smith

Paraphrasing government spokespeople or economists? I'm an eternal optimist but many people had predicted this 'crash' for the last three years. Not me I hasten to add! But, I still maintain that it's all relative. Rents have softened and property prices have fallen but I believe that the only real losers will be those who have to sell immediately without any intention of buying again. It's virtually impossible to 'overstretch' oneself with debt anyway since the lending houses have battened down the hatches!

Who ever said it was different this time? And I'm not sure that "face-punching" will do anyone any good to anyone - liars or not. Most of us are responsible for our own actions - not exactly worried victims who get pressurised into buying what we can't afford. People aspire to living in houses in desirable areas for all sorts of reasons and not usually because they're lied to by a bank or (even worse) an estate agent!

St Aidan's Road is cobbled under it's tarmac.

But we've lived through 'negative equity' before and no doubt will do again. It's a tragedy that some people will lose their homes but for most people who can sit tight it makes no difference at all. Renting has it's advantages and disadvantages. Freedom versus long-term investment. Property will rise and fall, a Labour government will come and go - it's what maintains a 'healthy' economy ultimately.

This 'recession' at least provides many people with the opportunity to catch up and jump on the property roundabout. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "Sadly or midguidedly, property has taken over the reigns of the life of many."? Surely it's only a problem if you bought at the height of the market and need to sell in this depressed market. But it will come to pass - property prices will increase again and it is a great time to snap up a bargain! East Dulwich (up and coming, trendy) is now awash with affordable property.

Well, has it? I've just reduced my 3 bedroom house in St Aidan's Road to ?375k - that's from the initial valuation and market price of ?525k. One could argue that it's all relative... I make a loss on the sale of my house but I recoup that on the house I'm buying. There are plenty of bargains out there at the moment but if people can't get mortgages then the market remains stagnant. Where are all those people who bailed out at the height of the market in a bid to make a killing when it hit rock bottom?

PropertyIn.com... estate agents with integrity! Highly recommended.

I wonder if the situation has deteriorated since the smoking ban? Smoking and drinking has now spilled out onto the streets so away from the relative safety of an enclosed space. In the old days anyone being troublesome inside a pub/bar would be swiftly ejected and excluded. Now because everyone's out on the streets it's not so easy to distinguish troublemakers.

The fifth one down is definitely outside Honor Oak Mansions. Memories!

Sorry don't have any more info. I saw an old episode a few years ago and recognised it because I once lived in Honor Oak Mansions. Seem to have a vague recollection of the John Thaw character swigging from a bottle of scotch... but couldn't swear to it! I think a funeral scene was filmed in the cemetery too, might be the same episode?

There was an episode filmed in and outside Honor Oak Mansions on Underhill Road.

To each his own! Perhaps I haven't provided the best example, but it's all I could remember! And possibly the ED poems represent a bygone era (before its poncification!).

There's a brilliant local poet called Neil Rollinson (Spanish Fly) who's written quite a few poems about East Dulwich. Recurring themes that EDF regulars will identify with such as curry houses and public transport. Does anyone know whether he's published anything since Spanish Fly? I was reminded today of one titled 'A Tin Church' which starts like this... We start the white-knuckle ride on Dog Kennel Hill where the driver puts his foot down at the bend by the pub, Villeneuve in dreadlocks, putting the bus through its paces. ...

The Royle Family

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marabou_stork they can grow up to 60 inches!

If it's a monument to one that was there before, what was wrong with the one that was there before? Did it crumble? Suffer bomb damage? Have running water? Anyone able to source (pardon the pun!) a photo of the original?

Don't composting worms just evolve from the process of composting? I recently had to empty a compost and was amazed at the number of worms in there - great football sized clumps of them! I just put them on the garden and they unraveled and wriggled underground unseen in a flash. I too was surprised (not having cultivated a compost of my own) that there was no smell at all. I was concerned that a compost might attract rats, but really have no idea whether that is a consideration? Sorry if that doesn't actually answer your worms question!

Oh... was that you then? I thought you spent your time hanging around school playgrounds!

Bored at work... you don't know the meaning of the word!

oh dear... I once overheard someone telling his friends that he used to be into necrophilia... until some rotten cnut went and split on him. (sorry).

It's in Vale Street SE27... good luck, it's a bit convoluted, but if you head in the general direction of Croxted, Clive, Tritton, Martell Road you'll eventually find it!

I was going to suggest the thread be retitled "how to promote EDF"...

No... even the birds have been shunning it with a squawk of distaste... because there's no water in it!

I bet you were tempted by the meat though!

There's a bloke near where I work always asking for "change for a cup of tea"... gawd knows how he got into that state on tea!