buddug

I was on the forum for well over 10 years I think. Happy days, most of the time! Am still mortified by my Sainsbury's avocado thread! 😱! And I still cherish my face to face meeting with Strafer Jack (also no longer here) in the Palmerston - it was quite emotional and uplifting. I Continue to follow you all but have moved to the South Shropshire Hills and set up a B&B. It's beautiful here but I still miss ED/Peckham borders though don't regret move. In fact I always maintain that nearby Ludlow is like ED in the country! And yes, I am still editing my posts - old habits die hard...

The lovely Italians in La Scala cafe near ED station. A magical place. They were a refuge to me while I waited to move. It was like being in an episode of 'Cheers', where everybody knows your name. A truly personal service. Oh how I miss it up here in Shropshire.

Thanks Sue! And all the best to you.

Hee hee Maxxi! It's already descended into chaos and bitter recriminations! Oh how I shall miss it! Thanks to all wishing me well. The nearest Waitrose to me is in Hereford I believe - an hour's drive away. I sense in my bones it will be in Ludlow soon enough. I did an intensive two-day course in how to run a b&b over the weekend with a local expert. Worth every penny. All I need to make guests' stay perfect and how to market myself, especially at the beginning. Invaluable. One couple on the course were from Clapham - the exodus has started...

Ha ha fishbiscuits! I think the avocado debacle was indeed my finest and most shameful hour!

Thank you Loz. Don't leave it too late! Stop being jealous and come and stay. Then decide. I could take you around all the castles and sights!

Thank you, Turtle!

Well. I've finally done the unthinkable. I've left East Dulwich/Peckham borders and the rat race after 20 lovely years. We've moved to Shropshire to set up a small b&b in the sticks. I shall miss you all, despite a few differences! So we hope to open by end September. ?100 a night, but for East Dulwichians, a 20% discount so long as you keep us up to date on local gossip! I'll never forget my spat with Strafer Jack which ended outside the Palmerston with hugs, and many other heated debates (I was usually in the wrong - ha ha). End of an era. Sigh. All the best to all of you. I shall miss your wonderful sense of humour especially - I particularly loved the 'why are people not rifling through my bins' thread recently. Hilarious. Do PM me to ask for details. It's lovely here. But I'll be checking in on you every day for quite some time.

A great photo! And a bitter sweet day - happy for the family but sad for the rest of us! It was a great send-off by all accounts - I went in at one point and people had been coming all day to say goodbye. What will we do now without the lovely shop, service and interesting banter! But best of luck to all of them - a well-earned retirement.

Yes, they're muslims. I had a good chat with the owner about it once. He said he decided it would be hypocritical to continue selling alcohol.

Of course issues re Saltash will not have been rectified. This is Southwark Council, for God's sake - one of Private Eye's infamous rotten boroughs. And of course your windows were painted shut. This council only uses cowboys. And how tragic/hilarious that the 'liaison officer' told you that windows are usually painted shut. Jesus. You couldn't make this up. Good luck to you.

You've probably sprained your ankle. The best remedy is to wrap some frozen peas in a tea towel and place it against the part that hurts for 10 minutes, once every hour for four hours every evening, and while you're doing it, lie down on the bed and put a cushion under your ankle so it is raised above your heart. Or every morning, if you're at home. Also, it would be good to buy an ankle support from your local chemist. It's like a sock but supports your ankle while you're walking about. Just tell them you've sprained your ankle. The pain should have gone in less than a week. It worked for me. Good luck.

Why, thank you, Mistyblue! And Jennys.

Well, I can now announce an update to burglary in Oglander Road. He pleaded guilty in court yesterday and will be sentenced on 9 March. His name is Tesfa Amlak Jones (and yes, I'm allowed to say that as he has been convicted). The police told me my evidence helped convict him and they will tell me what he gets, so I'll let you know. However, don't all applaud at once, as the reason he was caught was due to an eagle-eyed resident of Pellatt Road who phoned the police while he was in a property there and he was caught in the act. He had also burgled several other properties in other roads that week. So for once, a result, and this particular spate of burglaries has been halted, until the next one...

Just testing the water here. Would anyone - men or women who never cook, young or old - appreciate basic lessons in learning to make delicious yet quick and simple meals chez moi, with eating of meal to finish? Especially those who might wish to impress their partners, or who are fed up of shelling out a fortune on ready meals. ?30 for half an hour of practical tuition, including health and safety, and half an hour or more to eat, with a thrown-in glass of wine, and hopefully a bit of fun and laughter. I only ask as I was someone who had no idea of how to cook as I was never interested in my Mum's attempts at lessons. So I had to learn very quickly when I left home, being someone who loved good wholesome food. Any feedback welcome.

Quite. It means exactly the same on both sides of the Atlantic. You are confusing it with the word fanny, which means bottom in US english.

Thanks. No problem re posting descriptions. Both me and my neighbour gave descriptions to the police right from the start, independently, without each other's knowledge. Newspapers often give descriptions of perpetrators before they are found, which can lead to their arrest.

Watch this space re ID parade. The two of us. Let's just catch 'em.

'Lookist' is the word I know, as opposed to 'uglicist'. And I think Lynne was being very 'tongue in cheek', parodying previous posters. But you are in no way horizontally challenged, Mr Tring. Though you may have over-indulged in the mince pies this year. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, another neighbour is also being brought in to view the identity parade. Looks like this pair of burglars have been hard at it far and wide for quite some time. Often, just two burglars can be behind 95% of burglaries in an area, and putting them away for a while can bring great peace of mind to a neighbourhood. I shall keep you all updated. It's not often these bastards are caught.

I hear you, REDD. No, the council does not give a damn, and it never will. However, in general this forum is wonderful. A great resource for buying and selling, and for recommendations for great, trustworthy local businesses and restaurants, and general news regarding local events and meet-ups, and even criminal activities, as a warning to us all. In fact, I lost my new glasses recently, ?250-worth, and a neighbour posted on the forum she had found them. They were in perfect condition, when I went to pick them up. It is never going to save the world, so stop despairing. It's one of the best local forums out there. But, out of interest, what is it you actually want to happen?

Looks like they were doing a blitz, but at least one of the two has been caught now.

I think they may be, Rosetta. The tall burglar in Oglander who I saw certainly matches another description of the burglar caught red-handed in Pellatt Road the very next day.

Ha ha, Lynne. I am no oil painting myself, but these two guys took the biscuit! But, to be kind, they did look like they'd had a hard life...

So, tonight, police rang me to ask if I would be willing to take part in an identity parade. Of course, I said yes. I think I'd recognise them, as we stared at each other for 30 terrifying seconds. They were ugly buggers.

You're quite right, Ianr. As you say, I have already given my statement, with descriptions, so anything else would now be inadmissible. I am, however, just curious to see if the descriptions match, and I am grateful to singalto for his offer to share. I shall find out soon enough from the police anyway.