Waltham Forest, Newham and their residents.

Today I spent over an hour in the good old fashioned orderly queue along two blocks of Oliver Road, Leyton to collect my 6 free tickets from Leyton Orient Football Ground ticket booths. These are the tickets we bid for on the Waltham Forest website so that we residents could be part of the joy that is the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012. Waltham Forest must be on tenter hooks as Alexandra Burke is the headline act for “Party on the Pitch”and as Wycliffe says “Anything can happen”. It will be a good warm noisy evening in mid-May.

Today the wind was up and what a stench as we queued. There’s a rubbish -dump behind The Score in Oliver Road. That’s the landing pad for the sea-gulls who swoop and yell up Lea Bridge Road like they’re looking for the Lea. Nah. I could even smell their droppings.

The traffic was abysmal as ever across Bakers’ Arms and the Olympics haven’t yet started.

It’s time to collect your 5 free tickets to celebrate Vaisakhi in Walthamstow Assembly Hall on April 27th. The tickets are held in libraries but you have to show a council tax bill or similar to claim your invitations. Well worth it for a fabulous evening: Dancing, singing, picnic, raffles, a nice family event. Everyone welcome of course. Dress to party!

Newham is giving away, through ballot,  free tickets for their residents to enjoy one of two events on May 5th at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Park. You need to apply via email.

Vaisakhi Celebrations. London Borough of Watham Forest

It was the truth that even though 800 tickets were printed it was difficult really to get hold of them. It meant in- person treks to Waltham Forest Direct Shops and 4 was the maximum number of tickets allowed. When I went the tickets weren’t there anyway despite the local free paper telling us otherwise. So tonight the Assembly Hall, Walthamstow was hardly full. Up Your Street5 subscribers were there early taking up one row. We were welcomed very well by Councillor Darshan Singh Sunger of Hale End and Highams Park ward, ex-Bhangra dancer.

We were in for a treat with singers, a young solo dancer, a band and a troupe of male dancers, the Virsa Punjabi Dancers, with their accompanying singer, their drummer and another artiste on another instrument. Then we enjoyed a break with delicious packed snacks ( samosa, pakora and a sweet) with a juice drink followed by a raffle which I won. Yes!

How is it that Diwali, Eid and Vaisakhi are celebrated for free  at The Assembly Hall yet Christmas isn’t mentioned, free or not? I’ve asked the cultural squad at the Town Hall on behalf of my Christian friends and out of sheer curiosity as to what the answer could be and had no answer except woolly stuff. Give up and join in them all I say. 

Why didn’t you come? I advertised it when no-one else did.

Henna workshop tomorrow at Hackney Central Library. I shall be wearing a sparkly scarf and gold eyeliner.