leaf and groove, Forest Hill London SE23 – now open

 Leaf and Groove's exterior on Dartmouth Road

Our community shop Leaf and Groove opened on Saturday 9th December. It sells books, vinyl, CDs and DVDs to raise money for the Forest Hill Library, which is now run by the community.  Leaf and Groove was crowdfunded and relies on donations of books etc. 

As so often happens the opening was delayed as the premises that had previously been the Cabin Café and empty for some considerable time needed considerable renovation – not least humidifiers to dry the premises out.  

I dropped in this morning and already there are a good number of books on the shelves, although this is only about a quarter of their stock – yet to arrive including a substantial quantity from the nearby Horniman Museum.  

  

 Shop's interior (above and below)

That's Ian behind the counter 

57 Dartmouth Road, London SE23 3XH 

Leaf and Groove

@leafandgroove

London – 10 years of The Overground

'The history of the Overground

The London Overground launched in 2007, taking over from Silverlink Metro services. Customer numbers have risen from 33 million in 2008/09 to more than 189 million in 2016/17 and improvements delivered over the last 10 years include:

• Increased frequency of trains across the network, from 400 per day in 2007 to nearly 1,500 per day in 2017
• Improved reliability of trains, up by 80 per cent since June 2015
• Customer satisfaction score of 85 per cent in the first quarter of 2017/18, its highest ever level
• Greater passenger safety, with all stations manned from first train to last
• ‘Turn-up-and-go’ service across the network for customers with reduced mobility
• Three extensions to incorporate extra lines – East London Line (2010), South London Line (2012) and West Anglia lines (2015)
• Introduction of Oyster and contactless payments, as well as cheaper fare options and all TfL concessions
• Six new stations which have opened up areas of London such as Hoxton, Imperial Wharf and Dalston
• Improved accessibility, with more than half of the 112 London Overground stations now step-free from street to platform
• Sixty-five new walk-through and air-conditioned trains
• A fifth car added to many trains, providing 25 per cent more capacity
• All routes integrated with TfL’s real-time information and Journey Planning tools'

Tube train arriving at old Shoreditch Station (2006)

 

Looking north east of Shoreditch Station (2006)

train heading into Liverpool Street

Dramatic old signal box on line into Liverpool Street

The old East London Line
before renovation and expansion north and south

 
My view from Forest Hill, SE23
It was on 23rd May 2010 that Forest Hill along with other stations on the line from New Cross Gate to Crystal Palace started properly to benefit from The London Overground. This day saw the first trains running directly from Forest Hill through to Dalston Junction using from New Cross Gate the renovated old East London Line that used to run from New Cross Gate and New Cross to Whitechapel. During rush the service was extended to Shoreditch. 

Not only did this mean that there are now many more trains serving Forest Hill, it opened up parts of East London that had previously been awkward to travel to by public transport.  Making it easy to go to Shadwell encouraged us to start going to the wonderful Lahore Kebab House – amazing good food at a bargain price and it's Bring Your own Drink at no charge. 

Equally it opened up access by way of Canada Water to Canary Wharf and to Central London along the Jubilee Line. However, whoever designed the the interchange at Canada Water between Northbound Overground and the Jubliee Line is a dangerous idiot! A single escalator for such a busy interchange is now clearly inadequate and often has to be shut during morning rush hour. 

When traveling northwards from Forest Hill I no longer check the times of the trains before leaving home because they are so frequent. It is only ever a short wait for a Southern train into London Bridge or an Overground to Canada Water or Whitechapel and the District or the Hammersmith and City. 

The link from Surrey Quays through to Clapham Junction was opened in December 2012.   

24 hour service (to come)
Apparently Sadiq Khan is soon to announce that the service between Dalston Junction and New Cross Gate will run 24-hours a day. Then early in 2018 this service will be extended to Highbury & Islington. I haven't seen any plans to extend the service south of New Cross Gate. Presumably Sadiq believes that anyone living south of New Cross Gate goes to bed early.... 

New Cross Gate – potential line southwards
prior to work starting

 

From London Overground: What does the future hold?

'Further improvements in the coming years will include:

• An extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking line to the Barking Riverside development, helping to unlock 10,800 new homes by 2021
• Electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking line enabling the introduction of cleaner and more reliable electric trains from spring next year
• The introduction of 45 new air-conditioned walk-through trains next year to replace 30 year old rolling stock on West Anglia lines out of Liverpool Street and Romford to Upminster routes
• The upgrade of ticket machines across the network, offering customers greater functionality'
  
  
  
  

leaf and groove: a home for culture, art & the written word – a new hub for the community in SE23

 57 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 

Empty for six years – future home for 

leaf and groove? 

Forest Hill Community Library 

profits from leaf and groove 

will go to supporting the library

leaf and groove is a new venture in Forest Hill (London SE23) aiming to provide funds for the Forest Hill Community Library through selling donated books and records. Friends of the Horniman Museum have already donated over 1500 books. 

The intention is to take over and renovate 57 Dartmouth Road, which was formerly a café but which has been empty for six years. 

The first step is raising funds. To date £13,145 of the £19,905 needed to get leaf and groove off the ground has been raised. There are 24 days left to bring in the remaining £6760. If you live in the Forest Hill area please consider funding this new project. Even a fiver can help to make all the difference!   

 

Details of the project: 

leaf and groove

A fantastic space selling books & records to generate income for the community library scheme. A home for culture, art & the written word. Leaf & Groove will be a new hub for the community in SE23.

Leaf & Groove will take a long-disused shop space in Forest Hill and turn it into something wonderful. A second hand bookshop of distinction, also selling vinyl, donating profits to the community library scheme. Not only that, but also an underground lounge space for secret meetings & speakeasies; robotic engineering & art lessons; a writing group & a gin club; board games & tai chi – unbounded possibilities.

This shop has been empty for 6 years, everyone is keen to see it turned into something useful, rather than yet another estate agent or bookies. Libraries are inundated with book donations, not all capable of fitting on their shelves. But from their sale great things can be done: more shelves bought & books to fill them, more events for children, senior citizens and those on the fringes of our society that visit daily.Then there is the lounge, large enough for 30, a new home for cultural activities, creativity and learning new skills.

What we'll deliver: 

     Totally refit a long abandoned shop on Dartmouth Road.

• Open the ground floor space as a book shop with all profits going to the community library.
• Turn the basement into a community function space.

Why it's a great idea:

We are rejuvenating a disused space and turning it in to a benefit for the community - whats not to like? No want wants grubby old disused buildings just being a waste of valuable space - but this building needs a great deal of love to get it back on its feet. Between us we can create something engaging and vibrant - with events that will reach out to all the community. We have some great people on stand-by - Adam from South East London art rooms with proposals for Blue Harmonica nights; drama workshops; life drawing, and; a speakeasy among other interesting suggestions. Then there is local illustrator Miriam Elgon who has so many ideas they could fill this page and more - art workshops based around making paper theaters; masks; book illustrations; collage etc. Then there is Orlando, a strong example to young people in Lewisham, who is bringing robots into libraries among other enterprises. From fine art to robotics, via drama and books - something for everyone!

Steps to get it done:

• Refitting the disused, unloved space and turning it into a community hub.
• Bringing on board a wide range of cultural activities for people to enjoy.
• Developing the back office space into a meeting room and therapy space.

Rejuvenation of the town centre. The book shop will not only re-open a space that has not been in use for six years, but it will be staffed by volunteers. We hope to extend paid employment opportunities over time and take on apprentices from the local community.

Louise House (artist studios) with the Forest Hill Library beyond

Forest Hill Pools and Gym 

next to Louise House

Photos from the leaf and groove website.

Anita's adventures with La Petite Bouchée and a Forest Hill pop-up

Anita in La Petite Bouchée's January pop-up 

at All Inn One, Perry Vale, London SE23 

I fear I must lead a rather cloistered existence as I had never heard of the award-winning and quirky La Petite Bouchée restaurant in Sydenham Wells Park until I saw on Twitter that their Citroën van-based restaurant had been trashed on two occasions in November 2016. 

Anita-Clare Field was born in Shirley, just to the east of Croydon. She has clear memories of family holidays in France, especially in a small village in Anjou in the Loire Valley. 

For a number of years Anita worked in magazine publishing including stints with Emap and Wilmington Publishing, which at the time included Wine and Wine & Spirit magazines, which were then bought by William Read Business Media. She became training development director at Wilmington. We have some mutual friends and acquaintances including Chris Ashton, event director of The International Wine Challenge.

In 2010 she had a freak accident that led to dramatic life changes. Taking a labrador for a walk, Anita was pulled off balance when the dog decided to go for a cat. In the fall her arm was snapped in two. It took five operations and a Russian invention – a huge external fixator bolted to her arm – to bring her right arm back to 80% capacity – fortunately she ls left-handed. However, continuing with her publishing career was impossible. 

Naturally the pain made sleeping difficult and on 9th September 2012 Anita started her food blog – lover of creating flavours. Caroline Ness, Anita's partner and wife now looks after the blog. The blog evolved to include Heaven Preserve Us – a venture making pickles, chutneys etc. that they are sold at local markets, including Crystal Palace, and also on line.

In March 2014 Anita and Caroline bought a 1971 Citroën HY camper van that was intended to be used for to make the Heaven Preserve Us products. That was until Anita had a middle of the night vision of a few brightly checked cloth tables in the van with happy people eating and drinking. Anita and Caroline started work on the new project in the morning. 

After a trial run for a friend's birthday, La Petite Bouchée – the Citroën van restaurant – launched in Sydenham Wells Park on 9th August 2014. It was Caroline who came up with the name.

 Park & Dine experience in South London Park

(photos from La Petite Bouchée's Facebook page)

Despite me being completely oblivious to its presence hardly a mile away from where I live, La Petite Bouchée was a huge success serving French classics and attracting diners from all over London. 

Unfortunately May 2015 saw the first attack on La Petite Bouchée when someone broke the windows with a air rifle. It is thought to have been school kids. The windows were quickly replaced and the restaurant's success continued.

On Monday 14th November 2016 Anita and Caroline collected a Time Out Award for the best restaurant in the Sydenham area. Unfortunately their delight very rapidly turned very sour. During the Thursday night (17th) the Citroën van was attacked with the windows being smashed in. The windows were rapidly repaired and Anita posted a defiant message on Facebook which with hindsight proved ill-advised as the following night (Friday 18th) whoever was responsible returned with a vengeance and comprehensively trashed the Citroën. This included smashing wine glasses, pictures, etc. and pouring oil and balsamic vinegar over everything making it impossible for La Petite Bouchée to continue either in its current form or location.

The Citroën was moved out of the park on the Sunday and is now in the process of renovation.

Anita remains completely mystified by the attacks. "All we wanted to do was to make people happy, so why trash our Citroën?!" 

Naturally Anita and Caroline were completely devastated and overwhelmed with grief by this vicious and mindless vandalism. The police have yet to catch the perpetrators but are convinced that it was premeditated and that this time it wasn't school kids as on both nights the weather was foul – pouring rain and and very windy. 

All Inn One, Perry Vale, Forest Hill, London SE23 

However, reports of the attacks produced immediate support. Most importantly an offer within 24 hours to from Richard and Julia Channon of All Inn One in Forest Hill's Perry Vale to run a pop-up in their pub restaurant during January. 

"It was an amazing offer – have our kitchen for a month!" says Anita. "Our faith was restored."

La Petite Bouchée did a friend's birthday party on 3rd January at All Inn One but really launched their residency on 7th January and opened Wednesday to Saturday. Time, however, is running out – this coming week will be their last as they close on 27th January, so three nights left – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Book here: on-line here or 020-8699 3311.

Anita, Caroline and the Citroën will soon be moving to mid-Devon where they have bought a house near Tiverton and some 40 miles drive from Exeter. La Petite Bouchée will have a new home. 

In February Anita will be appearing on television with a very famous but unnamed patriarch chef.  

It looks like the trashing of La Petite Bouchée Citroën will have a deservedly happy ending. 

Our meal at La Petite Bouchée:
(NB We paid in full for our meal which we thoroughly enjoyed – both the food and wine as well as the ambience.)

The restaurant at All Inn One

 Attractively easy-drinking Primitivo from Salento 

from the All Inn One wine list 

 Warming French onion soup

 Salmon rillettes

 Beef carbonnade

 Moules frites

 Almond tart

    

Forest Hill, London SE23: The famous sinkhole + Havelock Walk Open Studios

The sinkhole on 5th November 2016

A sinkhole is for Christmas ......... on Friday 4th November 2016 at the start of Perry Vale in Forest Hill in South London started to entertain its third sinkhole of 2016. The two previous were on the nearby railway line into London Bridge. As these photos taken today (27th November) show work to repair this sinkhole, which is now one of the most popular Forest Hill tourist sights, there is little sign that the repairs will be finished anytime soon. 

Looking eastwards along Perry Vale

(above and below)

The sinkhole gets ready to celebrate Christmas

Looking westwards up Perry Vale 

(above and below)

There has been some comment and comparison with a large sinkhole in Japan that that occurred around the same time but was very rapidly repaired – see here.

Will our SE23 sinkhole see in the New Year?

•••

Open Studios @Havelock Walk: 26th-27th November 2016:

 "It's all too much....!

 Paper Fish enlivening Saturday afternoon

(above and below)