The Minkey

I got some bloods done on Jan 14th. I called the surgery after a week to be told the results weren't back. I called them the following week to be told they still weren't back, at which point I quipped 'let's hope there's nothing wrong then' and was told that if the bloods showed a problem, the hospital usually returned them in a couple of days. I called one more time to be told the doctor now had them and that I would be called if there was an issue. She took my mobile number so I thought I'd get a phone call. As it happens, I made an appointment the same time about something else for which I had to wait a couple of weeks. I wasn't called back about my blood results so assumed all was fine. Finally, last Tuesday I went to my appointment and it was only as I stood up to leave that I remembered to ask about the bloods. My thyroid levels were in the hyperthyroid range, most likely due to over medication. The doctor asked if I'd had a letter. No I hadn't, I'd heard nothing from them. Instead, I'd continued to over-medicate unawares a further 5 weeks so god knows what my thyroid levels were at the time I was sitting there face to face with her. As far as I can see, had I not asked about the results at that appointment, I'd still be none the wiser and thinking I was going nuts. Surely this isn't acceptable and they had a duty to inform me sooner?

Have you been to The Ivy House before? Yes Have you been to The Ivy House for other events other than comedy? Yes - used to go to the Easycome nights. A great way to meet people. Have you ever been to The Ivy House just to have a drink? How often? A handful of times, when George was the landlord. The beer selection was very poor and there was never more than a handful of people in there unless there was a function of some sort going on. How aware are you of The Ivy House's reputation as a live music venue of note in the late sixties and early/mid seventies, when it was known as The Newlands Tavern? Well aware. Is The Ivy House the nearest pub to your house? Have you ever been there (how often?) If not, why not? Yes, nearest to my house. Stopped going due to ill health. Does the pub feel inviting from the outside? (Briefly explain) Not particularly inviting - could do with a tart up and new tables outside. Does the pub feel inviting inside? (Briefly explain) Loved the wood panelling and the stage area, plus the open fire. What changes would make you more likely to use the pub? Better selection of beers, real ales would be welcome addition. Food. Tea & coffee alongside the alcoholic offerings. Sofas & newspapers. Chess and backgammon. Stitch and bitch, theatre, films. Return of Easycome & similar fixtures.

Camden to Peckham - what a brilliant route that never was ;-)

The southbound stop outside NatWest and just before the Library is open. It's the nearest stop to Rye Lane if you're down that end. TFL must have given Clayton Road because it's the last open stop on that route but it's definitely not the nearest if you're on foot.

Luckily, it wasn't me wanting to get off at Tesco Express, Twirly, I just felt sorry for those who did. Is the southbound stop just before the Library closed now? It was open on the 15th, that's where I caught it and it's a shorter walk from Rye Lane than the stop on Clayton Road. Damn, that's made the weekly shop very difficult. I don't have the stamina for Sainsbury's DKH so I rely on Morrissons. The shopkeepers along Rye Lane can't be very happy about things.

I found myself on Rye Lane yesterday evening trying to get home from a doctors appt - like the poster above pointed out, the stop by the Station gave the codes for the nearest functioning bus stops but without a map it was useless information. I walked down to the bus stop at the end of Rye Lane by the Library as it seems to me quicker than walking down to the Clayton Road stop. Rye Lane was quite pleasant without the traffic, a much more relaxed vibe. So, I eventually got a bus and we went all round the houses to come back out onto the route at the bottom of the Rye. Unfortunately, despite the appeals of several passengers pleading with him to let them off, our driver flew past the other buses dropping off passengers outside Tesco Express. Although the roadworks had been cleared away and there was no obvious reason why the stop was still out of action, TFL had failed to remove the out of action jacket. Fortunately, it has since been removed and that particular stop is now fully open for business.

My brother once collected a heap of snowy white pebbles off the beach to write 'I love you' on the strip of grass outside his girlfriend's bedroom window. That's a proper Valentine :-)

I must be blind or something, I walked the length of Rye Lane yesterday and failed to see any signs warning of the imminent closure of the southbound lane. The first I knew of it was the driver making an announcement this evening to say the bus was on diversion due to 'Peckham Rye being closed'. It would be really handy for anyone living near the Tesco Express if they finally get a replacement bus stop a bit closer to home. The closure of that bus stop with no provision for a temporary stop at all between the station and Nunhead Lane must have been really inconvenient.

"Never really understood why our charity shops aren't terribly good. I go over to Beckenham to get great bargains and good stock. Or is it just me?!" No, it's not just you. I suppose their stock can only ever be as good as the stuff people donate.

Shots fired at random into the crowd, no evidence whatsoever as yet that Daniel or any of the injured were gang members. To imply that casualties of gang warfare are limited to gang members are inaccurate and unhelpful. My condolences to Daniel's family and friends who are surely enduring the worst of nightmares.

Great photo ;-) Not a lot going on out back of my house at the moment, apart from a flock of unneutered cats spraying & mating all over my garden :-(

I heard from a lady who lives right by there that as well as the lad who was stabbed and died, one youth was shot and is in intensive care, and another injured. It was something to do with the 18th birthday party which was being held in the Tower Hamlets Football Club nearby. Horrific.

I waited ages at Borough for a 343 the other night. One eventually came along, much to everyone's relief as it was bloody damp and cold, and we all piled on. As we were trundling up Rye Lane, the driver made an announcement to say the bus would be terminating at the next stop and made us all get off outside Tesco. Which was a real pisser because the bus stop is closed due to the roadworks. As it turns out there was no temporary stop to make up for the loss of that one which means no bus stop between the Station and Nunhead Lane/E Dulwich Rd which is a long, long walk for anyone with mobility problems or heavy bags - surely that could have been planned better :-(

" ED/ Dulwich has always been seen as a gentrified area" You what? When I first encountered ED, back in the early 80's, it was not exactly 'gentrified'. How exactly do you define 'always' - lol..

Gavin Edwards came round canvassing a few days ago and asked if I had any issues he could help with so I told him about the chaotic aftermath of the last set of roadworks, how the message about Rye Lane being open both ways hadn't been communicated to the drivers. He clearly thought I was making a fuss about nothing, that the situation had only lasted a couple of days and suggested it wasn't much of an inconvenience. Utterly failing to comprehend that a distance a healthy person considers an inconvenience might be impossible for someone with mobility issues. We then had a chat about the new roadworks. Apparantly, their timing, so close on the heels of the last set, is the result of having to use or lose an allocation from last year's budget to resurface the road. So I specifically asked him to have a word with the bus companies to make sure all their drivers were informed when the diversion comes to an end this time round. The other thing I'm going to contact him about, seeing as they're resurfacing, is to try and do something to prevent all the improvised tarmac ramps going back - the ones the shops use for deliveries. My OH hit one of those while running for his bus and broke his ankle. If they are going to be tolerated, then they at least need to be painted a contrasting colour so it's absolutely clear there's a trip hazard.

I got this email notification yesterday. If you're concerned about the forthcoming cuts to services, please sign up. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Southwark to cut 30% from its budget Join the resistance with Southwark SOS Southwark council faces a 30% cut in funding and is at this moment planning to slash 500 jobs and untold services. Many people with serious mobility problems and/or visual impairments which make using public transport unfeasible have already received notification of cuts to the Taxicard scheme, and other vital services will follow. It is frightening. However, there is a tide of resistance and Southwark Save Our Services campaign is uniting council workers, community groups, disabled people, tenants, pensioners, college and school students in a campaign against the cuts and to fight for more resources. We did not cause the financial crisis and we don't want to pay for it. If you would like to be kept in touch, please email southwarksos@gmail.com and ask to be put on the email list. You will then be kept in touch about activities and lobbies taking place to defend our services and benefits. It's not all protesting: we are making vibrant connections and getting very inspired to use our creativity in the struggle. Every bit of support and every bit of resistance counts. You can find Southwark SOS on Facebook too.

The snot fairy last visited me in '87 - since then nothing :-(

Maybe he forgot to take his medication?

Reviving this thread because buses are still detouring round the back once they get past Nigel road. I asked a driver on the 343 on the way down into Peckham today whether he'd be going down Rye Lane and he told me he was on diversion so I mentioned that I was just asking because the roadworks had finished and he went all moody. I asked the same question to a different driver on the way back and got the same answer. Rye Lane is clear, no roadworks, hardly any traffic.. They are no longer playing those automatic bus on diversion messages at Nigel Road and the temporary bus stop disappeared days ago. Has Rye Lane become one way for buses or something? I'd call the bus company but it's an 0845 number and I resent paying to be kept on hold. Does anyone know what's going on?

A friend and I were once on a sleeper train in India. The guy in the bunk above my friend turned all pervy during the night and started fumbling downwards to get a feel of her breasts so she took a lighter and lit it under his fingers - job done.

My OH had it - I thought it sounded like flu - half the office have had it too and it seems to hit some for about 8/9 days or so. No choice but to get horizontal and do very little. Hope it doesn't hit you too hard, Sue. Luckily, the cold/flu family don't find me an attractive.

I didn't think you were supposed to give cheese to birds either. I make my own fat cakes, very easy and very cheap. Melt lard/suet & mix in ground peanuts and birdseed. I buy my bird seed in bulk, it gets delivered to the door, and is excellent quality - see Vinehousefarm.co.uk or Streetendfeeds.co.uk Low quality peanuts may contain aflatoxin which is, as the name suggests, toxic to birds, so I buy human grade from any number of shops in Peckham at ?3.49 or thereabouts for 1.5kgs which seems to be cheaper than a lot of peanuts sold specifically for feeding birds. DKH Sainsburys were selling largish bags of peanuts, 1kg maybe, at a good price last time I was there but that was several years ago.

toblerone

I've had them call at my door a couple of times, both times I told them I didn't need anything. I probably had to repeat myself twice but it wasn't any more difficult than turning away someone trying to sell me God. I was a home alone female on each occasion. Neither were unpleasant, and the last guy was quite good humoured about it.

Hungry Hippo - haaaard!