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I can go into sweaty betty and pay £80 for a pair of black leggings or I can go to Primark and pay £3.

I wouldn't be going all the way to Dobbies just to take flowerpots! 😀 It's a very good garden centre with a wide range of well kept plants and helpful staff, at least it was on the only occasion I've visited it, last year!

Why do Councils need more funding? What are they spending our money on, how efficiently are they running? are they performing an adequate service as is? Are they viewing the public with contempt, that we will continually foot larger bills to cover all and any costs? Do our counsellors do their best, for us? why are they adding this on to the residents, on top of tax already paid? Council tax is not insubstantial. The service provided is not great. I do not believe they use our money effectively. Our CT Bill is £50 a week.

That was a tough read - and such a horrible stomach drop feeling! Thank you all though, for taking the time to share your thoughts — I appreciate you engaging, even when opinions differ. I’d like to clarify one point: in my enthusiasm to share the event, I initially posted the vegetarian menu. The full menu, including the meat option, is available here: https://www.suzannejames.co.uk/event-details/east-dulwich-sunday-lunch-club-008 Apologies for any confusion, and thank you to those who highlighted it. To address a few comments: – Tables are styled with linen and flowers – Water is provided on tables – We offer a curated wine list, beers and soft drinks to purchase on the day, alongside a BYO option For those questioning the price, it’s worth saying this is carefully calculated. Once VAT, staffing, ingredients, and the overheads of running a local, compliant hospitality business are taken into account, the margins are quite modest. This isn’t about overcharging — it’s about making the event viable while paying people properly and using quality produce. This is a private dining experience, rather than a pub lunch, and it’s priced accordingly. The cost reflects ingredient quality, skilled staffing, and the realities of running a small hospitality business — not an intention to offend or exclude. Hospitality is a challenging industry at the moment, but we remain committed to offering good food, warm service, and a lovely experience for those who choose to dine with us. Finally, thank you to Emily1011 for sharing your personal experience of dining with us — your support of my small independent business truly means a lot. With thanks again to everyone who took the time to comment. Suzanne

Jesse Jackson, US civil rights activist, 84

It is looking like we will.get an increase of 4.99% by Southwark plus the additional increase of £20.13 by the GLA https://opencouncil.network/meetings/96736 Whilst there are compelling reasons that councils need more funding, it still is a painful increase whilst we are still in the cost of living crisis, unemployment is rising and other factors.

Long as to go for flower I posts… maybe Gardenman can help?

Local baby massage classes A few spaces left for classes starting February 25th at 10am and 1pm Runs for 5 weeks, same day and time each week. Great to do with your NCT/baby group or just to meet other parents with a baby. Maximum of 5 x parent with baby each class. Suitable for babies pre crawling. Please get in touch for more information. www.nourishmassagetherapy.co.uk Pregnancy and post natal massage also available.

@malumbu It's disappointing that your assumption is that I'm against school streets. In fact I'm concerned that the new proposal for the Belham where the road right opposite the reception playground has been removed from the scheme doesn't go far enough. The scheme is trying to appease the shops on Bellenden and still lower traffic around the school but because of the proximity I think they will please neither. I'm trying to understand whether it is more harmful to set up the zone as proposed and potentially have cars idling, braking and turning within 3m of the reception gate and playground but with lowered overall emissions or risk objecting and not getting the zone at all. Hence the focus on heavy particulates as this is my main concern.

Thanks, I live round the corner from Forest and I don't recall seeing a box, but I will ask! Bill and Ben were made with proper terracotta pots! I have lots of those too, many really old, but I like looking at them 😀

I thought it was enthusiastic people celebrating Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday early!

Millionaire doesn't mean much these days round here, house prices being what they are!

Hello, If anyone is looking to let a family house from March, preferably in Herne Hill/ North or East Dulwich, for 6 months to a year, do message me. We need 4 bedrooms and a decent garden, and have a relatively well behaved dog. Un or part-furnished preferred. We are a family of five looking to buy in the area but it has not happened in time for our deadline, so would like to rent for a while instead. Thank you so much! Julia

I have 5 medium to large good quality cardboard boxes {folded down} for you if you want them and some green bubble wrap to go with them. I live SE15 3AY near Harris Girls school and home from about 11 today if you want to collect today . WhatsApp or message me on 07538164536 Paddy

Reread the menu and she and her team are offering chicken breast or nut roast plus all the trimmings. Personally, still think it is expensive. Even if the chicken is organic! A nut roast is not expensive to produce and let’s say for argument saje veg and spuds come from say Able and Cole or the expensive but good quality grocery store on Lordship Lane. Plus I assume she gets the ingredients at cost price. If memory serves me correctly, at the beginning of Covid she offered produce at a price - I assume as she had ordered and clearly the doors were firmly closed. Yes, she obviously has to pay staff, insurance, light, washing up etc but even taken this into account - put it this way, a good mark up. i know she has championed various community initiatives as well. My point is, few people I know would pay that amount for a Sunday Roast - that said, clearly people do as they are able to afford the cost. Each to their own. Sadly, a lot of people in East Dulwich can’t simple as that so my point is it really is a gourmet experience for the minority. Think there is a limited to the amount of people who can participate due to the venue… can’t remember off hand but say 30. Surprised she doesn’t offer wine - soft drinks and add it to the cost. Perhaps the idea is people bring their own beverages and if lucky, folk taste a wine or non alcoholic beverage that they might not have experienced or heard of.

I'm not sure they still do it but Forest in NX Road used to leave a box outside where it was possible to leave unwanted plant pots. Worth checking with them?

I’m writing to stand up for local businesses, particularly Suzanne’s supper clubs and lunch. Having been to several of these, I feel protective of her business, her hospitality, and her good name, which she has built over 35 years of experience. I don’t live in the village and I’m not wealthy, but I believe in paying for quality. Suzanne’s offerings are premium, and I thoroughly enjoyed her food, company, and her commitment to her beliefs. So much so that I recommended her to some friends who are getting married in the summer. They too were impressed by the service and response, and they booked up straight away. At £45, this price range falls at the lower end of the private catering range for that level of quality and service. Here are some things that justify that price: - Quality ingredients: Suzanne uses good cuts of meat and fresh produce. - Homemade sauces and sides: Her sauces and sides are not prepared in bulk or pre-made. - Dessert included: Dessert is included, which adds extra cost and labour. - Delivery and plating/warming service: Suzanne provides delivery and plating/warming service. I agree that £45 might feel steep if the food was delivered cold with no service, or if the portions were small, or if the ingredients weren’t high quality. However, what Suzanne offers is a full-service roast dinner experience, not a basic meal. So, £45 is not a lot by London catering standards. If you’re comparing it to a basic pub roast, that’s cheaper, but not in terms of effort or offering. You can find out more about Suzanne, her sense of community, using local suppliers and providing training and lifelong skills to youngsters here; https://www.suzannejames.co.uk/about-us To not charge corkage is unheard of, even at Thai corner it’s a fiver.. PS. You’ll definitely have gleaming cutlery, glassware, crockery and freshly pressed linen and napkins with some floristry. Quite far removed from a £20 roast you can get at a pub!