A question

I don't have all the facts at my fingertips, but I intend to, so think of this as an introduction to a very big question.

Are the austerity measures being implemented by the current government taking the next generation into account?

What are the long-term consequences of children's services being cut back? Essentially: what happens when the children who need help, but don't get it, grow up?

I would like to hear from anyone who works in these sectors; I'm on a fact-finding mission and need your help - personal stories, statistics, and information about proposed cuts, all welcome. (Anonymity assured)

BBC London radio show 16th April

Good morning!  That was fun. (Despite getting my photo taken for Robert's FB page, and also my blog font seemingly supersize for no good reason.)


Primrose Hill Vintage Fashion Fair this Sunday 17th April, 11am-5pm. It's at Cecil Sharp House (2 Regents Park road,NW1 7AY), and you'll find clothes, accessories and textiles. They promise vintage pieces from designers like Burberry. What's interesting is that there will be a stall with vintage children's clothes from the Sixties and Seventies, mostly unworn stock. More information here, but if you wear some particularly outstanding vintage clothes to attend, you'll win a prize. £3 to get in.

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Designer Sales UK has another event this weekend in Chelsea Old Town Hall on the King's Road. Today you'll find Mary Quant, Biba, Vivienne Westwood, Prada, and other delectable names at up to 90% off. All the information here. It costs £2, will be going until 7pm, and prices start at £5.

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Sexism alert! A menswear-only sale today and tomorrow (Sunday 17th April), with up to 70% off designer names like Moschino and Karl Lagerfeld. Go (ONLY IF YOU'RE A MAN!) to 5-6 Islington Studios, Thane Villas N7 7NU. Have a look here for all the facts; open until 6pm today, and from 11am-5pm tomorrow. Costs £2 to get in.

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Love this idea. It's the Vintage Kilo Sale - load up your favourites, take them to get weighed, and pay £15 per kilo. Which seems like a really good bargain for someone who has no concept of mathematics or weights. It's happening at the Rag Factory, which is E1 5LJ. It's on until 4pm today. They promise thousands of items from the Sixties to the Eighties. PLUS, there's a chance to pay for items individually, which seems to undermine the concept, but makes everyone happy. Prices look good: a man's shirt is £6, skirt £5. Sounds good, to someone who has no concept of mathematics or weights. All the info here.

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Easter! I was going to talk about the 5 tonne chocolate waterfall that the excellent Jellymongers Bompas & Parr are creating in Whiteleys April 22nd-25th, but it's all sold out. Fear not. If you're going to the seaside, however, choose Brighton, and go to their brief Rabbit Cafe (Churchill Square, BN1 2RG). From 18th - 20th April, they'll flood the cafe with Albino rabbits, Easter-related snacks, and a nod to the Futurists. Yes, indeed, a nod to the Futurists, who had a Futurist restaurant, The Holy Palate, 100 years ago this year. Diners would
stroke velvet, sandpaper and silk as they ate, which was supposed to make the food more tasty. Don't shoot the messenger.

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There's a great shop I always look at online, because they're based in Northumberland. They're called RE and do a really good selection of Things - you know, a collection of glassware, cushions, prints: 'home accessories' is the unsatisfactory term which sounds a bit girlish, when it's not. Some examples:

Well, they're coming to Liberty until 17th August so that you can have a look at their products in situ. Click here for a hint of what's in store.




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The Original Print Art Fair rolls in to town from 19th - 21st April.

Grayson Perry's 'Map of Nowhere', 2008


At the Royal Academy of Arts, the fair is the longest running specialist print fair in the world. With over 50 exhibitors including Peter Blake, David Hockney and other less established (and cheaper) artists, it's worth a look. Prices start at £100 (it costs £10 to get in, if you want to think of it just as an exhibition). If you're a Gavin Turk fan, go along to his lecture, 'Talking Turk', in conversation with the art critic Louisa Buck. After the lecture there will be 200 limited edition prints of his 'Green Fright Wig' for sale at £200 each (and the £10 ticket combines entry to the art fair).

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Wanted to give a summer festival in aid of charity a mention, too: 

On May 21^st, the charity Football Action is holding their first summer music festival, "Vest-ival", to help raise funds for the Hanna's orphanage project in Ethiopia, upcoming projects in India, and Football Action, which puts English teachers and football coaches in developing countries
.

Headliner Annie Mac (Radio 1) will be the main DJ for the evening. The live comedy will be headlined and run by Tom Rosenthal (C4 Friday Night Dinners).

Lots of football activities (Norwich FC there to coach) including a 5 a side pitch with ex-pros and names that football fans will have heard of (Dion Dublin, Darren Hukerby, Ian Walker); football freestylers such as Dan Magness; FA Cup will be there; The Football Ramble for a live podcast and very likely soccer AM and 606, just finalising some details. 

The event will be staged at Jimmy's Farm near Ipswich in Suffolk and will run from 10am on May 21st right through to the small hours of Sunday May 22nd. Tickets from £22...early bird tickets for two adults and two children available for £100 with camping.

They're calling it a vest-ival..so wear your bestest vest.

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The favourites of ours, E17 designers, are up to their usual creative tricks: this time, they're part of Craft and Design Month, which is May. They'll be having one main event on 13th May from 7pm- 10pm at the Asian Centre, Walthamstow Village (E17, of course). They say the designer/makers have been working hard all winter for this...jewellery, homeware, crafty crafts of the highest order. And only £1 to get in (with a chance to win a goody bag). Have a look at their blog.

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On the E17 blog, I also saw this:

Which looks fun.

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Finally! Remember the pop up gallery Outline Editions, which is really an online outfit championing upcoming graphic artists? Well, the pop up was so successful, they're staying put for a while in their own gallery on 94 Berwick Street which is great news.

Swing by to have a look.