KirstyH

Not your mass circulation tabloid that's for sure. Score - was looking up whether the Washington beltway phrase refers to an actual road and came across this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_the_Beltway.

PS here's an external view re EU political consequences: http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/five-reasons-not-to-cheer-scotlands-no-vote/ PPS I actually do have a sense of humour, but it's been a difficult day and someone had to get it.

Crikey Huguenot, have we been living in the same country? Have you been to Scotland? Is it actually correct to describe it as 'oh-so-unsubtle separatist bullshit' debated by 'small minded idiots'? Do you really think that's what the Referendum was about? Surely the act of writing your final sentence is demonstrating the very opposite characteristics to the silvery set of words you quoted. As for 'indefinable joy' frankly, the last two weeks have been a deeply unedifying exposure of political UK. The establishment came out with full, unsubtle, massively over-scaled artillery, to protect the status quo, largely because Cameron seriously under-estimated Salmond (yes, a polarising figure but love him or hate him an absolutely astute politician). It was Cameron that took 'devomax' off the referendum Q list to call Salmond's bluff. What the 45% vote means that there is an appetite for something different, and don't assume Scots are all separatists, or stupid. There will be an interesting discussion about English governance as well. As for 'a frail senescence' - maybe in terms of some of the institutions of state that senescence is advanced and new kinds of democratic control will arise - city, local community etc. So what do you think? What do you think can be devolved to Scotland, or be established for England? Really, the point that allows us to exist as a community, with varying views is that we are respectful, enquiring, and interested. As to undefinable Britishness - be careful that you are not actually trying to turn it into your own version.

Wonder if Cameron's effort to get business 'leaders' to save the union is back-firing. John Lewis customer services told me today, when I rang up, that they'd had 'alot of calls' today contra its Group Chair - with massively politicised timing - coming out about higher costs that 'could' face Scottish consumers if Y succeeded. Tedious. The interesting thing is whether its the Tories/England (I'm sure it will be for some)or actually frustration and weariness about politics as usual and a desire for something different - even taking a massive risk on that - that will push some of the undecideds towards Y. So its not just the challenge of whether Cameron et al heading to Scotland backfires because they're English/posh etc, but the very fact that they are heading there, on panic button, at the last minute to offer some 'new' thing, that could backfire?

Salmond is a v polarising figure but a 'brilliant' politician. On opening this (to check where we're all going to meet to watch the votes come in) I was struck by Mamora Man's original question - back in 2012 - about 16/17 year olds getting the vote. Watching the debate from down here, it's been the young people that have been asking the straightforward questions, as well as airing articulate reasons for their views. Politicians both sides would do well to answer those questions honestly instead of the boxing matches. The vote is an article of faith about what future you think you want and how you think this is best brought about. Its not anti-English at fundament. On EU membership it's been tricky to get under the politics of Eurocrats who are airing opinions that are political agendas about what a Scottish yes vote would set off (eg re Spain) - you basically can't trust anyone in UK to give you a clear line of the steps required. Mark Carney today gave a fairly strong 'no' line compared to his quite helpful factual step-by-step overview of what currency union involves early in the year. The Canadians/CA media consistently call the independence movement for Quebec 'separatists' and refer to Scottish yes voters in the same way, you don't want to impute opinion on someone (oh go on then) but it's a massively political time to step in in such an influential position and set your concrete in the way he has, he's gone down several notches in my view. I think the most interesting thing is that this is creating a huge discussion about power and politics in Scotland - kind of proper democracy rather than tired election voting. Its been the woeful 'national' media that have failed to clock this until Westminster woke up.

Not quite following the last page or two of the thread, hopefully dicks is a kind of english irony instead of saying jocks. More to the point does anyone know anywhere in ED, Peckers or the vicinity where we can watch the vote come in? Guessing it won't be an all-nighter unless they count really slowly just to draw it out.

Is it just me or is it incredibly annoying when people advertising things don't put prices on their workshops, events, classes? (I've just looked at one). It would completely put me off enquiring further, because (I would speculate): i) its expensive so they want you to contact them so they can reel you in ii) they want your name for a marketing list iii) they think we're all rolling in it. Maybe I'm just a grumpy old bastard, so what do others think?

Shops leaving their front doors open in winter. Grrr. With my entirely rational rage I have tried a number of things: 1. Seeing if I can sneakily get away with shutting the front door (never successful). It is ALWAYS a head-office sackable offense to have a closed door. 2. Ask why I should bother to switch off my [bloody] stand-by lights at night to save energy (+ the environment which they say they all are actively working to save) when they have a POLICY to keep the doors open when its 2C outside. 3. Inquire (this one has to be done very politely) whether their head office thinks we're too thick to open a door to walk into a shop? Back in 1842 when I was young and there were power cuts (and flick hairdos) - we all kept doors closed. 4. I've written to e.g. Pret to ask for the report showing increased foottraffic into the shop (and presumed resultant sales) is worth more than the energy they are wasting (ok a bit geeky) - they were really interested that I was interested, and are doing alot to save energy as they are really keen to cut carbon. 5. One clothing shop informed me their engineers had just installed a 'heat curtain' - a fan that blasts heat down round the door and this apparently stops the heat inside the shop escaping....I need some technical help with that one, (the lassie working there needed her own heat curtain as she was frozen). Frankly, I think the rage bit alone makes more sense.

Its perfectly reasonable for someone who isn't a practitioner to draw on an evidence base of what actually works. New things will have a smaller evidence base. In any case these aren't new ideas but examples have taken a long time to get to fruition. You can kill the messenger for studying or for using stats, but I think the real issue is what are our shared objectives? The collective vs the individual. If we do want lower noise, kids playing on streets (even being able to cycle to school) then something from status quo has to give around current car use, if its not 20mph then it'll be something else.

Lovely small grouping of long-tailed tits in street trees, Nunhead (at slight risk of being street weirdo with the bins out the window, but there we go). Bright in the greyness.

I've just spent 3 pints of blood on the phone to try and find out Blackfriars change over feasibility (4 mins) from the nunhead train through to StPancras late in the evening. Platform 2 and 3 sound like the same platform actually, you just need to walk 'back' I've been told. At prsent its difficult to see relevant info inside Blackfriars if you arrive on a platform, at least I've found, esp if you are carting around a bike (or luggage and kids) and often there is no one around on these very long platforms. A bit eerie late. FYI London Overground puts you through to First Capital Connect which apparently manages Blackfriars and they have to ring the station direct and ask....Neither TfL or national rai displayed the platform numbers.

I saw a single swift (long scythe like wings, short 'square' tail - yesterday (Sunday 29)early evening over Nunhead. Lovely. Was speaking to parents up in Scotland when I saw it, apparently no swifts there yet (east lothian). A pair of jays a couple of weeks back in a garden off Rye Lane in morning during commute sort of time.

I have been searching for a decent flat white (back to that) for a decade - South London Gallery makes the best I've found anywhere near here. Monmouth is good, and that Taylor St place (is that the one up the arcade in the city? if so, yes + lamingtons). I assume all the Ozzie cafes in London will do a proper one as well. Wouldn't mind finding a decent spirulina and maybe a proper savoury muffin for ballast. PS I have an original Atomic cookbook fm the mid-1990s(leaving pressie)can't say I've ever cooked anything from it as I'm a bit basic woman's weekly rather than ottolenghi, however if anyone wants a borrow I'll happily lend out.

A murmuration of starlings A charm of goldfinches Not quite so sure of this one: a lek of capercallie - or is lekking more the courtship ritual the males do rather than the collective...either way. The other thing re foxes is if you whistle at quite a high pitch they always stop - I think they like a tune too. On the cycle path behind Peckham Libr late at night if you are whistling away and cycling reasonably slowly they will always stop and look at you before going on their way. I wonder what the origin of that is ie reaction to higher pitched noises - same with dogs. Just heard on the radio that its RSPB birdwatch weekend.

Monmouth coffee at London Bridge do a proper flat white ie its not half a pint of coffee coloured warm milk. Could some of the kiwis perhaps open a wee cafe here - come to Nunhead - we have a fab greasy spoon, and of course the unsurpassable Frog on the Green Deli, but we could do with a down to earth place to caffeinate. I can lend my mid-1990s Atomic cookbook if that helps (I've still not actually mastered the cooking bit, but its lovely to slaver over).

What I find strange here is the assumption that everyone has (or should have) the same noise tolerance. It's not the case - like being short or tall, some people are very noise sensitive, meaning its hard to shut it out, and really stressful. I moved here fm Hackney where there is very little plane noise and it was almost shocking after I'd moved in (unless you go and view your flat at 5am!). I looked at triple glazing and other methods - but given cashflow at the time it was earplugs, and never having the window open at night. If noise smelled like cigarette smoke or was coloured it might be easier for non-noise sensitive people to understand - its like a potlid. So if the agreement not to expand 3 London airports means City is looked at next then I'm with mistymorn and would want to do something about it. In terms of cutting down plane use, I've been surprised in the last 4 or 5 years that the telecoms/communications industry hasn't been more on the ball offering communication alternativs (eg videoconferencing) for a chunk of business travel. You can debate what proportion that is, but I don't know anyone that flys regularly that actually finds it a pleasant experience, but there are no comparatively easy ways to 'book' alternatives - eg no 'expedia' or 'skyscanner'. Post-9/11 BA had a series of adverts to ensure businessmen felt they might lose out on deals if they weren't there in person.

To mark historic plane-free weekend, I got 'The Cloud Book - How to understand the Skies', Richard Hamblyn - now leapt to top of my new favourite book list. Excellent, produced with met office, lots of photos and explanations (including where 'Cloud 9'comes from). Not yet quite confident enough to say what's up there at the moment, maybe a spot of cirrostratus fibratus? Was worried for a moment there it was going to be cloud-free and sunny forever.

just posted in naturewatch thread - this might seriously be the only time in our lifetimes. So what are the 10 things to do while there are no planes? I've dusted off the minidisk and am doing wee recordings of outside things.....

This may be the once in our lifetime there will be no planes over London, absolutely lovely. Windows open, birdsong flooding in, I bet everyone is more relaxed. Nunhead cemetry was fantastic yesterday, rippling with birds, and no potlid. I took some recordings, and intend to compare with how loud it is when the planes go over. If I can remember how to do it, I'll post the 'before and after' audio files (if they aren't too big). Am thinking, 10 things to do while things are more peaceful.

Its all explained by the nice canadians at http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/names.html - apparently the falcus bit means sickle (shape of wings/talon/beak) and the peregrine element - wandering etc. Only need to look up modernus tatae to check they are a suitably arty-farty location for the peregrines. I did a nightclass 3 or 4 years ago via Birkbeck, and was sure there were peregrines in the square their library looks over (close to SOAS).

HI there, never been on this bit of EDF so good to discover this thread. FYI - there's a huge cherry tree opposite just at point of blossom opening (27 of march); from my notes, last year it was 3 weeks earlier (March 8th) and the year before that it was 25 February! I saw that they were predicting late arrival of spring. I'm interested in re-learning birdsong, in case anyone knows of an early morning thing one weekend.

Fresh n' Wild north of river used to stock McSweens and the veggie version (also v good). Anyone know if any of the pubs are adding haggis to sunday lunch? I saw that Hootenanny have got some mental sounding gaelic rock Motorhead band on, which in absence of haggis I may venture to - ever seeking a good Runrig bash equivalent.

Got myself slightly overenthusiastic there - but here's the Asian Review of Books on Mo Yan's Republic of Wine, makes up for my rather non-literary description http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/article.php?article=72

for really good storytelling I'd go for anything by Peter Carey (eg Oscar and Lucinda) or Harukai Murakami (eg wind up bird chronicles, okay and nearly everything else); agree Engleby AND Rebus (essential). but don't get ?30 out - get ?7.50 out, or a credit crunch fiver, and go to that fab second hand book stall on Northcross Road on saturdays, or the Mind shop, and buy 3 slightly random books that look interesting (or 50p/?1 each at Tony's on whatever that road is called Choumert I think). I'm currently on Jean Genet's Prisoner of Love at the moment by this method - definitely worth a read, the bloke hung out with the Black Panthers and the Palestinian liberation fighters in his latter years, bloody hell. One of the most bizarre and imaginative and, frankly weird, was The Republic of Wine by Chinese writer Mo Yan (roughly speaking about an investigation into a baby-eating scandal). And oh yes definitely Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig) for thought provoking plus the inevitable weekend of wanting to be a philosopher. Julian Barnes History of the Universe in 10.5 Chapters is great too. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, followed by Eduardo Galeano's Memory of Fire trilogy which is a history of Latin America, but its not like any other history - he is the most devastating writer about the human condition, probably the writer I most admire (prob not via second hand). You can tell I've just been nipping up and down to the bookshelf and then you remember something else that's been excellent. Will stop now. PS have two Rebuses in case you want risk free trial. Am trying to have an alcohol free night in, so this is the result.

Hiya I cycle Nunhead to Victoria - or London Bridge depending (freelance). I do it Amsterdam style - no helmet, no gear (ie fluorescent kit). 4 years in Amsterdam is good training for London as you have to make fast decisions because of all the other cyclists - no one stops at red lights - or even hesitates even with a kid on the front and back (liability is always with the motorist and most motorists are highly tolerant as most also cycle). Having lived in Hackney I do find the straight route along by Camberwell more challenging because of the cycle lane occupied by demonic buses. The main thing I find challenging about London (apart from the fact no one ever looks at each other - I spent the first 6 months saying hello to other cyclists, yikes!) is the soul-destroying intolerance towards cyclists(pedestrians-drivers)- I'm a considerate cyclist (though I do go through red lights on occasions, Amsterdam style, but always let all pedestrians fully cross first) and I've been staggered at general hatred that each grouping has towards each other. It breeds intolerance, it feels hard to love ones fellow pedestrian if they moan on to you generically about their frustrations. Equally professional drivers especially are totally mental here. I think the British have an odd relationship with rules and who should observe them, and why. The great thing is that as more people cycle the greater the possibility of tolerance as more people will know what its like, or know a cyclist. I feel that everyone should spend a weekend in Amsterdam observing how tolerant people are over there, and then come back here (good fun too). Kirsty