Choice tweets about Wanstead: Xmas party time

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/gecko84/status/149590039691673600″]

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/viviennebreton/status/149490676512456704″]

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/HolsDesveaux/status/146919722368245761″]

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/eviemoh/status/148506654122586112″]

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/PhilipHalpin/status/148502000064147456″]

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/hipandhungry/status/148490368667750400″]

Hidden depths of Wanstead Library

Hardcore users of Wanstead library might be well aware of this, but it’s worth sharing anyway. Holders of Redbridge Library cards can, with the cunning use of their card number and PIN, get access to a quite amazing array of online reference books through the Redbridge website – including the full Oxford English Dictionary and Oxford Reference Online. This is as well as being able to search the borough’s own library catalogue. Access is available at www.redbridge.gov.uk/libraries.

There’s also access to the Dictionary of National Biography, so there is now no reason not to know that Sir Charles Tilston Bright, responsible for laying the first cable across the Atlantic AND for proposing that units of electrical measurement (eg volt) should be derived from the names of scientists, was born in Wanstead.

Wansteadium hopes, as a result of this posting, for an immediate improvement in the general standard of bus stop small-talk.

Here it is – the Wanstead Gift List Top 12

Thanks for everyone’s nominations for the inaugural Wanstead Gift List, a hunt for decent presents on sale in Wanstead. Through a process of whittling and sifting, the nominations have been reduced to this, the final top 12.  Readers of Wansteadium are invited to support the viability of our local community by buying some or all of these items. Or some others. But you get the point.

 

12. Hot water bottle with knitted cover from Orange Tree

11. Fancy hand cream from Wanstead Pharmacy

10. Turkish Delight gift box in The Larder

9. Vouchers for Angel’s Hair and Nails

8. Pretty jewellery/trinket boxes – The Art Shop

7. Vintage scarves – Coco

6. A Picasso clock – Images in Frames

5. Mini suitcase to put dolls clothes in – Nicole’s

4. Membership of the Drummond lawn tennis club  About £100

3. Amber necklace from Keatings

2. Bikes for the children from Bike Trax

1. Squeaky toys for the dog from Heads n Tails

 

Thanks again to everyone who took part. Next week Wansteadium’s food blogger Suki Orange will be presenting the Wanstead Christmas Food List. Any nominations of fine fare please by e-mail to suki@wansteadium.com

 

Wanstead Gift List 2011: The nominations are…

Here are the nominations for the Wanstead Gift List 2011 – Wansteadium’s hunt for good presents to buy when in Wanstead. The final top 10 will be published on Friday, just in time for a bit of shopping. But lots of shopkeepers will thank you if you don’t feel the need to wait until then.

The nominations are:

Hot water bottle with knitted cover from Orange Tree

Fancy hand cream from Wanstead Pharmacy

Turkish Delight gift box in The Larder (about £5)

Fred Perry jackets – Santa Fe

Festive tattoo from Viper Studio [really?]

Vouchers for Angel’s Hair and Nails £20 (“Yes I know it’s brand new but they are REALLY good and very friendly”)

Chocolate and toffee treats from Thornton’s at the Art Shop

From Barnados – 4 good quality children’s books for grandchildren

Pick Up Sticks – from Orange Tree

A photo frame for my friend’s birthday (“she has a new grandchild”) from the Art Shop

Pretty jewellery/trinket boxes – The Art Shop

Vintage scarves – Coco

A ‘Picasso clock’ from Images in Frames

A ‘Tin For Bits That Don’t Go Anywhere’ from several shops, including Nicole’s

Fashion scarf & earrings (both new) from BHF

Mini suitcase to put dolls clothes in from Nicole’s

A Cath Kidston button box from Orange Tree

Mis-matched china cups & saucers (they come as candles but the china is sound) – Orange Tree

Assorted traditional toys and games including jumping beans, old maid, jacks, train whistles for stocking fillers – Art Shop

Any number of good, new – or really old – books from Oxfam

Membership of the Drummond lawn tennis club (“including not only heavily subsidised ewcoaching from a wonderful coach but the fitness and social aspect as well. Also seeing all those people you see up and down the high street day in day out”.) About £100

A bottle of fine wine from the Larder

Amber necklace from Keatings

Bikes for the children from Bike Trax

Squeaky toys for the dog from Heads n Tails

Jewellery “10-30 quid” in The Orange Tree

Cath Kidston Christmassy print Oyster card holders £5 , and tea towels £11

Vintage style Christmas decorations £3-5 The Orange Tree