Elizabeth Line (aka Crossrail) is finally opening!
Whew! It’s been a busy few weeks
There has been so much happening the last few weeks.
In no particular order, and apologies for missing anything out:
- Ramadan
- Easter, both Western and Orthodox
- Pesach, or Passover
- Mother’s Day
- Earth Day
- Clocks going forward
- Hayfever season
- More and more people going back into work
So l hope you can enjoy the longer days and the warmer weather.
CASP AGM 2022
The CASP AGM will be on Thursday 26 May at the Crowndale Centre, Mornington Crescent.
BSL interpreters will be present.
You can also attend remotely via Zoom.
See the attached document for all the details.
Hope to see you there.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returns to the UK
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been in prison in Iran since 2016, has finally returned to her home in West Hampstead.
https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/you-might-not-have-heard-but-nazanin-is-home-at-last
She had been visiting family in Iran when she was arrested for spying, charges she has always denied. Her husband Richard has campaigned tirelessly for her release.
Nazanin’s release also happened at the same time that it was announced that the UK Government was giving Iran £400 million to use for humanitarian purposes.
St Patrick’s Day 2022
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! Happy St Patrick’s Day to you!
Two years after COVID cancelled the traditional St Patrick’s Day parade in central London, it was back again in 2022. It was held on Sunday 13 March.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-60728242
About 50 000 people attended the event, including the Taoiseach (or Irish Prime Minister).
I’m sure that the celebrations at the London Irish Centre in Camden Square will be sold out.
If you missed the fun, I’m sure there will also be celebrations all over the place this weekend, especially with Ireland also having a chance to win the Six Nations Rugby this weekend.
Help for Ukraine
Given what is happening in Ukraine at the moment, there are naturally many organisations, big and small, raising money to help the people affected. Keep a look out near you.
Here are just a couple:
International Women’s Day 2022
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.
This year’s theme is a call to #BreakTheBias — raise awareness of the bias against women, whether conscious or unconscious, and progress towards equality.
One feature of this year’s action is @PayGapApp , where companies that tweet in support of IWD are having their gender pay gap tweeted out by an automatic Twitter account. It seems some organisations could be doing a lot better!
If you work in a larger organisation, you can view the gender pay gap where you work at gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk .
Design Competition for Phoenix Road in Somers Town
The London Festival of Architecture has launched a design competition for an installation to be installed on Phoenix Road in Somers Town for July 2022.
Phoenix Road runs through the middle of Somers Town, linking Euston Station and St Pancras Station. It is the focus of an HS2-funded project called Greening Phoenix Road which aims to make it a more attractive link.
Government backs bill to promote use of British Sign Language
Happy Chinese New Year

This year, Chinese New Year is on 01 February.
Unfortunately due to COVID, there is no traditional New Year’s parade in London. But people all over the city will be celebrating in one way or another.
This New Year will start a Year of the Tiger. Tigers are brave, charming and confident, but they can be impetuous, irritable and boastful.
So 新年好 (Happy New Year)!