Wowzer! It’s Competition Time!!!

Blimey! Just when you thought to yourself, “I’m feeling a bit peckish, when, oh when is twickerati going to run some kind of food themed competition?” and, hey presto, one appears on the screen in front of you. That’s right folks, it’s only bloody competition time isn’t it?!

We know how you love a photo. And we know how you love a cake too. Well how about if twickerati teams up with Sweetie Pies Boutique Bakery in Church Street to run a competition combining those two wonderful things? Could life get any better? Well, yes of course it could, if you win the competition that is.

The Prize?
A delicious gift box of twickerati themed cupcakes made especially for you by Sweetie Pies Boutique Bakery. Yum or what?!

What do I need to do?
You just need to answer our tricky question and then wow us with your witty caption in case there’s a tie-break. Well, to be honest, it’s all about the caption competition really.

The question?
In which street in Twickenham is Sweetie Pies based?

The witty tie-break photo caption?
Whatever you like as long as it’s not too long. Here’s our topical Twickenham picture to inspire you.

Competition Time!

So there you have it. Get to it, Twickenham!

The rules?

• You can enter by posting your answer and your caption either on here, or on Twitter. If you answer on here you need to use a valid email address otherwise we won’t be able to get in touch with you if you win. Don’t worry, email addresses are not published on the site. If you answer on Twitter you must use the hashtag #twcupcake otherwise we may never find your oh so hilarious answer!
• Your response must answer the question (on which street Sweetie Pies based) as well as including your photo caption.
• Judging of the best caption will be done by Sweetie Pies and twickerati. The judges’ decision is final. So, even if you don’t think the winning caption is funny, tough!
• One entry per person please.
• Closing date is midnight on Monday 25th February.
• The winner will be notified by messenger pigeon and must then contact Sweetie Pies to arrange collection from their shop during normal opening hours (sorry, no deliveries)
• If you don’t like the rules, don’t take part.
• If you want to win a gift box of tasty twickerati themed cup cakes, what are you waiting for?

“And I Name This Ship”: A tale of cola, rafts, ladybirds and…

There’s always something interesting about snippets of local history, whether old or recent, in the way they provide insights into the other people’s lives whilst adding colour and character to the places we know well. We’ve been asking you to submit your Twickenham memories on our “social history page” and we’ve had some great insights. With this particular tale we thought we’d give it an airing on the front page too. We’ve got all the classic ingredients: childhood memories, a long hot summer and a great local pub. And so, in this guest post, long term Twickenham and Teddington resident Dominique sketches a portrait of school holidays 1970s style in…

Cola, Rafts and Ladybirds

The White Swan

During the long hot summer of 1976 I spent as much time as possible at the White Swan pub in Twickenham; not because I was a kid who liked a pint in the heat, but because my best mate Vicky lived above the smoke-filled bar with her family.

There was a lot of fun to be had and mischief to get into over the river, away from grown-ups, and fuelled by bags of crisps. Another year and I’d be embarking upon the much trickier secondary stage of schooling; but now I had 6 weeks of glorious carefree holiday stretching ahead of me. Nothing could be better than spending it with Vicky at the pub. So I took myself off regularly at weekends, sometimes during the week too, and almost certainly outstayed my welcome.

2013 in Twickenham: It’s Prediction Time

As 2012 trudges off into the distance, umbrella in hand, and 2013 arrives amid a flurry of new year’s resolutions which should take us through to the end of the month, what can we look forward to in Twickenham in 2013? Here are just 10 things that might (or might not) happen:

1. Work starts on the station development. TRAG activists go underground, hiding out in barns by day and blowing up the railway tracks at night. A Solum Regeneration troop train is derailed and South West Trains also get disrupted. No one notices the difference.
2. Three restaurants and four cafes close. The following month, three new restaurants and four new cafes open… in exactly the same premises. And so on.
3. The new school opens on the Clifden Road site. Clifden Road residents erect barricades in an attempt to control the flow of Chelsea Tractors blocking the street. Council Leader Lord True personally hires a JCB and, with a cry of ‘victory!’, smashes through the barricades, slightly injuring a cute kitten and tearing the sleeve of his new jacket.
4. Richmond Council runs a consultation exercise on how many public consultations the public want. Opposers of public consultations initiate a judicial review… which the Council then wins. An El Brute press release follows requesting no further discussion about public consultations.
5. The Twickenham Advisory Panel breaks cover, writes a proposal for an alternative government in Twickenham, gains official UN recognition but then gets disbanded by the Council.
6. The development plans for the old Royal Mail sorting office site get approved. Someone, somewhere is not happy. They hand paint a banner in order to get on the front page of the Richmond & Twickenham Times.
7. Sainsburys opens on Twickenham Green. Initially people vow not to use it… but hang on, it’s just soooo convenient. A “Fortnum & Mason Local” opens in The Crown on Richmond Road.
8. In the wake of the early success of Laverstoke Park Farm Butchers and Rubens Bakehouse, a candlestick maker sets up on York Street. Demand for candlesticks turns out to be weak and although sales of gift-wrapped scented candles hold up fairly well it closes within six months.
9. Twickenham Green breaks the world record for the number of fetes and fun days in one location. 28 similar events take place on it over the summer. It corners the market and soon becomes the only place in London where you can buy weak tea, fruit cake and potted geraniums.
10. Street improvements take place in King Street. The raised pavement road surface gives traffic-bound car drivers a much better view of the wide range of charity shops.

We can’t be sure all of the above will happen, some will, some won’t, but however things turn out, 2013 is certain to be an interesting year. Why not add your predictions below?

And if you want to discuss these ideas and more, then keep an eye out for the “twickerati Twickenham meet up” coming to a pub near you later this month.

Lighting Up Twickenham

The Twickenham Town Business Association has tweeted that it’s looking for a famous person to turn on the Twickenham Christmas Lights on Friday 30th November. In the past we’ve had a selection of relatively famous residents flicking the switch, for example last year it was Steve Allen from LBC Radio, but with 2012 being something of a special year there are probably more candidates than usual.

Twickerati canvassed views on Twitter on who should do the biz this time round. Names suggested included comic actor Nick Frost, Captain of Aviva Premiership Champions Harlequins and England Chris Robshaw, Mo Farah, David Weir and other athletes who trained at St Mary’s. Another suggestion was simply “not Vince Cable”. Harsh! But how about Rob Brydon or one of the other sleb residents from the leafy streets of Strawberry Hill or even, as an outside bet, the “Two bunches for five fifty, naahhh” station florist Peter? So before Richmond Council decide to run a Borough wide consultation on the subject – and you just know that they’ll want to – perhaps you’d care to give your suggestions and we’ll ask the TTBA to take a look. We can’t guarantee any success whatsoever but who knows, it could be you!

Pic of the Week

Pah! What’s Pisa got that Twickenham hasn’t? Not a lot, that’s what. Stunning architecture and a leaning tower? Easy! We’ve got ‘em both… in Radnor Gardens. Where? There!

Next up on our Italian comparisons thread: why England are better at football than Italy.

Welcome to Twickenham

Welcome to Twickenham where you might not be able to find your way around but at least you’ll know where to put your recycling. We’re just so green here!

And in (more) other news….

In the spirit of public service publishing we bring you selected other news shamelessly culled from the Richmond & Twickenham Times.

TWICKENHAM FILM STUDIOS: THE MOVIE
The battle to keep Twickenham Film Studios as part of the film industry rather than as a site for posh flats is continuing. Assorted big name stars such as Steven Spielberg and Paul McCartney as well as various normal people have shown their support for the campaign. One plan being put forward is to keep the studios, create a “media village” on part of the site but also develop some of it for homes and a health centre. This plan has been put forward by Peter Joly, a guy who knows a thing or two about the film industry – he’s got a BAFTA. May we suggest the screenplay for the new studio’s first production: a heart-warming, and very British, David and Goliath tale of how a piece of movie heritage was saved from the grip of evil developers by a plucky group of committed film enthusiasts and feisty locals. BAFTAstic stuff!

R&TT Links:
* Latest on the campaign
* The alternative plan
* Save TFS petition

SCHOOL LINK ENDED
The link school arrangements whereby certain local primary schools are able to get their pupils prioritised when it comes to admissions to several Borough secondaries (locally Orleans Park and Teddington) is to be ended for September 2013 admissions. This comes after a Council ‘consultation’ on the issue. In future school, distance from the school will be replace the link when determining admissions. It was always a strange system that favoured some schools over others (for example Trafalgar’s link to the not particularly nearby Teddington). The move will please some parents and annoy others. It will certainly help El Brute direct more pupils at the western end of the town to Twickenham Academy. Funny that. It’s also a bit strange that the move was not wrapped up into a wider discussion about secondary school admissions and the Council’s wish to see Orleans Park and Teddington adopt academy status from 2014. If the academy thing happens and sixth forms get going then school choices for 2013 admissions will be something of a “one year wonder” before it’s all change again.

Links:
* Not on R&TT website site yet
* Previously on twickerati

TRUE STORIES?
And finally, some local would-be wag has set up a Twitter account claiming to be Lord True, leader of Richmond Council. The “internet prankster” (copyright R&TT) has been posting tweets purporting to be from the Duke of York (House). A quick look at the account suggests that it’s not actually the man himself. We can’t seriously imagine him using Twitter to speculate on what to wear or suggesting that East Sheen should have a fight with Charlie Sheen. Yes, the reverse could well happen but not that. The Richmond & Twickenham Times article includes a denial from Lord True and quotes him as recommending that people follow the official LBRuT twitter account if they really want to know what’s going on. Wise words indeed. But if it’s unwise words you want, then you can always check out the bogus “Lord True” online.

Links:
* R&TT Twitter joker
* “Lord True” on twitter

The Twickerati Panto Thingy (2010)

This saga is resurrected from December 2010 but as you can see nothing much has changed since then, apart from the approval of the station plans, of course!

IT’S THE TALE OF DICK TWICKINGTON

Narrator: Once upon a time in the County of Middlesex there was a small town called Twickenham. And in that sleepy place there lived a young man by the name of Dick Twickington. Dick was a fine, ambitious fellow but, due to the outrageous cost starter cottages in the area, he still lived with his dear old mother and father in their humble, ivy clad dwelling. One misty morning, Dick stood upright and decided to change his life forever…

Cable: Bin there, got done by that

Reconstruction: Papers left outside Vince Cable's office

Oh dear. Poor old Vince Cable MP. It’s less than a year since our man got himself caught out in “giggle-gate” by declaring war on Rupert Murdoch to two Daily Telegraph reporters posing as constituents and now his Lion Road constituency office has found itself at the centre of another embarrassing faux pas. This time it’s the inclusion of constituency correspondence and other sensitive documentation in rubbish bags left outside his HQ. An eagle-eyed Twickenham local spotted this occurring on numerous occasions, was suitably and rightly outraged and did some follow up work, including a trip to check that St. Zac of Richmond Park was doing things properly. Before you know it, hey presto, there’s an exclusive in the Richmond & Twickenham Times. Funny how things work out isn’t it?

This is bad for Cable. Although it’s unlikely that “our Vince” was the one tying up the bin bags and putting them out in the street, he’s the one who has to do the apologising on behalf of his constituency office. Just what he could do without. He’ll soon be earning the dreaded soubriquet “gaffe prone”. Or perhaps, given Vince’s passion for his stylish fedora, The Great Gaffesby.

But where next for our public-spirited Twikileaking local bin-sifter? Who knows? Should we all be on our guard? And can we expect a surge in demand for shredders in Twickenham this week-end? In this new climate of fear gripping Twickenham, if we were going to give some advice to Vince on the subject, we’d suggest that with so much focus on his Lion Road office, he might be better off dealing with his paperwork in a local park, as long as he can resist the temptation to “do a Letwin”, of course.

We seriously hope that lessons will be learned from this, including that if you’re concerned about what’s left in someone’s rubbish, then please tell your favourite hyperlocal website before you tell the local paper.

LINKS:

* Richmond & Twickenham Times story
* The soundtrack: “Vince, can only get shredder” by D:Ream (of paper)

Reconstruction: Papers left outside Vince's "gaff"

Twickenham Profiles: James Bearcat

Here at twickerati HQ we’re just too damned lazy to do proper in-depth features. But at the same time we’d kind of like to do it. It’s a real dilemma. Do it, don’t do it. We just can’t decide. The solution we’ve come up with is to put 15 questions to local people or things (yes, things; things like institutions) who are doing interesting stuff. Why just 15? Well, 15 questions, is just about 15 minutes with them. We’re hoping they won’t say no.