I used to go into the Balham Tup over ten years, back when it was owned by Paddy Gallagher. Until very recently I hadn't been there for years. And then, a few months ago I met a friend who I hadn't been in touch with for years and he invited me to go along to the Tup on Sunday night for their pub quiz. My wife and I went along that week, enjoyed it and for the last two or three months we've been regulars there on a Sunday night. We've even won the quiz three or four times.

Last Sunday we were p… Continue

Parent and Toddler Group

In a quiet, relaxed environment with soft colours and natural materials children play freely with simple wooden toys, handmade rag dolls, play cloths and nature's toys like conkers, shells and pinecones. There is a seasonal craft or activity, e.g drawing with pure beeswax crayons, then tidying-up time is followed by a wholesome organic snack and the session ends with ring time, singing seasonal songs.
Parents and children from newborn to three and a half years are welco… Continue

If all you had to go by was today's press coverage (which seems to be largely reprinted from the official press release) then you might well find it easy to believe that Oxford Circus was the first place in London to get a diagonal crossing. You might even be convinced by the line that this new crossing was inspired by a… Continue

Last night we went to the Exhibit for dinner. It was the launch night for their new "393" menu and I had been invited along as someone who is apparently "a committed member of the Balham Social scene". In the interests of full disclosure I should make it clear that we didn't pay full price for our meals.

We've been eating in the Exhibit off and on since it opened. I remember being slightly dubious when the outhouse in Sainsbury's car pa… Continue

I first moved to Balham in 1991. At that time there were, I think, two barbers in Balham. For no good reason I started going to Ron's (or was it Don's?) on Chestnut Grove.

Ron (or Don) was getting on a bit and it was just him cutting hair in the shop. I only ever went on a Saturday and it seemed that he was pretty busy, but you never needed to wait too long to get into the chair.

Some time later, Don's (or Ron's) place shut down. I think it was all part of the development of the old dairy buil… Continue