Going Against The Flow

Greenwich Council's official line about the suspension of the Tidal Flow lane in the Blackwall Tunnel until two days before it happened.

The fantastic Greenwich Watch web site have claimed that the council were in fact told about it in January. Keeping quiet about it would be bad enough but they also appear to have lied about it, which is appalling.

News Shopper have now also picked up on the story and are saying that they've seen documentary proof that TfL did indeed inform the Council in January as Greenwich Watch had claimed.

It would be easy for me to stick my head in the sand over this, I don't drive to work so in theory it doesn't affect me. However not only do the Council deserve to be called out over this but it may very be a part of a far bigger issue which does affect me, the apparent plans to introduce congestion charging in the area.

Anyhow please read the following links.
Greenwich Watch's Original Post
News Shopper's Story

Cho & Cho's, The Return

I returned to Chu & Cho's the other day, it's so local that it's very tempting. I was also curious to see if the original staff were still there at the weekend as I thought they might be. Well the answer appears to be no, which is a shame.

I did try the Thai meatballs which were OK, other far nicer things on the menu. They didn't have a whole lot of texture to them, maybe that's the point, but they didn't really float my boat. The sauce wasn't very flavoursome either. All told, a bit of a let down but not bad.

They did have a music evening planned for yesterday evening which was nice to see, at least that's continuing.

They also now server Tiger and Singha beer, which I guess was an obvious move.

A quick further thought on the dessert menu, it's now very akin to what you'd get in a Thai restaurant. I think there was fruit, a sweet rice dish and profiteroles. Thankfully I was once again too full to want anything further but it's a shame to know that my old favourites are now gone forever.....

National Tyres and Autocare Greenwich

I had to replace the rear tyres on my car the other day. Although it had a service coming up I had to go on a long drive and I'd been told a while ago that they were nearing the end of their life. Therefore I thought it best to take no chances and get the job done.

A quick internet search threw up National Tyres and Autocare (http://www.national.co.uk/) at 157 Greenwich High Road. Not knowing much about cars the idea that they were a national chain seemed like a safe bet so off I went.

The service wasn't that great at all. The guy behind the counter was nice enough but they just seemed rushed off of their feet. I was told that it would take about 40 minutes to do so I said I'd take myself off for a stroll, to the Markets I went. When I got back the job hadn't been done, I don't think it had even been started. I sat there for about another half an hour while they did it.

If they'd have said "we're dead busy, it'll take an hour and a quarter" I'd have been quite content, more time to stroll around Greenwich which I always enjoy. Being told it would take a certain time and arriving back to find it hadn't been begun was a bit of a blow. Was it just me being there that made them pull there finger out and get it done? If I'd have sat there all the while would I have been done quicker?

Some woman came in who had it far worse than I. She'd been in a few weeks ago and some technical sounding part for her car had to be ordered. She said she had had a phonecall to tell her that it was in so she drove in to have it fitted. The guy said that it wasn't in stock and simply said he couldn't explain why it wasn't there. Eventually he offered two suggestions. One was that they only hold non stock items (such as this part) for a certain amount of time before it's sent back to the stores. Also the guy who phoned her no longer worked for the company, allegedly.

The price for me for two new tyres was £73 which I thought was pretty reasonable. Looking at the receipt it includes £10 for the "National Tyre Guarantee" with no explanation of what that is. Yes I should have asked at the time, I know..... I might give them a call and ask what it's all about.

So would I go back?

Well they weren't bad but I'd try for a weekday when they're not so snowed under with work.

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.....