LINDA Benham, 33, became manager of the Little Driver on Bow Road four months ago. She lives above the pub with her husband and the bar s two cats, Colin and Tony, which have long belonged at the premises. Where are you from? I m from Melbourne, the cap

LINDA Benham, 33, became manager of the Little Driver on Bow Road four months ago. She lives above the pub with her husband and the bar's two cats, Colin and Tony, which have long belonged at the premises.

Where are you from?

I'm from Melbourne, the capital of Victoria in Australia. I came to London on a work visa as a backpacker in 2004. I worked in a bar in North London but stayed with friends in the East End. I met my husband, Nathan, who is originally from south London, the last four months I was here. I moved back here after we got married in Australia.

What do you like about the East End?

The diversity. There's a good ethnic mix similar to Melbourne.

More often that not it's easy to get everywhere like the City and West End.

I particularly enjoy the markets. I don't have a favourite, I like them all.

I look forward to the Olympics, which should really boost the area. We are all being affected by the credit crunch but we are trying to save some money to renovate the pub in time for the Olympics. There should be a good tourist crowd coming.

What don't you like about the East End?

The lack of recycling annoys me the most. I know we are close to the city and that it's not easy for vans to get in and out. But I can't see why we can't have more facilities for recycling bottles or cardboard. It's not that hard. All I see is over-flowing bins. The council should have more recycling initiatives for us businesses as well as individuals. At the estates you could have chutes for people to throw their recycling down - if residents knew on which day glass, for example, would be collected.

What do you do to relax?

If I get a day off I enjoy going to the markets. We also go to the Genesis cinema in Mile End for �5 during the week it's a bargain. There are also some good Chinese restaurants on Whitechapel Road, which we go to, and sometimes the Blind Beggar pub.

What are you doing this weekend?

Saturday we will be having our usual brunch here in the pub after opening up and on Sunday we have a roast in the pub.