belladonna

My neighbour was rehoused and his housing association flat was auctioned. It takes so much investment to upgrade a Victorian flat to modern requirements it's apparently not worth their while to do this. The builders have a business taking these flats on and upgrading property and selling on at a profit. Less social housing, more private owners.

Alex TLC in Peckham and Forest Hill are grateful for most things.

Did you try the Ivy House?

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/166Uc3JMRHyk92XKwVaTdE3uWAwd9ojWR?usp=sharing More bits, bread jar, insects, kitchen scales

sorry wrong place

By the time we realised it was a serious scream and started heading to help he had scarpered I'm afraid, Jason across the road saw it but he was some distance away. Even the off duty policewoman arrived to late to do anything apart from chase him down the road. Hopefully there is CCTV footage of the car licence plate. These guys are working in gangs I think and plan the attack. Stormy night, windy, just getting dark but not so late that people are cautious.

Kuki on Bellenden is a very reasonable neighbourhood salon

Sunday night at around 7 pm a young lady talking on the phone in Chadwick Road,leapt on from behind, dragged to the ground and kicked. She didnt want to give up her phone as she was talking to her boyfriend, who must have been very alarmed at her screams, as were we. Many neighbours came out to her aid, and she was alright although shaken up. Off duty policewoman saw the offender run down the road and get into a waiting car. Never seen or heard anything like that around here before but just be alert people. If someone wants your phone, just give it to them.

I have some in the back garden, was appalled when i first realised. But we applied the poison down the cut off stem. It's less vigorous now. (the council offered to do it for a few thousand!) I don't really think it is to be feared as much as I thought. However my neighbour has a knotweed garden, and insisted on digging it up and wondering why it came back. I have heard that burning can work.

in may i discovered land line no longer working. Reported, luckily broadband functional. Turns out subcontractors have damaged line. Need permission to dig up pavement. Need to get permission from council. Cut ?10 off my bill, to acknowledge lack of service. Suddenly in September put price back up to full price. Still no landline, which i need as my elderly mother is ill and only likes to call on that. Had letters to ask how i thought they dealt with complaint, which as i didn't bother replying to said my complaint no longer stands. I rang up after they called me, and i was told they would be notified i had called but they can't speak to me and would call me back. Kafkaesque doesn't even cover it.

Geoff the poet from the Ivy House's wife works for an animal sanctuary and are often grateful for bedding and stuff. I've dropped stuff off at their house in Cheltenham Road

Just buying icecream on Lordship Lane, my partner witnessed attempted scooter theft and a chap waving a knife around, it's no joke. The police got him i believe.

P4 goes through Dulwich to Brixton 484 to Camberwell then 35 or 45

Yes indeed.where i was disposing of garden rubbish, cardboard, building detritus eetc....broken furniture...what the dump is for and the last time i returned with a dimplex oil filled radiator...keeping me warm this winter

When I first saw the responses to my slightly 'ranty' post i was amazed by some of the comments. (and not a little upset) My intention was to proselytise for freecycle as an alternative to selling stuff, but hell if anyone needs the cash badly, by all means try to get it. I'm down at Battersea on a regular basis trying to make enough money for the key meter, or this week's groceries. However since becoming a member of freecycle I am often amazed by people's generosity, the 'play it forward' theory. You give something away, one day you get given something you really need. I was even given a small VW Polo once. I had just been to the dump and I get downhearted watching people who find it more convenient to destroy something rather than give to a needy person. It's the eco warrior in me I guess. No judgement.

For sale, tall chest of drawers, similar to filing cabinet, could be used for clothes or filing. Good condition, picture on request. Oak veneer ?15

I just saw a post on EDF advertising a CRT monster television for ?80! lets face it old crt televisions are destined for the scrap heap, just freecycle it...save dumping it when no one buys it. I just gave a small one away, the guy i gave it to was so grateful, he has been sitting in a studio flat in london on his own, a brother in hospital...he gave me a card and chocolates and a glow of satisfaction that one more thing was saved from the dumpand an irishman alone in London has something he needed. I just went up to the Old Kent Road dump, I cannot believe the items some people would rather throw away than redistribute to people in need or charity shops. It's criminal. Freecycling is a much more ethical way of disposing of stuff. and as for these people who are asking ?10 for tatty old items when they don't need the money or request bottles of wine.....in return for a chair which is loosing its legs ....really, we are all up against it but some more than others. Just give it away. www.freecycle.org

I have cycled in London for over 30 years, sometimes wearing a helmet, usually not...just preference, nothing to do with fashion. I should wear one, I know, In Australia you have to by law I believe. I've not noticed cars taking any less care if i am wearing one...there are considerate motorists, and there are b......s. The white van that ran over my bike as he reversed a case in point, but i'd been distracted and not observant, In my world it seems that cars are out to get you and these days i take care to stop at zebra crossings and traffic lights, it's a jungle out there on city streets. wear reflective jackets, and flashing lights, and enjoy the freedom and fitness cycling offers you but i'd advise you to wear a helmet.... The other month i witnessed one cyclist hurtling the wrong way down a one way street collide very nastily with another man on his bicycle...ambulance called....today an elderly cyclist lady just crossed the road in front of a motor cycle, i'd opted to stop.... should i go On?

there's a bin by Peckham Rye Cafe, outside the mind shop, Sainsbury's in New Cross and Forest Hill.

Crystal Palace, very close to ED, a bit faded around the edges Queens Hotel cheap and cheerful and perfect for a'cinq a sept' at about ?40 a night I don't think this is an unreasonable query...i was looking for a hotel myself but not for love in the afternoon.... good luck, do people know something i don't?

Deptford has a lovely new pool...first time i tried new east dulwich there was awful loud music, which combined with the echos of the pool made for a head spinning experience, i've not been enticed back there, i prefer the pulse, although it's a drag when you have to queue and then miss the swim because someone is booking a class a week ahead....makes you understand why people join private gyms, except i can't afford it.

The White House was pretty special in Kemptown, even a view of the sea, from top rooms, nice breakfast, champagne in rooms etc x

Friend coming home a bit the worse for wear on Saturday last week with bicycle, Woke up with black eye, broken collarbone and no bike. No memory of what happened. Coming from Peckham Rye.

Glad to hear this is being taken seriously...and police are raising their profile in the park... not sure I would call being threatened with a bottle a case of 'teenage hyperbole'. And I had bought my son a ?20 Samsung, in the expectation that he would be less vulnerable.... but as I said to a friend recently this is SE15 (where I am) inner city etc etc.

My son mugged for phone on Brockley footpath, threatened with bottle. Also mugged last year East Dulwich. Friend's son mugged for phone. Another friend's son, threatened with knife at throat and bike stolen in Peckham Rye a couple of weeks ago. Time the police started hanging around the Rye, I guess they call it patrolling. Our children are under threat. Blame the recession, blame consumerism, but where the hell are the community wardens and police?