Planet Balham

twitter: @Joely_Cook @EmmaLDevlin Balham could be a shout!

2013-05-21T13:31:10Z

@Joely_Cook @EmmaLDevlin Balham could be a shout!

weather: Tuesday: white cloud, Max Temp: 15°C (59°F), Min Temp: 10°C (50°F)

2013-05-21T14:20:19+01:00

Max Temp: 15°C (59°F), Min Temp: 10°C (50°F), Wind Direction: N, Wind Speed: 9mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1017mb, Humidity: 76%, UV risk: n/a, Pollution: n/a, Sunrise: 04:58BST, Sunset: 20:54BST

weather: Wednesday: white cloud, Max Temp: 17°C (63°F), Min Temp: 7°C (45°F)

2013-05-21T14:20:19+01:00

Max Temp: 17°C (63°F), Min Temp: 7°C (45°F), Wind Direction: WNW, Wind Speed: 9mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1018mb, Humidity: 62%, UV risk: n/a, Pollution: n/a, Sunrise: 04:57BST, Sunset: 20:55BST

weather: Thursday: light rain shower, Max Temp: 11°C (52°F), Min Temp: 6°C (43°F)

2013-05-21T14:20:19+01:00

Max Temp: 11°C (52°F), Min Temp: 6°C (43°F), Wind Direction: NW, Wind Speed: 14mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1012mb, Humidity: 44%, UV risk: n/a, Pollution: n/a, Sunrise: 04:56BST, Sunset: 20:57BST

twitter: @Sartorial_swash - hi, 7pm at Balham Bowls Club tomorrow okay for you x

2013-05-21T13:18:42Z

@Sartorial_swash - hi, 7pm at Balham Bowls Club tomorrow okay for you x

twitter: RT @KahrsHardwood: Kährs reflects urban chic at iconic Balham Hill.Oak Brighton has been installed at an iconic new scheme in Clapham. http…

2013-05-21T13:10:16Z

RT @KahrsHardwood: Kährs reflects urban chic at iconic Balham Hill.Oak Brighton has been installed at an iconic new scheme in Clapham. http…

twitter: RT @RitherdonRoad: Look what we found on page 11 of @swmagazine: http://t.co/zIG6OvQGiy #Balham

2013-05-21T13:04:33Z

RT @RitherdonRoad: Look what we found on page 11 of @swmagazine: http://t.co/zIG6OvQGiy #Balham

twitter: The @BalhamComedy Festival banner is up outside @TheBedfordPub !! Hoorah !! #balham #comedy 5-13 July #bookearly

2013-05-21T13:02:23Z

The @BalhamComedy Festival banner is up outside @TheBedfordPub !! Hoorah !! #balham #comedy 5-13 July #bookearly

google news: Balham teacher who 'changes lives' scoops award - Your Local Guardian

2013-05-20T17:21:23Z

Your Local Guardian

Balham teacher who 'changes lives' scoops award
Your Local Guardian
A Balham teacher described by her headmaster as someone who "changes lives" has scooped a teaching award. Helen Everett, from St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College in Balham, was announced as the winner of the Pearson Teaching Award for FE ...

and more »

delicious: swcraftclublondon.blogspot.com

2013-05-20T04:30:34Z

flickr: 56087 6C71 Milton

2013-05-19T15:37:15Z

Edward Clarkson's railway photography posted a photo:

56087 gets away from Hoo Junction with 6C71 to Balham. Pity about the reeds in the way.

davblog: OpenTech 2013

2013-05-19T14:32:21Z

Yesterday was the (almost) annual OpenTech conference. For various reasons, the conference didn’t happen last year, so it was good to see it back this year.

OpenTech is the conference where I most wish I could clone myself. There are three streams of talks and in pretty much every slot there are talks I’d like like to see in more than one stream. These are the talks that I saw.

Electromagnetic Field: Tales From the UK’s First Large-Scale Hacker Camp (Russ Garrett)
Last August, Russ was involved in getting 500 hackers together in a field near Milton Keynes for a weekend of hacking. The field apparently had better connectivity than some data centres. Russ talked about some of the challenges of organising an event like this and asked for help organising the next one which will hopefully take place in 2014.

Prescribing Analytics (Bruce Durling)
Bruce is the CTO of Mastodon C, a company that helps people extract value from large amounts of data. He talked about a project that crunched NHS prescription data and identified areas where GPs seem to have a tendency to prescribe proprietary drugs rather than cheaper generic alternatives.

GOV.UK (Tom Loosemore)
Tom is Deputy Director at the Government Digital Service. In less than a year, the GDS has made a huge difference to the way that the government uses the internet. It’s inspirational to see an OpenTech stalwart like Tom having such an effect at the heart of government.

How We Didn’t Break the Web (Jordan Hatch)
Jordan works in Tom Loosemore’s team. He talked in a little more detail about one aspect of the GDS’s work. When they turned off the old DirectGov and Business Link web sites in October 2012, they worked hard to ensure that tens of thousands of old URLs didn’t break. Jordan explained some of the tools they used to do that.

The ‘State of the Intersection’ address (Bill Thompson)
Bill’s talk was couched as a warning. For years, talks at OpenTech have been about the importance of Open Data and it’s obvious that this is starting to have an effect. Bill is worried that this data can be used in ways that are antithetical to the OpenTech movement and warned us that we need to be vigilant against this.

Beyond Open Data (Gavin Starks)
Gavin has been speaking at OpenTech since the first one in 2004 (even before it was called OpenTech) and, as with Tom Loosemore, it’s great to see his ideas bearing fruit. He is now the CEO of the Open Data Institute, an organisation founded by Tim Berners-Lee to the production and use of Open Data. Gavin talked about how the new organisation has been doing in its first six months of existence.

Silence and Thunderclaps (Emma Mulqueeny)
Emma has two contradictory-sounding ideas. The Silent Club is about taking time out in our busy lives to sit and be still and silent for an hour or so; and then sending her a postcard about what you thought or did during that time. The Thunderclap is a way to get a good effect out of that stack of business cards that we all seem to acquire.

Thinking Pictures Paul Clarke)
Paul takes very good photographs and used some of them to illustrate his talk which covered some of the ethical, moral and legal questions that go through his mind when deciding which pictures to take, share and sell.

1080s – the 300seconds project (300seconds)
The 300 seconds project wants to get more women talking at conferences. And they think that one good way to achieve that is for new speakers to only have to talk for five minutes instead of the full 20- or 40-minutes (or more) that many conferences expect. The Perl community has been using Lightning Talks to do this with great success for over ten years, so I can’t see why they shouldn’t succeed.

Politics, Programming, Data and the Drogulus (Nicholas Tollervey)
Nicholas is building a global federated, decentralized and openly writable data storage mechanism. It’s a huge task and it’s just him working on the project on his commutes. Sounds like he needs a community. Which is handy as the very next talk was…

Scaling the ZeroMQ Community (Pieter Hintjens)
Peter talked about how the ZeroMQ community runs itself. Speaking as someone who has run a couple of open source project communities, some of his rules seemed a little harsh to me (“you can only expect to be listened to if you bring a patch or money”) but his underlying principles are sound. All projects should aim to reach a stage where the project founders are completely replaceable.

The Cleanweb Movement (James Smith)
I admit that I knew nothing about the Cleanweb Movement. Turns out it’s a group of people who are building web tools which make it easier for people to use less energy. Which sounds like a fine idea to me.

Repair, don’t despair! Towards a better relationship with electronics (Janet Gunter and David Mery)
Janet and David started the Restart Project, which is all about encouraging people to fix electrical and electronic devices rather than throwing them out and buying replacements. They are looking for more volunteers to help people to fix stuff (and to teach people how to teach stuff).

CheapSynth (Dave Green)
Dave Green has been missing from OpenTech for a few years, but this was a triumphant return. He told us how you can build a cheap synth from a repurposed Rock Band game controller. He ended his talk (and the day) by leading the room in a rendition of Blue Money.

As always, OpenTech was a great way to spend a Saturday. Thank you to all of the organisers and the speakers for creating such and interesting day. As I tweeted during the day:

Being at @opentechuk always makes me embarrassed that I’m not getting more done. Which is, I suppose, the point of it :/

— Dave Cross (@davorg) May 18, 2013

But I spent yesterday hacking on something. More on that later.

wandsworth witterings: New phone

2013-05-18T16:18:00.001+01:00

Now I can blog on the go! That's all.

wandsworth witterings: Game of Thrones

2013-05-17T22:18:00.002+01:00

It's the weekend! Spent a pleasant evening watching the last episode of my Inspector Montalbano boxset, followed by episode 4 of the the first series of Game of Thrones, in which I spend all my time mispronouncing the names of the characters whose provenances I have to keep on enquiring after with my long-suffering husband. Also ate some noodles and a slice of very stale seedcake. I'll say one thing for GoT. It's got lots of luscious young men in it. Made me feel quite frisky.

flickr: 15th may 2013 wednesday balham

2013-05-17T19:26:36Z

Steve75C posted a photo:

photo taken with a nikon D7000 camera

balham partnership news: Balham Competing for the Future (visioning exercise)

2013-05-17T11:54:17Z

Our town centres are facing some unprecedented challenges… the function and purpose is shifting, the business climate is growing increasingly competitive, and the future likely lies with an economic model that is quite different than what we have today.

The Portas Review highlighted that town centres need a clear vision, strategy & direction:
“The one- perhaps the only- thing everybody I have spoken to is agreed on is that for a high street to survive and grow it must have a very clear vision of where it wants to get to.

If the High Street was in a single ownership, like a department store, it would have a vision, a high level strategy and direction, it would choose what it wanted in a particular space to fit with a vision and proactively target the business and services that were missing”
(Mary Portas, 2011)

That is why Wandsworth Council, the Balham Partnership & the Balham Town Centre Manager are proactively undertaking a consultancy to explore a shared vision for Balham (and all of the Wandsworth’s town centres). This process will help us understand how we can strategically position our town centre to adapt and thrive in this fast-changing and competitive climate.

The Brief
Strategic Perspectives working in Partnership with Mosaic Partnership and AR Urbanism have been appointed to:
• Carry out a strategic and completive analysis for each of the five Wandsworth town centres, engaging with relevant stakeholders
• Work with each of the Town Centre Partnerships to develop a long term vision for each of the five town centres
• Identify points of difference (unique selling points) for each of the five town centres to support the development of a differentiated location product
• Identify a brand image and identity for each of the five town centres

The agreed vision will be used to inform planning policy, proactive inward investment, public realm improvements and marketing initiatives.

The post Balham Competing for the Future (visioning exercise) appeared first on Balham.

balham partnership news: Coral Planning Application

2013-05-17T11:39:26Z

Coral Racing Limited has submitted a planning application for 192 Balham High Road to change the use of the ground floor from shop (Class A1) to financial and professional services (Class A2), i.e. a betting shop.

Local people can object/ comment on this application via
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/516/view_planning_applications Typing in planning application number: 2013/1944
Clicking on “View Associated Application Documents & Make Online Comments for Live Applications”

The closing date for comments/ objections is 30/05.

We have drawn the case officer’s attention to the public concern over this planning application. It is likely that this application will be decided at a Wandsworth Council planning applications committee.

I am meeting with the Balham Partnership on Monday (20/05) and will recommend that they object to this planning application.

Wandsworth Council’s planning policy for Balham Town Centre is set out in “Development Management Policies Document” (see pages 70 & 82). http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/downloads/download/1140/development_management_policies_document_and_site_specific_allocations_document__adopted_versions_february_2012
192 Balham High Road is located within a “protected core shopping frontage”, where 70% needs to stay at A1 retail.

I will keep you all posted.

On a related matter, we are proactively undertaking a consultancy to explore a shared vision for Balham town centre. This process will help us understand how we can strategically position our town centre to adapt and thrive in this fast-changing and competitive climate. More info here: http://balham.com/balham-competing-for-the-future-visioning-exercise/

Kind Regards

Kim Sullivan, Balham Town Centre Manager

The post Coral Planning Application appeared first on Balham.

balham.com: Coral Planning Application

2013-05-17T11:19:11Z

The closing date for comments/ objections is 30/05.

I am meeting with the Balham Partnership on Monday (20/05) and will recommend that they object to this planning application.

I will keep you all posted.

Kind Regards

Kim Sullivan, Balham Town Centre Manager

The post Coral Planning Application appeared first on Balham.

balham.com: Balham Competing for the Future (visioning exercise)

2013-05-17T10:54:54Z

The agreed vision will be used to inform planning policy, proactive inward investment, public realm improvements and marketing initiatives.

The post Balham Competing for the Future (visioning exercise) appeared first on Balham.

google news: Woman sent to hospital after blaze in Rosethorn Close, Balham - Your Local Guardian

2013-05-17T08:04:53Z

Woman sent to hospital after blaze in Rosethorn Close, Balham
Your Local Guardian
Two fire engines were called to the blaze in Rosethorn Close, Balham, just before 8.30pm last night. The woman, believed to be in her 60s, was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. She was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm and was able ...

and more »

wandsworth witterings: Sabbatical

2013-05-17T05:37:00.001+01:00

Simply counting down the days till my sabbatical. From Monday there'll be just twelve weeks to go. Yesterday was one of the low-calorie days on my 5:2 diet. Unfortunately, I was on an offsite so there was a sandwich lunch which I only partially resisted. I had one small rye roll with a smear of smoked salmon and a very so-so chocolate biscuit. The Four Seasons conference catering is most indifferent, though the people are extremely well-trained and attentive. Then I got back to the office and someone pressed a Ferrero Rocher on me, which is very hard to resist. One of the chaps at the office recklessly said that he thought he could eat 30 of these in one minute, so he's going to be tested on that assertion today. Home, and kedgeree for dinner. Very nice, especially with chilli oil, though I couldn't have as much as I'd have liked due to the low-cal restriction. Never mind, today I can eat whatever I like, and I fully intend to!

wandsworth witterings:

2013-05-15T19:39:00.000+01:00

Minor panic today when I saw £750 going out on my credit card for the Oberoi Gurgaon. Had I forgotten to claim back the expense? Had no recollection whatsoever of having done so. Dashed back home. Couldn't find the receipt in my bag. Checked my account online. Could see an amount coming back in from the bank, identical but for 11p. It's got to be the expense being refunded by the bank, hasn't it? Hasn't it? Oh, God, the old brain is going.

Drinks today with the team at after what seems to have been about 5 months of non-stop work. Asked one of the chaps, "What's the most blokeish thing you do that you're secretly proud of?" He had no idea what I was talking about. They kept on coming up with blokeish things that they did that were genuinely something to be proud of. The moral of the story is that it is impossible to get your average bloke to say anything that is remotely self-deprecating. Take them off familiar ground and they're lost.

google news: Plans for new Balham betting shop prompts street drinking fears - Croydon Guardian

2013-05-15T09:07:03Z

Croydon Guardian

Plans for new Balham betting shop prompts street drinking fears
Croydon Guardian
Plans to open a new betting shop has prompted fears from it will encourage more public boozing by excited punters. Coral Racing Limited have applied for permission to open the shop in Balham Station Road, Balham, at the site of a former dry cleaners.

flickr: _MG_6885 Cowslip 1

2013-05-14T15:31:17Z

FurryBoris posted a photo:

wandsworth witterings: Worries

2013-05-14T05:50:00.000+01:00

Things to worry about today:

(1) Why we haven't had S's visa back from the Canadian High Commission yet
(2) Where I'm going to find the time to mark up the AR&A before Wednesday, or at least before Monday
(3) Need to start making a list of things C needs to tell me before he decamps to Vancouver
(4) S's GCSE's

You know what, I'm not going to worry about any of them. I'm just going to read Rubicon and enjoy the fact that this is one of the days on my 5:2 diet when I can eat anything I want.

flickr: (Untitled)

2013-05-12T14:16:21Z

wetwebwork posted a photo:

google news: A hallway, living room and dining room have popped up in Balham - Wandsworth Guardian

2013-05-12T05:05:37Z

Wandsworth Guardian

A hallway, living room and dining room have popped up in Balham
Wandsworth Guardian
A hallway, living room and dining room can all be found in the middle of a busy high street. The Home Sweet Home pop up art commission, by architects Dallas Pierce Quintero, have built the domestic spaces in public areas across Balham. It aims to ...

and more »

flickr: The Silk Route 17/03/13 - Asian Dreams (IMG_8474-E)

2013-05-12T04:42:40Z

The Silk Route posted a photo:

Kay & Love The Beat troupe performing at "The Silk Route" show at the Ballroom at The Bedford, Balham, London 17th March 2013 - "Asian Dreams" Theme.

The Silk Route - a cultural evening of dance held on alternate months - see www.SilkRouteShow.com.

Photograph courtesy of www.DaveHalleyPhotography.co.uk (copyright Dave Halley 2012).

google news: Police step up patrols after Balham community garden torn apart by yobs - Wandsworth Guardian

2013-05-02T08:06:20Z

Wandsworth Guardian

Police step up patrols after Balham community garden torn apart by yobs
Wandsworth Guardian
Police are stepping up patrols in a road after vandals tore apart a community garden and threatened a pensioner. Michael Connolly, 72, contacted police after yobs pulled heads off daffodils he planted in Old Hospital Close, Balham. He has been planting ...
Wandsworth police step up patrols after Balham community garden torn apart by ...Your Local Guardian

all 3 news articles »

delicious: Allow me to share many aspects about money laundering solicitors in Balham

2013-04-28T05:36:34Z

Planet Balham

twitter: @Joely_Cook @EmmaLDevlin Balham could be a shout!

weather: Tuesday: white cloud, Max Temp: 15°C (59°F), Min Temp: 10°C (50°F)

weather: Wednesday: white cloud, Max Temp: 17°C (63°F), Min Temp: 7°C (45°F)

weather: Thursday: light rain shower, Max Temp: 11°C (52°F), Min Temp: 6°C (43°F)

twitter: @Sartorial_swash - hi, 7pm at Balham Bowls Club tomorrow okay for you x

twitter: RT @KahrsHardwood: Kährs reflects urban chic at iconic Balham Hill.Oak Brighton has been installed at an iconic new scheme in Clapham. http…

twitter: RT @RitherdonRoad: Look what we found on page 11 of @swmagazine: http://t.co/zIG6OvQGiy #Balham

twitter: The @BalhamComedy Festival banner is up outside @TheBedfordPub !! Hoorah !! #balham #comedy 5-13 July #bookearly

google news: Balham teacher who 'changes lives' scoops award - Your Local Guardian

delicious: swcraftclublondon.blogspot.com

flickr: 56087 6C71 Milton

davblog: OpenTech 2013

Related Posts:

wandsworth witterings: New phone

wandsworth witterings: Game of Thrones

flickr: 15th may 2013 wednesday balham

balham partnership news: Balham Competing for the Future (visioning exercise)

balham partnership news: Coral Planning Application

balham.com: Coral Planning Application

balham.com: Balham Competing for the Future (visioning exercise)

google news: Woman sent to hospital after blaze in Rosethorn Close, Balham - Your Local Guardian

wandsworth witterings: Sabbatical

wandsworth witterings:

google news: Plans for new Balham betting shop prompts street drinking fears - Croydon Guardian

flickr: _MG_6885 Cowslip 1

wandsworth witterings: Worries

flickr: (Untitled)

google news: A hallway, living room and dining room have popped up in Balham - Wandsworth Guardian

flickr: The Silk Route 17/03/13 - Asian Dreams (IMG_8474-E)

google news: Police step up patrols after Balham community garden torn apart by yobs - Wandsworth Guardian

delicious: Allow me to share many aspects about money laundering solicitors in Balham