Polly D

The Road Home has been a fave read of late, and agreeing with KirstyH - Murakami.

Agonised over whether to send him a collage of a dragon that I was very proud of - it never went up on the gallery and was never returned, as warned. Bro and I used to guess the ages of those lucky enough to be displayed in the gallery. Sigh, happy memories.

I know I know, I meant I'm watching the cra*ola. But he does go into a complete daze when watching his progs, like a 3 year old in front of In the Night Garden...

DM ma cherie, Hairy Smelly Love cannot be prised away from Family Guy, Simpsons, Flight of the Conchords, etc etc for love nor money. But he lets me watch Eastenders and X Factor so we are equal. What happens chez vous when you want to watch cra*pola sur le box?

So sorry for you Heath. Hope something gets recovered at least.

And yesterday we received a card asking us to read both meters and leave the card out so if the guy who came on Saturday morning was bona fide, why did we receive a card?

Yesterday morning we were rudely awoken from a rare Saturday morning lie-in at 7.45am by some very persistant ringing on the bell and knocking on the door. It sounded so urgent that we thought maybe a neighbour needed some help so went to answer and husband found a man claiming to want to read our electricity meter. He asked him for ID and he showed some kind of card which definitely didn't say EDF but maybe Akon or something and given the bleary-eyedness of the moment (and the fact he was in his pants, husband not the meter men) he let him in. He was in and out in a matter of 10 seconds but didn't appear to record any reading. Sure nothing dodgy but we were surprised by 1) the persistancy of the guy (though it was pouring outside) and 2)the time of the day. To be fair the last few times we've paid the fuel bill it's been an estimated reading and maybe he was under strict orders to get a real reading. Our supplier is EDF. Has this happened to anyone else and does anyone know whether EDF contract out to another company for the readings, if so the name?

Mais oui et merci! February. Reckon it will be a popular section ;-)

Option 1 definitely and v cheap - I think approx ?7 single; you can't get returns for some reason.

Is the family room going to open soon? - whispers 'Huguenot, il y a un brioche dans le four maintenant'

Yep read that too - was in yesterday's paper. Can't find a link but Garden has summed it up.

Great news G&B: v happy to hear you're back. Why, only Friday night while all this was unravelling, Mr D and I were scoffing your finest scotch eggs and supping your wine while on a train to Cornwall, purchased the evening before.

It's v depressing and whilst it's good to know about incidences like these so we can be more aware or vigilent (Just_Moved_In: I sincerely hope your flatmate isn't too traumatised by what's happened), it does also encourage us to worry more. Hope all can feel strong enough to go about their daily business - especially alone and after dark.

I agree with missd and not just because she is another miss d. Was thinking about this post on the cycle home as at least two people at bus stops chucked their still-lit fags into the road as I cycled past. What's the problem with stubbing it out on the bin and chucking it away in said bin? It's like dog poo. Pick it up. I don't want your dog poo and I don't want your fag butt. missd Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > maybe unfair that you got fined so much > immediately, without even a warning > > however.....i am sure you might think twice before > you throw a butt on the floor again. > > and if it makes people think twice then that's a > good thing (in my opinion of course).

Was mugged coming out of Honor Oak Park station 3 years ago. 3 blokes jumped on me from behind, I was kicked and jumped on and had my bag nicked. They also took my shoes and coat - nice!!!! People around stopped and helped, police came within 10 mins I think. Initially the police seemed really helpful, even drove me to Tooting so I could stay with a friend. They said they would put up yellow notice boards etc etc and I went to Lewisham police station (largest police station in Europe, apparently, and worringly) but I couldn't identify any of them. Despite the b***ards using my debit cards online and in phone boxes (it was my bank who rang to tell me) the police sent me a letter saying no further action could be taken ... v distressing experience.

WHAT! I have to say, I'd be gutted if the ban was reversed. I love not coming home reeking of fags after a night out and smoking is so last year darling.

Gosh, sorry to disappoint but no onion in the pickling jar! I will keep you informed though. Just occurred to me that there are so many threads re schools, nurseries, kid-friendly pubs and so, as Asset says, you could avoid or head straight there depending on your situation; like the residential section. The Family Room sounds good Mark. And I hope to go there one day!

How about a new section for family-related topics, for example: schools, babysitters, family-friendly restaurants, nurseries, advice?

What about the slight feeling of embarrassment when you start to walk down the corridor/street and you see someone you know at the other end but the distance is a good 50m or so and so a few minutes until you get near enough to say hi :-$- do you maintain eye contact? Do a silly dance? Strut your stuff as of on a catwalk?

There's a really good, reasonably priced company (not local) called Paperplain you could try: www.paperplain.net

Take Mrs Keef for Welsh rarebit and have yourself a bacon sandwich for brunch - YUM

Yep, fair enough when truly an Australian doing it but not when it's not, I think.

Oh Peckham GC ... thanks but I worked at Pizza Express for YEARS. Even while making the dough this evening I found myself feeling like a pizziola ... or whatever it is we used to officially call the pizza makers. The dough was always so wrong in PE, IMHO.

Not so much a saying or a phrase but v annoying when people talk as if everything they say is a question, like, you know?

Peckhams please! We tried the following, as suggested by James Tanner via Mike P: 250g plain flour 8 tbsp olive oil 2 tsbp water 1 tsp salt It was yum but more like pastry than pizza base. Yummness was more down to the toppings. Think it's best to go to the Gowlett ...