May 2026
🎬 Cabbie The Movie
Instead of a short sizzle teaser, the producers are accelerating the timeline to make the full £2.5m feature film. This has been possible with the ‘industry noise’ needed to attract a substantial level of interest among London’s cabbies. In September, the producers are planning for the shoot and next year are going to Cannes with the finished movie, backed by the very people who keep London moving.
🐧 Rook or Raven?
For some weeks now, this monster of a bird has been dominating our feeder. Is it a fledgling rook from the large rookery nearby, or a rare raven, usually only seen in London at The Tower?
🏗️ Gallows Corner
This important junction, with no realistically feasible detour, which closed in June last year for work to replace the flyover that was scheduled to last 12 weeks, has still not opened after 12 months of chaos in the surrounding area. Forty-tonne lorries still trundle down the country lanes of Havering-atte-Bower. So chaotic is this upgrade that the Mayor, Sir Sidiq Khan, has been dragged into the row at City Hall.
🦆 Avian Spotting
After much deliberation, I’ve purchased a second-hand spotter scope on Ebay. A Hawke Sport Optics 20-60x85mm Angled Waterproof Spotting Scope, Bag, Stand & Box, since you ask. Five times more powerful than my binoculars, it should improve my trips to nearby Rainham Marshes.

⌛ Anno Domini
In one week’s time I will have reached my eighth decade. It seems only yesterday that I worked for a City printer producing financial documents whilst going out after work to learn The Knowledge. Starting CabbieBlog wasn’t that long ago either.
📅 April’s posts and pages
Most read post – Ten things Londoners never do
Most read page – Taxi Tales
📈 Last month’s statistics
4,192 views (-19.0%)3,804 visitors (-22.8%)
28 likes (+7.7%)
48 comments (+6.7)
15 posts (+15.4%)

Happy Birthday for next week, and enjoy bird spotting with the new scope.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete
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A most enjoyable post .
The lovely Gallows corner ! Spent many a hour there in the past watching the madness of my fellow humans . Nice piece of Bird watching kit you have there. Mighty have to look at that scope myself. Havering-atte-Bower 🤔. I read about a cabbie by the name of Colin who lived there I do believe 🤔.
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That is well remembered. For others read about Colin on The Trembling Lady
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Happy birthday!! Getting older just seems to happen, and hopefully the memories are mostly pleasant. You books and blogs and years of driving we tourists around London have added to our nice memories as we age.
Stay busy, keep an eye on the birds, be well, and please keep blogging.
Mark in Colorado US
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Thank you for your support over the last few years.
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