Urban Makers Christmas Market at Ecology Pavilion
Next Sat & Sun 7/8th Dec there’s an Urban Makers Christmas Market at the Ecology Pavilion in Mile End Park (E3 5TW) from 11-5 each day. Entry is free.
Hackney Flea Market
Also this weekend 7/8th Dec Hackney Flea Market is on from 11-6 in Abney Public Hall, 73A Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0AS (276 bus). Book free tickets. Items for sale include – 20th Century Furniture, Records, Old Clobber, Salvaged French Homeware… Kitschenalia… and the unexpected!
Retailers to save millions by refusing cash
We all know that retailers are struggling, and will need to make more savings. A recent report by Global Payment Trends reckons that Tesco alone could save £48 million a year by refusing cash. Like it or not, I think this is going to happen, and people are going to need to prepare to go cashless.
Can you solve this mystery?
Guglielmo Marconi invented wireless telegraphy. He was ridiculed in Italy, so he moved to London where he had great success. He was introduced to the engineer of our General Post Office, William Preece. In 1896 Marconi demonstrated his wireless telegraphy system by sending a signal between two GPO buildings in London.
Famously in 1912 it was the wireless SOS from the Titanic that saved lives. The nearby Cunard Liner, RMS Carpathia, heard the signal and raced to the scene rescuing 705 people.
But here’s the mystery. Why is the little passageway opposite the Bow Idea Store, alongside Tesco named Guglielmo Marconi Mews?
Normal for Westminster
Do you think it’s getting crazier than normal along the District Line in Westminster? I’m afraid this is quite normal!
On this day, 6th December 1648, Colonel Thomas Pride and soldiers from Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army blocked the entrance to St Stephen’s Chapel preventing around 200 members of parliament from taking their seats. The remaining clique, deemed to be against the King and with Cromwell, went on to discuss what they were going to do with King Charles I, who was being held captive on the Isle of Wight. What became known as the Rump Parliament, passed an Act on 6th Jan 1649 to establish a court to try the King for high treason. He was beheaded on 30th Jan and Britain became a Republic.