Wansteadium’s food blogger Suki Orange writes:
The question is put by @blogandduck: Where is the best Sunday roast in Wanstead. Obviously it’s a matter of taste, and I’m not going to give my opinions just yet because I think we should crowdsource this. Or maybe crowdsauce it. So, people, your votes please (and if your favoured option is not included, please write it in). Let’s give Mr/Ms Blogandduck the benefit of our wisdom.
[polldaddy poll=4416156]
Workmen thought they had uncovered a bomb when they discovered bottles of gas attached by hosepipes to a pump in a cupboard at Oak Hall Court , the Wanstead Guardian reports. A bomb scare and evacuation followed on Tuesday morning.
However. The bottles were just part of an air monitoring kit installed in 1960 – and it took a 90-year-old resident to work out what they were. Joan Brown told the paper:
“We were evacuated and someone said something suspect had been found in one of the maintenance cupboards. Well, I have been here since the flats were opened in 1948 and I knew immediately what it was. It’s a device that was put in to monitor air quality when this was a clean air zone in the 1950s. It was just stuck there and forgotten about.
“I went up and told the police sergeant and everything went calm again.â€
So no biggie in the end, but it was alarming when it happened, including for Wansteadium reader @lornamedia, who had tweeted:
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• While we’re talking about bombs, though, let’s take the opportunity to mention the ongoing Wansteadium Blitz Project.
This is a “real-time-plus-70-years” re-reporting of when bombs fell on Wanstead from German planes, what kind of bombs they were, and what the result was.
As of 19 January 1941, 70 years ago today, there had been nearly 80 incidents of bombs falling on Wanstead. The time around Christmas and winter was, as it turned out, relatively quiet for the people of Wanstead – the last bomb recorded before 19 January was on Snaresbrook Road and Eagle Lane, on 4 December 1940. But the Blitz was certainly not finished – the next bomb to fall was… well, you’ll have to wait and find out, since that was all our forerunners could do.
• Wanstead, like the rest of the world, is bracing itself for cuts – this time in council services. The Wanstead Society has kicked off the debate, warning of cuts to street cleaning, parks police, slower planning, and more potholes. Redbridge-i has more information on the various options here.
• Some good news though – 10,000 trees are being planted in Roding Valley Park (off Onslow Gardens and Chigwell Road) as part of an initiative led by Trees for Cities. The benefits will be to some birds and bats, prevention of soil erosion, and minimisation of road noise for residents. Plus, you know, trees are nice.
• Harmony reigns over a plan to build 24 new homes on Leicester Road, Wanstead; yes, after three years and lots of public hearings, there is now agreement over the building of three sets of flats and a semi-detached house on the former Chepstow House. More here and here, with a joint statement between the Wanstead Society and the Counties Residents Association.
• A security guard at Snaresbrook Crown Court has been arrested on suspicion of dealing drugs to prisoners. More details here.
• The Majestic Wine Warehouse on Wanstead High Street, currently being refurbished, could have an illuminated sign 16 metres long, if its planning application is approved. The Smarter High Street campaign has views on the matter.
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Wansteadium’s new food blogger Suki Orange writes;
So we are heading towards the middle of January and resolutions are off to a good start for some. But with recent information suggesting that one in eight of us are likely to surpass our three score years and ten to that magical 100, should any of our resolutions be a healthier diet? All things in moderation methinks.
Moderation should surely then include a weekend takeaway from one of Wanstead’s finest. A recent survey by Valued Opinions, a paid surveys site, revealed that Chinese came out ahead of Indian, Italian, Thai and Greek as our favourite takeaway. Suki has never found any of the local Chinese offerings worth a return visit, though of course the Oriental Chef has its devotees (and any other reviews or recommendations would be welcome).
However, despite the findings, Suki has returned to Wanstead’s newest Indian takeaway – the Tiffin Tin – several times. Word of mouth recommendations are generally pretty favorable, and if the length of wait for delivery is indicative of their popularity then this doesn’t seem to have waned significantly since they opened their doors in July.
Wansteadium hosted several reviews in those early days, but all has gone quite since; a just-a-bit-of-fun Peter Snow-style poll of more than 100 readers found the newcomer in joint second place behind class act The Lane.
But one of the things which made them stand out was their Weekly Special offering, an ever-rotating selection of something you would not normally try. Last week’s special, for instance, was tender pieces of lamb with chickpeas, green chillis and onions in a tomatoey sauce. It was hot, all right, but had a pleasantly rounded flavour which left a slight heat.
But the imprecision with which I describe it points to a larger flaw with the way The Tin (as Suki refers to it in her house) does these specials; most are off menu, and so unless you take particular, dare one say anal, care when ordering, the all-important repeat purchase will never happen. In short, if you don’t know what you’ve had, it doesn’t matter much if you think it’s the most delicious thing in all of Redbridge, you’ll not be able to buy it again.
So, The Tin, if you’re reading, how about a wee note tucked into your beautiful packaging, saying exactly what the special is. Or let Suki know and she’ll keep a list for Wansteadium readers’ reference.
Drop me a line with tasty tips to suki@wansteadium.com.
This is the answer, apparently. For just 125 of Her Majesty’s pounds, you can obtain a Radley Wanstead Chambray bag, pictured, which is described by its creators as “spacious and light to carry”, and a “must-have Spring Summer accessory” with “a wide casual shape and a contrast leather trim”.
A fun rope and leather charm hangs from the handle and there is a quirky sprig and spot pattern on the interior lining. This bag is the perfect size to carry everything you need for a Summer day out
So the challenge for Wansteadium readers is to suggest ways in which the Radley Wanstead Chambray is appropriately named, i.e., in what way is this bag anything like Wanstead? Suggestions via the comments form, Twitter or Facebook please.
Update 2335: Dave Buba up first with:
it understated, tasteful but perhaps a little dull compared to the Radley Loughton which is White leather and brassy and the Radley Chigwell which is expensive but unable to hold much as it is shallow and pretty much useless – although it does feature a special vajazzle pouch inside. Also it’s made of a tough leather the colour of builders tea to match the carrier.
Mark Bentley adds:
Agree, it isn’t quite a Loughton or a Chigwell in terms of sheer baseless front, but somewhat more acceptable than the Radley Leyton, which is re-enforced with a paving slab and a shiny metallic finish to match the chain metal strap.
