Nigello

Booze

I went in the other day, on a whim, having seen that the "monologue" barber wasn't there. But he was, and stepped out from behind the internal door just as I was being shown where to sit by another. His chat was not sweary, not offensive or even that dull, but on the loud side and with plenty of asides to the others. A mum and child were dealt with kindly and warmly and the cut was 7/10 but when I paid and didn't tip the chat was dispensed with immediately and I didn't even get a goodbye or thank you. It's a good looking shop that has helped revive that parade so I hope it won't go but I can see why it may need a, ahem, "more customer-focused attitude".

Go for an early breakfast (with cocktails) at Russ and Daughter's, a great, Jewish deli/diner. It gets busy, so book or turn up twenty minutes or so before opening. (The fizzy seltzer water is free, BTW.) http://www.russanddaughterscafe.com/ Definitely walk over Brooklyn Bridge and treat yourself to a Shake Shack burger on the Brooklyn side. The High Line has been written about a lot but it is worth a visit. Start at the midtown end and walk back to end up at the Meatpacking District where you can find the Whitney museum of US art (and lots of boutiques and restaurants). Posh and good is Rive Cafe, again near to the Brooklyn end of the bridge and right next to a water taxi pier (and to a Metro station - York St). http://therivercafe.com/ Walk a lot, get a Metro card with added value so you can hop onto the Subway trains and/or buses and generally soak it all up. A pre-booked ferry ride to Liberty adn Ellis Island is worth doing, especially the latter.

TfL Bus Alerts TfL Bus Alerts‏ @TfLBusAlerts We've increased the frequency of route 363. On Sundays and weekday/weekend evenings buses will run every 12minute https://twitter.com/TfLBusAlerts/status/797861593791037444 - 363 increased frequency at the weekend

sitting opposite a woman on the bus and she proceeded to take a very large corn on the cob out of her bag and gnash her way through it from end to end, without a care in the world, dropping bits all over herself and the bus floor. I watched in amazement longing for my supper. People who see such behaviour and do 0 about it.

Speaking of footpaths - how about an update on the cracked and ponding pavements along LL? There are plenty of them, especially on stretch opposite the cinema, and not al of it is due to the reticence of business owners to fix the bits that belong to them: most of the ponding is in the public areas, where the flagstones have broken and/or been poorly installed.

It is good but I can see why it can be off-putting, even a tad intimidating, especially when it is dark. It is great on Bonfire Night/NYE and during the dog days of summer, and when you just want to get away from it all, but there is room for improvement so long as it is not sanitised.

People are very good at discounting what they don't want to acknowledge or accept, so it is possible, even likely, that voters were willing to suspend their disbelief at his more egregious beliefs and policies, thereby allowing themselves to vote for him. Just heard an articulate, sane, 30-something mum in Virginia who works as an estage agent, saying she is perfectly capable of making up her mind and saying she voted for him because the US needs to be better run, like a business, by a non-career politician. Then again, I also just that the KKK is holding some kind of vitory rally......

People could always walk more. It's cheap, easy and you are always in control. I applaud the move towards leccy vehicles, but congestion - even "clean" congestion - is a pain. Really, just walk more - and encourage your kids to do it as well!

A radio on in the background is OK, but a big screen (as are appearing in some curry houses and barbers) are naff. The lovely restaurant near to W Dulwich station was spoiled by its big screen. I asked for it to be turned off (there were a handful of other diners, all equally irritate if the encouraging looks I got means anything) and then never went back. You can tune out the wireless, more or less, but it is very hard to unwire your lizard brain so as it doesn't react to bright, moving things just above your eye level.

A similar sized wall on Goodrich wall came crashing down with considerable force a few months ago. Had someone been next to it they would have likely been injured.

Tears

Does anyone know if the station building will be renovated as part of this development? Yes, let's hope it is done with as much style, safety and commuter-friendliness in mind as Denmark Hill.

Psycho Killer - Talking Heads Sunglasses After Dark - The Cramps (and lots of other stuff by them) Thriller - M Jackson Planet Claire - The B-52's (not particularly ghost/monster related, but taps into that early '60s "Twilight Zone" sound and mood)

Rummage in the drawers to see if there is any address there then report them! It works.

Remember that with the new "hopper" facility, you can get off one bus and get on another within an hour of first boarding so you won't be out of pocket. (I am hoping this hopper thing will mean less cramped buses at rush hour as it gives people more options.)

Any of him on a bus? I *think* his dad was a bus driver......

I am thinking about it. A lot. So much so, I've decided to depict it via the medium of tapestry.

Does anyone know where I can get (good) parkin from? I will take either Lanx or York versions. Does Greggs down here do it down here? I am going to make some myself, but it is pretty hard to get the right stickiness and crumb, so need to have a back up. Also, where is the best place to get treacle toffee (soft and hard) in and around SE22? Thanks.

Being spat at is degrading, potentially dangerous to one's health and punishable by law, so please report it.

I think if it did something really well that was not available elsewhere nearby (a fantastic hot chocolate; the best donuts; bubble tea) it would get much more attention.

Re pavemnens, please see emails and photos of bad ponding in and around Lordship Lane after the rain.

Petitou on Choumert Road is good, and you can sit outside, but you may not be able to book. It does good and wholesome food, with lovely cakes and teas/coffees.

The barbershop next to Mr Bao is doing half-price cuts (so, ?7) until 15/10. Two men were handing out leaflets this afternoon. It looks good inside and out, so good luck to them.

What actually defines a nuisance, though? If someone has emphysema or another lung condition which deteriorates after having inhaled smoke from a chimney fire, is that enough? I think it's basic good manners - in a crowded place like London, especially - to not burn materials that could cause health problems or make them worse when there are other fuels that are readily available.