Coming around again

Hello stranger! Been ages since we chatted. How have you been?

It has been a long time since I posted on this site - almost 8 years to be precise. Of course, being that precise is depressing.

I've been babbling on about wine and family since I stopped writing here, and it rather took over.

However, I'm still in SE23, still love the area, still walk, and still have ideas for sharing news and views on this little corner of London.

I've been mulling over some possible ways of reviving this blog. The first task was to rejuvenate the look and feel a little, so all those posts from 2007 and 2008 are a bit more readable. It is amazing to think what has, and has not, changed in terms of blogging in that time. I gave the pages a fresher feel and will go through them to make sure links work (more or less) - but let me know if you find anything broken.

The new site will really need a mission, however, and I've got a few ideas, and the good news is that they will probably involve YOU, and not just me.

In the interim, I'm also helping to kickstart a brand new community site for SE23 residents with some fellow enthusiasts. If you fancy joining in, come to the new SE23 forum called SE23.LIFE to check it out and say hello.

I have a feeling that these two endeavours will become inextricably linked, all being well, and look forward to moving forward with them both.

Good to be back :)

Forest Hill & Sydenham up in flames

Well, maybe not that dramatic, but it was quite a scene.



I woke up to a normal day, but apparently the fire had already started (just before 8 I believe) and the smoke was already rising.

Then, just before 9 the electricity went off. I spotted the black cloud and thought maybe some evangelical swimmers may have been looking to bring forward the demolition of the Forest Hill Pools.

I set off with my camera to investigate and found that the local electricity sub-station was in flames (or at least some oil fired generators next door) [story on the BBC]. Here they are on Google Maps:


View Larger Map

So, I took a few photos for the record.



[Click here for the full set of photos on Flickr]

Now, it seems that the record will be more complete thanks to these photos as they will probably be used in the South London Press and Mercury Newspapers. In fact, one is already on their website.

Quite a day, and that was BEFORE I went off to visit the Devonshire Road Nature Reserve and Forest Hill Day at the Horniman Museum gardens!

Forest Hill Events

In case you have not read about it on other sites or blogs, this is a quick reminder (for those who have yet to get around to removing this site from their feed readers) that this weekend June 8th, 2008 is Forest Hill Day.

There is no site to point you to (disappointingly), but it is to be held from 12:00 to 17:00 at the Horniman Gardens this Sunday.

At the same time, the Devonshire Road Nature Reserve is also holding an Open Day from 12:00 to 18:00 (they have a great new blog at least, well done!)

I'll do my best to be there, I hope you will too.

Lots of fun for the whole family I'm sure.

"... a failure to communicate"

Oops!

I was responding to a comment elsewhere on this blog about reservoirs and I tried to find a post I had written on the subject on this site. It related to the Beechcroft Reservoir just across from the SE23 border that happens to include a 9 hole golf course on top of it (!) for the Aquarius Golf Club, but I couldn't locate it.

I was sure I had written it as it was a feature of my very last walk and I even had a photo to go with it.

Having searched the site for a few minutes I found the post, half-written in this site's draft folder (from January).

I apologise unreservedly and will make sure I get that post finished and online as soon as possible, if only for posterity, and to resolve the issue of differentiating between the Beechcroft reservoir and the abandoned (?) Honor Oak Reservoir.

Seven Songs

So what do I do? I normally bin ANY chain mail letter or email within seconds, no matter who it comes from. I really do not care if by doing so I am incurring the wrath of alien beings that will eat my liver (it is nicely marinated) or seven plagues will be visited upon my life (Ha! I have Boris Johnson as Mayor, I only have 6 left to try and deal with!)

However, I was 'tagged' by Max for Seven Songs and I had already been interested by Andrew's original reply, so what the hell!

This is nothing more than a list of 7 songs I like at the moment, some of which have only been played once on Last.fm (great idea and way to find new artists). Take it, or leave it, I don't mind, but it is an excuse to show I am still around and checking out this blog. In fact I have some other posts that should go up, so will probably try and get them up soon too.

So, the rules:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

Imogen Heap - Headlock
I first discovered Imogen's music through last.fm and getting to know her style has opened up lots of new avenues for me. I personally find her style totally involving and I am in awe of her skills (she does a lot more than just sing, check out the performances on video). Imogen, I'd love to meet you one day!

Jem - Come on Closer
I believe I must have hear Jem's voice before, but it has re-appeared on my radar only fairly recently. This particular song gets me going and I feel happy every time it happens to play. I actually now start my radio with "Artists like Jem"

Dr. Hook - Everyone's making it big but me
I grew up with these guys. This video is from the Old Grey Whistle Test, but please bear with the intro and listen to the words. 70's country/hippy/rock was great! What happened to them? I can probably guess.

eberg - Love your bum
Inventive, creative, funny and poignant. An entire song written from lyrics taken from the packets of toilet paper. Genius! (you'll need to select the song from his MySpace page as I can't seem to link directly to it)

The Muppetts - Mahna Mahna
I happened to look up a particular Kermit song I wanted to quote the other day, and it led me on a path of discovery, including this song (and my daughter's favourite, the later version with Sandra Bullock). Oh, the things that shaped our childhood!

Camille Saint-Saens - Aquarium
I love this piece. I could have included lots more Classical music, but there is something magical as well as romantic about this. Can I admit, I used to have it as my ringtone, and would still if I could sort it out?

Kate Havnevik - New Day
A very recent last.fm discovery and one I will most certainly look out for more in future.

Now, as for tagging, I am at a little bit of a loss as I actually hope/expect anyone I tag (because I like to see a job through) to bin this request, or not be able to do anything about it, but what the hell! So, over to you, your consciences and your to-do list:

Gabriella, Adrian, Alisa, Gareth, Alastair, Sue, and Ploop

Snow

Everyone else is posting about it, so I thought I'd add a few links too:

Done Walking

The target was met, the map was folded and filed and the photos are all online. What is left to do?

I had thought I might start another related blog looking at Forest Hill past & present, but to be honest, I do not have the time. With an expanding family, the business and a growing focus on my wine blog, I don't think I could do justice to another Forest Hill blog.

So, I admit it, I am bowing out. Of course, the content needs to stay up, that is one of the great things about blogs - loads of seemingly unrelated content on every topic imaginable, that one day will be a researcher's greatest find.

I will therefore be keeping this site live, and possibly even posting Forest Hill related photos and thoughts from time to time, but I will admit to you openly now that these will be few and far between.

If you are interested in Forest Hill, there are two things you should do straight away:

1. Join the Forest Hill Society

2. Sign up on SE23.com (and say Hi! to me there: my alias is RobWinton)

and in the best Monty Python-esqe Spanish Inquisition manner

3. Shop Local - and support local businesses.

Thanks for following my treks and hopefully we can stay in touch via this site or either of the sites above.