Shannon runs a company using professional entertainers that specialise in bringing ‘magic of theatre to children everywhere’. They visit schools, put on pantos run bespoke events and parties both corporate and private.  Saturday certainly seemed successful so let’s hope children’s entertainment becomes a regular feature of the market.

You’ve got until Wednesday to see it.

The range of fossils, rocks, meteorites, bespoke jewellery on offer is very impressive.  Every corner of this stall seems to ooze with surprises. 

Having checked their website out, I see that the owners met at a swimming club.  As it happens, I had my first outdoor swim of the season at Brockwell Park Lido in the morning and I can testify that a bokit is just the thing to warm you up afterwards.

Why is that when we see lambs we all want to say “ahhh…”.
It must be genetic.

The first blooms on this wisteria in Claylands Road started to appear in late March.  These two pictures were taken just 18 days apart and there are probably a few more blooms to come.

“For your throats take smoke
…
The Worlds Premier Corktipped Cigarette”

Could you imagine anyone trying to use this slogan in a modern advertising campaign? If you look carefully the brand name appears to have been removed.  I’m not sure what the circumstances were but this reminds me of those times in history when unwelcome names/images were removed for example Pharaoh Hapshepsut of Egypt etc.  I wonder whether this advert will survive as a reminder of what some people used to believe.

Genetic testing of wild potatoes indicates that they originated in Southern Peru – not Ireland, North America or the market at New Covent Garden.   Whatever their origins, I am fairly certain where you can get the best local baked potatoes -Lardon’s stall at the Oval Farmers’ Market.

I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed baked potatoes as they take time to do properly and it’s all too  easy to opt for something quicker. This BBC recipe for baked potatoes takes 30 minutes to prepare and a further 90 minutes to cook. Ok, you could microwave the potato in 11 minutes but it isn’t the same.

The next time you are at the Oval Farmer’s Market say hello to Patrice Lardon (see picture) and give some of his baked potatoes a try.  He has a wide range of fillings on offer to suit all tastes and you will not be disappointed -I’m getting hungry thinking about it!

If you haven’t discovered Bonnington Square yet and the short cut through Harleyford Road Community Gardens then it’s about time you did.  The garden dates from about 1984 when local residents began to grow vegetables on a disused plot of land.  The Harleyford Rd Garden  Association was set up to help develop the gardens which were  designed and laid out between 1986 and 1988.  The gardens continue to be maintained by local residents. The photo  above shows some of the volunteers stopping for a well deserved cup of tea this afternooon.  This year’s  open day will be on 10 June 2012 so if you get a chance do pop along.

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