petition to stop the pikeys

I'm never sure what these online petitions achieve, but you've got to be in it to win it, or something like that.

This petition is out to rid the Common of the dirty scumbags who sell dodgy cars. What's so wrong with a sledgehammer anyway?

Nice painting

One of my favourite pieces of art in the Shire is this early work from an anonymous student of Oskar Kokoschka. One can tell from the sombre style that our own local artist spent many dog days in the Dresden Kunst Academy.

Poor fellow.

The distant figure with his head buried in the ground symbolises the despair and total angst suffered by local folk whilst queuing for bread and water at the Co-Op.

The artist has cleverly framed this little known masterpiece of social commentary by working with Piet Mondrian. As can be seen in this photograph, the Mondrian style is alive and kicking (no pun intended), at the martial arts club in Plumsteadshire.

dodgy geezers

I need a clock for my car, so off I trot to Halfords in Charlton.

The Halfords welcoming committee were already waiting in the car park, greeting customers with their phrase, "Never knowingly undersold."

Oh no, that's not it.

"Don't sign on the dotted line until you talk to Tempo."

That's not it.....

Oh yes, "Wanna buy a laptop?" As welcoming committees go, they're pretty lax and I find it rather disrespectful to stay in their car and grunt through the window. I tried to reach for my cameraphone and snap a photo of them for my diary (and the local constabulary), but they drove off very quickly. Well, I'd expect they've got to meet and greet as many customers as they can.

really nice signage

I sent Weegee, my chief photographer down to the Slade to capture the gorgeous signage above the butcher shop facade. Well here it is - in color.

Makes you feel proud doesn't it?

I've also taken a photo of an abomination of a shop sign. It's the seeping kebab image.

Actually, this one is pretty tame in comparison to the one I originally saw; you get the message though.

Yum yum. Well, lovely listeners, you can be rest assured that it doesn't belong to any take away in The Shire.

modern manners

Modern manners. Is this an oxymoron?

Well, that's a rant for another day. For the moment, I'd like to know one thing.

I'm going to an engagement party and have never been to one before. Should I take a present to this party? It's an informal do.

many thanks,
Doctor Pangloss

The Police

Sunday night was a great night. I've waited 21 years for this and was not disappointed; I went to The Police concert at Twickenham.

I expected to see a bunch of tired old coppers, but no way. Sting, Stewart & Andy were full of beans. Sting, well you expect him to look as he did back in the '80s. Apart from the glasses, Stewart is as energetic a drummer as ever and Andy now sports a generous turkey neck.

Being a young fogey, I just wanted to hear old familiar tunes and that's what I got. Nice. I knew there was no new material, so that was a safe bet.

Actually, we had a great surprise bonus we we arrived at the stadium. I'd bought £45 seats up in the gods and the ticket chap said that as we were early, we had the option of upgrading. Of course, I had my suspicions even though he looked official and working within the premises. We took the plunge and by golly we were given £70 tickets in the lower tier. No fear of nose bleeds now.

Of course, I really wanted to take my camera, but didn't want to go through the indignity of having my memory card erased (35mm is so last century). Well, I found photos on the interweb, so I can pretend I took them.

The journey home was a mission. It took over an hour just to get to Twickenham train station. I'll cut to the chase and tell you lovely listeners that it took 3½ hours to get home. There weren't even any deviations to pubs, mad cow burger bars or kebab shops with ugly signs. It was meant to be a simple journey home on public transport. Somehow, even this couldn't ruin my night out.

OAPs on stage

Have you ever waited most of your life for something to happen?

Please, no facetious answers ie

1) Waiting to pay at the Co Op
2) Waiting for a 53 bus when it's raining
3) Waiting for Godot
4) Waiting for a human being to answer when dialling an 0870 number (BTW this is a con trick - ed.)
5) Waiting for Greenwich Council to spend some cash on the betterment of Plumstead Common
6) Waiting for Greenwich Council to spend some cash on the betterment of Plumstead Common
7) Waiting for Greenwich Council to spend some cash on the betterment of Plumstead Common

etcetera etcetera. You get the message.

On Sunday, I'm going to see The Police in concert at Twickenham. On the whole, I don't like popular music, but was a big fan of The Police. I haven't got a clue what it'll be like now; can't imagine they'll be leaping around the whole time, or maybe if they do they'll sit down every 5 minutes and have a sip of Ovaltine.

Travelling to Twickenham seems straightforward enough, but if any lovely listeners have any top tips on the journey/venue, I'm all ears. Things like :-

1) Do I take the front train carriage at Waterloo in case it'll be mayhem at Twickenham station?
2) Do I leave 10 minutes before the concert ends because it'll be mayhem at Twickenham station?
3) Never buy a drink at the venue because it's really expensive?

Or is this venue really well organised, so I have nothing to fear?

new iPod

I've taken my eye off the tech ball lately, so imagine my surprise when I find out that the latest Apple keynote speech announced new iPods. Not just any old iPod, but touchscreen iPods. This has been speculated about for years and for some reason, I thought the iPhone was it.

I guess a touchscreen device is no great shakes nowadays, but even so, it's none too shabby.

jungle drums

Over the past couple of mornings, I've woken up to the sounds of jungle drums or some sort of repetitive beat. It sounds very distant, coming from Plumstead Manor School/Plumstead High Street direction.

First of all, I thought these were noises inside my head, a bit like writing a blog (talking but no-one listening, hearing drums but no-one playing. You get where I'm coming from?).

Anyway, I'm convinced there are distant drums noises, but why on earth at 5am? Is it an illegal rave happening in Plumstead Manor? Is it the long lost tribe of Temmesmead Marshes making communication with civilisation?

useless knowledge

Whilst being stuck on the M25 today, I stared into deep space and thought, 'I wonder how I can roll up a frying pan?'

Well now I know.


http://www.instructables.com/id/EIVXYL5F46WOEW7/

Local stuff

All quiet in da hood. Even pikey car sellers have been quiet. It must be those posters nailed to the trees. A bit of information to tell the greasy tax dodgers what's what; they don't like it up 'em. Having said that, a couple of dodgy cars have turned up, but still nothing like before. Pity really as I was going to buy a sledgehammer in the Ablair summer blue cross sale.

I thought I'd give two mentions to local businesses.

1) The butcher at the Slade. I absolutely love their new shop signage. I don't know how long it's been changed, but it is stunning. Sign-writing is a dying art, taken over by horrible printed vinyl signage, the absolutely worst offenders being kebab shops. The name of the shop is a must, but why oh why do we need a background image of a seeping roll of steaming lamb? I think I saw this abomination along Green Lanes.

So when I get some spare time, I'll pop down to the monastery and get the chaps to knock up a scroll/certificate and present it to the butcher shop for services to the enhancement of Plumsteadshire.

2) I'll not be presenting one of those scrolls to The Ship or SJ's Lounge.

I'm sorry, but SJ's Lounge just says 'porno shop' to me. It's great that they've made the effort, but man alive, I really did think a sex shop had opened in the village. At least we can be grateful that SJ hadn't opted for the printed vinyl 'seeping lamb' shop sign.

As for The Ship, I still cannot bring myself to go in. The whole place just gives off an odour of naffness. The appalling signage, the total disregard for the architectural exterior, the characterless interior. The Peter Stringfellow school of thinking, but done really badly.

I'll have to photograph the butcher shop and post it here, just to make myself feel better.

The beach

Popped down to the Millenium Dome today [I just can't call it by its' new name; that's just too much free advertising].

By the way, did I mention that Apple make the gorgeous iPhone? Yes, Apple. The iPhone is this year's Christmas gadget must-have. It's not cheap, but it'll be non too shabby neither. And one more thing, it runs OS X. Available from all good...... actually, I don't know where to get it, but what the hey?

I digress.

Dome. That's right. I wanted to see the developments at this venue and also to see the Beach. It's to bring sea-side fun to Londoners who can't afford Margate - now that is really saying something. Given that the Dome has just opened, I expected something fairly spectacular, to give us a wow factor, just to shake off the Dome's bad history. I expected a glistening beach with a wave machine creating a bit of a sea - you can't build much of a sand castle with dry sand. I expected heat and fake sunlight and even a backdrop of a blue sky.

No.

We've got a huge pile of play sand with a couple of fake palm trees. The theming goes as far as a few shark's fins and a raft made from an old wooden pallette. Every expense was spared. It's a dire effort and hugely disappointing. I don't know if this is our version of the Paris Plage?

If you want to take your children for a half day out, join a queue at the Co Op, it's more fun.

last minute request

Listening to the Robert Elms Show on BBC Radio London. 94.9fm.

A listener is wanting to know about a sculpture in the playground of Plumstead Manor School. If anyone does know (in the next hour), then ring or email the show.

020 7224 2000
robert.elms@bbc.co.uk

I did say it's a last minute request.

Cold custard

I was obviously very focused on work today; it suddenly struck me that I've not eaten a custard tart for a few months. I'd not gone through 'cold custard', or even had a hankering.

My last indulgence was finishing off a Marks and Spencer ECT (Egg Custard Tart to the uninitiated). This M&S brand of ECT was recommended by one lovely listener and it certainly delivered, but I do think the pastry chefs at M&S HQ were trying too hard. I found it was a little too flamboyant for my likings.

The Sainsbury's ECT still wins head and shoulders above the rest. The Waitrose offer was just way off the mark with a kind of wholemeal pastry. I mean, what's all that about? Showboating is just not de rigeur when it comes to such culinary basics.

Beyond our Ken

I came across this news story concerning Lord Levy today. I'm sure it's of great national importance, but I'm not interested. However, what caught my attention was how much LL looked like Kenneth Williams.

Did LL ever utter the phrase "'ere, stop messing about?"

Asian Mela

I popped over to the Asian Mela this afternoon. It was a gross disappointment of the highest order. I guess this must be due to the nasty weather.

However, something did catch my eye; it was the only stall/attraction where anyone had bothered to stop at.

It was a spectacle so bad that my toes were curling. You can't even say that it was so bad, it was good. No sirree. It was so bad, it was abysmal.

It was the wrestling. I apologise for not knowing what Asian Mela is or what it celebrates, but I don't actually understand the link between phony play fighting and an Asian cultural event. Maybe wrestling is an age old metaphor for good versus evil and a display of religious enlightenment. Or is it just that the organisers were desperate to fill a plot in the middle of the Common?

Either way, it was like driving past a car crash. You really shouldn't look because it's so terrible, but you just can't help it. [I've always loved the term car crash television. It's completely accurate].

I'm sure wrestling is completely staged and has that kitsch quality about it, but it's kind of fun in a violent and Neanderthal way. I cringed at the way the wrestlers were thrown across the ring. Instead of bouncing off the ropes and hurtling back with a double salko ending with a pile drive, they teetered across the ring like they were in stilletos, threw themselves against the ropes and danced back to belly flop the enemy.

I wandered off in disbelief and pretended to be interested in Saris and sweetmeats. I walked in a complete circle and had the misfortune to pass by the wrestling event again. This time, I saw a man in the ring holding up a horse brass. Silly me, it was a wrestling champion holding aloft a belt with gold plastic panels stuck on. He lacked menace. Then sure as day follows night, a girl from the audience berates him. We are lead to believe she's an ordinary punter, until she removes all her clothes (not quite, but caught your attention), and gives him a real pasting. Acting classes dear? This bunch sure as hell haven't been to RADA.

Illegal cars

I've been here before. The illegally sold cars on Plumstead Common are back in vast quantities. If Greenwich council weren't patting themselves on the back (and laughing in our faces), for wasting around £100,000 of our money on a bloody box at the O2 O no dome, then they might have some cash and resources to sort this problem out for good.

I'm sick and tired of cars slowing down and stopping in the middle of the road at all times of the day so the drivers can see what dodgy deals can be had with the very dodgy looking salesmen. These blokes make Arthur Daley seem completely charming and professional.

And another thing. The revving engines are pretty annoying too, especially at 10.30 at night when I was actually woken up by a band of dodgy cretins. My advice to the buyer. If the car is so sh*t that you have to rev it so hard, then maybe it's not worth buying?

Oh yes, letters are flying off to Greenwich Council (again), as we speak.

Now, does Ablair sell nice big sledgehammers?

Is this modern art?

In my vision for Plumsteadshire - nice cafe with evening jazz, restaurant serving basic but quality English dishes, cinema club and localised freecycle centre, is an art gallery. It would be called Tate Common. Well, it would until Nicholas Serota sends a law-suit in the post.

So. Art.

Was David Mach [artist who built a submarine from car tyres], in Plumsteadshire last night?
Look what I saw. Did you? Is this fly tipping of the highest order?

Curiouser and curiouser.........

wireless electricity

Wireless electricity. I've wondered about this one before and now we're a step closer to it.

Imagine this. Tapping into someones' wireless power network, just like you can tap into their WiFi broadband connection. Power your laptop on your neighbour's electricity bill. Well, why stop there? Run your fridge, tv, washing machine off their juice.

TV ads

So the 2012 Olympic brand has scored two own goals.

1) That it looks like a a ball smashing through a window (what a bad omen).
2) That the video has triggered illness to some people. I for one throw up every time I look at this poor excuse for an brand identity.

As a loose segue to my favourite brand, here is Apple doing a mighty fine job of tv adverts. No flashing garish colours.

And here are the Japanese Mac ads. Can't understand a word but still get the message.

oh no to logo

I love the new 2012 Olympic logo; it's so clever.

If you turn your head 90 degrees, you can almost see a graphic designer (stuck in the 80's new romantics phase), laughing in the face of Lord Coe.

Genius.

So glad my taxes are being spent on World class creative agencies.

Wolff Olins, shame on you.

Plumstead Common Environment Group

Pangloss : Sirrah. What word from Padua?

Merchant : That the Plumstead Common Environment Group hath energy renew'd and form a gay band once more (unto the breech dear friends).

Pangloss : 'Tis a done deal. Our dearly belov'd common ground of the quare folke, Plum orchards and Polish trolley buses will too be reviv'd. Sheriff Nick Day will see to 't that he and his merry minstrels will do for the Shire endless good.

Merchant : To be sure, the plebians o' the Shire will one day recognise their hard work. Good morrow. [exeunt]

Pangloss : The misfortune o' the common human being is selfishness. The people of the Shire will enjoy the fruits of the PCEG's labour but care not of their toil. I fear that the graft of the PCEG will ne'er see recognition before Halley cometh.

[enter a ghoulish cadaver]

Cadaver : Sire. Hast thou a dividend card?

Deep thinking pub

At first glance, I thought this said "Sky Sport Nowhere", as if The Lord Derby was making an existential statement.

what a tart

Boy oh boy. Approaching tea time today, I had a craving for a custard tart.
I love 'em.
We're not talking about the Portuguese one (too tough)
























or the Chinese one (too sweet), but your English one. I remember buying them from Barton's the bakers in the 1970's. The nutmeg sprinkles makes all the difference. A good custard tart delivers, even more than a Tunnocks Tea Cake.

My extensive research has shown the best to be purchased from Sainsbury's (but of course, this is completely subjective). The taste, texture and nutmeg : custard ratio are just right.

This image on the left is an inferior quality tart due to its' slightly sunken custard and sombre complexion, but it's the best I could find on the interweb.

Sign this please

Stressed?

Tense nervous headache?

Well, you might be stuck in the Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road.

Sign here to unblock the congestion.

easy on the PCEG

Alright already. There seems to have been a bit of finger pointing in my previous post re. PCEG and Nick Day. I apologise for being quiet on the writing front; I've not been sitting back and sunning myself in the outdoor pool, but life is just hectic at the moment.

Now I'm going to stick my oar in.

1) I don't think the anonymous writer who kicked up a little dust has said anything wrong. I think they are very complimentary about Nick Day and quite balanced in their arguments. The points raised might be a little harsh, but if this is what they (member or non-member), think then it's good get it off their chest. As I'm not a member and don't know the ins and outs of the PCEG, I can't say.

2) We have busy lives. I've not joined the PCEG because I feel I'll be a waste of space by not being an active member; heck, I can't even find time to contribute to my own blog. I do believe Plumstead Common is gorgeous because of the PCEG and I hope all the good people of the Shire recognise their contribution. I'll have to join. Can't make a change just by sitting around.

3) I don't mind people posting anonymously even though I've been (metaphorically spat at), by anonymous commenters. It's true. People are able to speak their minds in this way. I'd rather people be honest and get things off their chest. I don't think I've ever deleted anyone's comments, even when I was being accused of being a snob.

Enough, my busy life tells me to get on with house chores.

Our Common Story

Want to know more about your area? Do you like an informative read about where you live? Well, do ya?

I believe there are still copies of Our Common Story available. It's the definitive history of Plumstead Common and a perfect present for everyone from 9 - 90. Get yours now.

Conservation Area

Greenwich Council are hosting an afternoon drop-in session to mull over their daft, in mean draft, appraisal of Plumstead Common conservation area.

It will be held at The Slade Hall, Erindale (sounds like a character from the hit movie, Lord Of The Rings), between 4pm - 7pm next Tuesday (24th April 2007). Pity about the time. So if you're working and care about the conservation aspect of Plumsteadshire, tough cheese.

Go along and have your say.

The Old Post Office

I felt really gutted when I saw the Old Post Office being gutted; I guess someone has bought it and making use of it. Bang goes my idea of turning it into a jazz café.

Please let's hope they have some imagination and not just turn it into flats.

So who does have any information on the new developments? I for one would like to know more.

Back to our old friend, Busta Rhyme. He's shown his lack of aesthetic in the past and the new tasteless banners hanging outside the pub are not even worthy of a closing down sale at a pound shop. Is business so poor that Busta needs to fly flags to advertise the fact of being open? I'd love to make The Ship my regular drinking hole, but it has as much charm as pair of oversized gold hoop ear-rings. I'll stick with The Star thanks.

facelift

If I'm not mistaken, this is a Chelsea (or Croydon), facelift.

It's when a lady scrapes back her hair so much that she looks through her nostrils. Nice.

This example isn't too bad though.

See also, Catherine Tate Am I Bovvered girl.

Plumstead High Street

Take a look at new Plumstead blog, Sibonetic. I have and he's brought up the subject of the North - South divide (in Plumstead); unfortunately, it certainly exists.

I like it around Plumstead High Street. Coming home from work last week, I thought I'd detour around the area to check it out. There's a real vibrancy there and a whole range of shops that underline the diversity of our community in Plumstead.

Now, does anyone know about the little Goan Restaurant on Plumstead High Street? I've been eating there for a couple of years and love it, but has it closed down? I hope not. Their Chicken Xacuti is superb and their pilau rice is the best around.

I'm such a snob

Many thanks to one lovely listener for putting me right on my 'It's Safe Innit?' piece.

Anonymous said...

Do I notice a touch of snobbery in the land of Plumsteadshire?

Pangloss, you should try having a light ale in either The Prince Albert or The Wo'd a Thought It. I'm quite confident that you would feel suitably uncomfortable in either of the said establishments.

Go on, try it sometime.

You really neeed to remove those blinkers!

I know there are unsavoury characters in Plumsteadshire and I know there are places to avoid; that can be said of any village, town and city, but I'm a 'glass half full' kind o' person. I like a rant now and again, but why is it snobbish to highlight the positive points of an area? Why is it snobbish to have a positive outlook on life? I'm certainly not blinkered, I know what's going on around me.

As for the pubs you mention, yes I have been for drinks in both establishments. You're right, they're not a picture of CAMRA utopia, but that's real life. These places aren't my first choice, but I don't condemn places like these either. Whether you like it or not, they serve a strata of society.

Use your mirrors!!!!!

Do MPs actually live in the real World?

Introducing speed limiters on bikes? Yes, there are lots of maniac bikers around who show no road sense or road respect, the vast majority of these have big square boxes on the back and deliver pizzas. There are lots of maniac car & van drivers too and let me not forget Royal Mail
trucks or buses.

Yes, speed does kill, but what statistics for bad driving? Tail-gating on a motorway, turning without signalling, changing lanes without checking a mirror or the blind spot? Every one of us has seen some silly mistake or really stupid manoeuvre. Did I mention using mobile phone whilst driving? Or applying lipstick? I've seen even worse.

I've been knocked off my scooter. I was riding below 20mph and some f****r pulled out towards my legs. My headlights were on, my dayglo jacket was Cillit Bang zingy, but did they bother to look before changing lanes? No. If this brilliant government want to tackle road accidents, try tackling bad driving.

It's safe. Innit?

It seems the subject of safety in Plumsteadshire has cropped up, and not before long neither!!

A few lovely listeners have brought this up in the previous thread [I think that's the technical terminology - ed.] and I know which side of the fence I stand on; many thanks to Sibonetic for coming up with some serious crime stats.

I moved from Brockley to Plumstead Common and have never looked back. For me, Brockley was a fairly scary place. I never relished walking home from the train station at night and there was a very grizzly looking place called the Alpha Club, the sort of place where all music and chatter stops once a stranger walks through the door. I only got burgled once, and that was quite enough.

My friends thought I was mad when I told them where I was moving to, but ho ho ho, who's got the last laugh now.

I don't want to tempt fate, but I definitely feel safe walking around the Shire. I even feel safe waiting at bus stops in Woolwich!!!! Did I say Woolwich???? Yessirrrreee I did.

My journey home from work takes on a series of stress/anxiety levels.
1 - 10. (1 - being calm as a lake on a nice hot summer's evening. 10 being as stressed as a London commuter on stinking hot summer's evening)

Inner London - 7
Camberwell - 9
Peckham - 9
New Cross - 7
Deptford - 8
Blackheath - 2
Royal Standard - 3
Charlton - 6 (cars parked along the village and blocking up the road)
Plumstead Common Road - 4 (traffic jams on long hill leading up to Roy's Store)
Plumstead Common - 2

PCEG

I really wanted to go to the Plumstead Common Environment Group's meeting on Sunday. I believe they were discussing the plans for the Plumstead Manor School.

Well, here is my submission for designs. It plays homage to the English suburban vernacular style. Latin classes will be taught on a one-in-one-out basis.

Roadworks can be great

I've always thought the junction at the top of Griffin Road & Waverley Crescent to be a tad dangerous. Vehicles driving (usually with mobile phone in hand), from The Common, heading downhill love to cut the corner at a brisk speed. Is this a dangerous junction the Council should be aware of? I'll say.

Thanks for the respite though. The roadworks are a real boon to road safety.

On this subject, there is a very dangerous junction near Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I'm talking Charlton Park Lane and Cemetery Lane. Cut corners? Massacre corners more like. No wonder Greenwich Council built a cemetery and a hospital there. Forward planning eh? So I assume we need a few road deaths until the Highways Dept will do something about it.

Estate Agents

One lovely listener, The Plumster no less, has come across a little rumour on the Plumstead Common rumour-mill express.

The shop that's not a shop [it's a shop space, but advertises nothing for sale. There are baths and toilets and stacks of plasterboard, but no sales desks. Nor is there any indication of where to purchase aforementioned goods. It's a kind of storage space/installation art hybrid; more Hoxtonshire than Plumsteadshire]. I digress.........the shop on the corner of Admaston Road and Plumstead Common Road.

Is it or isn't it? Turning into an estate agent I mean. Deal or no deal?

Reading the many comments posted on Plumsteadshire - It's All For The Best In This Best Of All Possible Worlds, there's clearly an interest in the potential gentrification of our leafy suburb. And the more astute of us will know that the early signs of this trend are when estate agents move into the area. Oh, and coffee shops too. Any whiff of serious money will be snuffled out by an estate agent.

It's also a fair point made as to why little old Plumsteadshire would want another estate agent. If this is all just rumour, why have we not been offered the opportunity to purchase the shop-not-shop? I for one would be interested to turn it into a jazz café.

Rubbish

Here's a post to get us going.

Anonymous said...

Off thread - but....

I'm sick of the state of the streets around plumstead..dog shit, spit, rubbish etc. The way they tarmaced the roads etc. Walk from the common to the station and it rapidly gets worse.

Ablairs treat Ennis road as though it's part of their yard. Dodge the forklift as you pass by.

The majority of people round here are chavs and drink 'tinned' lager.

I want to live in greenwich and the sooner I get enough money I'll be moving.

Oh and the ship? It's a shit hole -the owner hasn't a clue.

Discuss...

Dear anonymous,

I can't disagree with you about the streets. Walking to the train station on a morning, I am also gob-smacked by the amount of detritus littering the pavements. Dropping litter is a bug-bear of mine. It's so easy to find a bin, and if there's no bin, then wait 'til you get home. Littering is a brilliant way of keeping the rat population up. [Rant over] I don't know why the streets are less tidy down that way though. Is it the residents? Is it the commuters? Does Griffin Road have hyper-active foxes? Like The Plumster said, just contact Cleansweep. If they don't know about it, they can't deal with it.

It might be annoying when Ablair is loading/unloading, but they definitely don't do it to annoy the people of Plumsteadshire. I've only had good service when buying a handful of 3/4" no 8's.

The majority of Plumstead Common residents are chavs? I must be walking around with rose-tinted spectacles or I've not wandered to the bad side of town. Yes, I've seen the odd yoof in the day-time taking a libation, but the vast majority are probably at work.

I wouldn't say no to Greenwich either, but certainly couldn't afford the prices. Anyway, I've lived in Blackheath with the nouveau riches and there was a severe lack of community spirit there. Being judged by your bank balance and car isn't high on my list of conversational topics.

The Ship Pub........... no comment.

Plumsteadshire does have many faults, but for me these are greatly out-weighed by the many strengths.

So lovely listeners, do you agree with the anonymous resident?
Is it time to get out?

New kid on the block

There's a new discussion forum website for Plumstead Common. It's new, it's exciting and here.

Good luck with the site. It's just what the people of Plumstead Common are looking for.

Just a little note though. With regards recommending builders, plumbers, candle-stick makers etc, you should post up a disclaimer as this is easily open to abuse as any bodge-it-n-scarper could recommend their own 'skills' on your site. This is one reason I've held back from having a recommended trades page.

Pangloss looks forward to your contributions to building on the Plumstead Common community.

Big helicopters

Over the past month or so, I've noticed Chinook helicopters around London; they're really distinctive as they have two rotor blades.

Maybe they've always flown around London but never really noticed them, or are we on high terrorist alert?

Still, they're kind o' pretty in a 'troop-carrier-war-machine' sort of way.

Do it yourself

Here's a comment made earlier on Plumsteadshire:-

Anonymous said...

Will it continue to be a regular feature of this blog to write reports on local residents who might be mentally ill - or perhaps mutter to themselves, or maybe have nervous ticks, or who are just plain eccentric - for the purposes of ridicule and public amusement? Just curious.

Sunday, February 18, 2007 6:07:00 PM

If you want to comment like this, then be brave and tell us who you are. You have the choice NOT to read this blog. If I offend you then I apologise, but I would prefer to blog about the characterful side of the Parish. You are very welcome to start your own blog and write about drying paint.

Hello again

Thanks to the lovely listeners who have taken part in the Plumsteadshire Feedback Forum, more commonly known as blog comments. It is this interaction that makes writing Plumsteadshire so enjoyable.

I am still brain-storming ideas with the Plumsteadshire Creative Team about a possible website, but it's a long way off yet. I have a variety of ideas ranging from useless facts to useful tradespeople, but definitely don't want it exclusively about pubs.

Speaking of which, the general consensus on The Ship is that it is crap. As I had pointed out before, the (interior & exterior), design is non-existent and it sounds like the atmosphere is pretty frosty too. I'm going to pop in to check it out myself at some point. I think I'll let it settle a little before I do though; let Mr Patel iron out the little creases before I go for a Bishop's Finger.

Rocky Balboa spotted in Plumsteadshire

So this morning, I look across The Common. It still had a good smattering of icy snow, not like the dense duvet-like stuff from earlier in the week, no it was dotted about, just enough so that a walker could see if a dog turd lay on the grass.

Whilst surveying this green and pleasant patch, I saw a mad man.

A fellow dressed in tracksuit bottoms and woolly hat was jogging about whilst punching the freezing cold air. He wasn't even doing this in a discreet manner, he was along the path merely yards from Plumstead Common Road - at rush hour!!!!

Care in the community (doesn't exist - ed.), or the next welter-weight champion of Welling? He was there for quite some time, jogging about, punching the air, dancing around trees and shadow boxing with them. The highlight of his display were his under-whelming high kicks. He'd stick out his hand at high level and kick his legs up. His feet came nowhere near his hand and I'm sure his legs should be straight too; Steven Segal's legs were straight when he demonstrated that he's much more than a chef in that seminal classic, Under Siege.

No dice

Oh, I was so looking forward to spending my days and nights at the Super-Doom Casino. The thought of eating microwaved burger & chips whilst glugging Super-T seemed so enticing. Suppose I'll see if Busta has a slot machine so I can 'live the dream'.

Cheap jibes aside, I'm glad we don't have a huge casino here, but in the same way that I'm pleased Mr Patel has made an effort with the once disused Ship Pub, I'd rather have a casino than a huge disused building, but only just.

Ship or Pish? YOU DECIDE!!!!

Got off the 53 bus last night and saw the Ship ablaze with fun, frolics and gay abandon. There was a son et lumiere show and the Grimethorpe Colliery brass band played a rousing fanfare whilst the Duke of Edinburgh cut the red ribbon.

Actually, the windows had steamed up and I couldn't see a thing.

Did anybody go? How does it weigh up against The Star, The Woodman, The Prince Albert and The Mill?

Car crash TV

I've not managed to watch the latest series of Big Brother and now certainly don't intend to. However, it's impossible to avoid the BB racism spat.

If there is racist abuse going on in da house (lingo for our new resident - Busta), then I applaud Carphone Warehouse for its' stance on the situation. In fact, I am SO happy with their actions that I'll even post a logo here.




Carphone Warehouse - for all your mobile telephony needs and gadgetry.

The Ship

Thanks to Dimps for reporting back on this evening's council meeting. I'm not at all surprised at the outcome. One lovely listener has sung the praises of Mr Patel and we can't bash him about for opening a pub. His latest proposal has changed considerably from the Busta proposal.

Let's give him a chance, then if he The Ship changes its' identity back towards Busta, let's bash him then - legally, not physically.

Enough already.

This blog isn't exclusively about pubs. There are more important things out there you know. Like the fact that we can actually walk on custard and that Apple Computer produce damn fine stuff. Did I mention the iPhone?

By the by, the recommendations of trades-people via Plumsteadshire does make me realise the limitations of this blog. I'm working on a Plumsteadshire website and among the many ideas I have for it, good trades-people sounds like a good page to include.

DROOOOOLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NICE PHONE.

Apple phone

Nothing to do with pubs or anything gastro.

The tech. rumour-mill has been running at high speed and this time has got it right. Apple Computer has announced an iPhone. I can't see that it'll do for phones what iPod did for personal stereos. We'll see.

Pub design

By the by, whoever has redesigned The Woodman has shown that they understand aesthetics. No, nothing to do with East London in 2012.

The exterior of The Woodman looks great. Care and attention to signage, use of colour and type.

On the other hand, The Ship formerly known as The Ship, has failed miserably. The gold 3D lettering does not work at all. Look at the typeface. Look how cramped it looks on the elevation. If you want to take the traditional route, then at least use a serif typeface.

Hi De Hi

Ho De Ho

Hope you all had a jolly Christmas. If you had a miserable one, just think of those immortal words:-

'It's all for the best in this best of all possible worlds.'

And so it is.

I don't really want Plumsteadshire to be focused on pubs in Plumstead, but as this has been the local news hot potato, here's my latest contribution.

I walked over to The Woodman today and took a look through the olde worlde pubbe windows. Looks good. It's got that contemporary look which doesn't say 'old man's pub'. It's got a certain Bromley-post-modern-soft-and-fast-seating-area feel about it. I don't know what The Woodman was like in the past but as long as it's a genteel non-offensive place with good beer and food, I'll be there.

Here's a picture of it taken on a typically tropical Plumstead day.

Squat's up doc?

Lovely listener.

What's up with that tatty looking house a third of the way down Griffin Road? If you know Griffin Road then you definitely know the house to which I refer. It looks like one of those houses featured on the hit BBC show, Life of Grime.

Is it occupied? Is it a squat? Is it infested with rats, coachroaches? Or art students?

Only you, lovely listener, can hold the proverbial key to the battened up door.

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.......

Busta's Open

Boy oh boy. It's been such a long time that I almost forgot how to write a blog.

Well, I just walked past The Ship formerly known as The Ship. There is some kind of shin-dig going on in there. I guess it must be the topping-off ceremony (as we in the trade call it). It looked a pretty sober affair and the only gold chains were worn around ladies necks. [I made that last bit up to keep the Busta Rhymes unsavouriness alive - ed.]

The interior fit-out looks like it amounted to seven hundred tins of magnolia emulsion. At the moment, it's a nice fresh look. Some would call it soul-less, but early days. At least it's pointing in the right direction. It looks friendly and likeable. We'll see how the interior design develops as Mr Patel eases into the character of his venture.

Prince Albert

Looked at their website this evening.






Speechless

Tesco Slade

There is no way on God's earth that Tesco would be interested in a tiny shop like Lawrence's. If the big T were interested, they'd want the whole parade of shops. Look at a small Tesco Metro and see how fruit & veg alone would swamp the Lawrence's DVD collection.

Sorry, but that must've been the local rumour mill going into overdrive.

Bust dat door down

Passing the Busta Ship this morning, I saw THE most hideous door they had installed.

It is such a carbuncle that I can only imagine that it is either a temporary measure or Mr Patel designs whilst holding a white stick. This is a Conservation Area for God's sake. Show some thought for aesthetics.

Language laydeez

Thanks to The Plumster for pointing out that colourful language is not called for in Plumsteadshire.

Feelings are clearly high on the subject of Bustagate which just shows how much we happy folk love Plumstead Common.

The response to Bustagate has been phenomenal and you have all put together an incredible depth of knowledge and investigation into the planning & licensing applications of Busta. Two lovely listeners of note are :-
Nick Day of the award winning Plumstead Common Environment Group has made many intelligent observations about the latest application. And Wing Commander WeLovePlumstead has been doing a brilliant job of organising the lines of communication.

Even though Mr Patel has watered down his application, has he watered down his intent? I don't think so. As has been noted by many already, a members only club with bouncers on the door named after an angry black rapper? I don't think so.

Wine bar + Busta = DOES NOT COMPUTE
Genteel leafy suburb of London + Busta = LIKE PUTTING A MAD CAT IN AN AVIARY

Let me remind you who Busta is. Here he is pictured here with Slim Shady.

Hmmmmmmmm.......... I can picture it now.

"Good evening Monsieur Rhymes. A dry Martini & a bottle of Château Lafite-Rothschild please."

"What da f***? Dis is sh**ing me dog. Get da f*** outta here. You ain't ******* ** my house!!!!!!"


It all seems too easy for Mr Patel to make such a radical change to his whole business plan from 'members club' to a pub that suits 200+objectors.

Deadline for objections is coming up. I don't think we should put our guard down just yet.

Alright pop pickers?

Busta newsflash!!!!!

Dear lovely listeners, weloveplumstead has broken some important news. As I am getting lazy in my old age, here it is copy & pasted :-

Dear Everyone,

There are several changes in the Busta situation that have taken place over the last few days which have been reported to weloveplumstead:

1. The developer/license applicant has reported to the Council his wish to change the name of the venue back to "The Ship".

2. The application is for a pub, not a nightclub.

3. The windows are now being restored; removal of the bricks commenced this afternoon.

In light of the above changes, along with the shortened almost-pub hours on the licensing application, the pressure to object and protest is significantly reduced. Residents of Wernbrook have even had a chance to chat with the developer/license applicant and he is clearly demonstrating a willingness to listen to and work with residents to live side-by-side peacefully.

If you are still concerned and would like to register your concern with the relevant authorities you can still:

1. Write a letter to Local Councillors and/or the Licensing Office as you see fit in light of the new developments.

2. Sign a the petition, which is available for concerned people to sign at the Chapter Two bookshop on Plumstead Common Road.

The pressure seems to be off and we should breathe a sigh of relief, but keep a watchful eye on the new Ship!

Please spread the word about these updates to concerned people.

Finally, a notice of the application hearing date should be released by the Council in a few weeks time. Please keep your eye out for that and be sure to come along if you can.

WELOVEPLUMSTEAD

Bustagate

Firstly, apologies for not making it to yesterday's Bustagate meeting. I've been flu-stricken and been drinking enough Lemsip to make their shares rocket.

Secondly, who did attend the meeting? Did Mr Rhymes turn up in a bad disguise? Was there a lonely person sitting in the corner of the pub wearing a trenchcoat & comedy moustache? Maybe holding up a newspaper with two big eye holes cut out?

If anyone can shine some light on the situation, I'd be interested to know.

email

For those of you who never bother to read the comments pages of Plumsteadshire, let me introduce you to the 'exclusive' email address set up by one lovely listener:-

weloveplumstead@ntlworld.com

I believe it's primarily or even exclusively set up for the Busta campaign - Bustagate

Use it, don't abuse it.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears

.... said Van Gogh.

Venue : The Star Public House on Plumstead Common

Star date : Sunday 19th November

Time : 1pm

Wasssuuuuppppp? : A meeting of minds, wit and the good folk of Plumsteadshire who give a damn about the place called home, and the pub formerly known as The Ship. Let's bash our heads together and move the Busta campaign forwards. Everyone welcome, however God help us if over 200 people turn up. Pangloss thanks the landlord of The Star in advance.

Izzy wizzy let's get busy

Sorry lovely listeners. Life's been very hectic over the past few weeks.

OK.

Showtime folks.

1 - What's the general consensus? All Busta-mail to be channelled through the 'weloveplumstead....' email address? This will mean the lovely listener who has set it up is to be 'communications director'.

2 - If the mystery listener would like me to publicise the 'weloveplumstead....' email address, then let me know. Disclaimer - Plumsteadshire cannot be held responsible for any unseemly, spam, junk or non-Busta emails hitting your mail box.

3 - A physical meeting must be set up within 7 days so we can meet and bang heads together. Time is of the essence.

Don't forget, write to the Planning Department, write to the Licensing Department, write to your MP, councillors etc etc.

What do the Planning Department do?

We've managed to press the pause button on Busta's plans for the moment. In the meantime, let's not forget the blocked up windows.

The planning department is meant to uphold planning decisions within the Borough. I don't think planning consent was granted to blocking up windows of the building formerly known as The Ship Pub.

Let's remind Greenwich Council that this must be corrected. Letters must be written to the planning department and we want answers and action. If they cannot uphold planning decisions, then why have a department?

Oh, Plumstead Common IS a conservation area.

5 minutes of your time. Write a quick letter and post it to:-

First Floor, Development Planning Reception
Peggy Middleton House
50 Woolwich New Road
Woolwich SE18 6HQ

Busta Verdict - Trick or Treat?

I missed this evening's Council meeting. In the words of Harry Hill, "What are the chances of that happening?"

Well, thanks to one lovely listener, I have been informed that the Bust Da Rhyme exclusive bar application has been turned down. I'll await further confirmation, but if this is the case then this shows the strength of community in Plumsteadshire.

Well done to all the good people of the shire. What a treat.

However, let's not rest on our laurels though. We still want The Ship to set sail once more. Maybe the applicant will take note of local opinion and go with supply and demand? Or maybe they will appeal? Or maybe they will try and push Busta through the back door? Let us not rest on our laurels.

Ready?

Things have been busy recently at Plumsteadshire HQ.

I have been sent a hefty tome from Greenwich Council. Around 170 letters worth of heftiness. Not bad going. I'll take my hat off to those who wrote to the Council re. Busty Crimes. I suppose these are letters from within the 200metre 'valid zone', if so then 170 is all the more commendable.

Tuesday is the day. Rally up the troops and head down to Woolwich Town Hall. It's almost like the scene in the brilliant Fritz Lang film, 'Fury' except without the sticks and lynch-mob mentality. After all, we're decent folk.

Who's Busta?

Just in case the good folk of Plumsteadshire are unaware of the origin of the Bust Da Rhyme name, I have a slight hunch that it comes from the Hip Hop artiste, Busta Rhymes.

Here he is out for a stroll on Plumstead Common.



And here he is wearing his new hat.

Council meeting

The date of the Rusty Lime Exclusive Bar And Lounge meeting has been changed.

This has been brought to my attention from a couple of lovely listeners, but almost as if by a stroke of creepy coincidence, as I start writing this blog entry, a brown envelope is delivered via the GPO (that's General Post Office to the younger members of my readership); it's my invitation to attend the meeting.

So, the meeting is 6.30pm Tuesday 31st October 2006. at the Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich.

At least that means us working people have a chance of attending.

Councillors

I've never had dealings with councillors, apart from one time.

Let me just refer to this person as COUNCILLOR X.

Leading up to the last local elections, I asked Councillor X how they could help deal with the spate of illegal selling of cars on the Common. Councillor X replied, "Phone the police. What do you want me to do about it?"

With such an uncaring attitude to their local community, I think I could do much better. I won't tar all councillors with the same brush, but I think this individual is only in the game for self publicity and an ego massage.

Busta Meeting

One lovely listener has posted this very interesting comment on Plumsteadshire. In case you don't read other comments; see below in yellow text.

The so-called catchment area is a total farce. I'm sure we're all agreed that a late night drinking hole will have an affect on an area far wider than the radius of a strong projectile vomit. As such, we should be involved. This just tells me that
a) Greenwich Council want to pass this through with minimum fuss and
b) that Greenwich Council don't give a monkeys about the ramifications on the wider community.

Oh, don't forget D-Day is nigh. Get writing people.


Dear concerned Plumstead Common residents,

I have just been informed by the licensing office at Greenwich Council that the Licensing Committee hearing on this application will take place on

24 Oct 3pm at Woolwich Town Hall

This is where we need to go to argue the case against "Bust Da Rhyme" in person. Spread the word!

Also, I was informed that residents living outside a certain area who make written representations are not actually being considered. I got a rejection letter yesterday as we live just outside the said area! The catchement seems a bit random and the logic of it does not seem completely sound. It does not, for example, include some logical locations, like the far end of the Common towards Tormount, which has a pretty good (sometimes direct) view of The Ship a.k.a. "Bust Da..." and could be affected by people spilling on to the open green space at late hours, or indeed the houses on Heavitree Road and Close backing on to or facing the tennis courts and green space next to it, a good place to cut through if heading down the hill after a late night out. If you want to find out if your road is included in the catchement, ring 020 8921 8139.

Letters to the council

Don't forget to get those letters rolling in to Greenwich Council. Unless of course if you want an exclusive late night bar with NO windows. HOW DODGY DOES THAT SOUND? Unless Labour has brought back window tax, I don't see the logic in it. The Council planning department really must deal with this. It's a CONSERVATION AREA for God's sake.

Also, click here for your FREE opposition poster. It's from our very own award winning Plumstead Common Environment Group.

Write now.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me etcetera..............

I've just noticed that I've been talking to myself for a whole year
now. In some circles, I'd be lobotomised.

Here's a picture of a seriously kitsch cake sent in by one imaginary lovely listener. Designs as foul as this must have ASBO's slapped on them.

Hip Hip Boo Hoo

Thanks to the lovely listeners who had pointed me to the sad news that Hip Hip Hooray, Plumsteadshire's premiere cake and home bake emporium, is to close it's doors once and for all.

I absolutely love local shops and feel slightly bad that I haven't supported HHH. It's difficult though as I think the last time I tried home baking was in home economics at school. Baking just ain't my game. Of course, I could support HHH by buying a bag of self raising every month, but what if the local bobby on the beat happens to pop in for a friendly cup of tea and digestive? What if said police-person sees my larder full to the brim of white powdery stuff? I've seen Midnight Express and don't want to go there.

One of my lovely listener's had mentioned the old Post Office. I've had my eye on this place for a few years. Admittedly, I've made no formal enquiries, but had heard a rumour that Hip Hip Hooray tried to buy it once but failed. That building is just about the best spot. In fact, I think it is more desirable than The Ship. It is screaming for attention and repair, but it would be worth it. I don't know who owns it, but step forward now.

Wake Up And Smell The Coffee

Hmmmmmmm coffeeeeee!!!!

The Plumsteadshire rejuvenation masterplan has started. I see a billiant little deli with chairs and tables outside and handpainted signage (none of that new fangled backlit perspex rubbish). A fish-monger selling fresh swimming things bought early in the morning from Billingsgate. Said fish-monger would wear a straw boater, rosy cheeks and huge sideburns (this would apply if our fish monger is a lady too). A wet fish shop was trialed in our parish only a few years ago, but had nothing to sell me. We won't make this mistake again.

I see a community in full swing. We'll pass each other in the street and doff our hats and lay down our capes for genteel ladies.

One step at a time, I know, so a deli would be an excellent start. I'm there already.

"Four hundred grammes of thickly sliced chorizo please squire."

Meeting on Sunday

Dear friends,

Nick Day of the award winning Plumstead Common Environment Group fame, has asked me to mention that PCEG are having a meeting tomorrow (Sunday 24th September), at 3pm. Location - The church hall on Old Mill Road.

I'm sure all things environmental, wholesome and local will be spoken about, but the future of The Ship Pub is also on the agenda. A hot topic, as we all know. It'll be a great opportunity for all to get together and share views and maybe work out a game plan.

Please make the effort to go along as we have to act pretty sharpish.

Let me quote from Aesop - 'United we stand, divided we fall'.

Infamy, infamy we've all got it in for Busta

Here's another news item going to press. It's from the South London Press and covers Saturday's protest. The Parisian students ain't got a patch on the residents of Plumsteadshire.

MP Does Good

Clive Efford has shown some love to Plumstead Common. Thanks to my lovely listener who pointed me to his website. Take a look for yourselves.

Busta Is A Dumb Shyster

A Dumb Shyster, well that's the best rename yet.

Anagrams are great aren't they?
Or how about 'Drab Messy Hut'?

That's a bit close to the bone I think.
Or what about 'Absurd Thymes'?

Brilliant.

Do I have a life? Or do I just sit in a corner and think of anagrams? Thank God for the inter web. Does it in seconds.

By the way, did anyone go to that meeting last Saturday? I'd like to know what the result was. Have we got a councillor on the case? Is the Mercury going to cover this story? I know it's not a stabbing or a shooting, or a fete being opened by Chico.

Enough frivolity. Get those letters of objection in. Pen, paper, stamp. It's like the olden days again. Snail mail and community spirit.

yummy food and real ale

Some people have mentioned about contacting gastro publicans and attracting the right kind of establishment worthy of Plumstead Village (you wait, David Evans and that mob will be on to that one soon). We at Plumsteadshire HQ had written a couple of letters to such establishments early this year.

No harm in trying.

Ship Pub rename

You know something. Not only do I not like the sound of the Bust Da Rhyme bar and shake yo booty emporium, I don't like the name either.

This has been noted by several lovely listeners and I've been thinking of a renaming. All anagrams

So far, I've come up with
SAD THYME RUB - Sounds kind of homeopathic
DUSTY BRA HEM
SHADY RUM BET - Most accurate

License app

Thanks very much to the anonymous 'lovely listener' who had commented on Plumsteadshire.

I have copy and pasted their comment below. An intelligent and informative piece of writing. Thank you very much.
Doctor Pangloss



Having been a licensee of many venues in my time, although not a local resident, I thought I might comment.

I can see from the other comments that there is strong feeling against the granting of the license. Is there also strong feeling against the previous license before the premises were closed ?

If there are many objections, the licensee will almost certainly push to have a new license granted that is similar, if not identical, to the previous license. Within a few years (next Brewsters is 2008 I believe) there will be an application to vary this license and get where they wanted to go anyway, or maybe small steps per year. So letting any license be granted could just be letting the true horror in by the backdoor.

The few but most effective ways I know to stop a license are...

1. Raise objections with the local police liaison for liquor licensing. If they go to meet the licensee (as they're required to do) after hearing many objections, they are less likely to give a favourable report back to the magistrate.

2. Raise objections with the public entertainments licensing officer at the council. From experience, it takes a lot to convince them that you have a reasonable case for a PEL, and more still to get the hours you applied for. Therefore, it's much easier to get a rejection than a grant.

If the license is granted, all is not lost.

1. Most late license grants are based on some very shakey foundations. Failure to provide "sufficient food" (not properly defined in law, but more than bags of crisps, usually something that requires cutlery) can invalidate the license beyond 11pm. If the late part of the license is granted in conjuction with a PEL (Public Entertainment License) then is can be invalidated by silly things like merely not having customers dancing to music.

2. Any interested party can request a review under section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003, where all of the objections you currently have can be re-raised but with case evidence of how the license has been misused.

Busta's license app

Hello again. Look what I found on the Greenwich Council website. It's the September 11th application - not that there's a bad omen or anything like that.

Message to The Plumster

Have you had confirmation from the Shooter's Hill councillor re. Saturday morning photoshoot / reportage?
Lorks a lordy!!!!! That's TODAY!!!!!!!!!

In the meantime, I'll ask my contact at Wernbrook Street if they know about this.

CODE RED - NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a posting from The Plumster on Plumsteadshire. Please read it and act upon it. Busta must be stopped. This is a very big step for the opposition campaign and it's going to happen this Saturday.

I've copied and pasted The Plumster's message below. Read on.

Thanks alot TP.

Please find below the content of an email I have received from a Shooters Hill councillor. Please get behind this on Saturday.

Thank you to all of you who have emailed myself and the other
councillors with your concerns about the licensing application for the
Ship Pub. I have today managed to get a look at the application and am happy to confirm that there is no mention of lapdancing within the
application.

However, they do intend to essentially turn the Ship into what could easily be called a mini nightclub, with the sale of alcohol up until
Midnight Monday - Thursday and upto 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and
Sunday's. They have applied for later hours for bank holidays etc.

I would like to make it plainly clear that I totally object to this
application and believe that such a facility within a highly
residential area is completely inappropriate. I would like to assure you that I will be doing everything I can to stop this. To that end, I have contacted the press and the Mercury have agreed to cover this story and
would like to take photogrpahs potentially on Saturday morning. The more people who we can get the better. I have invited Clive Efford MP for Eltham to attend as I know that he too is opposed to this application.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, Councillors must be asked by a resident to make representations on their behalf, so please could those of you who wish me to obbject on your behalf please make this clear in a letter and
send it to:

Merle Meadfors Searle
Committee Services
Town Hall
Wellington Street
SE18

I would advise you all to look at the licensing section on the council's website which details the four licensing areas that you can object and provides other useful information on the issue of Licensing.

Please let me know you have recieved this email and whether or not you are happy to attend on Saturday (I will confirm this as soon as the
Mercury let me know). I'm confident that with a big community campaign,
we can make sure that the Ship Pub is brought back into proper use.

Thursday, September 14, 2006 8:37:27 PM

Busy busy busy

I'm going to apologise in advance for the coming week. I'm up to my neck in work and might not be able to write much, which is a bit of a pain as these are crucial times to kick Buster's butt.

I've had really good response from you, lovely listener, and know you're all doing your bit to keep Plumsteadshire fragrant.

Now here's a suggestion to those who are running the petition. How about leaving a form at our beloved Co-Op? That way, the thousands of local residents can sign it. Let's be honest. It's not as if the queues move very quickly now do they?

Let's not get complacent. Time is against us.

Thank you all once again. Community action at work.

Bust Yer Ear Drums

Hello lovely listener,

I've discovered two things today.

Firstly, there is definitely a petition going around to oppose the all (night) singing all (night) dancing exclusive bar, but as far as I know, one of the petitions resides in a resident's house. As this is the case, I'm not going to write their address on Plumsteadshire. If the group of resident's are going to leave a petition at a public place, ie a local post office or newsagent, then I could let my lovely listeners know and you could form an orderly queue to sign it.

I'll let you you as soon as I know.

Secondly, the date on the license application has changed. This is the notice posted on the Ship Pub's door. It's a scrappy piece of blue paper as before (aesthetics aren't high on Busta's priorities). The sell-by date on the notice has changed. I think this date, the last date of appeal, has changed to 9th October. Don't quote me on this though.

Don't be complacent though, October is just around the corner. To appeal, write to

Public Services
11th Floor, Riverside House
Woolwich High Street
London
SE18 6DN

The Ship Burger Bar

It sounds like there is definitely a petition against the Bust Yer Rimes or whatever crap name it is. So, lovely listener, as soon as I find out who's organising the petition, I'll let you know.

It's times like this that I think a popular fast food joint would be more preferable to the current proposal.

What do you think to my artist's impression?

Are you lovin' it?

Madame Jo Jo's A.K.A. The Ship

Base camp Plumsteadshire has been putting out enquiries to Greenwich Council re. The Ship Pub development.

Lork's a lordy!!!!!! Upon mentioning of the license application, the trading standards department are UNAWARE of it, nor have they received any such application. Does this mean that Prakash Patel, the applicant, has posted up his own notice?

Would such under-hand devilry be possible in the World of property development?

Or has Greenwich Council managed to turn a blind eye to another great development in the local area? Can I say LIDL and Coronet Cinema in the same sentence?

The excellent Greenwich Watch blog has covered what sounds like a similar application at The Plaza building near Maze Hill. I don't know if the Maze Hillians managed to fight off that one, if so, could this be the same proposal but different area?

The Last Boy Scout has mentioned that there is a petition going around. I'm sure if we ask residents around The Ship Pub, particulary Wernbrook Street, they'll know who holds the petition so we can sign it. The clock is ticking, please write to the Trading Standards Dept at Greenwich Council or click here to go to the objections page of their website.

The Ship Pub and Sleeze Bar A Go Go

Many thanks to The Plumster for sterling detective work on The Ship Pub, soon to be renamed 'The Shit Pub'.

I've always seen Plumstead Common as a quiet family conurbation, a green and pleasant land where families go walking, friends play football and butterflies fly in delightful formation. Apart from what looks like drug dealing in the centre of the Common, it's an inoffensive place.

So why would we want an 'exclusive' late night bar with bricked-in windows and 'dancing' for? All sounds dubious and your guess is as good as mine.

The Plumster alerted me to a fresh premises licensing application posted up on the Ship Pub site. This is dated 1st September and any objections to be submitted before 21st September. There are four grounds of objection applicable.

1) Protection of children from harm
2) Public nuisance
3) Prevention of crime and disorder
4) Public safety

Given that this bar closes at midnight on a weekday and is located in a highly residential area, I think public nuisance could be a goer for starters.

See here for previous postings on Plumsteadshire.

If this pub is going to turn into a late night exclusive dancing bar, then I think the good people of Plumstead should know about it. Please stand up and be counted.

Contact or visit TRADING STANDARDS DEPT, 11TH FLOOR, RIVERSIDE HOUSE, WOOLWICH HIGH STREET, LONDON. SE18 6DN.
020 8921 8418.

Without wanting to sound like Bob Geldof, GET OFF O' YER ARSES AND DO IT NOW!!!! The deadline is very soon.

The Ship Pub

Exterior works to The Ship Pub site seem to moving at a pace. A snail's pace.

Ah well, maybe it will be worth the wait. I'll look forward to my organic Masham sausages with miniature rosti, Kentish carrots and courgettes. Or in the case of a Plumsteadshire sushi bar, I'd like to put in a request for tuna tataki.

I don't like that they've bricked up the windows facing onto Plumstead Common Road. How did that one pass planning application? I thought the building is protected? I can only imagine this to be the kitchen to the Michelin 2 star restaurant, but then again, kitchens have windows too. I might pop down to Greenwich Council and visit their planning department.

Let's see if The Ship will open first or Wembley Stadium.

Nice to be back

hello again

Don't you love a nice long holiday? Especially a trip round the world.