It's Wednesday and a week since the last chemo, I feel much better today.
Mick started his new job yesterday at the organic farm shop. His family were Sussex farmers and had pigs. Some of the property is still in the family. He wants to get back to his roots, and away from the dry drone of his thrity plus year career. It is a challenge, he said that working a till his harder than it looks, but he has lots of ladies to help him, he will be in his element. Better is the challenge to the mind and body, being outside and close to the growing of things rather than the 'shop' culture that we have. We will benefit as well from getting nice fresh meat and veg. He will be able to cycle to work so he could also get really fit.
Today, and I am really trying not to make this a - diary blog, I visted Erith Deep Water Wharf, wlaking out along the really nice pier, with plenty of space, seats and it was clean. There were people sitting, eating, fishing and walking. Mums with their children and people having lunch away from their desk. Why can't Erith shake off it's end of the road feel? The sun was lovely and the water interesting in it's subtle changes of current and ripples caused by the wind. It is rather more industrial in aspect that perhaps the classic upper Thames, however this is the place to watch the life on the river move up and down.. I wonder why no one has thought of building a Yacht Marina here, to bring new people here. It could open the water front to cafes and shops.
There is a lot of new housing here, I particularly like one of the retirement developments, for me it would be an ideal spot with my balcony over the river and sitting in the evening with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigo watching the water and sea birds. I know that the borough is trying to rejenerate the area, but they lack purpose and direction, you need housing - of course, but also a river front area that is attractive with things to do. I have noted that the Running Horses, the Cross Keys and the White Hart very close to this area have made an effort to smarten up. What is needed is good food, good wine and good music. The White Hart has been very very clever and had a wonderful Thames Barge mural painted on its wall, I like this - perhaps they could make more of their lovely garden area down to the river. The older population that lives quite close could be a good customer source if they got away from the spit and sawdust type drinkers, the rowdy noisy and boring drinkers who inhabit Erith. The borough wants to bin the Running Horses, that used to have a carvery.
The areas biggest mistake was it's redevelopment of the shopping area, it went for two story concrete, please please why did you not look at the lay of the area, make it like it was in decades past with small shops. We have a Matalan, a Peacocks and one Select shop there is also a Wilkinsons, a Woolworths and a betting shop/ No imagination. Mostly what you see is dreary security guards who keep out the yob element. Yes perhaps employment is important but on the face of it these shops find it hard to hier staff. The Morrison's restaruant, does a roaring trade, most days breakfast and lunch. People come here for Sunday Lunch - you know a proper roast! Now if people are entised there to eat then why not to other proper food venues. Please no more Macdonalds or Burger King ( we have them as well) That is all there is in the evening. The borough even kicked out the market, which I liked to shop in. So why not a Farmers Market on Sundays?
Erith might seem like the end of the world but it has has railway station, which means people other than car drivers or locals could get here if there was something more than Morrisons. For god sake you built a huge road here, now do something with the town.There is a museum that is so much in need of reinvention that it is practically criminal to leave it. There is a lot of history in this area - what we need here is a historical mastermind. We even have a theater, yes a real live place for plays, THE ERITH PLAYHOUSE (it has a web site which mentions the lack of restaurants) £6 a ticket!!!!!!!. Surely this means something more than bland benality and medocre ideas could flourish here. VITALITY AND LIFE come on ERITH.
We need some dynamism with a heart here not stuffy political quick fixes.
Love Granny
