Aldgate Bars

GWL, a photo by LoopZilla on Flickr.

Rough sleeping at the border of Tower Hamlets and the City of London.

Sunday Shopping for Eight Weeks in 2012

Sunday shopping rules are to be relaxed for the eight weeks of the London 2012 Games. Eight weeks is 56 days, Lent is 40 days, Ramadan is 28 days (approximately). Sunday trading rules have been relaxed in recent years. In Wales, many pubs were dry on Sundays.

Close to Olympic Park, many shops in the East End of London close on Friday for Friday prayers.

So, why change the Sunday laws? The main gateway to the Olympic Park (from Stratford Station) is Westfield. The new shopping city is going benefit dramatically from the change in the law.

The Olympics - just a shopping spree dressed up in Lycra?

In The Fast Lane

There is a drought in East London, according to Thames Water

Who would have known (in July 2005) that in 2012 London would be suffering a drought! That could mean stand pipes in the street.... in August?!?!?! Welcome to London 2012 - The Green Games! Also rather ironic that the River Lea (the Bow Back Rivers) flows through the Olympic Park in East London. Water is extracted from the River Lea for London's water supply along with the River Thames. Water is also taken from underground supplies.

Perhaps there will be a demand for water in the fast lane for all the Olympic VIPs? It might be important for athletes to have a good supply of water too. And the swimming and diving pools...