first mate

I have just had two gentleman dressed in hi-viz waistcoats knock at the door and ask if I had received this month's SE22 magazine. I replied that I had upon which they asked for my signiature as proof that I had received it. I declined to give my signature. Can anyone confirm if the request is kosher?

My solutions are as follow: be responsible for the path outside your house and if it is covered with any kind of litter, including dog or even fox poo, pick up and dispose of in your bin. If you see dog poo whilst out and about and you can bear to do so, pick up and dispose of in nearest bin. If we all got in the habit of carrying a few plastic bags it would be feasible. Of course, you can also monitor and watch for offenders, but may expend a lot of time and energy without the results you want. Finally, if someone is caught in the act of not picking up after their dog, they should be fined, very heavily. They won't do it again. I'm sure the bulk of people will find the first suggestion risble/beyond the pale but I really don't think we can always rely on the council to get this stuff right- pulling together as a community to do the dirty work , as well as the fun stuff, may produce the best results.

Frankito, Of course, all community minded dog owners pick up after their dogs, because we don't like stepping in dog doo either. In the same way, most of us put our litter in bins, adhere to speed limits and would give up a seat on the bus for an elderly person- it's called being socially aware, and I believe those who break one part of the code are likely to break the rest.

PRP this morning, the area by the Japanese garden had lots of trees with branches that had clearly been snapped off- large branches. Can only assume its people as cannot think of any wild animal having the strength. What is wrong with them?

No not for a scotch egg, but they do have to be insured. I'd look out for said dog walker and have a word with her/him- They may work for a larger company. It is their responsibility to keep dogs in their charge under control. They should have seen that a group of you were sitting together and avoided you- totally their fault in my view. Plus those of us who are responsible dog owners get miffed when incidents like this ratchet up anti-dog feeling. I've noticed more people proffering their services as dog walkers recently and one does have to wonder if some of them are properly qualified or even know much about dogs.

No surprise that he is a ginger tom- well known to be the most feisty!

nancysmum, I think you may be surprised to know that a proportion of non-pick-up offenders are mummies who also have dogs- I've witnessed this a few times. Dog poo is anti social, it is another form of anti social behaviour. I've said this many times on this forum but it is one of many littering offences. I find dog poo offensive but I also intensely dislike broken glass- and there is plenty of that around too. Gum though less hazardous is very annoying. The chicken bones that litter the street are also a nuisance. Glass is hazardous to all, especially children. Gum and chicken bones are very dangerous for dogs and can kill them. I think there should be a crackdown on litter in general, not just one kind. I do believe that the sort of person that walks away from any of the above is the same kind of person- antisocial.

Hitting/slapping a child on the face is just plain nasty, abusive and wrong. I'm not being PC about this I just think that the face is so sensitive.... no wonder that child had fear in his eyes. Had it been the rump I might not have approved but it does not feel so vicious as an action. I think culture, religion etc.. is irrelevant, that kind of behaviour is abusive and I think I might have said something.

leaglebeagle, given that she is not chipped I can see some virtue in not giving a description on this site.

BWM- Thanks for that- glad appropriate peeps aware. Your theory about dog being stolen may well be correct- on the other hand, may just be abandoned by someone who tied it up where it would be likely to be found by warden. As you say, huge increase in abandoned dogs as the economic tide turns. Kamila, please let us know if dog is reunited with owner and well done for taking her in.

Kamila, presume you have also contacted dog warden etc..? Leaving a dog tied up for three hours does not sound right at all. Does sound as though it has been dumped, but just in case there is another explanation I'd contact the dogs warden too.

It would be interesting to know by how much the annual council spend/budget would be reduced by pulling the free bags.

nununoolio, what other parts of your job do you love? Just asking?

If my neighbour was mugged in this area I would certainly want to know, I'd probably want to know if they were mugged anywhere, it's the sort of experience that people often want to share and get off their chest, in my view that is part of being in a community. I also think it is useful to have a sense of what is going on around you, both positive and negative. In addition I don't think that sharing an experience constitutes scaremongering. If someone peddles rumours or reports stuff second hand, or exaggerates, that would be scaremongering, simply saying what has happened to you is not.

zeban, I don't agree with you. The forum is a place where people who live in East Dulwich share their experiences, views, needs and gossip. Sharing the fact that you have been mugged seems to me as valid a part of partcipating in a community forum as anything else. You seem to be suggesting that individual's censor their experiences in order to make the forum a 'safe' place. Again, I still don't understand the notion that people are suddenly joining the forum to tell others they have been mugged, because this is the latest thing to do. If people have been mugged that is a fact and I have no problem with them telling other forumites about it- just as I would appreciate neighbours telling me if they had a break in. I don't think it is scaremongering, it is simply their experience.

Zeban posted I honestly think they're just being reported on the forum more. Zeban I am genuinely interested as to why you think people might suddenly be posting more about being mugged, whereas formerly they would have kept stum? I am open to persuasion on this, but my instinct (no evidence to back it) is that people would generally always have posted on the forum if they had been mugged. It's a fairly major thing to happen in the course of one's day, and is something many would want to share- I would think?

This might be the same one-eyed yorkie that was missing and picked up by a couple a few weeks ago. If so, it's a bit worrying that he's strayed again. See below: messageRe: Dog found new Posted by: muser January 30, 06:44PM Dogs Owner Found I really am terribly sorry I really thought I'd posted that the owner had contacted Southwark Council who were able to give me the info when I rang - even tho dog wardens dont work on a Sunday!!- So both dog and owner happily reunited. Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions. It has been a useful experience because we have been considering getting a dog. Annie is used to Spaniels and my last dog was a Newfoundland. The Yorkshire Terrier was really very sweet, but I kept nearly tripping over the poor little sausage. So I dont think I can do sweet for a dogwinking smiley

Can I just point out that while aesthetics are important there is also the vital issue of light. Terraces are built close to each other anyhow. Building up can seriously blot the light into your neighbour's home as well as significant parts of their garden. Aside from wanting more space many loft conversions are built to maximise light for the owner. All of us wnat as much light and space as possible. It seems very unfair that in adding light to your own property you take it from your neighbour...after they have endured months of messy and noisy building work too. If you want more space move to a larger property.

*Bob* How did you guess :)

I for one would wholly support Southwark in trying to keep a handle on the proliferation of L shaped loft conversions that have been cropping up on terrace houses. For one, they really affect the light of the neighbouring property and most look horrendous too. Some of these loft conversion companies are also very happy to play fast and loose with planning law. Perhaps they have just got away with it thus far and now, thank goodness, planning departments are beginning to crack down. Loft conversions are lovely for the people that own them but pretty awful for the people who live next door.

evildrwallace, an excellent point, well made.

NO! I don't know what your views are on this James but I'd be interested to know? Like others here I don't believe we need another supermarket, it can only damage our wonderful indie shops. We don't want to have an anchor store that attracts other big chains to the area. The beauty of ED is that it has so many indie shops and therefore feels a bit different. We're lucky enough to have butchers, cheese shops, bakers, a fishmonger, delis and greengrocers. The livelihood of all of these might be threatened by another big supermarket. Please don't let ED be destroyed by offering it up for sale to the chains. What do you think James? Do you support the idea of another supermarket?

Well, we could introduce laws of collective responsibility in all sorts of areas- anyone that consumes takeaway food or drinks out of glasses/bottles near a public area should, by law, have to, pick up any litter they see: discarded gum, chicken bones, half eaten sarnies, smashed glass of any kind, ciggie butts................should fix any littering problem, I agree :)

PP/Pebble, thanks for reply. Any way of getting this sort of thing in London shop? I'd meant to get something but caught out by early snow. I also wondered how easy these things are to clip on and off?

Louisiana, I think that's what might be putting others off. I also thought- what's the point it'll all get snowed over again, but I think, if done daily, it does help a bit. It doesn't take long, as we know.