Blog entries

Ice stage - the reality

Pam O'Connor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:44:25 +0100

What is the appropriate footwear for snow and ice? I’m wearing my bovver boots today because I figured they are grippy enough to get me through the ice stage. I was wrong. They do a great job in the crunchy stuff but I still have to walk very carefully through the ice.

Slip sliding around I took a look at what other people are wearing. Are trainers really that great in the snow? A lot of Timberlands out today but surprisingly not as many snow boots as I’d expect. Do Read More...

The roads less travelled

Pam O'Connor — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:38:16 +0100

As I walked to work this morning I cursed Lewisham Council for not gritting my road and the surrounding roads. Crunching through the powder I cast my mind back to a few weeks ago when we had to wait for the snow to melt around here. I understand that only major roads get gritted but if they were to just dump some grit on the pavement around here I’d do it myself. Well that’s what I thought this morning as I crunched down the hill and prayed.

As I slipped along Rushey GreenRead More...

Out of Africa

Administrator — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Humanity has spent most of its life in Africa. If you haven’t watched the Incredible Human Journey then you won’t be able to imagine this but, we are all from Africa. Not just black people but white, Chinese – everybody!

This is a fascinating series from the BBC. Using DNA testing scientistsRead More...

We

Careless Whisper — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Back in October 2008 we were threatened with legal action for a story buried deep in our archives. We were ordered to remove the article and print an apology on the front page.

Black on black killings never ending

Administrator — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:28:28 +0100

Every year I find myself commenting on black on black violence. It is soul destroying as there seems to be no end to it. Suggestions abound as to how we can stop the knife crime, people are marching in the streets but is it getting through?

Whilst concerned citizens plead for the nonsense to stop guns and knives are still readily avaRead More...

To the misguided youth

Administrator — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:35:02 +0100

In London in 2007, 27 teenagers were killed and so far in 2008 14 teenagers have lost their lives. Most of these crimes were post code related or ‘gang’ related. I hate that term especially, as believe it or not most teenagers don’t consider their group of friends as a gang.

If you go to school for almost 12 years maybe more, you’re bound to make some friends, people you like to hang out with. It doesn’t mean you’re in a gang. Once you leave school yRead More...

Forget the death penalty, bring back the cane

Little Carol — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Following the death of Jimmy Mizen the13th teenager to be murdered in London this year

The problem with people is that they rely too much on the Government. We allow the Government to dictate to us how to raise our kids and sit around blaming them when things go wrong. The parents are to blame if they failed to discipline their chRead More...

Cold Callers

Administrator — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 01:00:00 +0100

For the last six months or so I

I wouldn

Not All Greek To Me

Administrator — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 01:00:00 +0100

Olla. Or as they say in Spain

People say for a Brit Spain is like home away from home. They

Living Your Dreams

Little Carol — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 01:00:00 +0100

Living your dreams and following your goals

I didn

That

More Whoopie less Beyonce

Administrator — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 01:00:00 +0100

When people first meet me they see the fa

Crabs in a Barrel

Little Carol — Fri, 01 Aug 2003 01:00:00 +0100

If you ever get the opportunity to look into a barrel of crabs you will notice how they climb over each other and fight to get to the top to freedom. Now, picture these crabs as black people. This is truly how the majority of us behave. When we get to the top we don't stop to look down into the barrel to see if we can give someone a leg up, we just carry on our way.

If that isn't bad enough we are red eye and bad mind. How can I say that about my own people? If you look around you wRead More...

R Kelly - Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

Administrator — Fri, 06 Jun 2003 01:00:00 +0100

When R Kelly

Sadly, up until a few months ago it would have made a whole load of sense to me. I would have been at the head of the queue shouting for his music to be banned. From back in the day when the Aaliyah rumours were rife I stopped feeling R Kelly. I wrote him off as a pervert without benefit of confirmation or proof. But that

Black On Black on...?

Administrator — Fri, 23 Mar 2001 02:00:00 +0100

A personal view

In the present climate that we find ourselves, I feel forced to express myself and ask this question: What has happened to the black youth? Growing up is hard enough for any kid, black, white or indifferent. But when you are faced, on a day-to-day basis, with ignorance, poverty a lack of discipline, a lack of respect and no sense of worth, it is a lethal cocktail.

To say we are victimised, targeted or singled out is only part of the problem, and is not somethRead More...

Black on Black Crime

Administrator — Fri, 16 Mar 2001 02:00:00 +0100

I make no apologies for the picture. It's what's happening all around us here in England and it needs to stop. I bought my regular newspaper and found this picture on the front page. Immediately I thought they were going too far showing images such as this and then I read on.

It's part of a poster campaign being launched in Brent North London. It pains Read More...

Funky Dread

Administrator — Fri, 03 Nov 2000 02:00:00 +0100

Natural Woman....

One summer I went a bit crazy with the hair bleaching and straitening and ended up with badly over processed hair. To show its disapproval my hair started fallen out in handfuls. By the time it had finished I had about an inch of hair in the front, less than an inch at the sides but the back still touched my shoulders.

I was devastated but there was no point in crying over split ends. I knew

What A Woman Wants

Careless Whisper — Fri, 06 Aug 1999 01:00:00 +0100

A Woman likes to be independent but that doesn't mean she wants to pay for everything. We are fed up of men deliberately misinterpreting this for their own benefit.
Suggestion: Offer to pay for your own things to get you in the habit of sharing. You know pay for the things she doesn't use i.e, fags, weed, lager, petrol for the car that she never gets the use of.

A Woman likes to feel loved and wanted for herself sometimes not only when a man wants sex.
Suggestion: After Read More...

Stop the Rap Crap

Administrator — Fri, 02 Apr 1999 01:00:00 +0100

I like Rap music. I

Seasonal Affected Disorder

Administrator — Fri, 05 Feb 1999 02:00:00 +0100

I didn

We were less than two minutes away from my house when it started to rain. I suggested that we go back but sis-in-law said no. I watched the windscreen wipers go back and forth as the rain pitter pattered down the glass. Suddenly tears were rolling slowly down my cheeks. I felt utterly miserable.

Sis-in-law was waiting for a response to a question, when she didn