Shades of Black UK

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 they work? They certainly look warm enough but, are they grippy? Could I put on a pair and walk through ice without a care? I’ve yet to see a pair that I feel I simply must have but, if they work I’m now willing to buy a pair.

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 Green this evening I cursed the well trodden roads. The well gritted pavements of this morning were now hazardous with sludge. The snow hasn’t been able to settle due to foot traffic. I grabbed on to railings and inched my way along Plassy Road. I was grateful when I crossed over to Sangley Road to see that the powder stuff was still around and people were walking almost freely.

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!

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.

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 available to any kid who wants one. The police talk a good show but seriously how come there are so many guns on the streets?

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 you may never see some of these people again, that’s life.

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

For the last six months or so I

Olla. Or as they say in Spain