Newsagent's Death

The newsagents at 182 Garratt Lane has closed down. The chap who ran it died. He had been running it for the past 40 years, so that was pretty sad. It was only a few weeks ago that I popped in for my Guardian on the way to breakfast at Cookie & Cos, and passed a few minutes fulminating about the Baby P case.

St Anne's with St Faith's Wandsworth

Here's another one that's not quite on Garratt Lane, St Anne's Church (the Pepperpot church) at 182 St Anne's Hill. Built in 1822 when Wandsworth was all refugee Huguenots, watercress fields, mills on the swift River Wandle and dyeworks.
The Vicar, Gordon Jeanes, is a knowledgeable chap on the subject of local history (hence all the above) plus he's written a book on Cranmer, very scholarly ("People who bought this book also bought the Oxford English Dictionary", as they would say on Amazon.

Congregation is a mix of middle-class families, usually with some vicar somewhere in the family background, and second/third generation West Indian immigrant stock.

Picture to follow.

Aspire Centre Southfields

Alright, strictly speaking, this isn't on Garratt Lane. In fact, it's on the Merton Road at number 337, but I happen to use it, OK? And here's the link. It's Southfields Community College in the daytime and all the facilities - like the swimmingpool, outdoor climbing wall, netball courts, gym etc - are available to the public at evenings and weekends and they have loads of classes, from languages to salsa. Reception today was manned (or rather girled) by two young ladies, one who was doing her A levels, and another who was doing a degree in Social Studies at the Roehampton Institute, but they were too shy (or sensible) to be named, so I can only say that they were charming and helpful. Apparently swimming is the most popular activity and the place is well-used.

Tesco

Seem to have acquired that big empty shop lot opposite the Brocklebank Health Centre - hooray! No more trogging up to Sainsburys for our daily wants.

Happy Snow Day!

Garratt Lane, at the kink near Vanderbilt Road.

Cookie & Co

At 180 Garratt Lane, Cookie & Co is just what every neighbourhood needs - your authentic greasy spoon + Thai food joint! Run by Mrs Napawan and her family, they've been in situ for 18 years, since they saw the light and moved south of the river from the wilds of Acton. We are loyal fans, although to be honest I can only tell you what egg, chips and beans twice, sausage, chips and beans, and black pudding on toast tastes like, because that's all we ever order! The chips are primo though - none of your frozen packet stuff. And I've tried the hot and sour chicken noodle soup which was delicious and nose-runningly spicy - huge portion and great value, especially when you think what you would pay at Wagamama for something more generic.

They went back to Bangkok for their Christmas hols and boy did we miss them! Not that Garratt Lane is short of greasy spoon caffs, but more of that in future posts...