Save The Children Fund Shop

Trafalgar Road SE10

Is it just me or is the STCF shop on Trafalgar Road fab?

It was always quite a good shop - my best buy ever was a GIGANTIC, brand-new Le Crueset casserole - big enough to feed half of Greenwich - but just recently since its refit, it's become BRILLIANT.

For starters, the people in there are great. They work long hours - often opening much later than other charity shops, and they really seem to make a big effort. True the stuff is not as cheap as some places but c'mon folks, this is for charity and I don't care too much. It's still ions cheaper than you'd pay for new stuff. They do different displays for seasonal occasions, just like 'real' shops and make a special effort at festival times.

There's a constant supply of goods - possibly because you can park in the road next door for unloading - important if you've got boxes of items and it's pretty good quality gear at that (I should know, half of it used to be mine...)

There is an excellent range of good clothes, usually colour-sorted rather than sized, but hey - half the fun is browsing. Just before Christmas I went in on a Friday morning desperately searching for something to make a pirate costume out of for a party the next evening, and as luck would have it, it turned out to be a one-stop-shop (albeit I spent the rest of the day and most of Saturday at the sewing machine.) I told the guys I was looking for stuff for a pirate party and they really got into the spirit of it, helping me to choose things.

The bric-a-brac is more of a lottery - but, depending on your tastes, there's often a little something that might appeal. They have a good selection of curtains at the moment, but they also seem to be going fast. They sold two different sets while I was in there the other day.

I'm pretty sure there's a book reviewer who lives nearby because there are often some really great 'review copies' of recent releases ,still with their press releases tucked inside, - again not rock-bottom cheap, but a good way of getting books and giving to charity at the same time. Most of them go back there anyway...

Support your local charity shop - you get good stuff at reasonable prices AND a charity gets helped. And don't forget to bring your (good) unwanted stuff back to them.

Rivington Grill

The Picturehouse, Greenwich High Road, SE10

Now here's a place whose opening was almost as anticipated in this household as the Picturehouse itself. It was an empty space for so long after the cinema opened that we began to worry that it would stay empty forever. Even when we heard the opening date, when we walked past two days before the grand event, it was STILL empty.

They did manage to open on time (albeit the first night was a bit chaotic - but then what's a first night without a spot of healthy chaos?) and I confess that this is one of my preferred restaurants in Greenwich.

It's the South-Eastern sister of Mark Hix's eaterie in - naturally - Rivington St, Shoreditch, and part of the swanky Caprice chain which most famously owns the Ivy. I slightly supsect that this is the poor relation of the chain - I can't quite explain why - I just don't get the feeling that it's actually visited very often by the owners. I wonder if this is the beginning of a chain of "Rivingtons" rather than a quirky one-off (or, to be more precise, a two-off.)

That's not to say it isn't a really nice local restaurant. It's bright and airy on a sunny Sunday morning, warm and cosy on a dark November's night, with lots of glass doors and dark wood, plain walls and the odd antique (there's a huge ex-railway-looking clock which sadly doesn't work) which gives it a nicely timeless feel (literally, in the case of the clock.)

Downstairs at the bar there is a snack menu chalked up on a blackboard - modern twists on traditional British fare - in fact there is an extremely strong British slant on the whole menu and the list of suppliers is a who's who of British Foodie Producers. The rest of the restaurant has an interesting menu which does feature the odd seasonal dish (a rhubarb creme brulee I once had was utterly divine and lingers in my memory as much as my waistline) but carries a basic repertoire which doesn't seem to have changed since the place opened.

Not that I'm complaining. Dishes such as Eggs Benedict, Suckling Pig, Lyme Bay Scallops and my personal favourite, Smoked Haddock with Poached Egg and Colcannon are nicely presented and the wine list has some interesting bottles. One of these days I'm going to get a group together for one of their 'banquets' where a whole suckling pig or seasonal game birds are presented for the entire table.

The Rivington has two problems, in my humble opinion. The first can be easily solved, the second I'll have to live with.

The first is its smoking policy. It doesn't have one. Despite having two very distinct areas which could be separated for smokers and non-smokers, anyone can smoke anywhere. Now I'm not a rabid anti-smoker, but I do object to trying to eat my food whilst surrounded on three sides by entire tables of people puffing away. They might be in between courses, but I'm not and they are less than two feet away from me. It's hardly a conducive way to enjoy Mark Hix's carefully-chosen menu. This would be more of a problem if it wasn't going to be solved in July, but this to me is an example of my feeling that this place plays second-fiddle to the Shoreditch branch - we've had TWO YEARS of this non-policy when it could so easily have been sorted out so that smokers and non-smokers could have both enjoyed a meal in harmony. Nobody's actually bothered to consider it.

The second is the prices. The food is good - and the sourcing excellent, but I can't quite feel that it warrants the money that you pay for it. It's just a teeny bit pricey for what you get. It tends to be a meal that we eat as an occasion in itself rather than as an accompaniment to the cinema - when you're paying prices like that you don't want to be rushed - you want to enjoy the place as a destination.

All things said, though, this is definitely one of the better restaurants in town. And it will be even better in July...

http://www.rivingtongrill.co.uk/

Belle

20, College Approach, SE10

A dinky little Ladies clothing shop that I DO go into, but always feel rather awkward inside.

Why? Well - it sells clothes for grown-ups for a start and while that is something to which I one day aspire, I never seem to quite get there. There is an unerring sense here of a certain class of style rather than vulgar fashion which somehow leaves me feeling a bit small and grubby, however dressed up I thought I was when I left the house.

Belle's adverts in local magazines always include photos of beautiful Pre-Raphaelite-esque waifs looking wistfully into middle-distance, wearing boiled wool cardis with interesting buttons and timeless floaty cotton frocks with quirky detail. The clothes are not so much fashionable as classic - and I guess they ought to be at the price.

The shop, in the pretty-classic-itself College Approach is painted white inside, with plain floorboards and walls with Louis-style armchairs, rococo mirrors, scarves and jewellery draped casually across them which look wonderful until I catch sight of myself in them, spoiling the illusion entirely. Curiously, when I came to write this I couldn't remember whether they actually have chandeliers and lacy drapery, but my impression is that they do. It's that sort of shop. And any regular readers will know I am a big fan of chandeliers. There is a single table laid out with carefully folded knits, and a few rails with delightful skirts and jackets, each given enough room to be admired. Upstairs there are more mirrors and more rails of discreetly cute designer wear, never actually full, of course, darling. This isn't a bargain basement, you know. Just a few pieces, each individually selected for cut and colour.

Nobody's ever been snooty with me here - I always receive a friendly greeting and discreet offers of help, but I still don't feel comfortable. I know it's in my head, but I never feel quite right until I stop cluttering up this serene, exquisite emporium.

Greenwich Film Unit

"Greenwich. Could be Bloody Anywhere..."















Like my suggestion for a catchy new slogan for the Greenwich "Film Unit?"


It's a funky name - no one would ever guess it was just a local government department. I wonder if the people who work there lord it over the other employees who work in, say, the parking shop upstairs at Peggy Middleton House...

I can just imagine them now, swanking into an industry party and schmoozing - the conversation might go like this:

1st Cool Meeja-Type with Square Glasses: "So - what do you do then?"

2nd Cool Meeja-Type with Square Glasses: (proudly) "I work for the Film Unit"

1st CMTWSG: "Oh yeah? Haven't seen you round Wardour St before..."

2nd CMTWSG (mutters something)

1st CMTWSG: "Sorry - didn't quite catch that.."

2nd CMTWSG: (coughs) I erm, work for um, Greenwich Council actually. (hurriedly) The Film Unit, natch..."

1st CMTWSG wanders off, looking for someone who actually works in the film industry...

Of course, I think it's a great idea to use Greenwich borough as a giant film set. It is, after all, a varied borough that has so many different aspects that you're bound to able to find somewhere that looks a bit like the place you want. A canteen on an oil rig, anyone? An American Naval college? Prague? No problem, Sir.

I am delighted that every time our borough gets used as someone else's background, our council tax gets supplemented. But by how much? And is it actually worth it?

A browse around Greenwich Council's film unit site will give you some idea of what they're offering to companies - including many empty buildings. WHY are they empty? Why aren't they being used? Some of these are residential houses - and quite-nice-looking ones too, which I suspect the council's own overstretched housing department might be intrested to know about...

It reads pretty desperate in places - playing "yes men" to anything a film company might demand - and believe me, they demand. You want to take over all our facilities? No problem. You want to suspend parking everywhere? Of course, Sir. A night shoot? We'll deal with the residents...

The fees seem ridiculously low, when you consider that these are multi-million dollar budgets we're talking about. Ok - the bottom end prices will be for photo-shoots and charity-cases, but even top-whack just doesn't seem very much. Is it really worth it for all the disruption and mess? I've worked on occasion for The Film Industry (note capital letters) and I can tell you - they don't give a damn about other people's lives or property.

Features. TV. Documentaries. Adverts. Music Videos... The list goes on and on.
Patriot Games. Tombraider. Portrait of a Lady. Dirty Pretty Things. About a Boy. The Four feathers. The Mummy Returns. American Girl.

I guess it's mild fun to spot the location as you're sitting in the cinema, especially given that they do their best to make us believe we're looking at anywhere else other than Greenwich. The council's argument for spending all that cash on having a Film Unit at all is to encourage business (paying bugger-all for the privilege, though I guess the local greasy spoon might sell a couple of extra bacon rolls) and tourism. Who's going to look at a film set in Prague and think "You know, I really fancy a holiday in South East London...?" And if they're trying to "promote the borough," they're not doing it very well - I asked the director of one of the very few movies actually set in Greenwich whether he'd used the GFU and he hadn't even heard of them.

When are we going to let Greenwich be - well - Greenwich? Layer Cake, Elizabeth, Popcorn and A Clockwork Orange (sort of but not really.) Oh - and Death in Greenwich, of course. Can anyone else suggest any other mainstream movies actually SET in Greenwich?

So - Greenwich Film Unit. A department I view with equal quantities of curiosity, derision and yet a strange sort of benevolence. Let's face it. It's not easy being cool when you're in local government.

I'll live with Greenwich Film Unit for now. I just wish they would show a little more dignity on the website. Respect is not something that the media gives out lightly and sucking up only makes it kick you harder.

Oh - and in case you're tempted by the idea of registering your house as a potential film set. Don't. Please don't. You will just end the relationship feeling used and dirty...

Duke Humphrey's Tower Part I

It could be said that the fabulous Royal Observatory on top of the biggest hill in Greenwich Park is the most elegant botch-job in history. It's superbly classical feel and timeless frontage is a tribute to the ingenuity of Sir Christopher Wren who was given bugger-all to build it by King Charles II and was reduced to some, ahem, interesting sources for building materials (more about that another day.) Which is a great shame, as without the penny-pinching of the Merry Monarch, we might still at least have a few stones left of what was there beforehand, the notorious Duke Humphrey's Tower...

"Good" Duke Humphrey of Gloucester was the kid brother of Henry V and fought with him at Agincourt. It was an age of testosterone and derring-do and the dashing Duke slashed and parried with gusto until he was cut down. The only way he survived was by the king standing between his brother's splayed legs swashing, buckling and presumably making stirring speeches at the dastardly French until they'd all sunk in the mud.

On his return, Humph was a bit of a hero. Also known as "The Swan," (from part of his mother's coat of arms,) the power-hungry young swain fancied his chances abroad and married Jaqueline, Countess of Holland for her land. She was, unfortunately for Humphrey, already married, and her first husband unsurprisingly took exception to the match. Humphrey set off with an army to get his hands on as much loot as possible, but it all ended in tears when he was forced to turn back - leaving Jacqueline behind.

Humph doesn't seem to have been hugely upset by the loss of his wife and he soon gained a bit of a repuation as a ladies' man, though the scandals weren't always straightforward. He cut poor Jaqueline off without a sous and married his mistress, Eleanor Cobham, one of Jacqueline's ladies-in-waiting. It was said that she was a witch, and it does seem that The Black Arts might well have been a bit of a hobby for the happy couple. But true or not, by this point they both had a few enemies who were delighted at any excuse to stick the knife in.

She was hauled over the coals (probably literally) for practising witchcraft against the new King, potty Henry VI, forced to perform humiliating acts of public penance in the streets of London, before being exiled to the Isle of Man.

The Duke was also arrested for treason a few days later, at Bury St Edmunds. It's not clear why he died very soon afterwards, but it's not unlikely that some skulduggery took place. Some say he suffered a stroke at the shock.

His supporters were mecilessly rounded up and done away with in the vilest possible manner, by being hanged, drawn and quartered.

But I digress. Humphrey, despite being a bit of a Duke-about-town who couldn't keep his codpiece done up and enjoyed drinking the odd cup of cockerel's blood, was also a sensitive soul who yearned to learn. He started corresponding with Italian scholars and collecting books. He inherited the manor of Greenwich (as you do) and decided that he was going to build a fancy new gaff with a massive library of splendid tomes.

He already had five other manors as well as Baynards Castle in London itself, but he craved a bijou country place all for his very own. He was granted a license to crenellate and crenellate he did - towers and turrets a-go-go. These were dangerous times and the Old Dover Road, from Roman times to Dicken's age was a hotspot for dodgy characters, from mobs of revolting peasants to dandy highwaymen. Humphrey wasn't taking any chances.

It was probably not just a fortress, though, but a rather nice house too. (He also had a place near the river called Bella Court or Plesaunce - from which Placentia grew.) Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester's library was the talk of the age - volumes from all over the world, all hand-copied by scribes and monks from the great seats of learning of the Middle Ages.

Amazingly, the bulk of it survives today, as the foundation of the Bodleian Library at Oxford, "Duke Humphrey's Library." The Duke gave hundreds of books to the young university during his lifetime, though I confess I have never really worked out why...

More about Duke Humph's Tower another time...

Quantum Cloud

Antony Gormley, 1999

Greenwich Peninsula (North Greenwich tube)


Quantum Cloud is that strange-looking sculpture very close to the Dome which, if you first view it in winter from a distance you might mistake for a very odd tree.

It's Antony Gormley's tallest structure - 30m high - and yes, that IS taller than The Angel of the North (and by the way, Ken - we don't NEED an 'Angel of the South' to let people know when they've reached London.)

It took months of arguing in our household to decide whether we could see a shadowy human figure depicted in the centre of this ovoid tree of what looks suspiciously like scaffolding bars, but there IS actually 'someone' in there - Gormley himself, apparently.

It's all very clever stuff, based on algebra,where he programmed the shape of his own body into a computer, then created a random 'cloud' of squared bars of galvanised steel around it. The way the 20m figure is created is merely by having a greater density of the bits of metal welded together in the centre. At some angles the figure is quite clear, at others it just looks like a mass of tangled TV aerials, an ambiguity that Gormley intended, according to his artist's statement at the time. The outer antennae are supposed to move with the wind, but I've never noticed.

Our Cloud at Greenwich is one of at least 11 different Quantum Clouds, I believe, with figures in various positions, but Gormley's website despite clearly having spent considerably more cash than I have on this one, is not an awful lot easier to navigate around and eventually I gave up trying to find any more about it. I got the feeling from his statement that the one on the Peninsula was the first, but ultimately I guess I don't really care. It's one of my favourite sculptures in the area - or, indeed at all. It's only when you get near to it (you can't get really close as it's slightly offshore) that you can really see how clever it is to work at so many different levels and angles.

Hooray for Public Art.

Channers

Organic/Fairtrade coffee shop, Trafalgar Rd, SE10

This is one of those odd places that just spring up overnight without anyone noticing. I was actually on my way to test out Point Zero but, passing the site of that old record shop Decksterity and seeing a brand new place I'd never seen before was too tempting by half.

It's a spartan fit. The people who did this up were clearly working on a very tight budget, and I can't say it doesn't show.

The white-painted walls are ever-so-slightly lumpy and some of the doors could really do with an extra coat of gloss. The ubiquitous laminate flooring (doesn't anyone do anything else these days?) was cheaply furnished with IKEA-style tables and chairs, and the walls were virtually bare. It has the feel of somewhere that hasn't been finished yet - and that may well be the case. There are some shelves with a slightly random selection of greetings cards and a few jars of something, a one or two framed Fairtrade posters and that's about it.

But it's not always the decor that makes a place and I'm happy to say that the somewhat odd style choices (there's a sort of coat-of-arms on the shop sign) are not an indication of the service I got in this place. Lovely, friendly people, eager to please and talk, made me a delightful cup of coffee. It wasn't quite what I ordered but it was made with such enthusiasm and it frankly looked so good that I kept it. It tasted good too.

A very friendly Scottish guy invited me to sit downstairs in their "quiet" area - though to be honest, apart from a couple of French chaps the area upstairs was silent too. I walked down some quite sweetly silver-and-white painted stairs to a lounge with beige IKEA-style sofas and some little tables. There was a bookshelf with a fairly eclectic, but nevertheless welcome selection of volumes and a rack for newspapers - as yet unfilled. Here too, the walls could have done with a little extra paint, but these are people who are clearly doing their best on a shoestring. The guy told me they hope to have some nice gentle music (not radio) here soon, which would be welcome.

The Fairtrade /Organic label doesn't usually come cheap, but these people seem to be trying to keep their prices down. I paid £ 1.50 for my coffee and the sandwiches and other simple snacks seemed similarly reasonably-priced.

I wish Channers luck. I'm hoping that soon they may be able to make the place a little less bare, but as long as they serve nice coffee with a big smile, in my book that's already a long way to getting it right.

Point Zero

Polish Cafe/Deli

Trafalgar Rd, SE10

I've been watching the progress of this place through darkened windows ever since the ridiculously-named "Yew Wood Knot Believe It" closed. At first I feared that it had merely been done up for the living accommodation above it, leaving the shop below to rot- and frankly I suspect it had been - there's now a rather awkwardly-shaped entrance to the shop below as yet another minuscule flatlet has been created upstairs. But unlike others further along in Woolwich Road which have received the same treatment but are left all dressed up and nowhere to go, whitewashed windows the furthest you can see in, luckily someone decided to show a little faith and move in.

I guess I should admit right now that I don't think this particular cafe is aimed at the likes of me. It is very much a Local Polish Shop for Local Polish People. And good for them. It's nicely done on the whole and of course I don't mind if a shop's not really for me if it's a credit to the neighbourhood.

And it's really not bad to look at. They've obviously spent money on it - little recesses in the front with long mirrors, a curved glass counter with a large selection of Polish sausages, meats, cheeses and other cold goods, and, at the back, a series of arched wooden shelves groaning with imported Polish tins, jars and packet goods. They seem almost stereotypical to me - lots of pickles, sausages and root vegetable soups in the main, though there are some interesting-looking blancmanges and other dishes. I suspect this selection very much represents 'comfort food' for people far away from home - and, were I living in Poland, I would be delighted at a reciprocal store there.

The rest is fashionably plainly decorated - the omnipresent laminate floors, slung ceiling with inset lighting and white-painted walls, but it's well done and suits the three simple round tables at the front with their wiggly blue glass vases filled with sprigs of spring flowers. The floor and window sill are filled with Polish fashion magazines (and one or two token English-language ones so the rest of us don't feel too left out...)

Somewhat randomly along one wall lies a fridge of sundry cold drinks, and at the back there's another with some interesting-looking cream cakes. As I walked in I was greeted by The Carpenters, a nice retro throwback - until I realised they were on the radio, which, one I realised it was a random choice, somehow didn't seem quite so cool.

The staff seemed a little distant - but not unpleasant. Perhaps it was a language thing. They got my coffee order wrong, but changed it immediately with no fuss. I always think that getting something wrong happens to us all from time to time - it's the way that people deal with mistakes that makes the difference.

I confess the coffee itself was a bit on the strong side for me, already suffering from The Mother Of All Hangovers. This brain-splitting brew was so thick that I could almost physically feel it travelling upwards to sear through my head as yet another punishment for the previous night's indiscretions. I think even on a good day this would have been a bit dark for me, though as a cup of coffee to look at it was a thing of beauty - thick brown-white crema, almost entirely obscuring dark, dark coffee below. A medium cup cost £ 1.75

I'm glad Point Zero has opened. It looks good, sells interesting things and, I suspect, will stylishly fill a gap in the market for people a long way from home. But I don't think it's going to replace the Trafalgar Cafe in my own affections just yet...

See tomorrow for the other new caff along Trafalgar Road...

The Silk Route

Greenwich Covered Market, SE10

Tucked away near a dark-ish corner of Greenwich Market where there are more dead shops and blank walls than anywhere else in the square, The Silk Route is a welcome flash of colour and exotic luxury. In some respects it almost doesn't matter what it sells inside, the bright flashes of satin and sparkling fairy lights, the velvets and silks of the window display and the tasselled Thai umbrellas justify the shops existence in sheer joi-de-vivre.

It's a shop that lifts my heart when I walk past. Inside, the rich-red glow of silk lanterns and the twinkle of fairy lights continues as neat shelves of Far-Eastern goods line the walls of this tiny shop. Bolts of cloth, embroidered cushion covers, satin bags and little brocade pouches are the mainstay, though there are lots of little dishes of beaded fripperies and various clothes.

Wall hangings and beady curtains, pincushions in the shape of a circle of Chinese children, the odd wooden box, most of these things are not unfamiliar to us these days, but it would be churlish to imply that that makes them any less enjoyable to see. They do have some different stuff - there are currently some lovely satin umbrellas (much more classic-Occidental in style than the traditional parasols outside) - and I'd say it was well worth a look - though at weekends, like the rest of the market, it does get a bit full...

"Capability" Bowes

I don't really want to get into doing 'plugs' for things on this site that I don't have any experience of, but Russell Bowes looks like the sort of guy I like, and I think he's Worth Knowing About.

Russell's a Garden Historian, who gives lectures up and down the country to places as far and wide as The Eden Project, The National Portait Gallery and Waddesdon about various topics from Capability Brown to gardens in painting. Locally, he can do consultations on a freelance basis on creating a garden appropriate to their period property.

I don't know Russell personally, but he seems like a Very Interesting Local Person, and I like interesting local people. Check out his website at

www.capabilitybowes.com

and if you're into theatre, take a peek at his reviews too...

Freecycle

I was going to write about something totally different today, but Russell sent me a mail which reminded me that I hadn't actually mentioned Freecycle yet.

I am astounded at the number of people who don't know about this fantastic piece of logic. It's a win-win situation for everyone - except the manufacturers and purveyors of tat - and let's face it - are we going to weep for them if they don't sell an extra nasty cheap item at a vastly inflated price?

In case you don't know what Freecycle is then make yourselves comfortable, children. All your storage/waste/eco-guilt problems are solved - not to mention that you might actually get something fab yourself.

Freecycle is a Yahoo group which aims to keep useable rubbish out of landfill. It starts with someone posting up something they want to get rid of. It can be an old TV, a bicycle tyre, a microwave, children's toys, clothes - you name it, people post it.

Everyone who's signed up to the list receives info about what's on offer. Since there's bound to be someone in London who wants it, the next thing is that someone arranges to come and collect the item as soon as possible. There is only one rule - no money can change hands.

Everyone gets a result. The person giving away their own particular "piece of old tut" is relieved of having to drag it to the dump, the person receiving their own particular "lovely treasure" gets something they want for the price of collecting it and the local tip has extra room.

I love Freecycle. I have personally got rid of an entire kitchen (someone came and collected it from Woolwich in installments in a Ford Fiesta) a microwave, a fridge, a stereo - plus many other items - all of which were perfectly good, but had just been upgraded and I no longer needed. Russell tells me he has got rid of some Lloyd Loom chairs, a pasta maker and various dodgy Christmas presents. What he has got, though, is amazing - but pretty typical - a double bed from someone who couldn't be bothered to sell, a flat-screen monitor for his PC - you name it you can find it here. From the sublime - a bag of rubble - to the ridiculous - I've seen cars listed and, once, an AGA...

It's not just big stuff. You can offer (or get) spare seedlings for your garden, the free DVDs that come with newspapers - anything (that isn't alive.) It's worth putting slightly broken stuff up there too because a lot of artists use it to get 'unusual' materials. I've seen things like "offered - TV - broken" - and then seen, a few days later "taken - TV- broken."

I particularly love Freecycle because I've always had a problem with throwing things away if they're still good. If they can go to a good home I can declutter without guilt. The one thing you must remember is that everything has to be free. If you want to sell something, take it to Greenwich Auctions or Ebay.

I have always used the London version of Freecycle - partially because I want my stuff to go and I can never be absolutely sure that anything smaller is a big enough catchment area.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecyclelondon/

Russell tells me there is now a local Greenwich one. I have no experience of it, but since the more local people are, the less chance of no-shows, I would probably now advertise my stuff on that one first. I have had a few problems finding it though - maybe you could post a URL, please, Russell?

Pizza Express

6, Greenwich Church St, SE10

It's a Pizza Express. There's little more to say than that. If you know the chain, you'll know the restaurant. Geared primarily to tourists, it does pretty well on the corner opposite St Alfeges Church. It's your usual bright, modern, clattery-type restaurant with inset lighting, wooden floors and metal-backed chairs which does your usual range of not-bad pizzas and the odd pasta dish and salad (I rather like the nicoise.)

The Pizza Express restaurants were started back the 60s by Peter Boizot and they were really cutting-edge and fresh for the time. What he did really well was combine his love of pizza with his other big obsession - jazz. Jazz and pizza were synonymous with the chain - and it was extremely chic back in the 60s & 70s.

The logo survives in all its mid-century glory, at least. And right into the 90s the entire chain continued to have live jazz, but these days only the Dean St and Pizza on the Park really do much in the way of music - though the Maidstone branch still occasionally has acts. The Greenwich branch stopped doing regular music in the early 2000s - yet another sell-out for live music in the town. I haven't been back since.

The only way I can be reasonably confident about the place is that apart from the odd special the menu never changes and the service tends to be similar. It may no longer be terribly exciting, but at least you know what you're getting - and you can see it being prepared, for which, if you've read Kitchen Confidential, you may well be grateful. It always seems fairly full.

Anyone been recently who can tell me it's changed in any way whatsoever?

Boulangerie Jade

44, Tranquil Vale Blackheath

A splendid place to wile away a sunny Sunday morning after you've visited the farmers market at the Station, still reeling from the prices, Boulangerie Jade does good coffee and exquisite French fancy cakelets gooey buns and tarts. They do pastries, sandwiches and snacks to die for, but the best bits are those fab cakes, all made on the premises every day. With names like Chocolatier, Framboisier and White Chocolate and Rasberry Marquise, this is yet another waistline-buster - but what a way to go.

You can get seasonal stuff too - from chocolate logs at Christmas and hot cross buns at Easter to Cholla every Friday. And considering the effort, freshness and surroundings, (and the amount you've probably just shelled out at the market) it's not horribly expensive either.

They do extra large whole cakes, flans and tarts - in sizes to fit any occasion, though it's best to order something special a couple of days in advance. They also have a traiteur service.

Oh - that there were more places like this in Greenwich itself. I love Daisy Cakes Bake Shop but you can't sit out in the sunshine and scoff your buns on the premises, and fab though the Royal Hill Lovelies are, the selection is nothing like this fantastic little patisserie.

If you plan on going more than once, don't forget to pick up Boulangerie Jade's little loyalty card where every 10th coffee's free.

Ex-Working Men's Club

Catherine asks:

"I just discovered your website when looking to find out what happened to the JET gas station on Woolwich Rd.... Which then made me think to ask you if you know anything about the 'Under Offer Restaurant' sign on the corner of Woolwich and Chilver St.... the old Working Men's Club... any idea what restaurant we can expect to open up?"

Catherine - this is exactly the question I was asking the guy in Cafe Massala only a few days ago. After all - his shop's opposite said dead club - he, if anyone, should know. Sadly he doesn't. He says he's never seen anyone going in or out of the place - and let's face it, it's been "under offer" for yonks. I'm wondering whether there's actually anything at all going on there; whether it's just another sign that's been left up there to pique our curiousities. In my fantasies it's an exciting, interesting indpendent restaurant. In more sober times I suspect it's more likely to be a burger bar or another sodding fried chicken joint.

Anyone else got any news on this? If developers actually had their eyes on the ball, they'd realise that thre are new flats going up left, right and centre and all the people that will be moving in will also need to eat, so there would be a market for somewhere nice. Sadly I think they only have their eyes on building as many dwellings as possible rather than actually servicing them...

Singing and Playing

Elaine fancies getting musical and asks:

Singing - I can't really do it very well and I'd like to take lessons. No Xfactor plans but just as a nice little hobby.

Piano -Does anyone know any good local teachers? I can go to them or theycan come to me (which is cheaper?) I haven't played since I was a child andif I'm going to spend time dusting the thing I may as well learn to playagain!

Elaine - I'm not au fait with singing teachers round here - but a few suggestions would include checking at The Forum, Trinity (they may do extra-curricular stuff) and in one of the libraries for notices. Blackheath Concert Halls also have a music school, but it may just be for kiddies.

If you fancy a warble yourself, Monday nights at Mycenae House are music nights where they have a house trio and people of all abilities from beginner to professional get up and do a number or two. As the evening progresses, various instrumentalists join the band and it can get quite busy. It's a very supportive atmosphere. You could go along one week and see whether its your sort of thing.

Piano lessons. I hear very good reports about Viktor Obsust, who teaches from scratch and is very happy to tutor adults. His email is, according to the friend of mine he teaches, obsust@gmail.com but he's not sure if he's got that right. If it's not that, come back and I'll ask him again.

There are huge amounts of musicians in Greenwich - perhaps a combination of cheapish (for London) accommodation and Trinity Music College. There is a lot of music going on (no thanks to a certain restaurant chain) and you're bound to find interesting people once you start looking. I am sure others will be able to point you to other good teachers or classes.

Danson House

Danson Rd - between Bexleyheath and Welling.


Whilst driving along the A2 yesterday, I caught a glimpse of a splendid-looking Georgian Mansion, and realised that it must be Danson House which I'd read had reopened last year after a total restoration.

Danson House is in the unlikely geographical position between Bexleyheath and Welling - not very encouraging if you don't look at the historic context. But when it was begun in 1762, it was deep in the countryside, a cough and a spit from The Old Dover Road and yet very convenient for its owner, John Boyd, to get to the office - one of London's first commuters, it would seem...

Boyd had cash - but it was 'new money,' inherited only from his father Augustus, which automatically made him nouveau riche. Augustus made his pile through sugar plantations in the Caribbean - hardly something to shout about this year, the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade (more about that on another day) but enough in those days to allow his son to lead the life of a gentleman.

John Boyd had studied theology and loved the arts, but ended up working for his father, living in Lewisham - again a tad nicer then than it is now. He had had his eye on the park at Danson, but though he'd snapped up the lease it took an act of parliament for him to be able to rather sneakily buy-out the Almshouse trust that its previous owner had left in his will. He purchased it for £ 100 and kept acquiring land piecemeal up to 600 acres.

Danson House was completed in 1766. It's a charming palladian-style villa, and not gigantic like so many of the country piles of the day. Neat, economical and with a clear box-like design, it feels like a home you could actually imagine people living in, though it has the sanitised, risk-free feel of a 'house open to the public' these days (if you're not into that kind of thing, the only place I know of to really get down and dirty with history is the incredible Dennis Severs House in Spitalfields.)

Danson's had its ups and downs over the years, and in 1923 Bexley Council bought it - then did bugger-all to it save selling-off the surrounding land for housing and implementing some atrocious 'repairs' in the 1950s. Eventually it became derelict, and, arguing that it was beyond repair, the council decided to pull it down. Central Government, however, had other ideas and the resulting stalemate meant that it just got worse and worse.

Things came to a head at Christmas 1995 when burglars stole all the fixtures and fittings over the holiday period, and bundled them into containers to be shipped abroad. They were actually recovered but not until English Heritage declared Danson Park to be London's "most significant building at risk." EH, somewhat belatedly, took over the remaining dogs dinner of a building and started an extraordinary programme of repairs which finished a couple of years ago.

And it's an amazing piece of work. Looking at it now, it's nigh-on impossible to imagine what it must have looked like beforehand. God-only knows how much it all must have cost.

The fabulous dining room has had all its paintings restored and carpets have been rewoven to fit the octagonal salon, which overlooks the remaining parkland and the lake. The library has a totally-restored organ - though the books are fake. Downstairs the kitchens are bright and airy and filled with items from Bexley Heritage Trust's collection.

The house was in such a state that virtually nothing was left in some rooms - and literally just the studs from the walls at the very top, though one or two of the charming ceilings and fireplaces remained. A major help was a series of eight extremely detailed watercolours of the interiors painted by a young girl in the 1860s which appear to be remarkably accurate.

Up the delicate oval staircase which snakes its way up the centre of the house like some kind of exotic snail, lit by an oval lantern at the top, there are rooms which though once bedrooms are clearly meant to help supplement modern Danson's financial future - set out as meeting rooms for corporate events and weddings. On the very ground floor the tea-rooms look out across the lake, though sadly the little doric temple was removed to St Paul Waldenbury in Hertfordshire in 1963, which I can't find much out about, save that it seems to specialise in removing garden features from endangered properties. Whether it specialises in returning them is less certain.

The only bit of the restoration I'm not really convinced by are the ultra-modern inset lights in the bedroom, but I'll give EH the benefit of the doubt and assume "they had their reasons" for this extraordinary anachronism.

It sort of feels wrong that a country estate like this isn't miles away - it's a fifteen minute drive from Greenwich at most. But it really is a lovely little place and I'd say well worth a trip on a sunny day. The old stables are now a pub that does food - we didn't eat there but it looked fine.The park looks like a pleasant walk, but the wind was blowing us about so badly our ears hurt and we gave up.

They have some interesting events though you'll have to call or drop in to find out about them - the website is "under construction."

http://www.historicdanson.com/

The Thames Barrier

A week ago a 1" column at the bottom of page 10 of The News Shopper announced an event held by the Institute of Materials at the Thames Barrier. In true News Shopper style the closing date for registration was five days before publication, but I called the IOM anyway and the event wasn't full.

Everything seems to have a dual purpose at the Barrier - the coach park that sits suspiciously close to the thirty-odd foot river bank doubles as an emergency hospital if one of the giant sills that move round to actually become the barrier gets sick. They weigh so much that they'd have to rip out the trees and bulldoze down the bank to get one on land, but once it gets dragged onto that platform it won't fall through as it's been specially strengthened from below.

We had to wear hard hats (always makes you feel like you're going to see something exciting) and carry gas masks because given the close proximity of oil, water and electricity fire is a real risk.

Basically, each of those lovely boat-shaped steel piers that poke up so charmingly across the river at Charlton/Woolwich is connected deep under the riverbed by a giant, mainly cut-away cylinder which rolls round bringing the little rounded wall that's left after the cut-away up above the water to create a barrier. And underneath them there are connecting corridors full of pipes and wires and strange machines which make you feel like you're a member of the Nautilus's crew...

It's not for the claustrophobic or anyone with a heights problem. There are lifts - but there were too many of us to use them, so we trooped up and down open stairwells made of thick, grey concrete, with steps made of metal mesh - you go down, along a corridor, and then up again to each pier (or at least that's what I think's happening - it all looks exactly the same down there and I quickly lost any sense of where I was.)

The corridors have shelves full of electric cables running down one side, and enormous pipes full of water for the sprinkler system down the other and seem to go on for miles and it's almost a relief to get back up onto one of the piers.

The piers themselves are lined with wood which really does give the impression of them being upturned boats. They house the operational gear. They've got cute little portholes too, from which you can get some amazing views of the river.

The sheer size of the hydraulic system is the most impressive thing - gigantic yellow pumps and massive hulks of thick steel connected to some of the thickest electricity cables I have ever seen. There are three different power stations supplying electricity from various parts of London but even they can go wrong and in the past the Barrier has had to rely on its own little generators to operate the piers.

My favourite bit, not being any kind of engineer, was getting to actually stand out on one of the piers and look back at The Woolwich Ferry, forward to the Dome and sideways to the banks. There are massive cranes on each pier and, of course, the operational gear.

The rest of the day was given over to some fascinating lectures including a guy from Thames Water explaining exactly what happens when they replace the Victorian water mains which we're all suffering at the moment. Other speakers represented sustainable drainage systems which, although innovative, don't seem to be taken seriously enough by the government yet. Did you know that there's a B&Q car park in Portsmouth which has permeable tarmac which drains away to a tank underneath to flush the loos? No more puddles and a reduction in drinking water use. Fantastic. Why didn't we get that at the Peninsula? That was supposed to be green, wasn't it?

I wasn't quite so impressed with the guy who wants to build loads of "sustainable" houses in the Thames Gateway, possible on stilts since it has, after all, never been built on before because it is a flood plain. They might be cheap to erect but the engineers don't seem to have taken aesthetics into consideration and if they want to attract a mix of people to live there rather than turn it into some kind of ghetto, they really do need to do better than that looks-wise IMHO.

The day wasn't cheap, by the way - not actually qualifying for any concessions meant about 80-odd quid for a ticket which still keeps me awake at night. But I would do it again. A fascinating day...

Not sure if the IOM is doing any more trips, but if the cost doesn't make you nearly sick I would definitely recommend it as a one-off treat.

http://www.iom3.org/EVENTS/index.htm

The Thames Barrier doesn't seem to have its own website but there's loads more technical info at

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/thames/323150/335688/341764/

There's an exhibition and visitors centre at the Barrier but you can't normally go on the piers. The guy who showed us round said that people sometimes write and ask to have a special visit and they try to fit them onto an organised trip like the one I went on, so it may be worth a try.

Manchesters Flowers

Woolwich Rd

Since it's Mothering Sunday tomorrow I thought I'd go for an obvious one...

It must be a real bummer to have your business plan all worked out, your market nailed and your site decided upon, only to discover a few years later that someone's moved the goalposts.

There is a whole row of little shops which were obviously intended to compliment the old Greenwich District Hospital. Two funeral parlours, a minicab firm and Manchesters grace Woolwich Road opposite a totally empty site, looking a bit forlorn these days. Presumably the other shops that were once there to service the hospital were unable to keep going once the place had gone - there are many dead shops in that part of Woolwich Road, but with a bit of luck Manchesters at least can keep going until we get whatever's going up instead.

It's a smashing little shop. Easily the best-looking in Woolwich Road (though let's face it, there's very little competition) its dark green livery and interesting window displays are a little oasis of pretty in a part of Greenwich which is generally a bit grim. Inside, they're friendly and helpful. I would imagine that the bulk of their trade is Interflora-type work, but they always seem to be able to break off to make you up a bouquet, sell you a pot of daffs or arrange a floral surprise for your mum.

It's a perfect example of a business that realises that even if most of their custom comes from telephone and internet orders, having an excellent shop front is an ideal way of drumming up interest on a local basis.

Undercover Experience - take note...

www.manchestersflowers.co.uk

Murals

Jonathan asks:

"What is the origin of the huge mural on the flats facing St Alfege school?"

Blimey. You've got me stumped there, Jonathan. I CAN find out for you, but sadly not today, as Proper Work deadlines loom over my head. I'll do my best to find out for you asap, but in the meanwhile if anyone else has any clues, they'll be welcomed here.

Woolwich - Bargain City

Yesterday, in a 'proper work' avoidance move, I trotted over to Peggy Middleton House to check out the Olympic Proposals, which were only there until today.

They're very much Info-lite - lots of pictures of random smiling people and artists' impressions of joggers running through non-specific parkland and a few indecipherable maps. They included nothing at all about anything this side of the river, which was most disappointing. I was told that since they haven't had any plans submitted they don't officially know about any Olympic plans for Greenwich - despite another artist's impression of the equestrian events in Greenwich Park in the council's own newsletter.

I had particularly wanted to see the plans because I am mildly worried about any long-term damage the events in the park will cause - such as the loss of any ancient trees, planting patterns or that superb, mature herbacious border by the Queens House wall. No such luck.

But I digress.

On being thwarted in my efforts to save Greenwich's flowerbeds (ahem,) I decided that a spot of retail therapy was needed, and went for a wander down Woolwich's pedestrianised high street.

I'd forgotten what a fab place Woolwich is for genuine bargains. Forget poncy out-of-town outlet parks, if you can get past the fact that it's a bit on the scruffy side, Woolwich is the home of REAL factory outlet shops.

Marks & Spencer, for a start. They do proper reductions on real last-season stuff - and since most M&S stuff is hardly cutting-edge anyway, going for the 'classic' market instead, it's frankly just as good this year as last. Men's, women's and children's - as well as the odd homeware, smelly or novelty good. At the back there's a food store (not sale stuff, natch.)

If you carry on down towards the river, you'll pass various cheapo outlets - from brand-name makeup and tolietries at rock-bottom prices to bedlinen and housewares, games and stationery.

Another real find is the Clarks Factory Shop - right down the end. This is a real free-for-all - with Clarks usual quality-footwear at ridiculously low prices - again, men's, women's and children's - a real plus if you've got kiddies with growing feet and not an awful lot of cash - you get good quality at low prices. Take a pal with you as they often do offers where you get one pair for a low price, two pairs for even less, and they practically pay you to take away three pairs. At the moment they have boxes and boxes of party shoes - but they always carry other stuff too.

I guess it's down to individual conscience whether the basement-bargain stores such as Primark, Peacock and Poundland (all the 'p's) are a great way of keeping low-income British families within a reasonable standard of living or a middle-class guilt-trip as stories about third-world sweatshops fill the papers, but if you're with the former camp, they're all here too.

Also to be found - Boots, WH Smith, New Look...you've got the picture.

Whatever you think of Woolwich - it's certainly worth a trip - if only to enjoy the buzz of activity that a sunny day and a few special offers produces.

Tuesday Nights at Olivers

You know I'm always moaning that we never know what's on at Olivers? Well it seems the artists have taken it into their own hands (probably wise) and, on Tuesdays at least we can now find out.

Go to Von Twist's site to find listings of what he compares every week. I'll pop along myself when I get a free Tuesday (sadly not for a few weeks just yet...)

Let me know what you think if you go.

www.myspace.com/thetwistacoustic

Jet Garage

The Jet Garage along Woolwich Road next door to the weird-shaped offices and East Greenwich Library has closed. The guys told me that the land's been bought for - guess what - luxury flats...

Tutankhamun Exhibition

Am I the only one who's getting slightly cross with the papers at the moment? Have you seen all those headlines about curses and Pharaohs and Domes just because we're not getting the boy-king's golden mask at the forthcoming exhibition?

If the mask is too delicate to leave Egypt, as Dr Zahi Hawass says - or even if the Egyptians choose to keep the mask for frankly understandably touristic reasons, it's NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DOME.

It didn't go to Philadelphia and we ALWAYS KNEW it wouldn't be coming here - so what's the big deal with all the headlines this week? We've got everything else - now that we're not getting the casino - and I personally can't wait to see the treasures which I didn't get to see the first time round because I was 'too young' and my parents thought I'd want the toilet just as they got to the front of the mile-long queue.

Which is why I thought I'd share a link I've just discovered on the 02 (God I hate typing that name) website where you can register your interest in up to 8 tickets for the exhibition. You don't have to say what day you want to go - or even part with any cash up front, but you will get a unique registration number which will guarantee you get tickets. Given that it's almost certainly going to sell out, in my book it's worth signing up even if you don't know if you're going yet. I note they're being somewhat coy about how much the tickets will actually cost...


http://www.kingtut.org/plan_your_visit/london

Blockbuster

Trafalgar Rd

I know, I know. You weren't expecting me to like this, were you...

Blockbuster is hardly the Home of Alternative Cinema. The selection of anything that isn't, well - blockbusters - is extremely limited and frankly, given the size of the store, the selection of anything at all isn't wild, with far too much space given over to cheap retail DVDs and computer games for my personal taste. My own choice would be a small independent that stocked a wide range of Hollywood Action, European Art and Japanese Manga along with everything in between.

But - and it's a big but - given that we have a chain, the next best thing to an indie store is personal service of the kind you get here.

Greenwich Blockbuster has some really knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff who will take as much time as you need to find something they think you'll like, whilst also wryly acknowledging the limited range. They'll talk to you about the sort of thing you like and recommend stuff they think you'll enjoy. They're not always spot-on - but they try - and then remember to ask if you enjoyed what you borrowed. They have even been known to advise me not to take one DVD because they thought it really was tosh and another title because it would be on special offer the following week.

To be singled out in particular is the big guy who works there - if he's not in the store you might find him lurking outside with a sneaky fag. He goes to inordinate lengths to help. The two young guys who seem to be there when the big chap isn't are also very friendly.

Obviously, you're going to get the best service if you don't go in at 7.00pm on a Friday night - but I have never known these guys to be anything other than helpful.

So. A chain I like. Though if these guys were to strike out on their own and start a really good DVD rental shop I'd be there like a shot. Not that I'm hinting or anything.

BTW has anyone tried those mail-order rental firms? I can't ever see myself organised enough to think that a) I'll want to watch a DVD in two day's time and b) I'll know what movie I'll be in the mood for. Are other people like that too?

Ok. Just me then...

Sayes Court

Deptford

Poor old John Evelyn.

He was arguably the most refined character of his day - a man of taste, education and compassion who campaigned for the welfare of elderly seamen, liked to plant sweet chestnut trees in people's gardens and kept a diary which though perhaps not quite as 'entertaining' as that of his friend Samuel Pepys, is ever bit as illuminating to us today. Pepys mentions him several times in his journal, though reading between the lines, although the diarist admired Evelyn he sometimes found him a bit dull.

Evelyn lived in times that just weren't as sophisticated as himself. Although he kept a fine house in Deptford which attracted all the learned men of his day and held soirees which discussed the important issues of the times, his hospitality wasn't always treated with the same respect.

Evelyn's most passionate love was his Deptford garden at Sayes Court, upon which he lavished attention, planting it carefully in the formal European style with walks, vistas and intimate groves. He collected rare plants which he cared for like children - even visiting them in the middle of the great Frost Fair to check they were alright.

Trouble is, that when, in 1698, the young oaf who would later become known to the world as Czar Peter the Great came to visit Britain, ostensibly on the 17th Century equivalent of a student exchange trip to see the sights of London and learn about shipbuilding, he ended up staying at Evelyn's house. Evelyn had let it to Admiral Benbow, but Benbow got elbowed out of the way. Evelyn didn't get a look in.

When Evelyn returned to Sayes Court three months later, after the Czar had moved on, his heart was broken, as indeed, was his house. His doors had been taken down and burned, his floors and walls covered in grease, ink and whatever else the czar and his mates had cared to chuck around, Evelyn's precious collection of paintings had been used for pistol practice and not a single piece of textile from bedclothes to tapestries was left unripped or unsoiled.

But it was his precious garden that upset him most. The Czar had ruined his carefully laid-out lawns, stamped around all over his plants and totally destroyed his favourite holly hedge by he and his cronies charging around pushing each other straight through it in wheelbarrows.

The Treasury agreed it was a bit of a mess and gave him the paltry sum of 350 quid to clear it up, but Evelyn was devastated.

Sadly, if he were to see Sayes Court now he would probably just be depressed. I recently went to see what was left of one of the greatest houses of the 17thC. The house has totally disappeared - now there are just grim apartment blocks and dismal roads. covering the site Part of the garden remains, though not in anything like it would have been even after the Czar of Russia had been on his jolly.

It's now a gloomy municipal park in 1950s corporate style. Crazy-paved concrete rose beds and dull walkways are the best it offers, though maybe we should be grateful it's a splash of any kind of green and there are at least some nice big trees. There are one or two ancient Mulberry trees which I would guess do actually date from the time (James I hit on a 'brilliant' money-making wheeze by trying to introduce the silk industry to Britain. He made everyone plant mulberry trees in their back gardens, only discovering too late that they were the wrong variety for silkworms...) but nothing else to even imply that this was one of the most influential gardens of the time, visited by many members of the Royal Family in Evelyn's day. No plaque, no little explanation in the noticeboard as you walk in, no nothing.

Even today Evelyn is vastly underrated. As a final insult, the Czar's visit is commemorated by a road name in Deptford, whereas the best John Evelyn gets is an extremely dodgy-looking pub.

More about Evelyn on another day, for now I have to do some proper work...

M&S

Blackheath Standard

We've all been waiting for it - and today at 10.00am, Old Dover Road was the fullest I have ever seen as throngs of nosy people like me queued to get in to have a first peek. The local law enforcement services were also out in their droves in case there were any brawls between overexcited old girls with shopping trolleys driven crazy on M&S champagne.

As was to be expected, there was rather more hoo-ha than when the Co-op reopened last week. The celebrations involved PR girls handing out fizzy and tying balloons onto kiddies' prams. They also had hi-tech raffle tickets to win M&S vouchers if you could battle your way to the back of the store to get it checked on an ultra-violet reader. A boom-box blasted out Magic Moments and people milled around doggedly pushing giant shopping carts in a most antisocial fashion.

I naturally wanted to explore every corner of the new store, but had already made the decision not to buy anything today. Part of it was, of course, the vast queues at the checkouts (I don't think they would be a problem on any other day - they seem to have enough) but most of it was that today, of all days, it was important to visit the other shops at the Standard who have been supplying us through thick and thin (mostly thin recently.)

When it boils down to basics, this is a Marks & Spencer store. If you've seen one, frankly, you've seen them all. It's very nice indeed, with dinky boxes of dinky food at rather less dinky prices. The quality is high, and the presentation modern and fresh. It still feels a bit - well - dark inside - a problem of the building as much as anything, but the food is well displayed and appealing. I have always felt I could spend a small fortune on M&S food. There is a small bakery at the back (though don't forget Hirst &Sons) and the usual excellent ready meals.

I am pleased to see a very basic selection of M&S clothes. There is a paucity of clothing stores at the Standard (unless you're into the charity shop look) and the pants, socks, jeans and woollies are a welcome addition. There are also various toiletry items and basic homeware.

The car park is back in action - though do remember that if you stay longer than an hour it will cost you.

I squeezed out through the throngs of customers queueing round the store and visited the other shops which were, understandably, empty. GG Sparkes, Apple and Orange, Pegga Stores. NOW is the time to visit these guys, while we still have them.

Although M&S is going to be pricier than the old Somerfields I'm really hoping that this new store will begin to turn the quality of the Standard around. We have some fine specialist shops there already; hopefully they will enhanced by M&S supplying the rest of our needs and we may even get some lovely new ones. Laziness mustn't be allowed to sneak in - remember, kids - if we don't play with our toys they'll be taken away...

The Mogul

Greenwich Church St


You know I'm beginning to get a little weary of reviewing restaurants in Greenwich. Not because I'm fed up with it or want to stop, but because I'm getting tired of having to describe everything that isn't 'awful' as 'okay.'

The Mogul is, in my humble opinion, yet another ho-hum experience. I've been several times now, always hoping that it might get better and I deliberately saved this review until I'd seen the new decor.

Sadly I didn't get to see downstairs as we absolut