plants

this week I have been buying some plants for the pots in the garden. Now the snow has gone I am a bit fed up of seeing empty pots so I hoping for some early spring flowers. I am no gardener so actually I just hope they grow. I am also continuously on the hunt for plants for the garden that kill, sorry i mean scare, cats! Grr. Get off my land.
Thompsons Garden centre just over Shooter's Hill is a firm favourite for a bit of flower purchasing.

Neighbourhood Watch

I saw ages ago that there was a Police Neighbourhood Watch office that had opened on Lakedale Road (not sure that is the official name of it). But I have never seen it open, does anyone know if it is in business. Am hoping that is not going to replace the police station when it reputedly closes! Maybe I should pop in and ask them what they do there, if I can ever find it open..odd.

Comedy on the Common

I got a leaflet through my door tonight regarding the next comedy nights (Jan 31st and February 28th). I have often said that I am surprised they don't publicise this more, so am pleased to see that they are promoting it. The last time I went it was very busy and seems to be getting more and more well attended as time goes on. I really like the atmosphere on the occasions that I have been. I think the entry price is about right, the drinks are cheap, the people very friendly and the comedians most importantly have also been great (certainly in their interaction with the audience, after all there is a lot to take the piss out of in Plumstead)!!
It shows that local events will be well supported as well for any Plumstead folk thinking of venturing out into business. There is suck a lack of local things going on that I think we are so grateful to those people that do put things on!

Astro Turf

I am thinking of astro turfing my garden, has anyone done this or does anyone know how much it costs (I mean per sq metre as obviously you dont know how big my garden is).

Rhubarb and Custard

I read recently that a group of 4 Mums in Lee have decided to club together and open a tea shop selling home baked cakes called Rhubarb and Custard. It looks like it is being run primarily as a place where people can gather with their children but that it is also open to all members of the community. My God that is what Plumstead desperately needs by the Common. Somewhere with enough seating for parents and children and enough space for pushchairs. I love a good home made cake as well.
I really like the coffee shop at the East Greenwich Pleasaunce so that is what my vision is, shame I can't bake...
I often trot around the Common and it is such a shame that there isn't somewhere to pop into. The Sandwich shop on the Slade is about the closest thing to a coffee shop and that only has a breakfast bar to perch at...

Houses in general..

I was driving through Fulham on Sunday and forgot having lived over this way for so long actually how grotty things are in parts of Fulham and Chelsea. I think the stark contrast between the stunning houses and those left to rot is just easier to see. I don't understand how so many of the once grand houses have been left to rack and ruin. They are just beautiful in terms of their architecture but somewhere seem to have been forgotten over time and there are a number of what look like squats on some really posh roads.
How do houses fall into such disrepair. Why aren't they sold before they get to this state and why, when they come up for sale again (or seemingly they don't) aren't they bought and then restored.
It is not just a couple of houses either, and i can't believe that they are all being inhabited by mad old cat women (like the film Grey Gardens) so why has it got so bad.
Perhaps it irks me so much because I just think about what I could do with one of those houses in Fulham....

Dogs and Poo

I think I may have moaned about this before, but seriously what is with all the dog shit on the roads. I counted 8 separate ones from the top of Griffin road this morning. I also couldn't have witnessed a more stereotypical scene in the car with a chain wearing hoodie letting his pit bull/staffy/chav dog poo all over the pavement whilst he stood next to it having a fag. Christ, is it the more hooded tops you own the more likely you are to have an ugly dog with bowel problems?? Clear it up or I might follow you next time with a plastic bag of my own and post it through your letter box. As if the place isn't filthy enough with all the mattresses, car parts and dirty net curtains you add to it with dog shit (And whilst I'm having a moan if you have filthy net curtains, seriously, how much does a box of Daz cost nowadays, put them in the washing machine)...
Between dogs and the cats that poo in my garden I am seriously off animals..

help the aged

I was just reading Plummy Mummy's blog about helping old people (or just neighbours) and I offered a lift to an old man on my street just this week. He knows me to wave at but as I drove past him and wound down the window to ask him if he wanted a lift (he was walking down an icy road with his arm in plaster and is 80+) he almost recoiled! I think he probably thought I was a kerb crawler and hadn't recognised me with my coat done up to my chin! It was only as I drove off that I thought I probably should have said who I was and that might have jogged his memory, rather than looking like I was out on a pensioners kidnapping spree....It's been pretty treacherous out there for a while now so am surprised not to have seen more people keel over.

Princess of Wales pub

I had some lovely drinks at the Princess of Wales pub in Blackheath the other night. It really is one of my favourite pubs in the village. It is not terribly glam, in fact they have clearly had a leak in their conservatory as the wallpaper looks a bit tatty but it is friendly (They definitely have the best bar staff in the area, certainly compared to The Railway which again I really like as a pub but their staff are idle and ignorant). The PoW also has a very reasonable wine list and they serve lovely food that is great value as well. I also like the fact they have some toasty heaters in their garden for smokers (I also like the fact they have a lovely walled garden). The only thing I don't like is the fact that it is not in Plumstead!!

Death on the rails

I wonder if anyone has any information about what happened to the person found dead on the railway before Christmas. There doesn't seem to be any news in the local rag or anything so I haven't been able to find out any further information. It seems someone got hit by a train sometime in the early hours of the morning, but they may have been on the line for sometime. V sad and v odd.

The Capricorn Club

Yesterday I passed The Capricorn Club, a private members club on Lakedale road...who would have thought it. I am guessing it is not like Soho House, more of a crack den come brothel but sadly I didn't go in and investigate! Am amazed I have never seen it before, it could be the boost to the Plumstead social scene we have all been waiting for.

Brrrr.....

What I like about the snow and when the UK has come to a standstill is the way that on the whole people pull together and there is a real sense of community. People check in on their elderly neighbours, pop to the shops for one another, lend each other tins of beans etc...Having lived in London for over 10 years Plumstead is by far the friendliest area that I have lived in, in terms of knowing the names of my neighbours, using the same shops where there is familiarity and even being friendly with the lady in the ticket office as she is about the only person I see there. It makes a huge difference to know that should my house fall down around my ears that there are people locally who would help and not as in so many cases in London just step over it and continue. Perhaps this is because Plumstead is more of an established area, in terms of people having grown up here or lived here for a number of years whereas other more Central areas are transient and the sense of community is lost.
So well done Plumstead!

New flats

Those new flats by the station are coming on at some rate..Also I'm sure they seem taller than they did before Christmas. Perhaps they popped a couple more floors on over the festive period! I'm not sure why they all seem to have been designated for affordable housing though. I would have thought a mixture of affordable and private sales would have been more beneficial for the area. There aren't to my knowledge any other new flats in the Plumstead area (except above the new King's restaurant I think) and living in a new build appeals to many people. Not all people wanting to get on the property ladder also fall under the guidelines for affordable housing. We earnt too much to qualify for anything, didn't work in the public sector to get those deals, yet still didn't earn enough really to buy our picket fence dream..
Perhaps I'm wrong and some of them will be available for normal folk...

Back to reality

First day back at work for me today and as I trundled down the hill I saw a vision to behold..a new restaurant on the high street. Well the shell of one, it is not open yet and weirdly doesn't give any indication of what type of restaurant it will be either. I think it said something like "divine food to behold" or I could just be making that up. It didn't have a web address either only a number for reservations or an email address. Anyway I hope it is not another Indian/Noodle bar but actually a restaurant offering a wider variety of food. If it's children friendly I shall pop in during the day or if not I shall pop in during the evening and investigate..