Friday, April 03, 2009

Island Hopping

With spring in the air, I find it always gets the old Eastcliff sap rising when the ladies start casting a clout and sporting those skimpy little numbers that show a bit of belly button. However, here on Chavvy Island the first cuckoo does not automatically bode well, as my photograph rather too amply demonstrates.

I see the Gazunder has started a campaign today to 'Save the Past for the Future', by which they mean getting Margate and Ramsgate Museums reopened. Jolly good luck to them, I say. Our Sandy is quoted as saying he 'loves the museums'. So much so that he's loved them to death if you ask me.

But on the bright side the paper also reports that Northdown House has been saved for the Thanetian nation, after much to do about the plan to flog it off to the council's developer chums. Apparently the legal restrictions in the property's covenants make it impractical. Which was what everyone told the Cecil Square duffers in the first place. Still, if our council tax has furnished some poor, impoverished lawyers with a couple more Bentleys who am I to complain?

Anyhoo, I'm packing my YSL suiter as we speak in preparation for a weekend on an exotic south sea island. Er, the Isle of Wight as it happens. But I'll be sure to send you a postcard. Pip pip!

21 comments:

Don Wood said...

Dont forget to bring us back a stick of rock

Don Wood said...

forgot to say I like the young lady is she the reason for you weekend away NUDGE NUDGE

Anonymous said...

Look out for Thanet plants - just gone from East Northdown to Ventnor botanic garden(run by Isle of Wight local council!) - the head gardener came to hunt us out and bought mediterrean plants from us en route to another specialist nursery in Norfolk!
Be nice if Thanet council were capable of running any first class operation such as this!
Louise Friend

Anonymous said...

Our leader said he needed consultation to have the covenants pointed out to him - doesn't he think to get his minions to look at deeds of any item they might possibly want to flog to check they can first or is that too basic? oops forgot not sure if TDC have a legal department anymore - head of planning and development oversaw asset consultation!

Stop the loonies said...

I've yet to see a picture of smeggers, could this be him in drag on a sunny day out ??

Anonymous said...

No STL it is a prototype belly landing modification being developed for Manston landings.

Anonymous said...

Anyone see the article on Ramsgate in the Bricks and Mortar section of the Times today?

the chairman said...

Yes. It presents the airport, correctly, as a reason to move here.

Don Wood said...

Just checking in to see if they let you in to or on to the Isle of Wight or were you turned away as an undesirable dont for get to post more piccies of you and the young lady at Ventnor and Black gang chine

Anonymous said...

Bought some plants at East Northdown today, an excellent asset for us living in Thanet.
Under the radar of Thanet Council because it is well run ,useful, and does not cost the rate payer any money so therefore not worth bigging up.
Now a useless polluting airport run by some Kiwis who want to get shot of it as soon as possible, that's where the future of Thanet is according to the council.

The april fool in Your Thanet about turning it into a Chav theme park seems like a cracking idea, and less idiotic than selling flats on Ramsgate seafront, (the Royal Sands development )that will be worthless damp slums in no time if it ever gets off the ground.

Anonymous said...

I used to go East Northdown for much of my planting, but I went there in the week and left before buying anything. It has turned into such a dump. I was amazed to read that the place is in a conservation area, and if this is true then I think Louise Friend should be ashamed of what she has done to that place. Kingsgate Nurseries across the road is run much more professionally.

Anonymous said...

totally disagree with 11.14 the plants are grown their so stand a chance in our soil Some of the tunnels are a bit tatty but if you ask you get a list of what grows well in our soil. Kingsate is full of junk that has nothing to do with gardens and most of their stock gets bussed in so does not take as well and is more expensive, style over content.

Anonymous said...

Kingsgate is wildly overpriced.

Anonymous said...

I loved the bit in the Gazzer article about the council managing to get round most of the covenants.
Most of the time they don't even know they exist.

Anonymous said...

Our leader more or less said that they usually get away with it but didnt this time!

Anonymous said...

12:14 Have a look at the buildings and the structures. If you think this family are doing a service to Thanet then lord help the parts of Thanet that are not in a conservation area.

Anonymous said...

What about parts of Margate old town and properties that 7.14 owns - audicious is the comment that springs to mind!If 7.14 had a pristine property portfolio "he could throw stones" but i think you will find he has run down properties in Margate and Garlinge that arent worthy to crow about?

Anonymous said...

Nearly all the buildings at Northdown are temporary structures by the look of it serving a purpose , there are enough planning eyesores in Thanet that we are now stuck with which would be worth getting hot under the collar about.
Every new build I have seen in Thanet is lashed together, poorly built , is at best mediocre in design.
The planning department should hang there heads in shame having allowed so much crap to be built.

Anonymous said...

The Planning Department have no shame that is why there is so much crap and inappropriate building in Thanet. The Planning Department has too many developer friends to care about the outcome of their decisions.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you ignorant people stop making problems for East Northdown Farm and their owners, you couldn't find a nicer family or a better nursery, there is nothing they don't know about plants. This is how a nursey should be, not a show place of cleanliness and straight lines of comformacy.
Whenyou think of all the stress this prro family has had to endure over the past year plus, of trying to safe guard the non closure of their encestrial home and all the vindidtive threats made by Tory Councillors of the area, it is a wonder they haven't lost their minds.
Fighting TDC with solicitors, to save Northdown House and it's beautiful grounds from being sold, has not been cheap for the Friends family but they did it for the future of all residents of Thanet.
William and Louise Friend should be thanked, not persecuted further by low lifes writing and saying how bad their Nurserie is trying to stop their business thriving.
William and louise I admire the way you have fought to save this property and shall and all my friend will continue to buy from you as you are the best in this end of Kent. Well Done I admire your strength, someone has to stop this man Ezekiel from selling everything of beauty or value.

Anonymous said...

East Northdown is a brilliant resource to have on our doorstep and more people should be aware of it.

If you want no-knowledge staff, over-priced and unsuitable plants and another identkit 'experience' then get yourself up to one of the retail sheds at Westwood. You probably deserve eachother.

Keep it up Louise!