Dukes Meadow is a collection of sporting facilities located just north of Chiswick Bridge. The…read moreaccess road is long and narrow, especially if there are cars parked on the side. Being alongside the Thames, there are rowing clubs based here with their boats being stored beside the river I played field hockey here in Saturday. There is one all weather synthetic astroturf pitch, which is ussed by different clubs including Barnes and Hounslow hockey clubs Parking was very tight - the main car park near the boat house was full but there's more parking near to the Chiswick Rugby Club clubhouse and also further up that road. I'm not sure if they had watered the pitch and/or there was a lot of overnight rain but the surface was sodden and very slippery in both Ds, causing quite a few players to slip. The pitch also played a bit bouncy. Fortunately, we were able to adjust to the vagaries of the pitch and were able to run out 5-1 winners though of course, it's the taking part, not the result, etc etc etc

Cole Court is my favourite Masonic centre within the province of Middlesex. I'm not saying it is…read morethe best or not only that it is my favourite. Great bar. Friendly staff and good food. Plenty of parking and close to public transport. Fantastic for holding any type of reception. Highly recommend it.

Kilmarnock Cross is a large open square in the heart of the pedestrianised town centre, surrounded…read moreby several streets and some striking buildings including the former Royal Bank of Scotland, built in 1939, which has a large green dome. (Apparently there was an ornate mosaic floor in the banking hall with a 1939 threepenny bit in the centre; I don't know whether it is still there as I haven't been inside.) There used to be seven streets which fanned out from The Cross but, owing to a major redevelopment in 1970, some were demolished. Many shops, the bus station and a car park were built in their place. You can also find the modern (and controversial) Burns Shopping Mall to one side. In the centre stands a striking statue of Robert Burns and his printer, John Wilson, where a roundabout used to be in the 1970s when traffic flowed around these streets. This replaced the marble statue of Sir James Shaw which was moved to a new position in London Road near the Dick Institute. The shops which surround The Cross, as I write this, include Holland and Barrett, Barclays Bank, Aulds Bakery and Costa Coffee.

I must have walked past the Hosue of St Barnabas countless times without ever bothering to stop and…read moreread the plaque next to the imposing entrance door. This opens as by magic upon pulling the old-fashioned bell. I love being invited to private members clubs! This one actually feels not that dissimilar to other Soho town house clubs nearby - what makes The House of St Barnabas stand out is that it is a charity for homeless people rather than a money-spinner for property developers. The interior is quite dark and very comfortable, I would have liked more time to explore more of the rooms. Excellent setting for a daytime meeting, plus the now ubiquitous collection of lone workers and their MacBooks. The club hosts a series of interesting sounding cultural events - with a bit of luck I hope to be invited back for one of those.

Great place So…read morebizarre : a hostel for homeless women becomes a nightclub for Hooray Henries! They say they give 50% to the Charity Lovely inside,an old church is part of the premises. Really worth a visit, even if you cannot afford or want membership! I should say the staff are the best anywhere .

The St Lukes Parochial Trust has opened a rather incredible community centre in Central Street…read more Totally renovated the building houses a mixture of meeting rooms and community facilities over 3 floors. We end up here every week as te youngest daughter goes to Guides here on a Thursday evening and the place is always a hub of activity. Facilities include a public access computer suite for people to access internet, do homework, or find jobs, an amazing community cookery school to learn life skills; numerous activity and social spaces for older people, and meeting facilities for local groups. Despite all the wealth in Clerkenwell the Ward of Bunhill is actually within the bottom 10% of the most deprived wards in England and Wales. The classic inner city issues of unemployment, poor housing and health are to the fore nestling next to the bright and shiny office buildings. This centre seeks to support the community they serve and I commend themn for that... Friendly and welcoming - every neighbourhood should have a community centre like this.

This year show was even better! All floors in the Duchess stand were in use this time!read more

A suite of rooms & kitchens for 40 men otherwise homeless is…read moreprovided here by Camden Council. Classes & help with family mediation where a family is in breakdown, is also made available to help a return to normal life.

This is the home of Hackney Silver Surfers and the Agewell Computer Club…read more There are helpful tutors and volunteers to help the 50+ age group, Hackney residents learn to use computers, with courses and workshops, as well as drop-in sessions.