It’s been eleven months since I took the plunge and dived into the deep southeast of London - closer to Kent than Camden! Circumstances arose that required me to move home, and with a mixture of lack of affordability and adamance that I wasn’t going to pay the going-rate for rent (read extortion) I looked into alternative housing models.

It pays to roll the dice sometimes, as my search led me to an affordable housing model via a collaboration between Bow Arts Trust and Peabody Housing. My flat is in a Tower Block that is due for demolition, although the date for the demo’ is vague, and there are even rumours circulating that it won’t happen at all. Bow Arts are acting as guardians for Peabody Housing who own the blocks. It’s Bow Arts job to fill any empty flats with artists, and that’s where I fitted in!

The first few months were tough - long days travelling to work in the dark, coming home in the dark, with barely a soul on the streets. I did get to wondering if anyone actually lived here, and if they did, what did they do in the evenings, except for hide! I found some solace in recalling an old next-door neighbour, with whom I was very friendly. One winter I didn’t see her for three months!

And then came the spring, with an explosion of colour as the trees bulged and wildflowers exploded all around: hats off to the landscapers around here, it was a delight for the eyes.

Topping things off in May was the opening of The Elizabeth Line, part of The Crossrail project, that was famously years behind schedule! It has halved my train journey-time to work, which gives me another hour a day. On 6th November (today as I write) makes it open on Sundays, and I hope the extended hours are also in place, as it has not been so good for commuting home on a night out, unless you like to be home by 10.30pm.

I would say never-a-dull-moment, but to be honest it can still feel like one is living in the quiet carriage! There is a real mixture of open spaces, and social housing. I don’t know anywhere else like it, but wonder if there are large towns, and smaller cities across the country that might be similar. If you like British TV comedy, you’ll know what I mean when I say it’s a cross between People Just Do Nothing and This Country. I have fallen in love with it!

As well as the Lakeside Centre building having been the main Set for cult TV show Misfits, and the wider area being used as the backdrop for A Clockwork Orange, the area adjacent to my block is regularly used as a location. Just last week it was used for major scenes in Midtown, a new drama series for Netflix, directed by South-Londoner, Rapman. All of the location fees from these types of projects are invested into the Thamesmead Community Fund, which anyone can apply to for funding to support local projects. More about that later.

Truly dark outside, this is my bedroom lit only by a massive LED light out on the street. There was another huge light-box on a crane above my kitchen window. *Filming for Midtown.

Since living here I have spent a fair amount of time walking around my local area, recording scenes on 35mm film. I had intended to create some zines using these pictures, but time eludes me. Maybe it’s just a way to flex my camera-muscle and connect with my surroundings.

This area is part of a huge regeneration programme, which feels very real as both a resident and local artist. Everything has been slowed down due to the pandemic, but there is an abundance of new housing being built, some of which is already occupied. Bow Arts who own Lakeside Centre are well integrated in the community and offer lots of collaboration and learning opportunities between local artists and schools.
Old venues have been refurbished, such as The Moorings Sociable Club (where I teach BoxingYoga™ on Sunday mornings) and new ones have been established, like The Nest in Cygnet Square: a civic and library building, whose design was created by Bisset Adams as the result of winning a RIBA competition.

There are quite a lot of horses that graze around here, who are owned by the local traveller community. It’s very common, especially on a Saturday to see men riding a Horse & Cart down the highway.

You might recall, back in August I wrote that I had stayed up until 3.30am to finish writing a funding proposal, well, it paid off! I have been awarded funding from Thamesmead Community Fund to create a series of portraits of artists working out of The Lakeside Centre, culminating in an exhibition at the Lakeside Centre, and possibly other locations, which will be held in late summer 2023. You will be invited! There will be an accompanying publication which will be distributed locally to raise awareness of the wealth of talent emanating from Lakeside. I have collaborated with a couple of the artists already, and look forward to collaborating with more of them over the next ten months.

Look after yourselves, and feel free to get in touch!

Amanda x