first mate

I think kids from the other Academy adjacent to Peckham Rye are already using the Rye for Sports Events. I for one seriously hope that sections of the Rye do not become permanent extensions of the school/s. Regular use in this way could seriously impact on the park and its other users. It was not meant to be used in this way and it is an easy get out for Southwark Council/ Harris etc.. I don't object to occasional use. It's the notion that large sections of the park are given over to schools/sports academies that bothers me and I believe there is an intention to do just this.

Try the rice crispie cakes too, yum.

omgwtfpwn, there's an enormous green space only 5 minutes down the road, for those older kids who want to play football. Peckham Rye also has a skate board area and a cafe and some fantastic gardens. I believe they are also erecting a building that will have some youth provision. Surely that is quite a lot to be going on with? Not quite on the doorstep, but very close.

Agree that it's better to keep the fence because of expense involved in removing it. Just wish it hadn't been put there in the first place.

I disliked the fence from the first. I think it's incredibly ugly and much preferred the look for the park without. Can't recall any consultation prior to it being put up, though there must have been. More important: instead of banning dogs why not insist all dogs be put on a short lead in Goose Green only? When on lead it is harder to miss the fact that one's pooch has taken a dump. A frequent excuse/reason for not clearing up after the dog is that it is too far away, off lead, for the owner to have noticed. Those who say their dogs needs to run off lead need only travel a little further down the road to Peckham Rye. However, the rights of the elderly or infirm to walk their dog closer to home are protected, as are those who want to cut through the park with their dog, or families with a dog who want to picnic on Goose Green. Because of the tiny size of the park I think this is a reasonable compromise. But I would not want to set a precedent for large green spaces. With enough publicity and signage I am sure eagle eyed members of the public would be quick to intervene and remind dog walkers who don't pick up.

Blinder, Good work. Wonder if the woman who did an article in SLP (?) knows about this?

Zebedee, Good idea, think I'll do the same. If Dr B-G has gone to another surgery in the area I am tempted to follow.

That is terrible. ZT did you leran if she was going elsewhere?

Oh, alright, you spotted a tautology. Well done you. Gold star.

Think Rose is pretty savvy and when people really cannot afford things in her shop she'll cut her cloth accordingly. She's only doing what most independent shops do, catering for an existing market: supply and demand. It's not her job to be a charity. She was the second decent place to open on Northcross Road, way back in the 90's -I was her first customer- and has helped to make ED a more interesting place. Many of the other nick nack shops merely followed in her wake. Of all of them she has, in my view, been the most original because she was the first. Just pray that the credit crunch doesn't wipe people like her out, because any vaccuum is bound to be filled by the outfits that can afford it, the chains. I don't want to live on another homogenised high street, or one filled with pound stores. Finally, though I'm sure she can take it, it must be tough to read such unfettered criticism over what sounded like quite a small incident.

Another is perspective instead of prospective. Is that her perspective partner? Depends on your point of view.

What about getting lyrics wrong? For years I thought a line in Elton John's "Benny and the Jets" went: "She's got electric boobs a Mohawk's suit, you know I read it is a magazine oh,oh,....., Benny and the Jets". The mind boggled. Other teeth crunchers are the classic estate agent's line "comprises of" and "personally I..".

I recall a receptionist at Melbourne Grove saying that the diagnosis by phone etc.. was part of a pilot. Now I wonder if we could find out who is monitoring the pilot and perhaps urge them to read this or forward them the link?!

Yes, I also said no and now feel really bad about it. Does anyone have contacts for her?

Noticed that Curry Cabin passes on the hygiene front and Tandoori Nights doesn't. For what it's worth, I 've just had a prawn korma, tarka dall with rice and pappadums from the former and it was absolutely revolting; the worst meal I've had in ages. The pappadums tasted rancid and the main dishes almost defy description: cardboardy korma out of a packet in a disturbing shade of coral, and lumpy, bland dall, like something soggy from the back of a hamster's nest. It was cheap but just hope I'm in one piece tomorrow. Will not be going back. TN, on the other hand, expensive but always tastes -of real spices- and looks freshly cooked.

Cate, As I understand it, Concordia Health is a private company that has taken over Melbourne Grove. I believe that Fradd is the Chairman, so guess he is on the board of the company? Sorry, don't have more detail, others here may be able to fill in the blanks. I too desperately hope the news about Dr. Brew-Graves is nothing more than a rumour, but my sources are pretty certain it is true. Perhaps we could find out where she is going and defect en masse? Or if someone from Concordia reads these posts and sees how much we the clients value her, they may reconsider and make it worth her while to stay on!

Cate, Yes, I've heard it's Dr Brew-Graves and the rumour is that the team there had to be pruned and she is the one to go. Perhaps she's glad to get out of there but what a terrible loss to the surgery. As I said, the best Doctor by far and many, many people would second that I'm sure. The real motivation for diagnosis by phone becomes clear. Money, money , money ......for Concordia's poches! Not patient care (would love to see a list of the shareholders).

I have been with Melbourne Grove for many years and it went through a dodgy period under the previous Doc in charge, then the new bunch came in and everything got very much better only to slip again when Concordia came into the equation. To make matters worse I have heard rumours that the best Doctor there, that is the one who makes time for her patients and has bedside manner in spades, is leaving (forced out because one of team had to leave, presumably cost cutting again) . I get the impression that efforts to "modernise" and save money are getting in the way. Having to input notes etc into the computer takes ages. What was wrong with the old paper method? Faster, cheaper, and of course, much more confidential since only the immediate surgery staff had access to the notes. Now presumbaly any old Tom, Dick and Harry around Southwark and loosely tied to Health Care, can get into the notes not to mention various government agencies and so on. Just feels like another example of technology creating more problems than it solves.

I also second Bellenden Belle on the kids/bedlam issue. Of all places, a park cafe is where you want and expect to see mums and children. You want those toddlers to grow up enjoying and respecting the park and what better way to get the good associations in early. I would only make a plea for an awning so that those of us who have to be outside can enjoy our coffee when the weather is not so balmy or sunny.

jrussel, Not sure public funds should be used to clear up broken glass, cigarette butts, used chicken bones, chewing gum (gosh the list is endless) users have not cleared up on their own initiative. You seem fixated on the dog issue in particular. What is your solution?

jrussel, interesting name. Do you own one perchance, or is it meant to be ironic? Think that chastising people for picking up after their dogs with the "wrong" bag is a bit provocative when you have just posted about the amount of dog mess around. I do agree that not picking up is absolutely unforgivable but think that most ED dog owners do the right thing. All it takes though is one offender to create a lot of mess, given that they go at least three times a day. In fact I know of one bad 'un who lives close to me whose son (I think) exercises their large dog on the pavement, off lead, whilst they cycle along beside it. Said dog deposits turds on street fairly regularly. Unfortunately son is off out of sight before issue can be taken, but I am waiting for opportunity to have a word. I believe that no dog, however well behaved, should be off lead on the pavement and feel this is symptomatic of a laissez faire attitude that may include the laissez poop factor too. I apologise to any dog owners who feel unfairly criticized by this observation. On another and equally environmentally unhelpful/potentially dangerous subject: what's with all the broken glass everywhere?

lozzyloz, I second that. Have to make a little room for human error and all that, especially with a new, independent, outfit. Rather have that than the hi-tech, factory-like, efficiency of the big chains. If we are not careful we'll end up being served by robots.

Moos, I think my conclusions were probably correct, doesn't make me critical or judgemental. Some may feel those conclusions to be reasonable Do you think the children should have been left to their own devices? I did say that screaming etc.. is perfectly understandable and will happen, however, it is only right that there is some kind of suitable and immediate, parental intervention, in the manner expressed by many on this thread. In a number instances I refer to there was no intervention, the parents seemed oblivious.

spadetownboy, you messin' with me boy? Hundred pressups, round the back now, by the leeeeeft, quieeek march!

alib, I didn't infer or even state that my needs were more valid than a child's, so please don't automatically paint me as anti child, I am not. I simply wanted to know what would motivate parents to take their kids out to the pub of an evening. I agree that if children don't get the opportunity to go to various places then they never learn about appropriate behaviour, boundaries etc.. I'm also sure it's good for them simply to discover new environments and so on. I like to see families out enjoying themselves, most normal people do. The odd tantrum or screaming is bound to happen and, in my view, is acceptable so long as the parent/s intervene and parent. However, I have witnessed a number of instances where the children were tearing and screaming around virtually unsupervised. I can only conclude that they hadn't had enough play prior to the pub, or they were over stimulated/over tired. I just felt that those children were not in the right place at the right time for them. I don't think it's really an issue in pub gardens, it's when it's inside that it can be a problem. Of course parents need a break too and I wholly support their right to go out and have a drink etc.. without feeling unwelcome/judged. Lozzy loz, think you make some good points but not sure about conflating toddlers going to pubs in the evening with rising teenage knife crime. I think that is a totally different and complex issue, although learning respect for others, self control, boundaries, may be part of the problem.