Green drinks

Several green groups arrange a day of the month and a pub where local greens can gather and chat to other people with similar interests.

Transition Leytonstone meet on the 15th of the month. They have been meeting at the Rose and Crown, but that is so noisy and crowded on a Friday night that on Friday nights we will now meet at the Walnut Tree.

There were 7 of us in all, though one person left just as the last person arrived. Our conversation ranged over many topics, including the effect of the weather on our vegetable growing last year. I mentioned how my worms started working so late in the year that I thought they had died and how this would have been a relief from the responsibility of looking after them. Lesley admitted that she had let her worms free in the garden as she had found the responsibility too much!

There is a good range of beers and some draught cider, and cheap too.

And only a 25 minute walk home.

Where have all the bike shops gone?

I need a bike shop within bike-pushing distance!

Bike Shack seems to have closed down. The toy shop that sold Raleigh bikes and had a workshop at the back has recently closed. I looked in the local telephone directory and can only find one listing - in Highams Park, miles away!

There are Evans bike shops all over central London but, with the increase in popularity of cycling, you'd think there were more cycle shops out here on the fringes.

I'll have to go to Green Drinks at the Red Lion in Leytonstone High Road tomorrow and hope someone there knows of somewhere.