Greenwich boat deaths

Very sad news on the river over the past couple of weeks and both happened locally. First there was the tragic death on the Woolwich Ferry which is closed today as a mark of respect for the boy who died over a week ago, then the tug boat disaster at Greenwich over the weekend. I always assume that if I somehow fell in the Thames (I'm not sure what I would be doing for this to happen) that I would be OK, it looks quite tame and that land isn't far off on either side. Shows what I know.

The shame of it all...

Sad to see that the rioting and looting didn't escape SE18. I suppose given the amount of JD sports, mobile phone shops and fried chicken shops on the high street it was only a matter of time before Woolwich was looted...I don't suppose they were all in Clarks looking for school shoes for their children.....
As much as I am no fan of Woolwich town centre it was beginning to be regenerated and now it just looks even more like a shit hole. Plus people have lost their businesses, livelihoods and possessions. It is more than a shame, it is shameful. I hope anyone out looting and rioting is prosecuted and loses their jobs or benefits.

Blackheath Festival

Has got the go ahead. It was on the news over the weekend and from a quick google looks like there has been lots of issues mainly from the Blackheath Society who all look frightfully self important if their tirades are anything to go by.
Anyway it should be happening next summer. I assume not at the same time as the Olympics or that is going to be interesting traffic wise but I am looking forward to seeing who is in their line up.
The Greenwich Summer Sessions always seem to be well balanced and well attended, and this will add some more musical variety to the area. Glo-sticks at the ready! ahem..

Woolwich Library

Has reopened in a shiny new building. It's a bit like the Eltham Centre - minus the swimming pool and gym - but hopefully a sign of all the regeneration yet to come in Woolwich.

Wet weekend

What a miserable weekend. I struggled to think of much to do that was different from the usual swim/indoor playpark that usually takes place when it tips it down.
What activities do people get up to with their children when it rains? I couldn't face heading into London on the train to a Museum as we didn't quite have a whole day. Instead we ended up having a walk in the rain and hot chocolate at the cafe.
What does everyone else do to entertain their offspring in the wet?

Train Station

I see the improvements at Plumstead station cost £50,000....Why yes it does look smarter but apart from the addition of a wheelchair ramp I can't really see that it has added any benefit.
Plus what use is a wheelchair ramp when there are still only stairs down to the actual platforms?
There was plenty of space for a retail outlet to have been built alongside the ticket office but so far this seems to be just a disused space..

Shameless...

It's like an episode of shameless round the Shire at the moment. What with the lovely reader comments that seem to speak for themselves and the woman over the road rambling around in her bloody dressing gown at all hours of the day....Why do people dress so badly and middle aged women dress for bed like young children? There is no excuse for wearing cartoon characters on your nightdress when you are over the age of 10.

A rooting tooting shooting and stabbing

I see that there was a fatal stabbing in Wickham last week which is a little close to home and it was a school boy I believe too. Very sad and during the day.
Then last night Dave Courtney's stepson was shot in Greenwich and whilst I'm sure there is aympathy all round I can't help feeling more for a school boy than I do for the son of a criminal...

Restaurants

Does anyone have any local favourites I wonder, or ones even they travel a little further to? I'm not talking here about Pizza Express and the like, although I do like them but little finds that perhaps the rest of the world doesn't know about perhaps in Welling, Eltham, Sidcup etc..I pretty much know all of the local eateries in Greenwich and Blackheath but I don't really venture the other way..

Blackheath changes

Lots of changes in Blackheath over the recent months...sadly no new bars or pubs (except the Crown which hs been refurbished to look well exactly like the old Crown did)!
The new Giraffe restaurant is up and running next to Pizza Express, and seems to be doing a roaring trade.
Fistik is a new Turkish restaurant around the corner which has taken over from where El Pirata was. Not sure how busy it is but I do like Turkish food so will be giving it a go.
Jo Jo Maman Bebe is opening a new store where Bullfrog was, surprised a "chain" Mother and Baby store hasnt opened before now.
Ah...Foxtons have also come to Blackheath...surely it was only time. After all every second shop is an estate agent! Opposite here there is a newish ladies clothes shop - Baileys? - anyway it is where they had a children's shop before hand and a wedding shop. Everyone who seems to occupy that little shop always seem to be so miserable so maybe they will eventually move on as well...I popped in the other day and didn't even illicit a "hello" from the lady who runs/owns the shop.
I also hear the stairs have been put in the wrong way down to the train station...oh dear!
The library has closed very sadly and the mini festival planned for this year has been cancelled mainly from what I can gather due to the miserable intereference of the Blackheath Society.....
Busy old times hey!

Shrewsbury Park event

This Saturday sees the annual Shrewsbury Park event in Shooters Hill. Starts at 1pm and there will be various stallholders then a small Proms in the Park later on, about 5.30pm I think. Looks like it will be nice weather for it.....

Elvis...

I see Elvis is back at the curry house on Plumstead Common. I assume he is singing there and not on delivery duty, could make for an interesting takeaway!

Playparks

Why are there no playparks on the "main" part of Plumstead Common - I'm thinking of the area near the rugby, bowls and tennis courts (are they still charging for these)??
I know the one in Winns Common has recently been refurbished but I'm not such a fan of it as it is mainly hidden behind bushes and always feels rather unsafe to me. It is a shame that the old boating lake is not used as a splash park/paddling pool and that the little hut doesn't reopen to sell teas and ice-creams. It might then get more use.
I do like a snack whilst at a playground!

What makes me grumble

Drivers who don't indicate at roundabouts.
Drivers who park in Mother and baby parking spaces that clearly dont have children
And people who think the phrase "mirror, signal, manouevre" is just "manouevre"...

Free Olympic tickets

You can apply via the Greenwich website for free equestrian and pentathlon tickets - a maximum of two per application.
You have to live in the borough to qualify.
http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/2012Games/OlympicNews/Apply-for-Modern-Pentathlon-Equestrian-tickets.htm

handmen.........

Not just one, now that spring has sprung (Well I've seen some daffs) I need some work doing in the garden (a job perhaps for a garden makeover programme), some new windows, painting inside and out and perhaps a new front and back door as it's been a bit draughty this winter....
I don't seem to have too much luck with handmen, apart from the kitchen and carpeting work we had done the other people have been unreliable so I am off to source what I can.
Obviously if you know of anyone handy please let me know

Greenwich Summer Sessions

the line up for this years summer sessions has just been announced and will take place again in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College. From the Divine Comedy, Status Quo, Pogues, Mark Ronson and the Squeeze there is a bit of everything. you can buy tickets at http://www.greenwichsummersessions.co.uk/

Oxleas Wood

We recently had some visitors with us and we took them for a stamp around Oxleas Wood. Usually we go to Greenwich but I was feeling rather lazy and hadn't been here for a while.
It is such a lovely space, our visitors couldn't believe how vast the woods were and the open green spaces around us. They usually only see the not so green part of Plumstead when they venture to us (I direct them to avoid the high street but even the Slade and the Hollow are not exactly charming) so it was nice to show off some of the local area.
The weather was grotty but the paths were busy with dogs (all well behaved, only one Staffie type dog here, mainly labs and terriers), children, families of all ages and some serious looking ramblers. We wandered around for hours and it is really nice to see that the area really doesn't have a lot of rubbish on the ground.
There is the bright green gym which was in action and the lovely cafe which was heaving with people having lunches and hot chocolates, it's very reasonable and always packed.
A real hidden Plumstead gem..(OK Shooters Hill, but I'm taking a leaf from the estate agents books and reclaiming it as Plumstead slopes..)

Blackheath music festival

Am really excited about the prospect of this happening in Blackheath. The team behind the music festival are proposing that it will be quite chilled, along the lines of Latitude which is in Suffolk, with the music being chilled indie, folk style and quite laid back. What could be more perfect.
Lets hope the council see that these look to be three pretty organised, sussed out blokes, one of whom has put on music festivals before and they have taken into account issues of security etc.
If it does go ahead they are looking at the weekend of 10/11 September. It's in my diary already. Have a look at http://www.onblackheath.com/ to register for updates.

Cable car...

so the cable car has been given the go-ahead...because that will really help ease congestion south of the river...Oh wait, no the new cruise terminal - is that the replacement for the Woolwich ferry crossing I hear you ask - well no..It's to offload a bunch of tourists on our doorstep. All for that, no problem but could someone please sort out the traffic problem with trying to get anywhere north of the river. In fact just North.....
The cable car to me seems to be a collossal waste of cash at a time of spending cuts.

QEH

I was catching up with a friend who has recently had her new baby at QEH - after the closure of St Mary's - my it is enough to stop anyone using the maternity ward there. The maternity unit was bad enough when it didn't have the neighbouring borough's pregnant posse descending upon it. I really can't see it coping.
In fact the hospital as a whole needs a shake up. Seems that Dr Streather hasn't quite lived up to his promises...

New nail shop

I notice that where the barbers used to be in the dip (SJ's i think it was called) now stands a new nail bar..Now I couldnt see what it was called as I was driving past at the time, trying to avoid school children who didn't seem to understand the difference between the pavement and road but it was written in "hot pink" it didnt look open but I shall be keen to find out more. Am always up for a manicure as long as it is not just for fake nails painted 100 different colours!