Voting

Perhaps I have missed it but if anyone knows a party committed to bringing another river crossing/tunnel/zip wire to this part of London please let me know as they will definitely get my vote.
I often travel down the road into Thamesmead which is empty so I just don't get the argument about traffic levels, congestion and pollution etc etc. It can't be any worse than the traffic at a standstill waiting to get into the tunnel ploughing out fumes when motionless.
And who the hell thought it would be a good idea to put a roundabout at the entrance to the Woolwich Ferry. Very clever that so all the traffic blocks off the entrance to the ferry and you can't get around it.
Tunnels and bridges, that is what I shall be voting for.

Ice cream van

I keep hearing the ice cream van but I never seem to see him, only in the distance and he never seems to stop on my road, or if does it is not for long. I am sure they used to drive by jingling their tunes and then park up for a while.
I haven't had an icecream from one for ages but I saw some children eating "screwballs" the other day which I remember so well because I wasn't supposed to have bubblegum but they were oh so nice...
So if you know where the icecream van is, stop him for me!

Our Common Story

We bought this book when we first moved here. I think it is published by the PCEG and tells the history of Plumstead etc. I found it last night when I was llooking through some paperwork and realise that now we have lived here longer I at least recognise most of the places referred to in it. The front page has the list of the Plumstead Idlers I think they are called - essentially the main pubs. Ship, Star, Who'd have thought it, Woodman and the Mill (no mention of the Prince Albert, perhaps that was a newer pub) Anyway I realise that the Woodman is still empty. Perhaps I will write to the main brewers and highlight the need for a gastropub in Plumstead. If Mottingham, Woolwich, Eltham etc have them then surely Plumstead which is far prettier should have something. So I am officially on a crusade to encourage any local brewers, pub owners to invest in Plumstead Village...

Greenwich Summer Sessions

There are a serious of gigs taking place this summer in Greenwich, near and around the Old Royal Naval College. The line up includes Jools Holland, Seth Lakeman, The Levellers and Athlete (as well as the Royal Philharmonic but not sure I can class that as a "gig")...
You get a teeny tiny discount for living in Greenwich as well, yippeee, which then gets swallowed up by your postage fee but you can't have everything!

Beauty Salon

The lovely Dr P posted a comment on my Shooters Hill restaurant post about the fact that the Campus also have a hair and beauty salon. I have just had a quick search and it looks like it is amazing value. Just what everyone needs to perk them up for summer. At these prices I might have a bit of everything done, which I reckon would cost just marginally less than my last Nails Inc pedicure....
I shall let you know how I get on and how good it was...If you see an orange lady with wax rash and green highlighted hair wandering around Plumstead Common you will know it didn't go very well...

Plumstead Make Merry

Following on from my previous thread and threaders....
This year's Make Merry is on Saturday 5th June and takes place on Plumstead Common, in front of the Plumstead Manor School and by the rugby hut. I have been in previous years and it's nice to pop along, see some local faces and support people with stalls and in general the community. I think they had Morris dancers the other year and there is usually a bouncy castle and some other tot rides as well as food stalls and some general alround good feeling being spread.
I think it is great that a diddy community like Plumstead can pull something like this off.
Last year there was also a small music festival put on one Saturday over on Winns common which was excellent. We took up a picnic and lounged around having a drink and listened to some tunes. Great fun and cheaper than a day ticket to V!

City of London Festival

I was having a nosey around some other blogs and found some information about this Festival. It takes places clearly in the city around the end of June, beginning of July...you can find out more information at this chap's blog http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/
Now that the weather is all sunny and fun I can't wait to get out more and explore. We had a lovely long walk last weekend along the Thames all around Tower Bridge, and then down the Southbank and way passed the Globe. I must get the boat in next time from Woolwich Arsenal.

Shooter's Hill campus restaurant

I seem to remember seeing something about this around Christmas time so have just done a search. There is a restaurant called "city view" on the post 16 campus on Shooter's Hill which is open to the public. Apparantly each lunchtime and also some evenings. What a shame they dont open every week perhaps on a Thur/Fri/Sat evening. How nice would it be to have a local restaurant. I am going to try and find out more. I know from speaking to friends locally and reading other peoples blogs that people want to support more local enterprises and are desperate for a local restaurant. This way it helps the community and locals. Think of it like Plumstead's answer to Jamie's Fifteen!!

Emmaus Greenwich

I discovered this place a while ago and always pop in to have a rummage..For those of you who dont know Emmaus are a great homeless charity whose shops are run by people who have been homeless.
They sell furniture, electrical goods, bric a brac, DVDs, books etc all at ridiculous prices.
When I think about the amount of programmes on TV at the moment and the trend for reclaiming old furniture it is no surprise that "junk shops" have their prices inflated. I was trying to find a lloyd-loom esque chair recently and the ones I saw where around £30...Good old Emmaus - a fiver!! All these bits of furniture need are a good scrub down, painting etc and then they look amazing (I am a fab of rearranged design and love what they showcase).
There are also some really good charity shops in Eltham that I like a rummage around them as well. So much cheaper than posh junk shop places like Whiststable, Alfie's antiques market etc....
They have a website emmausgreenwich. org and they are based just off Brewery Road..
have a gander..

Plumstead events

I haven't seen or heard much about the Plumstead Make Merry/the event on Winns common with the music/one day cafe/other events recently. Has it all stopped?
The problem with things happening locally, i tend to find, is that I always read about them or hear about them a couple of days before they are due to happen, and by then it is much too late and the diary has been booked up with other social engagements for months (don't you know)!!
Come on Plumstead if you can't produce a cafe/bar/restaurant etc etc let's have some info on your events!

Shooter's Hill riding club

I read that one of the legacies from having the Equestrian events in Greenwich is that there is going to be a new riding school opening in Shooter's Hill. I don't seem to be able to find out any more information about this at the moment but what great news to have something like that on our doorstep. Now if we can get a shooting club going in Woolwich that would also be great - although fear tot might be a bit young for that.

Today I nearly fainted....

I went for a walk around the Common earlier as it was sunny and I was off to enjoy the sunshine - well off for an icecream with a wander around the Common to ensure I lost a few calories on the way - anyway, for some reason I didn't see any dog poo...Not even on the pavement on the way to the Common...what has happened. Have the people with chav dogs being banged up, has the RSPCA taken them away? Is there a free holiday to Tenerife for all dog owners? My..
Well whatever it was it made a change to make it back home without stinking of dog poo - well done Plumstead!

Voting

So the General Election is upon us..Not sure why people were so suprised, wasn't it always going to be in May? Anyway I have registered to vote but what I really need is a website that simplifies all of the parties main policies and manifesto's. A simple spreadsheet would do me fine, outlining their plans for education, health, families, stamp duty etc etc so I could compare and contrast and see which party will work out best for me over the forthcoming years. Rather, what I have to do is wade through a ton of political jargon and try and decipher what they mean and how much of it is a committed policy. If anyone comes across a website that outlines their main promises in laymans terms then please let me know!