The Landscape of Murder

The Landscape of Murder – a very dark blog, photographing and recording murders around London. This post deals with the murder of Gagandip Singh in Blackheath in 2011.

Brake Bikes

I’m no expert on bikes, but have to say that the eye-catching Brake Bikes make a nice addition to Blackheath’s high street. The business model is interesting – a kind of “pop-up shop” appearing outside various shops on the street – I’ve seen them at the hairdressers next to Strada, and Raffles the clothes shop. Wondering if a bike shop could be the next addition to the high street? Never ridden a “fixie” myself, unless you count a BMX (many years ago).
UPDATE: They’re not fixies. See the comments. Told you I don’t know about bikes :)

Eliot pits – playground proposed

There’s a plan afoot to build a playground on Eliot Pits. (Eliot Pits is not a kid that went to the same school as you). It’s that really picturesque valley from where you can look down across the whole of London, on the edge of the Heath. It’s also been left relatively unchanged and wild for centuries.

The funding has come from a strange place. Boris has proposed a quite sensible idea to increase the number of “pocket parks” in urban areas, so that more people can enjoy green spaces. Which is a great idea! The problem is that this is already a green space, and it is being seen by some as a way to sneak development into this area by the back door.

A website opposed to the proposals has been created.

There’s a petition to stop building on the site.

And a campaign leaflet.

It seems like this should be a core issue for the Blackheath Society over the next few months…

We’re looking for a home on the heath

Telegraph article today.
I’m sure you are, and for £3.25m who wouldn’t…

Anyway, here’s a Google Street View Hyperlapse of Blackheath for your viewing pleasure. A few weird frames in the middle with white dots on, very odd…

Based on this project – check out their much more impressive video at the bottom of the page.

Revamped Hare and Billet

Notes on the rejigged Hare and Billet pub:

Bonobo beer – dark ale nutty almost burnt
Adnams – as you’d expect
India pale ale – nice
Oakham ales – Scarlet Macaw – didn’t try it looked interesting though..
Weasel Beer – likewise
Hare and billet bitter – as they had before

£9.10 for an Orchard Cider, a pint of Adnams, and a packet of pipers salt & vinegar crisps seems more than it used to be.

The free wifi is good, and actually works, which is more than can be said for many other local pubs. It’s run by The Cloud & Greene King.

The pub is still dog-friendly. Almost too dog friendly. Maybe just ban the small yappy-type dogs.

There’s music on but it’s not loud or annoying.

The pub smells better than it used to. It’s never honked like the bloody Railway, but definitely better now the loos are upstairs.

Speaking of the loos, there is now a massive empty (as of 5.30pm on a Saturday) restaurant area where the loos and kitchen used to be. I wish pubs wouldn’t differentiate between drinking and eating. Ten empty tables, with everyone else huddled at the front drinking.

All in all though, it’s a good revamp I think.

Probably the best cheese shop in the world

Oxfam are holding a charity Cheese & Wine evening this Wednesday.  The cheese is from Neal’s Yard Dairy, which is certainly the most amazing cheese shop I’ve ever been into.  It’s in Covent Garden, full of free samples of delicious unusual cheeses, served up by enthusiastic people who know what they’re talking about.

Anyway, back to the story.  The wines are from the local Everyday Wines, which used to be “Nicholas” (a much better name for a wine shop!).  The tickets are £10 and when I looked there were only seven left.  So snap them up!

Photo above is of Neal’s Yard cheeses, by Mermaid99 on Flickr.  (Not the actual cheeses being presented, your mileage may vary, etc, etc).

Snowy Blackheath

TOMATO SNOW MAN. YUM.

No expense spared for Blackheath snowmen (eyes made of 2p pieces)

People braving the heath

Looking down into the village, from the Conservatoire

Grit everywhere!

Lovely snowy trees overlooking the railway

Blackheath shops all open for business in the snow

More snowy village shots

The church on the heath in the snow

Snowy heath

Shops and church in the snow

More snow

Guess what? Even more snow on the heath

The church. It’s either very cold in there, or they have excellent roof insulation.

Snow. Heath. Etc.

Snowy shops.

It’s extremely snowy in Blackheath! But something is very wrong. All the trains appear to be running on time, and there is grit on several pavement corners. I have no idea why or how this has happened, but this oversight should not go unpunished.

Every year I dream of building a massive network of igloos across the heath, strung together with little ice tunnels. It never happens, but last year I managed to build an igloo (not in Blackeath). It’s not as hard as it looks, so long as you have lots of help, and some big plastic crates from a Pound Shop to compact the snow bricks. Try it and let me know where your Blackheath Igloo is!

Shepherd’s food of the week

Five chocolate sardines on sale in Shepherd’s Food. For the bargain price of £9.95.

Blackheath Christmas lights switching on today

At 4.30pm today the Blackheath Lights will be switched on.  Nick Ferrari, the quietly-spoken socialist will be doing the honours.  Shops are staying open later, The Samaritans are carol singing, and the Salvation Army will be playing from 3pm.

Before and after image from the lights switch-on back in 2008, when I had more time to write this blog (apologies for the lack of updates lately- work is busy).

Linden cordial at farmers market

Very nice new (to me) addition at the farmers market – Linden Cordial. As well as the Sea Buckthorn fizz that I re-tweeted yesterday, the linden cordial is also lovely. Going to experiment with some gin too, which according to this recipe should work well! £4.50 a bottle, but a little goes a long way.

Photo from their website.