Touch up paints for cars, furniture,

Touch up paints are on amazon. You can also have paints made up to match. I was offered this at Homebase in Harrow Weald.

For baths knocked by a shower head.

For a marble top or imitation marble top work surface knocked by wear and tear or builders.

For cars:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Touch-Up-Paints

For furniture - set
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Touch-Up-Paints/b?ie=UTF8&node=2494745031


Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Clocks Changed In London - Hurray - here's why and how to keep to time and buy a good clock

Problem
We used to arrive late for appointments on Sunday. Sunday lunch out - the restaurant was closing when you arrived late.

The afternoon book club was halfway through when one person arrived late. Another person who was missing, later revealed they had missed the start and were embarrassed.

If one person in the family knew about changing clocks, and did it, everybody else felt outclassed and foolish.

Next morning, Monday, out of every thirty people in an office, one would arrive late.

Answer
Today, hurray, smart phones have changed themselves. Any radio clock has changed itself. You soon see that some clocks are on different times.

What's left to change?

Car Clocks
If you have a manually changed clock on the car, that has to be changed. If your car is all high tec, lucky you. On the other hand, you may have to spend time reading the manual to find out how to alter your clock.

Ovens
Ovens are often manual and have to be changed. Same goes for the microwave.

Watches
Watches vary. We used to photocopy the instructions for a new watch, blowint the text up to 12 point size, and stick this on the pinboard int he ktichen or office. Then, when you need to change your watch, we could do so quickly.

Dual time watches for two coutnries are handy if you can afford them. However the face has to be larger and I don't like heavy watches.

I would have one watch on my right hand for now when getting on a plane, and a second watch on your left hand already set to desitnation time. I had watches in two colours. A day later I could set both watches for the coutnry I was in.

Business
The time in the UK is still different from Euopre by an hour. Some people say business would be easier if we were all on the same time.

Airlines thankfully adopt the sensible system of giving you the time of arrival at your destination. Keep your eye on the time.

It doesn't stop on Sunday. If you have any hidden clocks, or a second home in another country, you may arrive to find all the clocks telling the wrong time.

But your smart phone should sort you out.

What was it all about, the time changing?

Farmers
Some claim it was to help farmers. Never mind. Forget the past and look forward to the future. Longer, lighter evenings.

If anybody in your family has an old phone, maybe time to upgrade. If anybody doesn't believe in technology, here's one reason why it's good.

Frankly, even if you are on top of the situation, congratulating yourself that although you can recall a year when you were in a muddle you are now on the right time, it's just another nuisance having to change clocks.

Happy Hour
I have two reasons to be happy today:
1 More daylight in the evenings for travel and photography in London, and England and Britain.
2 Clocks closer to other countries.
3 Smart phones tell you the right time and help you sort out your day.
4 Other people are also more reliable.

UK and Ireland only?
If you buy a clock in the UK, or from the UK, it is likely to be set to radio control from UK and Irealand. The one I looked at could be changed manually to operate elsewehre in the world, which is OK if you prefer manual and don't mind going back to manual.

Batteries Needed
If you buy a clock online, it may be radio controlled but you may still need batteries. You can order them online at the same time, unless you have a stock at home or your local newsagent or bargain store sells them in bulk cheaper.

Size
Anything which is a desk clock as well as a wall clock is likely to be smaller. My desk is short of space, so I would want a smaller clock for a desk. However, if your desk is against a wall, you might like a larger clock which can go at the back against the wall, whether or not attached, and won't be concealed by clutter.

A wall clock on a far wall needs to be larger. Here's the size of one I looked at:

: 23 x 2.5 x 16cm
23 cm is about 9 inches
16 cm is about 6 inches

But is that the screen or the whole clock?

Radio Controlled Clocks
What do I want in the sales? Another radio controlled clock.

Radio controlled clocks on Amazon, new and used, start at about £10, with free delivery next day if you are a member of Prime. Loads more at about £17-20, mostly the round sort with conventional numbers. For an oblong clock with a digital readout, about £20.

Checking Prices
Now, for the first time, I have found a use for the choice of starting with prices high to low. It enables me to see the most expensive, find out if the most expensive has any extra features. Radio clock controlled clocks are priced up to about £800. Around £200-600 you can buy a clock which looks traditional to match your living room decor in a home or hotel, a real old-fashioned looking pendulum clock, but radio controlled so you don't have to re-set it once a year, nor any other time or day.

Any disadvantage to the radio-controlled clock? Yes. For types like me who are always trying to cram more into the day and finish the last task before they leave, it was very handy to be able to set clocks five or ten minutes fast, so that when I rushed out ten minutes late I would still arrive on time.

Clock Sizes
Check the size of the clock. I find it easier to go into a shop and stand ten feet away and see if I can read it easily. It's handy to have the date as well, underneath.

Where Else To Buy?
We bought ours  in Homebase. One of the best decisions we ever made. I look at it every hour, first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

More Information
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5541375/Britons-complain-iPhones-taking-fun-clocks-changing.html#comments

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_clock

Amazon Radio Controlled Wall Clocks All Prices
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Temperature-Display-Inovaxion-inopmt01-silver/dp/B00U82FZBO/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1521979499&sr=1-5&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A1249834031

Argos
Radio controlled clock, round, from £16.99 (that's £17 near enough).
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6237475

Travel
https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkd3VBRDzARIsAAdGzMCnweFdLFFyhzqkzoMA0qX94pLMftgolKe4ASEkzjT8gDdak3efmksaAqjTEALw_wcB

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Bombay Central café, bar and restaurant, Harrow and Wealdstone

I was delighted to see that the boarded up building site near Harrow and Wealdstone station, Waitrose and Homebase has opened with a smart brick exterior as the Bombay Central restaurant.

Once upon a time this was an old-fashioned downmarket pub called The Wealdstone Inn with an upstairs room where Harrovians Toastmasters used to meet on a Monday night. On the front of the pub was a heritage sign saying that this was the site of the original Weald Stone, marking the boundaries of Harrow and the Weald (field). Hence the name Wealdstone.

I was glad to see history preserved, with a bit of the Weald Stone still intact outside and alongside the boundary of the buildings now blocked driveway. (Apparently, they assured me, when dining at the restaurant, you can park round the back.)

Unfortunately the heritage plaque has disappeared. I must admit that I researched on the internet years ago and found protesters saying that the lost Wealdstone had mysteriously emerged in the basement of the pub, having not been seen for several centuries. In other words, the writer was of the opinion that the stone was a bit of a blarney stone, or blarney story. As the saying goes, why let the trust get in the way of a good story. I would be quite happy to have it recorded as the legendary stone, or a reproduction of the stone.

Maybe Harrow Council or the present owners can be persuaded to put up some sort of plaque.

Anyway, you can still look at the stone outside. Also admire the flower boxes. But most visitors will be distracted by the modern little vehicles parked outside. I went inside to speak to the new owners. The place is family owned, currently just the one business, but they plan to expand.

The two little vehicles look like motorised trishaws and have the signs for hire. I thought they must be parked by customers, or run as a free  shuttle service to a local Old People;s home or the station buy the owners. But no, they are purely decorative (you would need a special license to operate them). They are reminders of the vehicles you would see outside Bombay Central station, on which the restaurant is modelled.

Inside it is all bright and clean, with brick walls and amusing touches, very modern and very Indian, with a central bar and lots of tables.

Downstairs is a function room.

I photographed the evening menu. You can also see the menu on their website and on Facebook. They already have four reviews on TripAdvisor (probably more whilst I am writing and by the time you read this).

They plan to have a lunch time menu which I hope will be cheaper as my family would like to try it but feel it is beyond our budget for an Indian meal.

The man I spoke to was really friendly. I noted a bowl of chocolates at the pay desk. A nice touch. I am a sugar and dessert person myself.

I noticed that the starters and side dishes included a stuffed bread with a sweet sauce, some fish and vegetarian dishes, a potato dumpling, plus many dishes you will recognise, and far more drinks and cocktails that the average Indian restaurant.

I liked the sound of the desserts, chocolate brownie, cheesecake, ice creams including coconut and cardamom, and a platter of mixed desserts, the first two I mentioned plus two Indian favourites.

If I had an unlimited budget, or an invitation, I would be delighted to go there.

Even if you don't go there, the sight of a smart new restaurant on what was a building site can only be an enhancement to the area.

http://thebombaycentral.com/index.php/evening-menu/
They also have a listing on Facebook.

Bombay Central cafe, bar and restaurant
328 High Road
Harrow Weald
Tel:020 3034 0707. I thought there should be a 7 or 8 after 020, but that's the number on their website.
email hello@thebombaycentral.com


Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

The Weald Stone by Wealdstone Inn near Harrow and Wealdstone Station, NW London

This is supposedly the original weald stone out side the Wealdstone Inn.

This Harrow heritage plaque on the front wall of the inn explains the history.

Unfortunately the pub is now boarded up awaiting new tenants. The Harrovian Toastmasters club used to meet here. Harrovian means related to Harrow.

A few steps from the Wealdstone Inn are Waitrose supermarket, Homebase, a drive in fast food place, as well as ethnic restaurants.

Look closely at the inn walls and you'll see that it has fine brickwork on the front and would look quite attractive if it were restored.

Harrow and Wealdstone station takes its name from the Weald stone. The Harrow and Wealdstone station links south to Croydon and north via Watford to Milton Keynes, Birmingham.

Another line, the Bakerloo, takes you south via Queens Park and Paddington to Baker Street, Piccadilly, Charing Cross, Waterloo, Elephant & Castle.

The front car park at the station currently costs £5 for the day. This photo shows the back car park where you can have Asda groceries delivered (see my previous post).