The event of the summer

The Brockley Society has recently announced details of this summer's Hilly Fields midsummer fair - the highlight of BC's summer season, so we're very excited. This year's event will take place on Saturday 21st June, 12-5pm, on Hilly Fields.

It looks set to live up to previous years' festivities with highlights including:

- A steel band, displays of karate and birds of prey, salsa dancing;

- Old-fashioned fun including a tug of war contest, a dog show and a coconut shy;

- Competitions: cake decorating (theme = 'the Olympics'); Vegetable modelling; photography (theme = 'local cafe life'); self portrait (any medium).

- Entertainment including children’s rides, an animal farm, bouncy slide, a rodeo bull and a mini-train.

and let's not forget the vital tea tent and homemade cakes, as well as barbecue, Caribbean and Thai food, popcorn and candy floss for sustainance.





There's been no word yet on whether the Brockley Campervan Society will be turning up, but we greatly hope so ...

The plants and gardening stalls were very good in previous years, and it's also well worth looking out for all the bric-a-brac and second-hand stalls, as brilliant bargains can be picked up.

(Pics from the '06 Fair).

What's the fastest way to Brockley's liver?

After a long period of decline, there are signs that Brockley pub scene is livening up, with two locals developing radically different strategies to win the affections of Brockley's boozers.

First up is the Wickham Arms, which according to an oddly lecherous review in the Pubspy column of the News Shopper, has started employing supermodels as barstaff.

Under the headline "Spy finds staff tastier than pint", the News Shopper's ageing reviewer proceeds to write at length about how fit the barmaids are:

"The barmaid reminded me of a cross between Duffy and Julie Andrews... If I had been 30 years younger I might have engaged her in a longer conversation than "a pint of Pride please.""

The Wickham gets five stars for the staff, but only one for the beer.

The Talbot's new management, on the other hand, plan to tempt you with food. Here's the sample menu which they unveiled at the recent BC drinks:

Starters

Spinach soup, Beetroot puree, Peppercorn Creme Fraiche

Brown Trout and Avocado Tian, Tree pepper Saucxe Vierge

Smoked ham Croquetas, Sage and Almond Pesto

Spaghetti, Garlic and Anchovy Oil and Pine Nuts

Classica Vegetable and Flower Salad, lightly spiced vinegrette

Petit Charcuterie of European Cheese and Meats, Grapefruit and Pickled Jalepenos.

Mains

Pan-fried sea bass, Confit fennel, Balsamic reduction

Baked trout, Tomato fondant, Dill sauted potatoes

Globe artichoke, Hollandaise sauce, Crispy fired leeks

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Rabit and dark chocolate stew, Saffron spiced rice

Free-range chicken breast (roasted), Wild mushroom ketchup, Tarragon

Mash potatoes

Sirloin steak, Beetroot, and Potato Rosti, Seasonal greens, Red wine jus

Desserts

Bread and butter pudding, Cream chocolate and Cranberry Almond tart, Vamilla ice cream

Appleas and Champagne jelly, Pera sorbert

Cheees plate, Quince jelly, Celery, Water biscuits

Bar food and lunch

Seasonal pork pie served with home mad epickles and Chutney

Ploughman's platters

Trout, Horseradish cream, Toast

Mixed platter

So which will win out? Brockley's stomach or its libido?

Thanks to JPM and Anna.

Manners maketh the blog

"You know, I asked him about that. He said, good manners are just a way of showing other people we have respect for them. See, I didn't know that, I thought it was just a way of acting all superior."

- Blast From the Past

Earlier this week, BC recorded its 100,000th visit, which makes this as good a time as any to ask people to use the site considerately.

1. Observe the code of conduct. Here it is - it's pretty simple.
2. Give it a name. 'Lb', 'Drakefell Debaser', 'Fabhat' - these are just some of the 'names' people given themselves, which give away nothing about their true identity. If you feel more comfortable remaining relatively anonymous, by all means make up a name. But please can more of you post under a pseudonym, rather than "anonymous". It makes it very hard to follow conversations and to know whether you're the person I strongly disagree with, or the person I strongly agree with.

Thanks, gang!

Brockley Deep Throat

Brockley Central has been contacted by a reader who wants to seek the advice of the BC community of leaseholders affected by the Council's PFI contract. For reasons that will become clear, we are protecting his / her identity...

"Hi Nick, I got your email address from 'Brockley Central'. I live in a flat in the Conservation Area in a converted Victorian property and am unsure about the Regenter B3 Refurbishment Programme. Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity of attending their 'open meetings' and am wondering if you can start a discussion on the blog.

As a long-time Leaseholder in a large block, 2 flats of which are still Council Tenant occupied and 2 flats Leaseholder occupied, my main question is whether the smart money is on tactfully avoiding responding to the Regenter letters asking me to agree an appointment for a surveyor to visit my property.

I don't think there are any major repairs required and my concern is that Lewisham and Regenter will use the opportunity that there are two Leaseholders in situ to charge significant amounts of money for a share in the 'repairs and refurbishments' they may undertake including new windows, scaffolding, new roof, painting etc. The counter argument of course is that I should contact Regenter to benefit from potentially a discounted refurbishment that will ultimately put value on the property (it is a bit scruffy - council front door, needs a paint job, hallway needing a facelift etc.).

I also assumed that rightfully surely Regenter's priority should be improving low quality social housing in the borough. I am wondering if other readers have any advice.

Timed Collections for Brockley Road

This is actually much more interesting news than the headline might suggest...

Why does the main road through Blackheath Village stay largely dumpster-free, while the pavements of Brockley Road heave with bins?

They both have shops and people living in flats above, who need to dispose of their rubbish.

The difference is that Blackheath Village has timed collections - regular collection of rubbish bags that avoids the need to save it all up for a week on the street.

The good news is that timed collections are coming to Brockley Road.

When we interviewed Cllr Heidi Alexander earlier this week, she revealed that, following very successful trials in Catford, timed collections are being rolled out more widely across the borough (The Forest Hill Society is also keen on timed collections) and that residents of Brockley Road between Cranfield and Harefield Roads will soon be receiving letters telling them how the new scheme will work.

Refuse lorries will arrive at pre-defined times of day, so that residents and businesses can leave their rubbish bags out in time for collection, rather than storing them on the street. Fewer bins, more pavement, a better street.

Combined with the initiative to mask the bins by the Sorting Office, this is an incredibly positive move for Brockley Road and we hope that it will soon be adopted for the entire length of the street.

We'll be publishing the interview with Cllr Alexander shortly.

Brockley Station: Spot the Difference

The keen-eyed among Brockley's commuters might have noticed some subtle changes as a result of the week-long closure of Brockley Station office. Chief among them is the fact that the benches have gone, to be replaced by thin air.

The station managers intend to insert a ticket machine where the benches used to be and install barriers - at which point, the exit on platform 2 will be closed, for maximum inconvenience.

We plan to write more on the station's future soon, but ultimately, the likelihood is that the whole ticket office will be relocated and the station layout remodelled to coincide with the arrival of the East London Line, and the anticipated trebling of passenger numbers between 2007 and 2011.

Brockley MAX Programme Announced

The Brockley MAX starts this weekend. After Moira Tait stepped down from organising Brockley's arts festival, a new team stepped up, to take on the challenge. Without their efforts, the festival could have died, so we owe them a debt of thanks for their hard work. This year, much of the action shifts to Jam Circus and the Brockley Jack Theatre.

We hope to bring you more coverage very soon, but for now, here's what the new organising team say:

Now in its 6th Year, Brockley Max has become an established event in the local community. An opportunity for people to experience the talent and creativity of this part of South East London.

This year we have a fantastic mix of Art, Music, Film, Theatre, Dance, Workshops and more. With most of the events free for all to enjoy!

For more information, and up-to-the-minute listings and line-ups, you can find out more on the Brockley Max website, www.brockleymax.co.uk
Including ways you can take part and make this year’s festival the best to date!

We’d like to thank all of the artists, volunteers, venues and supporters that have chosen to take part this year. Without them, the festival could never take place.