The 'forgotten' rollercoaster disaster of Battersea funfair

https://bbc.in/3EOWTUI

There is nothing like a Good Dance to heal thyself. Dance and Music are the only languages everybody knows.
Join us on the 19th at the Disco Dance Club. For details please visit www.discodanceclub.co.uk

The Disco Dance Club. Join the Love Train on the 19th February

There will be prices for the best dressed 70s and 80s outfits. Free raffle tickets if you book by the 11th February. Delicious bites will also be available to savour. To book visit www.discodanceclub.co,uk

Disco Dance Club.
Join the LOVE TRAIN on the 19th February. Only 40 places. And if you miss it.......
Visit www.discodanceclub.co.uk and book.

The Disco Dance Club.
Happy New Year All Ye Dance Lovers. It is 2022.

Let's Face the Music and Dance! Let's Face the Brave World and Dance. Come and Dance away your blues. Dancing heals. Let's start living again.
The next Disco Dance Club event is on the 15th January. We will be following strict government guidelines - fear not. Visit www.discodanceclub.co.uk for details and to book.

Bar Person Wanted.
I am looking for a person to serve at the bar at my monthly Disco Dance Club in Battersea. The person must be reliable, efficient and willing to work in a team. Contact me at deaba@discodanceclub.co.uk

The next Disco Dance Club night is on the 18th December. To book visit www.discodanceclub.co.uk Boogie till you just cannot boogie no more.
We grow old when we stop playing.

Christmas Market at St Luke's Church Corner of Ramsden Road and Thurleigh Road is scheduled for 4 Dec 2021 at 11 a.m.

Lots of fabulous stalls including homemade cakes, jams & preserves, books, children's toys, plants and wreaths. A whole host of gorgeous gifts.

Treat yourself to a cup of mulled wine and a mince pie while you browse or come and join us in the Pop Up Christmas Café for a coffee, cake or delicious lunch.

Entry £1 per adult and 30p per child, family ticket £2.50

Come and dance away your blues and release your energies. There is still life in there yet. Shake back your energies.
Join the Disco Dance Club. To register and book visit: www.discodanceclub.co.uk

Celebrate the new Northern line extension with the communities who live and work above the route between Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms and Kennington Tube stations!

The FREE Line of Light outdoor festival features lights and visual projections from Projection Teknik and will follow the above-ground route of the 3km Northern line extension tunnels each evening on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 October.

Between 6.30pm and 10pm, a daisy-chain of high-density light beams will illuminate the new stations at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, and paint the route of the tunnels in the sky to create the Line of Light.

If you are 40+ and would love to dance to disco music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s disco music every month please visit www.discodanceclub.co.uk and join the club.
'We will boogie till we can boogie no more' - remember A Taste of Honey?

I am looking for a reasonably priced place to have some prints framed. Thanks in advance.

Beautify Balham is an apolitical and non-profit organisation and is recognised and supported by Wandsworth Borough Council .
Beautify Balham volunteers meet each month for litter picks. To join them, check the website before meeting in Bedford Hill Place at the rear of Sainsbury’s at 11am on the first Saturday of the month.
The Beautify Balham calls on local residents and businesses to become “actively responsible for their shared outdoor environment through tree planting, gardening, litter picking and campaigning for a greener, cleaner and more beautiful Balham”.

The initiative, which is supported by the council through grant funding, organises regular litter picks around Balham and is calling for the planting of an avenue of trees along Balham High Road.
Check out their website fr more details!
http://balhambeauty.wpengine.com/about/

I was just up in London Bridge and happy surprised Borough market and shops around were open and quite a nice relaxed but buzzy atmosphere.
Lots of little nick nacks to be had. All open air so quite safe. Even a few pubs serving through hatches if fancied a glass of wine.

Battersea Power Station Community Choir recently partnered with Battersea based songwriter and producer Dan Swana and artists from Nine Elms Arts Ministry to write and record the song ‘Hope is Heal’, which celebrates hope and challenges us with a call to unity and love during these challenging times.

The writing workshops and rehearsals were all conducted via zoom and the forty or so participants recorded their parts on their smartphones with children from St George’s Church of England Primary School in Battersea singing the chorus. An animated film has been created by Battersea based film company, Chocolate Films, to accompany the song and it is being released today.

Please watch it on the links- it inspires hope, love and community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_b3O9ykoE=youtu.be

There's a new plumbing and electrical shop coming to Northcote Road near the library on the corner of Northcote Road and Chatham Road.

Bloody Bens is a local drinks firm, making Gin and Bloody Mary Mix.

We've now moved from Earlsfield, SW18 to 85 Nightingale Lane, SW12. We're underneath The The Wine Twit.

As a local firm we are taking part in some virtual school fairs. Please get in touch if you are running one of these and are looking for stall holders.

- Bloody Bens Signature Gin is a London Dry Gin with honey & orange notes, winning 2 Gold Starts in the Great Taste awards.

- Bloody Bens Pink Gin is tennis inspired so has Strawberries & Cream notes.

- Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix is all the flavour you put into tomato juice to make the best ever Bloody Mary. Also a great Taste award winner.

You can buy Bloody Bens Gin and Bloody Mary Mix at Nightingale Lane, in many local independent shops or online at www.bloodybens.com

We now have Gin Chocolate made with each Gin, Gin Crackers, Snack Packs, Tonic & Gin Minis. We've also linked up with small craft vodka makers: Wild Mary, Sacred, Black Cow and Baller for Bloody Mary Packs.

Win a £50 Waterstones Gift Card!As we approach Halloween on 31st October, we're launching a fabulous competition, in conjunction with Waterstones Clapham Junction, for a chance to win a Waterstones gift card worth £50! And, we have prizes for runners-up too...

Prizes will go to the best Halloween photos, so get creative with face paints, pull out your fancy dress box and start snapping!

First prize: £50 Waterstones gift card
Second prize: £25 Waterstones gift card
Runners-up (x3): £15 Waterstones gift card (each)

Closing date for entries is midnight on 10th November 2020. Please submit your photos to info@thejunctionbid.co.uk or post on Instagram with the hashtag #TheJunctionComp. Terms and conditions apply. Please always adhere to Government guidelines and restrictions relating to Covid-19 safety.
https://visitclaphamjunction.com/blog/halloween-photo-competition-win-a-50-waterstones-gift-card

Hi All
My neighbour’s daughter lost her iPhone 7 and has ask me to post details on here
Date:
Tuesday 6th October around 5pm
Location:
Tipthorpe Road near junction of Gideon Road.
Phone description:
Black iPhone 7
Blue & Green case (says Rick & Morty)
Screensaver has black girl wearing a green and black t-shirt
The lost phone has been reported as lost to the police also.
Please do get in touch if it is found

hello all

New products just arrived !
Im thrilled to market Extra Virgin Olive oil from Mil i un verd, Morella family olive oil from La Senia in Catalonia.
Arbor Senium and Arbor Sacris are ideal to use as finishing oils or as a gift for family & friends
Morella family take care of certified thousand year old olive trees and select the best olives to create 2 wonderful oils which have received awards at international competitions
Check www.spanishgastrolarder.co.uk and type SW11 for free deliveries

Enjoy the best selection of Spanish Extra Virgin olive oils in London!

hi
plan your bank holiday BBQ and get home deliveries with best Spanish produce from small artisanal farmers: nuts, olives, extra virgin olive oils, cured ham, chocolates, rosemary honey, rice, marcona almonds, balsamic vinegar , piquillo peppers.
www.spanishgastrolarder.co.uk
code SW11 free delivery in London Wandsworth,Lambeth,Chelsea/Fulham,Wimbledon

Having a 1 or 2 friends round for a socially distanced bank holiday event ? Here's a local cocktail idea and discount on Bloody Bens award winning drinks.

Bloody Bens Signature Gin is great in Cocktails. The Ginger Donut has created this delicious White Peach and Basil Collins Gin Cocktail featuring our Signature Gin.

Such a wonderful Summery cocktail and so easy to make to enjoy in your garden, or in his case, on his balcony. Recipe info below and you can watch Andrew put the whole thing together on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CD57OwjHG8K/

INGREDIENTS

50ml Bloody Bens Signature Gin

1 White Peach – or if you’re making this out of season, go for another peach that is

5 Basil Leaves

25ml Lemon Juice – best if freshly squeezed

Indian Tonic Water

Ice

METHOD

Please watch the video but in essence, half your peach and smash/muddle it, then add ice, followed by the Gin and Lemon Juice and top with the Tonic. Bruise your Basil and garnish.

Here's a link to the weekend drinks ideas and use BANKHOLS at checkout for 10% off.

https://shop.bloodybens.com/collections/bank-holiday-party?sort_by=best-selling

We're all different. Some love a long drink with lots of liquid - G, Spritzers, Pimms or Bloody Mary's. Others however love an intense & cold drink like a Negroni.

Here's a simple recipe from Charlotte at the Forest Hill Gin Club @fhginclub on Insta. Charlotte is a big fan of Mallora where Bloody Bens Signature Gin was dreamt up.

INGREDIENTS

- 25ml Bloody Bens Signature Gin

- 25ml Campari

- 25ml Martini Fiero Vermouth

- Ice

- Orange Slices

METHOD

Fill a rocks glass with ice, add the Gin, Campari and Martini Fiero and stir. Garnish with the Orange. It is that simple and it’s an absolute joy.

PS The reason that Bloody Bens Signature Gin helps make a great Negroni is the Orange and Honey notes. The honey complements the bitterness of the Campari.

Covid-19 Community Support Fund
Apply Now!

Our Covid-19 fund was launched on the 2nd April 2020 to support local organisations operating on the frontline to assist the vulnerable in our community.

With around £50,000 remaining we would again invite organisations to apply for funding for projects that aim to support the most vulnerable.

Previous applicants should not apply.

The Application Form can be accessed at:http://biglocalsw11.co.uk

If you have any questions about the Fund please email to: c19fund@biglocalsw11.co.uk

Case Studies of projects that we have supported can also be found at http://biglocalsw11.co.uk

Whilst Gin is fantastic in G, it’s also really tasty in Cocktails. As a nod to the sunshine island, here’s the Mallorcan Bramble, a delicious Gin Cocktail.

INGREDIENTS
50ml Signature Gin
20ml Lemon Juice
10ml Simple Syrup
10ml Orange Liqueur
Crushed Ice

METHOD
Add the Gin and then the Lemon Juice and then the Simple Syrup. Then add the Orange Liqueur and top with Crushed Ice. We’ve garnished with a dehydrated Orange wheel but honestly a slice of Orange will be perfect.

Wondering how to make a simple Syrup? Dissolve 300g caster sugar in 150ml water over a low heat. Leave to cool & refrigerate – it should last a month in the fridge.

If you are drinking G instead we recommend a light tonic. In the fever tree range - Mediterranean or Refreshingly Light. Not Indian Tonic which has loads of quinine.

Bloody Bens Signature & Pink Gin is made in Earlsfield. You can buy it in many of the local independent shops across SW London or online at www.bloodybens.com

With restaurants, pubs & bars getting ready to open, we're near the end of our cook at home brunch treats. Please share any pics you've taken. You might prefer this for lunch or dinner instead of brunch ...

INGREDIENTS -Serves One
Splash of Olive Oil
60g Chorizo, Diced
80g Tinned Black Eyed Beans
1/2 Tbsp Tomato Puree
125ml Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix - see below
2 Large Handfuls of Baby Spinach
1 Egg
Grating of Strong Cheddar
Sliced Spring Onions to serve
Sliced Red Chilli to serve
Toast to serve

METHOD
Heat the Olive Oil in a small frying pan over a medium to high heat. When hot, chuck in the Chorizo pieces & leave to cook for 2 minutes, until leaking their ruby red oils and turning crisp at the edges.

Tip in the Black Eyed Beans and stir through the Chorizo. Add the Tomato Puree and stir in with the other ingredients. Pour in the Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix along with a splash of Water. Bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat a little and add the Spinach. Turn in the hot sauce until wilted. Use a spoon to create a small indent in the middle of the pan. Crack in an Egg and grate some Cheese on top.

Place a lid on the pan (if you don’t have a lid then find a suitably sized plate) and cook for about 4 minutes. Remove the lid, scatter with Spring Onions and Chilli & presto.

Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix is a blend of 22 herbs & spices, mainly used to make Bloody or Virgin Mary's, however it's amazing in cooking. You can buy it at many Delis, Butchers & Bottle Shops across South London.

Order it online at https://www.bloodybens.com/bloody-mary-mix/

Those who have bought Our Heroes Gin have helped NHS/ St. George's Tooting with protective hats, 3 litre sanitizer jerry cans, food & snacks, sharpie pens, check list cards, hand creams & a DAB radio for St. George's staff lounge.

The next monies are planned for counselling NHS staff who may have suffered mentally with the stress of working in the extremely challenging conditions during the end of March through to mid May.

The last batch of 50 bottles of Our Heroes Gin have been made. If you'd like one, to enjoy at home or give as a present & live locally in SW London email bob@bloodybens.com. Bottles cost £35. You must be over 18 to purchase.

If you would like to send a bottle as a present or live further afield please click on the link: https://shop.bloodybens.com/collections/gins/products/our-heroes-gin-strawberry-and-cream-flavoured-pink-

Hi there does anyone know of a cat rescue shelter that is open to receive food donations?

Drop me an email basildingwall@hotmail.com or text 07956 951851

American Diner Style Pancakes

For this recipe, you’ll need the basic pancake recipe - link at the bottom.

INGREDIENTS
A stack of 3 Pancakes – get the Pancake recipe here.
2 Rashers of Bacon – the thicker the better. Ideally go to your local butcher and ask for Smoked Streaky Bacon cut thick from the slab.
1 Runny Fried Egg
25g Maple Syrup
Butter

METHOD
First prepare your Pancake Mix, then cook your Bacon followed by the Pancakes, you want a stack of three. Fry an egg and remember, you want that yolk runny.

Butter each Pancake and then top the stack with your Fried Egg. Place your Bacon by the side and put your Maple Syrup in a pot and then drizzle over as your tummy allows.

For a perfect Virgin or Bloody Mary use Bloody Bens Mix with IoW pure Tomato Juice. https://shop.bloodybens.com/collections/our-products/products/bloody-mary-mix-with-large-tomato-juice

Pancake Mix recipe: https://www.bloodybens.com/recipe/bens-canteen-pancake-recipe/

Another recipe from Ben's Canteen archives to share. Note, these are chef specs rather than precise home cooking notes. Eggs Benny with the addition of Kimchi shows how more adventurous we have got as eaters.

A few years before the Canteen trailed a Kimchi Burger but it barely sold, most weren’t up for it. Fast forward and Kimchi was even available as a side and ordered quite regularly.
INGREDIENTS
1 TOASTED ENGLISH MUFFIN CUT IN HALF
2 RASHERS OF BACON – THE THICKER THE BETTER
60G KIMCHI
2 RUNNY POACHED EGGS – CLARENCE COURT EGGS ARE EPIC
60G HOLLANDAISE
10G LAMBS LETTUCE
1TSP TOASTED SESAME
PINCH SALT & PEPPER
METHOD
Grill your Bacon & get Poaching your Eggs; if you’re not using a shop bought Hollandaise then you need to make that up too. Toast your English Muffin and top with Kimchi.

Add the Bacon, place your Poachers on top and smother in Hollandaise. Add the Lambs Lettuce in-between your Muffins, sprinkle Toasted Sesame over the Eggs and a pinch of Salt and Pepper.

Bacon & Kimchi Benedict is yummy with a Bloody Mary. Get Bloody Bens Mix with pure IoW tomato juice at: https://shop.bloodybens.com/collections ... mato-juice Drizzle some Kimchi juice into your Bloody Mary to give it a little extra zing.

If Dad would normally start a weekend lunch out with a Virgin or Bloody Mary, treat him at home with a award winning Bloody Bens Mix, tomato juice & vodka https://shop.bloodybens.com/collections/fathers-day

Best Bloody Mary can be made at home in under a minute. If he likes a little extra spice, use Wild Mary vodka.

There are G bundle ideas with Bloody Bens Signature and Pink Gins. We recommend both with a lighter tonic ie not Indian tonic as that has lots of quinine which is bitter and stops the gin botanical flavours coming though.

Delivery can be made locally. Discount code FATHERSDAY gets you 10% off and is valid till Sunday 21st June

Unusually the Avo here isn’t smashed & the egg is Pink ... A Beetroot Pickled Egg, totally delicious but for some weird, anyway it’s delicious so do give it a go.

Ingredients:
1 Avocado
30g Sweetcorn Salsa – Google one but basically some diced Red Pepper with Tinned Sweetcorn
30g Feta
½ Grilled Lime
1 Beetroot Pickled Egg cut in half - see below
3 large sprigs of Coriander
Salt & Pepper
Slice of Toasted Sourdough

Method
This is basically an assembly job but you do need to make your Beetroot Pickled Egg in advance, have a Google or try this recipe from Sarsons. They keep for ages - make a batch!

Slice your Lime in half and grill it, whilst you’re doing that toast a slice of lovely Sourdough – ideally from an independent baker, generally speaking the quality is so much better.

Cut your Avocado in half and then very thinly slice it and push it flat to cover the Sourdough Toast. Sprinkle over the Sweetcorn Salsa and crumbled Feta, slice your Beetroot Pickled Egg in half and snuggle it up against the Toast.

Garnish with Salt and Pepper and the Coriander. Once you’ve got your Instagram picture perfect, squeeze the Lime over. The ideal drink is a Virgin/ Bloody Mary. Order a bottle of Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix at www.bloodybens.com

In charge of the bar and want to start the evening with something different ? Try a PINK LADY.

INGREDIENTS
50ml Gin - ideally locally made Bloody Bens Signature Gin
25ml Lemon Juice
15ml Simple Syrup (google if need to find a recipe for this)
5ml Grenadine
10ml Egg White

METHOD
Dry Shake (i.e. shake without ice to mix up the egg) and then shake with ice and strain into a Martini or tumbler glass. Don't worry if you don't have a strainer to hand, just pour! Garnish with a Cherry and Lemon Peel.

You can buy Bloody Bens Gin at www.bloodybens.com or from many local South London independent shops.

Hot Smoked Salmon Benedict:

Sharing more Ben's Canteen old recipes. These are chef specs rather than more precise home cooking notes. You are now head chef for the Hot Smoked Salmon Benny.

Hot Smoked Salmon bit can trip a few people up because we all think of Smoked Salmon as cold. Hot Smoked Salmon is a different technique, basically smoked at a higher temp. The end result is something more akin to poached and wow it’s tasty.

You can buy Hot Smoked Salmon from the supermarket eg Waitrose. It's even better with a Bloody Mary. If you can only get normal smoked salmon, just do you own twist.

INGREDIENTS:
100g Hot Smoked Salmon
English Muffin
2 Poached Eggs
60g Hollandaise Sauce
10g Lambs Lettuce
Toasted Sesame
Black Pepper
METHOD:
Once you’ve toasted your English Muffin, this is just a simple assembly job. Load up your sliced Muffin with Hot Smoked Salmon, place a Poached Egg on top of each half, pour over Hollandaise. Garnish with Toasted Sesame and Black Pepper and have a little Lambs Lettuce on the side. Happy Brunching!

Here's the link. You can also buy Bloody Bens Mix on the website or at many local delis & bottle shops: https://www.bloodybens.com/recipe/hot-s ... s-canteen/

I know it´s still lockdown period but for me it’s time for celebrations….it´s my birthday this week!

From Friday 15th until Thursday 21st May special discount 5 % on orders above £40 to UK postcodes

Special birthday code BDG (Birth Day Girl) when checking out and it will deduct 5%

https://spanishgastrolarder.co.uk/collections/products

You can collect from Theatre St, SW11 5NE London
drop me a message if needed
Thanks
Elena

The Ben's Canteen recipe changed over the years, the first version was probably the best but complicated and in time it got simplified to this still absolutely delicious treat.

INGREDIENTS
Sausage Mix – make 5 Scotch Eggs
500g Sausage Meat
100g Streaky Bacon finely chopped
100g Black Pudding chopped small
10g finely chopped Chives
10g blitzed Dried Mushrooms
10g Mushroom Ketchup
Egg & Flour
1 Soft Boiled Egg
1Egg
200g Panko Bread Crumbs
100g Flour

METHOD
Mix all of the Sausage Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Take 140g of the Mix and shape around a Soft Boiled Egg – FYI, when you’ve finished soft boiling the Egg, put it in iced water, this stops it cooking and is the key to that magic moment when you cut into your Scotch Egg and the yolk is still runny.

Dip your Sausage encased Egg into an Egg, then Flour and then Breadcrumbs. At the Canteen it was then deep fried for around 8 minutes but at home you’re probably better off popping them in the oven at 180 for at least twenty mins.

Also, if you have any of the Sausage Meat Mix left over then shape it into a burger patty and fry and then you’ll have the ingredient for the most amazing Breakfast Bap.

The Scotch Egg (or Bap) is delicious with a Bloody Mary. To get a bottle of Bloody Bens Mix go to: https://shop.bloodybens.com/collections/our-products

A local Our Heros Pink Gin has been made to raise funds for Sister Anthea and her team at St. George's Hospital Tooting ICU and Critical NHS, as well as other frontline workers.

It's being led by parents on Ellerton & Tilehurst Road, Earlsfield, SW18 and organised through local firm Empire Builders. www.empire-build.co.uk/

A bottle of Our Heros Gin costs £35.
All profits go to the causes listed below.
If you would like to buy a bottle please mail: ourheroes@empire-build.co.uk

We will then explain how to pay & arrange local SW London delivery to you.
If you live outside of SW London we can arrange postage. This will cost £5-6.

What Charities will benefit from this:

St Georges NHS Critical Care Unit
Critical NHS
Trinity Hospice
Earlsfield Food Bank
Age UK
Little Village

This grass roots community initiative was set up by local firm Empire Builders. The key is to provide an immediate response to NHS & other frontline staff needs & local charities suffering a funding collapse in this environment.

The initiative will help provide both financial & other support (equipment, sanitizer & food). We will be directed by those in the NHS & charities on the ground, where this small fund can react quickly & have the greatest impact.

If you are a Gin drinker, would like to buy a bottle as a present for someone or just wish to support this cause please mail: ourheros@empire-build.co.uk NOTE. You must be over 18 to buy the product.

I realise this is a very middle class problem. Has anyone had any thoughts on when they might start getting their cleaners back if they have one.

Hello all
Hope you've had a good Easter!

Purchase a bottle of extra virgin olive oil & book a session to learn online the art of tasting olive oil

Have fun with your kids while you sip olive oil and learn together how to differentiate among them: the ones you purchase and the ones you have at home.

Do you think all oils taste the same ? Browse, purchase, get it delivered and learn the technique with me via Zoom, Google Handsout or Whastapp in a safe environment with the kids at home.

It’s quite a technique and even a profession, it’s safe for the kids and can help them prevent many illnesses in the future when learning to differentiate quality in a food product.

30’ session

Middday or evenings after 530pm, weekends morning/afternoon sessions

Content: what’s olive oil, classifications, how to read the labels in an olive oil bottle, tasting technique, the wheel of flavours in olive oil, styles of olive oil.

After purchasing and delivering I’ll email you and agree about the time.

https://spanishgastrolarder.co.uk/collections/extra-virgin-olive-oil
Available in English and Spanish

The 'Clap for Our Carers', set-up to thank the NHS and all frontline staff who are battling against the coronavirus, is a weekly event, taking place every Thursday at 8pm. Spread the word and get involved.

More info at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/clap-carers-time-nhs-applause-tonight/

Wandsworth Borough Council are holding a consultation about changes to traffic on Battersea Church Road. There will be a consultation on 11th and 17th of March at Dimson Lodge (on BCR) so it's worth coming along if you have any strong views or want to know more about it.

Reportedly, this has come about because of a petition requesting something be done. I've not seen the petition so I can't say anything about it.

You can read more about the proposals here: https://haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/wandsworthecs/bcs-20/. The consultation closes on 29 March.

Hi

Please get in touch if you require a same day response heating or plumbing engineer. W12 heating solutions is an established gas safe registered company with over 15 years experience. Please visit w12heatingsolutions.co.uk for a full price list, book an appointment and take advantage of our 10% discount to new customers.

Many thanks

James Flanagan

W12HEATINGSOLUTIONS.CO.UK