MrBen

Whats with the mobile phones playing music out loud on buses. Whats wrong with headphones?! That and the odd gang hanging on a corner telling my girlfriend she has a nice ass when she is walking back alone at night. Those are the only things I object to really. Very laid back about the rest of it (drive bys on Barry Road aside).

Floating Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm in! I'll see you gents down there around > 4:30. Nice one Floating Onion! See you there.

Right gents. Time to get sorted! I have confirmation from Ray the general manager at the EDT that they will be showing the whole Scotland game live at 5pm on Saturday followed by the rest of the Russia vs Israel game when Scotland finishes. So far we appear to have: Sean, Ultraconsultancy, BarryMarshall and of course anyone else most welcome! Ray has reserved a bench for us on the big screen side and I may even bring along MrsBen and explain to her what the rules are. I am nervous. Like Snorky I understand what it means to be a Scotland fan and in these scenarios its often best to jump into bed with your duvet over your head. I can't see us beating the Italians but it promises to be fun if not a wee bit tense and is a great excuse to meet for a pint. Snorky feel free to come and hang around at the back anonymously. I shall be wearing a Kenny Dalglish era adidas tracksuit top with SCOTLAND on the back. Possibly with a little blonde lady. And will be there from 4.30pm See you there?

I walk everywhere. And use the bus. It's not that I am deliberately eco friendly. I just cant drive!

I reckon anyone will be lucky to find a Turkey this Christmas anyway. Tonights Standard "Turkeys to cost ?100 this Christmas". So surely this is the year of the.... er, Goose! There are also a few ducks up in the park that look good eating.

I shall avoid regressing into anti clapham sentiments. But I'm not sure that as a demographic they do bring much diversity to the area to be honest Nicky! ED is still way more diverse and retains real chraracter - something Clapham is lacking now. I do wonder if there is a dark cloning machine in Clapham producing identikit young professionals with similar jobs, educational backgrounds, clothes and aspirations. A kind of sinister breeding ground for PR girls and Accenture consultants. They should do a Doctor Who with Clapham as the centre of all evil as the storyline. Just for a laugh. And have a final showdown in Clapham Foxtons where David Tenant saves the world from the Accenture-bots. But if you want to impress your friends The Rye at NY'rs is a great intro to ED. Followed perhaps by a visit to Cafe Nero and the expensive kitchenware store for a ?90 frying pan just to make them feel at home. See you there perhaps? (at the Rye not the Kitchenware store!)

Ultraconsultancy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hey Ben > > Didn't go see BSP at White Mischeif last weekend > did you? Alas no. Last time I saw them was at the BBC about 2 years ago for a recording of Jules Holland. My all time blues hero Buddy Guy and REM were also on the bill. Quite a diverse evening! BSP were all wearing Tommy helmets with twigs in them and the drummer marched around the studio beating a big bass drum. They rocked.

Sean is spot on. I went to the very first NY's black tie at The Rye in 04/05 and it was great. Lots of nice single girls and full of gay dudes - perfect scenario! Ever since I have tried other options all involving expensive cabs but none can compare to walking down Barry Road in a tux, having a great party and staggering back in just ten minutes. So I am definitely local this year. I hear the EDT has a good bash too. Anyone been to that?

Brendan. Brilliant. I was aged 2 in 1977. But I love what they did to all that sh*t disco / pop that was around at the time and salute them for it. And if Lydon walks with several million then good luck to him as they didnt make anything like that back in the day when they should have done. And Malcom McLaren is reduced to walking out of I'm a Celebrity Tw@t get me out of here. Oh how the mighty have fallen. On a different musical note, Robert Plants new album with folk singer Alison Krauss is really, really good. As is the new British Sea Power EP....our answer to the Arcade Fire!

I have yet to see one Foxtons board with a SOLD sign on it. But to be fair they picked a terrible time to start up in ED. End of the year, post Northern Rock and the market is dead, nobody wants to buy and nobody wants to sell either unless they absolutely have to. There are four properties at my end of the street which have been on for 3 months or more and not sold (not just Foxtons properties). I know people quietly reducing prices in order to sell and that to me says that prices are gently falling for houses and they are fairly stagnant for flats (kept up by the younger incomers). If I was a first time buyer I'd be waiting until at least February to see what the market does. I think it will be dead until then. I'm no estate agent but my advice would be to take the property off the market and stick it back on in the spring with one of ED's more established agents. That 0% offer with it's exclusivity clause doesnt seem quite so good in a dead market when having flexibility of selling options would seem most important. I do sound like an estate agent dont I. I'll shut up then.

Snorky you are a fellow Scot! That explains a lot. You and your dry and pithy commentary! What is Hootenay like? The idea of a Scottish bar in Brixton amuses me for some reason.

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Can non-scot but fellow-celts come and cheer you > on too? Of course! Fellow Celts and understandably jaded England fans welcome. I guess we need to decide a venue -EDT is currently in the lead but perhaps some of you CPT regulars could put a word in and ask if they would show it? I guess the big screen is better in the EDT? I will be quite distraught if the CPT are planning on showing the Russia vs Israel game which kicks off an hour after the Scotland match! As for Allys Army of '78 I can confirm the Tartan Army are back in force having recently had the good fortune of a last minute tour of duty in Paris. The goal was a moment I shall never forget. Followed by total pandemonium and me ending up with my kilt over my head. Love the French commentary on this clip best: We are up against it facing the mighty Italians (who only need a draw) but what a campaign. We can walk away proud regardless of the result. It has been a joy to watch this team.

Any fellow Scots in the hood care to meet up in ED for this Saturdays MASSIVE winner takes all game against the world champions? The EDT say they are showing the game live at 5pm but perhaps the CPT is too? Get enough of us along and they might even turn the sound up! Anyone up for it?! BarryMarshall? We're gonnae deep fry yer pizzas! We're gonnae deep fry yer pizzas!

Raspberry Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Brenda Blethyn > Kate Ford - Corrie > Linda Barker - Changing rooms and DFS > James Nesbitt (on East Dulwich Grove) > Jo Brand > Rod Liddle - Call my Bluff > Michael Cronin - the PE teacher Mr Baxtor - the > orginal Grange Hill cast > Jenny Eclair - by Alleyns > In EDT - Mark Little - Joe Mangel WHO CARES??

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > a 12 year old Laphroig for young Brendan methinks A great choice Sean! Luckily for Brendan it doesnt taste like medecine anymore since they changed to the recipe a few years back to make it more palatable to the Yanks. But gents, if you like them peaty may I recommend to you gents the fine Ardbeg which even at 10 years old is a beast of a dram. Palmerston do it and I think Inside 72 had it once too. The BEAST ...an awesome malt.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > MrBen, just to clarify, Punch Taverns own the CPT, > but they sell the lease to people who then > effectively do what they want with it. It's > current owner made the decision to paint it, and > paid for the patio out front and the > reupholstering for the seats and all that. > Unfortunately, she's just left the place to rot, > and wants rid, so someone else will buy it from > her (there have been a couple of people looking at > it) and then do as they see fit. Punch Taverns > really have nothing to do with the pub other than > to supply the beer. For the record, I know one > interested party was exploring the possibility of > extending out back to build a kitchen. Keef it sounds like Punch own the freehold no? And my point was a commercial one. If they can get more money for their lease next time round (from a new proprietor with ideas) I guess they will. But more importantly, Keef, in your opinion CPT - front or back bit (football nothwithstanding)??

Keef can I say I completely agree that diversity is a good thing. A pub for everyone! But other gentrified areas (thinking claphams Northcote road) just became a sea of generic gastro-bars catering to 20 somethings on the pull. And you think "where do all the people go to drink that dont like these places?" I hate to say it but the chances are that ED is heading that way in future. The CPT is owned by Punch Taverns one of the largest breweries. A pub company that size doesnt really care about keeping a small group of customers happy if it can make more money changing it. They will apply a simple formula to any freehold property i.e. pub takings minus cost to own/run = profit. I reckon that Punch have looked at the CPT and thought its not taking much perhaps ?2-?3k per week but they are happy to leave it as is as long as its covering costs because the value of the freehold on it will have trebled. But once property values level out and start to fall (which they are now finally doing)they may well try to get some more money out of it by changing it, sticking a Thai chef in etc etc. But I think it has a few more years to go before gastrofication as LL is fairly saturated with those bars at the moment and coping with the demand. It would not cost much to just repaint it though! Someone give it a paint job!

mockney piers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "pretentious air about it where people are looking > around more than at the people they are there > with" > > Isn't that just leching rather than pretentious? Yes I suppose you are right. And they were all looking at me!

Whether you like it or not. The Bishop is a very well run establishment and it has transformed Friday/Saturday nights. It also won Mr Ben's Best Place to Pull in ED award (voted for exclusively by me). But it does have a pretentious air about it where people are looking around more than at the people they are there with. And Sunday lunch there is like a competitive sport on a day when I just want everything to be..... eeeeeasy. But great food. For me any place is about the friendliness of people who are in there and atmosphere. I confess I like bars. And I loved Liquorish until all the cool and friendly staff left. Now it feels quite desolate - a real shame as I spent a decent four figure sum in the place (Mr Owner Ashkan if you are reading this please PM me for my views as to how to make it work and get my hard earned cash again). The Rye is an awesome place (check out their Halloween decor this week) with a good basic menu, a great feel and biggest beer garden anywhere in summer. But its in Peckham. So I am with Inside 72 or The Drum (which I have taken a big shine to lately). CPT = nice crowd & down to earth but I cant vote for a place with peeling wall paper, 60's carpets and a once nice frontage destroyed by purple paint! It's a time warp that sadly cannot last long in the changing East Dulwich. Just look at those swanky new flats opposite....

What's it got to do with money? I thought it was all about the size of your penis? Err ...best not start on that one... I usually get less sex drive when I'm in a relationship. But the current one has actually increased it. She is so cute and we are at it like rabbits (got one of those too). But she says I might need sex addiction councilling like Michael Douglas. Actually I'm thinking about her and it now...shit... sorry. er I gotta go now.

> - Why is it not like Scotland where we get salt n > sauce and King Ribs in batter. And Haggis. And > deep fried pizza's. > > If you are used to a scottish chippy they are all > rubbish down here! May I also add "And we have the highest rate of heart disease of any EU country" to that post. But it tastes f***ing great.

Want my honest opinion based on experience? I have had both good and bad fish and chips from Emilys, Sem's (on Underhill) and Sea Cow. I find it depends on: - When the oil was last changed (old oil = stale fried taste) - If it has been sitting on the shelf or cooked fresh - If the fish itself is fresh or frozen (but then defrosted and freshly cooked) Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the Sea Cow use fresh (wet) fish, whereas the others all probably use frozen fish (prob from the same wholesaler) that is then defrosted? That alone would explain why its more expensive. Sea Cow is not trying to be the cheapest just better. I find can't go wrong with Haddock or Cod at the Sea Cow (with fresh lemon to squeeze) but last time I tried the Snapper there they murdered it. It was solid! It doesn't need much cooking. They also seemed to be struggling to meet demand (was very busy) so were cooking in expectation (and keeping it warm) rather than cooking to order. Fish that has been sitting for 1 hour after frying tastes like sh&t. The Sea Cow chips are also not the best. Kind of stale. Other points: - I agree owner of Emilys is a very nice and decent gentleman indeed. He gave me free chips once.He's a cool guy. - Once had the greasiest fish n chips ever from Sem's (liquid fat oozing out) but other times its ok. Kebab shop is better. - If you are on a budget (<?3) jumbo savloys in batter are f&&&ng magic. (Dont think about what bits make the meat) - Why is it not like Scotland where we get salt n sauce and King Ribs in batter. And Haggis. And deep fried pizza's. If you are used to a scottish chippy they are all rubbish down here!

Whats Amy Winehouses favourite tube station? High Barnet

Brendan - you suffer from the same suit in ED problem I do. The answer is to come and "suit bomb" inside 72 tomorrow night. BarryMarshall is also coming. I shall be wearing a single breasted, single vented navy blue mohair number cut beautifully on Saville Row for my 38 inch chest with about an inch showing at the cuff. And a silk tie from Kilgour. See you there. You corporate warrior you.

I went last time (when you were at The Hob Sean) with the gf and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would go again tonight but I've got the flu. Will def go back. Best to sit at the front.