Brooks butchers opens

As two of the commenters have noted, the butchers is open and I'm inclined to agree with them on its brilliance. To start with it looks just fantastic, and although we have only had some Parma ham and sausages from there so far, both have been excellent. Also I've enjoyed rather too many of their tasting samples.

I hope it survives, it certainly seems to be doing most things right. It is expensive, but I think good quality meat is, we've become rather blinded to this fact over the years and preferred to pay little for only adequate quality meat. Of course this has meant much more can be consumed and is not a bad thing, but personally I think I might try eating less but better quality meat. Brooks will be great for that!

Anyway anyone else have a view? I saw a tweet criticising the service, which I found a little slow but in a nice butchers way.

An update

Apologies for the lack of updates.

So what's new? There is a fashion shop next to the Overground, "I love KR", selling desinger clothes and my wife says it's pretty good. Whether there is the market in KR I don't know.

What we believe to be a butchers is about to open opposite Minkies.

And I think that's about it.

Kensal Rise in 1945

Google Earth now has 'satellite' (it must I guess be balloon or spy plane) imagery of London. Here's Kensal Rise in 1945 - if you click on it you can zoom in (the school north of Queen's Park obviously wasn't there). Copyright is obviously with Google Earth.

London's Bohemian vanguard

That's who lives in Kensal Rise, and it's not me saying so, but no less an authority than the New York Times. They've even nicked this blog's name for their story.

Portobello Dock events in ten days

Starting 20th September, this might be interesting. We went to something similar last year, and it was quite good.

Living Etc and comment deletionn and recycling

Does anyone want about three years of Living Etc magazine and a few Elle Decorations? We're having a clearance and the magazines are destined for the recycle box.

Also apologies to someone whose comment on key cutters I deleted by accident, they suggested Queen's Park near the station I think.

Jessie left an interesting comment on Brent Council's new recycling policy - it's here. It seems to be alternate fortnightly collection of recycled stuff (this time including carboard) and other.

I like the idea of including cardboard in the recycling, as it was a bit strange having to separate out paper and cardborad. But every fortnight is a bit, well, rubbish.

The cycle hire scheme

I've been signed up to this since it started (somewhat accidentally) and have used it four or five times. It only extends as far as St John'w Wood or Maida Vale in this direction, so doesn't help Kensal Rise day-to-day life. But in the centre of London it seems to work quite well.

The bike is robust and quite easy to pedal, which I assume will remain the case as they will be maintained more often than normal. The 'basket' which is a bit at the front with an elasticated tie, is adequated. The docking stations are plentifuli, and the only problem I've found is some being empty or full at peak periods. I'm told you can see the details online.