Tag Archives: London

HM The Queen’s, Victoria Sponge Cake.

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INGREDIENTS  

  • 3 eggs
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 150g unsalted butter
  • 150g sieved self-raising flour
  • 1/2 tsp of vanilla essence
  • 100g jam (strawberry or raspberry)
  • 150g softened unsalted butter
  • 220g sieved icing sugar
  • 1/3 vanilla pod or vanilla essence

METHOD 

 1. Preheat the oven to 180C (375F, gas mark 4) 

2. Grease and line two 8 inch cake tins (if you only own one tin, you can bake the sponge and slice in half)

3. Cream the caster sugar, vanilla essence and softened unsalted butter until light and fluffy

4. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs

5. Gradually add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, to avoid the mixture curdling

6. Sieve the flour and fold into the mixture

7. Divide the cake mix between the two cake tins and smooth

 8. Place on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the cake appears golden brown

9. Insert a skewer and ensure it comes out clean

10. Remove the sponges from their tins and leave to cool 

11. Cream the softened butter with the sieved icing sugar and seeds from the vanilla pod (or vanilla essence) 

12. Ensure that both sponges are completely cold before spreading a layer of jam onto the surface of one sponge

13. Spread a thick layer of buttercream on top of the jam ( if you prefer this can be done first)

14. Gently place the second sponge on top and gently press down

15. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with a pot of fresh English tea!

Decreased Awareness – Wake-up London!!

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In today’s heightened security we are becoming less aware of what’s going on around us, people wearing headphones and walking along looking at their phones. Everyone on the train is completely oblivious of what’s going on around them, people don’t notice when an elderly or pregnant person boards and may need a seat, how are we going to notice a suspicious bag or unattended baggage?
Could Parsons Green have been avoided if someone had noticed the bag and asked the question ‘whose bag is this?’ and got everyone to move away? We’re far too British to dare ask and too engrossed in tech to even notice.

Things need to change, we need to be more aware, look up from your phone and look around the carriage someone might need your seat, someone may be acting suspiciously or a bag that’s been left, there could be a commotion nearby that if you’re aware of could save your life.

Wake-up Londoners your life may depend on it. See a bag alone? Shout out whose bag is this, if no-one answers get well away and encourage others to aswell. See it, say it, sorted.

More reading 

H-O-T Protocol

See it, say it, sorted

Nightjar Cocktail Bar – City Road, Old Street, London

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Last night I tried out Nightjar bar just round the corner from Old Street Tube Station. The entrance is quite discrete and we walked past twice.

Nightjar_-Britta-Jaschinski1

We arrived at the entrance to be greeted by the door person who checked our name off on the list and we were allowed to “step inside” and make our way to the top of the steps but to go no further! We were then told we were allowed to descend the stairs and taken to our table.

The cocktail list, divided into historical eras (pre-Prohibition, post-war and so on), makes for enthralling reading with all its unexpected ingredients, including: smoke, squid ink, burning pine cones and foam. Part of the fun here is watching the way the cocktails are mixed using smoke machines and blow torches. It’s a full table service and the staff know the cocktails inside out so you can get recommendations.

Prices range from around £10-£14 per drink, so pretty much normal cocktail prices, but nothing about these cocktails are normal and they certainly pack a punch! We had to try the one with Squid Ink, the smell wasn’t great but the it was surprisingly delicious and well worth a try!

The only downside – we had a table booked from 6-8pm and at 7.30pm we were told that our time was nearly up and we should consider buying our last drink and we would have to leave, only to be repeated by another waitress shortly after.(However, we did manage to persuade them to give us another table as they’d had a cancellation.)

If you’re in the area it’s well worth a visit, but you must book a table as you won’t get in.

129 City Road
London
EC1V 1JB

www.barnightjar.com

Open 6pm-1am Mon-Wed, Sun; 6pm-2am Thur; 6am-3am Fri, Sat

LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE Opens 1st March – Book sessions from Monday 20th January

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The London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be a vibrant and accessible facility open to the whole community. Following its transformation after the Games the facility will open on 1st March 2014.

The world class former Olympic venue will house two 50m pools, a 25m diving pool, a state-of-the-art gym and a creche. We are working with British Swimming / Amateur Swimming Association to develop performance programmes for all Aquatic disciplines based on the successful Beacon model. We are also working with British Swimming who are planning to use the centre regularly as an international training venue for elite athletes.

In addition we will be playing host to a number of National and International sporting events throughout the year. The venue also includes catering and meeting room facilities.View the timelapse build of the iconic venue.

Activities

Swimming

  • 01 Mar 2014 – 20 Mar 2019

The Aquatics Centre will have a 50m x 10-lane Olympic competition pool and a 50m x 8-lane training pool. Both pools have moveable floors and booms for greater flexibility.

Diving

  • 01 Mar 2014 – 31 Mar 2019

A separate 25m diving pool with 1m, 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m platforms, along with 1m and 3m springboards. There will also be also a separate dry land training facility with trampoline, springboards, foam pits and harness.

Gym

  • 01 Mar 2014 – 31 Mar 2019

A 50 station gym with state-of-the-art Technogym kit with stretch and free weights area will be installed for public use with a fantastic view of the competition pool. Affordable memberships will be available to purchase in advance from 20th January. Keep an eye on the website for further updates.

Man falls asleep on the tube – Standing up

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How tired do you have to be to fall asleep on standing up?

London’s Newest Tourist Attraction – Emirates Aviation Experience

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In a world first Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has opened an indoor aviation themed attraction in London.

London’s newest public attraction, the Emirates Aviation Experience, is the first of its kind globally. The Emirates Aviation Experience, located at the South side of the Emirates Air Line in London, covers an area of almost 300 square metres and will provide an insight into the operations and modern achievements of commercial air travel.

A rendering of the exterior of the Emirates Aviation Experience “This high-tech facility will bring to London a one of a kind insight into the dynamic world of aviation,” said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. “The purpose of this centre is to provide a fun, yet educational, overview of just what it takes to successfully get a 560 tonne aircraft off the ground and 40,000 feet into the sky. Our aim is to explain the intricate science of modern aviation, in a hands-on, entertaining and instructive environment.”
“London is one of the greatest cities in the world, with one of the world’s busiest international airports, making it the perfect setting for this interactive experience. We have successfully operated services to the UK since 1987 and, when opened, the Emirates Aviation Experience will further broaden our already robust UK presence. Being able to provide London and its millions of international visitors with this permanent site is a true reflection of our commitment to innovation and also of our commitment to the UK,” added Mr. Clark.
Utilising state-of-the-art technology, interactive displays and life-size aircraft models this immersive experience will incorporate several zones that will take visitors on an interactive aviation journey.
The Emirates Aviation Experience will also feature the world’s first public facing commercial flight simulators including two Airbus 380s and two Boeing 777s, utilising full landscape visuals, allowing participants to practice their take-off and landing skills. The centre will cater to people of all ages and is open for business.

Entry costs £3 for adults, £1.50 for children, but that doesn’t include a go on the flight simulator. The simulator is £42 for a half-hour flight, or £35 if you go before 10am.

Emirates has a strong affiliation with this area of London following the launch of the Emirates AirLine, London’s popular cable car system across the River Thames, in a 10 year sponsorship deal last June. One year on from the launch of the Emirates AirLine the Emirates Aviation Experience is expected to further stimulate tourism and development in the area.

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TfL announces shortlist of bidders to run Crossrail services

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Transport for London (TfL) today announced the names of the companies shortlisted to bid to run Crossrail services.

The bidders are:· Arriva Crossrail Limited· Keolis/Go Ahead· MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited· National Express Group PLC
The Invitation to Tender is due to be issued in September and an operator will be appointed at the end of 2014. The successful train operator will start running the first services from May 2015 between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, taking over the stopping services currently operated by Greater Anglia.

The route through Canary Wharf, the City and the West End will open in late 2018, with the full route running in 2019. Howard Smith, Crossrail Director of Operations, said: “We are a step closer to appointing an operator for Crossrail. As our population grows faster than forecast, the case for stable and sustained investment in London’s transport network has never been stronger. Crossrail will help cut journey times across the city and will achieve internationally recognised high standards of reliability, train frequency and customer service. Crossrail will make it easier for people travelling across the capital, helping create jobs and supporting growth and regeneration along the route.”

When the Crossrail services are fully operational they will increase rail based transport in the capital by 10 per cent and along with the Tube upgrade ensure we can continue to move people efficiently around London.Crossrail will set the benchmark for passenger experience for European metro services. It will be integrated as part of the TfL network providing a fast, frequent service linking the east and west and relieving congestion on some of the busiest Tube lines.
Passengers using Crossrail will see reduced journey times and the new stations will be integrated with existing London Underground, DLR and National Rail stations making it easy for passengers to change between services.

Truck Stop

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Largest collection of quality food trucks ever assembled in London. Plus cocktails, gin bar, Camden Town brewery beers.

The Truck Stop convoy rolls into town on 4th & 5th July and will feature the largest collection of quality food trucks ever assembled in London.

Alongside the UK’s best food trucks, there will be a craft beer bar, a roadside diner, a Camden Town Brewery keg party with a Rotary Smoke barbecue pit, a taco shack, a ‘secret’ Gin Bar and the Rotary cocktail bar; all packed onto the waterfront at Wood Wharf with live music and tons of seating and eating.

Tickets for Truck Stop are £10. When you arrive at Truck Stop you can trade your ticket in for 10 Truck Stop dollars which you can spend at any of our cocktail and craft beer bars.

TRUCK STOP
4TH & 5TH JULY – 5PM TO 11PM
WOOD WHARF
CANARY WHARF, E14 9SB

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM HERE

TwentyTwelve spin-off in the pipeline reuniting hapless Olympics planning team

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BBC comedy chiefs are plotting a spin-off of Bafta-nominated Olympic mockumentary TwentyTwelve.

twentytwelve_group

They hope to reunite the core team of hapless PRs including Jessica Hynes as Siobhan Sharpe, Hugh Bonneville as Ian Fletcher, Olivia Colman as his PA Sally and Amelia Bulmore as Kay Hope.

A BBC insider said: “There is a real desire for this to happen.

“The show was such a fantastic success and writer John Morton is a genius, such a massive talent.

“It would be so great to get the team together again.”

Plans are in their early stages, with the spin-off likely to see dithering Fletcher taking on another major national project and hiring back his Olympic colleagues to help him out.

In the show, made in the style of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, Ian headed up the fictional Olympic Deliverance Commission while Siobhan, who has her own PR company Perfect Curve, was head of brand.

One of the highlights was the development of a travel strategy – called Way to Go – in which pedestrians were banned from pavements.

Morton has indicated that a follow-up comedy could be possible, given the right circumstances. He said: “There’s been some talk about whether there can be a life post-Olympics and it’s tempting because I’d love to work with those actors again.”

The BBC2 series received widespread critical acclaim when it was shown in the run-up to the Olympics last year.

Viewers loved that many of the comedy’s ideas – such as problems with the countdown clock, complaints from animal rights organisations and a bell-ringing competition to mark the start of the Games – were echoed in real life.

Tomorrow Bonneville, Hynes and Colman will find out if they have won a Bafta for their individual performances, while the show is also nominated in the sitcom category.

TwentyTwelve has already been named best comedy by the Royal Television Society and won best sitcom at the Comedy Awards.