Wansteadium

Nifty bit of work by Jason Harris and folk at T-Space architects, based in the Corner House. In the first picture, from 1905, the Corner House is just 15 years old. Much has changed, he writes, but the chestnut fencing has endured. Jason has started keeping a Tumblr blog with the refreshingly honest description “one of Wanstead’s architects”. You can follow it here.

 

A new wave of pay and display parking is starting its introduction today before being rolled out across Snaresbrook, Wanstead and Aldersbrook.

Rodney Road, on the northerly edge of the wards, is one of the first to have the new regulations, and signs have now been installed there. They will follow for the rest of the Nightingale Estate before work starts later this week on the Counties and all rounds surrounding the High Street. It means that all cars will have to have a new parking sticker each day – it’s thought a system of residents’ parking permits which had been planned has been held up due to a software error.

Any residents who have not arranged for stickers before noon today are advised that a grace period has been arranged, and that if they add their names to the comments field below, their cars should not be towed away.

 

A big weekend for Wanstead author Anya Lipska, who featured in an erudite article in the Independent on Sunday about the growth of Polish fiction.

Boyd Tonkin wrote that “a new wave of Polish crime writers… may soon challenge Nordic noir among connoisseurs of European skullduggery”, adding that Polish crime often takes its cue from the secrets, lies and tragedies embedded in an eventful recent past.

That’s certainly true for Lipska’s excellent second novel which she will be discussing at a Wansteadium event at the Larder on Thursday from 7pm. As well as the Polish side, the book tells a vivid tale about life in this part of East London too. Do come along if you’re interested – and if you missed our exclusive extract of the book you can see it here.
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Geoff Wilkinson writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “I haven’t seen this for years, not since I was a child, a pavement artist working in chalk. I remember seeing them on days out in ‘the West End’ but on Monday I came across one here in Wanstead High Street. I asked the gentleman about the picture he had drawn, he explained that ‘it was a generic English scene not of anyone place’ and invited me to take a picture. His skill in calligraphy was also obvious as you can see by the ‘thank you’ note next to his hat. He was reading, I enquired about the book, he explained that it was about Medieval architecture and garden design. I said goodbye and left him in peace to continue reading his book.”

The second novel by Anya Lipska, left, was published on Thursday, and Wansteadium is delighted to be publishing an exclusive extract. Death Can’t Take a Joke sees the return of private investigator Janusz Kiszka and ambitious detective Natalie Kershaw, who were introduced in Lipska’s acclaimed debut Where the Devil Can’t Go. The book is set largely in and around Walthamstow – and Hollow Ponds in particular. Wanstead (Lipska’s home) also appears.

We’re also delighted to announce that Anya Lipska will be reading from the book and discussing it at a Wansteadium event at the Larder next Thursday night, 3 April, from 7pm. Entry is free.

But for now read on. In this chapter, Janusz Kiszka is at the Walthamstow home of a close friend who’s been murdered when a mysterious woman turns up to lay flowers. Note: Contains strong language. In both English and Polish.

Janusz gazed out of the bay window that framed the tiny front garden and flower-strewn wall like a tableau. Through the half-closed slats of the blinds a young woman came into view, slowing to a halt in front of the wall. She stooped to lay something, and he saw her lips moving, as though in silent prayer. There was something about her that caught his attention. It wasn’t just that, even half-obscured, she was strikingly beautiful; it was the powerful impression that the sadness on her face and in the slope of her shoulders seemed more profound – more personal – than might be expected from a neighbour or casual acquaintance of the dead man.

‘Basia,’ he growled in an undertone. ‘Do you recognise that girl?’

Basia frowned out through the blinds, shook her head. Outside, the girl bent her head in a respectful gesture, crossed herself twice, and turned to leave.

Driven by some instinct he couldn’t explain, Janusz leapt up from the sofa and, telling Basia that he’d phone to check on Marika later, let himself out of the front door. The girl had nestled a new bouquet among the other offerings, but her expensive-looking hand-tied bunch of cream calla lilies and vivid blue hyacinths stood out from the surrounding cellophane-sheafed blooms. After checking that there was no accompanying note or card, he scanned up and down the street. Empty. Crossing to the other side of the road, he was rewarded by the sight of the girl’s slender figure a hundred metres away, walking towards the centre of Walthamstow.

Continue reading “Exclusive: The return of Kiszka and Kershaw”

The hottest rumour doing the rounds – and one which Wansteadium has quite a good source for – is that the vacant Santa Fe shop may soon become a fishmongers. This is always one of the most-desired options on this website whenever the subject of vacant shops comes up, but may now be coming true. It’s just a rumour at this stage, and we will attempt to verify. (We thought you’d like to know, nonetheless.)

Other good news is that Fabien Ecuvillon, the French pastry chef who took over Nice Croissant last summer, is still planning to transform the cafe into an artisan bakery.

The former Cinnamon, currently being refurbished, is to become an American style diner next month. Staff are currently being recruited. As the photo from deep inside shows, work is well under way.

And while bets are being placed on what exactly will take the place of the departing Barclays Bank (hot options are a curry house, nail bar or pawn shop), Wansteadium’s own food blogger Suki Orange welcomed – but was a bit underwhelmed by – the new-look Tesco. She said: “There’s an attempt to entice one with a small bakery/patisserie offering at the top of the first aisle with croissants, doughnuts etc.. The fresh aisle is more streamlined, with improved signage, but the shop feels like the shelves are being stacked much higher than before. Also, while they have changed the position of the self-service checkouts, when I was there they hadn’t put any signs to tell people that’s what they had done.”