Last week's extremely important numbers translated into one handy, illustrative photo...
250 elephants are coming to town
500 books released into the wild for Festival of Asian Literature
12 hours of Londonist liveblogging the election results - yes, we did it!
28 nominations for theatre transfers from here to Broadway at the Tony Awards. Did you see them here first?
1.5 reputed billion pound sale at Harrods. Hang on, that's a £1.5 billion reputed sale of Harrods... ohhhh...
250 X 500 ÷ 12 -- 28 ÷ 1.5 = 6,925.7 which, after exhaustive, accurate and carefully checked counting is... an uncannily appropriate cross against (or in this case, all over) the chosen one, as snapped by Chutney Bannister. Whatever happens next, let's hope those crosses don't come to nought.
This Week In London’s History
Monday - 10th May 1941: The Palace of Westminster is badly damaged during an air raid, destroying the chamber of the House of Commons and killing three people.
Tuesday -
11th May 1812: Also in the Palace of Westminster (but some 129 years earlier), Spencer Perceval becomes the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated when he is fatally shot by “a madman” in the lobby of the House of Commons.
Wednesday -
12th May 1967: Pink Floyd stage their ‘Games for May’ concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank. The concert is notable for being the first ever live performance to use a quadraphonic sound system. Unfortunately, the use of bubbles and daffodils during the performance stains the carpets and seats, resulting in the band being banned from the venue.
Thursday -
13th May 1966: Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrap is (probably) born in Enfield, North London. She would become better known by adding an extra ‘p’ to the end of her surname, and fronting an electronica band of the same name.
Friday -
14th May 1842: The first fully illustrated weekly newspaper, the Illustrated London News is launched, costing sixpence.
Random London Quote Of The Week
It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.
Sherlock Holmes (via Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, naturally, in The Copper Beeches)
