BrandNewGuy

The good news is that the Blythe's new leaseholder is Austin Whelan, who runs a chain of very decent Irish pubs, mainly in south London. By all accounts, he has no intention of making any major changes. It reopened last week.

🤣

Yes, Sean is definitely still local. And the High Llamas have two London gigs later this month (Cafe Oto and The Lexington) but both are sold out. Great band, as were Microdisney. You might like to follow Brian O'Neill's Dimple Discs record label, which has released a lot of Cathal Coughlan's music, and Brian puts on great gigs locally: https://dimplediscs.bandcamp.com/

Sparrowhawks don't soar and tend to fly lower than peregrines or buzzards... sneak attacks on their feathered brethren being their preferred method 🙂

It was probably a peregrine falcon, which freaks out even other big birds. Or possibly even a buzzard, one or two of which have been known to stray from deepest Surrey into the leafier bits of South London.

They're very protective of their recently fledged young and will divebomb people who get too close. There was probably a youngster lurking nearby. It happened to me a few years ago on Peckham Rye Common.

Here's my updated list of the dates when swifts were first spotted in ED: 2011 – May 9 2012 – May 1 2013 – May 17 2014 – May 8 2015 – May 9 2016 – May 4 2017 – May 6 2018 – May 7 2019 – May 8 2020 – May 6 2021 – May 9 2022 – May 9 2023 – May 4 2024 – May 7 That 2013 date is rather an anomaly. I checked the weather records for that period and we had a very cold early May with northerly winds for several weeks, so the swifts didn't risk flying north from Europe to be faced with a lack of food, namely flies, moths etc.

If you're feeling charitable, Give A Car will collect your car for scrap and proceeds go to the charity of your choice: https://www.giveacar.co.uk/

Covenience = more expensive. One of the first rules of retail.

Well, it's not really a 'scam' is it? Seems a reasonable way for a cash-strapped council to make a few quid.

Michelin-starred chef Nico Ladenis has died aged 89. His restaurant career started with the first Chez Nico on Lordship Lane in the mid-70s – where the Chinese restaurant 148 is now, I believe. https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/sep/11/nico-ladenis-obituary

Not really – most people on here were really p*ssed off that Brick House Bakery had to walk away because of the rent increase. I was too.

I've been with Community Fibre for 18 months and no complaints – speedy and reliable.

Another double thumbs up for Elliot. An alcove of shelves put up expertly. Friendly and fast service, and good value too.

Went to Chiptole's website and it seems impossible to look at a menu without telling them where you are and ordering delivery or takeaway. Disappointing. Another chain that looks geared up to having mutiple delivery riders outside clogging up Lordship Lane.