Chu & Cho's

Chu & Cho's restaurant in Charlton Church Lane used to be the best Tapas place that I'd ever been to, and that's saying something. It's still very good, far better than the touristy places in Greenwich or Blackheath, but it's just not what it used to be.

What's happened is that they've started doing Thai food as well. I'm not sure if it's a take-over or some other business type deal but there's new people working there too. I'm fairly sure that the couple that used to run it are still there at weekends, which is pretty much the only time that is used to be open, but in the week there's a different crew there.

The new food isn't the real issue, it's the reduction in the menu of the food that they used to do. In particular the dessert section has been decimated. They used to do a fantastic creamy lemon dessert in a small cup and long doughnut style fingers served with a rich chocolate sauce to dip them in. Not any more. That's a real shame.

I was there the other night with some friends and we had a great meal. Two of us had a couple of beers each and the others had soft drinks and all for a very reasonable £17.50 or so a head. Though that didn't include dessert, for the reasons stated above.

Despite me seeming a bit down on it it's still a fantastic place to eat.

I can really recommend the fried Calamari and the Patatas 3 Salsas which have never disappointed me.

They also have occasional music or poetry evenings when seemingly local people do their thing which makes a great backdrop for a meal. Just ask about the lemon cup dessert and seem disappointed if they're not doing it, maybe it'll return.....

Recycling

I've just had a quick chat with someone from the Recycling team at Greenwich Council.

I had been working under the idea that yoghurt pots couldn't be recycled, I know someone who lived somewhere where they were explicitly told not to put them into their recycling box. Anyway Greenwich can handle them, which is nice to know, I like my yoghurts.

Also I've found out that pretty much anything plastic should also be going in even if it doesn't have the recycling symbol on it.

The rule of thumb seems to be if in doubt clean it out and pop it in.

On the one hand this is great, even less things to throw away. On the downside what with my new neighbours I'm going to have to start taking the recycling with my on my shopping trips when the blue bin's full.

The London Marathon

Well the weather's lovely (for us spectators but not the runners) and it's the London marathon again. I think that it's so great that this happens just at the end of my road. It's a real race of two parts. First come the serious professional athletes, then follow the masses. Anyhow it was really great to watch it. The crowd cheer people along and there's a jazz band playing over the road. If it wasn't for me wanting to get some DIY out of the way today I'd have had a some cold beers outside the Antigallican :)

Anyhow one of those days when I'm really glad and proud to be living here.

Trouble in Charlton...

Many months ago a house near me had it's windows smashed by a group of "lads" throwing bricks and stones at it. Someone told me about it but I only saw the aftermath.

A couple of weeks ago the house was attacked again, a gang of youths as before. The police turned up and there seemed to be a fair bit of activity. I then went away for a couple of weeks. When I get back the house now looks vacant and has metal shutters over it's windows and door.

So what happened?

The property appears to have been targeted twice, it's not just some troublemakers out to smash something up.

On the one hand it made me feel a little unsafe. On the other as I've said it wasn't just general trouble but something very particular.

My eyes are open though.....