Author: Wansteadium

Seasonal painting of Wanstead Park in the snow, by Danish artist Nils Hans Christiansen (1850-1922). #EppingForest pic.twitter.com/oarQJX7we0

— Wanstead Parklands (@FWP2009) December 15, 2014

Geoff Wilkinson writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “I think this may be the sort of view of earth that astronauts have from the space station, perhaps as they pass over the Alps or the Himalayas. Ranges of mountains, areas of snow and ice, darker areas that look like the shadows of clouds… Of course it’s actually dear old Wanstead and the roof of my car on Saturday morning, there was a very heavy frost  that night…mmm I think I prefer to think of it as the more romantic view from space.”

An unofficial public service announcement on behalf of the loyal traders of Wanstead and Snaresbrook: there’s still time to collect stamps for the Christmas reward card which – as well as supporting the health of the High Street – also gives chances to win prizes. And while there are hundreds of items which will qualify for a stamp, Wansteadium was much taken with the item pictured (left).

You may find a new series of online comedy animations set in the “Wanstead/South Woodford/West Essex area” diverting. The cartoons are about a family of villains who have relocated from their old East London base to kind of round here, where they are trying to go straight.

The series, known as The Bruvs, are written by longstanding comedy writer Ian Brown and drawn by Eoin Clarke (the second Eoin on Wansteadium this week – what are the chances of that?). Ian Brown says: “They are embracing frothy coffees, cargo shorts and cafe society, but are struggling to leave their past behind. Any violence is now generally between the main characters.”

He adds: “People in this area might recognise elements of the characters but we’re not mocking anyone. We love these folks… particularly Chanterelle our West Essex Girl.”

The films are being released one a month, and are being made on “less than a shoestring budget”. Brown adds: “It seems amazing that America can produce hit cartoon series like The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, American Dad and Bob’s Burgers and in the UK we don’t really have anything that has taken off in the same way. It would be crazy to compare TheBruvs to those hit shows, but we would like to develop these characters and possibly make longer films in due course.”

You can see the films at TheBruvs.com, get more info on Facebook or Twitter, or indeed watch the first of the cartoons below.

This was the house I lived in since I was born. Today, after 26 years, we moved out. Off to a flat in Wanstead! pic.twitter.com/csMjXZYnxq

— Eoin Mason (@EoinMason) December 8, 2014

Welcome to you. We have a tradition in these parts – newcomers usually buy twelve dozen cupcakes and distribute them on the High Street to strangers. Just thought we’d mention it.

Guerrilla gardener Marian Temple writes:

“At Wanstead Station, we cut down, potted up and brought inside, geraniums for overwintering on the station window ledge. They’ll be happily frost free and will be planted out next April to give Wansteadians another blast of vermillion all summer. These are wonderful old-fashioned plants and were originally bought about 20 years ago from a little nursery which we enjoyed for a couple of years on the site of the block of flats next to the old Chocolate shop cottage, now a travel agents’. I was given my first one a few years ago by an elderly Wanstead resident. So… impecable Wanstead credentials. They get taken in every winter and last about four years. Cuttings taken and the descendants now blooming in our street patches. They make a lot of growth every year – about 3 foot 6 inches height and round. When we cut them down to bring them in, we didn’t want to waste them. So, they were put in a bucket outside the Wanstead station entrance with a notice “Please Take” and info about what to do with them. You can keep them in water all winter. The leaves are attractive and have that lovely geranium smell. They throw out the odd vermillion flower, very welcome in the depths of winter. By Spring, they will probably be sending out roots and can be potted up and planted in the garden. This way, geraniums will be taking over the world. (Better than some take overs I could think of.) HANDY TIP. To stop the water going manky, take off all leaves and bits that will be below water level and put a few drops of bleach or disinfectant in the water.”