The Saturday List #128 - Forty things every good high street should have

I had a very pleasant evening last night. I quite fancied a quiet one, so went for a little walk with my wife to Mill Hill wines, to get a nice bottle. On the way there, we noticed a new Sushi bar had opened in Mill Hill Broadway ( It is called Kiyoto). Clare rather likes sushi, so suggested we try it, which we did. It was very nice. We got chatting to a nice couple, who have recently moved to Mill Hill. They said that it was "just the type of thing which Mill Hill needs". We then had a chat about the other imminent arrivals in the Broadway (two fish restaurants, possibly a Superdrug, a macroiotic juice bar, Hudsons brasserie, to name a few).  Our new found friends suggested that a high quality greengrocers would also be a good addition. It got me thinking. What constitiutes a "good high street". What are the key elements. For me, there are two elements. There are things which are not very sexy (for want of a better word), but are needed to make a High street work. The second are the things that are sexy and make a High Street a "go to place". In brackets I have added a (Y) if we have this in Mill Hill Broadway (or very nearby) - maybe you'd like to count how many you have in your High St.

So I've actually put two lists together. The first is the things that should be there, because they are good for the area. The definition of this list is you go there to buy/do stuff, not for a chat

1. A couple of banks/building societies (Y)
2. A Chemist (Y)
3. A good chain general grocers (not a superstore) (Y)
4. A convenience store (Y)
5. An Estate Agent (Y)
6. A shoemender/Locksmith (Y)
7. A hardware store (Y)
8. A newsagent/tobacconist (Y)
9. A butchers(Y)
10. A Greengrocers
11. A proper delicatessent (not a cafe that has a small deli counter)
12. A fishmonger
13. A florist
14. A record shop that sells vinyl
15. An electrical store that sells gadgets (not a phone shop) (Y)
16. A bakers(Y)
17. A proper patisserie/cake shop
18. A sports/sports accessorie shop
19. A post office (Y)
20. A proper bike shop (where they can mend things and give advice)
21. A good butcher (Y)
22. A pet accessories/dog groomers/aquatic store (Y)
23. An independent wine shop (Y)
24. A proper book shop
25. A music instrument store (Y - Nearby)

The second list is places that you go to relax/chat/socialise

1. A decent pub (one that sells proper real ale and beer which is drinkable and doesn't smell of wee)
2. A hairdressers (or two) (Y)
3. A proper barbers (indeally with a rotating white and red pole) (Y)
4. A proper cafe that does a tasty full English breakfast (Y)
5. A two or three of restaurants selling quality Asian food (Chinese/Indian/Thai,/Korean, Japanese,etc)  (Y)
5. A couple of coffee shops (I prefer non chains, but admit that they are necessary for some!) (Y)
6. A proper Fish and Chip shop (Y - opening soon)
7. A pub/bar that has quality live music (note this is a very different proposition to one that is a good pub)
8. Some Churches, synogogues, mosques, non religious community centres etc that are open and welcoming, but primarily have large halls that host community events (dog shows, art shows, plant sales, music,etc) and run youth clubs/activities (Y)
9. A family run Italian restaurant.
10. A decent burger bar
11. A Milkshake style drinks bar (Y)
12. A good Pizza restaurant (Y)
13. A Town square area where people can gather and events can be held.
14. A library (Y - Nearby)
15. A gym (Y)

I counted 28/40 in Mill Hill.

My ratings

40-35 - You are lucky, you have a brilliant local high street. Use it!
34-30 - You have a decent High street that you can do more or less everything you want in. Use it!
29-25 - Your high street is OK, but nothing special. Support the good things in it. It needs work!
24-20 - Your high street really needs some looking at. See what can be done.
19-10 - There isn't much there, is there. Needs some serious work!
9-0 - It isn't a proper high street at all. It is a parade of shops, which isn't a bad thing

People may question some of these. If you don't have a bank, it is hard for local businesses to pay cash in. If you have to drive down the road to do this, you are not running your business. Estate agents show an area is doing well. To afford a high st office and have displays in the window says something about an area. I think good pubs bring an area up and build a community, as do churches and other religious establishments, if they are open and welcoming. We couldn't run the Mill Hill Music Festival which would be a real shame.

And what makes a bad high st? Here's my top ten tell tale signs.

1. Litter strewn streets.
2. Ugly shop facades
3. Wheely bins in the road
4. A plethora of Bookies
5. Closed & boardedup shops & pubs in disrepair
6. Pubs that smell of wee and look threatening
7. Lack of diversity in food offering
8. Bad street lighting
9. Lack of community space
10. Lack of old ladies walking around

If I was a council leader, I'd look long and hard at this list and see what could be done. In Mill Hill the Neighbourhood forum are working on it!

The Friday Joke 5/5/2017

One day a florist went to a barber for a 
haircut.

After the cut, he asked about his 
bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing 
community service this week.'

The florist was pleased and left the 
shop.

When the barber went to open his shop 
the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for 
him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, 
and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot 
accept money from you, I'm doing community service this 
week.'

The cop was happy and left the 
shop.

The next morning when the barber went 
to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him 
at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a 
haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I 
cannot accept money from you.  I'm doing community service this week.' 
The Congressman was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber 
went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free 
haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the 
fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the 
politicians who run it.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Have a great weekend! 

Freedom of Information requests in the London Borough of Barnet

There are some fascinating responses to Freedom of Informatin requests on the Barnet Council website currently.

I have been reviewing them and there are a few which caught my eye. Have you ever wondered how many dangerous animals licenses there are in Barnet? Well now you know

Dangerous Wild Animals More info


26 April 2017 Our ref: 3602996
Thank you for your request received on 21 April 2017, for the following information:
licensing under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 in your jurisdiction. Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to make the following request:

Please:
- 1. Provide details of how many animals of each species are covered under each licence.
- 2. For each licence, list all the species and the number of individuals covered. In each case, we will require as much information as possible to enable the species to be identified.
- 3. Any information you are able to provide us relating to applications which were made and subsequently refused, and the reasons or refusal.
- We do not require personal information such as names of licensees, addresses etc.

We have processed this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Response
We do not have any Dangerous Wild Animal licensed premises.

Or what about Lord Buckethead?

'Lord Buckethead', of the 'Gremloids' Party, who stood at the 1987 General Election More info

I'm a TV producer researching the history of novelty candidates in UK General Elections for a new programme, and I would like to obtain any information you areable to share about the candidature of 'Lord Buckethead', of the 'Gremloids' Party, who stood at the 1987 General Election in the constituency of Finchley. In particular, we would like to discover the real name of the person who was given the right to  stand in the election, as we would very much like to contact with a   view to talking to him about his experience at the time. If you can provide us with any information on this subject that you are able to share I would be very grateful. Many thanks for your help





Response

I am writing to inform you that we have searched our records and the information yourequested is not held by London Borough of Barnet.The council's Returning Officers is a statutory office holder who holds  information about candidates on their own behalf under Representation of the People Act and not on the council's behalf.  The information requested is therefore not held by thecouncil for FOI purposes. The Returning Officer is not a   public authority subject to FOI and therefore they are not obliged to answer FOI requests themselves. However, we have considered whether the Returning Officer could provide thisinformation in any event.  However, they have confirmed that information about candidates is not retained for this length of time and so nothing is held by them aboutthis candidate. The retention period for the Returning Officer is    1   year under the Representation of the People Act 1983 sch 1 rule 57

 All fascinating stuff.

Whilst perusing the list, I found one which I believe will put a rather large shadow over the campaign for re-eection of Matthew Offord.  Why not have a look through the list and see if you can spot it? Watch this space.

The Wednesday Poem #18 - Election Special

Tess and Jezza

I thought it's high time we had some quality political poetry. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one so I decided to write my own.

"There once was a PM called Tess,

Who was running a right royal mess,

Strong and stable she claimed,

And Corbyn she blamed,

For evrything since Rudolf Hess!"

Copyright 2017 Roger Tichborne/Matthew Tichborne

If you have a political poem that is relevant to the rather bizarre election that is going on at the moment, please submit via the link in the sidebar

Well, it made me smirk. Credits to my son Matthew who assisted me ably in putting this masterpiece together.

Mill Hill Music Festival 2017 Programme

Checkout the full festival websiote  - https://millhillmusicfest.co.uk

 

Friday June 16 - Time: 7.30pm

The Hendon Band of the Salvation Army

Hendon Band of The Salvation Army

Hartley Hall, Flower Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 2JA [Map] 

The Hendon Band has long participated in The Mill Hill Music Festival and we are very pleased to welcome them back again to open for us this year. Their world famous 40+ piece brass ensemble is always a delight. The Hendon Salvation Army Band was formed in 1882 with the purpose of assisting with worship and to hold ‘open air’ services. Their purpose is still the same today, although the band now play in countries all over Europe as well as in Canada and America. Renowned worldwide for their capacity to portray symphonic classics, The Hendon Band of the Salvation Army, under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Cobb, will be playing from their large repertoire of brass, contemporary swing and classical pieces.

https://www.facebook.com/hendonsaband

  Tickets: £10 (+£1 online admin fee per ticket). Light refreshment available.

Friday June  16

Later @ The Adam & Eve with Emily Lee

Emily Lee

Time: from 8.30pm

The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL [Map]

From 8.30pm. The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL From 8.00pm. We have the pleasure of presenting Emily Lee, a razor-sharp firebrand singer-songwriter with a penchant for soulfully delivered performances and artful songwriting. She is a stand-out performer on the London music scene. Having picked up a guitar four years ago, Emily continues to thrive as a musician, writing songs and collaborating with some of the finest musicians in the UK.

Food served (steak night). Free entry.

Saturday June 17 -  Time: 7.30pm

Showtime with The BBC Elstree Concert Band

Hartley Hall, Flower Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 2JA [Map] 

Join us for a showtime celebration of music from some of the greatest and most successful stage shows and films ever written. Full of well-known, toe-tapping numbers, the BBC Elstree Concert Band will take us on another dazzling and fun journey through some of the most popular songs and tunes from stage and screen. Formed in 1984, the 40+ piece band has a repertoire of light classics, show music and contemporary wind instrument arrangements. Their performances have been broadcast both nationally and internationally through the BBC World Service. They have given concerts in aid of The Voice of the Listener Trust, North London Hospice and several other charitable organisations as well as further afield in France and Belgium. This exuberant concert will highlight the very best of showtime entertainment.

http://bbcecb.weebly.com/

Tickets: £12 (+£1 online admin fee per ticket). Cash Bar.

Sunday June 18th

 Time: 12.30pm to 3.00pm

 

Enrico Tomasso's Hot Jazz Quartet

Enrico Tomasso

The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL [Map]

The ever popular Enrico Tomasso brings his poll winning trumpet playing (four times winner of British Jazz Awards) and engaging vocals for a lunchtime of hot jazz on a summer’s afternoon. A firm favourite with festival audiences and Mill Hill in particular where he has appeared over the years with Campbell Burnap’s band, Mr Acker Bilk’s Paramount Jazz Band and at our last Festival, in the 100 Years of Jazz concert. His biggest inspiration was Louis Armstrong whom he played for as he walked off the plane in 1968 for a stint at Batley Variety Club. Louis took the seven year old Enrico under his wing for two weeks, inviting him as his personal guest every night and giving him advice. Come and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of jazz at this delightful pub in the heart of Mill Hill. Enrico always brings a joie de vivre to any occasion and on this Father’s Day we can be sure that the quartet will provide some terrific hot jazz for this special occasion playing, as Louis would say ‘some of the good old good ones’.

Food served. BBQ weather permitting. Free entry.

Monday June 19 - Time: 7.30pm

Balalaika

Balalaika

Mill Hill United Synagogue, Station Road, Mill Hill, NW7 2JU [Map]

For over 20 years, the Festival has been drawing from all corners of the musical world and you might say that it has become a tradition for our evening of klezmer. Tonight’s band is comprised of Justin Bateman, one of the few balalaika players performing in Britain, Nigel Austen on bayan (a Russian accordion), Adam Gaiman on acoustic guitar, and Rich Baker on bass. Together with their guest muscians they will take us on a journey back to the routes of klezmer. Traditional gypsy tunes, haunting melodies from The Steppes, waltzes, tangos, stirring Cossack numbers from old Russia and Eastern Europe are all part of their repertoire. All making for a not-to-be-missed night of spontaneity and movement.

Tickets: £14 (+£1 online admin fee per ticket). Cash Bar.

Tuesday June 20 Time: 7.30pm

Cimarosa's The Secret Marriage (Il matrimonio segreto)

 

Hartley Hall, Flower Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 2JA [Map] 

Pop-up Opera is an innovative touring opera company dedicated to making opera enjoyable and inviting for all. Tonight’s performance is directed by Max Hoehn; winner of the 2015 Independent Opera Director Fellowship and nominee for ‘Best Young Director’ at the 2016 International Opera Awards. One of the most successful comic operas of the late eighteenth century, Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto is about following your heart and makes for a perfect summer opera filled with humour, sparkle and fun. The opera’s story is about a rich Italian businessman’s attempt to marry off one of his daughters to a mad English toff with disastrous results. Packed with tunes and matrimonial mayhem, the opera’s premiere in Vienna was the occasion of the longest encore in operatic history; Leopold II was so delighted that he ordered supper served to the company and the entire opera repeated immediately after!

“I honestly cannot imagine anyone, of any age or class or tastes, who would have been bored or unmoved” - The Times

  Tickets: £18 (+£1 online admin fee per ticket). Cash Bar.

Wednesday June 21 - Time: 8.30pm

An Evening with Kevin Fitzsimmons @ Mill Hill Jazz Club

 

Mill Hill Golf Club, 100 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, NW7 3AL [Map]

From 8.30pm. We are very proud to present this evening’s performance in association with Mill Hill Jazz Club by bringing you an evening with Kevin Fitzsimmons, one of the most individual male jazz voices to emerge on the UK jazz scene in recent times. Praised by jazz critics for his naturally swinging vocals, elastic phrasing and engaging, highly personable stage presence, Kevin has several jazz festivals under his belt, a live concert broadcast on Jazz FM and sell-out shows at venues around the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s. Long-time fan of Mark Murphy and Mel Torme, London born Kevin is already forging a reputation as a charismatic presence and songwriter of high quality. His debut album was released to national critical acclaim. Expect a vibrant evening from an artist who has managed to create a genuinely unique approach to male jazz vocals.

Tickets: £12 Jazz Club Members (£14 Non-Members) on the door only. Cash bar. Seating limited.

Thursday June 22 - Time: 7.30pm

Robert Fowler's Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band

Hartley Hall, Flower Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 2JA [Map] 

 

Jazz great Gerry Mulligan is now mainly remembered for his famous piano-less quartets which have become part of jazz history; but in the early 1960s he led an outstanding and unique thirteen piece all-star ensemble that received acclaim from fans and critics alike. Robert Fowler, veteran of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, the Back to Basie and BBC Big Bands, and Humphrey Lyttelton’s Band has always been a lover of Mulligan’s playing, composing and arranging. This led to his transcribing some of the material from Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band period and about four years ago assembling a group of like-minded musicians to perform the arrangements. Robert shares the writing with trombonist Adrian Fry and the band has played at various festivals around the country to enthralled audiences. The band of top British musicians will be underpinned by the rhythm section of award winning bassist Dave Green and drummer Steve Brown. It is an honour for the Festival to be able to present Robert’s talented team of outstanding players. During the course of the evening we can expect to hear magnificent arrangements like Come Rain or Come Shine, My Funny Valentine, You Took Advantage of Me and Mulligan originals such as Apple Core, Walkin’ Shoes, Motel and 18 Carrots for Rabbit to name but a few. Book now for what is certain to be an unforgettable evening of exceptional music.

Tickets: £18 (+£1 online admin fee per ticket). Cash Bar.

FridayJune 23 -  Time: Doors Open: 7.00pm

Mill Hill Golf Club, 100 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, NW7 3AL [Map]

 

Doors open 7pm, music from 8pm. Our evening begins with the always popular 5-piece cover-band, Recollection playing all your favourites from the 60’s to present day. Then get ready to dance the night away to the rockingest, rock-steady beat of the The Silencerz. One of country’s top ska bands, this nine piece outfit will bring the house down with a fun and energetic night, featuring covers of all your favourite ska tunes, along with a selection of originals. Tonight the band will be joined by special guest Lee Thompson, renowned Madness saxophonist. Subject to the weather forecast, the event will be open air - if you are coming to the event please bring appropriate clothing as it may get chilly (in the event of rain the music will be indoors).
The Silencerz supported by Recollection

Tickets: £12 (+£1 online admin fee per ticket) (£15 on the door). Over 18s only. Cash Bar. Food Available.

Saturday June 24 - Time: from 8.30pm

Party Night With The Alan Warner Band

The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL [Map]

 

We continue the party for our final night and move to the Adam & Eve Pub for a night of great music from local guitar legend Alan Warner and his band. They will be playing an exciting mix of rock, blues, pop and West Coast covers plus original songs. Alan is a highly acclaimed guitarist and singer/songwriter who has played with such artistes such as Edwin Starr, Arthur Brown, Phil Lynott, Pluto, Jet Harris and Billie Davis to name but a few. He is also an original member of the hugely successful band The Foundations and played on every one of their hit records including Build Me Up Buttercup and Baby, Now That I’ve Found You. The band’s line-up includes JD on bass guitar and vocals, Roger Nicholas on rhythm guitar, and Pete Stroud on drums. It promises to be a great night out for anyone who wants to see and hear a genuinely live set.

Food served. Free entry.

The Wipers Times at The Arts Theatre

Went to see The Wipers Times last night. It's Ian Hislops play about the magazine produced in the trenches of Ypres in the first world war. Well worth a visit. It gives a classic illustration of all that is good and all that is bad about Britian. The finest feature of the British is how we adopt a grim gallows humour that gets us through adversity and we find a way to make do. We have a healthy disregard for authority, but when we have to we do our duty. The worst feature is the total disregard of those in power for the poor sods who have to suffer the decisions of those who run the show. The show displays how the staff were more worried about the effects of drunkeness on troops than on their own awful strategies, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. To quote David Byrne of Talking Heads "Same as it ever was"

You realise just how much has changed and how little has changed in 100 years. Perhaps the two lessons I took away from it are a) Strong Leaders are dangerous, especially in relation to Europe and b) After 100 years the Daily Mail is as much of a rag, full of misinformation as it ever was!

Brian Coleman on slags off political lightweights and criminals on Twitter

Brian Coleman - A true heavyweight politician

I am about to break my new years resolution. I had promised myself that as Brian Coleman is no longer an active politician, it was pointless writing blogs about him. However, I hadn't anticipated that there would be a general election this year, or that Coleman would spend the campaign posting nasty tweets about all and sundry. So as it's a bank holiday, I thought I'd make an exception. And the main reason is because Brian seems completely oblivious to the delicious irony of what he's been tweeting. So lets start with Brian's tweet. It was posted in response to a rather nice tweet by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, congratulating local lad Anthony Joshua on turning his life around, becoming the Heavyweight boxing champion of the world and beating the greatest champion for a generation on Saturday.

@SadiqKhan @RossSHouston @anthonyfjoshua caption should read "Publicity seeking Political lightweight congratulates convicted drug dealer on throwing a few punches"

— Brian Coleman (@BrianColeman251) 30 April 2017

If you are new to the area, you may wonder what Mr Coleman has on his CV to call the man with the biggest electoral mandate in the country a lightweight? Well Mr Coleman himself was once a politician. Here is the results of this monumental heavyweights last election campaign.

Totteridge Ward results

Yep, a whacking great 265 votes, finishing 11th out of thirteen candidates. Of course Brian knows a bit about throwing a few punches and getting convictions, doesn't he? Back in 2013, he was convicted of beating local Cafe Owner Helen Michael, after an unprovoked assault in North Finchley.

Ex-mayor attacked me as I caught him flouting his own parking rules https://t.co/QvjcI4ScKP via @MailOnline
Just read comments 4 1st time.

— Helen Michael (@BuzzingHelen) 29 April 2017

Mr Coleman's Twitter profile lists him as "Political Consultant and Commentator. Local Government Expert, Some time Politician , Rotarian, Methodist and True Conservative."

I think Anthony Joshua is a truly magnificent person. Like many young people, his life went off the rails, but by sheer hard work, he has pulled himself up and shown that hard work and dedication are the way to succeed in life. He is now a multi millionaire and many youngsters who may be going off the rails, will hopefully be inspired by his example. As for Mr Coleman, he didn't have Anthony Joshua's excuse of youthful stupidity, he was 50 when he attacked Ms Michael. Unlike Anthony Joshua, he's never once admitted that he was even wrong to assault Helen Michael. He has previously tweeted that he was "Set up"

@Barneteye get over it people , I have lost count of the number of people who have told me I was set up , sad how some people cannot move on

— Brian Coleman (@BrianColeman251) 6 September 2015

I've never quite figured out how Coleman thought Helen Michael could entice him to park illegally by the HSBC ATM, and force him to assault her. After the assault, he spent six months lying about the assault, despite there being CCTV footage of the awful attack. He changed his plea on the day of the trial to guilty. Isn't it sad that this rather narcissistic individual can't find the generosity in his heart to recognise the achievement of Anthony Joshua. I suspect that because he has never publicly acknowledged that he was wrong to attack Helen Michael, he can't understand that Anthony Joshua has grown up and turned into a national treasure, loved by everyone (except Brian perhaps).

I watched the fight in Mill Hill Services Club, which was packed for the event. It was a brilliant atmosphere and the place erupted with joy when Joshua won after a truly heroic effort. He didn't just "throw a few punches", he was out on his feet in the 6th round, nearly defeated by one of the worlds great warriors. Both before and after the fight, Joshua (and his opponent) behaved with great dignity and respect. No trash talk, cheap jibes or silly antics. Just a quiet confidence from both men that as true champions, they would put on a spectacle and give the viewers value for money. Joshua sets a great example and we are lucky to have such a great British champion from our corner of London. I just find it rather sad that Brian can't join in the fun and show some good grace. I suspect that is why Sadiq Khan is a heavyweight politician, who commands respect across the political spectrum and Brian finishes 11th out of 13 in Totteridge.