing to attract the attention of Fiveways residents please put your details including URL, email addy and description of the nature of your blog into the comments section below.

A comprehensive list of Brighton Blogs can be found at
http://www.brightonbloggers.com/blog/

Happy blogging.

2005-06-01T15:43:00.000+01:00

Aloe vera
Posted by Hello

ALOE VERA – A VERSATILE AND VALUABLE PLANT

2005-06-01T14:58:00.000+01:00

ALOE VERA – A VERSATILE AND VALUABLE PLANT
by Jennie Lawes
Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the most potent) is one amazing plant. It has been valued by communities across the globe for centuries. Its aliases give you a clue as to why. Natural Healer. Miracle Plant. The Burn Plant. Wand of Heaven. The Potted Physician. And so on.
The plant has spiky leaves with a tough rind surrounding an outer sap layer and an inner gel layer. Aloe Vera is a succulent but don’t be fooled. While the gel is brilliant to take internally and externally, it is an acquired taste as a drink. A friend described it as unpalatable at best and downright disgusting at worst. I quite like it, but then I like raw lemon, curly kale and mustard sandwiches.
So what do people use it for?
One area where people find relief with symptoms is problems with the epithelial tissue (skin and body linings, in the gut and the bronchial tubes for example). These include ulcers, burns, eczema, acne and psoriasis. It also includes some bowel problems, including diverticulits and irritable bowel. Aloe vera gel contains lignin, which allows the healing properties to penetrate deep into the layers of skin.
The other main area of benefit is symptoms arising from weakened, heightened or inappropriate immune responses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
We live in age like no other before us. Since the 1950s we have been subject to intensive farming and the ‘miracle’ of modern medicine. Food contains fewer nutrients, even the good stuff. Pollutants (including those free radicals – ban barbies now!) have increased and our bodies have been the playground of steroids and antibiotics. Quite a change from the conditions most bodies have contended with since caveman days. And only a few decades to adapt in. No wonder we fail in droves, succumbing to physical and emotional stress.
One thing aloe vera gel can do in spades is to provide missing nutrients – and some useful side effects. It contains:
antioxidant vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E to soak up those free radicals
vitamin B12
essential minerals including zinc and copper
anti-inflammatory plant sterols and enzymes
saporins, which fight bacteria, fungi and yeasts
sugars that have been seen to have a beneficial effect on the working of the immune system
amino acids that the body needs but cannot generate – that means you’ve got to eat them
natural painkilling elements
But don’t go rushing out to buy an aloe vera plant and expect to be able to cure all your ills. As with all complementary herbal remedies, results differ. I have spoken to people who have had wonderful relief but also some who have seen no benefit (no worsening of symptoms but no benefit).
Because aloe vera gel has such a wide range of uses, specialist products have been developed for a large number of these. The gel in the aloe vera leaf can be used in its natural state and is excellent but will oxidise quickly – cut the leaf and you will soon see that it has started to heal over and the cut piece starts to go brown. You can buy stabilised aloe vera gel but should make sure that the gel is the main ingredient rather than water and that the product carries the seal of the International Aloe Science Council.
Aloe vera gel is a great general tonic and an amazing first aid kit. People drink it themselves and give it to their pets. They keep it by the stove for burns and in the car to treat sunburn and insect bites. It is used for personal care in all its forms – washing, shampooing, cleaning teeth – even as a softener in hankies, tights and knickers! It is also used in cosmetics and for cleaning in the home.
I think you’ll be hearing a lot more about the powers of this plant in the future.
[Jennie Lawes is an independent distributor for Forever Living Products aloe vera, bee and other nutritional products. She can be contacted at jennie_lawes@lineone.net for more information.]

Community Politics – What’s happened to it?

2005-05-30T21:39:00.000+01:00

I have to say I’m becoming increasingly despondent about my local community, when it comes to getting together in positive manner.
It’s true, whenever there’s an issue to get hot under the collar about – then people will get up off their butts to complain. Recently there’s been a lot of noise about the proposed recycling plant in the area, and the council’s attempt to introduce a one-size-fits-all system of rubbish collection in the form of wheelie bins. In these cases local folk seem happy to go to public meetings, hold a demo, burn down the Town Hall, whatever.
But when it comes to taking some positive action I find the response is generally very different. Last year there was a brief flurry of support for a scheme to purchase a local church that has become defunct, for the purpose of setting up a community centre for Fiveways. Sadly, an early set-back has led to stagnation and loss of enthusiasm from all but the very dedicated.
I speak from a position of some experience. I have been involved in a couple of ‘Friends’ groups supporting a local park and some local woodlands for several years now. It’s like getting blood out of a stone trying to drum up support for projects or events. The hard work is always in the hands of a dozen or so dedicated volunteers, while the public at large sit on their hands to keep them clean.
Sure people will turn out for an entertainment where they can just consume the fruits of other people’s labours. But get involved in organising something – most people’s reaction is – ‘Well, I’d love to but…’ I honestly wonder sometimes whether it’s worth bothering.
It’s not as if there’s nothing to put some effort into. As in many middle class, seemingly well-off areas, there’s precious little in the way of facilities for our youngsters to get involved in that hasn’t got a hidden (or not-so-hidden) agenda. There are many older folk living in isolation, afraid to go out at night because of the real or imaginary threat of being set upon by gangs of hooded young tearaways. [The press has much to be ashamed of in the way it delights in scaring people unnecessarily – and the government puts out equally negative messages.] Single and other isolated people are made to feel even more alone by the insistence that all local activities have to be family orientated.
There is so much that people could involve themselves in if they were motivated to do so. Or, rather, if they could be bothered. We could be providing a centre where young & old could get to know one another and spend their evenings and weekends in useful occupation, without telling one another how to live their life [which is what I suppose I’m doing now!].
I really can’t be bothered with ‘Direct Action’ over bins and such like – it all seems so petty & negative. But if there’s anyone out there with ideas for some positive action to provide something worthwhile for the Fiveways community, I’d like to hear from you so we can start getting it together.

HOLLINGBURY GOES WILD!!!!

2005-05-28T21:41:00.000+01:00

SATURDAY 4TH JUNE
A WALK IN THE HOLLINGBURY WILD PARK LOCAL NATURE RESERVE
LED BY LOCAL BIRDER
PETER WHITCOMB
GATHER BY WOODBOURNE GARAGE, DITCHLING ROAD
FOR PROMPT 9am START
(parking by recycle bins opposite)
for further details phone 270501
FREE GUIDED WALK
Explore the area - identify trees, wild flowers, birds and butterflies
&
Learn about the work of
The Friends of Hollingbury & Burstead Woods

Pavements for People

2005-05-21T17:32:00.000+01:00

new website for wheelie bin fans (or otherwise!) coming online at

www.pavementsforpeople.org.uk

Book your stall for Blaker's Park Community Picnic

2005-05-21T17:25:00.000+01:00

Stalls at this event on Saturday 25th June cost just £10
Contact Philip Smith @ 109 Havelock Road, BN1 6GN phone 553330 for further details
Also offers of help on the day gratefully received - same contact please

Art Installation Prize

2005-05-15T18:08:00.000+01:00

This week's Go5Ways prize for most effective art installation in Brighton Festival goes to
the residents of the upper half of Havelock Road for their imaginative arrangement of wheelie bins on the pavement

To quote our judge, "The spacing was neat and precise averaging out at one per house frontage - the design was economic and functional - each element was of uniform dimensions and their particular colour was reminiscent of.....(continued p.94)

http://go5ways.blogspot.com/

Dance the night ....early evening....away

2005-05-13T10:28:00.000+01:00

http://www.mother-funkers.com/index.html
for details of next Motherfunkers dance night at St Mary's Church Hall, Surrenden Road

Anyone for Home Education?

2005-05-12T23:53:00.000+01:00

If you're fed up with conventional education, having problems with your local school or finding your child is a square peg in a round hole, why not try educating your kids at home.
To find out what's going on in Sussex, contact Tula, editor of the Sussex Newsletter for Home Education. Email her at asanababy@aol.com and ask for a sample newsletter and details of subscription.

Spin Doctors Mobile Disco....

2005-05-06T15:41:00.000+01:00

....radiates outwards from Fiveways. Since he started, The Spin Doctor has been able to meet a huge range of musical needs at all sorts of parties - birthdays, weddings, Christmas and kids' celebrations. He has appeared in Blaker's Park several times -at cafe events (Haloween, Christmas Carol Concert and Easter Egg Hunt) and at the Community Picnic supporting Rock's Kool. He has done gigs for Ravers of all ages from 8-year olds to the members of Day Centres for Senior Citizens (where incidentally the favourite sounds were those from the Days of Bill Hayley to the Beatles).
His extensive CD and record collection means the disco can cater for all tastes from The Nostalgic Sounds of time before the Rock'n'Roll Era, through the 50s & 60s, Psychedelia, 70s Disco, Punk & New Wave, R'n'B, House & Trance and into the Modern Pop Era. Classical, Film Soundtracks, World Music & Jazz Programmes are also available to anyone wishing to extend beyond the reaches of everyday Pop.
His favourite event is one where the whole gamut of musical styles and eras can be mixed together so there's chance for all present to hear and dance to music they like to get down to.
The Spin Doctor aims to be able to play as many requests as he can at events and offers the opportunity for partygoers to dedicate tracks to their friends, making the occasion as personal and as interactive as possible.
Rates are £30 per hour with a minimum charge of £75, plus hire fees of any special equipment such as lighting rigs etc. that may be required. The Disco will travel freely within 15 miles of Brighton. Gigs further afield may incur some travel expenses. A deposit of £30 is required to confirm a date. This is normaly non-returnable but will be taken as part payment of the final bill.
So if you're considering 'Avin' a Bitova KneesUp, then you could do a lot worse than booking The Spin Doctors Mobile Disco. Enquiries should be directed to Ian on Brighton 270501. Bookings are now being taken for events any time in the next 12 months.

Aloe Vera/Propolis Products

2005-05-06T14:37:00.000+01:00

Jennie Lawes, who lives near Fiveways, is a local agent for Forever Living Products, a company offering a wide range of preparations, using aloe vera and bee products for nutritional supplementation & health care of humans and other animals.
She is holding a stall at the Animal Day at Coral Greyhound Stadium in Hove on Spring Bank Holiday, where a variety of products will be available to try out, discuss, buy or order.
She is also hoping to take a stall at Blaker's Park Community Picnic on June 25th.
For further information or to arrange an event/party you can contact Jennie by phone on 01273 270501 or email jennie_lawes@lineone.net

Open Houses start this weekend

2005-05-06T11:45:00.000+01:00

You probably realise Brighton Festival is just getting under way.
Fiveways is blessed with being the original area for artists' open houses

The Fiveways houses are open at the same time, from 11am to 5pm, every Saturday and Sunday on the four weekends in May 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29.

For full details visit www.fivewaysartists.com

Some Useful Contacts

2005-05-06T10:53:00.000+01:00

Here are some useful email and URL contacts

noweeliebins@hotmail.co.uk - self explanatory

CityClean@brighton-hove.gov.uk if you want to contact the council contractors over any street cleaning or refuse matters etc

David.Larkin@brighton-hove.gov.uk the Countryside Ranger who is assigned to Hollingbury Woods

http://www.refuse-refuse.org.uk/ website for campaign against recycling plant proposal for Hollingdean

Blakers Park Community Picnic....

2005-05-04T21:50:00.000+01:00

...will take place on Saturday June 25th from 11am-5pm or thereabouts
Under the auspices of The Friends of Blaker's Park and combining with the St Augustine's Methodist Church Spring Fair
Musical entertainment will be provided by the kids' bands from Rock's Kool
see www.rockskool.co.uk
and the gaps will be filled in with nostalgic sounds played by The Spin Doctors Mobile Disco (phone 01273 270501 to enquire about bookings)
A variety of stalls etc will be present as will refreshments from the Park Caff and a burger tent
Weather permitting there will be parachute games and other miscellaneous entertainments
Put the date in your diary & come along for a great day out.
See you there

Find more Brighton Blogs....

2005-05-04T21:39:00.000+01:00

....by going to
http://www.brightonbloggers.com/blog/

Friends of Hollingbury and Burstead Woods AGM

2005-05-04T21:01:00.000+01:00

May 12 th sees the AGM of the Friends of Hollingbury Woods
Venue: Hollingbury Park Old Tennis Pavilion, Ditchling Road
Time: 7.30pm
After the meeting David Larkin, B&H Countryside Ranger will give a talk on The 3rd British Expedition to Slovenia
Members, Visitors and Guests welcome.

Membership Queries to a.n.peasgood@btinternet.com please

Here is the text of the Chairman's Report for the Year

The Friends of Hollingbury & Burstead Woods
Chairman’s Report 2005
Here we are once more, at the time of year when we hold our Annual General Meeting and take time out to assess how the Friends are doing.
If you are a long-standing FHBW supporter, may I first thank you for maintaining your enthusiasm for our local pieces of Urban Woodland. For New Members, I’d like to extend a warm welcome from the group and express the hope you will want to remain with us for some time and help us in keeping the park & woods an exciting and vibrant place to visit. I also want to welcome our new Secretary, Gill Taylor, who has kindly put herself up for the seat vacated by Sheila Haines, who served us so well over the last few years. We were able to make Sheila a parting gift in recognition of her sterling service – we commissioned Jonathan Chiswell-Jones to make her a commemorative plate, which was delivered not long before Jonathan and Sue left Brighton for their new home in East Dean, where we hope they’ll be very happy.
We have continued implementing our management plan in our usual way with our monthly work dates and I expect we will hear a full account of those events from Leslie, our Projects Officer, at the Annual General Meeting. There have been a few other significant developments which I feel it important to bring to your attention. I will endeavour to be brief but I trust you want to be kept up to date with our news.
Perhaps the most significant item to mention is the sad passing of Ted Agate, our long-standing and most loyal Publicity Officer. Ted was always keen to promote the woods and the work of the Friends. He tirelessly produced hand drawn and coloured posters that appeared in local shop windows and on the tool shed door month in, month out regardless of the poor health and other difficulties he struggled with for several years. He also tried his utmost, with varying success, to get our name spread far and wide by contacting people in the local press and broadcasting media.
He made a name for himself as he led regular walks around the Wildpark and Hollingbury Camp, and also for his organisational and culinary skills at numerous barbecues. I’m pleased to say that a sizeable contingent of his FHBW friends were present at his funeral and able to give him the send off he had so richly earned. We are really missing his service to the group. It is planned to plant a tree in his honour in the coming year.
On a happier note, this year we have taken the opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution made to the Friends by another of our constant supporters, namely Geoff Meade. His famous Brighton walks are justly well renowned and he has regularly contributed his takings to our cause. For this we owe him our eternal thanks and were able to honour him in planting the Walnut Tree in his name. I hope you have all had the opportunity to take a look at this magnificent specimen along by the tennis courts.
We have run a couple recruiting drives over the year, which have been met with only a modicum of success. So we’d ask you to put on your thinking cap and come up with some fresh ideas on how to attract new members and volunteers to work.
The Access-for-All footpath is pretty well finished, and although there maybe a few wrinkles to iron out, I think it can be hailed a success. Nothing is ever perfect, but I think we have been pleasantly surprised to watch the hard-edged motorway that appeared a couple of years back mellow into the attractive meandering pathway it now presents with wildflowers creeping in from all sides. The project should be shortly completed with the publication of our new leaflet mapping the path and providing up-to-date information on our treasured woodland for locals and visitors alike. We thank all the people who have contributed to these developments – Tim Squire for managing the construction, Dave Larkin for his work on the brochure and many other nameless folk who have done their bit.
While I’m in grateful mode, I think I’d like to do my usual pleasant duty in thanking all the volunteers who have been along to work days through the year. Without them our group would be useless and pointless. They are our backbone. And we owe them our greatest thanks.
Perhaps we also need to recognise the work of the Committee, who get together every 2 or 3 months to transact the group’s business. Several of these folk have served since the group’s inception in 1991, and the time comes when people feel they’ve done their bit and make way for new blood. So we are now saying thank you and goodbye to…… as far as the Committee is concerned. We, of course hope that they will want to keep in touch with our activities and will still come along to various events. So let’s hear it for our work volunteers and our Committee.
Subject to the AGM’s approval, we would naturally be very happy to accept offers to serve and nominations for new members to the committee. Please don’t be afraid to step forward to nominate yourself or someone else. We need to ensure the continuity of the group for the future. This can only happen if we have a constant stream of volunteers coming forward.
I’d just like to draw your attention the Brighton & Hove Goes Wild events coming up later this month and particularly ask you support the FHBW input in 2 ways. Firstly it would be great to be able to organise a stall at the Family Day in Stanmer Park on Sunday 5th June, but we need people to volunteer to run it. Secondly, local birder, Peter Whitcomb, has kindly volunteered his services to lead a walk around parts of the Hollingbury Wildpark Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 4th June. This will start from Woodbourne Garage at 9am. It would be nice to see a god contingent of our members come along to welcome visitors and share in the activity. Perhaps walkers could even be encouraged to visit the day’s work party later in the morning where they might be encouraged to join FHBW in making t our woods an even better place for future events.
Well, I’m probably beginning to bore, so I’ll draw my remarks to a close now. May I wish you all a good year and I look forward to seeing you at one of the Group’s events in the near future.