computedshorty

Living localy you sometimes find things that puzzle you. One is; " Where has number 126 Landcroft Road gone?" There is a logical explanation do you know what it is? As this web might be closed for a time this could give you time to find out.

Sunday will be a day for relaxation. The off shore Wind farms have been harnessing the smell of the sea, it had been compressed into bottles that will be released in Lordship Lane and propelled along by a Wind Vane where the locals can smell the Sea Side as they bask in the sun outside their chosen place. At the end of the day the plastic bottles can be taken and added to those on display already dotted around the streets. A warning to the filler of these empty plastic bottles, whilst refilling it must be remembered that these were pressurised so you could get your own back.

There is talk of a Clock being suspended above Goose Green Roundabout. If correct that will show if you are late for your appointment, and what speed you will have to attain to get there in time. It will show how long you still have on your Parking Meter, and where the Trafic Warden is hiding. Where the Parking spaces are available, at Sainsbury's, and near stations, and where the road is temporarily blocked by the Bin Collectors. These will only be available via a Sat Nav.

The letters have been found. But there still remains the question of where has number 126 Landcroft Road gone?

Hi Miriam. I was going to tell you that you lived up the top of Crystal Palace Road, three doors down from Landcroft Road, if you lived in the lower floor you had to use the side entrance, of if you lived upstairs you had to go up the front steps. Do you remember opposite was Bosworths the Builder, and Greenwoods the bakers on the corner of Lordship Lane. The chemist was called Rubbras, and Wises sweet shop. A few doors down from you lived the Watts family and the Wanlass's You must have known the Filkings family top of Landcroft Rd. And of course I was there somewhere too.

Hi Miriam. What were your neighbours names. I remember the Morgans two down from the pub.

More memories When we think back, we mostly think of places or the people who were there then. I have a memory of our family dining room, a large mahogany table with ornamental legs and a insert that was placed in the middle to extend it by two foot, then it measured ten foot by six foot. This enabled dad to sit at the head of the table in his wooden chair with arms, on the left sat we three boys, on the right sat great aunt Alice, and two sisters. Things changed there was the arrival of twins, a girl that sat in the girls side, the boy at the foot with mum, as there was no more room on the boys side, it was handy for mum to feed the baby girl, the baby boy was next to me so I had to keep an eye on him and help him to feed. All of ten of us sat on wooden chairs even mum, that was when she got the food in front of each of us on the table, nobody was allowed to start before she sat down, and nobody left until the last had finished. On the winter days the only heat was from the cast iron Range where on top black soot coated kettles boiled all day, if the front was open then we felt some heat. Above the fireplace was the mantle shelf with a fancy pelmet curtain hanging from it, made of a black material as it soon got soot stained. The pair of Gas brackets were above the mantle shelf, a swan neck pipe with a tap to turn it on then the glass shade, this had to be removed to fit the mantle that when fitted looked like a knitted piece of cloth shaped like a thimble very soft, but when fitted and lighted became very brittle and could easily be broken when lighting it, a lighted wax taper was the best way of getting to it under the glass shade, the light vas very yellow at times it changed to a light green, and hissed and often went out mostly when neighbours lit up their gas. If anybody passed in front of the gas lamps they cast a shadow and left you in the dark. If I could take my place today at that table eight of the seats would now be unoccupied, now just myself and my sister the twin now a elderly lady of seventy three, her twin brother now also diseased, I did get to his funeral last Friday, but after it had finished, that was down to my infirmity, I went into the Crematorium just as the mourners came out, I spoke to the lady vicar and said I had missed the service, she said would I like to see Brian?s coffin, she led me to where it had been, now it was below out of sight, she asked if she could say a prayer, I could hardly answer just said no thank you and came away. Things change as we get older, places alter or get demolished and new building get built, people die and others take their place, this is a gradual process and we do not realise just how much the change is. Memory is a great thing to have, that is if it is accurate, I think mine is pretty near. I wonder what my father would remember if he were here, aged at one hundred and twenty eight?

I wonder if anybody remembers the long row of shops called Trundles? with the large scrolling letters of the name above the shops, it was a Clothing and Millenry store, you could buy anything made of cloth or associated with it. These were nearly facing Ashbourne Grove just where the road bends a bit.

Something I remember was that very little was in any colour, just the red Trams and Buses, and phone boxes and letter post boxes. There was also the Blue Police Phone boxes and the little blue police box on a pole. Every thing was dull with very little street lighting because of the war, then there was the dense fog caused by the house coal fires. There was no need to travel far as all you needed was close by. Lordship Lane had street lights susspended from two posts one each side of the road so that the light was positioned in the middle of the road, these were quite large with a glass shade, we liked watching the men come and incert a handle into the socket and wind the lamp from the center of the road then down to the bottom of the pole to be cleaned. The Trams ran in two recessed grove rails, the third rail was not a rail really it was a slot that the electric Plough Pick collected the electricity up, this moved along hanging down in the slot as the tram moved, I often wondered where the rain went when it ran down the slot. There was a time when one of the boys worked loose an iron rod from the church railings on the corner of Goodrich Road and dropped it down the electric grove, there was an almighty blue flash, the lad did not get eletrocuted thankfully, we did not see any trams for hours, then workmen came and removed the rod. We watched and asked what they were doing very innorcently, I wonder if they ever replaced that rod in the church railings? I remember where it was removed from the second section in Goodrich Road it was the first in that section. That was the most colour I had seen for years. I have just looked on Google maps, it is replaced but looks like the " Flure De Lis " point is distorted.

My mistake Champion Hill is the rear entrance, the front is in Champion Park facing the Denmark Hill station. There used to be a Pub on the corner called the Fox on the Hill, then it got a new name Fox under the Hill. If you can tell me where the horse was kept I might know it, the only place that springs to mind is Whately Road, corner of Ulverscroft Road. The horse would have had its drink from the Granit Stone Metroplitain Horse Trough outside the East Dulwich Hotel. I certainly had my drink form the end where you got your drink, you used a Puter cup on a chain. The dogs could drink from a lower level through.

Salvation Army Memorial at Champion Hill, Your Dad is jusr below the wall.

The Lockharts Shops were adjoining at 137/139 Lordship Lane and on the other side of the road on the facing side but a few blocks up, the Midland Bank was on the corner of Ashbourn Grove. I remember that the shops were painted brown. The question asked was " Lordship Lane in the 1930's " I can tell you that eight years of the 1930's I was in fact there and can remember that I was often taken into the shops there. The rear garden of the bank was alongside Ashbourn Grove, but now not a garden, just used for parking.

Lockharts 137/ 139 Lordship Lane Bank now HSB corner of Ashbourn Grove or two Banks at Barry Road and Lordship Lane Junction.

Dear Taxi Driver. If I can be of assistance to you, if you are having peoblems with getting to a urinal. Do you know that there is an answer to your frustration. I have just invented, and it is up for Copyrite, The Shorty Travelling Urinal. A hole one inch in diameter is drilled in the car floor between the legs of the driver, a short hose is fitted to a very large funnel, this would facilitate if you are being caught short. It is recommended to be used whilst stationary parked over or near a drain. Should the occasion be very urgent, it could be used while on the move, hopefully with no passengers aboard. There is not a likelihood of being detected as the water that is spilling under the car, could easily be thought to be from the cars radiator. No plastic bottles. No chance of being caught placing them on display. Should you wish me to fit one for you ( Free of charge ) Send personal Message. This apparatus has been tried and tested attached to a Zimmer frame.

Hi Wardy. I have read your memories of your school days they certainly bring back memories for me. I went to Heber Road school from 1939, so our generations overlap. The names that you mention Freddy Stains, Cornwall lived in the shop, Able the one I knew became a Copper, Dons sweet shop one step down as you entered. The Greengrocers up Crystal Palace Road was called Stalards, you talk of Paraffin oil, the shop on the corner of Goodrich was the called an Oil Shop, where you bought Paraffin oil poured into your own tin or jug, they also sold candles, matches, and carbide crystals for your bicycle lamp, I am told that they sold Petrol in the early days of motoring. The School Keeper that lived in the small house in the Infants playground was Mr Roberts. The other side of the Heber Arms was a builders with their yard at the back. The Heber had a large Beer Garden reaching out into Jennings Road, next to that in Jennings Road was a open space that they built a brick Air Raid Shelter, then Mitchell?s the Builders had a Yard where they kept building material, then a block of lock up garages. I recollect that one of the lads in Rodwell road was nicknamed Gongee was living in one of the houses with the erie. We lived in Lordship Lane, so we might have had the same Doctor on the corner of Townley Road. I have just found a picture of us on the corner of Goodrich & Cryatal Palace Roads, on our home made bikes.

The Dulwich Library had two Public Air Raid Shelters in the gardens, one in the far corner near the adjoing church, the other was facing Vals Greengrocers in Lordship Lane, when the war finnished this shelter was changed to a Public Toilet, later a new toilet block was built to the side of the Library in Eyenella Road, then the toilets became a wing of the Library. My father was an Air Raid Warden based in the Library.

I got a Solicitor to draw up my Will, naming him by name and my sister as Executors, I have found out that he has also died and my sister would not be able to act for me, she will now be my beneficiary, So I will have to sort it out. I have already arranged my own Funeral and paid for it, so that is sorted. It all seems pointless as there will be nothing left. My advice is if you are young make one yourself for the timebeing, things change too often.

There are things that happen that are completely out of my hands, and I am unable to change them. Yesterday I had a phone call from my younger sister age 73, living in Eastbourne, she is housebound after accident. Sheila told me that our brother Brian had died that afternoon, she will of course not be able to attend her twin brothers Funeral. In my mind that is the most tragic thing that could happen. In the past circumstances have prevented, us from attending three of our siblings funerals. Our older sister Edith aged 78 died in Spain, we were unable to get a flight in time. Our next older sister Doreen aged 83 died in Burnley Lanc?s, we were not able to go because of our own infirmity. My oldest brother William aged 69 died in the Philippines, the climate meant that the Funeral had to be done immediately. We were able to attend our next older brother Kenneth aged 61 Funeral as it was at Elmer?s End, coincidently the same Crematorium as will be for Brian. Aged 73. For me these times are traumatic enough, with out the extra difficulties. I still have the memory of driving my car to the Crematorium for the Funeral of my father William aged 80, back in 1965 the car broke down outside One Tree Hill, and we had to ran through the Cemetery to the Crematorium just in time to see the coffin disappear from view. A memory that had haunted me for 47 years. I do hope that I can get there for Brian, but I am presently being cared for 50 miles away.

I wrote this some time back when it was possible to drive around inside Dulwich Park but it had a speed limit. I wonder how many older people are now no loner able to get there for a visit? Have you ever given a thought to the day you will be prevented from going there because of your age? A visit to the park. When invited, I took the opportunity of a lift up to the Park, the sky was overcast and heavy cloud made it almost dark. I like to just sit here, watching all those people who pass, I had to laugh when a kid slid and tripped on the frozen grass. The chilly breeze is penetrating I had a tot of my Jack Daniel?s, here comes that thoughtless dog owner of that pair of Spaniel?s. I offer him a plastic bag, because you know what dogs will do, what the unpleasant, ungrateful man said, was not got to Timbuktu. A playful child grabbed my walking frame and ran across the Park, his mother soon brought it back, and said he only did it for a lark. An athlete in shorts & vest running around the track, must be for a bet, his exhaling breath looks like steam, and his cold skin is bright scarlet. Its not far for me to walk over the stream spanned by the bridge, I am getting really cold now, I feel how it must feel in the fridge. The water is frozen over, although not thick enough to skate. what memories of old times, when we did skate upon this lake. The snow is falling and its lying, I?m leaving my prints in a line, the four small impressions my frame made so I know they are mine. My lift has returned as he promised, to take me back to my door, he refused my offer to pay him, he must think that I am poor. Home now, warming in front of the roaring fire, that?s better, ah the postman?s come, so I will just go and get the letter. There?s several cards, it?s good to hear from them at this time, some have a picture of Santa, most have a few words of rhyme. Are you staying at home for Christmas Dinner? I sent some vouchers, I am, but I have arranged for the mother in-law to got to the Vultures'. I borrowed a stocking to hang for Santa to fill, made sure it was size XXL, She said I did not have time to wash it! I said never mind the smell! I tried to put some decoration, high up there above on the ceiling, afraid I fell down twice, now my knee cap scars are bleeding. I went to bed early last night, wondering what present will be best. sometimes the less costly one will even if it cost the least. I looked at myself in the mirror just before going in to my bed, looking old now a bit wrinkly, and not a single hair on my head. I know now why those people that I passed by cheered, it?s so long since I shaved I have grown a long white beard. by Computed Shorty Friend of Longfellow.

Thank you Tom. I can find the position spoken about, I pasted a picture of the Obsevatory in the grounds of Bessemer Lodge ( the Iron Manufacturer ) that was there before the area was built on, one of my sisters lived in Dylways backing onto the place spoken about. lower down I played there many years ago there was a Grotto with caves and a large pond. In the picture there is a Notice Board I think this is the place.

Hi Tom. So Greendale Gardens SE22. Does not exist then. You could have been more spacific by saying Greendale Fields is the place that is being spoken about. I am sure that this project could come into being , but it is certain that you need help in your task.

Green Dale is as far as I know is a road and Rights of Way are in place. How do you think you can take or lease a thoroughfare. Where is Greendale Gardens SE22 that is available?

Have you put a name on her collar with her Name, Address, Phone number etc, this is helpful as anyone finding her can phone you then and there, and if only next door might bring her back.

Have you thought of Recording this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU

Go to Sorting Office ask to speak with the Manager. Explain your situation, take proof of your true identity. State that you suspect that the contents might be harmful to you, or indeed any other person in the Sorting Offie if not collected. Ask him to decide about it. He has the choice of calling the Bomb Squad or the Police, or sending it back to sender, or giving it to you. If I were the Manager I would give it to you if you sign for it, on condition you removed it from the Sorting Office before opening it. I think that the latter would be less disruptive to the Sorting Office.