Crime & property — our favourite obsessions

My wife was in the shop on Azenby Road yesterday when an armed youth robbed it at gunpoint. She walked out slowly and fled quickly, so is luckily unharmed other than being nervous. I must say she was remarkably reserved about it; I guess this comes from growing up in Sao Paulo. What’s made her more nervous is that our neighbours upstairs were burgled on Friday; being close to two crimes happening in a short period makes it seem like it’s becoming more dangerous.

On a light aside, I don’t think the guy who robbed it was a genius; that shop has almost nothing in stock, and can’t make much money selling cans of Tennants and newspapers.

I see work has begun on the Mary Datchelor School development; the big machines are in and the demolition process is under way. I wonder what impact this is going to have on the overall development of the area.

The squat centre on Warham Street have released their schedule of forthcoming events, including language and IT lessons, films and dancing, and what sounds like an interesting talk on subterranean Lambeth. If any of that appeals, get there soon; they could be evicted at any moment.

Author: Peter

Long-time resident of Camberwell, author of this blog since July 2004.

78 thoughts on “Crime & property — our favourite obsessions”

  2. A thread that starts with a crime but ends with gentrification. Having lived here for 24 years (and started out in life down at Herne Hill) I find the obsession with property disturbing. I come back from a few days away to find two letters asking if I want to sell my house to “anxiously seeking clients”. What I would rather have found is something from the Metropolitan Police telling me that the shitty street drinkers won’t be urinating outside my front door or pestering visitors for cash or that cyclists won’t be riding down pedestrians on the pavements or going through red lights down Denmark Hill.

    I wish I could say what it was like when my mum parked my pram outside the Lyons tea house on Camberwell Green back in 1948–49 and went inside for a cuppa of tea with her friends but I can’t; one sure thing is that it was safe for her to do so and it sure as hell wouldn’t be today.

    Big up to the Festival this weekend; hope that the weather is good for Colombia coming to Camberwell.

  3. The threat of being priced out of the housing market is much more widespread than that of baby snatching.

    And you can remedy the threat of having your baby nabbed by taking them into the tea room with you.

    You are however powerless against the constant upward march of houseprices.

    For these reasons I believe housing is the more valid preoccupation.

    That said I got flashed by a tramp at the bus stop for the third time last night. He was slashing against Superdrug-the dirty, dirty b’stard.

  4. Talking of economic preoccupations, Putin has just claimed the entire North pole and all its oil and gas with a couple of miniature submarines, an ice breaker and a flag. That’s some proof against house price increases for those involved.

    I hear Denmark are also trying to claim a large chunk of the Pole based on the continuation of Greenland up to the submerged Lomonosov ridge.

  5. Crafty commies!

    So where’s everyone drinking tonight?

    I am thinking the Ivanhoe but if I don’t get out for last orders there it’ll be the windswept Hermit’s Cave.

  7. Mumu = Paulet ?! Scandal

    I linked your request to the ED forum. Still fairly local and its a very busy site.

    Hope you don’t mind.…

  11. thank god your wife was okay. i was only a few yards up the road (in golden grill) when that youth was shot outside the night club several months back. its so scary when its so close to home.

    xx

  14. She is a lovely kitten. The Dogs Home does a cat for 40 squids. This covers injections and everything including neutering. They ask you what you think about this. I am not keen on neutering. But the cat is for seeing off the mice, Camberwell being the Las Vegas for mice. The word mouse comes from Sanskrit “mus” meaning “thief”. They gnaw away at property prices!

  15. “Vinbrations” in Burgess Park on Saturday was OK but felt a bit like a stand-off between police vans and sound systems. The Carnaval del Pueblo by contrast was hot hot hot!

  16. …Back to pub talk.

    I’m fairly certain that it’s only legal to sell wines and spirits in certain specified measures e.g. 250ml for wine

    But what about beer?

    Reason for asking is that I’ve noticed that several of the Portuguese bars in Vauxhall sell beer in 20cl glasses — that’s one gulp for me — and way under a half pint. Yet prices on the bar lists refer to ‘halves’ and ‘pints’.

  17. I’m fairly sure that they have to sell beer in either half or full pint meaures if its being sold draught — there was a case recently I recall where a German theme bar was prosecuted for selling beer in half and full litres.

    I think in the Portugese bars technically they would be selling you the 20cl bottle of Superbock or whatever beer.

    I guess you would have a case if they are referring to it as halves and pints as that is misrepresentation. I guess you could take it up with Lambeth Trading Standards if you were so inclined.

  18. Yes, Mumu, it was draught beer.

    I guess the key point for me is whether the price reflects that it’s a ‘short’ measure. This, I can’t recall. So I’m just going to have to go back to do an ‘investigation’. I’m sure all will become clear once I’ve downed half a dozen or so glasses (or maybe not?)

  19. Back to Carnaval del Pub talk, I see the Carnaval del Pub has opened at Olympia and finishes on Saturday 11th.

    I am always pleased to see so many men there with sympathetic phantom pregnancies. Beer increases the level of oestrogen in men and gives them little breasts, to their incredulity.

    The Chairman of Camra, Paula Waters, that is her name — pouring waters on troubled stills, whilst well oiled perhaps — says that the future of real ale lies with providing women with their appropriate real ale needs — meeting their beer needs — empowering women with gender-specific beer.

    In the meantime, the 2007 Carnaval’s overall beer winner is Hobson’s Mild. This lack of choice may be because, “due to recent floods in the UK, some beers may have to be substituted,” Camra say. Paula may be diluting the beer with her waters. This is known, in some circles I believe, as tipping the velvet.

    Camra has always been an excellent pressure group, teaching other groups to get results.

    Even their strapline is consistent with their brand. None of that “delivering sucess” and “ensuring empowerment” that dogs public services, jargon knitted together by committees of committed women. No, Camra’s slogan rambles on like a bloke in a pub conversation…

    “CAMRA. Campaigning for real ale pubs and drinkers’ rights since about 1971.”

  20. Going to the beer festival on Thursday.

    Should be a good laugh. The real ale crowd are an ugly shower of b’stards though.

    Not many parties in London where the best looking ladies carry walking sticks.

    And the Beer Festival B.O. is rank too.

    I’m Looking forward to it.

  22. Where’s everyone drinking tonight?

    I’m going out in Chelmsford. I’ll be in O’Connors if you need me…

  24. Bad experience in The Phoenix last night…

    The Harvey’s tasted as if it been contaminated with over-chlorinated swimming pool water. Ugh! Response from barperson could only be described as that oh so typical British customer service attitude of unapologetic resentfulness…

    The replacement Greene King IPA was fine.

    On to the G. Canning. All was well.

    Spotted an interesting post on the East Dulwich Forum by the tenant of the G. Canning basically saying he didn’t like his own pub (among others) !

  25. I saw that too but I can’t find it now. What was the thread called?

    Correct Dagmar. It was good too.

    I also got beered up in Budda Jazz on Wednesday night and went out in Clapham on Tuesday. Four nights in a row- I’m practically an alcoholic.

    The kids are already in Chelmsford you see. Big wedding on Saturday. Not mine of course. I am doing my bit for single parents by refusing all the tax bribes meant to coerce us into marriage.

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