Bird in the Bush - A blog about life in Shepherd's Bush

The End

2011-11-20T12:09:00.001Z

I stopped living in Shepherd's Bush in September 2011 after over four years of experiencing the good, the bad and the ugly sides of W12, London, UK. I have since left London and am now (November 2011) travelling around south east Asia and am due to land in Australia in time for Christmas. You can read more about my leaving the Bush and my decision to go travelling here. You can also follow my journey, quite literally As the Bird flies, over on my new blog, where I blog predominantly about travel, but I also review books, write about learning to be a better photographer and share some of my thoughts and fears including how I'm missing the Bush!

It is true, therefore, that hanging up my "Bird in the Bush" banner and blog is long overdue, however, I have decided to keep the site content active on the off chance that it is useful for any Bush residents, newcomers or visitors. If that's you then here are some posts about Shepherd's Bush to get you started.

How to survive Shepherd's Bush

The 10 things I like most about living in Shepherd's Bush

All the posts about the best, the worst and the most yummy food in the area - Bush Grub!

All the posts about how to drunk in Shepherd's Bush - it sadly isn't that difficult, though there are some nicer places than others to enjoy a drink!

Posts about Bush Theatre including this important post about becoming a this important post about becoming a member of their local scheme Bush Local which offers discounts and special deals for local folk (and it's free to join!)

Posts about Shepherd's Bush Empire - a great place to see music or just marvel at the different type of fans queuing up most nights from goths to cowboys to punks to teeny poppers.

Posts about the history of Shepherd's Bush - featuring maps, facts, photos and local residents' stories.

Posts about local Bush businesses I have had the pleasure to meet and find out more about.

Posts about Bush Festival - a (hopefully!) annual free one day summer festival held on Shepherd's Bush Green run by local young people for all Bush folk to enjoy no matter your age or background. This is a special and important project so please support any which way you can.

All of these posts feature photos of Shepherd's Bush so have a look. Also there are dedicated Shepherd's Bush Groups on Flickr so make contact with me on there and I'll show you more Bush Snaps.

That should keep you going! You can also contact me with any question, comment or news you have about Shepherd's Bush as no matter where I am in the world I'm always interested and keen to talk Bush. If you're on Twitter and would like to ask a Bush question or feed some news then please use the #bushw12 hash tag. The Bush loving Twitterati on Twitter are the number one reason why this blog grew and grew and I am eternally grateful for their support, then and now.

Though I may no longer be the Bird in the Bush, I am still Bird and I'm still blogging away. I personally got so much out of blogging as Bird in the Bush that I couldn't imagine stopping so I really do hope that you check in with my new blog and new journey every now and again and please do keep me posted on how Shepherd's Bush is doing; the good, the bad and the ugly!!!

Lots of Bush love, always,

Birdie x

I'm a survivor!

2011-11-04T03:48:00.001Z

There's a reason some people shudder or cringe a little at the very thought of living in Shepherd's Bush.

There's a reason that they sometimes doubt your own choice to do just that.

There's also a reason people prefer other pockets of London, even if they are more expensive and more inconvenient in terms of transport links and facilities, the silly billies.

I know this and indeed most one time or long term Shepherd's Bush residents know this. The reason is, I think, that Shepherd's Bush isn't an "easy" place to live. Parts of Shepherd's Bush are dirty or noisy, chaotic or unsafe, unsavoury or unsightly or all of the above. But in the words of Chris Martin, a man I don't regard that highly if I'm honest (I never "got" Coldplay); "Nobody said it was easy." And that is a motto I believe could and should apply to life itself. In other words, if you want to experience real life, real London life, Shepherd's Bush is as good a place as any, if not better, and always real; Shepherd's Bush doesn't come sugar coated!

However, rather than dwell on this and the lows of the Bush, let us consider the highs, which is ironic seeing as the Bush is a relatively flat place being so close to the Thames. And there you go, I have just mentioned two good things about Shepherd's Bush; it is flat (so good for running, walking, cycling, hopping, crawling etc.) and it is close to the Thames, and a nice part of the Thames too. Writing about all the good things in W12 is going to be easy!

I asked for some help from readers of the blog to compile "Shepherd's Bush: A Survivor's Guide" so thank you to all who contributed and special thanks to Joaquim of guest post about the Bush Saxman fame, who sent me extensive information about what's best about the Bush as a parent, something I'm not at all qualified to comment on.

Thanks to what I refer to as the "magic triangle" of Goldhawk Road, Uxbridge Road and Shepherd's Bush Market (and dare I whisper a mention of Westfield) you don't really need to leave the Bush to get life's essentials and I don't just mean fried chicken, imported Indian fabric or booze, all of which you can buy in abundance in the Bush. The majority of Shepherd's Bush's independent businesses are run by hard working local people and so supporting them should be a no-brainer if you're in favour of avoiding corporate chain takeover. Shepherd's Bush resident and foodie Iain wrote a guest blog post about the joys of food shopping locally and I've reviewed far too many local restaurants so do check out these posts for more inspiration on the About the Bush page..

Public transport in and out of Shepherd's Bush, is on the whole, fairly decent. You are connected to the outside world by the Central Line tube, overground trains, buses and despite bad traffic during rush hour (and most of the weekend - thanks Westfield!) the roads can also take you away out of London pretty swiftly; I used to commute by car to Reading every day from the Bush and it was around a 45 minute journey - providing I left W12 before 6:30am (!).

No, that was not a sales pitch for TFL, but rather another pro to living in the Bush. What Shepherd's Bush is missing, however, are the Boris Bikes or Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme, which I became a bit fan of and I'd like to think I did my bit to campaign for the scheme reportedly being extended to W12 next year. (Of course Westfield's mulla may have had a bit more sway!)

Having stressed the importance of staying (or rather buying) local, that is not to say I didn't leave W12 postcode boundaries now and again, because I did and would occasionally feel a strong need to! The fact that the Bush borders the more upmarket and arguably calmer areas of Holland Park and Chiswick should be seen as another bonus and going further afield the Bush is a healthy hour's walk away from Hyde Park, Kensington and Barnes Wetlands Centre if a complete change of scene is needed.

This blog is a belly full of local restaurant reviews, which should be testament enough to the fact that Shepherd's Bush will satisfy most taste buds. I can't actually think of another corner of London which has as many different international cuisines on offer within a one mile radius.

My favourite Shepherd's Bush restaurants are Sagano on Askew Road (amazing Japanese), Esarn Kheaw on Uxbridge Road (quaint and authentic Thai) and Patio on Goldhawk Road (Polish food served in the plush living room of the Polish grandmother you never had). Oh and having been away from the Bush for nearly two months now I am seriously craving falafel and spicy potatoes from King Solomans, though the falafel at Mr Falafel comes close. In actual fact, the Falafel-Off I did with boyfriend NewMan and old lovely flatmate Mo proves that it is impossible to find bad falafel in Shepherd's Bush. Oh and I nearly forgot that Sunday lunches in Princess Victoria are exceptional, but always busy so book ahead.

Diversity is also the pint of life when it comes to watering holes in Shepherd's Bush. From basic British pub to classy cocktail bar W12 can provide. Of course the basic British pubs are also fairly intimidating QPR pubs where if your tattoos aren't homemade you're a minority and those cocktail bars I refer to are actually over priced soulless corporate chain bars of Westfield. This should go somewhere to confirming that the boozers of the Bush, although varied are a very subjective selection and are also a bit hit and miss. However, my favourites, in no particular order, are The Goldhawk, Crown & Sceptre (tucked away on Melina Road) and Albertine Wine Bar, which is frankly in a class of its own.

Life in Shepherd's Bush doesn't have to be all about getting drunk, unless you're a flip-flop-in-February-wearing Aussie heading straight for the Walkie; there are numerous sober things worth doing on an evening.

Shepherd's Bush happens to behold two of my favourite music venues; Bush Hall and Shepherd's Bush Empire. Yes, I am biased, and yes, I lived a short and easy journey home from both but I have also put in hours of research cruising around music venues across London getting beer spilt on my shoes and tinnitus in my ears and these two venues still stay in my top ten, nay, top five. Both have different but excellent acoustics, character and history and between them they host the biggest mainstream acts, the best in up and coming music and the finest in world music artists.

Speaking of music, it has been confirmed that Bushstock is going ahead again next year after a successful debut in June and who knows maybe October 2012 will see Oxjam return for another Shepherd's Bush Takeover?

Another worthy music venue is Ginglik, the underground club on Shepherd's Bush Green nearly opposite the tube station. It also hosts regular hilarious comedy nights and if you sign up to their newsletter they often run quick and easy competitions for free tickets. Regular comedy nights can also be found at Bar FM (, another late night bar in Shepherd's Bush, which, err, probably isn't for everyone but I could often be found there dancing away to awful mainstream R&B.

And I cannot leave you without reference to my beloved Bush... Theatre, that is. I am slightly moved to use the word "institution" to describe this unique creative hub of activity now in its new home in the old Shepherd's Bush library building, but institution offers too many restrictions and suggests the Bush is a bit "establishment", which it is not, even now. The Bush Theatre can better be described as a testament to four decades of hard work, the most open minded creativity and to a real commitment to the local area. They offer discounts and special offers to local folk so if you haven't already sign up to their Bush Local members club (this extends to postcodes neighbouring W12 so don't be shy!) and if you could pop in to their new home to have a nosey around and try the coffee as I'm gagging to know what it looks like now it's all finished.

It is fair to say that I didn't maximise the facilities on offer within W12 boundaries for fitness purposes. Two years ago I surrendered my gym membership and decided to just stick to pounding the pavements as a "runner", which although didn't always go smoothly for me, I genuinely now do miss my running routes around Shepherd's Bush (it really is that flat!) and beyond, up to Hyde Park (less flat but downhill on the way home!), or down and through Kensington (to perve at the big houses, oh how the other half live!) or even around Chiswick and along the Thames Path. If you're on Twitter you can search #bushrunners to read tweets from other W12 runners and even ask questions about routes (also use the #bushw12 hash tag!).

However, there is more out there in the Bush to do to get good guns or lose some weight. Aside form the chain gyms (Gym Box in Westfield and Fitness First in West 12 Centre) don't overlook the council facilities which from what I've heard are generally sound and decent value for money. My old flatmate used to swim regularly at Janet Adegoke swimming pool on Bloemfontaine Road and my other old flatmate used to use the fitness centre at the Phoenix Centre (in the same building) and had no criticism. There are also fitness activities to be found on a smaller scale; at Shepherd's Bush Village Hall (on Wood Lane, which is definitely worth supporting as it is an invaluable historic local space seemingly always under threat from council) there are regular yoga and zumba classes and don't overlook the pilates and yoga on offer at The Happiness Centre.

If your kind of sport is more spectating than perspiring, then then you should definitely think about going to a QPR game, especially this season now they are in the Premier League. That said, this does make tickets expensive and hard to come by. As thrilling as it was to see QPR be promoted it was also heart breaking a couple of months later to hear that season tickets were now out of the price range of many life long fans. I sadly never went to a game at Loftus Road (a huge regret!) but would always love to soak up the atmosphere and tailgate swarms of fans as they descended upon Uxbridge Road to get beers and food before a game. Though some residents may find this intimidating and indeed there have been some (very minor!) clashes with opposing fans, I would definitely recommend embracing the electric atmosphere on match days rather than rejecting it.

And if all else fails stretch your legs in Ravenscourt Park, not strictly within W12 postcodes but well worth stumbling upon or incorporating into your running route.

Does local history do it for you? If so then have a read of these posts I did about the 1908 Olympics, about local architecture, about the Bush's important role in the history of TV and film production and I was very honoured to feature personal stories from two "Bush babies" who sent in photos from their childhood - thank you Stuart and Paul. Stuart also found and shared with me old maps he found of the Bush, fascinating stuff.

You may not think it but just walking around the Bush a little bit aimlessly and with your eyes wide open (though of course in daylight and with your wits about you) will reveal little pieces of local history. This was demonstrated well on one of my favourite London blogs Faded London who took a walk around our borough and found many interesting signs of a bygone time.

In terms of modern history, it's worth keeping an eye on the Twitter account "Central Lining" and the associated Facebook page run by local guy Howard who likes to reminisce and share retro popular culture references and he also brought this fascinating video to my attention which shows how the Bush looked 50 years ago; I think it looks beautiful and so classy! (I am easily impressed...)

I sadly only indulged a fraction of my growing interest in Bush history and among the other themes I would have loved to have explored was the history of Victorian gin palaces in the area (Princess Victoria was one of them), the history of Shepherd's Bush Market and I would have loved to have just known more about the flow of different ethnic groups to W12. If you have any great insight into any of these subjects then please do get in touch, though you run the risk of me bombarding you with questions...

Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't stick around long enough to pop out a couple of Bush babies as I think W12 would be a great place to raise children as it remains a fairly family orientated area, even with the likes of us young professionals swooshing in and cursing when a child starts screaming in our ears in the pub/at the bus stop/in the flat below us. This was why I was so grateful to Joaquim, or Wildman of the Bush as he likes to be called, who provided the following insight to how he and his wife and their three kids get the most out of the Bush:

"Simply put for me life in bush is about getting the most out of it and trying not to go anywhere else. I work and live here and as I have 3 kids aged 4, 3 and 4 months I do not leave much. Indeed, I take the tube or bus out of here maybe only 4 times a year. We go out of London by car only about once every 2 months, in fact the only reason I keep a car is for emergencies and to take the whole family out on summer holiday or camping. Mostly we walk everywhere and we use our Christiania bike (with a box on the front) to carry the kids about. So our challenge is to find all the things we need as a family in our local area. The only exceptions are Holland Park & Dukes Meadows for green spaces, Turnham Green Terrace for the mummy charity shops, Hammersmith for some shops missing in bush (TK Maxx) and Chiswick Auction house. All of these places are bordering the W12 area so can be got to by bike.

In the last 3 years we have done this successfully, and we feel no need to get out of this area for anything really. By striving to live just about all of our life in Shepherds Bush I feel we have managed to get to know more of our area and get to know more of the people in the area. Furthermore our kids feel that they know the entire area and are very at home here.

My current must dos for this area are really based on being a young family:

Best swings
There's a little park between St Stephen’s and Godolphin Roads and these swings are brilliant as the length of the chain is so long and the swinging movement the kids experience is the most exhilarating of any swing I know of. (I just hope the healthy and safety people don’t find this little gem tucked away in the backstreets of Bush!)

White City Playgroup costs just £1 per child per visit, which is an outright bargain as the group is so well supplied and catered for that even the posh mums from Chiswick come here!

Café Tuga on Uxbridge Road sells great ice creams which are a good treat for kids (of all sizes!) and the staff there are very good with children. NutCase is another shop worth visiting on Uxbridge Road (between Ingersoll and Bloemfontein Roads) as it is an Aladdin’s cave of buts and other sweet treasures which all kids love.

Bush Hall and Music House School is one of the smallest and sweetest venues in London, the music house run many events for kids that are always worthwhile.

In Shepherd's Bush Market there is a pet shop which is always worth visiting with kids and we’ve always found the owners welcoming and they will even let your kids handle the animals. They constantly have new things there to look at so well worth return visits.

If it wasn't for the fabric shops of Goldhawk Road our daughters' dressing up box would have cost a fortune, that and a little needlework.

QPR Football in the Community and the opportunities that this outreach project offers to local youngsters is without doubt one of the great things that this area has going for it. (I second this emotion and you can read more about the project and their Tiger Feet walks here - Bird.)

Joaquim has recently set up a new blog in which he will be sharing Shepherd's Bush news, views and photos so do check in regularly.

One of the best resources local to Shepherd's Bush (on Masbro Road, W14) for children and families (and anyone really!) is the Masbro Centre, a uniquely proactive local community gem. Read more about their activities and support services (mostly all free!) here.

Without wanting to preach, I have found one of the best ways to feel a bigger part of my local community was as a volunteer. I haven't mentioned it in too much detail on this blog but for the last 3 years I was a volunteer reader to a VIP (visually impaired person - I love that acronym!) who lives in the Bush. Once a week I used to read her mail to her, that was all. It took a couple of hours, we had a cup of tea together and a general chat about our daily lives and then I'd walk home dow Uxbridge Road feeling like I'd regained a bit of worthy perspective; it actually turned into a relaxing highlight of my week. Sadly the charitable organisation who I volunteered with no longer exists (a sad victim of recent hard times), but I know for a fact that there are numerous other great causes active in Shepherd's Bush, which are always on the look out for volunteers and helpers.

A good place to start researching this is Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre, and also research local charities; off the top of my head Broadway Centre, Masbro Centre and Healthy Planet are all local charities active in the local community who may need volunteers. Shepherd's Bush also has a regular film club for the homeless at St Stephens and St Thomas church (another active force in the local community), which I also briefly volunteered at, and this is a very easy and fun way to support locally displaced people. My experience of this film club changed my opinion about local homeless people in our area. I used to think the majority they were all suffering from substance abuse issues and spent their days drinking 24/7 on the Green shouting slightly offensive things about the size of my bottom to me. In fact, pretty much all of the guests at the film club are sober, friendly, polite and actively seeking to better their situation... and when it comes down to it aren't we all just trying to do that in life?

Also local events like Bush Festival, which is scheduled to not only return next summer, but to also have an event near Christmas this year, will need the support of local volunteers.

I would also be grateful if someone could check in with the Big Issue seller at Central Line tube station, who nearly always had a smile for me when I remembered to buy the magazine and who was always grateful for a chocolate bar at Christmas (I think he likes Mars best).

Shepherd's Bush has possibly more than its fair share of odd people. Again this is related to a high number of homeless folk, some of which do suffer from substance abuse and although the majority are harmless, no one likes to feel intimidated in their own local area. I've been called "fat", "ugly" and "a monster" (!) by some of Shepherd's Bush finest "odd balls", but I've also had fairly polite conversations with many local characters who are often who I turned to first to find out local news or gossip!

It is fair to say that petty and indeed more serious criminality is an issue in Shepherd's Bush and that only too often I have heard of houses and cars being broken into and sadly I've heard about muggings and only 6 months ago I witnessed a violent attack by one woman on another woman. Personally I have had my car broken into twice, and both times was seemingly for somebody to sleep in there, though on one occasion my Abba and Alphabeat CDs were stolen too and aside from some unpleasant verbal abuse on a bus once, nothing more serious has happened to me personally. The only time I felt unsafe in the Bush was when the recent London riots were taking place across the city, though ironically and brilliantly the Bush was left unscathed. I know I am very lucky to have not experienced worse.

In my experience for every odd or threatening person you meet in the Bush, there are at least ten more who are honest, hard-working and decent people. Though it may be hard when that 1 in 11 targets you, it is important to remember that. Oh but a quick word of advice, for some reason the harmless and more eccentric odd bods frequently congregate in Morrisons (in West 12 centre) or in the Post Office so do bear that in mind and go prepared!

That's it. Though I could write much more, I think this has covered the main ways in which I not only survived but fell in love with Shepherd's Bush.

I hope in this post that you have found some fun new things to try, some comfortably familiar things to revisit and at least a handful of reasons to be cheerful living in Shepherd's Bush, where life isn't easy but it is never boring and is always, always real.

P.S. Please do feel free to share your own "tips for Bush survival" in the comments. Reading comments has been far and away the best thing about this blog. Thank you, Birdie x

Enjoy yourself!

2011-10-22T15:08:00.001+01:00

This is a special little post to announce the line up for next weekend's Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover and to launch what I'm going to call a quick and slick competition for a lucky reader to win two wristbands to Oxjam on Saturday (29th October).

It's not long now before a band of musicians, comedians, DJs and the ever energetic Oxjam team takeover Shepherd's Bush. Literally.

See the below flyer for more information and to find out where and when everything is happening and if you want to get tickets you can order online (and find more information) at www.oxjamshepbush.org.uk.

You can find more information about some of the acts in this previous blog post.

Most importantly all the proceeds of this event, which is one of many Oxjam Takeover days and events going on across the country this weekend and next weekend will go towards Oxfam's work.

And so to the competition to win two tickets. These will get you free wristbands for the day which means free entry to all the venues all day and all night long so all you have to do is make sure your boots were made for walking. To enter, leave me a comment below with your name (and ensure you leave your email address in the correct field so I can contact you) and I will pick a winner at random early doors on Thursday 27th October. Simples!

Good luck!!

Who's that girl?

2011-10-22T11:12:00.001+01:00

Well this is me. I have only a couple of blog posts left to post on Bird in the Bush and I thought one of them should be some sort of big reveal about who I am, or rather what I look like. Here I am featured on the Someone Once Told Me website today and it features a big fat picture of me, and I'm not hiding behind a tree or a bike or positioning myself slightly off the camera lens. This is what I look like. On a average day. In black and white.

Someone Once Told Me describes itself as a "photography website" but I don't think that gives it enough credit. It's actually more of a fascinating social experiment led by Mario (a one time Shepherd's Bush resident). Everyday the site features a photograph of somebody from any given corner of the world with some words that somebody once told them and they explain the story why this means something to them. Some are funny, some are sad, some are thought provoking and some are just downright bizarre. I had my photo taken on Shepherd's Bush Green, much to the amusement of the regulars, and you can read and even listen (cringe!) to me explain what somebody once told me and why it was so important to me here.

SOTM also recently launched an iPhone app allowing you to keep up to date with the daily SOTM stories as well as submit your own and all proceeds from the purchase of the app go to support the charity Operation Smile. Before I left the Bush I was lucky enough to grab some Thai food at Jasmine with Mario and he is incredibly passionate about this app, its support of Smile and the SOTM project so if you like what you see please do consider downloading the app. (I can promise you that there will be no more photos of me and my chubby cheeks or soundbites of my deep voice again so you needn't worry about that.)

This will be someone else's dream...

2011-10-07T17:58:00.001+01:00

I just had a yummy lunch with my good friend Bella. It was one of many one-on-one lunches I am eating my way through as our leaving date approaches with increasing speed.

We spent more money than was healthy on more food than was healthy in Polpo on Beak Street and we put the world to rights, to wrongs and the rights again. During the conversation Bella mentioned that she'd been to an art gallery opening the night before (not a usual Bella and Bird conversation topic I must quickly add). At this gallery she had met two young Irish girls who'd not long been living in London and thus they immediately reminded her of us when we first graduated from Uni and had a new, exciting toy to play with, i.e. London.

The reason Bella was telling me this story was because Bella had asked these two young women where they'd moved to. They'd answered "Shepherd's Bush". When Bella, who isn't unfamiliar with the delights of the Bush at all, asked whereabouts, they replied. "Oh there's this beautiful art deco building on Shepherd's Bush Road, do you know it?" Bella knew it very well.

Though I still don't know for 100% certain that they now inhabit my old flat, all it took was for Bella to say "they said they have amazing views"for me to feel a sense of satisfaction that they probably are living there. Yes it makes me realise how much I'll miss that flat, but it's a timely reminder that life moves on and people do too and in many ways they must. Though it wouldn't be a life wasted, if we all stayed in the same place we would miss out on a lot.

If I could have picked the next residents for that flat I loved so much it would have been precisely the people Bella described to me; lovely young girls with energy and hunger for life in London. Plus they claim to love the "buzz" of Shepherd's Bush. Ah ladies, you have no idea...

Dancing in September

2011-10-04T10:08:00.000+01:00

Actually there wasn't much dancing in September, there was a lot of packing, moving and saying goodbye as I finally left Shepherd's Bush. If you get a big Schadenfreude kick from my sorrow then you can read a number of those posts, and for others of you there was still lots going on in the Bush which I tried my best to cover.

So the sad posts... Mo and I shared sushi, mojitos and an ill-advised "emptying the drinks cupboard" experience on our last night in Shepherd's Bush. (The delicious sushi you see is from Sagano.)

And I said a fond farewell to the flat that has been my home for the last two years by giving you a bit of history and information about the iconic building. Though I've been back to the Bush a few times since leaving I try to avoid walking past my building as much as possible. The thought of seeing someone else perched on my balcony... sigh.

Moving on (literally!), the blog featured some lovely guest posts from Trish who reviewed a gig at Bush Hall, and from "Wildman of the Bush" who wrote one of my favourite ever Bird in the Bush posts about the "Bush Sax Man".

Still on the subject of music, I finally did a post about a great Bush family project Music House for Children and the date was announced for Bushstock 2012.

In other news Open Doors came and went inspiring creativity in even the most artistically challenged of people, i.e. me. It was a great project and a lovely day for us Bush enthusiasts so if you haven't explored the work that was on show, you really should see some of the photos that were taken here, here and here. I am still hankering after the W12 wallpaper...

Back to music (maybe there was more dancing than I remember) and I shared with you some information about Oxjam Acton, a smaller scale Oxjam event just down the road but run by a Bush resident with real character and fascinating musical background. Read more here.

Other music events to consider in October are of course Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover, the fundraising warm up to which features a gimmick-gong-free singles night, and of course the #bushw12 #dnbnight on Saturday October 15th at Raving Buddha, organised by some of the finest Bush Twitterati.

Speaking of which, this month I wrote about how important and significant twitter and the #bushw12 twitter family has been to me and my blog. If you don't "get" Twitter, I hope maybe this post will go some way to changing your mind. I have decided to stay on Twitter as Bushbirdie, though I know this may disagree with some of you Bush-purists, but quite frankly I don't want to lose the friends/followers I have on there, though of course I won't be offended if you decide to unfollow me on my travels. Speaking of which, I also introduced my new blog As the Bird flies... If you haven't already had a nosey around it or subscribed to posts by email please do.

Though it was initially strange, I have enjoyed returning to the Bush as a "tourist", on one trip I even got ice cream, and I was honoured to spend an joining in (i.e. gatecrashing) the Bush Theatre celebrating their new home, new future and future production Sixty Six Books.

A personal highlight of this month was when NewMan and I played around making temporary tattoo transfers (simple things...) and he made me this Shepherd's Bush tattoo. In other personal news I have reduced the price of everything on my Etsy store, and will give you a further 10% discount with the code FUNTIMER, if you like what you see.

There was more, there always is. Until now. I am now faced with only two weeks left in the country, the longest to do list I've ever written and a city full of friends and family to see and say goodbye to. For that reason I will only be posting a handful more posts on Bird in the Bush, at most.

One of my last posts will be Bird's guide to living in the Bush so please do feel free to pitch in ideas, must-dos, must-avoids, must-ignores. As always it will be light-hearted yet heartfelt and, I hope, a fitting end to my time as Bird in the Bush.

Thank you for reading, always x

Open the door...

2011-10-01T18:26:00.000+01:00

It should be an unnerving sight in Shepherd's Bush; the front door to a terraced house left wide open and strangers walk in and out having gained something. Or rather it's not usually a positive thing, yet last Saturday it was a very positive thing for Shepherd's Bush and for art as local people were invited to enjoy art inspired by their local area in a local home.

Friends Tom and Katy began the OpenDoors London project after long recognising how hard it was to open doors as artists to gain exposure or to simply get their pieces hung on the walls of a gallery, or better, on the wall of somebody's home. Their approach to doing something about this was to open their own doors, and those of their friends and fellow artists, and host a number of one off pop-up galleries all over London. A nice added touch (or paintbrush, I should say) is that OpenDoors uses the local area of the pop up galleries as inspiration for the artists work and it is important to them that this process is very inclusive of local people, their thoughts and opinions.

As it is Tom's Galloway Road home which opened its doors first, the first Open Doors was inspired by W12 and over the last few months Tom and Katy encouraged local people to answer questions about the Bush, to share their photos of the local area and to enjoy the digital scrapbook collecting information, images and statistics all aimed at inspiring the up and coming artists who showcased their work last weekend.

Very popular with local Bush dwellers, W12 wallpaper.

Many pieces were obviously inspired by one particular element of the Bush, for example Louise Burrows' collages which featured iconic images from BBC in two pieces inspired by the history of Lime Grove studios and television production in the area. (You can read more about this in my post on the subject matter).

Other pieces were classic Bush, like the tableau of faces seen through the eyes of one artist on her visit to the area. The painting of a homeless man asleep on the Green was a more haunting reminder of the other side of Bush life.

Other work was more creative, like the wool spider's web photographed in recognisable locations around Shepherd's Bush by Emily Spence (which I sadly didn't get a photo of as it was too busy with people discussing the work and I was too shy to stick my lens in their faces but you can see Emily's own photos of her work and other pieces here). To see all the artists work and to find out more about them go to the Open Doors website but here are the other pieces that caught my eye (and I could photograph easily without elbowing people out of the way.

There was a huge chalkboard where visitors were encouraged to draw or leave a message. I was very impressed to spot Stickers on the Central Line left a message and can anyone spot "Wildman of the Bush" of this brilliant guest post fame?

Of all the "arts", I have always struggled to connect with "art" itself. Music, theatre and literature all sink into me effortlessly but aside from some very accessible pop art and photography (you can read more about my new journey with photography on my other blog), I don't find myself instantly warming to galleries or art sales. I am not proud of this and at times have been quite embarrassed by it. Yet I think Open Doors has possibly lit a spark or maybe ignited a small flame in me as I genuinely enjoyed the whole process which Open Doors were successful in inviting me to join in. I loved their digital scrapbook, the questions they asked and the inspiration they gathered. I finally then really enjoyed and appreciated, which is always key with art I think, the pieces on display last Saturday. So, thank you Tom, Katy and all the Open Doors artists for opening up something artistic in me and giving me a special, new experience, which was all the more enjoyable because it was so very Shepherd's Bush.

Open Doors moves on to Clapham and SW4 next, but please do continue to support them as I know their first successful Open Doors day in W12 was extremely important to them and they now have Shepherd's Bush memories to treasure. Well, don't we all?

All the single ladies...

2011-09-30T09:28:00.001+01:00

... and all the single men, a really good singles night is headed your way, if you're heterosexual that is.* No, I mean it. It really does sound like it will be a good night; it's even got an abstract cool sounding name "Love & War".

Here are three reasons why if you're single and WLTM (would like to meet, duh) and WLTP (would like to party, I made that one up) with other singles you should go to Love & War on Saturday 8th October at The Goldhawk, funnily enough on Goldhawk Road:

1. Everyone will be single, or at least will claim to be, which either way ultimately means "fair game".

2. There promises to be legendary music played by super cool DJs in a room which features a bar that in turn features beer on tap (Ooooh! Aaaah!), and there will be 150 girls and 150 guys and 0 smug marrieds/couples. Oh and Oxjam have guaranteed no silly single traffic-light-esque or speed-flirting games unless of course you like that kind of thing in which case I suggest you bring your own gong (oh matron!).

3. It is a fundraising event for Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover so all profits will go towards ensuring their main event on Saturday 29th October is an awesome one day festival, which will in turn then raise a ton of money for very worthy causes around the world. Just think you could be helping charidee while falling in love (or bed) with someone!

Ah, do you remember the good old days when I was single? No, well they were indeed good though they did sometimes also get a little old too, but both provided for a few ~~tragic~~ interesting tales told on this blog. Do you remember Facebook guy? Or the time when I had to justify my choice to live in Shepherd's Bush to potential suitors? How about that guy I met in Walkabout? And do your remember when I said goodbye to the Kiwi? Sigh... Ah you really have been good to me Shepherd's Bush, for dates, mates and even...

That's right. Pasta.

So anyway back to the party in hand, get your single selves along to Love & War on Saturday 8th October. Tickets are £10.00 and you can pre-book online.

The single Bird of circa 2009 would have been there in a flap of her wings and a pout of her beak so I hope you represent for me and enjoy!

P.S.Don't forget Oxjam Acton have events coming up very soon so please do consider support these events if you are less single and dwell in that part of the Bush.

* As good as I think it is that they are making the numbers of boys and girls equal, I am aware this means the event seems catered purely for heterosexuals, so perhaps Oxjam can therefore arrange another all girl or all guy event for non-straighties? I think it's fair to say it will mean better outfits, less beer spilt on the floor at the end of the night and less chance of drunk girls crying in the toilets...

All the world is a stage, and everyone has their part to play...

2011-09-29T10:05:00.002+01:00

Picking up where I left off regarding the new Bush Theatre home, here is my story of visiting the new space, seeing some of the changes already made and marvelling at all the exciting work in progress.

For anyone who went to Where's My Seat? back in July you will know that the gutting and refurbishing of the old Shepherd's Bush library was already under way and Bush Theatre had managed to create a temporary but very homely space for the production. It was for this reason that I was naively a little shocked by the tall order facing the Bush Theatre in keeping that sense of homeliness while also capturing important statement qualities associated to the theatre; unconventional, original, different or in Bush Theatre's own words "loud, sometimes angry, and always loving". And permanent. This is perhaps the most important raw material being poured into the new Bush Theatre's foundations, as I found last Monday when I was lucky enough to be on site (i.e. gate crashing) the signing of the new lease.

In a brief but heartfelt and effortlessly excellent speech the Bush Theatre's Artistic Director, Josie Rourke touched upon the unpredictable and at times uncertain history of the theatre and how this now contrasted with its future now. The new lease, which was signed last week, is for 125 years. As Josie eloquently put it the Bush Theatre has secured it's future like never before; it will literally outlive us all.

I was then treated to my own personal tour of the building, during which it became very clear that there is much work to do, yet with workmen still on site at 7pm on a Monday night it is all systems are go.

One of these works in progress is a ceiling mural by Antoni Malinowski who I was informed is based locally. In the deepest shade of navy blue the painting aims to create the shape of a dome in a central square section of the ceiling as you head towards the theatre space. It is a dramatic and dynamic, perfect for a theatre and there is a wall mural in the bar area to match. Needless to say these photos do not do it justice.

I was also struck by how much space there is. Having spent their early, teenage, young adult and even early middle age years in a confined space above a pub where actors had to access the stage via an external fire escape staircase, the Bush Theatre is now nearly spoilt for space with a vast backstage area, a rehearsal space, a writing room and office space all upstairs, which was where I found the two stray cats the Bush Theatre has adopted.

The auditorium or stage area also seems bigger than when I was there for Where's My Seat?, and that is because they have decided to sink the central stage area. It was explained to me that this was because it will keep more options open in terms of staging productions and the positioning of the audience to the performance and vice-versa. I liked it and found myself slightly enchanted by the space which has four structural pillars defining the corners of the stage it is reminiscent of an ancient Green or Roman amphitheatre, on a slightly smaller scale of course.

Yet the new Bush Theatre is about more than just plays. As much thought, detail and effort is going in to creating a usable and enjoyable cafe, bar and community area and an attractive garden to the right hand side of the theatre. Local businesses have been very forthcoming and supportive donating money and volunteers to help Bush Theatre make its own home and as per my recent post Bush Theatre would also welcome any local spare hands to help ensure their new home is ready for curtains up on 10th October 2011 when Sixty-Six Books opens.

Sixty-Six Books is more than just a play or a production. It is such a mammoth undertaking because it aims to deliver new dramatic interpretations of the 66 books of the New King James Bible featuring sixty-six different writers (including the likes of Billy Bragg, Carol Ann Duffy and Kate Mosse), 130 actors and 23 directors. These artists are from all corners of the globe and are a mixture of faiths and no faith. Sixty-Six Books will start and end with a 24 hour performance (yes you read correctly) of all 66 plays and there will also be other special extended shows as well as evening performances featuring "just" a handful of the books. Sixty-Six Books will also go "on tour" to Westminster Abbey for a 12 hour vigil performance on 21st October. For more information and to buy tickets you can search the performances by date, by the Bible book or by the writer.

The only thing I can compare Bush Theatre to as they embark on building and moving into a new home while simultaneously preparing for Sixty-Six Books, is to a newly wed couple on Grand Designs who are building their dream home and the wife is about to give birth to sextuplets. And we all know Kevin McCloud would have something admirable yet subtly scathing to say about that.

Yet there's no criticism from me. I believe they can do it. After spending the evening in their company and toasting their new lease I can confidently say the one thing the Bush Theatre has in its staff is an abundance of energy and passion and it's these qualities that will not only cement their new home together, but will also ensure Sixty-Six Books is a brave and successful kick-start to life in their new home.

Read more about a special book to mark their move from one corner of a Bush to another. I got to have a quick look at the book and it really is one to buy and enjoy if you're half as fascinated by the history of the Bush Theatre as I am.

I can make you ice cream

2011-09-28T09:45:00.001+01:00

Hooray I ticked off one of my "must do in the Bush before I leave" list last weekend when I visited briefly for Open Doors London's W12 pop-up gallery. Thanks to a surprisingly warm Saturday and NewMan and I burning off at least a handful of calories from cycling across London town, we experienced home made Italian ice cream from Cafe Tuga on Uxbridge Road. I've been hearing good things about the gelato on offer there for nearly as long as I've lived in the Bush and certainly as long as I've been blogging about the Bush. Though the homemade ice cream is Italian in style, the owners and many of the staff are originally Portuguese.

After a wonderfully warm reception from a woman working there we surveyed the choice of flavours, which was sadly limited but then they probably weren't expecting as good weather in late September either. I chose strawberry and passionfruit in a cone, NewMan went all traditional eating chocolate and vanilla from a cup. I have to say that the passionfruit was delicious, possibly my new favourite flavour for ice cream and NewMan's quickly emptied cup seemed to agree that it was good gelato. I'm both glad that I enjoyed it yet sad I waited so long! Though I don't suppose where I'm going there will be a shortage of ice cream...

Yet if you are staying in the Bush and fancy having a cappuccino, quick bite to eat or even a gelato, as apparently an Indian summer is heading our way, in a cafe that looks like it should be in a slightly dated but timelessly delightful Portuguese beach resort or street cafe in Lisbon then Cafe Tuga is where you need to go. Buon' Appetito! (That is Italian by the way, for the ice cream... my Portuguese is sadly not up to scratch...)

Big wheels keep on turning...

2011-09-27T09:04:00.000+01:00

I can't sign off this blog without referring again to one of the best London blogs out there, "London Buses: One Bus At A Time", which recently featured some more Shepherd's Bush buses.

Check out these delightful women's recent journeys on the 207, 220 and 228. They are tenderly observant and have changed my approach to taking the bus in London. They even point out my old home The Grampians on their travels on the 220 and their review of the 228 features a photo of Loftus Road and some comments about White City bus station being the "cathedral to buses". So charming, enjoy!

Never forget where you're coming from...

2011-09-26T12:57:00.000+01:00

I had to post this excellent video that Australia's biggest Shepherd's Bush/QPR fan sent to me should I ever feel homesick once NewMan and I have left Blighty's fair shores. Paul or QPRSludger as he's known on Twitter has lived in Australia for nearly 30 years yet still travels back regularly to see family, friends and QPR and I'm sure this video has come in handy when he's feeling slightly homesick. You may remember Paul from this post I did previously. I'm looking forward to that beer with him in Western Australia already!

As I watched it over the weekend I was immediately nostalgic about the Bush as it captures all the right things about the Bush; the noise, the colour, the mix of cultures and some of its most "iconic" landmarks. I know some of my readers are ex-Bush residents who've not been back in a few years, so this is for you too so you can see what the Bush looks like now (well at least on what looks like a cold but sunny day in early 2010).

Wanna get physical?

2011-09-23T10:07:00.001+01:00

These are exciting times for Shepherd's Bush (and not just because I'm leaving so you'll be free to go about your daily business without someone blogging about it or tweeting about Bush things you already knew about). These are exciting times because in the next month or so you have the opportunity to enjoy a new art experience in the form of Open Doors London, to visit the Bush Theatre's new space and to rock out to live music, djs and comedy when Oxjam takes over Bush town.

All of these events will be excellent but they all need your help in their own little way.

Tomorrow (Saturday 24th September) head down to Open Doors first pop-up gallery this Saturday from 11am until 6pm at 28 Galloway Road where you will see locally inspired art like this W12 Wallpaper by Ashley Le Quere. I'll be there with my best "art-appreciation" face and will hopefully also have many an opportunity to test the indoor settings of my new camera.

With just over a month to go before Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover there will be more fun fundraising events for Bush Blokes and Babes to get involved in. Follow them on Twitter to stay informed.

And Bush Theatre are also asking for local volunteers to help them get there space ready for the curtains to go up in mid-October.

Actually that is false information. I don't think there will be any curtains at Bush Theatre once they open in their new home, the old Shepherd's Bush Library. I was privileged enough to go have a nosey around the new space last week, where building work is well under way. I will write about this and post some photographs soon as I was lucky enough to see Bush Theatre sign the actual lease on the building, share a bit of champers with the team, be introduced to Josie Rourke not to mention bump into actor (and Bird's one-time crush) Ralf Little on my way out. It was a lovely evening so deserves it's own post to follow soon.

However what can't wait is a little plea to any Bush locals who want to help out by giving their time to help the Bush Theatre staff make the finishing touches to their new home. I have been assured that only "nice jobs" like painting, moving furniture, helping in the garden will be given to Bush locals who give up some time one evening or at the weekend and ANY time and effort given up will be greatly appreciated. I got the impression talking to many of Bush Theatre's tirelessly enthusiastic staff that it means a lot to them if local people are helping them build a local space, literally as well as metaphorically.

If you would like to volunteer some time (or plays/books on theatre) then please contact Bush Theatre directly or you can email me and I'll be happy to put you in touch with the man/woman dishing out paint brushes.

It sounds cheesy but it really is true, this is our theatre.

And this is our Bush, so enjoy it too. x

Welcome to my life, tattoo

2011-09-22T09:11:00.000+01:00

I love Shepherd's Bush so much I got a tattoo in its honour.

Of course, I jest. I have far too much fear, and I'll be honest with you, this shade of blue and red aren't my favourite colours so would clash with everything I wear. It was, in fact, all a childish joke experiment and indeed laughs were the order of the day when NewMan surprised me with this temporary transfer tattoo he created at the weekend.

One of the things I've quickly learnt about living with a man for the very first time is that "being silly" can help immeasurably. While we delicately test this new invasion of our respective personal spaces, I have found the best moments living together have come from the "silly" things we do for each other; me leaving my dirty socks on the floor so his don't feel left out, him singing "I want to break free" a la Mercury whilst doing the hoovering, me hiding the bananas so they go off and I have to make him his favourite banana loaf, and him making me my very own (temporary) Shepherd's Bush tattoo.

I'm not sure if he did it because I'm very close to writing my last Bird in the Bush blog post and this is his way of acknowledging that, or if he just did it because it was a fun, silly thing to do on a rainy afternoon and it would mean that his Android tattoo wouldn't feel left out.

Regardless of what the motive was I enjoyed seeing NewMan celebrate my love of the Bush even after I've left. However, as much as I love you Shepherd's Bush, I probably won't make be making my tattoo permanent. Forgive me...

P.S. I'm now using a new camera, you like? Post to follow about this on new blog soon!

P.P.S NewMan has kindly offered to make more Shepherd's Bush tattoos if anyone wants one? Limited edition!

Guest post: Soundtrack of my life

2011-09-21T09:17:00.001+01:00

This special guest post comes from Joaquim, or WildmanofBush as many of you will know him on Twitter. He is a bonafide Bush Bof and knows more about the local area than I do in my little finger (PS Mr Wildman, I still don't know where that underground shooting range is!?!?). I am honoured that he is sharing one of his most treasured Bush stories with us on this blog, yet it really is a story worth telling so sit back and enjoy. I have no doubt it may strike a chord, or a deep soulful tenor saxophone note with you like it did me.

My first meeting with Bush’s Rasta Busker was probably 1986, when he played the now filled in pedestrian underpass in Hammersmith . (The one with the red dragon, between Shepherd's Bush Road and Hammersmith Broadway). In those days he played a recorder and what struck me, as an 11 year old, was that he was about as awful at playing it as I was.

As time went by I kept seeing him on my daily journey to school as I walked through the same underpass. It took him about a year to master simple songs, like three blind mice on his recorder, without playing bum or shrill notes but his standard soon dipped again as he moved up to the flute. The same learning curve was repeated with the flute and then later with the clarinet. Although I would always go past him without a word his presence was comforting and if ever our eyes met he would replicate my acknowledgement with the warmest smile ever.

In about 1995 I started college and my commute took me from Shepherds Bush station instead of Hammersmith. To my delight he too had moved to Shepherds Bush and so again my daily walk to the station was again accompanied by the same familiar sounds. It was during this time that he started sometimes to play a saxophone but he would often switch back to the clarinet. In my mid 20s I spend a good few years away from the Bush but on my return again, my daily commute took me past the same but now more confident saxophonist.

Last year my energetic and eccentric great Aunt (a Bush resident most of her life) turned 80 and for her party she booked the Rasta saxophonist to play music. At the party I sat down to chat to him and explained how he had been, “the sound track of my life”. I was surprised by how much that comment had touched him. He said that he was humbled to hear that from being an almost daily presence in the last 25 years of my life he had ended up meaning so much to me.

Last Friday (whilst doing some last minute shopping for my son's christening party), I walked past him in his usual busking spot, outside the Shepherd's Bush Central Line station. The idea occurred to me to hire him for the christening party. I simply told him I would love him to play for us, we fixed a price and I told him my address. The next day he duly arrived, and needing only some whisky and a black coffee he proceeded to play for two hours. Like a Pied Piper of Hamlin, he kept the kids (all 18 of them!) rooted in front of him, with mouths open, spellbound and he suitably entertained the adults too.

I would urge all Bush dwellers to cherish and do their bit to look after this man. He is, one of the things that make Shepherds Bush so special but also, a hand to mouth existence means he is a fragile Bush treasure. He is no slouch though, hire him and you’ll see how hard he will work to play music you love to hear and he really can distract a room of kids like no one else.

Thank you Joachim for sharing a very special, personal story. This is not the first time a reader has reached out to me about "Bush Sax Man" or the "Rasta Sax Man" as he's often called or referred to, though I have been informed his real name is Bego. In fact I was told this in an email from a reader who has since moved away from the Bush who used to be Bego's next door neighbour of his. He shared his own sweet story about Bush Sax Man; apparently Bego would always call him Max although that wasn't this reader's name but it felt wrong to correct him after he so happily called his neighbour Max repeatedly. So before I leave I will endeavour to speak to Bego, even if it's just to say his old neighbour Max says "Hi", though of course I'd also like to thank him for being part of the soundtrack to my life in the Bush.

Welcome Ladies and Gentleman...

2011-09-20T09:45:00.001+01:00

With just over a month to go before take off I want to introduce you properly to my new blog, As the Bird flies. Some of you have been kind enough to already check out my new space and some have even been interested enough to subscribe to the RSS feed, which I'm grateful for considering I haven't even packed my toothbrush yet let alone start flapping my wings for take off. I'm especially thankful to those who have already commented or emailed me about the new blog with words that made me feel a bit goey inside.

I'm in the process of making a number of changes, adding some stand alone pages and writing a few introductory posts while I'm still on solid ground and connected to the world via healthy reliable broadband, but once I'm up in the sky, flying high you can expect the following type of content;

* Lots of photographs. I recently tweeted about buying a new camera and I asked advice from many of the Bird in the Bush readers I know to be far more accomplished in photography than myself. I received so much great advice (thank you!) and I can now happily say that I will indeed have a very capable camera for our travels so I hope to do it justice. I will be explaining more about this on the new blog very soon so do check back in.

* Reviews. Similar to the reviews of Bush Grub and Bush bars I've done on this blog, I hope to review hotels, bars, restaurants, day trips, experiences and maybe even flights to hopefully inform and contribute to the already impressive realm of travel blogs that are out there.

* Short and Sweet Reviews. Kind of like this book review I've already done, I hope to be reading a lot while beach hopping and so will share what I'm reading and why/if I enjoyed it in a short, sweet and succinct way. I may also do short and sweet reviews for new foods, drinks and sights I experience.

* Postcards Home. Though my nearest and dearest will be getting real life tangible and six week late postcards (I will do my best Mum!) I will also be sending virtual postcards to many important people in my life and I will also send the occasional postcard home to you, Shepherd's Bush.

* More about the Bird. When I first started this blog it was actually more about the Bird than the Bush (seriously read the first few months of posts - talk about me-me-me syndrome!), but after then the Bush became bigger than the Bird (!) and what I thought would be a very personal and mostly anonymous blog very quickly became a place to share information about Shepherd's Bush. I also shook off my anonymity as I enjoyed meeting fellow Bush-lovers (!!) too much. I have no regrets about this change of direction and in many ways I am very grateful as it has been a lot more rewarding both personally (being made a Guardian Top London Blogger was a massive highlight) as well as readers who, I hope, felt more aware of and connected with what was going on in the Bush. Though I certainly don't want As the Bird flies to become a diary or personal journal (me-me-me yawn....), I will of course be sharing my own personal experiences and thoughts (and no doubt moans) and I hope that you enjoy this or at least can tolerate it in between pretty pictures.

There will no doubt be much more than this and so I hope there will be something interesting for all of you. I have found "launching" a new blog quite frightening, particularly when I quickly realised that I don't have the ever-ready source of content that is Shepherd's Bush to hide in or behind. It was quite daunting when I realised that I was to be the one consistent and main source of content to keep a blog alive as opposed to other admirable, inspirational and passionate people like those I have met and blogged about in the Bush (Philippa of Bush Festival fame, Valeri of Queens of Hearts Cupcakes and all the staff at the Masbro come to mind). This is why I hope to let the places I fly to, the things we see, the activities we enjoy, the experiences we share do the talking while I stick to the writing...

Come fly with me...

Finally it's happened to me...

2011-09-18T15:03:00.003+01:00

I have found a hairdresser I like. I like her so much I took a bold step of having this Amelie-esque short fringe I've lusted after for a long time. This may seem like a minor matter to you but to me this is the end of years of searching, years of wasted money, years of disappointment and worst of all, years of bad hair. Oh and tears, thanks to one hairdresser at HeadMasters in Shepherd's Bush (yes I'm naming and shaming; it takes lot for me to cry in public, at least when sober).

I have often tweeted about my lack of success in the coiffing department and so I feel it deserves it's own blog post. It also feels good to know that I am leaving London having found something I thought I'd never find.

The lady in question is actually NewMan's hairdresser who works in a central London salon, however at non central London prices so if you'd like her details and would like to make an appointment please get in touch as it would be my pleasure to recommend her.

As I type this I realise that this is a bittersweet victory as NewMan and I can't afford to pack her in our luggage and take us with us when we depart on our travelling adventures. However, on other hand, it's yet another good reason to come back...

Could it be magic?

2011-09-16T09:30:00.001+01:00

I read this charming article about the history of the Bush Theatre this morning and was yet again amazed by all they have achieved and all they have stood for over the years, and all from a small room above a pub in possibly the noisiest, busiest corner of Shepherd's Bush (above O'Neill's on Shepherd's Bush Green). As the final curtain is prepared to close on the Bush Theatre's time on the Green, and they make their way stage north to Uxbridge Road, it was nice to see that they are marking the occasion with a book.

"Close-up Magic" celebrates 40 years of a theatre which launched the careers of many of the very finest playwrights, actors, directors and producers and in this book you hear their charming and hilarious personal stories about the Bush Theatre. But perhaps more importantly, and as the Guardian article discusses, the Bush Theatre was instrumental in challenging pre-conceived attitudes towards the theatre and it was at the forefront of delivering ground-breaking plays and productions which confronted modern social and cultural issues. The fact that this was all going on against the backdrop of Shepherd's Bush, an area that has changed dramatically (no pun intended) in the last four decades, isn't to be ignored or diminished; perhaps it was even a catalyst - it was the perfect stage (pun intended).

There are other parallels to be drawn between Shepherd's Bush and the Bush Theatre and the website for the book includes this telling quote: "The Bush (Theatre) hasn’t survived to be proud, or conventional, or safe. It survives to be loud, sometimes angry, and always loving. It’s time to acknowledge and celebrate those qualities." Those are qualities are would apply to Shepherd's Bush, wouldn't you?

If only I had a coffee table (as opposed to a suitcase and pile of clothes that won't fit in it) to proudly display this book. Let's hope they're not all sold out before I return next year.

Remember you can help the Bush Theatre by donating your old/unwanted plays or books about theatre, and make sure you take advantage of the Bush Theatre's excellent Bush Local scheme which offers local residents discounts and special offers.

Back once again...

2011-09-15T11:35:00.000+01:00

Though I have no firm idea where I'll be on 2nd June 2012, there is a possibility that it will be in Shepherd's Bush enjoying Bushstock 2012.

The team at Communion Records announced the date for Bushstock 2012 and Early Bird tickets are already on store. I think I'm right in saying that that will be the weekend of the Queen's 60th Jubilee so there will be an extra bank holiday, so basically, no excuses! Following on from a successful, sunny day this year and with Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover still to happen next month (on Saturday 29th October) it will be interesting to see what is in store for the one day music festival next year. You can reminisce about Bushstock 2011 here.

Just as an FYI for anyone who enjoyed Bushstock this year, Communion Records are selling Bushstock 2011 T-shirts half price. I love the design for obvious reasons (it's a bird, innit) and I am so, so tempted by the reduced price, however I already have more clothes than I can take travelling and I don't need to give (nagging) NewMan an excuse to remind me of this. They are very cool T-shirts though so snap one up if you can.

It's only words...

2011-09-14T10:14:00.000+01:00

If I were to list the five things I will miss most about Shepherd's Bush, I think Bush Theatre would feature, as would King Solomans and the Rastafarian who plays the saxophone and flute all around the Bush.

Though I've been no more than a handful of times (shame on me!) I have loved learning more about Bush Theatre through this blog because they have been increasingly engaging with and encouraging of the local community. One of t he many ways in which they achieve this is by offering local residents discounted tickets and special offers as part of the Bush Local card campaign. Bush Theatre was also a wonderful part of Bush Festival with their recreated front room on Shepherd's Bush Green which hosted playwriting sessions for children and adults alike.

And yet the bread and butter of what the Bush Theatre does is putting on fantastic, new, thirlling productions by playwrights old and new, well known and unknown. As the Bush counts down to its grand new opening in its new home, the old home of Shepherd's Bush library, on October 10th, they are asking for our help in filling up the space. Before they asked for our spare chairs, and now they'd like to welcome our books to fill the shelves of their new open space and cafe. They are looking for donations of unwanted books with a connection or relevance to the theatre. Have you got some Ibsen or Chekhov lurking on your book shelf? Or have you been using the Complete Works of Shakespeare to prop open a door for too long? Maybe there's an Ayckbourn or a Godber gathering dust in your loft? Well now is the time to liberate these works of art.

The Bush would like to welcome you and your theatre related books down to their new home at 7 Uxbridge Road or alternatively if you have more than you can carry email the very helpful Trish (of Bird in the Bush guest post fame) and they may be able to arrange a collection.

The sweetest song that I can sing...

2011-09-13T13:45:00.002+01:00

Following on from yesterday's post about the Music House for Children, one of my readers reached out to me to draw my attention to some more music happenings very soon just down the road from the Bush, in Acton. Although Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover has been well publicised on this and other blogs and local media, I accept that it may not be everyone's cup of tea and so it was nice to hear about two other different music events happening in Acton in support of Oxjam but with a very different groove, baby.

On 7th October 2011 local band Acton Music Collective (AMC) are performing at St Mary's Church and the audience can expect a mix of jazz, latin, rap and gospel music played by a group of talented musicians who came together as part of this community outreach program led by the church's own tenor-sax playing Rector, Dave Bremmer. For more information and to buy tickets have a look here.

A week later on 15th October 2011, DJ Theo de Rose will be taking over the decks at George and Dragon pub in Acton to deliver music which quite frankly I shouldn't love because of my age, but I can't help but adore. He will be playing an eclectic mix of songs made popular with the now sadly defunked nightclubs of the 1940s through to the 1970s and more information and tickets available here.

It's worth mentioning the organiser of these events supporting Oxjam in Acton, Dave Plotel, particularly as he is actually a Shepherd's Bush resident and indeed the Bush was were his prestigious music career began. As a teenager Dave performed with his brother in The Raven pub on Goldhawk Road and has since travelled all over the world performing and recording with big (and I mean big!) artists like Stevie Wonder, Ben E. King and Percy Sledge. He was also The Real Thing's guitarist when "You To Me Are Everything" reached number one, one of my favourite songs (see blog post title).

I am gutted I'm not going to be around to attend either of these events and indeed would have loved to have tried to blag ten minutes of Dave's time to discuss a genre of music I absolutely love. However, I hope some of you out there can enjoy the music and the good cause these events are supporting.

For more information check out top Bush lady and Bush Twitterati member's blog about Oxjam Acton here.

And the music in the house...

2011-09-12T10:53:00.000+01:00

I feel like these last few blog posts are a sort of "tidy up" of things I had lined up to write about and now have to as I'm running out of time. However, this doesn't make them any less important, particularly when the subject is yet another noble Shepherd's Bush not-for-profit project.

The Music House for Children can be found on Uxbridge Road, next door to Bush Hall, which is described as a sister company of the school. Established in 1994 by Emma Hutchinson who remains Director, as a not for profit music school for local children, Music House works with national music bodies and initiatives to make learning music accessible and affordable for local young families in Shepherd's Bush and surrounding West London areas. Though this blog has hinted at my love of music in terms of the #bushw12 drum and bass night coming up in October, how I love a band called Mean Poppa Lean and how each and every one of my blog post titles is a song lyric, it suggests this love is only so deep. In actual fact, music is like oxygen to my blood, a necessity, a lifeline, something I'd not sure how I'd live without. Thanks to my parents who share this opinion some of my earliest most treasured childhood memories are of songs, not sights. As a child I learnt to play the recorder, the piano (terribly), the alto and tenor saxophone and as a teenager I achieved Grade 5 in singing (though battled terribly with my singing teacher who fought to destroy any Mariah Carey-isms out of my singing style. Thankfully it was a passing phase). Though rusty, I can still read music and I am grateful for this skill, which I've come to realise many of my peers don't have.

I was lucky. My parents invested heavily in my learning these skills, but also music lessons were made easily available at the schools I attended. Others aren't so lucky for many reasons and that is why a project like Music School for Children is so important. They offer music tuition for children, music and dance groups for early years and activities during school holidays. They also provide training to teachers in early years music provision, enabling both musicians and non-musicians to provide music based learning activities to babies and toddlers. Many of these classes and groups are just starting up again now so do make contact if you're keen to get your little ones involved.

For more information have a look at The Music House for Children's website which features some lovely illustrations and let the music play on and on and on!

P.S. This was my 300th blog post. That seems a bit ridiculous and a bit cool. Again, thank you for reading.

Tweet tweetly tweet...

2011-09-10T09:08:00.000+01:00

If it hadn't been for Twitter, I am confident this blog would have struggled to have reached the same readers that it has. Because of the way Twitter works, and I'm a firm member of the camp that does think Twitter "works", very quickly I was engaging, sharing, communicating and enjoying information and news about Shepherd's Bush. Or should I say about #bushw12.

Following a wise suggestion by Mr Birch to create a communal hash tag for tweets about Shepherd's Bush, a number of us Bush ~~Twats~~ Twitterati exchanged a number of suggestions before deciding on #bushw12. I seem to recall the reason this was chosen was because it kept the all important and innuendo-inducing Bush, but also included our postcode.

It has been a remarkable thing to watch the use of #bushw12 grow from just a handful of local enthusiasts to numerous new tweeters every month. Before I sign off this blog for good (or for bad surely!?!) I really wanted to draw attention to how important and brilliant Twitter has been in connecting not only me and my blog with you all, but also you all with each other. Before I started this blog I didn't know anyone living in Shepherd's Bush outside of my original social circle. I now have more new #bushw12 friends than I can count.

Through Twitter people in Shepherd's Bush have met up in "real life", created wonderful friendships, done business, won pub quizzes and more often than not eaten yummy food and/or got drunk together. Of course it is not for everyone, but if you are Shepherd's Bush based or even have links to Shepherd's Bush for whatever reason and you are on Twitter or would like to give it a go, save #bushw12 to your saved searches as soon as you can. And to the Bush Twitterati can I please ask you to keep those tweets coming as I'll be reading and retweeting on my travels.

You can follow Bird in the Bush on Twitter @bushbirdie.

Other good lists to follow on Twitter include Sacha's SheBiz list of Shepherd's Bush businesses on Twitter and local Twitter-er (currently based in LA for a while) Chris Hampson's Local People for other #bushw12 Twitter accounts. If you know of any other good Shepherd's Bush Twitter lists please do share in the comments!

Cut the cake...

2011-09-08T11:46:00.000+01:00

I am seriously running out of cake lyrics That is how bad my obsession and compulsion to blog about the yummy, moist, spongey substance is. However, onwards and cake-wards, here is another cake post.

On Saturday there will be a cake sale in aid of Brook Green, run by local newsletter Brook Green Bugle. Brook Green Association, a residents association committed to preservation and improvement of the area, are calling Saturday "Brook Green Day" as they announce new plans for the playground and tennis courts and the Bugle is supporting this with a community cake sale, which will take place on Brook Green from 12noon until 6pm. If you are a local resident* and would like to support by making or munching cake, get down there.

If you live a different side of Shepherd's Bush and fancy some free community fun and cake, get yourselves over to Wormholt Park where the Friends of Wormholt Park and local residents will be celebrating 100 years of the park. QPR will be there hosting a sports clinic, as will many other local businesses and organisations offering food, entertainment and sports. For more information visit the Friends of Wormholt Park website. They are specifically asking for anyone with old photos of the park to bring these along.

I happen to know that the lovely Valeri of Queen of Hearts Cupcakes will be there on Saturday. I saw Valeri last Sunday at Angel Canal Festival, which was a lovely little local event happening near my now new home and despite the rain that poured at no doubt early start that day she was already looking forward to the Wormholt Park celebrations. These were the beautiful cupcakes we bought and ate last weekend. Cupcake connoisseur NewMan was VERY impressed!

* I am aware that many will protest at my inclusion of Brook Green on a Shepherd's Bush blog, however many Bush folk live within walking distance of Brook Green and I feel it only fair to share this type of news (while I still can, sniff sniff), especially as it involves a truly important subject; cake.

That's my home...

2011-09-07T09:36:00.002+01:00

If you are a long time reader of this blog and are partially familiar with the lay of the land in Shepherd's Bush you will have worked out by now that my nest and perch was located in The Grampians building on Shepherd's Bush Road.

When I first moved to Shepherd's Bush I lived on Cathnor Road (oh it's all coming out now!). I loved that road because my neighbours were a real mix of young and old, families, singles and couples and aside from a few very rare and thankfully minor incidents (a local drunk of no-fixed-abode spending the night in my car being the worst to affect me) it was a safe and happy road.

However, after two years it was time to find another flat. As I'm sure every person who rents property in London has experienced, the mission trying to find a special place in Shepherd's Bush and surrounding areas at many moments seemed an impossible one. In Acton, Hammersmith, Chiswick and White City we viewed a wide range of sh*t holes (sorry Mum!) before one chance find on Gumtree saved the day.

As soon as I realised which building the flat was in I felt my heart jump a bit. I love art deco architecture and style and The Grampians is classic 1930s art deco. I think one of the reasons I like buildings from this era is because compared to other styles there is comparatively less of it in London because there wasn't the same demand for roads and roads of new homes like there had been in Victorian and Regency times, and of course economically the 1930s were a tough decade in between two wars. There is the damage caused by the Second World War. In short, apart from some lovely notable exceptions, art deco is more rare and therefore more special, at least to me and I had always stared longingly at The Grampians wanting to know what it's like inside.

Well for those of you also wondering, The Grampians is not all Poirot-esque glamour inside. It's actually very basic, or "stark Modernist", but there is still charm to be found. Not least the two lifts which are predominantly the very ones that were installed in the 1930s featuring open fronts and only a retractable "cage" door separating you from the lift shaft. I also love the "Goods" written on the floor of the Goods lift, which funnily enough was broken on Saturday when we moved out making us very unpopular with other residents in the building. Actually this is a lie. In all my two years living in The Grampians I have only once come across an unhappy or angry person. (The man in question was both. Upon seeing Mo and I press floor number 7, this middle aged man of floor number 6 turned on us demanding to know which flat we lived in. Somewhat in shock we told him and he grunted in response. I asked why he wished to know and he said that he wanted to find out who was living in the flat directly above him because they "constantly wear high heels or stilettos or heavy shoes of some sort and clomp around all day and night long keeping me up." Needless to say it wasn't us - we lived quietly and in slippers on the other side of the building.)

Some time ago I researched the building, which is Grade II listed and found out that it was designed by an architect called Maurice Ernest Webb, son of Sir Aston Webb who was a very famous architect of his time, who included the redesigning of the East Facade of Buckingham Palace and designing Admirality Arch on the Mall in his portfolio. But back to Maurice, who was hardly small fry compared to his father; he also designed the Presidential Palace in Nicosia Cyprus as well as the original Bentalls department store in Kingston-upon-Thames.

The Grampians, which was built over two years from 1935 until 1937, was built on land previously occupied by a railway line, which was part of the London and South Western Railway running alongside Shepherd's Bush Road. The timing of the building's completion is interesting as it would have been roughly the same time as the White City Estate was being built and, I suppose, in many ways confirmed Shepherd's Bush's inclusion as part of urban central London. The Grampians, I understand, was specifically intended as affordable housing for "lower middle class" families and most flats have a small balcony, like ours where I have taken numerous photos of the world going by and most often beautiful sunsets.

Not unsurprisingly it's not just me who loves the building. When I told friends I was leaving my flat, two promptly made dates to come round and say goodbye to it (nice to know my friends are as irrationally emotional as I). It is just a very special place. A few months after moving in I was proud to find out from a black cabby that The Grampians is taught in The Knowledge. Furthermore, my colleague recently told me that it is mentioned in an episode of Minder and one of my neighbours also told us that Jeremy Vine used to live in our flat.

It was unfamiliarly hard leaving this flat because I don't think I've loved any other physical property as much, apart from perhaps the house I grew up in. However, once our furniture and belongings had been removed and our voices began to echo around the empty rooms, it already felt like we had overstayed our welcome. Just as I'd seen it literally happen a hundred or more times from that balcony, the sun was now metaphorically setting on our time in The Grampians.

I will hold my hands up and admit that yes, I do get very attached to material things; clothes, books, photos, cars, etc. But although it may not be healthier, I do get much more attached to people and knowing that Mo won't be in that flat any more and instead would be having a wonderful time living in her own lovely place, helped confirm that leaving wasn't the wrong thing to do at all. I so want her to be happy in her new adventure. Furthermore, I have a lovely NewMan and the lovely world to go have a wonderful time with.

And yet, I'll never forget my time in The Grampians.

Guest post: From little things big things grow...

2011-09-06T09:46:00.000+01:00

Today's blog post is a special guest post from Trish, an Australian who has lived in London for 15 years and currently works at Bush Theatre, a true pillar in our community. Trish reached out to me about doing a guest post of a gig she went to recently at Bush Hall. It sounds as if, yet again, this was the perfect venue for a perfect evening of music by her fellow countryman Paul Kelly. I'll let her explain the rest...

There's not many singer songwriters who have so many songs that they can perform 25 of them beginning with the letters ''F' through 'L'. Yet this is just a tiny sample from the incredibly talented and prolific Paul Kelly who performed 100 of his songs from A to Z over 4 sell out nights at Bush Hall last week.

Standing in front of a red velvet curtain on a bare stage except for a piano and an easel displaying a large black letter that declared where he was up to in the alphabet, this Australian icon played to a very hushed, seated audience. He was accompanied for much of the set by his nephew Dan Kelly, a talented musician in his own right.

I was really surprised to see seats at Bush Hall as I always prefer to stand at a concert and I am sure they could have sold many more tickets. But it added to the religious experience that this evening turned out to be.

I have seen Paul Kelly perform more than 40 times over the last 20 plus years in Australia, London and New York (how embarrassing!) He just seems to get better and better - his voice is so rich. He is such a born storyteller and poet - so comfortable talking to the audience, describing the inspiration and story behind each song.

Starting with 'The Foggy Fields of France' with its chorus based on E.E. Cummings poem and moving to the story of Lord Vestey's eight year battle with aboriginal stockmen led by Vincent Lingiarri in 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'.

The Bush Hall is such a wonderful venue anyway and it was even more perfect for this show - the sound was faultless. I stood next to the mixing desk and I could see the set list and get excited about what was coming up next.

He performed many classics (From St Kilda to Kings Cross; How to Make Gravy and Leaps and Bounds) and a few I had never heard. It was these lesser known gems that really added to the richness of the concert - how could he have so many great songs?

If it wasn't sold out, I would have definitely returned for the next two nights to see what he would play for 'M through to Z' and they can all be found on the special release A-Z Recordings 8 CD Box Set

As it is I have already booked my tickets for his return to London on February 3 next year when he plays Union Chapel - I don't mind what music he plays - as an Australian used to seeing him perform in large venues, it is an incredible privilege to see him in such intimate, beautiful 'temple like' settings - perfect for that 'religious' experience for this fan.

You can read reviews in the Australian press of all four nights here.

Thank you Trish for this guest post and also for always keeping me informed about the great things Bush Theatre is doing for W12. I promise to say hi to Brisbane from you on my travels!

If you'd like to write a little (or long!) something for Bird in the Bush please do get in touch. I will still be blogging about Bush related things this month (I have a backlog!) and would love to include more views, reviews and rants by lovely local people.

Last night...

2011-09-05T09:42:00.000+01:00

Last Friday was my last night in Shepherd's Bush and I shared it with my flat mate Mo, an already brilliant friend who has become a very special friend indeed. I also have to say she has become a big fan of the Bush; she has found a lovely one bed flat in W12 and with it has promised that I will always have a bed in the Bush as long as she lives there.

Our last night in Shepherd's Bush involved a combination of favourite familiar and new things.

We devoured delicious sushi at Sagano.

We drank yummy mojitos in Vesbar, where I swear everyone was Antipodean, raising the question (and not for the first time) "Why am I going to the other side of the world when they're all here?".

We took photographs outside our beautiful and beloved block of flats. I loved this building long before I lived in it and I will love it long after.

We then decided to "use up" the leftover contents of our drinks cupboard. The words "big" and "mistake" now spring to my mind when I remember this.

We took silly photographs on our balcony, or "Bird's perch" as I have grown to call it. After two years I never tired once of the view. I will miss it incredibly.

We hugged before going to bed. I couldn't help but notice that even with the silly amount of sugary alcohol we'd consumed our smiles were sober and sad.

Less than 6 hours later, sore-headed and slightly shell shocked I woke up and the move out began....

So what would you do on your last night in Shepherd's Bush?

All around the world...

2011-09-04T12:11:00.003+01:00

One of my favourite things about this here blog is getting comments, tweets and emails from readers. I think I like emails the most because I recognise that it takes a lot more effort for a someone to open up a window in their already busy browser, log in to their web-based email account and compose a new email full of nice words before sending off to little old me.

Over the last two years of this blog, I have received emails from many people and have genuinely treasured them all (gush alert). Some of these emails have come from places you'd least expect. I've received emails from France, Switzerland, Italy and Poland where ex-Bush residents now live and I've even had an email from a one time Bush Bloke who now lives in USA but regularly checks in with this blog. I've also had emails from Australia where two people with Bush roots (is that my first Aussie double entendre!?!) are now living but are still very interested in and in many ways are still connected to Shepherd's Bush.

One of these was Paul who emailed me many months ago to discuss general Bush bits and bobs, and after I broke the news of my imminent departure he also reached out to me and offered to shout NewMan and I a couple of beers should we end up in his corner of Australia.

Paul was born and grew up in Shepherd's Bush and he regularly returns to visit his family and friends who still live there. He sent me this brilliant photograph of "the feared Tamarisk Square W12 gang" taken in the mid 1960s, which features Paul (aka Sludger) in the middle. It's like Shepherd's Bush very own Stand by Me. Thank you for sharing this with me Sludger.

I wanted to give Paul a special mention not only because of his kind offer (which we'll definitely try to be in the right place to accept) but also because he has reminded me that you don't have to live somewhere to love it.

This weekend was our moving weekend (a whole other blog post) and it was nice to have this in the back of my mind as I became a very tired and emotional Bird.

It is also worth mentioning Paul because he is quite clearly the biggest QPR nut (and believe me I've met a few through this blog, all very lovely (gush alert, again). If you need proof look no further than his Twitter profile photo of his two sons and his car with the registration QPR FC. I love this kind of representing all the way on the other side of the world.

Thank you to Paul and all of you in the Bush and all over the world for all your very kind and always entertaining tweets, emails and comments recently and always.

Gush over. x

Keep the music strong

2011-09-02T09:16:00.000+01:00

In addition to Everton playing at Loftus Road and celebrating my next birthday in Bar FM, I will also be gutted to miss Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover while I'm away. While Bushstock went unnoticed for many (not us!) I think it'll be hard for the Uxbridge Road and Shepherd's Bush Market shoppers and shakers to ignore Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover on Saturday 29th October.

Today they announced some of the line up and venues and also opened up the box office to buy tickets at a silly cheap cheap Early Bird price. For more info head over to www.oxjamshepbush.org.uk.The full list of acts and confirmed venues announced so far reads as follows:

DJs: Radio 1Xtra's CJ Beatz, T4's Georgie Okell, Nigel Thomas (of The Foxes)
Musicians: Saint Saviour (ex Groove Armada), KAYA, BUIL_DINGS, Lifestyle Recordings, Instill, Avius, Animal Circus, The Little Pictures, Ros Coe Tanner, Rodney Culture
Venues: TheDefectors Weld, Walkabout, Raving Buddha, Vesbar, The Green Room andThe Goldhawk

As you know I like to I've been predictably nosey on YouTube trying to find out what these acts are all about. Here's my pick of the offerings:

Saint Saviour - if you wanted to know what a James Blake backing track with Kate Bush (how appropriate) singing vocals over the top would sound like you'd do well to check out Saint Saviour.

Rodney Culture (another Bush relevant name, you know, Only Fools and Horses, etc...) - only found a few audiovisual offerings from this man/band/group but I quite liked his very basic style and banter so hope you do too...

Little Pictures - they don't go easy on the synth, over emphasised southern accents and electric drum machines, but heck I think they get away with it or something though I'm not ready to forgive their Weezer cover.

What I like about the Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover team is the fundraising events they've organised to promote and fund the event. As well as the pub quiz they also got enthusiastically involved with Bush Festival and are really keen to keep on engaging with the local people. Let's not forget the overall goal, which is to raise £10,000 for Oxfam. They are planning on hosting a Clothes Swap in October, if only it was last month when I embarked on a mammoth clear out, I would literally have had bin bags full to offer up, though NewMan would have dragged me away before any reciprocal swapping could have been done.

Although I will be somewhere in Asia on Saturday 29th October I will be thinking of W12 coming alive, again, with the sound of music. Go loud Shepherd's Bush - I want to hear you from the southern hemisphere!

For more information about the event, fundraising and the cause follow the Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover team on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

In August

2011-09-01T09:39:00.001+01:00

In many ways August was a very good month in Shepherd's Bush.

The sun may not have shone every day but there was lots of sunshine to be found in the Bush leading up to and following on from the successful Bush Festival.

I felt honoured to be part of the process (by doing one of my favourite things on the day - tweeting!) and to meet all the volunteers led by the inspirational Philippa.

Online London magazine Londonist also asked me to write an article about Bush Festival which I oh-so-proudly did and the article featured some beautiful photographs by local photographer Selina.

It was also thanks to Bush Festival that I found and devoured a beautiful cupcake by Queen of Hearts Cupcakes, a new local business led with mixing bowls full of energy and enthusiasm by Valeri.

August also saw a few days when the sun certainly wasn't shining as a minority took to the streets bringing chaos, fear and unjustifiable violent behaviour to various boroughs of London. Though (thankfully) Shepherd's Bush was relatively untouched all of us residents know that it in many ways it could have been us. This is what I wrote about it all.

I got out and about around the Bush to find out more about the local initiative Books for Free. I also featured more information and some artwork for Bush pop-up gallery event (coming soon in September) orgnised by OpenDoors London, a local creative project all about W12 art and inspiration.

OpenDoors London were also one of the lovely people who did guest posts for me this month as I gallavanted off on yet another holiday. Here is a full run down of all the Bird in the Bush guest posts we enjoyed:

It's the way that we bring this sound - find out all about free drum and bass night coming to the Bush in October.

Right people, right time - information about a local guy's social media project which is obsessed with retro Shepherd's Bush pop culture - fascinating!

Paint your love all over my world - Tom and Katy from OpenDoors London explain more about their art, vision and inspiration from and for W12.

Fun, fun, fun - A gem in our community, Masbro Centre share some photos from their successful family summer party.

It's the food baby! - Local foodie blogger, Iain, shares his expert tips on how to find the best ingredients on Uxbridge Road. Two words: Yum yum.

Thank you to all the writers of these brilliant guest posts. Thank you also to Stuart who shared with us some of his Bush photographs.

Aside from my delicious massage at Happiness Centre, the unexpected highlight of this month was receiving such lovely messages and comments from many of you after I explained that I was flying the Bush very soon. It's been a bizarre few weeks of decision making, panicking and planning and one of the things I dreaded most was breaking the news on the blog. I seriously underestimated you all because your support has been heartfelt, encouraging and in true Bush fashion, overwhelmingly positive when I least expected it. Thank you.

Happiness is just outside my window...

2011-08-31T14:37:00.002+01:00

I had yet another "should have done this sooner" moment in W12 last week as I was lying flat on my back in a darkened room with a man's hands all over me.

Before you think the worst (or best!) of me, I should clarify that I was in the middle of an exceptional massage by a man called Brett who is one of the talented masseurs who keeps many customers happy at The Happiness Centre, to be found just next door to Shepherd's Bush Market Hammersmith & City tube on Uxbridge Road.

Founded 8 years ago by Bush based ball of energy (not my words, though I agree completely!), Alexis, The Happiness Centre offers a number of different treatments, experiences and activities all aimed at making you, well, happy. From sports massage to reflexology, yoga to Neuro Linguistic Programming, you will find a real range of skills in the hands of Alexis and her team, literally.

Having recently had a lovely message by a lovely man at K West, I felt like I was completely overindulging when I was introduced to Brett. However, this was a very different massage; in fact it was more a consultation as Brett used a mix of sport and deep tissue massage combined with his (incredibly) vast experience in osteopathy, anatomy and physiotherapy to explore my body (stop sniggering in the back row!) and identify areas of tension or possible concern. Prior to the massage I explained to him my running injuries and following the massage Brett discussed a number of ways in which I could change my running technique to avoid aggravating my ITB. Over the last few months what with one life-changing decision or another I've had less time to run or exercise so it was nice to be reminded that starting again needn't mean a world of pain, just a lot of huffing and puffing. But on a serious note, if you have odd aches and pains whilst running, a nagging niggle in your neck or a plain old bad back I would definitely consider making an appointment at The Happiness Centre.

They say hindsight is a wonderful thing. Well I think it sucks. As I countdown to the time I have left until I exit the Bush stage left, the list of things I wish I'd done more lengthens and I have to say that a return visit to The Happiness Centre would be near the top.

There's more information about all the wonderful things available at The Happiness Centre on their website.

Guest post: It's the food baby!

2011-08-30T20:22:00.000+01:00

I'm so glad I finally got a Common lyric in a blog post title.

Anyway, on to the next guest post by another local blogger, Iain. I met Iain and his lovely girlfriend Claire at Bush Festival and not only are they pretty passionate about all things Shepherd's Bush but they also have very cool hobbies; Iain is an exceptionally keen cook and Claire is very keen on knitting and crafting as was shown by the lovely things on her stall at Bush Festival.

Now over to Iain to explain more about his blog and a really great insight to the potential of local shops for ingredients and inspiration.

I am relatively new to the world of blogging. I recently started a blog called Food is the Theme in which I ramble on about many things - often related to Shepherds Bush (where I live) and food (which I like a lot).

I have had the pleasure of meeting Birdie in person recently and was delighted to be asked to write a guest post for her blog. When looking for inspiration for my post I thought about favourite blogs of Birdie's that I have read in the past, and the first one that sprung to mind was her Shepherds Bush falafel off. I have recently been mucking about trying to make healthy falafel recipe so it made sense to type it up, and it can be seen here.

To tie in with this recipe, I thought I would write about the excellent shops on Uxbridge Road where you can find all the ingredients you will need to make your own falafel.

Uxbridge Road has a smorgasbord of grocery shops of variable quality, including the world famous Shepherds Bush Market (unfortunately, the market's opening times and my shopping times rarely coincide.) But to keep this post to a reasonable length I am going to focus on the two I most commonly go to, Al Abbas and Damas Gate. These two shops, I suppose, would be the behemoths of the Uxbridge Road grocery scene and they are almost certainly my two favourite shops in the area.

I assume they must be each others' main rivals but I go to one or the other of them at least once a day and would be hard pressed to choose a favourite. They are situated almost opposite each other a few hundred yards down Uxbridge Road from the green. They aren't open 24hrs but they are open surprisingly late for grocers, especially Al Abbas which I think I have seen open as late as 11pm.

Al Abbas is the first you come across on your right as you walk down Uxbridge Road with Damas Gate further along on your left. Both have an excellent selection of fruit and veg on display outside which adds wonderful colour to a walk along Uxbridge Road. I had always assumed that Supermarkets were cheapest for this kind of thing, which had led me to believe that bell peppers were expensive. At these shops you can pick up a bell pepper for a third of the supermarket price - about 30p for a red or green one or a bit more for a yellow one (not sure why!). Aubergines are also loads cheaper here than in supermarkets and don't even get me started on how much better the herbs are than the puny expensive packets you might pick up in Waitrose. There is also a wide range of chillies available for you hot heads out there. Not only are you helping out your local shops by shopping here but saving money too!

Both supermarkets have a butchers and in the case of Damas Gate it can get extraordinarily busy. If you're going to the butcher counter in Damas Gate remember to get a ticket to ensure you get a place in the queue! Also in Damas Gate it may sometimes seem like only speaking English puts you at a disadvantage but you will get used to it after a bit. If you want to avoid the whole ticket and ordering system, there is pre weighed and packaged meat stuffs at the end of the counter.

In Al Abbas there is no ticket system, there is no pre packaged meat but this isn't a problem because it always seems quieter. Al Abbas also sells goat meat. If you're looking for pig, this is not the butcher for you as they only stock halal meat.

If you're looking for spices this is somewhere that both shops excel. particularly Al Abbas which has a very well organised and aesthetically pleasing spice section. You will save loads of money buying spices here rather than a supermarket. You can also buy in massive packets if you get through spices quickly enough. Pulses, both dried and tinned are also great purchases here. If you are looking for chickpeas for example, the tinned ones here are not only loads cheaper than a supermarket but loads better quality which is important if you want to save time by using tinned chickpeas (if for example you are making falafel) as they give a much smoother texture.

Dairy products from the Mediterranean are available in both and they have a good selection of olives. Coming back to the point of this post and making your own falafel, let's have a look at the cost of some of the ingredients for the recipe that I posted earlier this week.

Chickpeas 3x 400g tins - £1 (we use 2 to make falafel, so 66p)
Halloumi - £1.69
Large bunches of parsley and coriander - £1.20 (half of each used, 60p)
7 Lemons - £1 (half a lemon used, so about 8p)
4 vine tomatoes - 42p (we used 2, so 21p)
5 Khobez bread - 59p (we used 2 so 30p)
Spices - ??p (we had all the spices in, and they would have cost literally pennies)

So with some rough maths, I reckon that meal cost about £2.00, with half the mix being saved for later in the week. The added halloumi bumps the price up slightly, but still represents excellent value.

To summarise, these shops add a lot to the character of the area but they are also a great resource for your daily groceries and certainly have more character than Tesco Express... Give them a try!

As a final note, if you venture in before the end of Ramadan and have a sweet tooth, they currently have a great selection of baklawa...

Thanks so much Iain! I hope you all have fun trying out his recipe for falafel. It's saved to my favourites already...

Guest post: Fun, fun, fun...

2011-08-26T10:10:00.005+01:00

This is a special guest post featuring photos from Masbro Centre's Summer Party which was held on Friday 19th August 2011, when over 1000 people came together to share in lots of family fun and entertainment. This is twice as many people as they expected and rather than be overwhelmed it seems this only went further to demonstrate the centre's truly special way that it engages with and enables the local community.

Chief Exec of Urban Partnership Group, Andy Sharpe thanked all the volunteers and staff who made the day a success: "We are absolutely delighted with the turnout of over a 1000 people which has smashed all records for this event. The support of local families for the Masbro Centre is amazing. We are already planning next year’s summer party which will be held on Friday 17th August. 2012"

Thanks to Clint Heine who works at Masbro Centre who shared the photos with me.

See more of these fabulous photographs on the Masbro Centre's Facebook page.

Guest post: Paint your love all over my world

2011-08-25T08:24:00.002+01:00

Shepherd's Bush has some exciting things to look forward to and OpenDoors is one of these. For the last few months local residents Tom and Katy have been working hard on a concept which aims to make art accessible and relevant to local people by hosting pop up art galleries in local homes. The art which will be on show will be by local artists inspired by the local area including what local people think about their local area. Katy has kindly written this guest post to tell you more and invite you to join in.

At the end of next month W12 will play host the first OpenDoors exhibition. We hope that by curating a selection of work that is both inspired by and relevant to the people living in the area, it might encourage people of all walks of life to walk through our doors and become interested by the art they see on the walls.

Over the past two months artists have been producing work about W12 and the people who live there. Lurking in Shepherds Bush Library and sifting through online articles we gathered an amazing variety of stories that became the digital scrapbook. This has effectively become the artists’ brief for exhibition W12.

Information about Shepherds Bush can be traced back as far as the Romans. Goldhawk Road was built by Roman legions as an access route to the West of England. A 17th century historian records a Roman Sword being found ten feet below the ground. Shepherds Bush as its namesake suggests was a rural suburb of London, the last place shepherds could graze their fattened sheep before they were sold at Smithfield market.

Much of our focus was on industry and buildings that have become iconic of Shepherds Bush; Wormwood Scrubs Prison, Lime Grove Studios, White City Stadium and Shepherds Bush Empire. The cultural history that surrounds these buildings is astounding and we are only scratching the surface. The Shepherds Bush Empire is the home of the ground breaking Custard Pie in the Face joke. Lime Grove Studios was where Prime Minister Anthony Eden broadcast to the nation that we were at war with Egypt. Finally completed in 1891 Wormwood Scrubs prison was built over 17 years using 35 million bricks. Whilst White City played host to the world in both the 1908 Olympic Games and two International Exhibitions.

Using art we hope to encourage an understanding of our heritage, instilling a sense of pride & respect back into London Boroughs. Please email us with your stories of Shepherds Bush and W12: opendoorslondon@gmail.com

I strongly recommend you spend some time looking at OpenDoors website and in particular think

about giving Tom & Katy your opinions about W12. (I like how they make that W12 red and bold.)

You can also see some of the local artists' work which I've featured on Bird in the Bush previously
but they've since updated and here are a few more I like.

by Faud Ali

by Joe Cruz

A change is gonna come...

2011-08-24T07:56:00.000+01:00

First sleepless, and now teary nights. Something must be amiss. And indeed it is. In less than two weeks time I will be leaving Shepherd's Bush.

I will be flying the Bush to live temporarily with NewMan in N1. I say temporarily not because I have already scheduled a U-Turn change of heart and triumphant return to the Bush, but rather because we will then both be flying the nest completely. We are leaving the UK to embark on some travels around Asia before heading "home", well for NewMan, to Australia where I will have a long overdue (first) meeting with NewMan's Mum before more travelling around Oz and New Zealand where I will meet more of NewMan's friends and family, and I will be reunited with some of my own Pom friends who have taken the brave step of moving over there.

This is not a step that we will be taking, at least I don't think so. It is tempting just so that I can keep being "Bird in the Bush", although it will be a very, very different Bush. Where we'll end up after our travels, I actually don't know; we have many ideas ranging from the bizarre ("Let's build a raft and find our own island!") to the ridiculous ("Are there hotels in space yet?") so we're just going to wait and see. I'm of course aware that we may also end up apart at the end of it, but having over analysed this for some time I have come to the conclusion that it's a risk worth taking.

If you don't mind I will keep my other reasons for the change, the move and the travels personal, but needless to say this was not a decision I took lightly and indeed it has broken my heart a little bit. (Here come the tears... and breathe.)

For over four and a half years Shepherd's Bush has been my home, my entertainment, my despair, my joy, my source of new friends, inspiration and love. It has also been the backdrop to many a treasured moment with friends, old and new, the backdrop to great dates and less great heartshakes and in many ways it's been the backdrop to falling in love with NewMan; who now ironically is one of the reasons I am leaving. Most importantly Shepherd's Bush gave me this blog, which has become such a wonderful part of my life.

I don't leave the Bush for another few weeks and so I will keep blogging until I'm dragged away kicking and screaming. I'm then not sure what will happen to it. As a heroine of mine once said, "I'll think about that tomorrow".

I will also try to grow my other blog "As the Bird flies" (the irony of the name I came up with many months ago now stings a bit) with the photos and stories of my travel adventures and I would be so happy if some of you checked in with it now and again, even if just to keep me updated on what's going on in Shepherd's Bush.

Having had an emotional week moving most of my belongings to local W12 charity shops/NewMan's place/my parent's loft and sharing the news with my employer and friends, I am now heading off on holiday for a week. I have arranged some more lovely guest posts to keep you entertained while I'm in the south of France with NewMan relaxing and spend some QT with one of my best friends Robin who flew the nest many years ago and hasn't looked back since.

Hmm. But what if I want to look back? And what if I want to come back? Because I do already.

Bird in the Bush x

Guest post: Right people, right time..

2011-08-23T09:50:00.000+01:00

Source: museum.tv

Name that TV Theme song lyric!? Well if you don't know maybe it's time you checked out local Bush Bloke, Howard Bowden's social media project which is all to do with retro Shepherd's Bush. I made contact with Howard and asked him to explain all in a guest post:

I'm head of news at a PR agency in central London, and have been working in the industry for 15 years - before that I was a journalist on the Nationals. And without wishing to state the bleedin' obvious, social media is becoming increasingly part of the PR landscape, pretty much on a daily basis - so if you work in PR you need to be totally up to speed on the subject!

This is why we had the rather smart idea of setting a three-month challenge for everyone in the company to create a Facebook page, Twitter feed and YouTube channel on a subject of their choice. And as a proud resident of W12 for over 10 years, with a fairly obsessive interest in music, TV and film, something to do with Shepherds Bush and popular culture seemed the obvious subject.

I've always loved the fact that so much great stuff has come out of Shepherds Bush - I mean, this is where both The Who and Sex Pistols started off; beat that combo, everywhere else. Then there's all the classic TV that's originated here, mainly thanks of course to the BBC - so everything from Monty Python to Morecambe and Wise. Or if you turn on ITV4 you'll probably find an episode of Minder or The Sweeney taking place on Uxbridge Road. Even growing up as a kid in Southampton, QPR always seemed the coolest London team.

So while I've been doing the Facebook and Twitter thing for a while - I'm also @howardbowden while I do some tweeting for clients. I have now set up a Facebook page, Twitter feed and a YouTube channel and this is a great opportunity to hunt around and discover stuff about the area. I never knew, for instance, that there was a Monty Python sketch called Climbing The North Face Of The Uxbridge Road - and I'm amazed how many tracks I keep finding that mention parts of Shepherds Bush; who else knew, for instance, that The Manic Street Preachers wrote a B-side called 'Askew Road'?

There's another two months of the competition to go, with prizes for the most successful - but either way, there's a certain inevitability that Facebook.com/bushw12 and @CentralLining will continue!

Thanks Howard! The facebook for this project is well worth checking out because as well as Howard's fascinating findings I love that other (and I assume local) people have started sharing their retro Bush knowledge and references. I'm off to hunt on Amazon for the book "White City Blues" and a copy of Tracey Ullman's Greatest Hits...

Guest post: It's the way, that we bring this sound to you

2011-08-22T11:07:00.002+01:00

This week I have rather a lot going on which I will hopefully blog/bore you about tomorrow, but I'm also about head off on holiday and so as to keep the W12 love flowing I invited some of my readers and friends to write guest posts while I'm away sunning myself in the south of France with my two favourite men (after my Dad obvs) NewMan and GBFF Robin.

Kicking off a series of guest posts is my good friend Chris, a one time Bush resident until he moved up, or rather west in the world to Chiswick. Chris (@cpetzny on twitter) is a User Experience Designer and professional geek, who also has a soft spot for all things W12, even though he now lives in W4. He is passionate about food, drink and drum & bass and has his own, mostly work related, blog at http://www.iasoup.com.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Well this feels odd. I'm neither a bird, nor do I currently reside in the Bush, but I am here because I want to tell you about a Shepherd's Bush event we are working on. It's called Urban Jungle and it's a one off, free, 90s drum &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; bass night, which will be held at the Raving Buddha on Goldhawk Road on Saturday the 15th of October.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div class="im" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The whole thing came about thanks to Twitter and a noisy neighbour. Not so long ago one of the Shepherd's Bush twitterati &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NelsMels"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;@NelsMels&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;, had to contend with a neighbour repeatedly and loudly playing 'No Woman No Cry' late at night. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NelsMels"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;@NelsMels&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; suggested on Twitter that some old skool drum &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; bass might work as&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="text-decoration: line-through; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;revenge&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;a means of drowning out the offending tune. I added a few bass laden suggestions of my own, as did &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://twitter.com/#!/chrishampson"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;@chrishampson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; and before we knew it we were reminiscing about some of our favourite 90s drum &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; bass tunes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Then we thought we should get together somewhere, bring our favourite tunes and have an evening of drinks and drum &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; bass. As we discussed this idea, more and more W12 tweeters wanted to join in and since none of our places are exactly palatial, the idea of hiring a venue was born. @NelsMels used to DJ and even owned a couple of drum &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; bass labels, so she got on the case and before we knew it, the Raving Buddha was chosen and booked.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div class="im" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;So in the best 90s drum &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; bass tradition, we moved from front room to dancehall and this is now very real and the deposit has been paid. We have the following DJs lined up (provisionally) and we may even have a few surprise special guests:&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;XO (Last.Fm, Bassdrive, Dogs On Acid)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Tendai (Swerve, Groove Connection)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Nexxi (G2 &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Gain Recordings)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Zinga&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Immortalmindz&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Plastic&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Ben Kei&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;J-Potz&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;DJ Lync&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div class="im"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;To give you an idea of the kind of tunes we are talking about, here are some of our favourites;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font class="Apple-style-span" color="#500050" face="arial, sans-serif" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe width="500" height="405" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d4Ek05cfx08" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Well this feels odd. I'm neither a bird, nor do I currently reside in the Bush, but I am here because I want to tell you about a Shepherd's Bush event we are working on. It's called Urban Jungle and it's a one off, free, 90s drum & bass night, which will be held at the Raving Buddha on Goldhawk Road on Saturday the 15th of October.

The whole thing came about thanks to Twitter and a noisy neighbour. Not so long ago one of the Shepherd's Bush twitterati @NelsMels, had to contend with a neighbour repeatedly and loudly playing 'No Woman No Cry' late at night. @NelsMels suggested on Twitter that some old skool drum & bass might work as revenge a means of drowning out the offending tune. I added a few bass laden suggestions of my own, as did @chrishampson and before we knew it we were reminiscing about some of our favourite 90s drum & bass tunes.

Then we thought we should get together somewhere, bring our favourite tunes and have an evening of drinks and drum & bass. As we discussed this idea, more and more W12 tweeters wanted to join in and since none of our places are exactly palatial, the idea of hiring a venue was born. @NelsMels used to DJ and even owned a couple of drum & bass labels, so she got on the case and before we knew it, the Raving Buddha was chosen and booked.

So in the best 90s drum & bass tradition, we moved from front room to dancehall and this is now very real and the deposit has been paid. We have the following DJs lined up (provisionally) and we may even have a few surprise special guests:

XO (Last.Fm, Bassdrive, Dogs On Acid)

Tendai (Swerve, Groove Connection)

Nexxi (G2 & Gain Recordings)

Zinga

Immortalmindz

Plastic

Ben Kei

J-Potz

DJ Lync

The following tunes should give you and idea of what to expect on the night:

If you fancy coming along or if you just want to keep up to date, please look for #bushw12 #dnbnight on Twitter or follow @cpetzny, @NelsMels and @chrishampson OR 'like' our Facebook page.

Big thanks to everyone who has so far helped and encouraged our behaviour!

Thank you Chris! I can't wait for this night when I will get to reminisce my youth of dancing all night (unaided by more than a couple of beers I hasten to add) to the likes of DJ Marky and Patife; now where did I put my neon sweat bands and matching trainer laces?

If you feel inspired and would like to write me a Bush story, please do! Send me an email with as many words as you like (short and sweet is fine as is long and er.. sweet) and/or some photos by Wednesday morning please!

So happy together!

2011-08-20T11:07:00.000+01:00

This weekend I will mostly be spending lots of quality time with Shepherd's Bush, making home made pizza with Mo and messing about with my new favourite phone app "Wreck This App". It's a lot of fun and already I'm pretty bad at it - yay!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

In the town where I was born...

2011-08-19T10:18:00.001+01:00

Life long Shepherd's Bush resident Stuart has quickly become the man I turn to for a bit more information about certain areas of Bush history. He is a passionate QPR fan, lovely bloke and I owe him a pint in the White Horse (long story). Those of you who follow him on Twitter may have seen some of the photographs he took recently of his walk around Hammersmith Park. If not, you are in luck as he has kindly allowed me to share some of these and other photographs which he takes of Shepherd's Bush including the recent Bush Festival, local buildings and beautiful sunsets.

Having grown up and lived in and around the borough all his life I find it particularly charming that Stuie still likes taking photographs of the area. If you are on Flickr you should make a point of linking in with him as his other photographs are well worth looking at.

I also loved spotting these few photos of Stuie as a baby on Devenport Road in the 1960s (late 1960s I hasten to add!). The houses look the same yet different, don't you think?

A while ago Stuart told me that as a child he used to gain access to his Nan's house on Loftus Road via the coal chute. It's apparently what all the kids in the area used to do if they weren't blocked up. Everytime I walk over a coal chute cover in Shepherd's Bush (or beyond) I always think of this and smile. So thank you for that story Stuart, and for letting me share these lovely photos.

You can see all of Stuart's brilliant photos on his Flickr.

Do you want more...

2011-08-17T20:02:00.001+01:00

... family fun? Was Bush Festival not quite enough?

Well then get down to Masbro Centre on Friday afternoon (1.30pm until 4.30pm) to enjoy their family summer party.

Here's a message from the Masbro team with all the information about the day;

"500 people are expected at Masbro Centre's family summer party on Friday 19th August 1.30pm to 4.30pm in a children's extravaganza of entertainment. Youngsters will have the opportunity to win prizes in Masbro got talent dance showcase and hula hoop competitions.

Other attractions include a stilt walker, balloon bender, face painting, bouncy castle, party food, tattoos and bubbles. A Caribbean flavour will be added to the mix with some delicious curry goat and rice on offer at reasonable prices.

The event is organised by Urban Partnership Group who run the Masbro Centre. Over 20 volunteers will help including young people from the Masbro Youth Club who will run a smoothie stall, spin some tunes and take some pictures of the party.

The Masbro got talent contest will be run by Patten’s Dance Company. Sharon has been working with the Masbro for over 7 years and budding stars can come to her workshop which start from 12 noon at the Masbro dance studio on the day.

The hula hoop competition will be run by Philippa Berridge who successfully organised the second Bush Festival last Saturday.

Andy Sharpe Chief Executive of Urban Partnership Group adds "We are looking forward to a great occasion. The Masbro summer party has a huge loyal following and we expect the Centre to be packed to the rafters for this afternoon of children's entertainment."

Can you save me some curry goat, please?

Cupcake

2011-08-17T12:50:00.000+01:00

One of the pictures that I took at Bush Festival which got the most reaction (mainly in the form of stimulating taste buds) was this one, of the colourful cupcakes by Queen of Hearts Cupcakes, a small Askew Road business run by a very lovely young woman called Valeri. I was lucky enough to be bought a cupcake (one of the blue ones on the far right of the photo) by local Bush Bloke Andrew (of rescuing a lost Shepherd's Bush cat fame) at Bush Festival and they really do taste as good as they look. It followed, being the nosey Bird I am, that I wanted to find out more about Valeri and Queen of Hearts Cupcakes.

Valeri is a paediatric nurse by profession but about 12 months ago she was encouraged to venture out doing what she loves, creating beautiful and tasty cakes, for a living and so she is currently balancing the day job with pursuing what has been a life long dream; to own her own bakery or pastry shop. As well as baking cupcakes and cake pops, she explained to me that her special and increasingly “edible bouquets” came about because she wanted to create and give an extra special gift to two people she calls her “2^nd Mummies” as her family are all back in her native Philippines. People were so impressed and receptive that she was encouraged to make more and eventually started selling bespoke bouquets far and wide. Valeri is currently preparing for birthday parties and weddings this year as well as providing the cupcakes for the Mad Hatters Tea Party at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in December.

One of the things I liked about the Queen of Hearts stall at Bush Festival was that they really engaged with the community spirit at Bush Festival; they took pictures of their happy customers wearing the “Queen of Hearts” crown and they also gave a big box of cupcakes and cake pops to all the volunteers. Some of the photographs she took really sum up the mood and importance of the day.

Valeri also told me that she’s using her business to support a cause very close to her own heart. After previously looking after poorly children with cancer as a nurse at Great Ormond Street she supports the CLIC Sargent Charity selling flower pins on the same stall as her cupcakes. After all this you may think Valeri would think about taking a break, but no she emailed me after Bush Festival asking if I knew of any other local events she could support. (If you know of any please let me know!)

Here is a hard working, local, woman who is successfully combining focused ambition and honourable community intentions and what could taste sweeter than that?

Here are some photos of Valeri’s incredible and all edible masterpieces!

Visit the website for more information about Queen of Hearts and you can also become a fan on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

2011-08-16T09:01:00.000+01:00

It's nearly that time again. Time for another holiday! Before you say anything or even think about rolling your eyes at me, it has been a while; at least three months. Yes, all right I know I'm a lucky old jammy dodger, but there is a moral to this story; if you have a friend who happens to live in the south of France and happens to work in wine - never let him forget you and always remember his birthday!!

Anyway while I'm topping up the tan and expanding my wine-waist I would really like someone or hopefully some lovely people to do a guest post or two on Bird in the Bush. I already have some exciting guest posts lined up but wanted to extend the invitation to one and all. Maybe you could write a little review of somewhere you ate or drank recently? Maybe you could tell me what you like or even don't like about living in Shepherd's Bush? Maybe you could share some of your photos of the Bush with us? I know most of my readers know more about the Bush than I do and so it's time the real Bush experts got a chance to share their Bush knowledge and love.

You don't need to write much, I'm just looking for a few willing victims to share a bit of their own Shepherd's Bush experience. If you're keen please email me and I look forward to maybe sharing your thoughts, musings, rants and raves on Bird in the Bush.

P.S. I wrote a lil' review of Bush Festival for online London magazine Londonist.com and I was lucky enough that one of the Bush Twitterati Selina contributed some lovely photographs. I am very grateful to Selina who spent the whole day snapping away and capturing the fun.

A lovely day

2011-08-14T10:20:00.003+01:00

It's possible I've already used this song lyric for a blog post but if I have I will not hesitate to use it again to describe the success that was Bush Festival yesterday.

Here is how it looked through the lens of my iPhone as I snapped and tweeted the day away on the Bush Festival twitter account.

I was lucky enough to meet up with some old and new Bush faces so thank you to those of you who came down and enjoyed. Despite hearing about some late night arrests on the Green after Bush Festival had finished (I assume and indeed hope it was completely unrelated) the day was a triumph for the young people who helped organise it.

P.S. My Instagram name is bushbirdie if you'd like to follow me and my photos.

Don't by shy...

2011-08-12T09:03:00.000+01:00

Bush Festival flyer takes pride of place on my fridge.

Just two days to go until Bush Festival. I have been blogging a lot about the event and its story and so hope those of you who can, will be there to share the day. Since I picked up a flyer earlier in the week from some very committed distributors (one guy was there when I left for work at 7.30am and was still there when I returned to the Bush at 7pm!)

After the riots in London earlier this week, there was some concern about the event going ahead and the organisers had to have additional meetings with both the council and the police, yet much to everyone's delight the event is going ahead though additional security has had to be called in. I have to again reiterate that Bush Festival organisers are young people (in their teens and early 20s) and in particular my hat goes off to the young woman who is the driving force behind Bush Festival, Philippa who has had an extremely busy and stressful week ensuring Bush Festival goes ahead.

Saturday will be a busy day in Shepherd's Bush with the football season kicking off and QPR's first game back in the Premier League (Come on you Hoops!). Let's hope the visiting Bolton fans, our local police and Bush Festival organisers see nothing but people enjoying themselves .

I will be at Bush Festival for most of the day helping out, eating too much, enjoying myself and also tweeting lots of photos and info about what's going on. In fact I'll be hi-jacking the Bush Festival Twitter account for the day (cue evil laugh: mwah-hahahahaaaa!)so make sure you are following @BushFestival and if you are on Twitter please use the #BushFestival hash tag to share your own photos and stories so I can cyber stalk you all (cue same evil laugh: mwah-hahah...oh I'm crap at this).

See you on Saturday!

Bush Festival, www.bushfestival.org, Saturday 13th August 2011 from 1pm until 7pm on Shepherd's Bush Green.

No place like home

2011-08-10T19:39:00.003+01:00

Over the last few days we have seen some very bad things take place in London.

However, over the last few days we have also seen some very good things as people rallied together to clean up the mess of the bad things. In Shepherd's Bush the Twitterati joined forces to ensure reliable messages about what was or wasn't going on were shared. The eerie quiet in Shepherd's Bush as shops closed up early and boarded up their windows surprised us all and we were all hugely grateful for the calm on the streets.

Over the last few days I have also gained a few brand spanking new followers, many of them fellow Shepherd's Bush locals. (If you're the nosey type you can find out more information about me and the blog on the About the Bird and About the Bush pages.) So as well as saying welcome ("Hiya!") I also thought now would be a good time to remind ourselves why living in Shepherd's Bush is far from all bad.

In addition to my "All the small things" series of posts about the reasons I like about in living with Shepherd's Bush, here's my suggestions for some Bush things to do this weekend.

1. Go to Bush Festival. Support this local community event organised by local people for the local people taking place on Shepherd's Bush Green from 1pm until 7pm. There will be food, live music and DJs all day, food, craft stalls, food and activity workshops. And food; lots of yummy food. That's Saturday sorted, see you there.

2. Get some falafel. I'm not sure you'll find better falafel in London than the falafel you can buy at either Mr Falafel, King Solomans or at any of the other Middle East/North African food outlets that line Uxbridge Road and Shepherd's Bush Market. If you're stuck for which one to choose check out the Falafel Off my boyf NewMan, flatmate Mo and I did.

3. Go for a walk in Ravenscourt Park. We are so very lucky to have this green space (no offence to the Green) just down the road from us. There are three childrens' playgrounds, a beautiful flower garden and for any #bushrunners out there, it's a perfect park for a gentle jog away from the traffic.

4. Get involved with the #bushw12 hashtag. This is where the lovely Shepherd's Bush folk exchange Bush news, info, rants and amusing anecdotes. Ever got fed up with the chaos in Morrisons? Regularly wonder what that smell is on Uxbridge Road? Need to find out where you can get 24 hour dry cleaning? Use the #bushw12 hashtag. (P.S. My T-Shirt is from local business I Love My Postcode)

5. Watch the sun go down. Living on the west side of London we experience beautiful sunsets so fingers crossed the skies are clear on Sunday evening so we can watch the sun set on a peaceful and happy weekend in Shepherd's Bush.

Always have a good distraction...

2011-08-09T11:04:00.001+01:00

So last night was the first time I think fear had been felt across London and with the Bush coming off comparatively unscathed from the senseless rioting and looting, I think many of us breathed a sigh of relief this morning.

Having spent most of the night awake refreshing my Twitter feed and listening to the sirens and helicopter above wondering and thinking the worst, as my alarm went off this morning I grudgingly stumbled out of bed. Literally stumbled, as I tripped over my laptop (thankfully unhurt) cutting and twisting my ankle. Brilliant.

Ah well, the pain and subsequent need to work from home has proved a very useful distraction. Just like last night when I couldn't sleep, my new obsession with photo editing using (or trying to use!) Gimp kept my mind off the sheer lunacy going on in parts of London I know and love well. It was nice to sift through many lovely photos of Shepherd's Bush at such a chaotic time.

Here's what I came up with...

It needs a fair amount of tweaking (I was half asleep!) but I'm thinking of using it as a new blog banner? What do you think?

Make Love, Not War

2011-08-08T10:20:00.001+01:00

There's panic on the streets of London and I don't like it. A quick glance at a cross section of the British press, Twitter and other forums suggests that most other people dislike it vehemently too. It would seem that yet again a small minority are taking matters illegally and unfairly into their own hands and ruining things for the rest of us.

As you will know I steer away from politics on this blog and am not about to change my ways, other than to praise Shepherd's Bush for thus far not being named as one of the London boroughs where copycat riots and looting has occurred. I hope it stays this way.

One thing I do like to do in this blog is focus on the positive and there is an extraordinarily number of positive initiatives, projects and events taking place in the Bush, not least Bush Festival which takes place on Saturday is all about positivity and community.

I may not do politics but I do do music and sometimes I think it's all you need to get a message across.

Line Up

2011-08-06T10:25:00.000+01:00

I've had a sneaky peak at the Bush Festival Line Up and it's looking pretty good. With a real mix of music from bands, DJs, singers and even some spoken word it should be a day of excellent live talent.

I don't want to spoil any surprises but I do want to pick some of my favourites having done a quick and dirty You Tube and Myspace search for some of these people.

Lumiere Chieh

There is something so raw, so heartfelt and so sweetly innocent in Lumiere's music. I feel like she is the love child Tracy Chapman and Jason Mraz will never have. I will definitely be stage focused for her performance.

Trozion

(FYI pronounced Trojan) Start practising your screwface for this one. This is as accessible as the UK Hip Hop Grime scene gets and rather than potentially dismissing it as "not my cup of tea" have a listen; his lyrics are very inspiring and well worth listening too.

Trozion also took part in UK Hip Hop Hero Charlie Sloth's Fire in the Booth which is like Black Cab Sessions for UK Hip Hop heads.

OH! My head

This is your head-banging opportunity of the day. This guitar-rock-soul band sound slick and my first aural impressions were it was like listening to Bill Withers rock out with Sublime. Definitely worth checking out.

OH! my head @ The Bowery - The Soup

OH! my head | Myspace Music Videos

Sky Montique

After you've exhausted your hip hop head bop and your head bang, get ready to lounge out and say "Niiiice" and "Ggrrrreat" in Fast Show Jazz Club style to Sky Montique who will close out the festival. What a voice, what a cool sounding band and what perfect music for a sunny family fun day. Can't wait.

Just one week to go until the Green comes alive with the sound of music and people having a great day out.

Bye baby bunting...

2011-08-05T13:03:00.001+01:00

I have recently become a bit obsessed with bunting. I made some for the hen do I went on and I made some for a friend who was organising a massive cake sale for charity, and then recently I made some for my brother's wedding. I called this particular lot my "Bush Bunting" because I made it out of bits and bobs I bought in Shepherd's Bush; ribbon from Shepherd's Bush Market, chopped up clothes I'd bought in Shepherd's Bush charity shops (in my bro and his wife's favourite colours) and cotton and thread I had lying around in my Bush flat.

So here's what Bush Bunting looks like from start to finish...

If it's not clear, it says; "Forever & Ever" and I hung it up in their room on their wedding day and they said they would put it out on display every anniversary.

Happy weekend all x

We are the people...

2011-08-04T12:45:00.002+01:00

These are some of the people who are helping to organise Bush Festival 2011, the free family fun day organised by local people for local people. I've already blogged about the event and how it inspirationally came about, so rather than me going on about the same old very good reasons why you should come along on Saturday 13th August 2011, I thought it might be nice if the people helping to make Bush Festival 2011 happen had their say.

The majority of the volunteer team are in their teens or early 20s and it is remarkable that they have the energy and commitment to a cause such as this. I recently gatecrashed a couple of volunteer meetings and at the end of one took some photos and allowed them to pick their favourite Instagram filter while I asked them four questions:

1. How did you become involved in Bush Festival 2011?

2. How exactly are you involved and what will you be doing on the day?

3. Why do you think Bush Festival is important?

4. What's your favourite thing about Shepherd's Bush?

DJ Danny D

1. I first heard and found out about Bush Festival last year when it was being organised for summer 2010. I go to the Masbro Centre Youth club and heard they were supporting the event and was offered opportunity to get involved as a volunteer.
2. I'll be DJing on the day, like I did last year, but also helping out with the setting up and running of the event when I'm not up on the stage.
3. Bush Festival is important because it is bringing a community together and that's an important thing!
4. It has to be the Roti Hut on Uxbridge Road; the roti, the dumplings, the chicken curry... it's all good!

(You can listen to Dan on www.hot96.co.uk or follow him on Twitter as @ukcndannyd)

Felicia

1. I was a volunteer at Bush Festival 2010, which I first found out about because I work with an organisation called Events 4 Youth based down the road in Hammersmith and I was definitely keen to get involved with it this year.

2. On the day I'm going to be overseeing all the stalls and activities workshops, just making sure that everything goes smoothly.

3. I think Bush Festival is important because it is a cross cultural event. These type of events can really help to break down social barriers and encourage integration.

4. My favourite thing about Shepherd's Bush? Westfield! That's bad isn't it? But it is really good for shopping... No, I like Shepherd's Bush Market too. I love getting candy floss from there.

(For more information about Events 4 Youth you can Like their Facebook or contact Felicia via her Twitter)

Ashman

1. I've lived in Shepherd's Bush since 1968 so I'm a true local.. I heard about Bush Festival last year through a friend who introduced me to Philippa (who is the head of the organising team) and I DJ-ed at last year's festival.

2. I'm a DJ and Sound Engineer by trade and so that's what I'll be doing on the day; doing my own set as well as keeping an eye on the sound for other acts.

3. Events like Bush Festival encourage a local sense of community and that is really important, especially in a multicultural place like Shepherd's Bush.

4. I like how Shepherd's Bush is a real mix of cultures. There's a great multicultural vibe. I also like that things are open 24 hours a day around here.

(If you'd like to enquire about booking Ashman as a DJ you can contact him here).

Eugene

1. I'm friends with Daniel so I first heard about it through him last year when Bush Festival 2010 was being planned and 'cause I'm local wanted to get involved.

2. Photography. I'm going to be one of the "official" Bush Festival photographers making sure we capture the action.

3. Bush Festival is important because it is giving young people a chance to get involved in something as volunteers. It's school and college holidays for us now so it's a positive thing to get involved with and to feel included in something important.

4. I like that Shepherd's Bush is such a central location to the centre of London, or south of the river. It's a good spot with good transport links.

Dom

1. I heard about Bush Festival through the Masbro Centre last year as I go to the Youth Club so I got involved as a volunteer and am back again this year.

2. I'm going to be in charge of the road access to the Green for all the stalls and bands and making sure traffic keeps flowing and people know where they can park if they need to offload kit.

3. Hmm. I think Bush Festival is important because it's giving young and local people a voice. It's also important as a day out for families to enjoy.

4. Westfield. And Ochi Caribbean take away on Uxbridge Road.

Neecie

1. I am a local community radio presenter and have worked previously with Felicia at Events 4 Youth and she mentioned that Bush Festival 2011 was looking for a host for the day and I was keen to get involved.

2. I'll be hosting all the acts on the stage; introducing the bands and filling in the gaps while set up for the next act is going on. I'll be doing my best to engage with the audience and spread the Bush Festival message on the day!

3. Bush Festival is all about making a difference and spreading a message, the right message, about creating ties and unity within the local community. I also wanted to get involved to make a difference and showcase local talent. There is a real lack of local events out there; we need more!

4. I really like Ves Bar on Goldhawk Road; they have the best mojitos and is a good spot for meetings. I also like Woody's Grill and have recently discovered a new Turkish restaurant on Shepherd's Bush Green - the food's great and they really look after me! And they're open until 3am every night, you should go!

(Neecie Gold is on Twitter and hosts a weekly show every Tuesday evening on Bang FM 103.6)

Ricco

1. I was there at the beginning. Literally! Philippa and I were chatting about how bad it was that the Masbro carnival stopped and we wanted to do something about it. I can remember the conversation so clearly, outside the Masbro Centre, and now here we are organising our second Bush Festival!

2. I'm the Junior Events Manager so basically I'll be in charge of the live music and workshops and making sure it all goes according to plan.

3. I really feel that the youth of today are mistreated by society and the government; we don't seem to be a priority and there's not much financial support or encouragement out there. I hope therefore that Bush Festival can be a sign to the right people that we're worth investing in and making changes so youth clubs, events and projects like this are supported more and not neglected.

4. Shepherd's Bush is a multicultural environment; that's what I like the most. And that's what Bush Festival is all about celebrating...

I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you all.

You wanna be in my gang?

2011-08-03T11:49:00.000+01:00

I have to say I did hesitate on this selection of choice lyric for obvious reasons, but sometimes I find it hard to find a fitting lyric as a blog title and in desperate times...

Anyway, it isn't my gang; it is Bush Theatre's gang. Or rather their Bush Local club. A dedicated club for local people to benefit from a wide range of reductions and special offers. Best of all, becoming a member is free.

I feel like a broken record, or the theatre equivalent (a torn script perhaps?), but I really cannot stress enough how pro-local community and pro-local people Bush Theatre is which became very apparent by their free (or subsidised) tickets for locals to the recent Where's My Seat?.

So we know that "local'' means a lot to Bush Theatre, but geographically speaking what does local really mean to Bush Theatre? To be precise it means living within a 2 mile radius of the Bush Theatre so that actually includes people living in W12, W4, W6, W10, and even some of the SW and NWs.

To become a member you simply visit the Bush Theatre website page for Bush Local, chuck a glance over the Ts & Cs, download, print and complete an application form (which took me 2 minutes 13 seconds in total, yes I timed it) and then pop it in the post to the Box Office (at Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ - wow, I am feeling helpful). You will then receive a membership card in the post. This Bush Local card then entitles you to the following lovely treats and special offers:

£10 tickets to previews
10% off tickets to other performances
10% off drinks and food at our new Café Bar
10% off playtexts from the Bush Shop
10% off space hire at our new building
Special offers and news about Bush productions and events
Invitations to exclusive bush local events

So what are you waiting for?

P.S. If anyone can download print and complete in less than 2 minutes 13 seconds I want to know about it!

Wrapped up in books

2011-08-02T12:57:00.007+01:00

I love reading. I love books. I love reading books. Ssh don't tell my Kindle, or NewMan who bought me the Kindle and is naively determined to reduce the space that books take up in my life. (Three words, darling; never gonna happen.)

Having been a liberal library lover since I could walk and a frantic rummager for second hand books in charity shops for nearly as long, Books for Free sounded too good to be true. Yet it's very, very real and furthermore is a really, really good project to have here in the Bush.

Following its opening in April this year, national project Books for Free's Shepherd's Bush home is doing well. I popped in for a nosey the other day and found a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with children playing in one corner (I overheard one child say the most beautiful thing; "Mummy, can we stay here and read all day?") and marvellously mis-match shelving units bursting with books organised into different categories; fiction, crime, biographies, sport etc.

The project basically works like this; you want to offload some already read and loved books which are taking up valuable storage space in your home? Take them to Books for Free where they will be lovingly placed on a shelf. Or it works like this; you want something new to read but haven't got enough pennies for a new book and don't have a library card sorted? Pop down to Books for Free where they encourage you to take any book of your choice away with you. I should add that they currently limit the number of books to be taken away per person, per trip to just three, but that's enough to keep you busy and if you then want to take another three another time (and maybe return the ones you already read)? Well that's the whole point I guess! It's like a library without fines or obligated silence. (I wish to state here that as brilliant as this project is, it takes nothing away from the importance of libraries!)

Books for Free is a Healthy Planet initiative. Healthy Planet is a fast growing charity committed to reducing the amount of waste and landfill space in a number of ways, like Books for Free but also by offering people and companies the opportunity to sponsor a plot of land. Though Healthy Planet and Books for Free are active all over the UK, it is worthy of a special mention that Healthy Planet is a locally based charity (in Hammersmith).

They currently share the unused shop premises on the first floor of West 12 shopping centre with Furnish, another local charity who reuse and recycle furniture and home ware by collecting and giving donations to those in need. Furnish is run by the very successful and long-standing Shepherd's Bush Housing Group and in their West 12 home you can buy second their second hand furniture (I saw sofas, tables, dining sets, coffee tables and lots of lovely vintage!) for reasonable prices. The proceeds of which go to support their ultimate aim which again is reducing the amount of waste in our landfills.

The store is staffed mainly by volunteers so again another fine example of lovely local people doing their bit. I hope you can maybe go down to Books for Free and benefit from the project yourself. Let me know what you pick up!

When I was there I spotted three books which tempted me, though I only took one home with me. Guess which one it was?

A special mention should go out to West 12 shopping centre who, I understand, subsidise the shop's rent. I also know that unlike other massive shopping centres with West in the name West 12 have been incredibly supportive of this year's Bush Festival too. (Woah. I nearly got a bit controversial then!)

And finally, I am using this booky theme to send you over to my other blog, As the Bird flies (where I blog about non-Bush related things), as I've just started a book review feature that I hope to continue.

Let me paint you a picture...

2011-08-01T21:30:00.002+01:00

I have blogged about Open Doors before but I thought it worthwhile dragging your attention back to them and their project, which is literally all about the Bush. After asking local peoples’ opinions on what the Bush meant to them they compiled a “digital scrapbook” of local information, photos and inspiration. Even if it’s unlikely to get you grabbing for your paintbrush or camera, it’s well worth a perusal for all Bush dwellers and lovers.

Open Doors have also recently uploaded work by some of the artists that are to feature in the next Open Doors exhibition, which will take place in the home of a W12 resident who will literally open their doors to the public on 24^th September 2011. As I’ve mentioned before, I struggle to “get” art in some forms but I can see where a lot of these artists are coming from in these very diverse and very interesting pieces. Here are my three favourites.

Artist: Emily Spence

Artist: Kerry Jones

Artist: Louise Burrows

I know I'm ~~nagging~~ asking for your support a lot at the moment for things like Bush Festival and Oxjam but this one is worthy of support and comes with the added bonus of letting us be nosey around someone else's house! I am starting to look forward to 24^th September and seeing more (of the art, of course, not someone's underwear drawer. Honest).

For more information go to Open Doors website.

July

2011-07-31T12:01:00.000+01:00

It's time to round up the month of July for Bird in the Bush.

The most read and therefore, I assume rightly or wrongly, the most popular post was the one where I talked about my favourite road in Shepherd's Bush. Some argued it wasn't Shepherd's Bush, and I counter-argued that I wasn't a fan of post code borders, but many other Bush residents agreed and some also offerred further historical insight to why the road is so pretty in pastel colours.

My personal favourite post was about my brother's wedding as it was a special highlight of my month, my year and, I guess, my lifetime.

It was made all the more special by the name of the table we were sitting on for the wedding breakfast.

My favourite thing about the Bush this month has been finding out about Bush Festival and meeting Philippa who is tirelessly working towards creating a very special event for the local community. Please do come down to Shepherd's Bush Green to join in the fun on Saturday 13th August 2011. I will be there and hope to be involved in a small but special way so I will blog about that soon.

In other Bush Events news, Oxjam Shepherd's Bush Takeover continued to get ready for their arrival in the Bush on Saturday 29th October and they held a fundraising pub quiz just last Thursday. For anyone who attended you can try spot yourselves in these photos on their Facebook page. Special well done mention to "Two in the Bush" team which featured some of the finest Bush Twitterati, fresh from their rise to fame as reigning champions of the Crown & Sceptre pub quiz. It was lovely seeing them briefly on Thursday.

The all day festival event will feature live music and comedy acts over 8 venues. More details are to be announced soon.

I got nostalgic again with this fabulous video and screen shots of the 607 as a trolley bus in Shepherd's Bush from over 50 years ago. If you haven't watched it already I thoroughly recommend you do and play spot the local landmarks in their former glory.

I also took a walk down TV production memory lane in honour of the new BBC drama The Hour which is set in TV studios which once graced Lime Grove Studios. Sadly sightings of Dominic West were low this month (I must up my game!).

Personally I kept it vintage too adding more and more retro gems to my Etsy store, Funtime Frocks Etc. There is still free shipping (i.e. I will hand deliver!) to all Bush locals so contact me for a code and get in touch if you have any questions about any of my lovely vintage bits!

This month was short on restaurant and grub reviews (thanks to diet on both my budget and butt) but that doesn't mean it was without its food, thanks to my guest post for Best of Hammersmith & Fulham about the best places to eat out in Shepherd's Bush, my discovering another local blog "Food is the Theme" and I did make a very satisfying trip to King Solomans on a rainy day.

July was also the month I took my very special life long friend to K Spa for a day of pampering and poking. It was so lovely I broke the review into two parts (one and two) so I could drag out my memories of the day.

Again it would seem I had a busy month in Shepherd's Bush (and beyond) and I'm still amazed that I find enough, if sometimes too much, inspiration for writing about life in the Bush. I love this! That's not to say I don't still need ideas so if you'd like me to write about something particular or if you think there's a bar, restaurant, shop I should try in Shepherd's Bush do let me know.

I leave you with some photos of other posts I did featuring my own walks around the Bush, Shepherd's Bush signs (good and bad), photos taken by lovely Bush Bloke Sacha and Shepherd's Bush street art.