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..)

The Golden Arches

are I see arriving in Plumstead. Yes that's right, a McDonalds is due to open on the roundabout by the bus garage just by the station..OK so it's not quite a Cafe Rouge but it's a start....
From what I understand the post office sorting office is also moving here. I hope this rumour is true as I hate having to get to Woolwich to get post. Long queues, nowhere to park etc so it makes far more sense..
Now I'm thinking retail park...M&S, Next home (with Costa Coffee)...Oooooh could this large roundabout be the next Charlton retail park...I hope so!

The right side of the common

I heard a very funny conversation yesterday. At one point I thought it must have been an Estate Agents convention but no just a group of women...Who knew but apparantly there is a right side and a wrong side of Plumstead to live in and near heart failure if you live near the high street.
Now I have friends who live near the high street and their house is much nicer than some other friends I have who live behind the Slade, even their neighbours houses are nicer.
What I wanted to say to these people was that it's still all Plumstead, you still have an SE18 postcode and you probably can't afford to move out of it so get over it...
Oh except I apparantly live on the right side of Plumstead...phew.

DA Downs Butchers

I read that they are celebrating 60 years of business or something this year which is fabulous. I do like family run businesses as they tend to try harder. It made me smile though as in the article I read the bloke who owns it talks about service with a smile and being helpful to customers...Perhaps he doesn't think much of me as I have been in there a couple of times and not found it that friendly or that helpful. What I want from a local butcher is advice and something to make me return more often than buying my meast from Morrisons butcher who seems to know more. still Downs meat was nice.
Perhaps it is because I can't step into a butchers without thinking of League of Gentlemen.....

Crimson Rose

I got some flowers from here the other day. I always meant to but never seemed to be around the dip when I remembered I needed to buy any for anyone. Since the closure of the flower shop next to Tesco (which became a clothes shop, hmm... and then another bloody hairdressers - seriously...) I thought I would try and support this one even though they do seem to constantly advertise flowers for funerals! Not very cheery, although it was the update of the sign to budget weddings that made me go in. Perhaps they feel it being an elderly area that lots of people die and as for budget weddings, I'm not sure the majority of locals get married, it looks to me like they just churn out children (harsh, but slightly fair)...
Anyway it is a lovely shop, reasonably priced and it sells plants as well as flowers. We shall use again for more blooms for the house. They have some lovely gerberas in stock at the moment.

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!

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...

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..