BrandNewGuy

Great idea! Let's do it, messy or not 😁

The demand for nail bars is often from those who want to <cough> launder money <cough>

Wasn't part of the reason for the extensive C&G refurb that they discovered a very old bowling alley (I think?) and had to allow for archaeological and structural matters to be resolved before they could complete it?

A few of us went to the reopened EDT on Wednesday and opinion was mixed. Plus points - opening the upstairs room permanently (unless there's a function); generally good decor; better furniture (no more wobbly school chairs). Minus points - the prices are up about 10-15% on pre-closure; the food offering is underwhelming and overpriced. Having said that, I never went there to eat - well, the occasional bowl of chips - and I've been going since the late 90s. I fear that the 'mixed' pub of the past in our area is a thing of the past - out of the price range of 'ordinary' people, though things have been heading that way in any case. Pubs as interesting, mixed social spaces in much of London are fast disappearing and there's probably not much the new owners could have done to turn that tide.

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.

Isn't that from 3 years ago?

Possible collapse of the Picturehouse chain: https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/whats-on-news/london-cineworld-closing-business-administration-26334383 I was at ED Picturehouse last night and was wondering how much their business has been hit by both Covid and the streaming services.

And this is a primary school! Secondary schools have a much wider catchment area (especially the private schools), but primaries? What's the catchment for Goodrich? Do many/any kids live more than 1/4 mile away? Lazy entitled parents indeed...

"... yuppies..." Haha! Good to hear from you, Louisa.

The Ivy House is brilliant on Christmas Day lunchtime. On several occasions, my Christmas dinner has been rather later then originally planned...

Almost certainly a peregrine or two. They've roosted/nested in the tall church spire just down the road and they often just pluck the breast out and leave the rest, A headless pigeon might have also been scavenged by a fox. Gruesome, but it's nature's way and there are plenty of pigeons to go round :-)