Twirly

I remember reading an article a while back about an epidemic of bed bugs in the US, particularly New York. I seem to recall it saying that they are often transmitted by people travelling - they pick them up there and unwittingly take them home with them. See here: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/21/bedbugs-invaded-new-york

Totally agree that it's an awful waste of money due to the poor design. This morning they had alternate in and out Oyster gates, so people get caught up with each other coming in and out (better to have the out ones together and the in ones together to improve the flow). I'd like to know what is happening with the old entrance. If there was any way that could be made exit only and the new one entrance only it would work much better in terms of flow through the station.

I hope this gets resolved soon, and the "owners" prosecuted for animal cruelty. Also wanted to say well done to you first mate for getting involved and doing something about it.

Am slightly outside the specified demographic (though my husband is still just within it) and although we don't have children we do need somewhere bigger as I partially work from home now. I've been here for 15 years, have grown to love the area but have to leave as we really want a house, and simply can't afford it here, so are off to a more affordable area. However, the person/people who buy my flat will be very different from me. I bought by myself on a salary that was slightly lower than average at the time for London. Judging by recent valuations, you'd have to be on around ?100k to buy it now, on one salary. Hardly average (not quite sure what average is, as it depends on where you look, but one site I checked suggested it was ?34k in London). Even having two salaries could make it a struggle. And I am quite aware that whereas the influx of Claphamites may be resented in ED, all of us who have made some money on our property in ED and are then moving to more affordable areas are doing the exact same thing.

Definitely get councillors, MPs and press involved. Having a problem is one thing, giving out information on how to get water is something else entirely, and I'm pretty sure they do have legal obligations. Yes, just had a look at the Off Wat site: http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/rightsresponsibilities/interruptions which says: Emergency interruptions If the supply fails or is interrupted for emergency works, your company should tell you: that the supply has been interrupted or cut off where to get an alternative supply the time by when the supply will be restored the phone number from which you can get further information Replacement water supply If the piped supply of water fails, the companies must provide at least 10 litres of water per person per day to affected consumers within the first 24 hours, and maintain this until the piped supply is restored. They may do this by providing bottled water or through bowsers or stand pipes. Hope this gets sorted for you soon - I remember what it was like when our water was cut off a few years back when it was hot, it was awful, so you have my sympathy.

I hear what you are saying Cyclemonkey, but I suspect that adults don?t engage with children they don?t know because of the fear of a) being suspected of being a paedophile or b) getting grief from the parent for interfering. And to be honest, why should another adult get involved if the parent is there ? the parent should be sorting out any bad behaviour! If you mean another adult known to the parent and child, as in your example, that?s different. I don?t have children myself, but have always asked friends with children their permission to tell the child off if I deem it necessary, and they?ve all said yes with enthusiasm (I?d feel odd doing it in their presence if I hadn?t asked permission first though). The parents then know that I?m looking out for the welfare of their child, and they can relax a bit more.

That's very sad news. Condolences to his family. I bought the flowers for our wedding from him, and he very kindly stored them for us overnight until I could collect them (we did the table arrangements ourselves), as well as giving helpful advice on what would be in season thanks to the weather, and what to use instead when what I wanted wasn't available. He was so helpful.

Sue, it's the Blue Brick Cafe (I assume)

El Pibe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Really these threads boil down to "some people > with [_______] are inconsiderate arseholes" > > The blank can be filled with buggies, children, > bikes, cameras, bus passengers, cars, cigarettes, > class x, red hair, baseball caps, funny accents, > white skin, black skin etc etc Totally agree. Not sure there is much that can be done about it though. > The target is a red herring, it's irrelevant, some > poeple are nice and some arent, all these threads > do is reveal the prejudices of the complainant. Not so sure about this bit - what do you mean, "prejudices of the complainant"? I just thought it was a place to have a bit of a rant in the faint hope that the offenders might see it and change their behaviour (unlikley).

Stacey-lyn, why on earth should the council, and us via our taxes, pay for widening of paths when good old-fashioned manners, which are free, is the solution to the problem? On most pavements, a pedestrian with or without a buggy can pass another pedestrian, with or without a buggy, with no problems if they go single file. But some people think that their conversation is far more important than anything else, and force others to dodge and weave around them.

LadyDeliah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In my opinion, we as a society and globaly have to > rethink our addiction to the car and find other > ways to do what we currently do by car. > > We invade countries for the fuel that drives them, > we have an ever fatter, sedentry population and > increased pollution due to congestion, both of > which negatively impact our health and NHS. > > The car is a dangerous machine which, with even > the best intentions of the driver, kills thousands > of people every year, injures and disables many > thousands more and puts millions of others in > fear. > > The car dominates public space and amenity. New > and existing projects should have alternative > methods of transport integrated at the planning > stage, instead of always planning for cars. > > We need a complete change in thinking about car > use moving into the future because the current > thinking is unsustainable. I partially agree with you LadyD, however, it's not the cars that are the problem, it's the people who drive them, and it's bascially down to people being selfish and inconsiderate - people who think that their ability to get somewhere that little bit faster is more important than any one else's needs/rights. It's not just car drivers, it's everywhere, even on public transport where people seem to think that they should be able to get on the train before you get off, clutter up seats, refuse to move down the bus/train so others can get on. Even pedestrians who insist on walking in the road, or who rush out into traffic when they shouldn't, or barge other pedestrians out of the way. The trouble with cars is that they create such a lot of damage when something does go wrong. I drive and I also use public transport. I tend to do the former when I can't get where I need to go easily/safely by public transport, have a lot to carry (the most frequent reason, as I am a massage therapist and often carry equipment for work that would be impossible to transport otherwise) or it's simply cheaper (usually the case if I've got another person with me). Whilst I would encourage less reliance on the car, our public transport infrastructure simply isn't up to the job sometimes.

Aren't a lot of large trees rather late coming into leaf this year due to the very late spring? I've noticed that most smaller trees are doing fine, but the bigger ones either in town or out in the country are well behind still. So it might be more than just the pollarding.

How does it work when there's a post office counter within a shop - who owns/runs the PO counter? My rather hazy recall is that the PO counters tend to close earlier than the shops themselves, probably 5.30. I don't know enough to know whether this could be a good or bad thing for the area/the current staff. James, do you know if there is anyone interested in this particular PO? Would it require a change of use application if it went from say a PO to a stationers or convenience store? Any info would be useful.

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > http://www.cwu.org/crown-offices-under-threat.html I had a look at this, and wrote to the email address asking if there was a petition I could sign, and although my message was forwarded to someone by the original recipient, I've not actually received a proper reply yet. If there is one, I'll post about it on here. Apologies for the original title on this thread - have just amended it to include the words "Post Office". Obviously in too much of a hurry! Things have become clearer now. I thought it was very strange that no-one had posted about this on the EDF. Particularly James Barber. In terms of what happens to the Post Office, I can see both sides of the argument. It would be good if everyone could benefit in the long run - a good post office counter, providing all the current services, and maybe some other retail outlet to go with it, and TUPE for the current staff. But what would that be, particularly if it were to be in the current premises? I can't see a convenience store going in there with all the food stores around, and the Londis just over the road already supplying that need. A stationers could be good, but I can't really see WHSmiths going into such a small space (aside from the fact that it would be another chain). Anyone else have any ideas?

So how do we support them?

Was anyone else aware that the main Post Office on Lordship Lane was closed today due to a strike? I have heard that it is under threat of closure ? does anyone know if that is true? And if so, is there a petition anywhere I can sign against it?s closure? (If that is a fallacy, does anyone know why they are on strike?) What should have been a quick, half hour trip to post some packages just turned into a two hour round trip to the one down near the Plough. It took so long as they only had one counter open, and were obviously dealing with the overflow ? the queue was huge. What a waste of an afternoon. I am surprised if they are going to close the Lordship Lane branch, as it seems to be busy every time I go in there (at various times of day, and days of the week) and always have to queue. I don?t relish the thought of having to divert to one of the other less conveniently placed ones, particularly if they can?t provide the same level of service. What will it become? Yet another caf?? Edited to change title.

Why can?t people follow the rules of the road, they are not that complicated?!! Nearly got hit by a car this morning reversing at about 20 mph the wrong way up a ONE WAY STREET. The clue is in the big sign at the beginning of the road, Muppet! Just because you?re lost/missed your turning, does not mean you simply reverse up it. I was looking the way the traffic was SUPPOSED to be coming from, like any sensible person would. I am a bit sensitive about this ? I got hit by a car reversing the wrong way up a road a few years ago, was rushed to hospital etc. Luckily I was OK, and now am paranoid so check every which way that traffic could be coming from before crossing any road. But this sort of disregard for other people?s safety makes me so angry.

Oh no, not again, there was a thread about that the other day.

That's horrible, so sorry to hear this. Hope you're OK.

Lots of standing water on stretch between Lordship Lane turning and Dulwich College westbound, am sure there will be lots of delays during rush hour.

Dulwich or East Dulwich though?

Personally, I don't think this one is irrational. This morning I caught the 8.36 from Denmark Hill. Half the train disembarks there, and the worst bit is by the stairs. I got really annoyed with the f***wits who decided that it was more important that they get on the train before everyone who need to got off. Was particularly incensed by one idiot who decided to get into the doorway and block half of it, thereby slowing things down even more. What is wrong with these people? I waited till the passengers had got off, then walked halfway down the carraige and got a seat, before the train had departed, so there was plenty of time.

Where are you?

It's better than it used to be! Believe it or not, they've actually improved the exterior. It used to have a hand written sign in the window saying it was an hotel, and I swear that the only thing holding the net curtains together was the dirt... Never been inside, thankfully, but my husband and I did book there once when we were having works done on the flat, were staying with my father down near Swindon for the weekend, and the builders informed us that we would not be able to move back in on Sunday night as planned - so we had to just find anywhere to stay, using internet resources. The chap who answered the phone did sound quite surprised to be getting a booking. We took one look at it, got back on our mobiles and found somewhere else, albeit a couple of miles away. A B&B is one thing this area seriously lacks (we also stayed at what is now The Actress, but I don't think they do rooms any more).

Quite frankly, I think in a big city we just see far too many people on an average day to say hello to all of them - it would indeed be exhausting. If you're in a smaller town or village, or out for a country walk, and there's fewer people about, then it would be easier, and makes more sense as you may know them or even if not at least see them so they're familiar. Having said that, if you do see the same individuals on a regular basis, say walking down your street on the way to work or waiting at the same bus stop, it might make more sense if not to say hello, to at least nod and smile (which might then progress to a hello, and a comment on the weather - which we Brits are of course very good at). A few years back, I struck up an acquaintance on the bus. At the time, I used to commute via Peckham Rye, and caught the bus to the station. They were forever digging up Rye Lane and putting the buses on diversion (with out any notice), and one day when the bus veered right yet again, instead of going down Rye Lane, myself and a lady nearby let out a mutual groan of frustration as we realised that we were about to miss our trains. We exchanged a mutual moan about it, and then I kept seeing her after that, so we got chatting and became quite friendly for a while (till our commutes changed and I didn't see her any more). What I'm trying to say is, let it happen naturally, but don't force it. A bit of eye contact (rare enough in London) and a smile is a good start.