Tuesday 25 September 2007

The Star Quiz

I love the Star quiz, it is bingo quiz which also means that some of it is down to luck and having your numbers called out so the same people dont win everyweek. The place is always packed - most of the participants look like Teachers with the occasional Captains Birds Eye look a like thrown in but this is a proper pub for proper people, not a piece of gastro-ness about it and that adds to it's charm..
It takes place on a Tue night at 9pm and as they say, you've got to be in it to win it!

Thursday 20 September 2007

Sport

Now I know that Greenwich Rugby Club train and play on the common (although last night it looked like they were training in the dark which didnt seem to be a particularly good tactic)...but what other facilities are there around the common?
I understand there is a bowls club and some tennis courts, but I don't know if they are for public use or if you have to pay to play tennis. Also I know the Star Inn has a cricket club but dont know if they play on the common or elsehwere. I am sure I haven't seen any nets/stumps, the closest I have seen are in Bostall Woods.
There is a martial arts place on the common - I think it does Taekwondo and there is a gym on the high street although it has never appealed to me. I use the Arches in Maze Hill when I fancy pootling around in the pool.
Does anyone know of any other sports clubs and/or decent facilities in and around Plumstead

Monday 17 September 2007

Empty Shops

Why is no-one making use of the empty shops on Plumstead Common Road between The Star and the Post Office? Having read a number of local blogs it would seem that people are more than happy to support local businesses and that there is a healthy interest in more local amenities being opened. The amount I have read about people wanting cafes, bars, greengrocers etc but having to travel to Greenwich or Blackheath for these makes me wonder why no-one has tried to open anything - especially up near the Common.
I work from home occasionaly and we also dog sit so know there are plenty of people that use the Common during the day and also I know Mums who at present take their children to G/B or Eltham where there are cafes for them to meet in, but who would love to use their local Common if there was anywhere to go.
After all we all use the local drycleaners, butchers, garden stores etc. I dont drive to Blackheath because I think the drycleaning will be any better, nor do I think the coffee will be better. It is just there is no alternative and what a shame that is.

Thursday 13 September 2007

Roy's Stores

I like Roys, the people in there are always pleasant and amuse me. The last time I asked for something to get rid of cats for my garden they asked if I would like an air rifle...(cat lovers amongst you they were joking)...but they sell an amazing product called Lion Poo which seems to keep the cats off the flowers and patio out the back.
We also bought our garden shed through them. They came and erected it as well all for the princely sum of £160, which is cheaper than your average B&Q shed and you have to do a bit of self assembly that way...
Now if I could just find someone to come and sort out the rest of the garden I would be a happy lady. I fear it is a job for a garden make over programme but in the meantime I need some fencing and some plants that don't die despite neglect....

Wednesday 12 September 2007

Plumstead Pubs

So far since our arrival in PC we have ventured into 3 of the local boozers. I cant think of a more apt name for the local pubs that boozers because well that's exactly what they are. Old men pubs with proper swirly carpets and until the recent ban with a nice fog of smoke settling across the middle of the room. I had high hopes for The Woodman, it looked like it had been refurbished nicely, had a soft leather sofa and perhaps even looked like it might do Sunday roasts and the papers...(perhaps I was slightly drunk at this point and forgot I was not in Blackheath but in Plumstead)..anyhow it doesnt do food and the local clientele left a lot to be desired.
The Old Mill looks like it needs painting and sprucing up, it always has such a mixed bag of customers, some normal looking types (and yes I am counting people that look like I might be friends with as my understanding of normal)! and some oddities but it had a very friendly barman (landlord)? who I am sure doesnt recognise us at all but always has a cheery hello and goodbye (and this is my closest pub so that's a bonus).
The Star has a fun bingo style quiz on a Tuesday that we are partial to and also shows the rugby and football which is a bonus. It did amuse me the first time I left my husband in here one midweek night to watch the football only to hear that he had been moved to the other side of the pub as ladies darts was on. I also like the fact the old dears behind the bar drink cups of tea..
I havent ventured into The Ship because it is either a)closed for a private party (seemingly every Saturday) or b) has a surly bouncer type outside c) only seems to cater for Asian clientele or d) alternates between this and a chav youth club. Besides what's with the dodgy blue lighting. Anyway it looks like a shithole.
Which brings me on to The Prince Albert. What a fucking dump. It looks like the audience of a Jeremy Kyle show. All tattoos and no teeth and albino pit bull style dogs. I hear they are going to bulldoze it - hopefully with the people inside. If not my concerns is where will these people go to drink.
So my recommendations are either drink in London after work, at home, or venture to Blackheath and Greenwich if you fancy drinking wine (none of the pubs seem to stock more than one type of wine). If you are after a pub and pint and dont fancy dressing up and just want a couple of cheeky beers you cant go wrong in the first 3 pubs.

Friday 7 September 2007

Skips in Plumstead

What I have noticed since my arrival is the amount of skips outside people's houses in Plumstead. They seem to be on the increase all the time, and there are far more of them than in other boroughs am sure. This can only be a good thing and as I am a)nosey and b) interested in houses (my secret desire is to be Kirstie Allsop - I couldnt face being a proper estate agent, dire pay and dreadful reputation) I spend a lot of time wandering the streets casually peering into people's windows and open doors to see what is going on. So far I have seen a lovely winged back chair I admire and some nice wooden floors, plus some real improvements to gardens! Now I'm not sure if these are property developers, current residents or newcomers but I think we will continue to see a steady stream of first time buyers in the area, attracted by the DLR, Crossrail and affordability and greenery.
My only concern is where will they all go? So far we venture to Greenwich, Blackheath or the Dome for drinks/food, it would be great to have somewhere a little closer, dare I say it even somewhere to walk to..

Thursday 6 September 2007

Plumstead "not so" Common

Having recently moved to the South East of London, Plumstead to be exact I am slowly settling in and have the unenviable task of setting about discovering what's available in the local neighbourhood.
Having been a SW resident of Londres for a number of years, the SE is relatively unknown to me and as such I have had to start from scratch, with a little help thrown in from friends who have also ventured over to these parts...
So what enticed me over?? Well house prices and the journey into work were the 2 key criteria when househunting...and up popped a house in Plumstead. Now I had never even heard of the place when the woman from Mann Countrywide (hmm more on them another time)..made me venture up one of the steepest hills in London to view 3 houses in an area of London which had previously not even registered.
So the hill nearly killed me, but the house was beautiful (again more on buying an old house later as we are now discovering)! the location peaceful and more importantly to the envy of most of our friends we have a large house, with 3 bedrooms, lots of garden and all for under £250k and it's only a 25 minute commute to the city where we work (and quicker than the Northern Line which we were on before)!
Having the space is great as it means that we can have all our SW friends over and they can stay, unlike when we were in a flat and we had to ply people with drink to entice them to kip over on the floor!
Our neighbours are all friendly (and we have also met more than our immediate neighbours too). They take in parcels, chat over the fence and always say hello - again a London novelty!
So the discovery beckons!