Ultraconsultancy

Walked past Green and Blue this morning and saw some signage in their window saying they are closed due to water supply issues [though it doesn't say permanently, it doesn't suggest a re-opening date] but does say it is down to spite on the part of other retailers. I did hear that there was an issue about access to do drainage repairs via an adjoining property, but this sounds a bit more serious. any body have access to the truth? ultraconsultancy ps and by the way a happy and prosperous new year to one and all

my Wee Guy will be doing his Christmas show this afternoon, and I'll be proud to see him take part in a production that the kid's have put together largely themselves, for their families, and I think that's undeniably a good thing. Yes, it's on a Christian theme, but that's the celebration of this time of year, and Christianity bis one of the better represented faiths round our way. He celebrates divali too, and makes me an Eid card at the end of Ramadan. He understands all religions equally well for a four-year old, which is usefull, as he'll grow up in a much less presbyterian world than I did. It strikes me that the angelic message of Christmas - Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men - is actually a pause from the evangelism practiced at other times, and is still a call for fellowship that we could do well to adopt. God Bless Us Every One! Ultraconsultancy

The oyster chap is Martin, and he is indeed lovely; and also in need of increased sales since someone dented his vintage VW beetle last week, so do try to pay him a visit. Next door to him is an organic herbs and spices stall, which I can also recommend, having had the most delicious in-house mulled wine in there last weekend. Ultraconsultancy

keef you're a civil servant aren't you - i'd recommend postcard on the work/office social noticeboard [or whatever the e-quivalent is] to fill most of your child equipment needs. many of your colleagues will have boxes of blankets, rattles, bouncers and prams they will be very happy to pass on. lowers the cost and you get to see how haggard real parents are. we got rid of all our baby gear on freecycle, but it seems to have less baby stuff for offer these days. Ultraconsultancy

thanks jan - it does take a while in a small bookshop to build a backstock, and we are daily talking to new suppliers to keep regulars and newcomers happy.

Quite agree with regard to SBE's bookings and ambience, giggirl, but VIP seats? I like roughing it with the urchins down the front! Ultraconsultancy

IIRC, since I have always been drunk while in there, is that Shepherds Bush Empire is the worst culprit there; flat floor [presumably it was a ballroom rather than a music hall?] and the stage must be on a ten foot riser. so get down the front and you might just see the top of artist's heads. Ultraconsultancy

hi karter - i thought if anyone knew you would! there has been some low key clearing out going on in there for about a week; it's classed A1 i presume so [bearing in mind the fracas over nero's hot panini] it won't be food. Ultraconsultancy

If I was being selfish I'd have the power to live on bacon sarnies and peanut butter kit-kats. But if not it would be healing. historically this would have been healing the lame, but frankly they've had quite enough of it to themselves so I'd just heal everyone... ultraconsultancy

I've actually got a whole paddock of "great gigs" back there, interchangeable for a number of occasions or reasons, ie most groovy old men, most influence on music, most missed dead hero, least able to actually play... most authoritative control of an audience goes to Sigue Sigue Sputnik, who played a secret gig at our student union in 1986. rumour was that David Bowie might turn up [and how dissapointed were his fans?] but inpection of the volumes of computer gear going in the stage door revealed that it was to be SSS. the audience were there to pick a fight, so as soon as they came on the booing started, and about five minutes in the coins started to drop on their spiky heads. degville stopped the band, called us all provincial wankers, and as he walked off took someones pint from them, quaffed it and spat it in their face. the audience moved AS ONE to deliver a kicking to the london fops, who stepped neatly into a van with the engine running, and off into the night.so we trashed the stage instead... Ultraconsultancy

Annasfield - I saw Glenn Tilbrook sing at the TUC Mayday Festival [and what happened to that?] on Clapham Common about ten years ago. A huge cheer went up when he did Up The Junction, obviously; and he got us to sing along to I'm a Believer just by saying "giz a hand with the chorus on this one". But I was terrified by how much he drank while performing; I think he's sober now, which is good cos he is one of Englands great songwriting poets. Ultraconsultancy

The water rats is a fantastic gig - I only heard about the woodentops playing the other day when i was trawling for something else, and i'm double booked already when they are on. must keep a closer eye on things. I got turfed out the scala a couple of years ago, and went round the water rat to have a beer. two quid in, i was told, some local boy playing the guitar a bit, and an ex member of utah saints on piano. thinking this a fine recommendation i stood and watched james blunt for an hour, and thought him very good, as did one of elton john's agent, who was in the two dozen strong crowd. my mate and i helped put his gear in the van, and he kept saying "i'm james, do come and see me again..." the rest is history. Ultraconsultancy

to Memphis, [that's Memphis, Tenessee] It worked for elvis Presley Why can't it work for me? Apologies trent, couldn't resist that. Don't know much about Barry Road, but this Forum is very welcoming. Unless you own shares in Foxtons. Ultraconsultancy

Have to advise against eating puffins, you know. their diet is mostly rancid fish, and so they end up tasting of... you guessed it. And I think it's illegal too. In fact I'm pretty sure it's illegal to eat any wild sea bird, unless you are in inhabitant of the outer hebrides, who are allowed to catch and eat seagulls. Yuk. Ultraconsultancy

Jah - I met Muhammed Ali some years ago; when Norman Mailer said the shock of his beauty made men bow their heads, he was right. I sat in floods of tears when the BBC made him sports personality of the century - "watch out, I'll be back!" Ultraconsultancy

if I had to choose one... Nightswimming, by REM Tim Finn said it was the one song he wished he had written. Tim Finn said that. "it's not like it was years ago, the fear of getting caught" - oh my. Ultraconsultancy.

I've been working across the street and JMB have had the fastest working shopfitters I have ever seen! The retail strip just got one block longer, methinks. Ultraconsultancy

After my last bookshop went bust I spent a year looking after my son [something I'd rceommend to all Dads] and spent some months negotiating for a new shop with an appallingly unreliable landlord in Kennington. The day I decided to walk away from his prevarication I was on the verge of going back to being a wage slave [wee guy now back at school]. Logged on to EDF and found a post from one Eddie@EDWarehouse looking for independendt retailers... So I think it's been pretty influential for me. Ultraconsultancy

Slip a crafty...oh a curry! Jan is my pref, too, TBH. Would it be interesting to try a Sunday Family Buffet some time? I can provide at least one "kiddie tolerance evaluator" if needed. Ultraconsultancy

concurring here - I've met Eammon too and he is a nice bloke. I've eaten some of his bread and it is nice too. What a nice thread. Ultraconsultancy

I accidentally went through a phase of seeing very old men play, and most of them could pee from a height on the musicians of today. Best of all was Buena Vista Social Club shortly after the first album. Seventy year old men grooving like cats, and singing about "priapic animism" for two hours. I couldn't stop smiling for a week. Went to see Motorhead at a festival a few years back. Rolf Harris was playing to their crowd, who are actually well behaved but very drunk. someone in the crowd kept heckling, so RH asked what he wanted. He handed over a Stylophone, and asked Rolf to play it. He had a bit of a fiddle with it, said something to the band, and they started to play Moon River. The crowd joined in, and at that precise moent the sun went down behind the stage. Now that's talent... Ultraconsultancy

Agreed Curmudgeon - lots of people now love it too. It's certainly feeling a lot more varied and buzzing now. There's work still to do of course but it's obviously going to be a real asset. Heidi you should speak to Eddie whose details appear at the top of this thread. Ultraconsultancy

i'd pretty much go along with mike's review above. i'm always impressed by good owner/manager front of house, and that's clearly one of the plus points at TN. indian people, coming from a culture where sharing food is a necessary part of social structures, i've always found to be very genuine at this. food was good, reliable, and flavoursome; but that reliability in the kitchen does lead to repetitious cooking, and it was a bit like that. it's mate food, not date food. i walked past the kitchen door, and they were all working hard in there. inobtrusive and suitable music, useful for someone who likes conversation and has sensitive hearing. the loo's are clean and small, but a bit of a geographical nightmare, and if new would not fulfill disability access; but thats not TN's fault, they've made a good shot with their resources. that was my first curry in ED; i had thought that since curry is a regular topic on EDF, and TN is one of the better establishments, i might be a bit more thrilled [like i was in mela in shaftesbury av] but i had a good time in good company and [important, this] got out the door for a little over twenty five quid. intrigued to see what our next venue will be; interesting to try one of the contentious ones? Ultraconsultancy

snorky in answer to your earlier Q about whether the lovelies at foxtons read this board - the answer is an emphatic yes, and then they sit around and laff and laff and laff. i know one of their PR bods so...i know.

Despite my shilly shallying it looks I shall be at the TN 8 ish but perhaps not at EDT. Mike I'll text you from the bus? Ultraconsultancy