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We raise a glass to Myrtle.

Myrtle was our very elderly neighbour who sadly died last Thursday at the ripe old age of 92. She was quite fond of a tipple of Old Peculiar so we raised a glass to Myrtle in her memory.

Like most older people she was fiercely independent and it took quite a while for us to get to know her, but eventually she let us take her out for day trips and she even joined us for dinner last Boxing Day- at which she promptly downed a large glass of said Old Peculiar & said she 'felt dizzy' & had to lie down!

Born & bred in Walthamstow, she never moved far and always lived alone, having never married and so she had no children.
Myrtle was very vocal about lots of things and she used to come out with some real corkers. Here are some of our favourite Myrtle quotes (spoken in a gruff east end tone):

"I blame the government"

About Gordon Brown:
"I'd like to kick him in the balls"

Talking to some other neighbours at her doorstep:
"Are you foreign?"

Talking about Germans:
"Well, they're all Austrian when it suits them"

Referring to Michael:
"Where's the Boy?"

About Desmond Tutu:
"I dont like him at all, he puts me in mind of a snake"

And our all time favourite (talking about Geraniums ):
"They smell of mustard gas you know..."

She was a cantankerous old bird but she was very funny & it was a real pleasure to have known her these last 4 years- she will be sadly missed by us both.

Myrtle Winifred Cordwell
20 June 1917—11 March 2010

Flickr user — Nuclearjazz.

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SUSTAINABLE FUTURES*
(*can design make a difference?)
31st March—5th September, 2010
The Design Museum
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This exhibition showcases a range of design and architecture projects that explore the most important issues associated with sustainability. Celebrated through a selection of pioneering and forward thinking design approaches, this exhibition places sustainable design centre stage, focusing on how design can lead the way and make a positive contribution towards a more sustainable future.
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Exhibition graphics by Build
Exhibition design by Gitta Gschwendtner
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Coming soon...

Nice to see The Guardian has a northern news section called 'The Northerner' I didn't know about. With headlines such as 'Black Ice & Bin Rage', 'Jedward? Never heard of him' & 'End of a Winderm-era' i'll definitely make it a daily read.