Telly

Today is a toasty sock watching Christmas DVDs day..It is cold, yet sunny (my favourite weather) and I am all warm in the house with food at my disposal.
I shall be making my charity donation this year to Shelter or Crisis or perhaps direct to the homeless as Christ it is flipping freezing to be sleeping outside in this weather. It's even cold in my bedroom with the heating off and I have walls and carpet (as you would expect)!

Taxi!!!!!

We regularly use Amber cars for shipping our friends off into the night to far flung places outside of SE London and I think they are the best cab firm around. Relatively inexpensive as well for trips across town (bloody cheaper than black cabs too)!
It is so much easier in a cab then trekking into town and then back out again if we want to visit friends in Dulwich or the like.
One of my favourite things is being in the back of a black cab though. I love how it feels slightly decadent and you can have a right old nosey around London.

Let it snow...

I love the snow when it falls in big fat flakes! It was like that last night, I stood at the window looking out over Plumstead watching it fall, bliss.
Slightly disappointed this morning that it is not much deeper although it is on the road, but not as much in the back garden - how odd!
The Common looks so pretty at this time of year, all I need now is a mug of hot chocolate. Or my favourite way of serving it in a jug and then just topping up my mug.

The High Street

I am excitedly awaiting the opening of a new restaurant/bar/eatery on the high street. Clearly I have no information that this is actually going to take place but there is a retail space for rent under the new flats that at present are being done up. What a lovely venue this would make for a coffee shop or restaurant.
I wrote recently to both Starbucks and Costa Coffee asking why they had 2 or more coffee shops in Woolwich but hadn't thought about Plumstead and listed all its merits but so far no-one has even bothered to acknowledge my emails let alone respond to them. Darn cheek.
I really hope someone other than a mobile phone cum barbers cum fresh fruit cum kebab maker opens up and rents this space.

Christmas time...

My favourite thing about this time of year is that people have their Christmas trees up in their sitting rooms and often leave their curtains open so that people can see the twinkly lights, which means I can have a lovely old nosey! I especially like it late afternoon when it is getting dark enough to turn your lights on but not dark enough to draw the curtains. I love seeing how people live...You might say I need to get out more, but I do, to see more houses!!

Estate Agents

When we wanted to get our house valued recently we thought we would try what some other people had done and had some estate agents from Plumstead value the house along with some from Blackheath. The reasoning being that it would if we decided to sell we would open up our house to a wider audience, those looking around the Standard/Charlton with a similar budget to what our house is worth but in this area only able to afford a flat. It is how we ended up living here. An estate agent a friend had put me in touch with said we could buy a house "what with stairs"? was my response (really, I am a genius sometimes). So off we popped to Plumstead having never heard of the place to find that we could buy many a house indeed!
Anyway the upshot was that the two estate agents we used locally (Robinson Jackson - close your eyes, think of an estate agent and yes the stereotype is alive and well in this branch, and Beaumont Gibbs - slightly less shiny) were considerably lower in their valuations than the estate agents in the Standard

Ha ha ha ha ha

Thanks Plummy Mummy for my lesson in blogging, all being well I should be up and running..

I went to the comedy club (hut) on Saturday night and what jolly fun it was too. It was heaving, standing room only and then a v amusing disco afterwards.
It's great fun, if you havent been go

Sprucing up the neighbourhood

I read this week that under some scheme or other two places in Plumstead are to get some sprucing up. One is the tennis courts and bowling green, which to me already look OK but I am all for things looking new and sparkly and the other is Plumstead Gardens which is to get a new playground, teen play area and youth zone or something. Sounds good to me, except I dont know where it is, must get googling. As other bloggers have pointed out there really is no decent playground around Plumstead Common. The one attached to that school near the Slade seems to be the most decent but who wants to be on a slide surrounded by cars whizzing by.
A playpark on the common would be a great idea. I know there is already that wooden play thing for older children but one near there for younger tots would be just right.

New Abbey Wood eatery..

I read about a new cafe looking to open in Abbey Wood yesterday and this is just the type of place that Plumstead has been hankering after. It is going to serve breakfast and lunch and then in the evening turn into a pizzeria, they wont serve alcohol but you can bring your own which is always such a cheaper option. She is still looking for additional funding, basically trades people to donate bits of plaster board, taps, blinds etc. Surely Plumstead would be the ideal place to try this type of thing. Ablair's could provide bits as can Carpet Corner and there are no end of places on the High Street that can do something...
I really do miss not having anywhere in Plumstead to go for weekend breakfasts, meet parents during the week for coffee and cake and go in the evening. I have eaten out 4 times in the last week or so (OK so slightly more excessive than usual but it is the Christmas season). Once in Blackheath, once in Bluewater, once in the O2 and once in town. Two of these events could easily have been in Plumstead had there been anywhere decent to meet people and have some food and wine..

Trains

Never mind the fact that SE railway has buggered up the service from the New Year. What is happening with all the cancelled trains at the moment? This morning I got on a late running Cannon Street train which then turned into a Charing Cross train with no announcements! Luckily I had noticed we were on platform 6 at London Bridge! On the plus side I understand there are more trains leaving Cannon Street now in the evening rather than direct trains to Plumstead being an hour and ten minutes apart in evening rush hour.
There are also going to be no direct trains to Blackheath in the morning which seems strange..

Jack Frost

Has certainly visited my car this morning and in the process has drawn love hearts on my car which made me smile. Obviously I haven't checked closely so it could be drawn with a key and then I won't be as happy, but it could be worse and have been a penis! Still it made me smile..
Blooming cold though

The bloody Blackwall Tunnel

How shit is it. I mean a fire in a lorry and the entire of South East London comes to a stand still. If that wasn't enough it was raining and we all know that no-one in London knows how to drive as soon as it rains. It took me what felt like an hour this morning to get to Plumstead station. Buses couldn't pass each other, clever dick heads were blocking the streets and in the end I gave up and worked from home. I thought about doing a little shop but couldn't face the trek to Sainsbury in the traffic so am having a freezer food supper tonight.
Seriously though how can Bo-Jo not think it is a good idea to have another form of crossing the river in this area of London. On the news they were saying that people were using Tower Bridge as an alternative route. Oh really helpful, send more traffic into Central London a zillion miles away when all we want to do is cross the river.

digging up the roads

When will it ever stop! Half of Greenwich seems to be under traffic cones and temporary traffic lights. It's like a free for all, especially when half the borough's driver sans licence whizz through them on RED...It made me laugh the other day when I had stopped and the car behind me tried to overtake me on the steep hill and go through the light only to find a bus in the way, at that point he was stuck on the other side of the road as the car behind had moved up and he had nowhere to go..how i laughed and mocked as he was beeped and sworn at..

garages

I noticed the other day that the M and S is no longer at the BP garage in Charlton. I only noticed this when I had already picked up a basket and was half way around and couldn't find anything to buy! What a shame as at least it was open later which meant if I missed the one at the Standard I could pop down there..
Now why doesn't Shell team up with someone (Waitrose)!?? and then we could have our own mini haven on the common. Or better still Shell turn into BP and then we have a mini M and S et voila, Plumstead Village is born!

Londis

I spotted this on my walk today. No idea how long it has been here perhaps I just now get to Tesco and don't go any further. However, there it was, next door looking all shiny and new and sunny in its colours and I thought "how lovely"..It really makes such a difference to shops when they spruce themselves up (owners of Plumstead High Street and the dip take note)! I am very excited to see that this little street has had a mini facelift but just think that the dip and Slade should be prime for a bit of TLC (the other area I just can't believe hasn't sorted itself out is the road called The Village in Charlton)!
I can't believe anyone ever buys carpets from Mr Carpet Man next to the Co-Op. I once got quoted by him after he spent 15 minutes ignoring me when I was the only customer in his shop and he was outrageously expensive! He could become Mr Costa Coffee!

The North Wind doth blow...

blimey and didn't it just! The path leading to our house was soaked - for one minute I thought we had had a pool installed that I didn't know about! No place for lilo's here tho..Am just pleased I don't live at the bottom of a hill.

Shopping

I had to do some weekly shopping today. I couldn't even get into the first supermarket I tried as the car park was full so I got fed up and went to a different one! I think the entirety of SE London must have been doing their food shopping this morning, it was heaving! Or perhaps it was the weather that meant everyone was in a car..
I like food shopping, I like having a wander about and I find that I always get new things that I wouldn't see if I was shopping online (although I do love Mr Ocado and his van).
I am also fascinated by what other people buy and often want to ask them what they plan on making with their purchases as you do see some of the oddest combinations! I only cook about 10 dishes in rotation so could really do with some inspiration!
I also feel v shameful when I see the local chavtastic population with more fruit and veg in their baskets than I have.

Litter

Today I am moaning about litter. Put it in the bin people. It's a right tip out there.
Seriously when we all have 300 bins each that are kept outside next to the path how can you fail to find one to put your rubbish in? (I actually am a bin down as someone has pinched one of mine).
Pikeys.

Parking

What is it with people parking right at the end of a road, on a corner? Does your car have a death wish?
I find myself nearly in the middle of the road before I can see any traffic approaching.
Particularly bad spots seem to be the vans parked outside of Tony's cafe which means I play car roulette everytime I try and cross Plumstead Common!

Fireworks

Yippee for fireworks! I am off to see some tomorrow at Blackheath and join the masses as we get stuck in traffic and make our way over there. I've only ever been to the ones in Blackheath (I mean in this area not ever) and they are pretty impressive. In fact the first time I came I was living on the other side of London and I remember going to a fabulous Greek restaurant in what is now the Indian opposite Neal's Yard. Shame it closed.
I have never been to the ones at Danson Park and you have to pay for those so I probably won't ever go either.
There were a tonne of fireworks going off last night, some of them were pretty big too. Not sure I would set something that size off in the garden but it made for a lovely free display.
I also love New Year's Eve in these parts as you can see for miles from our house and there are always fireworks being set off.
Not as keen on the manky kids that have them though....

Plumstead Safer Neighbourhood

There is a new Safer Neighbourhood office that I have seen is opening on Lakedale Road, just near to Tesco and the Daily 5 Cafe..This little parade of shops is really beginning to smarten itself up and how nice to see some more Police presence. (Am hoping this isn't going to be the only thing that takes over from Plumstead Police Station when it closes)!
I think it is a real shame that the lovely flower shop closed on this road just as things were looking up. They sold beautiful flowers and now it is a "fashion" shop, although it recently changed hands. I have no idea how these shops think they are going to survive when they are only offering things to a small number of people. I always think they are money laundering fronts..!

Thames Bridge

I read an article in The Mercury today about the Thames Gateway Bridge and how plans have been shelved by Boris. Now I'm a big fan of Bo but really what was he thinking? Has he ever been to Greenwich?? Trying to cross the river is utter madness.
The Woolwich ferry is currently down to one boat as 2 are in for servicing, but even with both up and running the queues, particularly at peak times, are crucifying.
Not a day passes without the Blackwall tunnel being backed up in one of the directions. You only have to listen to the BBC news in the morning and it is always on there. Then the only other option is the Dartford crossing (bridge already paid for, yet the fee has risen to £1.5o)...
Look at West London and even Central London and you will see an abundance of bridges to get across. Yet if you live in the borough of Greenwich you are severely hampered.
It the one thing I absolutely hate about living in this borough. Whilst I don't luckily have to drive to work I do drive North of the river at least once over the weekend and believe that the bridge could have been the perfect answer.

Plumstead Manor School

I like the look of Plumstead Manor School. It has a lovely oldy worldy feel to it and I also like the fact that it is a single sex school. There are certainly not many of these left, at least in the state sector. I do wish they would wear a uniform though. I can't quite get to grips with people going to school in hideous round necked sweatshirts.
There is a lot of expansion happening around the school, details of which can be found on the PMS website and it looks pretty impressive.
Now if they could only do something about the people who just stop in the middle of the road to drop their children off that would be good. (Especially those who blatantly ignore the yellow zig zags). To those parents I say how about I ignore your child when she steps out in front of my car on the way to work....

Daily 5 cafe

It is so nice to see a new venture in Plumstead brightening up the streets that is not yet another mobile phone shop or hair braiding "studio". I have been here a few times now and had a variety of things all which have been very tasty and reasonably inexpensive.
They also do food to takeaway. The only problem I can see is that they are never open on a Sunday morning and that's what I miss is somewhere to head off to on a Sunday, with the papers and have a mug of tea and a fry up.

Parks

At this time of year I like a wander around a park, kicking the leaves, drinking hot chocolate. For years we used to go to Greenwich Park and I do love it there but it can get rather hectic at weekends by the time you add up all the tourists, 4x4's and children.
Another park we like is Danson Park, free parking, lovely pub, lake, ducks and a great play park and given the fact that half of Greenwich seems to be being dug up at the moment it is much quicker to get there.
Our new find, however, is Hall Palace & Gardens in Bexley. It is an old Jacobean House which you can have a wander around and the gardens are stunning. We went last weekend and there were only 2 other couples in the park! So there is no play park and there is a lot of goose poo but it is stunning and it has a two great coffee shops which are very cheap and a gift shop also very cheap. Plus the House & Gardens are free to go to so great for when you have visitors!

Yesterday in the Evening Standard (which of course is a newspaper so all articles published must be true) it said that house prices in the City (am not sure they are counting Plumstead in this but it's close enough) are back to their 2007 peak. So I had a look on rightmove.co.uk and certainly they aren't round here. I still think Plumstead is a buyers bargain. Not only do you get a lot of house for your money you also have good transport links and a lot of green space - I am amazed at the amount of open space in and around Plumstead - you also get shops. Now OK I know we are missing bars and restaurants but we do at least have a good sized Co-Op and a Tesco, plus 2 post offices, a Boots, several pound shops, car servicing places, some decent takeaways and a firestation and police station so you are never far away from assistance!
You also get great views if you are up the hill (although to get the view it also comes with a wheeze if you are as unfit as I, hence I like the bus to the Common)!

Graffiti

Why is it that people who graffiti always have neat handwriting? In fact they nearly all seem to have the same handwriting! It's lovely, neat, swirly, confident writing, just such a shame most artists can't spell.
I don't think there is that much graffiti around Plumstead Common and Shooter's Hill and I am convinced it must be magic paint on the boards up around the old Prince Albert Pub as any graffiti on there seems to just slip away.