LadyTaTa

What type of bird is it that lives on Peckham Rye in a large flock? I know it's a type of crow and thought it might be a rook, but it looks like rooks have bigger beaks than these birds. I've noticed that every night when the sun sets, they fly up into the trees for about an hour, and then they all fly off in the direction of nunhead cemetery. Who knows why they don't just stay in the park...

Hi Sue, hmm that's interesting. Yes I do, but I'm on the 4th floor, perhaps they don't think to look there. They used to come and eat peanuts from the same place though. Perhaps I'll try shifting it's position. Saying that, being on the 4th floor doesn't stop the pigeons looking longingly at the feeder :))

I take my hat off to you, that photo is amazing! Very nice. I have some fatballs in a feeder (no mesh) and the birds are either not hungry, or haven't realised that it's food. They've been untouched for weeks.

I lived in Italy for a while and was astonished by how much everyone swore - especially parents in front of their children. It also seemed to have lots to do with bottoms: * Go and do an @rse * Go and poo * She / He's a sh!t (Stronza / Stronzo) - actually someone explained to me in great detail that stronzo/a meant a small tiny dried up dog poo Old ladies seemed to enjoy using particularly nasty ones if you didn't move out of their way fast enough (Mortacci tua - your dead ancesters souls are disgraced, or something like that). Actually I think that one was Roman rather than Italian. However, the weird thing was that the worst kind of swear words you could use had very harmless translations, but they were blasphemous. Pig Madonna and Pig Misery were really bad, but the worst one of all was Pig God. Some guy said it once on the TV and wasn't allowed back on for years. Have to admit I once heard a man say it in the street, and the genuinely shocked and horrified reactions of passers-by was something to see!

Yes, pernod and black, that's it!

Ah Brendon you made my day Makes me think of the wonderful Armstrong and Miller sketches I was only thinking the other day that 'Rock Up' tends to be used by fairly posh well-spoken people, which makes it sound all the more incongruous. Same for chillax and good times, to a lesser extent. The shame, the first time someone said 'Rock Up' I had to ask what they meant, I hadn't heard of it before (that was about 10 years ago in my defence). Anyway, I hate 'Telly' and 'Tummy'. Grrrrr. Although not new words, their usage afflicts me dreadfully.

Oooh good lists... Archers & Lemonade Asti Spumante Snakebite (is it illegal for a pub to see it or is that an urban myth?) Pina Colada Sex on the Beach Babycham Mint Julep Brandy Alexander What's that drink, something and black... can't remember it. My mother still orders Cinzano & Lemonade. I'm taking her to lunch at Le Gavroche for her 60th birthday next week, and I know she's going to order that or Asti Spumante, and I know I'll be embarrassed, and then guilty for being embarrassed (sigh) ;-) Both my parents love a bit of mateus rose.

Well he is called Paul... and prophets tend to be male.

Here he is...

All hail The Octopus.

Oh no! We're having pigeon babies!! Actually, despite being revolted by pigeons I have to say I'm getting fond of the parents of these two. They look clean, no gammy legs, don't poo all over my balcony, and share the parenting responsibility. Which is more than can be said of some of my house guests...

eater81 / eater man, talk about tough love! Ha ha loved your post though. Conkers... brilliant.

I second 'One Day'. Penny Vincenzi's latest is an excellent beach read apart from it's a bit heavy to hold (I think it's called The Best of Times' or something like that). If you'd like something naff and entertaining Harriet Evans' 'A Hopeless Romantic' is harmless fun although the first chapters were a bit slow. 'A Spring Affair' by Milly Johnson was excellent froth, better than Harriet. I think the best beach read ever is Penny Vincenzi's 'The spoils of time' trilogy. Oh, so addictive. In the unlikely event that you've never read 'Cloud Atlas' my David Mitchell that is an excellent book as well. I can't help but mention my favourite book, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. I reckon it could just about scrape in as a beach read :))

Oh how sad, sincere condolences to Ken's family. My boyfriend gets his hair cut there and said Ken wasn't well, so I was very sorry to read this. Such a nice post though, Dorothy.

I saw a pair of bullfinches recently (a couple of months back), but down in Winchester. Still, I'd never even seen one before - amazing sight! I had to look them up on the RSPB birdfinder to figure out what they were - they hung out there for most of the afternoon, but my parents haven't seen them since.

I'm really looking forward to trying DJKillaQueen's recipe, but after reviewing the list of ingredients sadly it will have to wait a couple of weeks (when I will have hopefully squeezed myself into a figure-hugging dress at my friend's wedding). After that point, I'm going to cook myself up a chicken and eat it until I twitch :))

Oh that is so awful, I wish I hadn't read it!

Thanks for the recipes! Though I'll skip hatching and murdering my own chickens - I'm far too squeamish :))

Mmmm Jerk Chicken... I really want to learn how to make a decent version of this. Does anyone have an authentic recipe?

Thanks for the plant advice. They sound like nice ideas.

Thanks for the honeysuckle advice. I think I'll give it to my parents and try something more suitable. Can anyone recommend a large flowering plant that would like a south-west facing balcony? I already have Forsythia and that does well.

But that would mean letting it die.... noooooooooo!

Hee hee, my brain was probably addled although I do find it a bit of a stretch that a burger restaurant would choose to use 'foul buns'. Then again after four Long Island Iced Teas a coaster would have probably tasted delicious.

I went to a upmarket (and reasonable) burger restaurant there called Hache. I remember it being really nice, but I had consumed a few happy hour cocktails at... hmm was it Bar Vinyl? http://www.hacheburgers.com/contact.php

Thanks Dulwich Gardening! Very kind. I have a real problem with my honeysuckle (growing in a very large pot on the balcony). It seems to be fine in the cooler months, as soon as summer comes it gets mildew and drys out at the same time (amazing I know). I give it a tiny bit of water every other day. I keep it out of direct sunlight against a wall so it's not buffeted by winds or anything. I've tried spraying it for mildew but no luck. Does anyone have any advice? The other plants all seem fine. It's such a shame because when it produces flowers they smell wonderful. It has produced a few so far and quite a few last year that were short lived. This years lasted about one week! There is still new growth coming.