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Hi there Can anyone recommend a local company that does garage doors... we need to replace our small door with something more secure. I hate pushy sales staff from large companies... would much prefer dealing with a straight up local specialist. Any ideas?

For anyone who likes top quality big band music, the band at Sundridge Park Working Men's Club (a very good music venue, a large room with good acoustics) that plays the first Monday of every month (ie 3rd of June) is worth a spin. ?6 entry, 8.30-10.45pm. The music is not Glen Miller stuff but more up to date and interesting in the main; plenty of swing and good arrangements including one or two by local musicians. Come along if free. 134 Burnt Ash Ln, Bromley BR1 5AF

Great, glad you enjoyed it. In same area but actually even nicer I can recommend the Fackenden Down walk that starts from Shoreham Station; it's a similar length but takes you up into the hills east of the main valley which are so peaceful and rural. It's at https://localkentwalks.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3176&action=edit

Just a reminder of this website promoting shortish walks in places like Shoreham, Downe and further afield at Hever and Chiddingstone. The Shoreham routes are directly on the train line from Peckham Rye (about 45 mins) if you don't have or want to use a car, but check the trains are running. Here's the site https://kentwalksnearlondon.com/ The walks are all listed at the top.

I think the best route would be to cycle through St Mary Cray then Cockmannings Lane, Skibbs Lane then Maypole Rd. En route to St Mary Cray you could use the backroute of Lubbock Rd and Old Hill at Chislehurst, the bridleway (if you have a mountain bike or hybrid, def not for road bikes) through the woods of Petts Wood (very nice), emerge at Marlings Park and then backstreets to St Mary Cray.

Just me again and my damn walks. Mostly around Darent Valley (Shoreham/Sevenoaks etc) just 45 mins' drive from, say, Brockley, or a 40-min train journey from Nunhead/Peckham Rye. A great shout for Boxing Day, the weekend or New Year's Day. https://kentwalksnearlondon.com/

Been a real spate lately. My black Scott hybrid (extra large frame) went from Catford station last week (I know, I know). I went straight to Gumtree and immediately got into a peculiar conversation with a very dodgy bloke who kept trying to Facetime me. He had a Scott hybrid for sale (and several other bikes, such as 'Doors' (sic, Dawes!)) but it was orange. I wondered if the pix they put up of the bike purportedly for sale are not of the actual bike.

Jenny1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A fair and clear assessment. > > I'm old enough to remember the 1970s, when our > status as 'The sick man of Europe' forced us to go > 'cap in hand to the IMF'. It was famously the time > of the 'brain drain'. That's already started > again. Without a dramatic change of course, it's > very clear what our destination is now going to > be. And my honest assessment is that there's > no-one on the political stage with the vision, > leverage and courage to change that. I hope I'm > proved wrong. > > I agree that this is a key, and worrying, point. > > Loz Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > The political centre has been > > abandoned, and that is never a good sign. In a > > country like Great Britain, that for so long had > a > > reputation for pragmatism and rationality, it > is > > grounds for real concern. Interesting comments. But this current divisiveness is not so black and white. I know Labour voters who (though they don't like admitting it) agree with Mogg and co on Brexit. I know dyed in the wool Tories who are aghast at the prospect of leaving the EU (the trade bloc that helps us - as Brexiters, without irony, remind us ? be the 6th largest economy in Europe). Essentially, the problem is that far too many of us Brits have allowed opinion to overwhelm fact, have not learned their history (some of the second world war justifications are so so clueless), appear unable to cooly analyse our situation, have not listened to independent voices but have chosen prejudiced ill-informed rabble rousers. It's happened before and it'll happen again. It's stupid. But I still hope that the Centre can be revitalised and made more attractive - it's no coincidence that this is all happening at a time when we look a bold, charismatic centrist politician who has a vision of the future. Find that person and we can put this right.

Thank you all for thanking me! Much appreciated.

Hi Malumbu Cowden Pound pub is great... though a bit out of the way of my walks I think (near Hever though...). Really like the Castle Inn at Chiddingstone that serves Larkins, although can be touristy. To be honest, if I'm thirsty not too bothered.

Hi there, once again apologies to ppl bored with me posting these. But here are some great country walks - ideal for kids and adults - in Kent but not far into the green belt mostly. Many are doable by direct train services from Peckham/Nunhead etc. Please take a look: https://kentwalksnearlondon.com/

Chiddingstone walk yesterday... great views, and clouds https://kentwalksnearlondon.com/walk-10-chiddingstonepenshurst-circular-4-5-miles/

Here's a nice walk for anybody who fancies walking in verdant Kent this afternoon - just 50 mins by car or train from East Dulwich (train from Nunhead unless there's engineering, or change at Bromley South). https://kentwalksnearlondon.com/walk-16-shoreham-circular-mk2-3-5-miles/

Sorry to all those who've seen this before... there are several new walks added to this site now since I last put it up here. The walks are mostly within 45 mins train/drive from East Dulwich/Sydenham, plus a couple (Hever/Chiddingstone) about an hour's drive away. All lovely with excellent pubs attached https://kentwalksnearlondon.com/

Thanks for you kind words everyone. Please enjoy and don't get lost!

I put this free website together primarily to help people without a lot of knowledge of the countryside close to SE London to get out and enjoy country walks. I've included train info and practical stuff - pubs and the like. Apologies to those who've seen this before... https://localkentwalks.com/

Ideal for garden parties, street festivals and the like. Top top quality players. [email protected]

Here's one from Hever from June last year...

Lots of lush walks around Shoreham, Downe, Sevenoaks... mostly accessible by train from Peckham/Nunhead/Penge East etc https://localkentwalks.com/

Also steel pan groups from this site

Duos, trios, full bands. Mainly jazz and soul/funk and big band. Local. Very good! https://livejazzsoutheast.com/

Hi there. I'm a sax player who's played 1000s of gigs all over the place. Just want to put forward my services as a live music provider for parties, from small affairs in private houses to large corporate dos. Jazz to soul to calypso... plus classical groups available too. https://livejazzsoutheast.com

whoops, forgot the link to the walks https://localkentwalks.com/

Some of the very best bluebells just now are above Shoreham, on the top of the western rim of the valley at Meenfield woods. Some pix

Hi Sue Sorry for late reply. Really glad you enjoyed the walk - I like hearing that (as opposed to 'we got lost and it rained'). Interestingly, Samuel Palmer apparently spent most of the time in a hovel that's no longer around. The Palmer house was his dad's I think, but Sam wanted to stay close to the rural people and share their way of life.