HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE YOUTUBE VLOG NOW LIVE...

 My Hammersmith Riverside YouTube vlog is now live!

Link:-

https://youtu.be/N1XUa0LugVs

Hammersmith Bridge is my favourite London bridge, was the first suspension bridge to be built over this river and dates back to 1827 (this bridge from 1887) but it is looking rather injured. The bridge has been targeted by the Irish Republican Army three times- in 1939, 1996 and 2000, and has suffered from additional structural problems over the years; so sometimes cars were allowed over it, sometimes buses only and sometimes nothing at all. It was simply not designed to take the volume of traffic now common to London.  The Boat Race starts from Putney Bridge, which is the next bridge up, and passes underneath Hammersmith Bridge. I've seen the Boat Race start and, to be honest, there's nothing much to see!

The Blue Anchor pub, by the riverside, features in the end credits of 1980s favourite television series Minder and, in the film Sliding Doors it's where Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow's character) gets involved in some post-rowing celebrations. The next pub up, the Rutland Arms, often features in television drama series New Tricks, when the team of detectives indulge in their after-work drinks.
You will see the Dove, which dates from the early 18th century, and its front bar is the smallest public bar in the United Kingdom. The words for the 1740 song Rule, Britannia! are said to have been written here by James Thomson. The Old Ship pub is a building which is thought to date back to the reign of Charles I and apparently retains its porch from that time. The Black Lion has a bowling alley inside and this pub is said to be haunted by "the Hammersmith ghost" who's lurked in this area since 1803. He's a spectral, white-clad figure who's said to hang around the local churchyard springing out at women.

We finish off with a look at Chiswick Eyot; a tree and reed covered island in the Thames. The houses in Chiswick Mall have gardens which sit over the road, and I've seen this area totally flooded when the Thames has burst its banks, with water as high as the centre of the road.

As you know, I will always be a writer before anything else, and my Hammersmith blog contains more info, link:- 

Remember to like and subscribe, and don't forget to follow my blog as well!

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2022/03/miss-elaineous-visits-hammersmith.html

TTFN

The Miss Elaineous

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MISS ELAINEOUS VISITS THE VAGINA MUSEUM...

The Vagina Museum was once in Camden Market (from 2019-2021) but has since popped up (from 2023) in Bethnal Green, its long-term home.  It's the world's first museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy.  The point of it is to create understanding, awareness, and build a society where no one is ashamed of their bodies.

It is easily reached by public transport- Bethnal Green underground and overground stations are nearby and it sits under the arches of the latter's railway line.  You can certainly hear (and feel!) the trains rumbling by, especially on the upper floor of the museum.  Admission is free, but donations are always welcome.  It was a crisp but bright November day when I visited, and here's a photo of the front of the museum.

In Anarcha's Gallery is an exhibition by Ella Clancy.  "Know Your Body Like Nobody Else": Cervical Screening Redesigned.  In another part of their website the last word is referenced as being "Reimagined" and the gallery it's inside the "Community Gallery."  I'm a tad confused! 

The purpose of the exhibit is to challenge the embarressment women can feel when having to attend their cervical screenings, aka "the smear test."

Here's a giant vulva and a Vain Old Tart!

Here are post-it notes put up here by women to answer the question of what would make cervical screening a more comfortable and inviting process.

The collection represents the realities of gynaecological health, and here we have a selection of vulva moulds, vulva sweets and vulva necklaces (although generally speaking I prefer the term fanny!)

I found the political corresctness off-putting.  They referenced "people with cervixes."  I call them "women."

I did think these were uteruses at first but no, they're mooncups...

...And a sparkly tampon- would that be a glampon?!😁

The permanent exhibition From A to V is in Betsey's Gallery.  Here you can see many photographs of vulvas.  I nicknamed it "Fanny Wall!"

Educational and anatomical boards inviting you to name a woman's internal parts...

I'm proud to say I'm pretty clued-up.  I think that comes from reading teen mags and my mum's woman's magazines as a kid- the latter in particular were extremely informative!

Equality, sex education, queer and intersex rights and female genital mutilation are all discussed here.

I like the vulva pillow, and the vulva art below that, by Japanese Megumi Igarash, who created the cartoon Manko-chan, which translates as Miss Pussy! 

Health wall; with conditions such as thrush, fibroids and gynaecological cancer discussed.

Knickers with discolouration, as the vagina is acidic.  There is also advice on how to clean your vagina and vulva, along with some unnecessary products- the vagina is self-cleaning, and doesn't need swilling out with this little selection.

Reproductive justice and the right to contraception, abortion and obstetric medicine are discussed here, as is period shame and the way reproductive rights are currently under attack all over the world.

It actually made for depressing reading.

Sex workers rights; and how the red umbrella has become a worldwide symbol for said workers rights...

Downstairs, in Lucy's Gallery, is The Museum of Mankind, which is an exhibition that draws attention to sexism and bias in the museum and archeological world.  These information boards are, quite franky, messy.  Here gender roles are discussed...

Here the male gaze is looked at.  This place is definitely a work in progress and, to be honest, looks a bit of a missed opportunity to define what having a vagina is really about.

A bit of a nondescript board, and I only took the photo because it is- surprisingly- the only time I saw sanitary products referenced (apart from the tampon and mooncup giant sculptures).

Oysters as an aphrodisiac and reference to a blue rectangular card which made no sense whatsoever.  Do they mean an oyster card?  This museum is okay for a half-hour wander through, but it really doesn't make you want to linger longer.

This lower gallery is Lucy's Gallery.  We've already seen Anarcha's Gallery and Betsey's Gallery.  Lucy, Anarcha and Betsey were all enslaved black women who became known as "the mothers of modern gynaecology."  They were subjected to experimental surgeries without anaesthesia in front of an audience in 19th century Alabama, and the galleries are named after them in their honour.  I have read about Hitler doing something similar to women in concerntration camps.  It's good that the museum puts across the way women- and in particular those cultures viewed as "lesser"- have suffered.

I would expect the museum to be feminist, and I know we all have to be aware of certain things, such as the existence of transgender people, but the injection of political correctness throughout this establishment was annoying.

I really expected there to be a lot more about periods in general, and all the problems that go with them; such as pain, irregularity and heaviness and it would have been great to see some sanitary products (preferably un-used!) from recent and distant history.

As well as a shop there was a cafe here, but it didn't appear to be open on this day.  It actually looks quite a nice place to sit and have coffee...

The museum is for hire, and you can hold your party, conference, meeting, product launch or workshop here, and it's also available for filming and screenings.

I then took a long and refreshing brisk walk towards Brick Lane and the Gilbert and George Centre, which sits on a street just off there.  I love the work of these guys- they come across as intelligent, perceptive, provocative and totally crazy.  Their work makes you stop and think, and they appear to adore foul language (which suits me!)

Admission is free, and the intention was to create a space which celebrated "Art For All."  The currently show one or two exhibitions each year, and I overheard a tour quide mention that G&G have 350 works- the size of those huge boards on display here- in storage, so they've got a lot of options when it comes to deciding what to show next!

The Gilbert and George Centre is somewhere I'd pop back to if I was in the area.  The Vagina Museum wasn't a bad museum, but it is certainly a work in progress.  It was okay but I expected more.  

TTFN,

Miss Elaineonus

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MISS ELAINEOUS VISITS SPITALFIELDS CITY FARM...

 Spitalfields City Farm is in the East End of London, and is not a million miles away from Hackney City Farm, that I've visited several times.  It's also near Stepney City Farm, which I haven't been to, but I do intend to in the future.  I had a bit of a day out in this area, and this was my third tourist attraction of the morning.  The farm is free to enter (although donations are always welcome) and easily accessible via public transport (always important as I don't drive.)  I started my day out by coming from Bethnal Green Underground Station- which is in walking distance- and left via Whitechapel Station (even nearer).

Here is the entrance to the farm; with a handy map.  The farm dates back to 1978, when it was created in response to locals mouring the loss of their allotments, due to building developments in the area.

There is a little shop to the right, selling produce grown on the farm plus handcrafted gifts and some inviting-looking chilli sauce, in a variety of flavours.  Many items are produced locally- there is a real community feel about this place.😀

Wooden donkeys for children to play on, plus a seating area behind that...

Another beautiful donkey welcomes you, and the Rosebery Tea Hut is next to this, selling specialist coffees and locally sourced snacks.  Sadly, it was closed when I was here. 

A lone sunflower still hanging on for dear life!  It was a very crisp November day when I visited, with temperatures not far above freezing.

The first animal I saw was this lovely, friendly pig who, according to the farm's website, is called Holmes.  Named after Sherlock, perhaps? 

The sun was quite fierce, despite the chilly day, as I headed past the sheep pen...

The farm provides a range of activities, events and opportunities for local groups, including interactive farm workshops, annual sheep shearing and getting involved with yarn spinning and wool weaving.

Cute touches like this smiley sheep make the farm a welcoming place.

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How are ewe?!😁

This is Beatrix, who lost her ear in a dog fight when she was little.  The farm contains rare breed and rescue animals, and its aim is to promote animal awareness and welfare.

The farm has the status of being a Rare Breeds Survival Trust conservation city farm.

Moving along to see the goats, and the farm is under regular threat from developers.

Goats, and one of these is Hazel, who likes to nibble on plums which grow around the farm.  The farm has an annual Goat Race, where two competing goats, (one representing Oxford and one representing Cambridge) have a race to coincide with the boat race.  I kid you not!!!!  (Kid, ha ha, get it?!😁😁😁).

This is Hamish, a regular competitor in the Goat Race.  He's considered cheeky and charming.

This is one of the dinky donkeys- there are two; named Gilbert and Sullivan.

This is Derek.  Apparently, he's an accomplished artist who likes to paint, holding the brush between his teeth!

For a fee, some of the animals here can be used for film or photo shoots.  The farm is also mobile, meaning that certain handleable animals can take part in school visits, community events and even drawing classes.

You can also have your birthday party here, which can include animal encounters such as donkey grooming, goat walking and small animal feeding.

This is Bayleaf, the oldest donkey on the farm (he doesn't look that old, in my opinion!)  At Christmas, he is often used for church nativity plays.

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The rare-breed Bagot goat (the black and white fellow to the right) is visible from this angle of the goats' paddock, and his name is Rocket. 

 All of the hedgerows here are wildlife and stock friendly...

No, I wasn't looking in the mirror!  Here's a scarecrow, doing its job...

Walking through into the garden, and there's more seating here.  The farm is looked after by both staff and volunteers.

Garlic and mustard being grown, and there are warnings telling you not to pick the produce- it is all available for sale in the shop here!

Cloches, and workers were tending the plants in this area, and I always try not to photograph people minding their own business.  A reviewer described the workers as "miserable" and complained that none of them smiled back at him.  Well, I've got news for him- they were no doubt busy with their tasks, and are not put there to entertain you.

Another seating area, around a totem pole.  The farm really is a lovely place to spend an hour.

A closer view, and children can attend a woodworking session, evoking the spirit of animals.

A slanting tree, within a protective circle.  The farm is sited on a former railway goods depot, and is very close to the railway line.  In fact, the peacefullness of the farthest reaches of the farm is only broken by the sound of trains rumbling past.

In contrast, back at the centre of the farm music was pumping out of the building behind the direction post!

You can hire the building for parties, weddings, company events and for film and photography shoots.  The farm was granted charitable status in 1980, and has to generate income by various means.

The Bug Hotel, and you can sit in here and chill out for a bit if you want...

Beehive, and the little buzzers were quite active for a cold day.  The swarm was housed here after being rescued from Mile End Park.

Three ex-commercial hens and Jack, the cockerel.  He's easily visible from his spectacular colouring.  In the animal world, of course, it's the boys who are the most attractive...

I always thought that hens needed a rooster to lay, but apparently that's not true.  They do, of course need a rooster to produce chicks.

The commercial hens are here as egg production starts to decline after they're 72 weeks old, and we all know what happens to them then.  These rescue hens continue to produce eggs, which are then sold in the farm shop.

Quackers!  Ducks at their pond, and one of these is Jemima, an Aylesbury duck who was born with one eye.  She's well adapted, though. 

There is also a rural pond by the entrance, which houses dragon-like Great Crested Newts, but I must have wandered past it without seeing it...

Beautiful rabbits, and rabbits are socialble animals who need to have at least one other rabbit for company.  Two of 'em are named as Orange and Tempo on the website, but I'm not so sure that these are them- they were born in 2015, and rabbits live for 5-8 years.

The ferrets, Honey and Mustard were elusive, and didn't want to come and say hello.  Maybe they were sleeping- ferrets sleep for 18 hours a day.  

The farm also has a cat named June, but I didn't see her- I think it was a bit too cold for her, and I didn't spot her hanging out near the warmer shop/ café areas.

One reviewer called the farm "a shanty town" and a "muddy mess" and I think that's rather unfair.  It is a working environment,  after all, and farms are never going to be all neat and tidy and "just so."  Animals are not remote controlled, and good luck with telling them what to do and expecting the same result (even with trained animals) every time!

If you're interested in Hackney City Farm, here is my blog link:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2018/12/miss-elaineous-visits-hackney-city-farm.html

And here is my vlog link:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2024/07/youtube-hackney-city-farm-vlog-live.html

Spitalfields City Farm is a fantastic little place.  It's certainly somewhere I'd pop back to- if only to see if the ferrets want to put in an appearance, search out the pond and newts, and try and spot that blasted cat!

Until then,

TTFN,

Miss Elaineous

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