Ring In The New
Written by Peter | Filed under Development, Shopping, Transport
Welcome to 2011, dear reader. I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I went to the Sun and Doves for NYE, and it was a proper South London jam. Had a great time, so huge thanks to Mark & Nikki for making it possible.
I’m still a bit discombobulated after a short break in Barcelona so I don’t have a lot to write about just yet, but one potentially huge piece of news happened late last month/year which needs to be reported.
TfL have announced a grant of £200,000 to pay for the design of improvements to Camberwell town centre. This will pay for a full consultation of local needs & wishes and designs to be drawn up based on the results of that. Mooted improvements include:
… improving the pedestrian crossing at Camberwell Green junction, widening pavements and improved pedestrian crossings at Denmark Hill, creating a “green walking link” from Wren Road to Butterfly Walk and decorating the blank walls of Orpheus Walk.
Now this does sound somewhat familiar (there seems to be a new consultation every other year), but Southwark council are hopeful it could lead to up to £7million of further investment from TfL and “other sources”. If that happens, it would be amazing — especially with the influx of new residents in the new Camberwell New Road development and the Peckham Road Student Village — so fingers crossed it comes to pass.
Congratulations to all of the local pressure groups — including many of the readers of this blog — who have campaigned to make this happen. Let’s hope for bigger things in 2011 and beyond.
I also have some other news which I’ve promised not to tell yet. It’s not on the same scale as this, but is quite a shock. Yes, I am a big tease.
Go on do tell…you tease…
Ah, yes, the new craze for seagull a l’orange in the gourmet eateries of Camberwell. This austerity fare, sold as the beleaguered banker’s sea bass, is an excellent wheeze — no need to salt the seagull, that’s already been done, the gull has long been marinaded in brine. Just shove a good-sized Jaffa up its arse, bake and Bob’s your uncle. In addition, the feathers may be used as a nice garnish to a hat.
There is a huge, stuffed albatross at the Horniman in the balcony gallery. It may be albatross al la breadfruit. The exhibition of photographs in the gallery, “Coal, Frankincense and Myrrh”, largely pictures of old boys from Yemen who worked in the Sheffield steel industry before returning home — “Remember me to me mates in Yorkshire” — is just about the nicest show of any sort in London at the moment.
Peter, is she past the 3 months? If so, hearty congratulations and welcome, so to speak, to the club.
Peter
You can also add this exciting New development in Coldharbour Lane to the other 2 developments mentioned…
http://fabrikhomes.com/
Yes, it is on the Lambeth side of Camberwell — a stone’s throw from the Sun & Doves so I find it a bit cheeky that they are marketing it as Brixton (much as I love it too)
That’s really poor considering Denmark Hill (Overground 2012) & Loughborough Junction (Thameslink 2015) stations are both nearer…Not to mention Kings College across the road — last time I checked that was still here!
Perhaps that potential £7Million grant will finally help to change such negative perceptions — Let’s hope it’s not yet another false dawn
Several seagulls a year die at cricket matches at the Oval when they’re hit by fluorescent orange crickets balls during the night-time floodlit 20–20 matches.
That looks good, Eusebiomate, flats built to have hot sex in!
Dagmar@
Aye, hot enviromentally friendly sex…
Trust those likeable Scandinavians to come up with such a superior level of thoughtfulness.
They are on a single-handed mission to obliterate the phrase “You could freeze ice on his wife’s arse” out of future editions of the Oxford Book of English Language and Vocabulary…(can’t remember the exact title of aforementioned tome)
@Dagmar: Ha! Not that, no.
Mm…
Thanks Peter. Happy New Year — South London Jazz Orchestra were a blast and they all loved playing at S&D on the cusp of the decade. Was really good to see you and The Wife at such an auspicious time. And a big Thank You to everyone who came and made the night such a wonderful, warm send off for 2101.
On matters apart from frivolity and speaking of exciting regeneration the eagerly awaited Bet Fred on Denmark Hill is due fairly soon, to open but a breath away from Paddy Power, following F. Hinds the Jewellers’ closing on 23 January.
£200K , a huge amount for consultation when sufficient information could be gathered for fifty grand no probs and still leave a few rounds and slap up dinners in the kitty. The remaining £150K is just to be spent showing how serious and important the job is. It will e burned on pointless rehashes of meaningless rehashes of previous rounds of ex0pensive consultation work that went nowhere except to demoralise the community who stand by helplessly as it’s all done to them without anyone taking a blind bit of notice about what they know, say, understand about where they live and what, if they had the energy, the would DEMAND if they felt anyone in Authority would actually listen to them.
You can be sure that if this all comes to pass, without a Development Trust in place to steer it all, another load of stupidly thought out regeneration and development will happen to Camberwell and achieve nothing.
Sorry about the typos.
does anyone know when the boris bikes are arriving in camberwell and where they will be put
@sue baird I don’t think it’s even been mentioned as a possibility, has it? Except in the feverish minds of a few of the commenters here.
@Mark
A consultant is someone who takes your watch and then tells you the time!
As I understand it there are no plans to expand the Boris Bikes scheme Southwards so far but we should be applying pressure now to demonstrate local demand so that when they do consider a third phase post 2012 they will bear Camberwell in mind. The London political parties will shortly be thinking about putting together their manifestos for the Mayoral elections in 2012 so the ideal would be to get them to include a commitment to expand the scheme in the manifestos.
So I would email Boris himself together with our local London Assembly Member Valerie Shawcross and also London-wide Lib Dem and Green Assembly members such as Caroline Pigeon and Jenny Jones who both have Camberwell connections. Contact details at http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/members
Mumu; unfortunately the above named have not shown any particular concern for Camberwell. Ever.
No-one likes us but we don’t care.
One of the nice things about Camberwell is its proximity to the V & A, easily if serpentinely reached on the 345 bus. The Ballet Russes exhibition finishes on Sunday. It is a must.
If you think you are hard enough.
I see there is a freehold pub for sale
at the Walworth Road end of Camberwell — http://www.pubs-for-sale.biz/2011/01/london-pub-for-sale-camberwell-se5.html
A mate from the north west visited me recently. He quite liked the food options (Silk Rd, Mangal) but was baffled by the number of nail bars everywhere. I think we were travelling the Walworth Rd at the time.
There are a lot of nail bars in Liverpool.
Where in ‘the north west’ was he from?
I went up north recently. I quite liked the coatless, mini-skirted revellers but I was baffled by the lack of private sector employment.
Just found a new photo and some further info on the planned works at Denmark Hill Station: http://rail-news.com/2011/01/05/new-images-show-denmark-hill-will-be-more-accessible-for-all/
Due to open in summer 2012 which should tie in nicely with the completion of Phase 2 of the East London Line.
thanks
@PK
This much under-rated piece of architecture is best appreciated from the top of a bus passing up Denmark Hill.
This view, which I often enjoy, will be wrecked by the proposed development.
Sad.
Novi Sad.
It nice if, after Camberwell Green done nice, Camberwell renamed by PEOPLE’S COMMITEE, Novi Happy.
What say, Lili? xxx
The best gig adjacent to endz dis weekend is 200th anniversary do at the Dulwich Picture Gallery on Sunday 12 till 5.15pm when there will be fireworks.
COME ON CAMBERWELL! This will be just poshtastic!
One of the good things about Camberwell is its proximity to some of the fanciest artiest art in the whole universe on show at the DPG.
It makes the V&A look like the SLG.
Get thee down to the Dulwich Picture Gallery on Sunday afternoon. Be square!
PS Sad news about Gary Mason today. He was a big figure round here. Used to come round our endz. He was a big bloke but had amazingly fast hands.
Mumu — that pub is massively overpriced. It’s being sold by the same outfit who ran down the Lord Lyndhurst before selling it to property developers. Part of the unnecessary ruination of the nation’s pubs.
When Gary Mason had his office in Camberwell Church Street he was a regular at The Sun and Doves. Real shame he died so young.
WE are having a Hog Roast at The Sun and Doves on Saturday 22nd January to welcome the New Year in properly. There’ll be a yard sale as well — in front of a Spring Clean so put that in your diaries for the afternoon through until late evening. It’ll be FUN? You can bring your own stuff to sell if you want.
Oh and bring your used household batteries and any old unwanted CDs while you’re about it. We have a box for each for recycling.
The pig we’re roasting, by the way, is one of our own from Sussex. He was / is called Admiral. That’s after the last two who we slaughtered and you ate who were called Punch and Enterprise. The fourth has to be called Scottish & Newcastle because vaguely decent names for pigs are running out from the selection of pubcos we have left at our disposal.
The best obituary of Gary Mason is by Steve Bunce in today’s Independent. He recalls that Mason got £10,000 from a benefit after he lost against Lennox Lewis with his retina detached. When Watson was taken to hospital after his disastrous bout against Ewbank, Mason was with Watson’s mum in the hospital, gave the £10,000 to Watson’s family, said they needed it more than him, begged Bunce not to make it public.
His legendary laugh filled the whole of Camberwell Church Street. God, it is ever so sad.
@dagmar: NEW NOW is all i’m saying (didn’t check this blog in a couple of days)
x
@Alan. NW is Blackburn and Preston now. But he’s from Liverpool, so he’s no stranger to a shithole. Though I think Walworth Rd tested that.
Dead right about everyone working for the state in these places. I lived in Wales awhile, and worked in Belfast. I never did work out how it worked. And the answer is that it doesn’t.
Still, doctors and teachers kids from all over the UK are fed into London to become solicitors, accountants and bankers..
It takes a couple of generations to get a return on that spend..
Help save the Herne Hill Velodrome: http://www.savethevelodrome.com/
News Flash!
Planning application for change of use of Bingo Hall has been refused.
http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=9537993
Reasons:
1) Due to the additional vehicles attracted by the proposed use that would not be able to be accommodated within parking spaces, either on site or within an acceptable walking distance, the proposal would result in an adverse impact upon the road network, road safety, and on existing residents’ parking amenity. This would be contrary to policies 5.2 Transport Impacts and 5.6 Car Parking, of the Southwark Plan 2007.
2) In the absence of information to demonstrate convincing attempts to enable the building to be used by all members of the community, and limited information on the groups that may have entered into discussions with the applicant, the proposal would fail to comply with policy 2.2 Provision of new Community Facilities, of the Southwark Plan 2007.
That’s great news James!
What’s the likely next step — I presume they will appeal the decision?
I think it’s more than likely that they’ll appeal. Unfortunately, the appeal process can taken 6 months. Perhaps this decision will force them to really engage in a meaningful way with local community groups, which they’ve failed to do so far.
What a shame, I was planning on Getting On Down with the rest of the congregation soon whereas no doubt now I’ll have to wait many months until after their appeal and interminable changes are made to their plans as the building lies dormant, rotting and empty, useless as a place of worship before I get the chance to share the LOVE of House of Praise.
Seriously, my urge to congregate aside, this is marvellously unexpected on some levels and no doubt, dreadfully unexpected on others. Can’t imagine FOR EVEN A MOMENT that HOP / RCCG will consider even for a moment that it’s worth engaging. Why would they do that?
There ought to be no stinting in the ambitions of the Camberwell Village Hall to regain use of this building for future use of the entire community — all nations, denominations faiths and creeds.
Does this decision mean that they have to stop using the building as a place of worship straight away or will they just continue as they have been for the last few months and hold services on a regular basis?
Think they might have to put this planned event on hold now: http://www.houseofpraise.co.uk/07-church-news.php?view=175
I like that:
“Grand Opening Of Camberwell
All Glory to God The Most High
The Grand opening of our new location at 262–274, Camberwell Road, London SE5 0DL
Time: 9:30am”
No date for the Grand Opening though.
Mark, see the Latest News section towards the bottom of this page:
http://www.houseofpraise.co.uk/
The Grand Opening on the 30th January is strangely preceded by three ‘nights of joy’ from the 26th-28th.
Very good news indeed. As you say James, maybe now they will actually listen to the community.
hello. Happy New Year to all. Good to read that there are lots of positive recent developments for the area. Unfortunately I have a bit of bad news in that I just read that the East London Line extension to Denmark Hill is being delayed by about 7 months; this means that its opening will not happen before the Olympics. http://londonreconnections.blogspot.com/2011/01/ell-extension-news-for-both-north-and.html
Although not altogether surprising, as the timetable was a bit hopeful considering no work has been started, it still a disappointment as it would have meant getting to the games venues would have been easier for us / guests.
James J
Excellent News!
Hopefully this organization will now make an effort to engage with the wider community.
James! Joy oh Joy!
“Night of Joy
Night of joy present: The New Beginning
Day1: Wednesday 26th of January
Day2: Thursday 27th of January
Day3: Friday 28th of January
Venue: 262–274, camberwell road, London SE5 0DL
Door opens at 6:30pm”
So there is a new beginning BEFORE the grand opening. It maketh senthe.
The LORD is giving a banquet. And YOU are ALL invited.
Let’s not be beastly to the Christians. Millwall have an excellently presented marketing promotion called “Lions for the Christians” whereby Christians, both players and fans, are given a “special welcome” at the Den.
It would be nice to have an arts centre which would drain every speck of talent from the Joiners Arms, the Cambria, the St Giles Crypt, the South London Gallery, you name it, to the Gala Bingo so that the whole of Greater London, Hoxton, Clerkenwell, Notting Hill, Berlin, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco could bear down on Camberwell to watch “Thatcher, eh?” stand-ups and drool over water colours of Cornish harbours and drink in the honeyed melodies of singer songwriters and so on.
But.
It would need a Russian oiliarch to fund it. Whilst we wait for him, or her, we’d better keep swimming else we’ll sink like a stone, for the times they are a-changin’.
the owners of a listed building are legally obliged to keep it in good condition regardless of whether they’re using it or not.
as for the celebrations in aid of imaginary friends, there are laws for that too, i am sure
Thanks NickW.
That is a shame. Is the closure of the London Bridge — Victoria route being delayed too then?
‘Although early projections indicated that the project would be complete by May 2012, it has never been a part of the Olympic transport plans.’
Nonsense– the timing linked it to the Olympics. It was certainly part of my Olympic transport plans.
What you in, Al?
beach volleyball
Shirley there MUST be a Rushing OliArk living somehwere nearby?
Ooops! Peristalsis sets in…
If the £200,000 public consultation leads to a £7million rebooting of Camberwell Green, perhaps the Bingo hall will be melded in with the plans.
(Is that how we talk in planning policy and the like? POLLissy! Old Ed Mililband makes it sound like poultry science. Or parrot husbandry.)
Has anyone listened to Resonance 104.4 FM? It broadcasts from and to the South Bank but reached here the other day. Hootingyard (also on the net) is an interesting show, situationist, surrealist and Count Arthur Strongist.
One of the good things about living in Camberwell is that we can receive BBC Radio 3.
What a genius is Mozart. The feathery flights of fancy! Intoxicating, addictive! But what was WRONG with him?
Can anyone shed any light on how long the Discussion Board on the SE5 forum is likely to be ‘under maintenance’ for? It seems to have been like that for the last week or so.
ive just managed to log on! after about 3 weeks thinking id forgotton my password!
BREAKING NEWS.
Camberwell has a cinema…well for one week only. Camberwell College of Art, in conjunction with the South London Gallery, is showing some films from the 21st-28th Jan.
http://www.camberwell.arts.ac.uk/67655.htm
Talking of art schools, got the following email. Does anyone know any more about it?
Hello all,
just a reminder to those interested about invitation to join in singing and songwriting workshop, with other singers and musicians, at the weekend of action for Arts against Cuts.…at Camberwell School of Art this Saturday — 15th Jan event starts at 10am songs workshop at 4pm…it will be brilliant! further details & flyer to follow.
@PK: It is up again, but also has a lot of spam on the first few pages.
However, a few interesting comments mixed in there somewhere.
That sounds good. I’m concerned about the cuts, especially to schools and education.
In this international information economy we’re now in (we’re told), surely education of citizens is paramount. Arts are part of this weightless economy thing, so same deal.
I’m sure that free enterprise and voluntary workers will fill any void.
Camberwell Grove is CLOSED at the junction of Grove Park so you cannot access Grove Park from the north or from the south. Lots of people doing u-turns despite the signs – they all look pretty stupid. Apparently its for EDF works and will last up to 4 weeks. There are also two sets of temporary lights on Grove Lane so there are a lot of narky drivers out there.
I can’t feel sorry for the motorist though — getting in his/her car to go to Sainsburys “oh but my shop is SO big I couldn’t possibly carry it on foot, especially with the children and my FAT arse…” God I hate cars so much, one of the worst of mans inventions. Trains and bikes me, trains and bikes!
Sitting in Safa’s on Camberwell Church Street looking out is like being in a Hopper painting. Beautiful and singular. And the food is so tasty. Lots of individual flavours in each dish. Some times I just feel so happy about living in Camberwell!
Well said, my sister Maude!
The current ad campaign for the Co-op, NickW, although a bit weak, is good about not doing a big weekly shop at a drive-to supermarket but going to their more local shops. The Denmark Hill Co-op is certainly great for many things like sell-by bargains.
But what do we think of these supermarket van home deliveries for working people needing a big weekly shop? Are they… acceptable?
The Dagmars are great travellers, though in a very local, caring, planet-efficient way. Sometimes it’s nice for us to get out of Camberwell altogether and go down the Walworth Road.
Next to the Vietnamese shop Hiep Phat (don’t we all dread that!) is a Thai place, at 235 Walworth Road, called Mama Thai which promisingly offers HOME COOKING. There is BYO corkage of £1.50 per person. We are saving up to go.
Almost next door is a pawnbrokers called Fish Brothers (“Established 1830″) which looks very well established and trustworthy until you go to their website and find no mention of their heritage at all. Very fishy! Silver fish, gold fish…
Further along, Albemarle & Bond provide pawnbroking, financial services and jewellery services (according to THEIR almost identical website). Albemarle! Albert Steptoe, more like! Oh, at Albemarle & Bond our word is our Bond!
Further along is yet ANOTHER pawnbrokers offering riches beyond your wildest dreams in return for your gold. There seems to be a whole new Klondike of pawnbrokers up SE17.
Nicely, in the Cuming Museum, there is a new exhibition about shoes. There is big contribution from Southwark’s Visual & Performing Arts Project for young folks. They were given a pair of Converse-type trainers to computer-print on. Most used versions of the A-Z or tube map to denote their shoe-use, but the best pair of all — worth going up the Walworth Road to look at — was by a lad called Taariq, who took photographs of his local shops including a 99p Shop and cheap takeaways and put them on the sides of his shoes because these were the places he walked to which meant something to him. He had moved “house” three times and was about to move for a fourth — all within Southwark, so he felt lucky — so he put a photo of his third house on the shoes along with the shops.
Genius.
His shoes don’t just look good because of the bright colours, they ARE good. A lot of the cheap franchises or tacky joints we sneer at are in many ways real local.
Some of us even think that the Hermits Cave should be franchised throughout the world. Imagine a Hermits in Riyadh or Jeddah. It would be like an oasis!
SE5 Forum has a grant to do something like this
COULD be FUN!
These Melo-M are fun too
Maier doing a Dodds..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/jan/14/street-photographer-vivian-maier-in-pictures#/?picture=370600339&index=0
Just stuck me head through the door of the swimming baths. It looks amazing. It will be opening in Feb, but only the swimming pool at the mo. Not sure about all the other bits. It seems to depend on the funding. The guys that have been working on it have done a fantastic job, and are keen to restore it to it’s Victorian roots.
This is all wonderful news. I’m definitely going to the Cuming museum. I love shoes and home made or adapted clothes. I’m considering how to patch all my clothes with emerging moth holes interestingly and colourfully.
Dagmar,
Do you where Grace is?
Come on Prince Camber (Bronze Age King)!!!!
http://www.johnchaple.co.uk/camberswell
@Dagmar Thanks for posting. What great pics Maier took!
@Monkeycat — no doubt the baths are amazing by comparison with what they were, and a big step forward from that, but the current outcome is just a half step towards where it would have landed if the project had been part of a Development Trust initiative and Camberwell is three years behind where it would have been if the baths scheme had gone down the development trust route that was genuinely an option with £1.5million on the table to kick start it.
Portuguese travel magazine Blue has a 14-page article on visiting Peckham & Camberwell: http://j.mp/ev8UMN. Starts on page 54.
Be aware that a company called Apex Promotions are cold calling doors in the camberwell area. They explain that they’re offering ‘free, no obligation’ surveys of your exterior walls and that all your neighbours are well up for it. I know this as they knocked on my door a couple of weeks ago. Basically, they want to know if you own your home and will then push for you to provide contact details so that they can visit you and provide the survey. I (stupidly) gave them my details – thinking ‘what harm can it do if it’s free and no obligation’. Anyway I got a call from them last night and made an appointment for one of their surveyors to come over tonight at 7pm – but after my partner pointed out how odd it was that anyone thought they could do a proper survey in the dark I started to wonder if there was something dodgy going on. A quick internet search revealed that a lot of people were very unhappy with this company’s hard sell tactics. Seems that once the surveyor has his foot in the door he does his best to keep you for a good couple of hours, telling you that your house is structurally unsound and that their render and paint will solve the problem. He then offers an extremely high quote, in the region of £20,000 for a small terraced house to be painted. Sounds like they’ve already covered East Dulwich…
http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,208826,208826
and are moving on to Camberwell and Herne Hill now.
Needless to say once I found all this out, I called and cancelled the appointment immediately – I advise anyone else that has made an appointment with this company to do the same.
I often suspect that this world is full of people trying pull a fast one and rip me off — but it very rarely makes me happy to discover i might be right.
Found more information about the Camberwell Cinema event at the art college next week.
Listings and trailers are on the blog here:
http://camberwell-cinema.blogspot.com/
Particularly interested in the film that’s being screened next Wednesday followed by a talk next door at the South London Gallery on arts and education. Film starts a bit early, though…
Cool. Bomb It — on the subject of graffiti docu-movies, apparently Exit Through the Gift Shop is not w*nk. Anyone seen it?
Exit Through The Gift Shop is a great documentary. I really enjoyed it. Funny and has a point to make.
On a more jolly note,
I am doing a time lapse photography project on the Swimming Baths as the pool is being filled with water.
The place is looking amazing, and Buxton’s have done a fantastic job. It looks like everything is on course for the pool to open in Feb, but not the entire centre (ie the gym and fitness classes) as they are still waiting for more funding.
I have a few photos of the interior here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeycat/sets/72157625735537487/
More on this later…
Aha! CAMBERWELL CINEMA use the typeface Budmo Jiggler: http://bit.ly/fEq8Jq
Hardly ever see films that aren’t 3D enhanced and aimed at families now. Shame.
World Service Project at the Crypt this Friday http://bit.ly/hFBmJk £7/£5 concessions.
Hog Roast at The Sun and Doves this Saturday with a bring and buy. From 3pm: http://bit.ly/dJFJJF the weather’s forecast to be good. FREE!
COMING UP: Judicial Review of granting the Gala Bingo retrospective planning application for alterations: PRICELESS!
Maude, I haven’t seen Grace since the weekend! She is such a dirty stop-out, isn’t she? She’ll come home when she wants — needs her washing done and she’s got fed up with him anyway!
Great pic of the well, Voicer. You look good in that ‘at!
Two full moons in a row over Camberwell tonight and yesterday. Is anyone else riding the bucking bronco?
Literally brilliant, literarily brilliant, everything’s brilliant in that light, even the litter. The cat jumped over the moon — quickly followed by her litter of kittens.
See what I mean!
@mr dodds: you can has mail
Call me Ishmael.
We are all at sea.
Thank God the alcoholic unit fixed price has not come in yet.
Netto on Rye Lane still has 3 litre briquettes of South African West Cape red for £10.99.
It is fine stuff. Fine stuff! Puts brains in your spine!
The smartest people round the SE15 border of sanity take a box of it to Highshore Road Open Space at night and read Proust from cover to cover in 15 minutes.
Eventually, sprites pop up and tease the reader till she runs off squealing under the moon.
Then they lie beneath the tap and try to take in the wine from the soil of Africa. They know not how!
She leaps out. The Nordic Thigh Scissors! Splush, splosh, splush! They are crushed under her hard heels — almost gratefully — as the gods play Best of Abba from behind the municipal bushes!
Following the discussion towards the end of last year about local secondary schools and the poor reputation of St Michael and All Angels Academy, I thought this might be of interest:
http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,22190,185,00.htm
Anyone know the full story?
Note that Falafel has been refitted. Much better, fresher design now, and they’ve lost the blaring TV thank God/Allah.
Still the same fine good value fare. The menu seemed to have shrunk slightly but the friendly owner said he’s still doing the daily dish. It’s often quite good but can have microwave ‘cool spots’.
Monkeycat’s post reminded me that I posted a photo of the indoor bowling green at Temple Bowling club after the Open Architecture weekend:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_damage/5005232671/
As a relatively recent incomer to this blog I would like to ask about the ethics of blogging? In particular whether people should declare an interest? An example might be medical research papers where it is considered good practice to declare a financial or other interest in the subject of the research study. For example whether or not the researchers are paid by a drug company to do research into the effects of a particular medication?
In the same way I wonder whether restaurant, bar owners or managers should declare an interest when reviewing other restaurants or bars in Camberwell?
This is an excellent question, Maude! You are a breath of much-needed fresh air!
Perhaps Peter should introduce legal “small print” at the bottom of CERTAIN bloggers’ blurb, along the lines of, “Entering the alehouse run by this blogger may not necessarily make you happy, no matter how much you drink — performance is relative and subject to subjective unsustainable availability” or some such weaselly get-out-clause blather.
“Editor notes that people have shat their guts out after eating here.”
That kind of thing.
Sounds a bit OTT to me Maude, but here goes. I declare an interest in good chilli sauce and garlic sauce, and have equally little time for God or Allah.
i declare the following interests:
my soup(s) usually made of all available vegetables/nuts/herbs
tofu ‘cheese’ cake
french baguette bread
talking to cats
eating nasturtiums (in public)
touching trees
not taking no nonsense from no one
This is good, isn’t it? The interests I hereby declare are:
* my awe for the sacred ground that is Lucas Gardens
* my interest in the interesting crossroads of humanity that is the Hermits Cave
* my gratitude to Netto, Rye Lane, for its Aladdin’s Cave cornucopia of bounty — recently I got 6 tubs of Haagen Dazs there for 49p a tub
* my increasing regard for the south-east London cultural, situationist & existential centre of excellence that is Millwall Football Club
I have nothing to declare but my genius.
Have just read this article and it is almost sad..
..and as he lives locally thought it would be of interest.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8275501/Justin-Webb-revealing-my-parentage-was-a-great-relief.html
Hi,
Not sure if this is the right place to post but here goes…
We are putting together a menu for two dates in March, made with produce sourced as locally as possible (fruit, veg, meat, South London honey etc.) The menu will be for a pop-up restaurant in the area, put on by the Keston Kitchen (http://thekestonkitchen.blogspot.com.
Please get in touch if you are able to help us source anything.
Thanks,
The Keston Kitchen
Local honey? Look no further than the Tate Modern — hives on the roof and sold in the Tate Modern shop.
Or Brockwell Park Honey which I think is available from the health food shop on Denmark Hill opposite Coldharbour Lane…
Wouldn’t it be great to have honey from hives on the roof of a potential Camberwell Village Hall venue?
Yet another in the overwhelming wealth of ideas for that amazing site — which has the potential to especially engage the local youth and get them interested in bio-diversity and nature as well as a career in the arts and also their associative trades
The potential for that place is endless…such a tragic shame we have a council who (largely) can’t see that
there’s honeymaking galore at walworth garden farm and castlemead; for other local stuff, we have tesco & tesco xpress
oops, wrong meeting
Local honey? Come up and see me sometime.
If you haven’t been to Walworth Garden Farm you REALLY ought to, it’s a real gem, worth visiting just to enjoy it.
The farm’s a fantastic set up, the staff have trained LOADS of people in horticulture and wider gardening matters, many of them go on to change careers to work with their hands on the land…
A massive chunk of the farm’s funding has just vanished because of Southwark cuts, well because of central government cuts, and they will need a lot of support to get through the troughs of despair and sloughs of despond…
If you don’t have £66K cash or so to put in as a gift, start helping the farm in a small way by signing up to their Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/gb5aqo and by coming along to see the place and enjoy the seclusion and loveliness of greenery in the middle of the smoke. I’m not sure if you can buy honey right now but it’s worth looking.
http://www.walworthgardenfarm.org.uk
Allotment holders ought to be allowed to sell their produce. That would create a busy and functional sense making local produce network all over the UK that’s totally prevented by stupid anachronistic bylaws.
the farm also does amazing work with people with learning difficulties
it is indeed an oasis of life and nature x
A quick post just to tell you all that I attended the “Camberwell Cinema” event at the arts college this evening. The screening was held in a reception area/space just inside the main entrance to the right hand side. The documentary was excellent and so was the turnout. All seats were taken, there were people sitting on the floor and standing at the back of the room. A good mix, not just arts students alone.
Well, who’d have thought it? And on a Monday night too!!! — Food for thought indeed
http://camberwell-cinema.blogspot.com/
On Thursday they are showing the Orson Welles classic “F is for Fake”
Nice
Were any of you on the 0824 Victoria train this morning?
The train driver almost to forgot to stop at Denny H before slamming the brakes at the last minute.
The resultant overshoot meant that the passengers all had to board through the rear carriage/ carriages.
What a mess.
Anyone else witness this?
@Alan. I was among the crowd who walked out when all trains not on the Victoria line were suddenly cancelled. Such a shit service. Got the bus instead. Forgot how depressing that could be.
That entrance / exit to Denmk Hill is crap too. Everyone barging through a single tiny doorway. Thank God they’re going to improve it.
@Alan — I wasn’t on that particular train but have seen this happen on a couple of occasions — you’re right, it does lead to a right mess and there seems to be no other cause for it than the incompetence of the driver. I’ve never heard any announcement apologizing for or explaining why this kind of thing happens — although i note that they are very good at repeating information that the majority of passengers already know over and over and over…
Imagine if he did the same thing at Victoria.
With all the renovation work that’s been going on at Victoria for the last year or so, i doubt anyone would notice a train wreck in the middle of it.
Well, who’d have thought it? I missed this. If I’d know I’d have gone along to let my hair down:
HOUSE OF PRAISE (REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD) LONDON CROSSOVER NIGHT PARTY AT HOP CAMBERWELL. COME AND CROSS OVER IN THE NEW YEAR, WITH PRAYER, SINGING, DANCING AND PRAISES.
JOIN THOUSANDS AT THE EVENT OF THE YEAR.… FEATURING PASTORS ANDREW AND YEMI ADELEKE, HOUSE OF PRAISE CHOIR & DRAMA TEAM, HOLY MALLAM, DAVID INFINITI OLORI OKO, FAITHCHILD, KELECHI IFY. CAN’T WAIT T…O SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR…
See More
December 29, 2010 at 9:41am · Like · Comment
That looks a little bit like an advert for A Place of Worship to me. Does it to you?
Don’t worry if you missed that one Mark, you can relive it through this House of Praise (RCCG) Facebook photo album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=309675&id=272990863932
And if you anyone wants to take part in the next “non-worship” event, there is a 3 day spectacular kicking off tomorrow night: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7573147&id=272990863932
mmm, this sounds like a bring-your-own-camera event, nice
in a non-private-eye world, this could possibly mean ‘bring your own council officer to not witness anything not strictly legal happening’
or did i od on the double negatives there? you get the idea
When I arrived in New York in the 1980s with the salt of the Skagerrak still in my hair, boarding through the rear carriage of a train only meant one thing, well, a smorgasboard of several similar things, cousin things, you might say.
I still think we should be more relaxed about the African churches.
I have an image of sitting watching art films, dying for a pint.
I have been there in the Renoir, watching Tarkovsky, not just wishing I were dead, but believing I were, whilst my clever friend thrilled at the sheer misery.
Scoop!
Congratulations due to Le Petit Parisien — announced today as Les Routiers Bar of the Year.
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/89534
Dagmar; You appear to have described my own experience in the same cinema. It was many years ago. About the time I saw The House of Bernada Alba, when I had to pinch myself because I thought I HAD died.
So do we want to sit in the bingo hall reading flickering subtitles when we should be enjoying a pint at the Sun & Doves?
On the other hand, having been to Dagenham today and seen the old industrial estates lined with new commercial churches, I would say it is better for ALL people in Camberwell that such a central location should have a more universal and friendly use.
Like Lenny Bruce said, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.”
But these are not times for big funding for arts projects.
Does anyone else go round in circles? How do you stop it?
Still. Today, asking a van driver man if the Woolwich foot tunnel has been closed, he replied:
“I haven’t got a clue.”
Such honesty! A saint!
@Mark — Bar of the year? Really? Wow, I wonder what their criteria are. I think LPP is OK, but not much more than that. Same beer selection as everywhere else, fair wine list, but… bar of the year? Again: wow.
@Dagmar — I don’t think the Bingo Hall will ever be a cinema again; I don’t think the area will support it. We already have cinemas in Brixton & Peckham, which are rarely full at the best of times. My wish would be to see a mixed-use cultural centre. But as the old saying goes: wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which hand fills first.
@Peter. Ahem, I couldn’t comment for fear of being cast as the, errrr, bitter jealous type.
Re: the earlier discussion on blue plaques: A map was published yesterday showing all of London’s English Heritage plaques, and Southwark Council’s own:
http://reeddesign.co.uk/inspiration/blueplaques/index.html
The only plaque in Camberwell in honour of a living person is for Marianne Jean-Baptiste, first British black woman to be nominated for an Oscar.
Did you know Van Gogh lived in Kennington for a spell?
Blue Plaques are another thing Camberwell could be put on the map for. The number of high profile people who’ve lived or worked here is astonishing. And, as with everything else in the area, this has been overlooked since the beginning of records. This quick list is nowhere near comprehensive either:
Clement le Neve Foster
Benjamin Jowett
Anthony James Leggett
Edward Burnett Tylor
Jenny Agutter
Kenneth Branagh
Pat Coombs
Jenny Eclair
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Leslie Grantham
Patricia Hayes
Lynette Hemmant
Albert Houthuesen
Terry Jones
Boris Karloff
Martin McDonagh
Claude Rains
Erin O’Connor
Nicholas Serota
Emma Thompson
Mark Wallinger
Florence Welch
Edward Turner
Jeremy Bowen
Peter Preston
Zoe Williams
Robert Browning
Lord Eric Avebury
Joseph Chamberlain
Jack Jones
Timothy Laurence
Larry Whitty
John Bostock
Duncan Goodhew
Nosher Powell
Martin Ruane Giant Haystacks
Kenny Sansom
I got it from wikipedia: People in Southwark. Can think of several more but no time to write
In case anybody is wondering…
I wasn’t suggesting for one minute that a potential cinema in Camberwell should merely show art films and documentaries…
My point was that you can show these films as well as a general more populist film programme (which would be much more useful and generate more money) along with the myriad of activities that an arts/community centre would provide…
I have friends in Hackney and it struck me how impressive things are developing there because after years of stagnation the council there appear to have realized the importance of historical buildings being kept availiable for community use. The old library across the road from Hackney Town Hall is the Ocean music venue and there is a proposal to turn it into a Cinema with community space. The Hackney Empire next door is still there.
There are many warehouse buildings on light industrial estates which provide more than enough accomodation regarding numbers and parking for churches — in a community which is practically identical to Camberwell & Peckham. Things seem to be working a lot better in that part of London.
I suspect that this it all the result of a process of discussion and open transparency between all parties involved and the determination to find a perfect compromise.
And it’s working…I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
New news.
http://www.propertyweek.com/news/alumno-gets-consent-for-student-flats-in-camberwell/5012168.article
Didn’t even know they had applied in the first place.
155 more people. Pack ‘em in! And less chance of a seat in the Hermit.
Damn damn
Object now everyone. It’s difficult enough as it is getting a seat in there.
These are the former Council buildings on Peckham Road; I’ve written about them before, so you’re obviously not paying attention.
Man goes into a pub. Pint of lager please. Sorry sir, this is an educational establishment. OK, gimme a civil partnership ceremony. Certainly sir, ice with that?
The game’s gone mad.
Talking of pubs…In today’s Evening Standard there was an article on the up-and-coming architects of the future and great mention was made of the famous Elephant & Castle pub which was demolished in the 1960’s
Much of the inspiration for this project came from Aberrant’s study of London pubs, undertaken last year when the practice became the first winner of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s architecture residency. Among the collection, they found the drawings of a monumental pub called the Elephant & Castle in Lambeth*, now demolished.
*Mistake — Southwark, not Lambeth
“It was a big, seven-storey pub,” Chambers says. “On the ground floor it was split into four different areas with different degrees of privacy, for workers to drink or the saloon where the landlord would entertain people he knew. Upstairs there was a big function room, where anything from political meetings to a dog-walking society meeting would happen. It was like a community centre. There were hotel rooms above. The intensity of use that these pubs had is really interesting to us. The publican almost acted as a host, it was very much a home from home.”
Well, I am optimistic about the future…could it be that these young architects fully appreciate the fact the very worst planning crimes were perpetuated on the buildings which the people in the poorer areas of London appreciated the most?
Is it still happening? What do we all think?
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23917585-meet-the-future-builders.do
@Peter I’ve been reading your posts on the council bldgs, but it’s good to complain about them again. 155 more people! 155 I say!
That might be some good business for that Chinese takeaway next door. Surprised it’s still going.
Le PP is OK but I struggle to call it a particularly good pub or bar. The seating is crap and the other bit is a restaurant. It’s good in summer cos of the patio.
Consent was granted in December 2010, or pssibly late November, for conversion of the listed Georgian buildings on Peckham Road to student accommodation. As long as the work’s carried out to plan and the buildings well maintained by Camberwell College then I think it’s only a good thing for SE5; Students who study here anyway get to live here and do the things that happen when people live in an area. Too many people come into Camberwell during the day and leave at home time. That’s not good for anything.
Thinking on… Camberwell’s got two types dormitory folk — those who live here because of its convenience to the centre of things but who don’t use for shopping or anything else, and the reverse dormitory folk, there’s bound to be a dictionary name for them (cambermuters?) — those who come here to work or study 9–5 but don’t use it otherwise.
Either way Camberwell doesn’t benefit from the presence of these thousands of people; it just serves their needs. And they don’t get to enjoy Camberwell in all its glory; and, because they don’t know it properly they go on in their lives to perpetuate various myths about Camberwell that it is ‘alternative, bohemian and creative’ or that it is ‘a place to avoid at all costs’ or ‘a quirky little place with a vibrant night time economy’ or ‘a place with loads of potential’ or ‘it’s going to be the next place south of the river to regenerate’ these and other myths which combine in the public domain to keep Camberwell off the map and perennially out of the mind of responsible authorities.
Good on Camberwell College for getting their students on campus in Camberwell.
On Le PP you goota be in it to win it.
Les Routiers entry is paid for and the honours are bestowed upon people who nominate themselves. All power to Le PP though for putting themselves forward for the Bar of the Year category.
There is a third type of Camberwell resident.
The Tiger and the Hermit’s were both full last night.
YES and I was at the Tiger last night enjoying two hours of Kings of Leon. Again and again. And again and again… the only thing wrong with the place last night.
The belly pork was a little over salty and the red cabbage over bland, if over bland is possible but overall we LOVE the Tiger.
The Sun and Doves was quite busy too but not with people who were at the Tiger, those from the other side of Camberwell, none of whom know about The Sun and Doves. Yet again barriers must be broken.
The fourth to twentieth types of Camberwell resident are not so readily classifiable but they don’t use Camberwell either.
Where is the nearest juke box?
Surely a juke box is the answer..
Mark, cancel the thing that I said I’d do
I don’t feel comfortable talkin’ to you
’Less you got the zipper fixed on my shoe
Then I’ll be in the lobby drinking for two
Oh SHIT. I have a head cold, two weeks now, it’s affecting my comprehension. AS it happens I’ve been wearing shoes with zippers and Kings of Leon — that song even — remind me enormously of a dear friend I lived with in Chicago. He died a couple of years ago, this made, and continues to make, me very sad.
More sad than I can possibly understand somehow.
J Mark Dodds
I agree that having Camberwell College of Art students living in Camberwell can only be a very positive development indeed…
If the Institute of the Arts want to build further accomodation here for students at their other locations…then bring it on…It’s all good!
I think FM Mangal is excellent.
Can’t be positive enough about it.
Imperial Gardens have lost their long-running court case against Southwark Council:
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/254/court_judgement_given_in_imperial_gardens_case
Justice Supperstone! Like a character from Henry IV Part Two. In truth, there would have been a shooting at the Imperial Gardens by now had it been open. Good old Supperstone.
That is bad news.
And more not very nice news. Just walked past F Hinds, the jewellers on Denmark Hill today on the way to Brunchies (which ain’t too bad) and saw it had closed down.
When did this happen?
What I had not noticed, until today, is that there was a planning notice stuck very subtly on the wall for permission for a book shop or fishmongers…
Sorry… my mistake… for a betting shop. Bet Fred this time. The final date for making representations was the 10th December…Did I just totally miss something?
Fraid so MCat. The Hinds news was broken here a few weeks back. It’s a shame. Nice staff in there and a change from the usual yam / betting / nail bar garbage.
I had a pizza in Bar Story. It was OK but no meat options bar chicken and when it arrived I realised (but may be wrong) that it was one of those middle eastern flatbreads with toppings on. Probs bought over the road in Khans. Tasted OK but thin on the veg toppings and I wouldn’t do it again. Yet to try the newish pizza place on Bellenden Rd.
It’s good to see Imperial justice done once in a while. I so wish I’d seen such justice done in my own High Court sojourns against my pub company. Come to think of it perhaps I did see such done.
And, Monkeycat, you did totally miss something, the about to be Betfred betting shop next door to the newly arrived pawn brokers on Denmark Hill is just part of the inexorable trend of chaotic, unbridled, illogical upward and downward mobility that governs the free market of retail outlets Camberhell…
Tonight’s Kairos 4tet gig at the Crypt is over half sold in advance, so if you want to see this totally hot band get there early or you won’t. Or come late, after dinner, because some people always leave before the second set, which starts at 11pm.
Coming up next month:
Feb 4th: Monocled Man feat Rory Simmons
Feb 11th: Guerillasound
Feb 18th: John Martin Quartet
Feb 25th: Juliet Kelly
http://www.camberwellcrypt.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camberwellcrypt
If anyone out there would like to take pics of next week’s gig I’d appreciate it. I’m worn out from working six days a week with a rotten cold and double Fridays for months: Free dinner, a bar tab, with entry libre and accolade on the flickr stream to the person who takes up the mantle! mark@camberwellcrypt.com
Friday night and the lights are low, as ABBA sang.
Or rather the lights are full-on at Millwall in a 6-pointer against Barnsley tonight.
Get darn the Den!
The knock-on effect when the Wall are promoted to the Premier will have the prawn sandwich brigade ra-ra-ing at the soaring house prices and burgeoning posh nosheries.
La Routier? Not ‘arf!
breaking news: john friary not a cabinet member for elf and safety any more. twitter rumours saying he’s resigned but not clear as to whether he resigned as cabinet member or altogether. any light shed welcome x
ok not a rumour now, it’s official http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2627/lb_southwark_notice_of_vacancy
He’s resigned as a councillor not just as a member of the executive, which may well mean he has personal issues. Alternatively, it might be in response to this:
http://www.southlondonpress.co.uk/news.cfm?id=3512&headline=Jobs%20to%20be%20reviewed%20with%20400%20facing%20axe
Let me be the first to call for Jenny Jones to stand for the vacant seat in Brunswick Park. This is the ward in which she lives and it would be great to see her back in Southwark Council.
hope john’s ok, whatever the reason(s).
@James J I dont think a green or for that matter anyone but Labour candidate would have much chance of winning brunswick park ward — http://www.southwark.gov.uk/download/4477/brunswick_park_ward — each of the Labour candidates had almost double what the nearest Lib Dem had at the last election. Even allowing for the much smaller turnout in byelections given the Lib Dems’ unpopularity nationally they have little chance of winning and I would guess that the nature of the ward (poor, high percentage social housing etc) means that the greens are unlikely to come from third.
Ooh er, John Friary was chair of cross borough working group in place of there not being a Town Centre Manager for Camberwell. COME back JOHN.
Posts from a previous edition of this esteemed publication re the pizza place on Bellenden Road:
PK says:
11/23/2010 at 9:57 am
The pizza place on Bellenden Road is called 168SLA. The 168 is the street number and the SLA part of the name apparently refers to Sophia Loren’s Ass, of which they have a large poster on one wall!
Haven’t been there yet myself but from what I’ve heard, the pizzas are very good.
J Mark Dodds says:
11/23/2010 at 1:14 pm
SLA ahHa. I can hear his voice now. That really sounds like Paul. We were waiters together at Joe Allen in the early eighties.
HERE’s a picture of 168SLA’s spotless kitchen in action.
The pizzas are quite good. I meant to say.
I’ve been to 168sla a couple of times now, each time hoping the service would have got better but it hasn’t. Such a shame as the pizzas are good– especially the cape cod, but the service has been painful– maybe because it’s all kids. Also it’s cash only but that may have changed since! It the service improved then I’d definitley recommend it
I suspect that John Friary has (just maybe) had enough of trying to do something worthwhile in this constipated borough…
Whatever the reasons, I hope he is alright!
I would also like to see Jenny Jones as a councillor once again, but as Mumu pointed out — I suspect the chances of the Green Party getting in there would be difficult…but I would like to see it happen…there’s no doubt about that
Hot on the heels of Le PP’s success, The Bear features in today’s Times’, “50 best pubs for the weekend”.
But get this, it’s described as “a favourite with the Camberwell chattering classes…”!
I’ll remember that the next time I fall off my bar stool after 6 pints of Scruttock’s Old Dirigible (or whatever the week’s guest beer might be).
I notice John Friary has deleted his Facebook page, which is a little odd. I wouldn’t have thought that would be your first priority if you were ill.
On light shedding some arresting news came in involving an investigation, a computer, the internet and a rumour of police involvement.
Speaking of pizzas, has anyone been to La Luna on the Walworth Rd? It’s a grubby spot, but the pizzas are hard to beat. Useful place if you’re going to Italy and want to get your ear into the lingo, too.
Incidentally, I’ve now put a historical walk through North Camberwell / Burgess Park up on my site: http://www.stephenwilmot.com/p/burgess-park.html
It’s not finished yet — still a mammoth work in progress — but I thought I’d publish it anyway so those interested can at least read the first part.
I went to La Luna after hearing lots of good things about it. I thought it was OK, but not really good enough to make a return trip.
Peter
La Luna was a good place in it’s day (oooh about 10 years ago) but in recent years Pizza has improved in London and a considerable amount of proprietors have well and truly upped their game…so perhaps it now pales in comparison?
Stephen
Thanks, I’ll enjoy working my way through that one
J Mark Dodds
No! Say it ain’t so! — Please, anything but that
@eusebiovic: It ain’t necessarily so. It ain’t necessarily so… I certainly hope it’s not as rumour can be a terrible thing anywhere let alone in the dark crannies of Camberwell.
The Kairos 4tet were rather good at the Crypt last night. SOLD OUT, a modest queue after 10pm, great atmosphere, lots and lots of new faces and people who haven’t been down there for a decade; great fun.
Stephen
Fantastic work. I know every inch of that park (good and flat for running), but it’s hard to get a sense of its history. Looking forward to the next installment.
Nice stuff, Stephen. Will try La Luna, too.
Millwall Lionesses are playing away at Barnet Ladies today at 2pm, an easy trip on the Northern Line. Barnet Ladies are not just Fair Ladies but HAIR LADIES. Maybe hairy ladies!
Can we say that?
Does Celia s**t?
For many years there used to be a hairdresser’s on St.Georges Road in the Elephant called Barnet Fair…
Not sure why, but I miss seeing that stupid pun now that it’s gone…it became an off licence/grocery store but now I think it’s a greasy spoon
Great, that’s far more useful…I shall be investigating “Brunchies” on Vestry Road tomorrow…
On the subject of punning barbers, I often use Ryanhair near Victoria, but my favourite has to be ‘Curl Up And Dry’ at New Cross. Oh and for a topical example, only today I spotted ‘Long Live the Cuts’ near the British Museum…
I went to La Luna after reading about it here. I’ve been a few times, so it’s not bad. But also not that special either, and feels quite ‘old fashioned’ in its pizzas, if that makes sense.
Went to the Bear the other day. 1st time in many months. It was back on form for sure. The grouse main pleased. Still a tad pricey but we enjoyed it.
Barnet Ladies are bottom.
But they beat the Lionesses 3–1 today.
Bottom or no.
@Dagmar; seemingly women just cannot understand the Off Side Rule — apparently it’s something to do with wombs, according to Sky Sports commentators. Being without a womb by extrapolation therefore I should be ahead when it comes to understanding offside against onside but truth is that I couldn’t give a flying Wright brother about any aspect of sport ergo Being Without a Womb confers no natural advantage whatsovever over a Barnet Fair Lady Player or spectator for that matter. If I were Rupert Murdoch, considering spending £8Billion of my hard earned (with overtime) cash, I’d sack anyone who tapped phones or talked crap about women — sorry, the fairer sex, — just to make my Corporation look like it gives a damn.
Thinking on the local political spectrum it looks like shit will be hitting the media fan tomorrow. No doubt red feaces all around.
I got the munchies I’m going to Brunchies. I got a picture of Brunchies. It’s a shame it’s called Brunchies.
In case you didn’t know: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12315013
The closure of St Michael and All Angels School reported in the Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351828/Tory-teacher-slammed-British-classrooms-blamed-closure-old-school.html
Also, on the same page, it says the Chuckle Brothers are going to open a ‘free school’. Now who says the Daily Mail isn’t worth reading?
I’m a big fan of La Luna’s pizzas. Some of the best I’ve had in London, and a very Italian ambience. Was dining at the Tiger a few nights ago — they’ve improved their vegetarian offerings, and I had a very good stuffed butternut squash. But the current star might have to be Zeret Kitchen — great Ethiopian food, and increasingly full of Ethiopians enjoying the excellent injera, proper Ethiopian coffee ceremony etc. And the woman who runs it is lovely. On dining there again last night, I was impressed that she remembered what I ordered last time — about 3 months ago!
Gay Camberwell
I love Ethiopian Food…There is a restaurant on Roman Way just off Caledonian Road (yeah, I know North London) called Kokeb and the lady who runs it is amazing — I’ve never had such warm hospitality at any other place I’ve been to eat. Yes, the injera is great as is the coffee ceremony.
I’m going to try Zeret again soon…but if you have friends up north — then I recommend Kokeb!
James J
“Chuckle Brothers to open a free school”
Thanks for that…I’m still laughing! — “To Me, To You, left a bit, right a bit — ahhh! free school”
Eusebiovic,
Something to stop you laughing:
13 year old shot 14 year old in East Dulwich.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12324922
The news about John Friary breaks in the Evening Standard.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23919099-leading-labour-councillor-john-friary-is-quizzed-over-child-grooming.do
Dagmar says:
01/19/2011 at 10:55 pm
Maude, I haven’t seen Grace since the weekend! She is such a dirty stop-out, isn’t she? She’ll come home when she wants — needs her washing done and she’s got fed up with him anyway!
Great pic of the well, Voicer. You look good in that ‘at!*****
Two full moons in a row over Camberwell tonight and yesterday. Is anyone else riding the bucking bronco?
Literally brilliant, literarily brilliant, everything’s brilliant in that light, even the litter. The cat jumped over the moon — quickly followed by her litter of kittens.
See what I mean!
*****What pic??? Are you trying to be nasty???
James J
Yeah, I know about the East Dulwich thing…Makes me mad…Not the kids of course — just this whole rotten stinking system.
I like Dulwich Hamlet FC — Good people there, trying their best to achieve positive results within the local community. Hardly their fault if a function at their club results in this.
It would have happened anywhere else where that party may have been held…
Whenever a person/likeminded group of people propose an idea — something that might go some way to offering a more effective solution…all that is offered in response are the same lame excuses by the very same persons who are continuously elected without even having to work hard for it. That’s why I hope we get PR voting system in place…but alas the majority of the media will lobby against it and defeat it — not in the interest of their proprietors.
And then on top of that the whole John Friary thing…
This place is cursed and rotten to the marrow of the bone…either that or the full moon…crime always seems to go up at this time of the month. Maybe the human race isn’t as sophisticated as we like to think…(myself included)
I am certain that all these negative social-side effects are the result of pursuing an economic policy that only respects the most extreme and severe form of free-market economics — The Harvard Business School model…
Of course, as soon as it is suggested the system is wrong, there are many all lined up to accuse one of being a communist, anarchist, conspiracy theorist or worse. But the evidence is there for all to see in the U.S — Look at the horrendous problems it has caused for the people who live there…Entire cities have been brought to their knees…people thrown out onto the streets — But we are continously told
“This is the only way — the road to freedom and democracy”
I think making money and owing a business is fine but I truly believe there are more responsible and self-disciplined workable ways of getting there.
Very Depressed
Euse
@Voicer: That cut and paste job you did up there had me concerned for a time warp moment. Dagmar’s NEVER nasty, just deep, so don’t get your knickers in a twist.
Keep yer chin up Euse. Difficult to say ‘it may never happen’ because, quite evidently it IS happening, all around us. But HEY this is what democracy is all about. Thank heaven, or some other fantasy, we’re not taking to the streets for the same sort of reasons the Egyptians, Tunisians or others are. On the other hand some of our freedoms are being taken away rather than opening up — but then what we’re seeing now surely is a sign of a mature, civilised state at ease with itself.
I tried to send this email to 1000 people today so gmail threatened to suspend my account and lots and lots of nice real people sent a message back: ‘Thank you for your message, I am out of the office until the cows come home’…
Dear Friends, this coalition shambles of a government needs to be taught a lesson and YOU and I can make that happen right now. They are selling off OUR trees all over the UK. Did YOU agree to let them do THAT? NO YOU DIDN’T. Do we live in a democracy? Not according to this tight trousered tory lib dem alliance of schoolboys in the sandpit.
Please tell them the score by signing this petition now.
Peace
Save Our Forests from the RICH people and the CORPORATIONS:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests#petition
I used to live in EastDul. There goes the neighbourhood, eh! Bet those yummy mummies ain’t pleased.
Check out your postcode on the new waste of taxpayers cash, sorry initiative, http://www.police.uk
Put my own postcode in and fokk me if I don’t live in a warzone.
“Curl Up & Dry” is a hairdressers in New Cross, “Fags & Mags” in Dagenham, also “Massala Parlour”. Do the spunky chicken.
I just tried the police.uk site but someone’s nicked the Camberwell map.
@mark d: there’s nothing ‘mature’ about a battered society/people?
x
Wow. Just looked our street on that police database thing. I knew it was bad, but nothing like that. Shit.
(It must be broken, no? There can be that much crime just in December?)
No Gabe, it really is that bad.
I’m going to try a few other addresses to compare them.
Predictably, the site has melted under the demand. Might have to give it a day or two.
Lili; Yes. Signs of a mature, mouldy society.
The police.uk site is currently sporting a discrete little Cymru flag top right and the search button doesn’t — it goes to ‘done’ as soon as it’s clicked and nothing is revealed. Five million people an hour being disappointed is a lot of disappoint.
Shame. I was looking forward to finding out how scared I really should be for living where I do, where shootings, stabbings and hit and runs are sickeningly frequent. The ones we get to know about that is.
It’s very British, isn;‘t it. Build something that looks good, answers the brief, sounds plausible.
It doesn’t quite work, but that’s because of over-demand or over-use or the wrong kind of leaf on the line or whatever. It’s always the fault of someone else. Or something unexpected or that somehow couldn’t be forseen.
Not just the police website (that I still can’t get to work) but all sorts of things British.
We went out of London for a birthday weekend, to a lovely-looking country hotel/restaurant; The Crown in Stoke by Nayland.
The rooms were pretty, the staff young and sort of enthusiastic. A long walk through some of the countriest countryside you can imagine, with birds of prey looking for rabbits, horses looking sleek in distant fields. You know, the whole rural thing.
A relaxing bath would have been nice, but there wasn’t enough hot water. Oh well.
Dinner was a work of gastro-art. Plump moules, pink lamb and a bottle of Cru Exceptionel just on the right side of extortionate. Lovely.
At 9.15 next morning we were unable to shower. No hot water. When we phoned reception to query this lack of water there are several responses possible. “Are you sure” is the wrong response. So is “Well no one else has complained.”
“Sorry” might have been a good response. “Why not have breakfast in your room while the water reheats” would have been an even better one.
They were somehow unable to predict that a full hotel at 9.15 on Sunday morning might be pushing the edges of what can be supplied through their hot water system.
SImilarly the Home Office or whoever were unable to predict that extensive press and broadcast coverage might stimulate a massive response to the police.uk website. After all, they created the media coverage. Perhaps they were expecting to fail.
And to think, we’ve got the Olympics kicking off in 16 months time. I imagine that they are currently recruiting excuse writers to deal with the barrage of unforseen **ck ups.
It could even deal with the looming unemployment crisis.
Jes. Nicely put.
Anyone in business out there come to Pasha Hotel Restaurant and spa tomorrow any time between 4pm and 8pm for an informal get together over snacks and drinks generously provided by the hotel’s GM Bora Bicakci. It’s the second meeting of Camberwell Business Forum CBF. We’re going to make some joined up things happen for a change around here.
If you have to drive you can park at 298 Crown Street SE5 0UR.
If it’s true that we do live in a mature democratic society then it must be an extremely constipated one at present.
There must be stuff in there that has been backed up for an entire generation and more.
It’s going to take a shipping container full of Senokot capsules to shift that lot.
I hope everyone remembers to stay well away from that particular direction when the good ship Britannia finally blows!
PR voting — It’s the future
No crime at all on my street. I’m now terrified to venture beyond my little sanctuary into the badlands that surround me.
Planning permission was unanimously granted for Burgess Park last night. Work should now get under way fairly rapidly.
The cop site is working again. Looks like Love Walk has seen a few muggings. Watch out everyone!
Also I know for a fact that there have been loads of muggings in Warwick Gdns, yet they don’t show up there or in the streets around. Watch out.
Camberwell seems very popular with people who are antisocial in their outlook. http://bit.ly/h8jGNd
Look forward to the unimaginative very expensive mess that will be Burgess park.
I don’t doubt that park design was more creative when you could have a single rich or powerful person making all the decisions and pushing through an innovative design. Nor do I doubt that it could be done cheaper if it wasn’t organised by the council.
However, given that it’s the council’s park and they have to take into account the opinions of a hundred different stakeholders, on balance I honestly think the design is going to be a big improvement. That’s why groups like the Friends of Burgess Park, local residents associations and the London Wildlife Trust supported the planning application.
If nothing else, in future I’ll have a path taking me straight to Tesco. What more could I possibly hope for?
Here’s the Council’s press release:
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/257/burgess_park_gets_go_ahead_for_multimillion_pound_revamp
@james: ‘it’s the council’s park’ — and who, in highly theoretical democratic fantasies, does the council ‘belong’ to? x
@James; wise words as always James, I’m just a grumbling git who has to work to unimaginably tight budgets and get good results or die. I understand the leviathon process this kind of project must go through but the it makes a scenario for development doomed to produce mediodre outcomes from the start. The form on consultation was poor, it was very expensive and time consuming yet a lot of views and experience fell through its evidently very wide net. I keep meeting people who are interested in the park, live adjacent to the park and who have ideas about it who completely missed the process. They just didn’t know about it at all.
I think erasing the roads is a mistake and landscaping out mounds to create long vistas is a Capability Browm era notion that’s not particularly valuable now. There’s a few other things besides.
I’m by nature an optimist, but I do prefer to look on the Burgess Park plan as progression rather than regression.
It couldn’t be much worse than it is now. I was cycling round with a friend recently, who knows the area pretty well, and he didn’t even realise there was a lake in Burgess Park. That’s how badly the place is pieced together. And the entrances are… well uninviting is putting it nicely.
That should change now, at least slightly. It will still be a mess but that’s not surprising given how recent the whole Burgess Park project is. We can’t expect much more than a mild improvement from this attempt to make sense of it, which is pretty small-scale after all. Maybe in 50 years time Burgess Park will start to look mature.
I’m young and no doubt naive, but the general level of cynicism on this site sometimes surprises me. Call me square, but I quite enjoyed the police site too (when I finally got on). Power of the internet and all that.
Agreed Ben.
I think the police site is good. I’m all for data democracy.
..and the stats don’t alarm me in the slightest..
Camberwell is already my favourite place on Earth and it continues to improve in leaps and bounds..
Let’s see how much it alarms you when you or your loved one get threatened and robbed then. Because I promise you my girlfriend was really upset about it.
Or when a load of ‘hoodies’ started on and abused my neighbour (a mild-mannered white guy in his mid 30s) while he was at a playground with his wife and baby.
Thinking hey this is London it could’ve happened anywhere doesn’t really excuse it does it.
But I digress, it’s an interesting site, hence why I linked it. Confirmed what I already knew: for all the upsides and niceties of SE5/15 we live alongside plenty of subhuman feral scum. Sorry — disadvantaged yoofs who need more support, education and opportunity.
Good point about the lake in the park. Took me AGES to find that thing! There’re carp in there, if you fish. One of very few places in Central London to do so.
What a load of old bollocks Phil!
The stats are not alarming. Leicester Square is clearly much more dangerous than Camberwell Green.
Of course I am not disputing that being mugged is alarming..
And how about your thinly veiled racism? Alarming?
In general, we find than men are more affected by winter SAD than women. By February, they are very grumpy indeed! Their pineal glands have shrunk to the size of a lentil and they could easily soak up a two-pint jab of vitamin D.
If only the Camberwell well was still going. The new Susan Hillier exhibition at Tate Britain has her collection of well water from where Celts — the Cambs of Cambria and Camberwell — kept sacred wells.
Well water. Just the sound of it makes you feel well.
Angels and Gypsies is named in Time Out’s Top 50 London Restaurants. It comes under the “best restaurants for grazing” category, whatever that means.
http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/features/2473/12.html
Alan. Surely Phil’s direct observation is not thinly veiled racism but a report of severely antisocial behaviour. Friends of mine had a bad experience in Warwick gardens last year. Hoodies forced a gun into the mouth of the man, breaking his teeth and gums, as the woman watched essentially helpless, their kids at home with a babysitter not 300 metres away. No doubt those hoodies were disadvantaged youths too.
I was affected by SAD, and by being a tied publican in a tired Camberwell, but since I started consuming cod liver oil capsules about six years ago it’s not been a problem. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and intensive one to one counselling may have helped too.
So I’m not grumpy at all anymore, just keenly aware that a lot of great opportunities for Camberwell are wasted or missed by our local authorities because they have no long term vision for what the area can become and they back this up by being utterly rubbish at consultation. It’s all top down not Big Society around here. Recently Lambeth has been making leaps and bounds about co-operative local government implementation and are far ahead of Southwark who in spite of their assertions that Camberwell is high on their agenda seem to keep looking at big regeneration elsewhere in the borough rather than getting creative with even tweaking that would make Camberwell better for everyone.
With the Lib Dems jumping on the Daily Mail and Standard bandwagon of smearing Labour’s reputation locally (local Labour are criminals according to the LibDems’ latest A3 publication) it’s unlikely that anything more than entrenchment will ensue rather than any cogent strategy for developing Camberwell’s future.
It’s sad to see that an ill thought through proposal to put ‘Camberwell Pavilion’ on the piazza in front of the magistrates’ court — a move meant as a quick logical regeneration ‘win’ has made Southwark administration open to further criticism from all sides. This was entirely avoidable but somehow predictable.
Camberwell needs holistically focused, well informed and direct town centre management. Setting this up has been on each administration’s back burner and procrastinated on for over a decade. Self evidently successive Southwark administrations are incapable of making it happen. While there is eternal inertia on the Southwark side, Lambeth is seriously considering pushing this forward — Lambeth no longer sees borough boundaries as barriers to their area of responsibility. They see communities as human capital and as a valuable resource to be drawn upon.
There is a lot happening behind closed doors around here that keeps Camberwell down and that is wrong. Camberwell needs to be opened up and a proper widespread dialogue begun with the people who live, work and study here that is not so much A Consultation but A Working Together toward creating a competent diverse community that is placed in a built environment which celebrates the extraordinary wealth of talents, skills and experiences that abound in Camberwell’s many peoples.
Well done Mel & Jose.
Mark
I think I witnessed and called the Police out to the incident you refer to. I hope your friends are OK. Last I heard the Police had arrested some people, but I don’t know where that’s got to.
Interesting stuff, Mark.
On the subject of regeneration in Lambeth — and the kind of investment Camberwell needs — this plan for Vauxhall Cross was released by the property company CLS this morning: http://www.vauxhallsquare.co.uk/
Describing an incident of kids in dispute with a neighbour as sub human feral scum abusing a mild mannered white guy is not a direct observation.
Hoodyism is an attitude, a mindset, not a colour. I’ve spent enough of my life living near bad ‘white’ estates in Leeds and Sheffield to know that, Alan.
Racism is an easy and distracting charge to level when discussing these issues. Suffice to say if I were racist then life would be even lonelier, given that I am mixed race myself.
Anyway, my point, if I even have one, is simply this — please be careful guys.
I’ve lived here for almost five years now and got quite complacent about thinking it safe. I’d always counter the endless office jokes about what a dump Peckham/ South London/ Camberwell was with “it’s not that bad really.”
So it’s easy to forget that it is bad. The police stats bear that out. And so do the endless news stories.
I’m not saying be paranoid, and I’m not trying to sound like your Dad, and yes one incident in five years isn’t a warzone, but you can try and reduce the risks.
Warwick Gardens is a classic example. Quite well lit and open, I have walked through it after dark a hundred times, usually very drunk, and I never saw it as a dangerous place. Not once. But unfortunately I’d now stop and think twice before walking through again.
@Mark Yeah that LibDem leaflet was quite punchy wasn’t it! I was quite surprised by it. What happened to the nice mellow cuddly pipe-smoking LibDems.
With unemployment up 5% in Camberwell & Peckham (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23918866-east-london-hardest-hit-by-job-cuts.do), don’t expect crime to get any better in the near future.
Unemployment up, crime up, riots in the street… this 80s revival has gone too far. Good old cuddly LibDems are currently fagging for their Tory seniors.
I think a new post is overdue.
Glad you agree that this is not a race issue.
What about the sub human thing? It’s not a genetic thing either is it?
It genuinely is about ‘support, education and opportunity’.. ready to come full circle and agree?
Up to a point yes, of course, but it’s about family, gang culture, ‘respect’, all sorts of things. I think if it were as straightforward as you imply then it could be more easily fixed.
“In dispute with a neighbour” — you make it sound like they were arguing about the hedge. Instead they made a load of sexual comments about his wife and goaded him to start a fight with them, then set on him.
Clearly your benchmark for ‘scum’ is a lot higher than mine. Bravo for you!
I suspect there’d be things we agree on and things we disagree on, Alan. I’m not going to get into a to and fro here with some bloke trying to call me a racist or saying that ultimately it’s the government’s fault that my girlfriend got mugged, so just save it.
Thanks.
As if there hadn’t been enough bad news about Camberwell’s Labour councillors recently, this week’s Southwark News reports that Stephen Govier spent three years in a US prison for shooting an intruder. It must be pretty bad to get sentenced for that kind of thing in America, where usually I thought they’d give you an award.
http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/00,news,22313,440,00.htm
@PhilG “What happened to the nice mellow cuddly pipe-smoking LibDems” — oldsters will remember the nice mellow cuddly pipe-smoking LibDems who ran a homophobic campaign against the official Labour Party candidate in the Bermondsey by-election in February 1983. Cuddly Simon Hughes, then in the closet, became MP and has stayed so. He still sits on the fence (as today is Thursday he’s against tuition fees today).
The leaflet arrived here as well. Reminded me of BNP literature for its hate-filled and one syllable prose. A reminder of why the LibDems should never be allowed near power.
The Stephen Govier story on the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12357222
The Mirror provides more details:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/02/04/labour-councillor-suspended-after-party-discovers-he-was-jailed-for-drugs-row-shooting-115875–22896909/
He told me that a local primary school had gone down hill recently.
He might have been right but I think they are doing an excellent job.
No wonder Steven Govier has worked so hard on community safety, he’s evidently very well informed on some of the more esoteric aspects.
If bad luck really does come in threes it looks like the local Labour group has had its fill for the term and Peter John can expect less of a roller coaster ride once the hooha has died down. Then they can concentrate on the decimation of budgets and front line services without distraction.
They have an enormous challenge in front of them and we should empathise. Who’d want to have to deal with that? Ever?
Whatever, as our 4-year-old now says about everything. If the bomb fell, she’d say, “Wha-evvah”.
Excellent robust exchange above between Phil G and Alan Dale, brought out a lot.
Phil G’s restaurant reviews are brilliant, a true window on the world, whilst Alan Dale’s tight syntax is exemplarary — exemplery, exemplereh, exceplerplerry. Darned Netto red! Anyway, he can turn a sentence on a sixpence. Well done boys, you are postcode soldiers, in a men of letters sort of way, which is very Camberwell. Those East Dulwich people just seem to know txt.
Dem Libs’ leaflet — technically a two-sided A4 flyer — was extraordinary. Talk about the nasty party!
So councillors are sometimes a bit funny. So what? Being human is more important than being urban or normal, that much is clear.
People who understand this, like Peter John, keep their cool — whatever.
I went to this month’s offering at the White Bear theatre in Kennington on Friday — Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard. It’s nothing exceptional, but not bad either if you want local entertainment. More thoughts here:
http://www.stephenwilmot.com/2011/02/cherry-orchard-white-bear-theatre.html
Yes, a revealing exchange between Phil G and Alan Dale.
The amount of stabbings, shootings and violent attacks within 500 yards of my front door is staggering and horrific.
That said, it’s hard to parse what the figures mean for day-to-day living. Unless it happens to you or someone you know, then it’s pretty simple, I guess.
Anyway, I’m more sanguine now. Just as well to remember the many beautiful people around.
@Stephen Wilmot — I’ve never seen or read a Chekhov work, although I did see “The Last Station” on DVD (a bio-pic) at Christmas when I couldn’t get up from the sofa to save myself.
I wouldn’t recommend it. The Indy gave it one star and led with “Chekhov dumbed down for a tea-time serial.” http://ind.pn/enQpjM
I can relate to Stephen’s “that fragile period in [Russian] history after the abolition of serfdom and before the revolution”. Seems familiar and topical sitting here in sleepy little Camberwell right now.
On pubs, here’s a website recording the demise of many of our pubs. It makes sobering reading:
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk
And eusebiovic passed this link to an Independent article showing light at the end: http://ind.pn/fNNJGy
By the way, if you don’t know the Draft House pubs, set up by Charlie McVeigh, they are worth making a trip for.
Roll on Big Society I say.
Forgot this:
http://www.drafthouse.co.uk/
http://bit.ly/gA4TvS
Slightly unfortunately named ‘The Home of the Third’ a bit tongue in cheek perhaps but a term open to awful abuse.
They offer a pint measure, served in three glasses each a third of a pint taster of a beer of your choosing. Like fine wine tasting but, according to someone connected, less elitist.
Just seen the leaflet attacking Labour. Disgusting. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Was this definitely a LibDem leaflet? Whoever made it has remained anonymous. Cowardice.
There are two leaflets, one anonymous — which is not legal — the other strangely from Dem Libs, all tabloidy and shrieky. It all points to voting Labour in the by-election out of pure conservative sentiment.
The crocuses are out. Phew.
Here is the leaflet for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet: outside (http://bit.ly/gchFW9) inside (http://bit.ly/gvRCiP). In two minds as to whether to post this or not, as I don’t want to spread the message; but think it’s abhorrent and hope that the anonymous cowards are found out.
Last year at election times, leaflets from several parties were delivered together because they were using the same agencies to deliver them. It doesn’t mean the Lib Dems are responsible for both leaflets. The risks of anonymous political leafleting are quite high so I’d be surprised if they’d do it. But I don’t know who else would have a grudge and the money to produce the leaflets.
John Friary hasn’t been convicted of anything. Stephen Govier and Keadean Rhoden both have been. However, that was more than a decade ago in the Stephen Govier’s case and people should be given second chances in life. Being open about it might have been sensible though.
Keadean Rhoden doesn’t have that excuse.
re the anonymous leaflets: they do look professionally done and yes, i agree the only ‘clues’ would be in who’s got the time & money to be doing and distributing them. and why.
x
FYI Camberwell Pool reopens on Monday 28 February. Free swim on March 12.
Just found out that Southwark Lib Dems *are* responsible for those leaflets; you can see their name in very small writing on this sheet: http://s418.photobucket.com/albums/pp263/stopsatgreen/?action=view¤t=anon-leaflet-outside.jpg. Not proud enough to put their name more clearly. Quite shocking, IMHO. Certainly won’t be getting a vote from me.
Those LibDems really let themselves down like that. But hey, they are prepared to work with people they are supposedly idealogically opposed to.
I once was looking over someone’s shoulder as Caroline Pidgeon turned on them from charming to snarling, it was quite an experience. Like some witch from the Wizard of Oz doing a flip as her real identity was exposed.
Maenwhile look at this latest scam by thie ‘government’: http://bit.ly/hNVNZu
It’s taken a while to find the evidence that the latest quite shocking leaflet emanated from the LibDems. In tiny, what 4pt?, type face, authorship confirmed as LibDem. No further encouragement required to vote anyone but the LibDems.
Dem Libs find themselves between a cock and a nice place.
Manchester City have done a mad thing in selling their burghers down the river. Shamless! What a tantrum! Axe the lollipop ladies and men! Shut down the cottages! Then Manchester folk will be truly revolting!
Thank God we have the crocuses. They are like old friends we thought we had lost, waving hello again.
Good News about Camberwell Pool.
As I promised to myself…I have my membership money all ready and waiting just to show the council my appreciation and support…
A community arts centre with cinema would be even better — not that I expect the council to fully fund such a venture. A modest contribution and a real commitment to some real community engagement & co-operation to give us a chance of making it happen is all I ask really…
Shameful, election leaflet by the way. It certainly looks like a rogue element or loose cannon is at work there.
Labour really do need to start listening though…their long-term record regarding Camberwell leaves a lot to be desired.
However, there are no excuses for that leaflet. It’s just all wrong on so many levels.
Did anybody else notice there was also a picture on the link Peter sent of Nick Griffin of the British No Penis Party dressed up like Cartman from South Park in a Hitler pose?
Very strange…
any tips on how to swim with glasses? i am not kidding at all.
on an unrelated note, does anyone know what happened with the monstrous idea to just teleport a building bang in the middle of camberwell green (by the court somewhere)? x
@lili — There’s something about it in the latest Camberwell Quarterly; I’ll have a look when I get home and make it part of the next blog post (soon, I promise).
@lili aand Peter: ‘the monstrous [pavilion] idea’ is to go to further consultation even though initial feelers produced a ‘it’s unlikely to be accepted as a great ground breaking solution to anyything locally’ while, of course recognising that consultation in Camberwell leads nowhere other than dead ends and perennial copious pointless spending.
phew!
’further’ consultation is straight out of lewis carroll though, isn’t it, ‘would you like some more tea?’ ‘i can’t have any more tea because i haven’t had any in the first place’… (not a quote but a memory)
Lili, prescription goggles can be had for £15 or so. A few places sell them online.
A pavilion would be pointless…
It has been designed as a temporary structure and now it is proposed to disassemble it from Bermondsey Spa then transport and re-construct it on the Green. So then it WILL become a permanent structure in Camberwell…or at least, until it falls apart.
Hmmm, I see a flaw in this plan…won’t it be more expensive to maintain a structure which was primarily designed as a temporary one?
Always been the way here, always will be…
@philg thank you!!!!!!!!!! will go and google x
I had a wander up Vestry Rd looking for Brunchies, wondering how I managed to miss a new eatery opening round the corner, but apparently it’s on Valmar Rd. We might check it out at the week-end.
Had the LibDems knocking on the door tonight; unapologetic about the election leaflets … whatever one’s politics BNP style leaflets will not garner votes for Lib Dem. Expected some sort of defence of nasty leaflets but none. Very disappointing.
I believe the building at Spa Road is not exactly ‘temporary’ but designed to have a 20 year lifespan. By all accounts of the people who have used the building it is a successful structure that is pleasing to work in or visit. Its purpose in its current location is satisfied; there is no use for it any longer but it has another nine or more years of useful life before it’s for the knackers yard; or major refurbishment.
It is a large, redundant structure and, as such it seems there is a choice:
Skip it or re-use it. If you’re going to skip it it has to be dismantled, the services, water, leccy, drainage etc, capped off and the structure shipped to a disposal site. All this — unavoidably — will cost a lot and there is merit in the idea of reusing the building for another decade instead of shelling out for it to be trashed.
SO: Re positioning the building elsewhere in itself is not a bad idea. The taxing issues are: ‘What can it be used for?’ ‘What needs can it fulfil elsewhere in the borough?’ ‘Where is there enough space for it to be re-sited?’ ‘Where is there most demand for a new building?’ ‘Where can it be best employed for the better part of a decade?’ ‘Where can it be done without much fuss or planning problems?’ ‘How much will it cost to install new services and get it up and running usefully?’
The answer, obviously, is:
“On the piazza in front of Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court, it’s what everyone will want — with the library and a lovely drop in cafe in it”. “Isn’t it?”
The up and downsides of this situation on the back of a postcard please below:
VOTE LibDEM and get a Tight Trousered Tory Toff government. Privatise everything; dismantle the welfare state. Oh by the way, make sure the taxpayer picks up ALL the tab. And say ‘it’s not our fault, we have no option, it’s those Labour criminals who put is in the situation where There Is No Alternative.
Ring any bells?
OH. And remove even the vestigal need for international mega companies to pay any tax in the UK. And create a trading environment that penalises small independent companies. And legislate to give tax breaks to the most profitable parts of the private sector. To attract their investment of course.
PLEASE NOTE: These are MY views and NOT those of SE5 Forum for Camberwell.
@Mark — thanks for the Draft House tip. A three-course set menu with matching beers, that sounds pretty cool. Will try the one by Tower Bridge as it’s near work.
there are plenty of spaces around camberwell to put buildings on. some pavements are, for example, wide enough to easily have more housing on them or anything else for that matter.
it’s such a ridiculous waste.
What Lili said. Come to think of it, they’re short on portacabins at the school.
On another note, I saw the turban lady from Kids Company on Newsnight the other night. She was tremendously articulate and reasoned in her arguments. The Minister blokey trying to defend the cuts (to volunteering organisations) looked a total idiot — and he knew it!
breaking news: two candidates for brunswick park ward by-election announced http://www.peoplesrepublicofsouthwark.co.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1325%3Abrunswick-park-byelection&Itemid=3
if any of you are aware of any others please let me know (with any info on them too, always helps) x
Gabe, you sound like a Danish cartoonist! The “turban lady” is the exhilaratingly brilliant & scintillating Camila Batmanjelly. You can hear her fabulous Desert Islands Discs on BBC Radio 4’s play-it-again thing from 22 October 2006.
Danmark hosted your England football team last night in a friendly and lost 1–2 to them. Your lads play sweet.
Many of us listened live over here on Radio Lowestoft-Hilversum 98.4FM, easily heard on a home-made radio with a wire coat-hanger listening-rod.
Dick Diamonde, the bass player with the Easybeats, was born in Hilversum, whereas Dinky Diamond, the drummer with Sparks, was born in Aldershot — he was a great bloke, very much late lamented.
Camila Gatmanghelidjh tore Francis Maude to shreds. He deserved a lot worse.
oh yay, she’s cool. And expert.
Denmark not playing in a Hummel strip doesn’t seem right.
Camila Batmanghelidjh must be a strong future contender for a blue plaque…
However KidsCo HQ is in Kenbury Street which is Lambeth…who I don’t believe do fake blue plaques.
Maybe, just one day she will get an authentic English Heritage one!
Does anyone else think the Camberwell Party ought to field a candidate for the byelection in Brunswick Park Ward?
James? Tom? Nominations close midday tomorrow.
Sorry it’s such a late post — it only just crossed my mind, having seen Lili’s note above about candidates LibDem and Conservative standing.
By the way euse — KidsCo HQ is in Borough somewhere, I went there once, the Kenbury St is a training / drop in centre although I’ve seen Camila around here quite often.
How much does it cost to stand? And there has to be ten voters nominating the candidate? And the candidate has to live or work in Southwark?
Where is JOHN FRIARY? please can anyone tell me. he was good and active in the local community. I am aware of his sentence.
When is he out? what is he up to now?
Camberwell party needs him. Tom will never win an election in camberwell. what do you think?
Re: John Friary.
It’s a terrible thing to take advantage of naive people for one’s personal gratification. I’m sure the Pastor of the House of Praise knows nothing of this kind of behaviour.
And of course, however deplorable John Friary’s intentions may have been, there is, I believe, no evidence he actually took advantage of anyone. Indeed, he was himself the victim of a blackmail scam.
When the thing about John Friary blew up I made the mistake of posting that I think John Friary is a good man who has no ill intentions toward anyone and I believed that he would never wilfully do any harm — and months later, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ a journalist started hounding me asking if I still stood by my earlier statement.
It was something along the lines of: “So if you won’t withdraw it you condone preying on young children then? How do you place this in the context of your position as a school governor? Do you think this is a responsible position to adopt?”
I pointed out that he hadn’t ACTUALLY done anything directly and that he’d been entrapped for blackmail “Doesn’t alter the fact that he’d probably done it many times before” … stuff like that was the tack.
I thought that was really clever journalism.
To get to the point, I believe John returned to his home town, his careers in politics and higher education ruined.