February 2016

LOVEEAST 

M A G A Z I N E 

February 2016 ISSUE 24 Free 

your 

F R E E 

award-winning 

magazine 

The Gentle Author 

Meet the Spitalfields Life blogger, plus 

art in the making at an East End foundry 

Your East London – What's on – Food – People

Welcome... 

£300 

John Lewis Voucher 

0.95% 

Sales Commisison Fee* 

To celebrate the recent opening of our 

newly designed flagship Victoria Park 

estate agency office, we are offering you a 

gift to make your move with us a little sweeter! 

A £300 John Lewis gift voucher and 

just 0.95% + vat sales commission fee* 

So, if you are considering selling your home, call us now 

or drop by and speak to one of our team. 

020 8986 2222 

170 Victoria Park Road, Hackney. E9 7HD 

enquiries@robertalanhomes.com 

Visit our new website for the latest properties available for sale 

and to rent www.robertalanhomes.com 

* Terms & conditions apply - please ask us about this limited offer

Welcome to your local magazine 

Dear neighbours 

This month it's my privilege to feature the Gentle 

Author (p4). Some of you may have heard of 

him and if you haven't, then I'm very pleased 

to introduce him to you. He's been writing his 

blog Spitalfields Life for several years now, writing 

daily stories about the many fascinating people 

who live in the East End. He doesn't write about 

celebrities. HIs interest from the start was to 

uncover the many interesting but "invisible" 

people who live in this part of London. His work 

is an antedote to our celebrity culture, and we're 

much richer for it. 

We've discovered two more great East London 

charities, one provides fruit & veg vouchers for 

people on low incomes (p12), and the other is 

gathering volunteers to continue its great work 

inspiring children to read. If you fancy getting 

involved take a look at p25. 

Christine Preisig continues our East London 

makers series, visiting a local foundry where 

some of the world's greatest art is cast (p8). 

There are our regular features on food, history, 

fitness, legal matters and wellness, as well as our 

comprehensive what's on guide. 

Have a great February everyone, and don't get 

hung up on Valentine's Day. Take a leaf out of 

Sophie Parkin's book instead (p14). 

Julie 

Julie Daniels 

T: 07752 288405 

E: julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk 

www.nutshellpublications.co.uk 

Facebook: facebook.com/LoveEastMag 

Twitter: @LoveEastMag 

C O N T E N T S 

4 

Meet the Gentle 

Author, creator of 

Spitalfields Life 

8 

The foundry casting 

the work of our most 

celebrated artists 

14 

Spread the love like 

Sophie Parkin 

24 

All you need is love: 

this month's great 

reads for all ages 

25 

Be a Beanstalk 

volunteer and inspire 

kids to read 

To advertise in LoveEast please call 07752 288405 or email julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk 

for further information. Deadline for March edition is 5 February (please allow an extra two 

days if design is required). Nutshell Publications cannot be held responsible for any errors 

or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. 

©LoveEast all rights reserved. Magazine design, www.ilkadickens.com. No reproduction can be 

made without permission. Please recycle. 

LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 3

East life 

Illustration: Lucinda Rogers 

The Gentle Author, writer and creator of Spitalfields Life, 

talks to Christine Preisig and Julie Daniels 

For more than seven years, and without missing 

a single day, the Gentle Author – for that is the 

name he prefers – has written a daily story on his 

blog Spitalfields Life about the people and culture 

of the East End. There, he describes his "harebrained" 

promise to write 10,000 stories about 

Spitalfields, which has grown to cover a much 

wider area of the East End. He affectionately 

depicts local people and places, and by doing 

so has become a celebrated diarist and cultural 

historian of our time. 

The project has a deeply personal motivation. 

After his father died, the Gentle Author moved 

back to his childhood home in Devon to look after 

his mother who suffered from dementia. During 

the six years he lived with her until her death he 

was rarely able to leave the house. He couldn’t 

have done this, he says, without the help of some 

amazing people. 

It was something that altered his view of life and 

made him realise just how extraordinary it is to 

be in the world. He had had a successful career 

as a writer, but from that point on he wanted to 

write in a different way. For one thing, he wished 

to express himself in an unmediated way, with no 

gatekeeper between him and the reader. 

4 LOVEEAST

East life 

He also wanted to write stories that nobody else 

was writing – about the ordinary and, to other 

eyes, invisible people that surrounded him. 

He moved back to Spitalfields in 2009 (his first 

job was there in 1981) and began writing his now 

famous Spitalfields Life. He started without much 

purpose beyond trying to take the idea of a blog 

as a literary form quite seriously. Very quickly he 

noticed that the more ambitious the stories, the 

quicker the readership grew. Besides writing his 

daily stories, he publishes books, teaches writing 

courses, leads political campaigns and writes 

articles for magazines and newspapers. 

By way of writing Spitalfields Life, the Gentle Author 

found out that his family actually came from the 

East End. When he published some letters his 

grandmother had written to his father (she was 

an unmarried mother who had to give him away 

as a child), two genealogists who read his blog 

got in touch with him. Together they were able to 

uncover his own ancestry. 

It turned out that his great-grandmother grew 

up just 50 yards from where he lives now near 

Brick Lane. To know that he is connected to the 

place through his ancestors makes him feel more 

comfortable writing about it. 

The Gentle Author's pledge to write his daily 

stories means he will be writing for many years 

to come, but seven years into the project he is 

still enthusiastic. "The fact that I’ve written the 

life stories of about 1,500 people – that’s a real 

personal passion.” 

It's very distressing to the Gentle Author to 

know that when people die, sometimes their life 

stories, along with their work, are lost for ever. 

This is part of the reason he writes Spitalfield Life 

and the stories he reveals help to immortalise 

the fascinating people of the East End. Last 

autumn, for example, he published a selection 

of remarkable paintings created by artist Doreen 

Fletcher. She had given up her art years ago 

because of the lack of interest in her work. When 

Continued overleaf... 

Beautiful Plantation Shutters & Blinds 

Introducing the “simply better” shutter range equally at home in contemporary or traditional interiors. 

Solid hardwood shutters… 

at MDF prices! 

25% 50% off selected ranges 

Tel: 020 3418 8877 Email: sales@completeshutters.co.uk www.completeshutters.co.uk 

New Showroom at 90 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1JJ 


East life 

he published her paintings of the East End in 

Spitalfields Life it was a sensation. Several galleries 

became interested and a solo show is now 

planned. 

It's wonderful to hear stories like this and it shows 

just how influential Spitalfields Life has become 

and how many possibilities it has created. 

In all the years the Gentle Author has been 

writing, and to his own surprise, he has been able 

to keep his identity secret. Writing anonymously 

is not a publicity stunt but a device deliberately 

chosen to put the people and the culture centre 

stage. “I decided to step back and all I want to 

reveal is that my intention in doing this is benign.” 

We are lucky to have had the chance to meet the 

Gentle Author and, by way of Spitalfields Life, will 

continue to accompany him on his wanderings 

for many years to come. 

What makes you most proud? 

I suppose you could say that I’m proud that 

the 1838 Marquis of Lansdowne Pub is still 

there in Cremer Street, Hoxton. We saved that 

pub when the Geffrye Museum wanted to use 

Heritage Lottery funding to demolish it. I thought 

it was disgraceful, because they call themselves 

a "museum of the home" and in the East End 

the pub is an extension of the domestic space. 

When the director of the museum justified this 

by saying that the museum was "not interested 

in the culture of the labouring classes" it was very 

disappointing. But at that point I realised that we 

had a huge readership who could write letters of 

objection. It was class war. And the Hackney 

Planning Committee refused 

permission for demolition. That’s 

a victory you could say I'm 

proud of. 

What are you working on? 

Photographer John 

Claridge took more 

photographs in the 

East End in the 

fifties and sixties 

than anyone else. 

Because he 

was just a kid 

with a camera, 

Paul Gardner in his paper bag shop 

everyone was very open to him and he took many 

beautiful photographs, which we are now putting 

together into the definitive book of his work to be 

published this summer. 

Best coffee in these parts? 

I don’t drink coffee but my favourite places for a 

cup of tea are Pellicci’s in Bethnal Green, Leila’s 

Café in Shoreditch and the Town House in 

Spitalfields. Those are the places I like to go. 

Where do you eat out? 

I like St. John Bread & Wine in 

Spitalfields – it’s my regular and it 

never disappoints. 

What do you do at 

weekends? 

I don’t really have 

weekends, but I do 

love to go to the 

market. 

6 LOVEEAST

East life 

Occasionally, it’s been possible to have guest 

writers take over sometimes, but the irony is that 

when I do get a few days off it is to finish a book 

or to tidy the house. 

Anything you would change? 

In Spitalfields, there’s now a vacant lot where 

they demolished the London Fruit & Wool 

Exchange. There were more than a 100 small 

businesses in there and Tower Hamlets Council 

voted unanimously to save the building but 

Boris Johnson overruled them in favour of the 

developers. It’s going to become chain stores and 

headquarters for an international law firm. Boris 

wants to do the same thing in Norton Folgate. 

Tower Hamlets refused the developers but he 

is going to overturn that. And then there is the 

Bishopsgate Goods Yard... With over 40,000 on 

the housing list, Hackney and Tower Hamlets 

object to a luxury development of tower blocks 

of flats that will put the Boundary Estate into 

permanent shadow. There will be no benefit for 

local people and it will blight the East End for 

generations to come. Boris Johnson is able to 

overrule local democracy and do all this. If I could 

change one thing it would be to take that power 

away from him. 

The area’s best-kept secret? 

Well, I’d say it is Paul Gardner’s paper bag shop 

(see picture, above left). I’ve written about it a lot. 

It’s just up the road at 149 Commercial Street. It 

was opened by James Gardner in 1870 and then 

his son Bertie took over, and then his son Ray 

took over and now Paul Gardner is there. It is 

the oldest-established business here and it’s the 

cheapest paper bag shop in London. It also sells 

balls of strings and tags… anything you could need 

to do with market trading. And it’s a wonderful 

place because Paul is a very charismatic man and 

all the customers love him. His shop is like a pub 

where people stand around and tell stories, an 

incredible institution and the hub of Spitalfields. 

The whole meaning of Spitalfields is bound up 

with that place. 

If the East End were human? 

It would be Nicholas Culpeper, a physician in the 

17th century. He believed it was wrong that the 

Royal College of Physicians could set the price 

of what it cost to see a doctor because it meant 

that most people could never see one. He worked 

and lived in Spitalfields and was the first to put 

forward the idea that healthcare ought be free 

as a human right. He treated 40 people a day 

for free and translated medical books from Latin 

into English so that anyone could read them. His 

generous and radical spirit embodies the best of 

the East End. 

East End in a word? 

Resourcefulness. 

spitalfieldslife.com 

Are you feeling the chill? 

Banish those draughts for ever. Our 

windows are individually made and 

fitted by experienced craftsmen 

To see us at work, check out our video at 

www.wall2wallsashwindows.co.uk 

020 8533 7228 


East London makers 

out of its mould (see picture, 

below). 

Despite the foundry's glittering 

clientele, which reads like a 

Who's Who of the world's most 

celebrated artists (Tracy Emin, 

Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley 

to name a few), Jerry Hughes, 

the foundry’s manager, is 

refreshingly down to earth. He 

has run the place with Henry 

Abercrombie, the foundry's MD, 

since 1992 and is unfazed by 

the artworks that surround him. 

Jerry introduces us to bronze 

casting – a craft that dates back 

thousands of years – and in 

particular “lost wax casting”. 

Once the artist's idea has 

materialised into a model, a 

mould is made from its shape. 

The inside of the mould is then 

covered with molten wax, and 

once cooled and hardened, the 

wax copy of the original model 

is removed from the mould (see 

below). 

Gary Hume's snowman 

Christine Preisig takes a tour of the 

AB Fine Art Foundry 

The corridors of this beautiful 

Victorian warehouse and former 

dog biscuit factory, are lined 

with bizarrely shaped moulds. 

In one huge room Gary Hume's 

shiny silver snowman sits 

forlornly in a dusty corner 

awaiting restoration. Pieces of 

an enormous pumpkin by Yayoi 

8 LOVEEAST 

Kusama are ready to be welded 

together, and Gavin Turk's Self 

Portrait bronze statue is draped 

in cloth, restoration complete, 

waiting to be collected. 

In another room, American 

filmmaker and artist Philip Haas 

watches as his double-faced 

Francis Bacon wax cast is taken 

Wax copy of Philip Haas's Francis 

Bacon sculpture

East London makers 

Next, a system of wax tubes, 

which provide ducts for pouring 

the metal during casting, are 

attached to the outside of the 

wax copy. The copy with its 

tubes is then dipped into a 

slurry of silica and covered with 

a sand-like crystalline silica. 

When heated in the kiln, the 

wax copy melts. More heat is 

added and the combination 

of slurry and grit transforms 

into a ceramic material that 

withstands the heat and 

pressure of molten metal. 

The molten metal – bronze 

mostly – is then heated and 

poured into the ceramic shell, 

filling the space left by the wax 

(hence “lost wax casting”). The 

next day, the cast is released 

and the sculpture receives the 

finishing touches. 

Every step in the process 

requires a great deal of skill, 

and that's evident in the 20 or 

so employees who work there. 

Some are artists themselves 

and most of them have been to 

art school. 

It was great to see so many 

skilled people at work, and 

there was a warm, family-like 

atmosphere at the foundry. But 

there was also a bit of magic in 

the air. 

It was a privilege to witness the 

skill that brings great sculptures 

to life, and to see the finished 

artworks in all their glory. 

abfineart.com 

Gavin Turk's Self-Portrait 

Faraday School 

Independent Prep School 

7 Trinity Buoy Wharf London E14 0FH 

Tel: 020 7719 9342 

Pupils' attainment “is judged to be well above 

national age-related expectations” ISI Inspection Report 

Ÿ Creative, independent preparatory school 

Ÿ Strong academic foundation, teaching Core Knowledge 

Ÿ Rigorous approach to learning 

Ÿ Outstanding pastoral care 

Ÿ Confident and articulate pupils 

Ÿ Unique riverside location in a creative hub 

Ÿ Small Class sizes 

Fee for the Academic Year 2015/16 £2,930 per term 

To find out more, or to register, please contact 

admissions@faradayschool.co.uk- T: 020 8965 7374 

Late Care Until 5.30pm 

Daily School Bus Run (including south of the river) 

Boat charter available (from North Greenwich Pier) 

www.faradayschool.co.uk 

nms 


What's on in February 

MON TUES WEDS 

Weekly 

8.10pm: Hatha 

yoga, Victoria Park 

Community Centre, 

Gore Road, E9. Nadia 

missbocheva@gmail. 

com 

1 

11am-6pm Whitechapel 

Gallery's Electronic 

Superhighway 

exhibition. £11.95. 

8 

Aromatherapy, 

manicures and more. 

VP Community Centre. 

£5. Email Christine 

for appointment 

chrchaffin@hotmail.com 

15 

10am-12.30pm. Bird 

Box-making for kids, 

Victoria Park. Book: 

joelle.copeland@ 

towerhamlets.gov.uk 

15 

7-11pm. Dancing Years 

play at the Moth Club. 

£8 adv. mothclub.co.uk 

22 

12pm-11pm. London 

Beer Week, Old 

Truman Brewery. £10. 

designmynight.com 

29 

1pm. Take part in the 

world's biggest youth 

music festival. Rich Mix. 

Details: mfy.org.uk 

10 LOVEEAST 

Weekly 

Ballet for children at 

Hackney Forge. Call 

Mafalda on 07550 722 

693 for details. 

10am-11.30am. 

Storytime for under 

5s at Victoria Park 

Community Centre, 

Gore Road, E9. Except 

29th. Free. 

2 

7-10pm. The 

Breakfast Club Hoxton 

host The Big Breakfast 

Club Quiz. £5 entry. 

2 

11am-1.30pm. Try a 

Cooking On A Budget 

workshop at St Paul's 

Church Hall in Stoke 

Newington. Contact 

info@bagsoftaste.org 

9 

6.30-11.30pm. Mussel 

Men host Lobster 

Tuesday. £30pp for 

food, drink & live 

music. musselmen.com 

9 

8pm. Winner of 

the Kevin Spacey 

Foundation Artists 

of Choice Re: Home 

begins its run. £12.50. 

theyardtheatre.co.uk 

16 

7.30pm. Junior Boys 

play at Oslo Hackney. 

oslohackney.com 

Weekly 

Vinyasa Flow with Zoe. 

Text 07972 367663. 

Ping Pong fun and 

fitness for over 50s, 

Dalston CLR James 

Library. 

4.30-5.30pm. Creative 

writing for children, 

7-14yrs. Dalston CLR 

James library. 

10, 17 

6-9pm. Cookery 

classes for £75 at 

e5 Bakehouse. 020 

8525 2890 to book. 

e5bakehouse.com 

10 

7.30pm. The 5 star 

Edinburgh smash Janis 

Joplin: Full Tilt Stratford 

East Theatre. £12. 

stratfordeast.com 

17 

10.30am-12.30pm. 

Free Coffee morning 

at Victoria Park 

Community Centre. 

17 

10am-5pm. 

Half-term fun at 

raggedschoolmuseum. 

org.uk 

24 

7-10.30pm. What's 

Your Poison, a talk 

on toxicology and 

drinks. £20 early bird. 

storiesonbroadway.com 

THURS 

Weekly 

10.30am. Mini Builders 

at Shoreditch Library 

for under 5s and their 

parents. Free. 

1pm-3pm. Knitting and 

natter at Victoria Park 

Community Centre, Gore 

Road, E9. Free. 

6pm-9pm. Painting 

& throwing evenings, 

Wonderland 

Ceramics. info@ 

wonderlandceramics.com 

4 

6-9pm. Pop down to 

the Blue exhibition at 

the Espacio Gallery 

on Bethnal Green 

Road, open until 7 Feb. 

espaciogallery.com 

18 

10.15am Playdoh 

Imagined Worlds 

Workshop, Museum of 

Childhood. For kids ages 

5-12yrs (w/parent). Book 

now, £5. vam.ac.uk/moc 

18 

February Half Term - 

Forest School Holiday 

Club. £30 per session. 

fothcp.org for info. 

25 

7.30pm. Electronic pop 

artist Rosie Lowe plays 

at Oslo Hackney. Tickets 

£9 and available at 

oslohackney.com 

Continued on page 17

From Anatolya . . . 

. . . to hackney 

Delicious chargrilled Turkish food 

/scoffs grill 020 3489 3359 scoffscafe 

Fully licensed restaurant. LoveEast readers will receive 10% off the bill. 

Scoffs Grill,355-357 Wick Road, E9 5DH 

MILLER+ 

LOVE 

Life coaching for modern lives 

Bridging the gap between 

where you are & where 

you want to be… 

at work, at home, 

and everything in between 

www.millerandlove.com 

Be lean, 

strong, 

and a 

fit dad 

ROGER LOVE 

Personal training 

in studio or park 

www.hackneypt.com 


Local heroes 

The 'Rose Voucher' is 

helping to improve the 

health of families in need, 

says Rhowena MacCuish 

Jonathan Pauling, Alexandra Rose Charity (left) with Wayne 

Campbell, Ridley Road market manager 

In recent years rates of food poverty in London 

have skyrocketed, with huge numbers of families 

seeking support from the capital's food banks. 

At the same time, rates of childhood obesity 

continue to rise among the poorest communities. 

The Alexandra Rose Charity recognises the 

importance of early-age development and 

have set up a scheme that provides fruit and 

vegetable vouchers to families 

receiving benefits and who 

have children under the age of 

5. The vouchers, worth £3 per 

child per week, or £6 if the child 

is under a year old, mean that 

hard-up parents can keep their 

children healthy, avoid obesity 

and illnesses related to poor 

diet, while helping their kids' 

development. 

Jonathan Pauling, the charity's 

director, has been working 

closely with Wayne Campbell, 

manager of Ridley Road market, to encourage 

more vendors to get on board with the scheme. 

As well as at Ridley Road market, the vouchers 

can also be redeemed at fruit and veg stalls set 

up through East London Food Access. Head to 

elfaweb.org.uk for a diary of where and when. 

“a great way 

to get families 

eating fresh fruit 

and veg” 

"The Rose Vouchers for the Fruit & Veg project 

is a great way to get families in Hackney eating 

more fresh fruit and veg," says Jonathan, 

"while supporting local markets who play 

such an important role in promoting a healthy 

food culture. We are proud to be working in 

partnership with Hackney’s children’s centres, 

the markets team at Hackney Council and Food 

Matters to deliver the scheme. Over the next year 

we hope to expand the project 

to support more families. If 

you want to help local families 

to access healthier food and 

avoid food poverty you can 

donate through our website. 

Most importantly, shop local to 

support your fantastic street 

markets." 

This great charity is working hard 

to help the most vulnerable, 

with planned expansion into 

a number of new children’s 

centres and other markets in 

Hackney. It hopes that the success of the project 

will encourage other areas to take up the scheme 

so that more families can be supported to give 

their children a healthy start. 

Vouchers can be collected at local children's 

centres, which also provide a range of health 

and wellbeing activities, together with support, 

workshops and play groups. 

To find out more information head to their website at 

alexandrarosecharities.org.uk 

12 LOVEEAST


Sophie's world 

Photo: Claire Lawrie 

Sophie at her East End club, Vout-O-Reenee's 

Forget Valentine's Day cards, red roses 

and expensive restaurants. Spread the 

love like Sophie Parkin 

February is the month of 

Valentines, as if you didn't know, 

and should be celebrated... but 

differently. 

I am sick of watching my 

cleverbeautifulsingle friends 

consumed by a marketing 

ploy that sneers,"if you're so 

successful how come you 

haven't got, or worse, kept, a 

lover? Failure!" So years ago I 

started sending anonymous 

cards to give them what, hope? 

No, love. (Sorry, it was me.) 

It's hell for us all, because 

apparently if you are lucky 

enough to have a lover, you 

must buy roses, chocolates and 

dinner at a fancy restaurant at 

double prices, for one day only. 

Each way we're all losers. 

Why don't we change the 

meaning of a day that excludes 

so many, to include everyone? 

Make it a day when we 

celebrate our ability to love 

in the true sense – whoever, 

whatever. Don't just declare it 

on social media, have a love-in, 

tell friends and family, do a 

public recital of Walt Whitman's 

Leaves of Grass, a love poem to 

the Universe. 

This year at Vout-o-Reenees 

(Saturday,13 February) we're 

staging an anti-romance 

evening of nudity, comedy 

poetry and performance art that 

will blast its way into Valentine's. 

It's called HUSH. All singles 

welcome and I promise to do no 

match-making, for one day only. 

The next day, the Dutch 

husband and I will do the 

things we love. This may or 

may not include a walk along 

the river; a cycle to Pellicci's, 

my favourite café; the Bethnal 

Green Museum of Childhood 

for the dolls houses. Or... a walk 

up Brick Lane for a new vintage 

hat; to Chez Elles for a Kir 

Royale brunch with my grownup 

kids and mum, followed by 

The Carpenters Arms, Cheshire 

Street, for a drink with friends, 

and a movie at Rich Mix in 

between. 

Or we may go for a swim and 

before lights out, I'll whisper 

one of the poems I wrote to 

my husband when we first met, 

thereby fitting in all the things I 

love most. 

So forget about cards this 

Valentine's. Fill your day full of 

love, with things you love and 

people you love. Be happy, 

practise random smiles at 

strangers, and love yourself in 

doing what you love most. 

Sophie Parkin is an author and 

owner of vout-o-reenees.com 

14 LOVEEAST

New Year’s Resolutions? 

£30=100 

classes p/month 

Includes: 

ZUMBA . PILATES. POWER YOGA. 

VINYASA YOGA. BOXING. BOOTY CAMP. 

WARRIORS. HIIT. CIRCUITS. 

ARMY BOOT CAMP. REBOUNDING. BODYWORK. 

fitness classes - spin - personal training 

FIND OUT MORE AT 

londonfieldsfitness.com / @londonfieldsfit 


Acting Bugs 

What sort of classes are available? 

Acting Bugs sessions introduce pre-school 

children and toddlers to the magical world of 

drama and storytelling. The classes are designed 

so that the parent or carer can join in alongside 

the children. 

Advertorial 

Describe a typical class 

Under the umbrella of a story (which could be a 

well known classic or one of our devised stories), 

we play games, sing songs, role play and use 

props and bubbles to bring the stories to life. 

Samantha Seager talks to 

LoveEast about the great 

fun to be had at Acting Bugs 

What is Acting Bugs? 

Acting Bugs is a drama and storytelling group for 

pre-school children and their parents or carers, 

using puppets, role play, music and props to bring 

stories to life. 

What do the kids get most from the classes? 

The main thing which many parents comment 

on is how their children grow in confidence. It 

is also very beneficial for developing focus and 

concentration. And all this while having lots of fun. 

The parents really have a great time, too. Some 

tell me they're so sad when their child goes off to 

school or nursery as they can’t come any more! 

What else does Acting Bugs do? 

Well, if you're looking for a party that will get 

your little one's imagination buzzing, while giving 

them fun-filled exciting adventures, Acting Bugs 

specialises in creating magical parties for children 

aged 2–7 years. See our website for more info. 

Acting Bugs classes take place every Wednesday 

morning during school term time at the Hackney 

Forge, 243a Victoria Park Road, London E9 7HD. 

actingbugs.co.uk 

How did it all come about? 

I am an actress and some of you with under 5s 

might know me as Bobby from the Cbeebies 

series Me Too! I started doing Acting Bugs 

sessions in 2012 as I love working with children, 

particularly pre-schoolers and toddlers, and have 

a passion for play and having fun. When my kids 

were younger, I was frustrated with the lack of 

creative and imaginative activities we could attend 

together. The seed for Acting Bugs had been 

planted and now, in 2016, I'm running several 

weekly sessions in many locations throughout 

East London, including Victoria Park, Clapton and 

Stoke Newington. 

16 LOVEEAST

What's on in February 

FRI SAT SAT SUN 

Weekly 

8pm-2am. Carnival 

party vibes at The Get 

Down club night, The 

Book Club Shoreditch 

wearetbc.com 

5 

10pm-6am. An evening 

of deep house and 

techno wth Fred P and 

Lakuti at The Pickle 

Factory, Oval Space. 

£10. ovalspace.co.uk 

12 

1-2pm The Way to 

Wealth for SMEs 

powered by Brian Tracy 

Delivered by FAB 

Consulting Group, Quay 

House, Canary Wharf. 

bit.ly/22ZM3md 

12 

7.30pm. Have 

some old-fashioned 

fun at Valentine's 

Games Night. £15. 

shoreditchtownhall.com 

12, 26 

7pm. Fiver Fridays 

at Chisenhale Dance 

Space, E3. £5 for 

5 performances. 

chisenhaledancespace. 

co.uk 

19 

10am-12.30pm. 

Wildlife Art and Craft 

for children and young 

people .The Hub 

Victoria Park. 

Weekly 

12.30pm-4.30pm. 

Geffrye Explorers. 

Various activities. 3-11 

years. Free. geffryemuseum.org.uk 

10.30am-1pm. Stained 

glass-making at St 

John at Bethnal Green 

(crypt). More details:. 

stjohnonbethnalgreen. 

org 

6 

10-12.30pm. Junior 

Wildlife Club, Victoria 

Park, Under 12s must 

be accompanied by 

adults. 020 7364 4504 

or email victoriapark@ 


6 

7pm. A Belter For 

The Shelter. Hackney 

Winter Night Shelter 

hosts an evening 

of comedy to raise 

money for Hackney's 

homeless. £10-22.50. 

hackneyempire.co.uk 

6 

9.30-4pm. For A Taste 

Of Forest Gardening 

workshop, contact Jo at 

info@ediblelandscapes 

london.org 

13 

7.30-1am. Hush at 

Vout-O-Reenees – the 

alternative Valentine's 

Night: an evening of 

decadent cabaret. £10. 

vout-o-reenees.com 

Weekly 

9.45-1pm. Various 

dance classes for ages 

2-11yrs at Chisenhale 

Dance Space, E3. 

£5-6 per class or term 

prices available. Book. 

chisendaledancespace. 

co.uk 

Yoga Nest, St 

Margaret's House on 

Old Ford Rd. £30 for 

a 3 lessons. To book, 

email agathe.guerrier@ 

gmail.com 

13 

11.30-4.30pm. 

Celebrate Chinese 

New Year at the 

Museum of Childhood 

with traditional & 

modern dancing, 

mask & lantern 

making, costume and 

calligraphy workshops. 

vam.ac.uk/moc/ 

20 

10am-1pm. Jumble at 

St Joseph's Hospice. 

Grab a bargain from 

the huge range of 

stalls. New clothes, 

toys, DVDs or 

something for the 

kitchen? This jumble 

sale has it all. stjh.org. 

uk/challenge-event/ 

jumble-sale-1 

20 

10-12.30pm. Bird Box 

Making for adults. £5. 

Book via 020 7364 

4504 / victoriapark@ 


Weekly 

7-10pm. Pop down 

to The Marksman on 

Hackney Road for their 

Sunday Night Music 

Sessions. 

12-7pm. FREE. Hackney 

Wick's Vintage & Retro 

Flea Market at The Old 

Bath House, 

7 

10am-5pm. 

Introductory Meditation 

Day at The London 

Buddhist Centre. £30- 

40pp. Booking essential 

lbc.org.uk 

7 

10.30pm-3.30am. 

Superbowl Sunday at 

POND in Dalston. £25 

gets you entry, all you 

can eat and the first 

beer. designmynight. 

com 

14 

Whiskey & Blues Revival 

#3 night at The Ace 

Hotel's Club Miranda 

in Shoreditch. Dinner, 

Whiskey and live music 

for £35pp. acehotel.com 

28 

12pm. Jay & Pea 

Nearly New Baby 

Boutique Market. The 

Boiler House, George 

Downing Estate, 

Cazenove Road, N16 

6BE. 


MON TUES WEDS THURS 

1 

Hatha yoga, p10 

Electronic 

Superhighway exhib 

p10 

2 

Cook on a budget, p10 

Ballet for kids, p10 

Storytime, under 5s, p10 

Big Breakfast Club quiz, 

p10 

3 

Vinyasa flow, p10 

Ping Pong fun, p10 

Creative writing, kids, p10 

4 

Blue exhib, p10 

Mini builders, p10 

Knitting/natter, p10 

Painting/throwing 

p10 

8 

9 

10 

11 


£5 Beauty 

treatments, p10 


Lobster Tuesday, p10 

Re-home @ Yard, p10 

Janis Joplin: Full Tilt, p10 




Cookery classes, p10 



Painting/throwing 

p10 

15 


Bird Box-making for 

kids, p10 

Dancing Years play, 

Moth Club, p10 

16 

Junior Boys @ Oslo, p10 

17 

Ragged School Mus, p10 




Cookery classes, p10 

Coffee morning, p10 

18 

Playdoh Imagined 

Worlds, p10 


Painting/throwing, p10 


Forest club, p10 

22 


23 


24 

Talk: toxicology & 

alcohol, p10 

25 

Electronic pop, p10 

London Beer Week, 

Old Truman Brew, p10 




Painting/throwing, p10 

Creative writing for kids, 

p10 


29 

Leap day 

World's biggest youth 

music festival, p10 

Art events 

General events 

Outdoor events 

18 LOVEEAST

FRI SAT SUN 

5 

Carnival party vibes, p17 

Networx computer skills at 

Victoria Park Comm Centre, E9 

House & techno, Oval, p17 

12 

Fiver Fridays (dance), p17 


Way to Wealth for small-medium 

businesses, Canary Wharf, p17 

Valentine's Games night, p17 

19 


Wildlife Art & Craft, kids, p17 



26 




Fiver Fridays (dance), p17 

6 

Forest Gardening, p17 

Stained glass-making, p17 

Geffrye Explorers, p17 

Junior Wildlife Club, p17 

Belter for the Shelter, p17 

13 



Kids' dance classes, p17 

Yoga Nest, p17 

Alternative Valentine's p17 

Chinese NY at MOC, p17 

20 





Bird Box-making for adults, p17 

Mega Jumble Sale, p17 

27 





7 

Intro to meditation, p17 

Live music, Marksman, 

p17 

Superbowl Sunday, p17 

Vintage/retro flea market, 

p17 

14 

Whiskey & Blues, p17 


p17 


p17 

21 


p17 


p17 

28 

Vintage flea market, p17 

Live music, Marksman, p17 

Nearly new baby boutique 

market, p17 

February 


Faraday School 

Europe. Faraday School prides itself on providing 

a traditional education in a creative environment 

and its unique location at Trinity Buoy Wharf 

beside the Thames and the River Lea offers a 

multitude of opportunities to learn and play. 

After-school clubs this term include sewing, chess, 

choir, guitar, karate, coding, drawing, dance, 

Mandarin and cooking, to name just a few. Nearly 

half the school takes advantage of the school bus 

service, using 18 different stops, including south 

of the river. 

Advertorial 

Faraday School's riverside 

location is just one of many 

great things to shout about, 

writes Emily Sutton 

Faraday Prep School has another exciting term 

ahead, packed with fun events, educational treats, 

and impressive outings. 

The year kick-starts with a welcome back disco, 

a football tournament against another local 

school and visits to the British Museum. On World 

Book Day in March, pupils will dress up as their 

favourite fictional character and later in the term 

the PTA will be holding a film night. Science week 

looks set to be a blast (quite literally) and the 

annual art exhibition will showcase all pupils’ work 

throughout the school. This year the school hopes 

to strengthen its links with the neighbouring Royal 

Drawing School by inviting a senior lecturer to 

judge their pupils' creativity. 

Faraday aims to have small classes to ensure 

all pupils receive individual attention. As a small 

school, children socialise across year groups 

and learn from each other during clubs and 

assemblies. It is this nurturing environment that 

particularly appeals to parents. 

"The school has given my son the brilliant start 

that I had hoped for," says parent Geeta Kasanga. 

"The teachers are superb and very professional. 

They have absolutely identified, understood and 

appreciated his learning style. The head teacher 

is not only approachable, but under her guidance 

the school thrives as a small, flourishing and 

supportive community. I highly recommend this 

amazing gem of a school." 

To find out more or to book a place on an open day, 

visit faradayschool.co.uk, or call 020 7719 9342. 

Faraday School, Old Gate House, 7 Trinity Buoy 

Wharf, E14 0FH. 

In the curriculum, Faraday follows the Core 

Knowledge approach. In the spring term, the 

lower school will be learning about, amongst 

other things, the seven continents, prime 

ministers, the weather and the Impressionists. 

Meanwhile the upper school will be studying 

a wide range of topics, including poetry, data 

collection, electricity, the Stuarts and Eastern 

20 LOVEEAST


What to do 

Stories 

Storytime for the under 5s at Victoria Park 

Community Centre every Tuesday from 10am to 

11.30am. 5 Gore Road, E9. FREE. 

Fourth Tuesday of each month, Chatterbooks 

reading group for 8-12yrs, quizzes, competitions, 

prizes. Dalston CLR James Library. 

Building 

Free Mini Builders at Shoreditch Library for under 

5s and parents. 

Museums 

Free drop-in activities every day at The Museum 

of Childhood, including arts and crafts, tours, trails 

and storytelling. For ages 3-12 years. Cambridge 

Heath Road, E2. Plus: check out p24 for this 

month's extra activities. 

There's always something interesting happening 

at the Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield 

Road, E3. 

Want to be a Geffrye Explorer? There is lots of fun 

to be had between 12.30pm and 4.30pm every 

Saturday at geffrye-museum.org.uk 

Cinema 

Hackney Picturehouse Kids’ Club is for ages 

3-12 years. picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_ 

Picturehouse 

Swimming 

London Fields Lido offer swimming lessons and 

they’ve started giving stages 3-8 swimming classes 

again. Go to betterlessons.org.uk for details and 

booking. Plus of course, there's Mile End Leisure 

Centre, York Hall in Bethnal Green and the 

gorgeous Aquatics Centre, QE Olympic Park. 

New Year resolution 

fail? Let us help you 

get back on track 

Farms 

At city farms in Hackney, Stepney, Spitalfields 

and Mudchute you can introduce your kids to 

the pongs and pleasures of real farm animals. 

Stepney City Farm has a great café, as well as 

a farmers’ market every Saturday from 10am- 

3pm. stepneycityfarm.org, hackneycityfarm.co.uk, 

spitalfieldscityfarm.org, mudchute.org 

Check out the websites for events. 

Personal training with Michelle Crawford 

Children welcome if you can't get childcare 

Fighting Fit Studio, 15 Bow Wharf, E3 5SN 

michellept.wordpress.com 

07805 612127 

Children's Centres 

Wentworth on Cassland Road (wentworth. 

hackney.sch.uk), Gainsborough on Berkshire Road 

(gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre), 

and Morningside on Chatham Place (morningside. 

hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre). Meath Gardens 

Children's Centre, 1 Smart Street, E2; Mile End 

Leisure Centre, The One O'Clock Club (Vicky Park 

22 LOVEEAST

with the kids 

near boating lake); Overland Children's Centre, 60 

Parnell Road, E3. 

Yoga for babies... 

Baby-focused classes using massage, classical 

yoga postures, stretches and balances adapted 

to their stage of growth. Fridays, Royal Inn on the 

Park, E9.10.45am-11.45am. £6.50. Karen: firsttouchmassage@hotmail.co.uk, 

07902 227 669. 

Yoga for babies... and their mums 

Yoga for Mums and Babies, every Tuesday 

at 10.15am with tea and biscuits afterwards. 

Hackney Forge, E9. 07958 645 978 or email 

clare@clareday-yoga.co.uk 

Dancing 

Wiggly Jigglers at Rich Mix. Creative movement for 

0-2yrs. Call 020 7613 7498 to book. 

There’s ballet for children at the Hackney Forge 

on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Call Mafalda 

on 07550 722 693 for details and check out 

mafaldaballetblog.blogspot.com 

Also at the Hackney Forge you’ll find Saturday 

Street Dance and Musical Theatre classes. 12 

noon-1pm, 1.15pm-2.15pm and 2.30-3.30pm, Call 

Lisa on 07985 945 335 for details. 

Activity times may change, so please do check on 

times/availability via the websites or phone numbers 

provided. 

Singing 

Angel Voices, tunes for toddlers. Tuesdays, 

9.45am-11am in term-time at St. Michael’s and All 

Angels in London Fields. No charge but donations 

welcome. Call Connie on 07830 349 362. 

Theatre 

Hackney Children’s Theatre situated in 700-yearold 

St John at Hackney church, hosts monthly 

performances for kids and their families. facebook. 

com/hackneychildrenstheatre 

Award winning classes for 0-5 yrs 

Acting 

Diddy Bugs. Try Hackney Forge on a Wednesday 

morning. Cbeebies actress Samantha Seager runs 

acting classes for little tots. actingbugs.co.uk 

Music 

Piccolo music for babies and toddlers, Mondays, 

Wednesdays and Fridays in the V&A building 

in Victoria Park. Toddler class 10am, baby class 

11am. Just drop in. Stefanie, 07708 451 314. 

Suzuki Hub runs music lessons for kids (violin, 

viola, cello, flute). Suzuki Hub, 116 Weymouth 

Terrace, E2 8LR. suzukihub.com 

At Gymboree our focus is on encouraging 

and nurturing your baby in every aspect of their 

development, with you right by their side. We 

offer a variety of fun and sensory led 

classes from newborn to 5years. 

Gymboree classes are designed by experts 

in early childhood development to 

help young children learn as they play. 

Book your FREE trial class today! 

Gymboree Bethnal Green 

bethnalgreen@gymboree-uk.com 

020 7537 2901 / 07966 227583 

59-61 Roman Road, London, E2 0QN 

gymboree-uk.com 


Culture corner 

Museum of Childhood 

On Saturday, 13 February why not celebrate 

Chinese New Year at the museum with 

traditional and modern instrumental and 

dance performances. Free activities including 

Chinese opera mask and lantern-making, as 

well as costume and calligraphy workshops. 

Also on 13 February London Children’s Book 

swap returns for the 5th year running. Bring 

your old books to trade for another person’s 

favourite read. Plus, there's a book-making 

drop-in with the London Centre for Book Arts. 

The literature of love 

“Love is a better teacher than duty,” said Albert 

Einstein, showing himself to be a genius on 

matters more extensive than simply science. 

A well written love story or poem might prove 

to be the best learning tool of all, giving one 

the experience of falling in love without the 

accompanying discomfort or actual heartache. 

Here are some of our new(ish) favourites you 

might want to consider this Valentine’s Day. 

The Big Book of Love by Laurence 

and Catherine Anholt. Gorgeous 

rhymes all about love which can 

be shared with the whole family. 

The Color of 

Love by Suzy Taylor. A new 

colouring book but this time with 

a seasonal theme, and with tearout 

pages which can be used to 

spell any words you like 

Play-Doh, Victoria & Albert Museum, London 

To mark 60 years since the launch of Play- 

Doh, one of the most enduring of childhood 

products, the museum explores the squish, 

squash and squelch of the plastic arts with 

a range of free family-friendly drop-ins. Plus, 

there’s a great choice of workshops: Play-Doh 

Story Modelling (4-8yrs, 15-19 February); Play- 

Doh Animation (5-12yrs, 15-17 February) and 

Play-Doh Imagined Worlds (5-12yrs, 18-19 Feb. 

All workshops cost £5 per child (with parent/ 

carer). To check the times and book one of the 

workshops (places are limited) visit the website. 

V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath 

Road, E2 9PA. For full details on all events visit 

vam.ac.uk/moc/whatson 

Love is my Favourite Thing; 

A Plumdog Story by Emma 

Chichester Clark. Children’s book 

author and illustrator has turned 

her hand to something graphic 

to appeal to everybody, including 

the family dog. 

A Little, Aloud With Love by Angela 

Macmillan. Anthology of poems 

and prose from the Reader 

Organisation to be read aloud, 

covering every conceivable kind 

of love. Includes work from 

Auden, Murakami, Whitman. 

The Pursuit of Love, and Love in a 

Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford. 

Reissues, with beautiful new 

covers from Penguin, of the two 

wittiest and most moving novels 

on love and loving probably ever 

written in the English language. 

Jo de Guia, storyhabit.co.uk 

24 LOVEEAST

Local heroes 

Inspiring children to read is a hugely rewarding experience, 

says Beanstalk volunteer Tristan Hill 

"Don't tell me, don't tell me". 

These were the words of one of 

the children I worked with this 

year and spoken with the huge 

passion of someone who didn't 

want to be defeated. 

He was making a stab at 

pronouncing a complicated 

word from a Roald Dahl story. 

For much of the year, he was 

the least committed, and the 

most disruptive of the three 

children I worked with. He 

would do everything he could 

to avoid anything, so it made it 

all the more rewarding when he 

expressed such determination. 

Choosing to do voluntary 

work sometimes comes with a 

vested interest. Many people 

don’t quite believe me when I 

tell them that I struggled with 

reading and comprehension 

at school, but it was this that 

prompted me to volunteer 

with Beanstalk after hearing 

about them through an Evening 

Standard campaign. 

Beanstalk provide volunteers 

with in-depth training, and 

on-going support, as well as a 

box full of books and games. 

From then on it's is up to 

each volunteer to be creative 

and to capture the children's 

imagination. 

One contribution I made was to 

show them an illustrated book 

of ballet stories. This captivated 

one child and drew out her 

genuine passion for dance. 

Volunteers work individually 

with each child, and away from 

the demands of the school 

curriculum. While an integral 

part of volunteering is to help 

them to improve their reading, 

there is no pressure on the 

children to meet targets. A 

30-minute session is about 

creating a space where they can 

express themselves through 

talking and interacting with the 

volunteer, as well as developing 

ways to interact and socialise 

with others. 

It's challenging at times, but 

seeing the children grow in 

confidence, as well as develop in 

the classroom, has made it the 

most rewarding experience of 

my life so far. That’s quite a bold 

statement, I realise, but so true. 

Beanstalk is a national literacy 

charity which places volunteers 

in local primary schools to help 

children who have fallen behind 

with their reading. They currently 

work in a number of schools in 

Hackney and Tower Hamlets and 

need more reading helpers. 

To find out more about 

volunteering opportunities visit the 

website beanstalkcharity.org.uk 

or call 020 7749 7965. 


Fitness 

you will fail occasionally but that doesn’t mean 

you will not succeed in the end. 

Enjoy a drink 

Here we are talking quality not quantity. Enjoy one 

glass of a nice wine (or beer) rather than chug a 

bottle of something cheap and nasty. It means 

you drink less and perhaps enjoy it more. 

Take a photo of yourself in your underwear 

Take a picture and then – depending on your 

confidence and living arrangements – either tuck 

it away somewhere private or print it out and 

stick it on the bedroom mirror. Research in Spain 

found that those who took regular pictures found 

it hugely motivating because they could literally 

see the changes in the body. 

Sign up for the Hackney half-marathon 

If you need a goal to help drive your training, sign 

up for the Hackney Half on Sunday, 8 May. There 

are plenty of running plans online (Bupa do great, 

free ones). If you are looking for a good cause, 

St Joseph's Hospice, on Mare Street, are building 

a team for the day. You can apply for a place 

through their website, stjh.org.uk/hackney or sign 

up at runhackney.com 

Roger Love, personal 

trainer, gives some tips on 

how to keep your new year 

of fitness going 

As the weather closes in and the demands of 

work and family chase away your New Year 

resolve, it’s time for you to dig in and consolidate 

your 2016 health regime. Here are six ideas to 

help you. 

Don’t beat yourself up 

If you miss a workout or let a sneaky drink pull 

you off the wagon of dry January, don’t be too 

hard on yourself – and don’t give up. Accept that 

Set a new goal 

Your first goal was to train once a week. Now, 

you can set a new one. It could be a specific 

outcome, say to lose 3cm off your waist, or to add 

a second session. To try something different, how 

about a visit to Mile End Climbing Wall, afterdark 

swimming at the Lido, or badminton at the 

Britannia Leisure Centre? 

Improve your sleep 

Lack of sleep can affect hormones and that could 

interfere with the weight loss process and make 

you crave higher-calorie foods. You can track your 

sleep with a fitness monitor that you wear – and 

start to make changes by keeping your room cool 

and turning off your phone (or put it on airplane 

mode). Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep. 

Roger Love is a personal trainer based in Netil House, 

Hackney. 

hackneypt.com 

26 LOVEEAST

Drama and story-telling 

classes for under 5s 

Has your little one 

got the acting bug? 

Join Sam Seager 

(Bobby from Cbeebies 

Me Too!) and her team 

First class is FREE 

Come explore one 

of Hackney’s last 

independent high streets 

Market every Sunday 11-4 

Shops, bars and restaurants 

7 days 

chatsworthroade5.co.uk 

Homerton overground | E5 0LS 

Every Wednesday morning at 

Hackney Forge, 243a Victoria 

Park Road, E9 7HD 

Email Sam at info@actingbugs.co.uk and 

get your child's imagination buzzing 

www.actingbugs.co.uk 

Your safety is 

our concern 

The most comprehensive lock-based service available 

www.empiresecuritylondon.com 020 8986 7921 

8-20 Well Street, London, E9 7PX 


Eating in 

Valentine's French toast with caramelised pecans 

and orange sauce – for two, of course 

Thickly slice the brioche and 

get your ice cream out of the 

freezer. 

Turn the brioche in the egg 

mixture until each piece is 

completely covered. 

Heat a little butter in your 

frying pan on a medium-high 

heat then fry them on both 

sides until you have a perfectly 

caramelised finish. 

Illustration: rachelgale.com 

To top it off, get yourself a big 

scoop of smooth vanilla ice 

cream, stack everything on a 

plate and recklessly top it with 

the crunchy pecans and your 

mouthwatering orange sauce. 

Patrick Drake 

the60secondlife.com 

This is a perfectly delicious dish 

for a Valentine's Day breakfast 

or brunch. Let's face it, it isn't 

going to compliment your New 

Year regime, but who cares? If 

you want to treat yourself and 

your lover to something tasty 

and decadent, this will push all 

the right buttons. 

Ingredients (for two) 

1 large orange 

1½ tbsp butter 

2 tbsp runny honey 

3 free range eggs (preferably 

organic) 

½tsp ground cinnamon 

2 tbsp pecan nuts 

4 thick slices of brioche bread 

¼ tsp of sea salt flakes 

2 scoops vanilla ice cream 

Method 

For this ludicrously tasty French 

toast, zest half an orange into 

a pan then squeeze in all of its 

juice. Bring it to a gentle bubble 

on a medium low heat, then add 

1 tbsp of butter and 1 tbsp of 

honey before you reduce it to a 

beautifully thick syrup. 

Once it is thick remove it from 

the heat. 

Crack and whisk a few eggs in 

a bowl before adding ground 

cinnamon and a pinch of salt. 

Cook your pecans in the 

remaining butter on a medium 

heat for a few minutes, together 

with the remaining honey and a 

pinch of salt. Then, when they're 

golden, let them cool down. 

Patrick Drake is the creator of 

the online cookery course The 60 

Second Chef and co-founder and 

Head Chef of HelloFresh. 

LoveEast Reader Offer 

Patrick is offering LoveEast 

readers 40% off the price 

of his full 60-Second Chef 

cookery course. To get your 

discount, just quote CHEF40 

when you make your 

purchase at: 

the60secondlife.com 

28 LOVEEAST

Eating out 

Saray Broadway Café 

We’re still in the bleak winter. It’s cold, there’s 

been some snow and those post-Christmas blues 

are still hanging around, but the good news is 

we’re out of "dry January". 

Who does that? It’s never made sense to me to 

give up stuff in the hardest months of the year 

and then to bore everyone with it as well. At 

least I had the decency to start my regime during 

September. This is the time for comfort and 

familiarity to tuck yourself in and keep it simple 

and local. What could be nicer than a quick walk 

to a local café for a straightforward, inexpensive, 

no fuss breakfast or an OAP-loved lunch? These 

cafés are a local amenity for all of us. 

The Saray Broadway Café is just this sort of place. 

It’s been along Broadway Market for an age, with 

easy-wipe surfaces and those tables and chairs 

that are built as one unit. It contains no irony and 

it could be anywhere in the UK. Brilliant. 

If you haven't been there you'll know it from the 

front window attraction, where fresh spinach 

and cheese Turkish flatbreads, also known as 

Gozleme, are cooked before you in a little wooden 

cubicle in the front window. 

When you wedge yourself in you'll be able to 

check out the street view through the large 

windows, but it's inside where the real action 

happens. School kids, builders, locals, OAPs, 

workers, we're all In there, in the know and 

enjoying a cuppa and contentment. 

This isn’t fine dining; there's nothing fancy. It’s 

what you’d expect, and that's the virtue. We all 

have a moment when there's nothing better than 

a greasy spoon. I had beautifully fried eggs, soft 

and perfectly round by being cooked in those 

rings, along with a generous portion of crispy 

bacon with mushrooms. They even had fried 

bread. Where else are you going to get that and a 

gammon served with a pineapple ring? One of my 

Granny's favourite meals. 

The service is forthcoming and gracious, setting 

the tone for the easy atmosphere and good times. 

We paid £13 for our three breakfasts. 

Susan Birtwistle 

Saray Broadway Cafe 

58 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ 


Legal eagle 

argument. They are not able to give detailed legal 

advice but legally trained mediators can give 

general guidance on the law and how the courts 

approach the matter. 

The main advantage is that issues are resolved 

out of court, which invariably means that it's far 

less stressful, more cost-effective and produces 

results that the couple agree on. That makes for a 

much better outcome. 

The process is particularly useful when there 

are children involved, and some mediators 

are specifically trained to involve the children 

themselves in the mediation process, and this can 

be very effective. 

Mediation is not suitable for some cases, for 

example where there is domestic abuse. 

At TV Edwards both Denise Ingamells and I are 

accredited mediators. Our success rate is very 

high in helping separating couples to reach an 

agreement, even those who initially had great 

difficulty speaking to each other. 

Advertorial 

Divorce is difficult in any 

circumstance, but mediation 

helps to ease the process, 

explains David Emmerson 

Mediation is the most effective, quickest and 

cheapest way of resolving issues concerning 

children, finance, divorce and separation. 

It's a process by which the couple meet with the 

mediator – usually in the same room but not 

always – and talk through their views, feelings 

and proposals in order to resolve issues. 

The mediators use their skills and training 

to encourage discussion and to make sure 

everybody has a voice. 

Mediators are skilled at dealing with a couple's 

power balance and they ensure that each party 

knows and understands the relevance of every 

If you feel that mediation is something you would 

like to pursue, then please do call us. We will find 

out whether it is suitable for your situation, as 

well as talking to you about what the issues might 

be. A separate meeting will then be arranged to 

explain the process. If it is decided that mediation 

is suitable, the first session is arranged. At 

that point the agenda is set and any financial 

disclosure, valuations and other necessary 

preparation is planned. 

Mediation sessions can last up to 90 minutes and 

many disputes are resolved after two to three 

sessions. 

For advice or further information, please 

contact David Emmerson on 0203 440 

8089 (david.emmerson@tvedwards.com), or 

Denise Ingamells on 020 3440 8087 (denise. 

ingamells@tvedwards.com). 

tvedwards.com, 35-37 Mile End Road 

London, E1 4TP. 

30 LOVEEAST

Wellbeing 

Critical analysis – the ability to challenge your 

assumptions. 

Review – an ability to pause and to ask "What 

would I do differently next time and why? How 

will I do it and how will that give me the outcome 

I want?" 

New learning – an ability to learn about yourself 

from experiences (your potential and areas for 

improvement), rather than seeing yourself or 

others as a failure. 

Advertorial 

Make a little time each day 

to reflect, says life coach 

Karen Liebenguth 

We usually talk about picking up bad habits, but 

here’s a good habit to pick up – regular reflection. 

Reflection can be a very empowering process. It 

can help you to make sense of your day – to come 

to decisions, to set a course of action and to step 

away from the "autopilot" that is the habit for 

many of us. 

As we move into 2016, a good starting point is 

to reflect on the intentions you set for the new 

year, giving you a chance to track progress and 

to follow through rather than falling back into old 

patterns. 

Preparing a reflection skills toolkit 

Reflection requires a number of skills which can 

easily be developed: 

Self-awareness – an ability to pause, to pay 

attention to thoughts and feelings and to question 

yourself without judgement. This will help you to 

become aware of your habitual ways of thinking 

and behaving in any given situation. 

Non-judgement – it's important to be able to 

describe / recall situations neutrally. 

Reflection tips 

1. Give yourself at least 10-15 minutes for regular 

reflection, in a place where you feel at ease and 

at a time that suits you best (when your mind is 

open and alert). I like to reflect while walking in 

Victoria Park or during a weekend hike. Others 

reflect during a long soak in the bath. 

2. Switch off all background noise – radio, TV, your 

phone – to create the best conditions to clarify 

your intentions and to help you verbalise your 

thoughts and feelings. 

3. Capture your reflections in a notebook. 

Between Christmas and New Year I used these 

tools to reflect on the past year. It helped me to 

gain clarity about what worked and what didn’t 

work so well in 2015. 

These tools can be applied to anything, big or 

small. They will add depth to how you live your 

life, rendering it more satisfying and meaningful 

as a result. 

Karen Liebenguth offers 1:1 coaching while 

walking in Victoria Park, 1:1 mindfulness 

training & courses for the workplace & 

mindfulness for stress and chronic pain. 

To book a free taster coaching session email 

karen@greenspacecoaching.com or call 

07815 591279. For more information visit 

greenspacecoaching.com 


History hangout 

beneath the summit at the north-western tip of 

Springfield Park. In the British Museum there is a 

Roman sarcophagus that was found last century 

in the immediate vicinity, so we know that the 

Romans were present there. 

Having marched with his legions all the way to 

Anglesey, Governor Paulinus left his southern 

strongholds unchallenged to the ravages of 

Queen Boudicca, accompanied by her own Iceni 

tribe from Norfolk and the Trinovantes tribes from 

Essex. It was a most unfortunate coincidence. She 

wasn't defending the religious Druids, she was 

claiming back her royal inheritance. 

Stephen Selby investigates 

the mystery of Blood House 

In 60 or 61AD the Roman governor of Britain, 

Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, with the approval of 

Emperor Nero, set about to annihilate every single 

Druid, man woman and child. Only in Anglesey did 

the remaining Druids escape death by sailing to 

Dublin for safety. 

Here in Hackney we have our own possible 

connection to the Druids in the form of caves 

beneath the legendary ancient burial mound in 

Springfield Park. It is believed by many historians 

that places named as "spring" and "well" were 

linked to the Druids. Julius Caesar called these 

cave-dwelling priests the Cavernii when he first 

encountered them in Kent in BC54. 

There is a rather grizzly 1786 map reference 

to “The Blood House”, where Springfield Park 

overlooks the vast Lea valley. Could nearby 

Moundfield Road be a link to the mass execution 

of the local Druids? 

Two of my dowsing colleagues specialise in 

identifying Druid burial locations in Britain and are 

certain that there was a Druid temple complex 

Boudicca and her tribal armies first destroyed 

the major Roman military base at Colchester. 

Next, she burnt London, killing 70,000, and then 

ordered the destruction of St Albans. Paulinus 

had made a great error of judgement by being 

absent. These military and civilian massacres were 

a major setback for Rome. According to Tacitus 

the famous Roman chronicler, Boudicca’s victory 

was only temporary. After annihilating the Druids 

across the entire country, the disciplined Roman 

legions encountered the celebrating tribes in 

the south, somewhere along Watling Street. The 

Romans then massacred their adversaries; Queen 

Boudicca was eventually pronounced dead. 

Thus Paulinus provoked two of the most bloody 

events under the Roman occupation; the 

countless murders of the Druids, and Boudicca's 

own revenge. 

Was this "Blood House" named after the 

massacre of Druid cave-dwellers from Springfield 

Park? This pinnacle is located on what is now 

Moundfield Road – just a hundred yards from 

the possible temple complex. As the Druids did 

not fight the Romans, it leaves us to conclude 

that they were perhaps lined up like sheep to 

the slaughter. Dowsing over the whole area, at 

all times with witnesses, there are the possible 

remains of literally hundreds of human corpses 

beneath this high mound. 

Next month: Shoreditch and its ancient Holywell 

Mound. 

32 LOVEEAST

Letterbox Listings 

T H E H A C K N E E Y Y B B U U I L I D L E D RE R 

property refurbishment & & renovation 

E: thehackneybuilder@icloud.com 

Roger Love 

Personal trainer 

www.lovelondonfitness.com 

POP UP TEA STOP – 10.30am-noon every 

Wednesday at Prideaux House, 10 Church 

Crescent, E9. All welcome. 020 8986 6000 

Experienced, reliable dog dog walker. walker. Fully Fully 

insured, references supplied. supplied. For more For more details 

call details Annabel call Annabel on 07960 483570 on 07960 483570 

Travelling abroad and want to see some art? 

I can advise you on how to see the very best. 

www.douglas@darkstream32.fsnet.co.uk 

MINDFULNESS FOR HEALTH 

8-week Breathworks course starts 25 Oct 

E8 £65 facebook/anasamindfulness 

If you would like to take out a small ad 

on the Letterbox Listings page, prices 

from just £17.50 per month 

I’m an illustrator who who makes beautiful beautiful screen- 

screen-printed bags, postcards, bags, postcards, T-shirts, etc. T-shirts, Take a 

look: etc. Take www.rachelgale.com 

a look: www.rachelgale.com 

Say it with flowers this 

Valentine’s Day 

www.agpriceflowers.co.uk 

217-219 Well Street, E9 6QU 

020 8986 0250 


Useful numbers 

Police 

Emergency 999 

Non-emergency 101 

Safer Neighbourhood 020 8721 2937 

Utilities 

Gas - emergency 0800 111 999 

Electrical - power loss 0800 404090 

Thames Water 0872 435 5973 

Health 

NHS Direct 111 

Homerton Hospital 020 8510 5555 

Royal London Hospital 020 7377 7000 

Clockwork Pharmacy 020 8985 1717 

Borno Pharmacy 020 8981 0600 

Hackney Council numbers 

General number 020 8356 3000 

Council tax enquiries 020 8356 3154 

Parking enquiries 020 8356 8877 

Waste removal 020 8356 6688 

Tower Hamlets Council numbers 

General number 020 7364 5020 

Council tax enquiries 020 7364 5002 

Parking enquiries 020 7364 5003 

Waste removal 020 7364 5004 

Local councillors/MP 

Local councillors (Victoria) 020 8356 3373 

MP (Meg Hillier) 020 7219 5325 

Library 

Hackney Central Library 020 8356 4358 

Bethnal Green Library 020 7364 3492 

Victoria Park 

Park Services (24/7) 020 8985 5699 

Victoria Park rangers 020 7364 4172 

Travel 

National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950 

Congestion Charge 0343 222 2222 

Transport for London 0343 222 1234 

Vet 

Goddard's, Well Street 020 8986 3918 

PDSA, Bow 020 8980 5011 

Wanstead Veterinary 020 8989 7744 

Hospital 

The Hackney Vet 020 8533 6554 

LoveEast is proud 

to support local 

businesses. If 

you do contact 

someone after 

seeing their 

advertisement 

on these pages, 

please mention it 

to them when you call. 

Why advertise with us? 

Every month the magazine is delivered to 

10,000 households in E9, E8, E2 and E3, as 

well as to local shops, restaurants and cafés in 

Victoria Park, Hackney Wick, Broadway Market 

and Roman Road. Readership runs into many 

thousands more (between 25,000-30,000). 

The magazine is full of great articles and 

essential information and is a handy guide 

to local businesses and services, as well as 

giving details about what’s on in the area. It’s 

something to keep through the month and 

is unlikely to go in the recyle bin along with 

doordrop leaflets. It's therefore a very effective 

way to promote your business to a targeted, 

local audience. 

If you would like to advertise, please contact 

us at: 

07752 288 405 

sales@nutshellpublications.co.uk 

Twitter: @LoveEastMag 

Facebook: facebook.com/LoveEastMag 

Next issue – March 

Copy deadline – 5 February 

34 LOVEEAST

Landlords, we offer 

0% Commission on Lettings! 

Yes, that’s 

0% Commission 

on Lettings! 

Our Guaranteed Rental Income service will give you peace 

of mind and our trusted Property Management approach 

means that we look after your property as if it were our own. 

To find out more about our exceptional services for Landlords, 

call us now or drop by and speak to one of our lettings team. 

020 8986 2222 

170 Victoria Park Road, Hackney. E9 7HD 

enquiries@robertalanhomes.com 

Visit our new website for the latest properties available for sale 

and to rent www.robertalanhomes.com

The east end has changed 

So should your estate agent 

daveystone.com 

Estate Agents for the East End

February 2016

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?