Finding God in the Co Op

The refurbished Links Co Op is a pleasant improvement over the old one. Well I should hope so, otherwise what's the point in a refurb? Removing the product shot window vinyls has improved visibility into the shop and thus makes it look more inviting. Moving BWS (beers, wines & spirits), and having a mid-floor wine display in the window adds to this enticement.

The F&V (fruit & veg), offer seems to have expanded, or maybe I'm imagining it? Walking straight from the Links boulevard into the 'fresh zone' is always a good thing. A really nice touch is adding two product categories - Wholefoods and Free From on the shelf ends. This may be lost on most shoppers, but I'm really pleased to see that these are here. They tip the balance from Co Op lurking in the Londis/Costcutter bracket and moving into being a proper supermarket. Love it.

The lowered ceiling makes a huge difference to the feel of the store. It's cosier (well, cosy in supermarket terms), and the lighting seems better on the eye. They could have mixed lighting accents through the categories, but hey ho. Looks like exterior signage has yet to be installed, or is the exposed cabling a feature?

Having shopped, I was just disappointed by the state of the checkouts. I'd walked around a refurbished store with new fixtures, layout, graphic treatments, lighting, then at the final hurdle was tripped up by old tills. The belts still had graffiti on them for God sake. This is a pretty big deal and simple to address too. Just change the belts or clean the graffiti off maybe? Detail, detail, detail. Come on people!!!!

My final point is not of disappointment, but I feel a loss from this store. The old store had a prayer box by the notice boards. I never understood why this was there. In my past, I'd seen lots of collection boxes in supermarkets, like the 1950's looking blind boy with a dog - a guide dog I guess. This was a nice looking object, then there are those hideous UFO dishes with the swirling red & white pattern - pop a coin in the slot and it will swirl around the shallow cone (like the water swirling into a plug-hole - Hitchcock did a great homage to this in Psycho - ed.), eventually dropping in the hole in the centre. These have featured in supermarkets, but a prayer box? Do people kneel and say a few words next to the fire extinguisher?

I like it though.

Comedy Sunday

It's the comedy night this coming Sunday in Plumstead Common!!!! Yes me dearios, you heard it right, live stand-up comedy in The Shire.

I've been meaning to post the flyer up on this blog but it's a Word document and I guess you need Microsoft Orifice to open it. With this in mind, I have produced a jpeg version of it and here it is. Before the law-suit comes flying at me from the event organisers, I will now say that I have taken the liberty to 'jazz it up a bit' without asking their permission. So just for the record, this version of the leaflet is produced by my design team (let us refer to this crack team as TREADSTONE), purely as a frivolity and does not superceed the existing Comedy On The Common brand identity. I thank you.

new blog discovery

I like stuff like this. I've just come across a blog called Photoshop Disasters. It's a tad geeky, but what the hey. If I find a blog raving about custard tarts du monde then I will have to bring to your attention - hmmmm.... custard tart geek..... I scare myself sometimes.

Brockley restaurant

At the weekend, I met up with some friends and went to a Thai restaurant in Brockley. It's a place called Just Thai Thai on Brockley Road. The interior is shabby chic, the food quite nice, but God almighty, what a wait for it to arrive. We must've waited over half an hour for our first course and that's pretty lame considering there were just eight other diners in the restaurant. The main course was spectacular though. Over an hour and a half waiting time; I'm sure my hair had grown a few centimetres in the duration.

Co Op refit

The Links Co-Operative supermarket is going to close for about a week. This is to allow for an interior refit.

Black is the new white. Black has dominated the world of supermarket design and epitomises 'high-end'. We'll be able to enjoy a plush new shopping experience with new fixtures, lighting, checkouts and the longest champagne bar in Plumstead.

Here are some spy shots.

Not of Co Op, but the iconic Dean & Deluca. Oh well. Dream on.

utter rubbish

A lovely listener has sent in some photos of the recycling centre opposite the Links Co Op. What a mess. In fact, you can almost hear the passing chap shaking his head and tutting as he looks on disapprovingly.

If people want to help themselves to a backless Balenciaga, then do it with some respect. Want a free transistor radio? Well, close the door after you've browsed, I mean were you born in a barn?

I guess this all falls on deaf ears as I doubt the self absorbed knuckle dragging numb skulls who create this mess only read (that's if they can read), blogs like selfishgit.com. So who (quite literally), picks up the pieces? The council. And who's going to pay for this? Us.

There is something quite satisfying about bring back the stocks.

Kids running amok

I went to a soft play centre. For those not in the know, a soft play centre is a CENTRE where kids PLAY and everything is SOFT so they can fall and not crack their little skulls open.

This particular soft play is in a distant land called Becken Ham. It's OK. Nothing special. It's a large warehouse space filled with a great big modular soft play framework. There's a small merry-go-round and a very small kart track. No frills and only general ambient lighting. These places should be fantastical and theatrical.

The café. Appalling food!! The sandwiches were dire. Flavourless and bland to look at. I had, what I thought was, a BLT. The bacon was about 97% fat - I expect fat, but really. The tuna ciabatta was just that. The Italian bread was limp and the tuna was straight out of the tin. A little mayonnaise or butter might have been a basic requirement. And this is food which would be served to children. Shame.

It's not a cheap place to visit yet it was very busy, which is not at all surprising as there's very little choice for comparative activities. Shame. Standards have been kept low and this grates me because the visitor experience should be of paramount importance.

I have been to another one though, it's called Kidspace and this is how it should be done.

The Links recycling centre

A quick one.

We know there's been some ransacking from the recycling bins opposite the Co Op on Plumstead Common Road, but has anyone seen it happen? If so, when has this unofficial recyclefest happened? Is it a regular occurrence? Why not cut to the chase and tell me who's taking this stuff and leaving a pile of mess around the bins.

Do tell. This information (believe it or not), is going to be useful.

where on earth?

The internet is a queer old thing. I write this quaint little blog about a quaint little corner of Londonshire, not knowing where my lovely listeners are.

Having just checked the ridiculously complex hit counter, the only section I understand is the map of the World - it's a pretty picture, okay. This tells me that I have a lovely listener in Poland, one in Egypt, one in Pakistan, one in Mexico, one in the U.S. Virgin Islands (where the hell is that?). Of course, there are a few more in the UK and US of A, but I'm still wondering why someone in the Virgin Islands would be reading about daily murder and bloodshed on the streets of downtown Plumsteadshire? They must think The Common is like a township of Brazilian favelas.

Dear Sir or Madam of the Virgin Islands,
Plumstead Common is NOTHING like the hit film City Of God. Here, the men doff their bowler hats and lay down their capes as genteel ladies promenade around the Common. [This can either be interpreted as either an early 20th Century idyll or a scene from The Prisoner].

Be seeing you
No. 2

Plumstead Stories

I've just been flicking through the Plumstead Stories website. It's a really good site paying homage to the Plumstead of yesteryear.

Anyway, I love this photo. Confectionery. Drapery & Hosiery. Grocery & Provisions.
Oh yeh baby. Proper shops.

And doesn't the building look great? I also love the flags strung between the building and the neighbouring house (where the car park entrance is now located). Or is that Aunt Hilda's washing?

Comedy On The Common

This evening, I went to the second Comedy On The Common event and can say that it was utterly brilliant.

The rugby pavilion lacks Puginesque charm, but accommodates around 100 and I thought this is a really nice size for stand-up. Actually, I can envisage this venue for jazz gigs and other similar intimate entertainments - note to venue manager.

The M.C. was hilarious, as were the three acts. There wasn't any low point in terms of the comedy and for seven English pounds, it was fantastic value for money.

The bar keeps a limited choice of refreshment, but that's not a problem. This is my only criticism and I really am struggling to look for a negative as I know that I've come for comedy, not a wine tasting session.

The Comedy On The Common will be a monthly event and the organisers have really got it right. The only danger I see is if/when the event gets too popular and I'm unable to get a ticket. This is a great local evening out and the good folk of The Shire should be proud of it.

For more information, email comedyonthecommon@ntlworld.com

New Brand Identity

My research and development team and marketing strategists having been working through the night on statistics, qualitative data and time and motion studies about our LOVELY LISTENERS. This has lead to a £15 million pound rebranding exercise of Plumsteadshire.

It has been noted that Plumstead Common and its' environs, are the most crime ridden, dangerous and down-right bilious of places to live. Murderers leap out of sewers at every street corner and shops are looted so often that the Brixton Riots seem like a typical Sunday afternoon in Frinton on Sea. This is according to one or maybe two 'anonymous' contributor(s).

So, to fulfill equalities requirements and serve these minorities, I have to trial a new tagline for Plumsteadshire. Changing from 'It's All For The Best In This Best Of All Possible Worlds' to 'It's All Crap'. Fortunately, I won't need to redesign the logo to look like a horrible Tiswas rip-off.

Knickers

I took a photo of witch's knickers in The Shire.

I'll post a pic when I get time to.

Recycling

Recycling is very much down to personal responsibility, as is everything else if we're going to be a part of society. We'll do our bit and Greenwich Council will do their bit.

I can't fault the council's recycling and refuse services. I find washing and drying tin cans, yogurt pots, cartons etc a bit of a chore, but hey, there are 24 hours in the day. I just tell myself that it's all for the greater good.

The recycling centre opposite the PCR Co Op has been (quite literally), a tip. Like other LOVELY LISTENERS, I too have seen people rummaging for clothes and electrical goods, but for the anti-Plumstead brigade, I'll have to burst your bubble of melancholic woe and say that this happens in other boroughs too. Gadzooks!!!!! I know it's hard to believe that other places are as tawdry and bilious as Plumstead, but hey, I take personal responsibility and do my bit to improve things.

petition against cars

Not petitioning against cars in general. I think I may have mentioned this online petition before. If so, then here goes again.

Sign here to rid the Common of illegally sold cars.

Don't know how it works, but I'm sure it's a bit more involved than signing and all will be jolly and gay. Well, we gotta start somewhere don't we?

A couple of quickies

1) The next comedy night at the Plumstead Common rugby pavilion (Plumsteadshire's entry for next year's Stirling architecture prize), is at 7:00pm on Sunday 30th March 2008AD. I don't know who's on the line up, but it's an entertaining local night out which doesn't involve a bag and a bottle of Tippex, so that can't be bad eh?

Email comedyonthecommon@ntlworld.com for more info.

2) Speaking of Tippex and bag, as one lovely listener pointed out, we can look forward to more tasteless tat from the man who brought us The Ship. You may have seen the no expense spared poster in the window of The Ship proclaiming 'Ship II Opening Soon'. I can barely hold myself back. Where oh where can I go for more glaring blue neon, bouncers on doors as if Busta is expecting Brad and Angelina to pop in for a swift half, and an environment so out of touch with the conservation area that is Plumstead Common?

3) My man in Havana informs me that a reporter from a local newspaper could be writing a little piece on the continuing sale of cars on The Common. This could also involve a photoshoot. If any lovely listeners are interested in being in the shoot, then speak up now. Click on 'comments' and say if you're in. Remember, many hands make light work, or something like that.

4) Every time I visit the shops at The Slade, I look at the Wittgenstein's Grocers signage and think of how beautiful that parade of shops could be. The butcher's signage is also a commendably classy number. Wouldn't it be great if Greenwich Council would fund a scheme for these shops to improve and unify their facades? Gorgeous painted signs for all.

5) And wouldn't it be great if Greenwich Council would fund a scheme to improve the children's play area adjacent to the Slade shops? The fencing and rides do look like they've been stolen from a Kazakh municipal park.

6) The general public seem to be very quiet and well behaved considering the cost of petrol & diesel is rising by the week. It wasn't long ago when I remember paying 75p per litre of unleaded. How high does it need to be before the motorist is going to take action? £1.50 per litre? £2.00?

Nice signage

In refurbishing the shop which used to be the Slade video shop, they've uncovered a splendid piece of shop signage. It's something like Winkelmann's Grøcers. Actually, it's nothing like that, but I'm trying to embroider a colourful past for Plumsteadshire.

I hope they decide to keep it on show, even if it could be very confusing to passing trade. Given that the shop looks like it's going to be an opticians, having a grocer's sign could be interesting. People walking round in circles, peering up, rubbing their eyes and squinting. Looking around, shaking their heads and asking the kids drinking Diamond White where's Four Eyes?

It's a recipe for disaster.

Comedy

I had a flyer put through my letterbox yesterday. It advertises Comedy On The Common at The Pavilion.

I really like the idea of a comedy night. It goes on to state 'alternative comedy with top acts from the comedy circuit'. I don't expect to see Harry Hill or Alan Carr, but hey, someone's taken the initiative to put on some entertainment for the good folk o' the Shire.

The venue is The Pavilion. Does that mean that scruffy bomb shelter outside The Old Mill? I thought that was a changing room for the rugby club. If so, then I'm not too sure about watching stand-up with the aroma de jock-strap wafting around.

Anyway, it's Sunday 24th (February I suppose), at 7pm. £7 entry.

Listen up

Many many thanks to those of you who have redressed the balance in TOILETGATE. Nobody has ever laid claim that Plumstead is a picture of urban utopia, but some have better experiences than others.

One lovely listener has commented with such positive energy that I'm going to vote for her in the next local elections (whether she stand or not).

Planetplumstead says:-
Sorry Dr Pangloss but I’m going to lead off alarming, please humour me…

Plumstead undoubtedly has it's share of woes and sadly certain areas do experience more problems than others. I sympathise with those who believe Plumstead has become “a toilet”. If I’m honest there are a few areas for which this is a good description. In contrast, there are some very beautiful and well-cared-for spots. Perhaps those of us who are involved with caring for the local environment should take this on board and organise some “familiarisation visits”, rather like Nick did as part of the Green Chain celebrations. This way, old/sick/isolated/frightened folk like Anonymous can share the delights of Plumstead’s natural environment in safety and get to meet others who do too.

To my mind, and as previously pointed out on this blog, numbers do make the difference. To give an example, there are some Glyndon estate residents who endure continuous ASB problems with drug dealers and related crimes. To help counter this they formed themselves into a residents’ association and now have the attention of GBC councillors and the Met’s safer neighbourhood team. It would be naïve to think that this solves all their problems, it doesn’t, it simply helps keep up the fight. It also gives them a voice, helps them feel less isolated, and gives them some level of control. We should be glad of these efforts because problems quickly spread out into neighbouring areas and ultimately gives us all issues with crime and safety.

Wearing my Girl Guides hat, I’d like to say that if you feel strongly about our problems then think about getting involved with a local group like the PCEG or one of the residents’ associations. If Plumstead doesn’t have a collective voice then it’s difficult as individuals to demand action from the authorities. Before I joined the PCEG, I used to just sit at home and moan about everything. Now, although I still moan about everything, I at least get involved with doing something practical about our problems. I’ve also met a great bunch of other locals and it has made me realise that lots of people do care about what happens to Plumstead.

Slade Green

Messing about on the interweb, somehow I've managed to come across a website for Slade Green. I don't really know where it is, but do know it's along the Plumstead railway line.

Best of all, the photo page is quite spectacular. Featured photos include Londis, a post box and a toliet [sic]. It did make me wonder though if a fully blown Plumsteadshire website would prove equally mundane. Having said that, the person who runs the site seems to have a light-hearted tone of voice for the site. Nice.

back to business

The new estate agent, Beaumont Gibbs, is looking rather snazzy. We don't really need another shop to stare at unaffordable property, but it's better than staring at piles of plasterboard which used to adorn the space.

Just to redress the balance of impartiality, there are other splendid estate agents to browse.

David Evans
Robinson Jackson
Your Move
Goodwin Ellis

The new opticians over at the Slade seems to have slowed its' fit-out. Maybe they've taken off their rose-tinted lorgnettes and seen the Mad Max reality.

unhappy person

There's a nasty spat emerging from A.N.Onymous.

Anonymous says :-
In essence, after all, when all is said and done and at the end of the day.....PLUMSTEAD IS JUST A TOILET!

I don't mind people saying what they think. You hate the place, well fair enough, but why moan on a blog? Have you been pro-active in bettering your own part of Plumstead? I guess not. If you are so bitter and twisted and have so much hatred of this area, then move. What part of London do you want to go that is crime-free? Hackney? Plaistow? Barking? Tottenham? Stratford? OK, not East London then. Let's try South. Brixton? Streatham? West Norwood? Oh no, they call that the Wild West Norwood now don't they? Catford? Camberwell? New Cross? Peckham? Rotherhithe? Oh dear, we've kinda ruled out half of London by now. I could carry on, but will spare you the insult.

Nobody has ever pretended that Plumstead is all roses. You're absolutely right though, it certainly does have its' fair share of horrible areas, but I for one prefer to make the most of what we have and do my tiny little bit to help improve matters.

As for your shallow insight into the local newspaper stories, well I hate to burst your bubble there, but everybody knows that good news doesn't sell.

Stay safe!!!!

Good people of the Shire, please take care. This evening, I have had two very similar incidents.

1) A complete stranger knocked on my door and told me that they saw a man taking too much interest in my motor. I thanked them and have now booby-trapped my ride.

2) I walked out of my house and saw a man lingering by my neighbour's car. It was parked on the Common side of Plumstead Common Road. As I am now quite fired-up about the possibility of my property being stolen, I started walking towards him, not thinking about the potential danger. He looked suspicious and I asked if he was alright (not in a caring way, you understand), and he said he dropped his phone. Reality kicked in and I backed off, thinking he could be carrying a blade, then I knocked on my neighbour's door and we checked the car out. Smashed rear quarter window, but nothing stolen. I felt so bad, as I was inches from stopping him. Here's a description for what it's worth. He was around 5' 9" medium build. Dare I say it - East European looking. Shortish dark hair back combed. Spoke with a usual South East London accent.

Don't ever leave anything in your car, even if it's worthless. These might be unconnected incidents, but I'll see tomorrow morning if I've had my motor stolen.

Be vigilant and stay safe!!!!

more Nellie

Well it would seem that elephants are like buses, you don't get one for years and then two turn up at once. Not strictly true as I'm just being frivolous; I saw the same pink elephant again yesterday and it brought a smile to my face. Simple pleasures eh? I don't know what the elephant means though.

Moving onto a less cheery subject, I only have to say the tragic words 'KITCHEN CADDY'.

I guess like most people, I'm all for recycling. My recycling bin has always filled up much more quickly than the refuse bin, but my kitchen is now bin heaven. One for dry recycling, one for refuse, one for milk & juice cartons and then the KITCHEN CRAPPY. Oh yes, how can I forget the small pile of newspapers to line the bottom of my new addition?

This must also affect the changing use/aesthetic of the English garden. Oh, once were pretty hedged and bordered with pansies (no sniggering at the back), see roads around Shrewsbury House - dey is well nice innit? Then the horrible curse of driveways came along. Concrete all over the front garden and more recently, impressed concrete, see Welling. And once were one black bin, we now have two plus black refuse bags flanking our front doors. Such a horrible view of our homes. What must Betjeman think of this?

elephant

This evening, I saw an odd thing in The Shire. It was a pink elephant on top of a little van. I hadn't taken any non prescription substances and I even have a photo to prove it. I sent my man from Magnum to capture the beast.

Elephant sightings in Plumsteadshire are rare, but I do think I have seen another one around Herbert Road.

Is it the same one?

This is most peculiar.

Apple keynote

I was hoping there would be a significant update to the iPhone, but alas no. I was particularly interested in more memory, 3G or above and higher megapixels. Not this time round Bucko (I've only just remembered this term. Remembered it from when I used to watch 'Happy Days' in the late 70's / early 80's. I think Richie Cunningham used to say it when riled).

Still, I'll have to thank Steve Jobs for not meeting my wish list as it's a really expensive marriage to enter into. As my folks used to tell me all the time, 'Don't buy it if you can't afford it'.

Mac Book Air

Oh mama, I want one.

So one of Apple's gems released in San Francisco today is the Mac Book Air. It's thin, it's superb eye-candy and it's thin. My only thought at the moment is with the limited about of ports. I've got so many peripherals which all require USB ports that I'd have to plug a USB extension lead thing in to spoil the sleek aerospatialesque lines of the Air. Well, I guess it's not aimed at people like me. I'll obviously need a Mac Book Pro Air.

Hello again

Boy oh boy, do I have a packed show for you lovely listeners this week. Well, I would if I had time to write; life's just too hectic nowadays. My new year's resolution is 1440 x 900 dpi - no, stop messing about, my resolution (which I'll definitely break), is to try and write Plumsteadshire more regularly.

Subjects I have on the boil are:-
1) Steve Jobs' Apple keynote speech in 9 hours time
2) finding religion in the Co Op
3) the boomtown that is Plumstead
4) UFO sightings over Thamesmead New Town
5) allegedly unseemly carryings-on at the Slade public lavvys
6) local stores we have loved

I've still got a Plumsteadshire website on the drawing board, but time is not on my side, so Blogger will have to do for the moment.

Crop circles

Over the festive period, the Common has been visited by the Plumstead Regional Arts Team (you can work the acronym out for yourselves). Their latest installation is a crop circle inspired piece entitled 'scumbag #1'. Merry Christmas!

Bad news

A couple of lovely listeners have alerted me to a shooting incident around the Common a couple of weeks ago.

I knew nothing about this. Strolling around The Shire, I saw this discreet notice. I presume the gun shots came from the area around the St something and someone church.

I hate to say this, but this kind of sums up my view of this year. News reports every other week about another youngster stabbed, another gun related incident. Tabloid journalism ruling the airwaves? Bad news sells?

Sigh. There's no way I'm going to end 2007 on a bum note. The fog on the Common looked absolutely gorgeous and I was desperate to photograph it and post up a lovely pic of our lovely green space, but I couldn't find my camera in time.

Have a lovely Christmas me dearios.

Shops

Was out for a stroll around The Shire this week and noticed that a couple of retail properties are being readied for the good folk o' Plumsteadshire.

1) The old video shop and teen hang-out at The Slade. I think the last speculation was that this is going to become a bookmakers. Thank the Lord God this is not the case. I loathe these cheap gambling dens almost as much as I hate seeing men wearing enormous spectacles (see Timmy Mallett). Speaking of which, I do believe this shop will be opening as an opticians. I don't know what it will be called, but I always thought 'For Eyes' is a funny and clever name.

2) The most under-rated plasterboard storage unit. The shop on the corner of Admaston Road has been home to baths, sinks and sheets and sheets of Gyproc for as long as I can remember. What an under-used shop. This could easily be turned into my jazz café. Picture it. Coffees, home made cakes, newspapers, cribbage and Sonny Rollins Sundays. I digress.
Speculation has been that this shop will become (yet another), estate agent.....and there was I believing that there's a down-turn in the housing market.

3) Next door to the Gyproc store is/was Abalone. I never understood why a printing shop would be named Abalone. Was the owner called Mr Abalone? Well, I don't know if this is anything to do with Gyproc or if it's going to become another estate agent. How about if it kept its' name and turned into a fish restaurant? Nothing really fancy like Loch Fyne, but something slightly fancy like Olleys in Hernia Hill.

Load of old rubbish

Over the past week or so, I've noticed a skip in the middle of Old Mill Road on Plumstead Common. I don't know who put it there, but it's unsightly and a haven for rats et al.

Today, the skip has gone but the rubbish remains. How nice is that? Was the skip a not very secret hiding place for the drug dealers to stash their wares? Was the skip removal some kind of magic trick? Kind of like the way you tug a table cloth really quickly and the plates, salt & pepper pots and other dining paraphernalia stay in place.

A quick phone call to Cleansweep is in order.

15 million details - LOST

So there's a computer disc lost out in the big bad world with millions upon millions of our important personal details.

Total imbeciles or just a simple mistake? Whatever it is, I'm seething. I'm the incredible hulk on steroids, I'm so fired up, I'll put Tyson down in one blow.

This is information security at a pretty low level.

Here's something to bring my blood pressure back down below 600.

Pop quiz.

The disc in question is password protected. What could this password be?

HMRCprat
child123

I welcome suggestions from lovely listeners.

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.