The Minkey

Sounds like my ex-neighbours. Feel for you..

I plan on keeping my blue boxes (I somehow acquired two) as they work better stacked than a large blue bin for the space I've got. Mrs B, you can request a brown bin specifically for food waste. It's much smaller than the big one, but larger than the kitchen caddy. Perhaps this would suit your purposes.

I thought February was mating time for foxes. I haven't heard a peep out of our lot in ages. I do hear cats fighting though as we have a veritable plague of unneutered felines round our way. I have worn ear plugs for the last two years, every night. I use the wax ones from Boots which are far better for my ears than the foam ones which seem to irritate and fit badly. Do you have double-glazing? If not, I think you may need to invest in some if you can't tolerate ear plugs.

I first ate tongue while on an exchange trip in France many moons ago. It came complete with surface texture so felt exactly like a cold, dead tongue in my mouth. A couple of weeks ago, over 30 years later, I chose the tongue dish at Franklin's and it was really quite delicious (peeled this time round).

The 'smile' on the face of a slumbering cat.

Wow, the Doggett's food must have improved. I was there for a works Christmas party about 6 years ago and much of the food was slathered in cheap catering mayo. The resident DJ, who came complete with purple bubble wig, was shite too. Glad to hear they've sorted the catering out.

I have quite a few green toms if you're still interested. A few of my plants have begun to succumb to blight so I've harvested all the remaining trusses which are still sound. I'm in Kelvington Rd, opposite side of the Aquarius from you.

I live in fox central, backing onto the Aquarius, and have never had an issue with foxes breaking into the blue box. Cubs do like to find things to play with, but they tend to nick such things as balls and gardening gloves which have been left out overnight. If you happen to have a dishwasher, stick smelly items like fish cans in with the wash and make sure the lid is clipped onto the blue box securely - see if that works.

"What on earth are you putting in the boxes?!" Or what aren't you rinsing out?

According to the leaflet, the changes don't apply to blocks of flats.

Isn't there some kind of nasty biting black fly that lurks around the Peckham Rye park area?

Elloriac: Sue said it was on Copelstone Rd. I live on Kelvington and I haven't seen a hazel nut tree, I shall have to go take a look..

Interesting points James, but surely the situation with the new collection is unlikely to reduce the amount of material recycled seeing as the green bin collection has also dropped to fortnightly. I will be mildly interested to see whether it will force my neighbours, who have two green bins overflowing with rubbish every week, to finally start recycling.

Mmmm, babies fingers.. *slurps*

Reading that article, hasn't it already been downgraded from hurricane to gale status?

I've been in the pilot for the last year or so. It's been absolutely fine. They provide a small brown bin & liners which sits on my kitchen counter to collect up the organic waste through the week. I live on my own and generate a small bag of organic waste per week, about a carrier bag full of green bin waste and half a blue box of recyclables. Could possibly get away with existing bin situation, but will go for two blue boxes as opposed to a large blue bin as they take up less space stacked. Intexasatthemoment: I have a 95yr old friend with mobility issues who seperates out her rubbish and relies on her downstairs neighbours to put it out for her, much like you do the putting out for your mum. However, in her case there is a small front garden which houses the bins. What do the other people in your mum's street do? Have you tried calling the council to ask them to propose a solution given there's no space for bins?

I've had neighbours like that, ignorant f***ers. I cut my losses in the end and moved due to their penchant for all weekend parties, and midnight DIY.

Ah, I didn't know hazels could grow as trees, I've only ever seen them in shrub form. Hmmm, lucky you if they are cobnuts. If they are still green, you can open them easily with your teeth - very tasty.

If it's the same leaflet I got, food waste will still be collected weekly. It's just the non-food waste which is moving to a fortnightly collection, and tetrapacks are now also included in the recycling. Do you have to deal with disposal of nappies, is that why you're worried about the smell?

I run my digi TV from a set top ariel and the picture on some channels is unwatchable lately as it breaks up whenever an aircraft passes overhead. I also noticed a noise increase from aircraft but prior to Sept 3rd.

Hope your frogs have just gone walkabout, Sue. They spend a lot of their lives outside water so could be lurking under cover somewhere nearby. Fingers crossed for you. I was really happy to see a flock of sparrows mobbing the feeders this week. Last summer, they spent a lot of time throwing hedge parties but haven't seen or heard much of them at all this year, just arriving in ones and twos, so to see 20 or so all at one time was great.

To report a noise nuisance: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/412/noise_problems/1245/reporting_noise_problems/1 Advice on Southwark Council website re: being a considerate neighbour: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/412/noise_problems/377/be_a_considerate_neighbour/1

Whatever you decide to go for, if the plant is to provide some privacy screening, it needs to be an evergreen so you don't end up looking at a bunch of bare twigs during the dormant months. To help narrow things down, you need to determine what the light and soil conditions are so you can choose a suitable plant for the position you want it to grow in. You might also want to consider whether you want flowers/scent, and/or autumnal interest such as berries. Also, pay attention to its predicted maximum height/spread, and rate of growth.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZjVfF1nM_k/Tf8_oJg8gRI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/KoqtRWVLBvQ/s1600/spider.jpg

"to meny peaple feeding them need to cull there numbers is what me thinks had no proplums with my chickens thou" Foxes or snails?