Elections 2010: This is Labour country
Written by mumu | Filed under General, Politics
As you are no doubt aware the local council elections held last Thursday turned out as I had previously predicted : Labour retained control of Lambeth and gained seven extra seats on Southwark Council to take control.
The final results are
Southwark
Labour: 35 Councillors (+7)
Liberal Democrats: 25 (-3)
Conservatives: 3 (-3)
Greens: 0 (-1)
Full results on the Southwark website
Lambeth
Labour: 44 Councillors (+5)
Liberal Democrats: 15 (-2)
Conservatives: 4 (-2)
Greens: 0 (-1)
See the Lambeth website for full results
So whatever happens at the national level we are still Labour.
Reasons to be cheerful
- The Labour result on Southwark will bring benefits for Camberwell as the new administration will be more concerned about bits of the borough such as Camberwell and Peckham which are Labour areas.
- The new administration (unlike the previous Lib Dem/ Conservative coalition) has a solid majority and so will not be having to make concessions to make different interests happy to secure their votes .
- The likely leader of Southwark Peter Johns is a Camberwell Councillor.
- Local Camberwell Councillors will be more accountable as they will no longer be able to blame the administration for lack of action as they will be part of the administration.
- The Camberwell Party has done great work in raising Camberwell issues and shown that the area cant be taken for granted
- There will hopefully be more joint working between Lambeth and Southwark as they are both of the same party and both councils face similar issues.
- With the Labour Party out of power at a national level local MP Harriet Harman will have more time for constituency duties (?)
As I say these are all reasons to be cheerful and hopeful for the future of Camberwell — we must now be active to ensure that the politicians deliver on their promises and direct investment, regeneration funding and attention to the area.
A good place to start is the Southwark Labour Party manifesto and the Lambeth Labour Party manifesto
Disappointed the Green Party lost their seat in Southwark. Labour monoculture.
Green vote went down nationally this time. Brighton is a bright spot, though. Caroline Lucas will attract a lot of attention — but then so will Zac in Richmond in his huntin’ sort of way. Strange days, indeed. The whole of England is blue. Labour and Dem are banished to the fringes like Celts or Britons.
Mumu, thanks for doing such a brilliant job over the past few weeks.
Although locally the elections are clearly decided, this cannot be said about the rest of the country.
The Labour party, nor the Lib Dems won the election. The Tories did however. So two unelected parties may be running the country. That’s democracy then.
The pound has plunged as Brown resigns.
If the Lib Dems join the Labour party they will never get support again, Clegg & Co will bury the party forever.
There will be a new general election within six months and there will be a Tory landslide.
This is madness.
“The Labour party, nor the Lib Dems won the election. The Tories did however.” — No one ‘won’ — that’s why all of this is happening!
“The pound has plunged as Brown resigns.” — The pound is in the same position it was 30 days ago. And the FTSE finished up today.
“If the Lib Dems join the Labour party they will never get support again, Clegg & Co will bury the party forever. There will be a new general election within six months and there will be a Tory landslide.” — You should be a millionaire if you can predict the future with such accuracy and clarity.
Pictures of the demo outside Lib Dem HQ.
http://bit.ly/cmQfae
People wearing purple.
Was fun too and I got to shake Billy Bragg’s hand…
He’s the man!
Oh and chunters.…what are you reading?
The daily mail? Fox news?
Or the same papers that predicted that the world would end with markets crashing the moment there was a hung parliament?
Stop looking at them. It makes you go blind.
Stunts your growth too.
@monkeycat: those are awesome! fantastic turnout too! hope saturday’s even better (we’re meant to be taking part in a different event saturday pm but might just manage to do both)
xxx
Chunters
Have you been watching Back to The Future II recently?
Have you visited the year 2040 and brought back a rolled up paperback history book in your back pocket?
Hmmmm — Stop reading newspapers — they are 90% Tory biased and as for ITN and SKY their reporters are so kneejerk I’m surprised they can remain in an upright position whilst delivering their live news reports to camera…
Chunters was robust. That was no thin gruel.
The soup thickens, indeed. We may end up with a dull sensible government. There may be no more foreign wars for years. No charismatic leaders like Cameron. No mace-wielding in the Commons. No duck moat scandals. No curried Major. Just austerity, comparatively, and making the world bigger and better locally, so to speak — protect the local, globally, as the Greens say.
Yes, Peter, Camberwell will get funding. Except there will be no money for the funding. Things will be as tight as a squirrel’s arse in Lucas Gardens.
Camberwell WILL get money if it gets our act together on a united front. IF we don’t get the united front together nothing will change.
News just in on the today programme.
Harriet says she will not stand for the leadership contest.
Hurrah…we’ll have our MP back!
Go easy MCat taking pictures of stupid plod like that. Thanks to Liebour next thing you’ll be a TERRORIST.
http://photographernotaterrorist.org/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8476318.stm
Get our MP back? Did we ever have her? Never noticed her before except when she was banging on about the need for fixed quotas of female hod carriers.
Even if she isn’t leaderess she’ll still be doing something senior, time consuming and, as far as SE5 is concerned, utterly pointless.
Thank God there isn’t a Tory majority. It’d be outrageous for them to win power and then have to clean up this almighty mess. And then get blamed for doing so and hammered in 5 years for making nasty Tory CUTS. Because yes, people really are that stupid.
Leave it to Labour to eat their own shit, I say. But please let’s hope Ed Balls doesn’t become PM.
@Phil G: I have a whole collection of stop and search vouchers/records
Fixed quotas of female hod carriers was a great idea. The girls leer down from the scaff, wolf-whistling at the brick truck drivers and displaying beautifully sculpted & muscled rump, fine, lithe thighs and lovely breasts kept pert and purposeful through enthusiastically enjoyed, hard physical work.
Latest news on Camberwell Village Hall and the Camberwell Party http://bit.ly/b2AY34
You can now also log on to the website using Facebook. Click on the
logo in the Members area here: http://www.CamberwellVillageHall.com
@MCat Really? Nice one! I was at that Trafalgar Sq protest mentioned in the Beeb link above.
Credit to Gordon. If he’d stood down immediately then Harriet might be PM!!! He’s being prudent again, thank God.
Harriet is a nice lady, unlike some people who shall be nameless, PhilG!!! Tessa is the same. She was on the radio this morning and I thought she was Harriet.
you probably may have seen this already, but if you haven’t, really worth watching
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00r3qf4/On_Expenses/
x
If you’re free and want to tell Harriet Harman what you think needs doing in Camberwell, she has two advice surgeries at the Town Hall coming up in the next week:
Friday 14th May — 9am
Tuesday 18th May — 5pm
Harriet’s office has always been extremely efficient in my experience. It’s nice getting those cream envelopes from Parliament. They must costs hundreds each. Are they made from crushed ivory?
@Dagmar — Harriet’s office may well be efficient — she and her staff are certainly not. Reminds me to scan and post the only missive I have — in the cream envelope.
Strangely find myself in agreement with Chunters. I see it as the Liberals will get PR and then make parliament unworkable — elections and Liberals with 25% of the seats.
Peckham got £10 million out of Well London, Camberwell with the same demographic got to be the control. So no catch up in sight there.
Will Labour take another preferred partner for E&C? or even move in-house. Harriet still isn’t going to press for lift money for the Aylesbury — regeneration for the privileged.
Anyone remember ‘Holiday in Cambodia’?
The DK’s song? Damn straight. Best punk band ever.
Loved Gordo’s resignation speech, particularly the bit about improving equality, green space … the man’s obviously totally deluded. One of the top speeches since Maggie doing St Franky prayer.
@florian Yes. Southwark Uber Alles and the honest version of I fought the law.
Harriet for labour leader? Seriously I think she is underestimated, strong on principle and morals. She won’t do it though as she has been pilloried and demonised by the Neanderthal mysoginists in the press. We had the equal pay act 35 years ago and women are still paid less than thier male counterparts. Equality is a sign of a civilsed society and a UN right. But obviously a problem for some in Camberwell
Not for me. I can’t stand Harriet but I’m all for equal pay. In fact studies show that on like-for-like roles — except in perhaps a minority of sectors and roles — that there is NO pay gap. Funny how Harriet glosses over that one in the interviews eh.
Of course, women on AVERAGE get paid less than men and that needs to be addressed for sure. And that’s because
– women go into different jobs, particularly the older generations
– women have childcare burdens, which sets them back on the ladder
Solutions might be to improve careers advice and education for women, open them up to more possibilities. And to sort out lamentable state of childcare.
Did Harriet target those? Sadly reader she didn’t…
Anyway, this is all academic. The Queen has got involved. All hail Claggeron!
A friend of mine’s brother had East Bay Ray play at his wedding. I’d get married if i could get a West Coast hardcore legend to play the first song.
Much though i admire HH, she’d be be Michael Foot in a stab proof vest for the Labour party. Burnham’s worth a bet.
of course women on average earn less of course we attack Harriet for trying to change that
From the fawcett society on equal payThe size of the pay gap varies across the UK. It’s highest in London and lowest in Wales.
Pay gaps tend to be higher where averageThe size of the pay gap varies across the UK. It’s highest in London and lowest in Wales.
Pay gaps tend to be higher where average pay is higher because in these places the very top jobs tend to be done mostly by men, stretching the size of the gap.
Below are the regional pay gap figures — the percentages represent the difference in hourly mean average earnings between women and men working full-time.
• North East = 13.9%
• North West = 15.5 %
• Yorkshire & the Humber = 14.2%
• East Midlands = 16.4%
• West Midlands = 16.0%
• East = 18.2%
• London = 23.2%
• South East = 21.6%
• South West = 16.3%
• Wales = 10.9%
• Scotland = 13.6%
• UK AVERAGE = 17.2%
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
Occupation
The size of the pay gap varies according to what job you do. The biggest gap is in the financial sector and the smallest in the transport, storage and communications sector. The pay gaps tend to be higher in industries where average pay is higher because in these places the very top jobs tend to be done mostly by men, stretching the size of the gap.
pay is higher because in these places the very top jobs tend to be done mostly by men, stretching the size of the gap.
Below are the regional pay gap figures — the percentages represent the difference in hourly mean average earnings between women and men working full-time.
• North East = 13.9%
• North West = 15.5 %
• Yorkshire & the Humber = 14.2%
• East Midlands = 16.4%
• West Midlands = 16.0%
• East = 18.2%
• London = 23.2%
• South East = 21.6%
• South West = 16.3%
• Wales = 10.9%
• Scotland = 13.6%
• UK AVERAGE = 17.2%
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
Occupation
The size of the pay gap varies according to what job you do. The biggest gap is in the financial sector and the smallest in the transport, storage and communications sector. The pay gaps tend to be higher in industries where average pay is higher because in these places the very top jobs tend to be done mostly by men, stretching the size of the gap.
Ooh glitch sorry for repeating myself but hey why not!
You ‘ave kids, Gnomee, love, that’ll stretch the size o’ yer gap. What on earth are the Mail, Sun, Telegraph and Express going to make of Clegg and the Lib Dems tomorrow apart from mincemeat like they have done for a fortnight?
Come on, tomorrow’s Sun headline will be?
CAMERON ATE MY PARTY!
The Mail will surely be:
JUDAS!
(referring to Cameron)
The Telegraph:
LIBS DAMNED!
The Express:
GORDON BROWN SHOULD STEP DOWN!
Pay equality is closer than it used to be. What Harriet, or any politician, is that pay for men has not kept up with rising prices — notably housing. Women’s pay has risen hence the slight catch up. Equality isn’t about raising to standards to a new level but lowering them. Pay is vital in this as it’s profits all round to make the sooper rich even more so.
Fifth homes all round for the more equal — as Harriet almost said.
It is worth adding that a look around Southwark will show just how well equality is going in her own constituency.
@ Dagmar’s gap comment. LOL!
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others
Diversity rather than equality is Camberwell’s identity. How ironic that Gordon Brown saved the system that the new centre-left coalition comes from — private banking & investment, elite this & bespoke that, boutique this & niche that, connoisseur this & epicure that. Now old Steerforth is hoping to reduce the deficit by shaking little urchins upside down till farthings fall out of their pockets.
Has this been posted here already?
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/travel/09surfacing.html?nl=travel&emc=tda3
Mark — couldn’t make your link work but maybe this one will
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/travel/09surfacing.html?scp=1&sq=surfacing&st=tcse
Let’s leave Claggeron to it. In other news:
Le PP has new outside chairs ready for a summer of fun. I q liked the old green tiled ones. Half the lagers in GU seem to be off most of the time.
Cinammon and Ambrosia still balefully empty most nights. Please support them. Meanwhile Observer readers pack into Silk Rd to savour the grease. OK so curry houses are ten a penny but we need em we do!
Anyone been into The Bear lately? All the old staff have gone, and the service has now deteriorated from 9/10 to 5/10. If it keeps going that way, I’m going to decamp to The Tiger!
The Bear has new management who acknowledged that they had a few teething problems. However, they assure me that things are getting back to normal. Hope so. Like the lunches there.
Interesting. Thanks for that, Monkeycat. I hope it goes back to normal, too. The food in there was still very good, it was just the service that was poor. Given that the service in The Tiger is great, and the food and service in Angels & Gypsies is of a consistently high standard, I’d encourage the management at The Bear to buck their ideas up quick-sharpish or risk losing clientele. Getting rid of the Leffe on tap was a bad move, too.
I hope the food at The Bear is still as good as pre management swap. It was far better than what’s on offer at The Tiger — though also much more expensive.
The Bear’s now on taste london (if you have a card) http://www.tastelondon.co.uk/restaurant.php?id=2042&address=se5%209hw&qty=50
which gives you 50% off food, making it quite reasonable really.
That said I’ve eaten in the Tiger twice now and been pleased with the result, the sausages and mash are really great and it’s a good alternative if you want more standard pub fayre than The Bear’s fancy menu. Service in both places is pretty slow but I think that’s a testament to the freshness of the dishes
probably going to The Bear tonight will report back tomorrow. ref Taste London discount scheme. 50% off food Mon — Thursday only. My partner managed to get the taste card a half price as well quite recently, its paid for itself in 3 meals
Sausages? A handbag???
A HANDBAG????
Our company have been to FM mangal last weekend had a meeting dinner which was great evening. very good turkish food and service.everything were great.
Excellent restaurant.
I saw Erin O Connor in there too. En Vogue.
So, Alan? I saw Erin in that burger place in LordingItUp Lane.
Erin indeed lights up Camberwell, Walsall and Ireland. She is much more than a model and actress. She has interesting insights into identity. Her blog on the Vogue site is much missed for its insider’s view of the biz. And she is not an “I know what I think” bloke bollocking on about sausages, the price o’ beer and Harriet Harman.
and handbags.
Sausage handbags?
I’m not sure I’d go for a sausage handbag.
I would love to sport one of these puppies though:
http://www.hatsofmeat.com/
@Norman Maine
Went to The Bear last night, food was excellent and the service was reasonable. main course took 20–25 mins from order, minor grumble that the spring greens side dish could have been a bit warmer, they cooled down quickly. Partner had the pork belly and Cheek and I had the Roast chicken with Cep and garlic sauce and a side of chips. I get the impression that they are short staffed, the two girls were doing a good job but they seemed to be constantly running about, and the place was only half full. Had to wait at the bar to get drinks a couple of times as the waitress was to busy to take drinks orders. I think the service would be poorer at the if what busier and they don’t have any more staff.
Puddings were lovely — rhubarb crumble and chocolate terrine.
With the Taste card discount overall price felt about right at £55 inc service for the above and 4 pints and two glasses of wine. if I was paying full price i would consider overpriced.
At least she’s a bloke Dagmar
On the subject of the Bear and the Tiger, don’t forget that the Doves does food too:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesunanddoves/4606882553/
Was in The Bear tonight. It was packed. My heart sank because I was starving and thought we’d be waiting ages…But the service was great and the food was terrific. Welcome back to The Bear!
your better value for money Mark and your service is better, the Wandles is much nicer pint than Abbot Ale as well.
Thanks Robbie. Appreciated.
Forgot to mention this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/se5forum/4607095535/
Mark Dodds, Erin is a fabulous woman in every way. It is small town to do down people who do good. Camberwell salutes Michael Caine, Walsall salutes Erin. Never do down a place or a person.
Come Dagmar I didn’t put Erin down. At least I didn’t mean to. I just saw her in Google Gurger Kitchen. To be frank I didn’t even recognise her (why should I, I am a hermit) and someone who is a she kept kicking me under the table and nodding in the direction of ERIN O’CONNOR with me looking completely blank back at her, with her hissing ‘don’t you know who it is?’.
something we missed earlier today? just went up the road to the green to get some flfls & there are hundreds of cycles chained to anything solid — anyone knows what happened? x
Sorry, Mark, I’m having my time of the month. Mind you, it’s true. One blathers in that pub way along the lines of, “Oh Biggleswade, what a joke! Who lives there!” and the next thing you know Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela were born there and Martin Luther King comes from Stevenage, well, Lewis Hamilton, then, or Mother Teresa.
Also, Erin O’Connor is just fabulous and beautiful and holds her nerve in a competitive and bitchy world. She is an extraordinary actress of deep and generous talent and has a lot to say to people about being people.
The Nunhead Cemetery Open Day was brilliant today. They are so sensible to sell themselves as the place to be.
Liliana, I saw the bikes and wondered if it was Critical Mass, or something. There were a lot of pierced people around looking mischievous, skinny and healthy.
It’s nice that our anarchists are attractive and fun-loving, not like the ones in Athens who burn bank workers to death then bugger off back to Berlin or Milan to be cool and relatively well off.
yes i thought critical mass too, precisely because there were so many of them. annoyed i missed it all whatever it was
I felt like asking a passing anarchist, “Hello, you look like someone who might know what’s going on here.…”
“Nah.”
But then it would be secret, wouldn’t it?
You don’t think the Church of Bingo is being squatted, do you?
now there’s a thought
I saw some people at the old Finch Bar with bikes and they were going through the gates there — there did seem to be a lot of cyclists and trustafarian types on Walworth Road on saturday too. I am curious to know what was on..
well all i know is that saturday was a big ‘direct action’ day, with a lot of protests/events around parliament square, including the take back parliament, guerrilla gardening, ongoing democracy village, the climate crisis vigil,etc. critical mass took part in the party at the pumps, where the cyclists and other protestors closed down shell petrol stations, couldn’t see any reports on south london action
The problem with Anarchy is it leads to anarchy.
That means nothing. A facile comment. But hey, it’s late, and you’ve probably been drinking.
It was not late. It means what it says. And I have not been drinking.
Anarchists need to get a grip.
It makes sense: a society run on the principle that any form of authority is unnecessary and undesirable results in disorder and confusion.
I don’t know if that’s true, because it’s never really been tested. Anarchy within a state system seems a little futile; no harm is done by a few people guerilla gardening or cycling around, but it might be difficult to run a hospital or social services along those lines.
Liliana, feel free to educate me!
Slightly worrying possible developments at the new peacock shop at the old woolies.
http://www.se5forum.org/forum/index.php?topic=1575.0
@james: the song was cool?
x
@monkeycat: surely you mean pea trousers?
More on the old woolies.
http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=9535185
Planning application is here. Consultation is open until the 28the May.
You can send your representations (or objections) to Wing Lau, the case officer, at planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 5460.
Apparently, they can take the old shopfront down, and put up the new one without having permission. The reasoning behind this is that there are not enough enforcement officers so they would only do something if it is detrimental to the neighbours.
The planning officer did mention that she thought that the window was not in that good condition, but was only going on what she saw in the photos.
She also seemed unable to describe what would merit worth preserving since it is in a conservation area.
No permission is needed to take the windows down but is needed to put new ones up.
Wing Lau refers to photos as do some of the planning documents, but as far as I can see none of these images are on the web with the other planning documents. The photographs and photomontage document is just a leaflet for shutters.
Shouldn’t all the photos for the planning application be in the public domain?
Southwark Council put something in the public domain? Surely that’s what Open Government is about and who has heard of a political body living up to the leaflet?
Anarchy is anarchy — syndo-anarchism, liberal-anarchism, &c are methods of publishing needed for job security of university lecturers. Anyone claims otherwise hit them and call it anarchy
There’s a breathless hush at the New Den tonight …
They’ve bundled one in. The night sky may be lit for us with joy of automotive arson tonight!
If you call for an insurance quote for your car tonight and give a Bermondsey postcode…
They banged another in. A pitch invasion is brewing. There are police ‘osses. The local cannibalised Mondeos are apprehensive…
That’s it, it’s Wembley for the Dockers.
enough of that football speak
the labour councillors’ portfolios have been announced: http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4552
Power swings back towards Camberwell and Peckham after having been concentrated in the northern and southern parts of Southwark for eight years. I guess I am pleased, because it will hopefully benefit this area, but it is a strange way to manage a borough.
Let’s turn Camberwell Community Council in to an Executive question time!
Off topic but just wanted to recommend Wooster and Stock to anyone who may be wanting to sell their house or flat.
Can’t recommend them highly enough — courteous, prompt, efficient, very responsive to emails and phone calls, and on top of it all, gave me a discount on commission.
They seem to be everything that real estate agents typically aren’t.
@sg: human?
Can anyone recommend a good accountant?
As I have been self employed Dagmar to tighten my gap!
Big shenanigans on Vestry Road and the Lettsom Estate this morning — plain clothes, uniformed, lots of ‘em, police cars, vans and small packages being bundled into polythene bags. The police were very cheerful after the large operation which seems to have gone well. Warwick Gardens was closed all afternoon and this evening, very unusual.
James J
When is the next Camberwell Community Council?
It’s important to make it a full house…just like last time! — It should be that way on every occasion
We have been far too quiet in Camberwell for our own good…time to make some noise…
…and sustain it!
straight from twitter: Southwark Labour is proposing a ‘Democracy Commission’ to consider how residents can interact with community councils, cabinet & assembly
@eusebiovic: the first assembly was actually tonight & it was all tweeted as it was happening, sounds quite amusing
liliana
Oh no! I wanted to attend the first CCC of the new administration…
twas the full council assemly, not ccc. no dates yet on council website. i think tonight was more of a ceremony than anything else to be honest. we’ll all be there come the first ccc xxx
What was going on with Warwick Gardens? Police weren’t saying.
An officer guarding the gates said there had been a a serious assault. They were waiting for a long time for Forensic to turn up. There had been a lot of activity in the morning at the Lettsom estate. Maybe the two were connected, maybe not.
There are way too many serious assaults round here. Lots of police tape up on the Pelican Estate the other week.
Can we have a thread that doesn’t talk about politics for a change. Too dull and boring.
Which pubs in Camberwell are showing the world cup?
Any reviews of Cinnamon recently? What about Hoa Viet, which is I think under new management again.
And my comment about how fabulous Wooster and Stock are seems to have disappeared??
Reviews and comments about local businesses are also of interest to people visiting the area, its not just a political blog now is it??
Big up for Columba Blango for getting a nice round 10,000 votes in the election, an excellent effort from a decathlete (10 events) in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Talking of Sierra Leone, come on Cote d’Ivoire in the World Cup. They are seriously talented top soccer bananas managed by a cool swede. Maybe they will face the English turnips in the quarters.
A betting shop, on Vestry Road, has closed, unusually. It seemed to be some sort of community centre where people tottered out looking vague but vaguely happy.
Wooster & Stock are cool dudes and then some. But the best estate agent in town is Paloma Scott of Folkard’s in Dulwich Village. Nice to have you back, Paloma.
COME ON DENMARK! I will be with the “roligans” this year. Maybe we can repeat our 1998 quarter-final success. We are good team players and not clapped out like the poor English players who are treated like beasts of burden by Fergie and co.
I don’t know how, but some comments got deleted; I’ve restored them all now. Just to reiterate, I *never* remove comments, no matter what they are about; if you have comments go missing, presume over-zealous anti-spam software at work.
Cinnamon is pretty good. Nothing special on the one time I visited, but certainly not bad for a curry fix, and better than Safa.
Hoa Viet has been renamed and I vowed never to go in there after my last eat in there about six months back. Soggy, nasty fare.
Sg I deleted your comment about the estate agents — I thought it was spam that had got through. I am always slightly suspicious about such apparent recommendations and given that the email address you posted from is that of a web company that offers ‘search engine optimisation’ amongst its services I rather suspected that you had commercial motives. I am happy to be put right.
@mumu, no worries, no, not spam. Just a recommendation about a local business based on my personal experience.
I’ve appreciated and acted upon the recommendations on this blog about local businesses — both good and bad — and was “giving some back”, as it were.
Would also recommend Safa (who doesn’t!) and Hermits (ditto).
ANARCHISTS! So that’s who they were locking their bikes to drainpipes opposite Camberwell Green last weekend. The bikes looked great.
But.
The paranoia of the anarchists is worrying. You can catch it just by reading their literature. Their answer to everything is to barbecue bank workers. Then a dynamische new age of freedom will will itself into being.
Imagine existing in a post-nuclear-war landscape where you’re having to barter rats’ corpses with crusties from the Balkans who are into nihilist tuneless techno.
Worst of all, their spelling is totally anarchic. “… the immanent threat of normalisation.”
Their graphics are neurotic.
Their notions are scary. “Normalisation”. “The psychic collapse of the western metropolis.”
Anarchy? Asberger. They just don’t get it.
@dagmar: have you ever tasted a barbecued banker? srsly not recommended
No. I’ve had croc, though. It’s like nylon. You are not included in the (above described) barmy Balkan army, by the way, Lil. Those anarchists, they just seem so angry — like, for personal reasons. You know, they found their parents boring or something. The way they write, they sound like academic sociologists who’ve got their fingers stuck in an electric socket.
@dagmar: not all anarchists are poets; not all poets are anarchists. all balkan is barmy though
The Castle was closed today. I was worried for a bit until I read the discrete sign of apology saying it was ‘for refurbishment’. Couldn’t see any signs of refurbishment going on though.
This is not very good information but I asked a man looking out the window of the old Woolworth’s what it’s going to be. But I can’t remember the name of the shop he gave me. It’s women’s wear and a man’s name I’ve not heard linked to a shop. Richard Baker or something equally unmemorable.
We are DOING FOOTBALL at The Sun and Doves all through the rain and snow and winds and clouds this summer. Lovely all weather screen in the all primped up garden with massed bands, Kazoo players and big drums. Barbecue and balls. It’ll be a blast!
Had pizza from Topo Gigio in Camberwell Station Road again tonight — really very good. Really good value too. Stefano makes great dough, so give him some of yours! TRY IT!
I’ll scan a menu and post a link… hang on, maybe I did that already?
Met Mehmet, the man behind Love Walk the other day — lovely man — reflects in what he’s done with the place. It seems busy and bustling. GOOD.
Safa: slops the few times we went.
Ambrosia: for delicate flavours. Yummy.
Cinnamon for all round goodness / a good dirty curry (in a very good way).
Apologies this isn’t about bars, restaurants, corner shops or homemade fudge:
Lambeth Parking Services
Raj Mistry
Head of Parking
Lambeth Parking
PO Box 4525
Worthing BN13 1XT
Mr Mistry
Re Penalty Charge Notice LH42215711 and your letter date 10 May 2010 received 20 May.
Find enclosed copy of letter I sent re the above PCN in January 2010. You will note that in this letter I expressed concern about:
1) My belief that no PCN was issued to me on that day
2) My request for evidence that a PCN was issued (ignored by you).
3) My noting that your FIRST correspondence about the alleged PCN being issued was dated five weeks and delivered two months after the alleged offence had supposedly been committed, this is not acceptable.
4) My noting that these facts are cause for great concern.
I know exactly what happened on the morning of the alleged offence, my car was parked on Caldecot road waiting to collect goods outside my business for ten minutes. I was with the car the entire time. I did not leave the car for a second but nevertheless was harassed by one of your parking attendants – who did not issue a PCN. To clarify the situation:
a) No PCN was issued to me on 27 November 2009.
b) I responded adequately and correctly to your wrongly issued demand of 26 January.
c) You did not respond to my correspondence and failed to provide proof of the PCN.
d) This alleged offence did not occur and I will NOT pay any fines relating to this invention.
e) The manner in which your correspondence on this matter is being conducted gives concern that members of Lambeth Parking Services office administration collude with parking attendant colleagues in a regime of harassment of citizens who are preyed upon as easy revenue for the local authority.
You will note that I am very annoyed by this alleged PCN and expect you to withdraw your threats to me on this matter by return. Furthermore I expect a detailed explanation as to how an invented PCN can lead to harassment of a citizen and attempted levying of fines and why it is that your parking attendant employees consistently behave as if they are above the law. I expect a full apology from Lambeth Parking Services for your completely unacceptable behaviour in this matter. I expect Lambeth Parking Services to provide clear evidence to show that the people involved in issuing and pursuing this invented PCN are given formal warnings by their line management for their behaviour. If it happened to me it most certainly happens to lots of other people which is: inventing a PCN by taking the registration of a vehicle without issuing a ticket then withholding correspondence about it in order to make the subsequent penalty as high as possible.
Like many other people who live in the se5 area close to Kings College Hospital I am truly sick and tired of your parking attendants’ reign of persecution of car owners in the area. Like many others I have had enough of being issued with doubtful, spurious and challengeable PCN’s just for the hell of it because your prowling teams of unregulated quasi military parking attendants know that many people will simply pay up rather than fight wrongly issued PCNs. It must stop. It’s anti democratic and damaging to the local community.
If I do not receive adequate assurance as outlined above I will take this matter as far as I possibly can; to local government at Ward and Borough level, to court and the press.
I look forward to your comments by return.
With best wishes
Mark Dodds
Bit annoyed then Mark?!
I have found that one of the easiest ways to deal with Lambeth is to take the case all the way to adjudication. There seems to be such a backlog that they tend to “forget” about the case. It’s worked several times for me so far.
Anti-democratic fo’ sure. Good luck.
Mark similar experience for me on Caldecot Road I had a valid visible permit still got a ticket. I charged them £120 per hour or part of to deal with each item of correspondence. I sent final demand for payment didn’t get paid yet, but hey that was only 2 years ago. Be interested to know if it is same attendant.
Furious. It’s a permanent state. I am angry about far too many things but. Hey that’s Camberwell… or maybe it’s just me.
Topo Gigio Pizza, I didn’t get round to scanning the menu flyer, which is nice and there’s a pile of them at The Sun and Doves but I did take a pic of the pizzas:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4640437616_b02b874020_b.jpg
The phone number is: 7738 7750 Eat in or take away pizza, pasta, risotto and salads. Go for it!
Sincere best wishes to those of you brave enough to go and endure the pain of the Southwark Core Strategy meetings.
@Gnomee — they mostly are all the same. This is not a denigration, merely an observation. They teach each other to be devious lazy twats.
I was considering supplying an invoice for my time as it happens. Good luck with yours!
@mark: thanks m’dear x
Mark
This will be my first time at the Southwark Core Strategy pre-hearing…
Hmmmmm
WWWWHOOOO-WHHOOOO! The 1945 Crewe-built steam engine 44871 pulled a train of day trippers through Camberwell today, who happily waved back at us as though we were all in “The Railway Children”.
This Class 55 engine took part in the very last rail journey of the steam age in Britain, the 11 August 1968, the “Fifteen Guinea Special”, before the steam ban came in at midnight that night.
The loco was designed by Stanier. His father worked for the GWR. Stanier was born in the GWR town, Swindon.
Which brings us neatly to Saturday.
Cars have been purring through Camberwell today bedecked by white, lion-adorned pennants, not for the World Cup, but more important than that, for the Division 1 Play-off Final at Wembley on Saturday.
Yes, the Dockers are going “under the arch” — just as villains and coppers used to call appearing at the Old Bailey going “up the steps”.
They face Swindon, an unfashionable club to say the least, but not vilified and indeed demonised like Millwall, whose catchment area is Camberwell, Peckham, New Cross, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Deptford… Oh dear, oh dear, what a roll call of ignominy, of transfluvial, terraced sleeze!
The Wiltshire club’s followers, by contrast, come not just from Swindon itself, that unassuming and functional “own label” town, but from the neighbouring villages of Hinton Parva, Lydiard Tregoze, Lydiard Millicent, Tockenham Wick, Little Somerford and Wootton Bassett.
Let us sincerely hope that the Millwall win.
Otherwise, there may yet be even more coffins passing through Wootton Bassett.
Oh yes.
Engerland expects.
But Miwwaww expectorates…
Anyone tried the Sunday Roast at the Tiger yet?
Anyone know of anyone who could help me move out of my 1 bed pad to a new pad across the street?
Just found out this might have to happen on Tuesday!
Blumming heck!
http://www.se5forum.org/forum/index.php?topic=1581.0
@ Genfink
The last Sunday roast I had at The Bear was sensational. Belly Pork, red cabbage, parsnips.… beautifully prepared.
Only caveat.. roasts taste better in winter.…
@genfink I’ve not tried the Sunday roast but I noticed today when I went to meet Darren, the manager and Fi, the marketing person for Antic (because we’re hoping to get them involved in Camberwell Business with SE5 Forum) that it’s £9.95.
@copeywolf, would love to help but am too achey and knackered and up to the neck with work at the mo. Hope the move goes well and good luck with the new abode.
Thanks Mark. See you for a drink soon.
thanks Mark, I’ll make sure I actually say hello next time I see you around the S&D, great garden there.
Also I would like to add my (not inconsiderable) weight of support to the Pizza place on Camberwell station Road, absolutely blinding pizzas, it is now my definite go to for “can’t be arsed to cook” nights
Have a lovely weekend y’all
Gx
Yes, it’s hello Mark, goodbye supermarket in this week’s edition of Situationist News. Netto has just been bought by Asda’s for a stonking £778m after Walmart got the hump with Asda’s for its recent poor showing. So Asda’s’ve forked out £4m for each UK Netto — like the one in Rye Lane, a functional, concrete Aladdin’s cave of Danish-sourced delights, trucks one end, tills the other. Their bin-end bargains are much applauded by the cognoscenti. I must voice my disapproval with Netto’s owners, Dansk Supermarked. I think I have an uncle or someone who works in the procuring department.
2 GERMAN PUNKS at the till tonight at Netto, split two 4-packs of Strongbow and Guinness. “You can’t split the packs,” said the till girl. She was fabulous and probably studying astro-physics at Imperial but they thought she was straight from darkest Congo. “Ve heff a problemm,” they said. Lack of cash. They have flown to Peckham for Scumfest tomorrow. I left before the strafing started.
All. Need some help if possible.
Me and ‘him indoors’ are planning a nice day out tomorrow (bless). Any suggestions for nice walks/ parks/ wetlands that are easily accessible from either C-Green, D-Hill, Peckham Rye or somesuch?
Suggestions and abuse welcome.
xx
@Dagmar — they sound like Daft Punks.
http://www.xkcd.com/740/
and are you really Dagmar Krause? If so we need a concert.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagmar_Krause
@St Giles: Peckham Rye itself is a nice afternoon out; many different themed gardens to walk around, very quite and utterly counter to the area’s reputation.
Dulwich & Sydenham wood is a nice place to perambulate, as is Crystal Palace park.
@st giles: i’d say go for stave hill & the whole of surrey docks really x
@St Giles — I went to Peckham Rye for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was rather surprised to find it as charming, perhaps more so, as Dulwich Park.
I lived fifteen minutes’ walk from it for five years and never discovered it, and for another fifteen years a short skip and a jump away. It’s strangely very under recognised.
Try the lawn bowls at Peckham Rye Park — turn up on a sunny day, pay a small fee, and you can spend the afternoon bowling with friends and without pretention, with an attached little snack cafe to fuel your game.
Thanks everyone — Sunday shall be interesting.
Trattoria Topo Gigio:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdodds/sets/72157624162099970/
Camberwell Church Street — at the other end from The Bear, near Denmark Road.
MILLWALL MILLWALL. Their team won well today at Wembley in the playoff final, they were slick and good. If the club’s image gets more imaginative, it will be great for round here. People think of them as being violent, rascist and nasty. Can they fix it?
Dagmar — a steam train seen heading through SE5 this morning at about 8am. The Tornado no less.
We took the train direct from Denmark Hill to Sevenoaks yesterday, and had a really lovely day out wandering in the huge and beautiful National Trust grounds of Knole House deer park, complete with deer (and tearoom). Much recommended for those looking for an easy day out from Camberwell. Entrance to the grounds is free. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-knole (though does require a mile’s walk from the station up a hill to get there).
Got two delicious takeaway pizzas from Trattoria Topo Gigio on my way home from work this evening. As good as any pizza I’ve had in London. The guy’s who run it are thinking about starting deliveries which would be good given the place’s difficult location.
Well, of all the things we’ve had nicked from The Sun and Doves this one almost takes the biscuit.
A many mini dico ball mirrored pendant lamp shade from the womens’ toilets. Stolen.
I buy things from all sorts of places, all over the show, whenever I can, to decorate, adorn and enhance customer’s experience and to try to make the place a home from home. I buy things I’d love to have in my own home, things I’d love to see in someone else’s home. And what happens? They get nicked. Stolen. Robbed.
It REALLY pisses me off. I worked in many places all over the UK before I set up S&D and NEVER did I see so much stuff go walkies. That’s Camberwell gratitude.
Had a lovely time in Peckham Rye Park on Sunday — thanks to all for the suggestion. What a place! Really under-advertised.
Full english breakfast at the cafe in the park too — all organic — lovely.
@Gaycamberwell — might just try Sevenoaks next weekend.
@Mark — that sucks. Some people show no gratitude.
@ Mark Those s***** nurses!
There was a substantial theft from a neighbour’s car up on Champion Hill today so maybe someone was on a roll — don’t take it personally (though I can imagine how bloody annoying it is…)
GAY CAMBERWELL, yes, Knole is sublime — ah, Vita, Virginia, Vagina, ah. It is a wonderful return trip from Camberwell. I took my older Dagmarette there on the train. She walked amongst the deer as though she were one of them. I could have cried but the tears just didn’t come, it was too pure. I related this experience to her elderly grandmother on the phone, who complained that I let the child amongst wild animals who could have stampeded and that I was a new age, dick-headed pratt. They are tough, those World War II people. I bet venison was quite a common treat in those days in the shires. Bang!
@Dagmar — I’ve never even considered Deer-Trampling before. Is it common?
More common than Deer Trampolining?
Hi friends. Back from a holiday. Good weather back here, what.
Holidays eh. Always make you see the UK for what it really is.
My Mum had her crummy headphones stolen from her kit bag in a nice middle class gym changing rooms in Leeds. Presumably a similar late/middle aged woman who could afford the £30+ monthly fees nicked them from the bag on the bench when my Mum was doing her hair or whatever. She just couldn’t resist it. I remember at the time thinking — what on earth is wrong with people.
Mark your story is sad. I’ll have to have a drink your way soon to support you.