Sam

I've had similarly unsatisfactory experiences i.e. the call for the telephone consultation happened an hour before it was supposed to and I was lucky to be at my desk to take the call. To make matters worse, I was told that I could pick up a prescription that evening as the practice was open until 8pm. Left work a bit early and got there just after 7pm to find that everyone had gone home except the cleaner. I was very annoyed and left a note explaining I was there, they weren't, I want my prescription and an explanation and apology. That was several weeks ago and I've heard nothing. They've had ample opportunity to respond but apparently they cannot be bothered. I know they got the note because I left it on the counter and I saw it on the receptionists' desk when I collected my prescription the next morning. If I was annoyed at that, I can't imagine how I would have reacted if I had been one of the two people there who had been booked in for appointments after 7pm that evening... I shall be voting with my feet and will take my germs elsewhere.

The whole episode is saddening. What is especially depressing is that Shu.Kurimu.Sensei and his wife have endured racism to such a degree that they are not comfortable going out in ED. I recognise that there are idiots everywhere but I would have hoped for better.

Sounds great to me...although not this Friday. Offered my help for Sunday but didn't hear back. Always happy to help out. Sadly I fear being in there is directly linked to money leaving my wallet...On reflection probably not a bad thing!

F*ck yeah! Of course, we all should be wearing obscure band t-shirts...

Balls!

It's pretty tough trying to concentrate on work when it's such a lovely day outside!

It's pretty tough trying to concentrate on work when it's such a lovely day outisde!

Apologies in advance for the shameless plug - James Hunter and Edgar Jones and the Joneses are playing on Monday 21 July at a Mojo event at the Arts Theatre...

That does make sense Kel. I was going to some friends' gig at The Jazz Cafe and decided to pay on the door on the night rather than pay the crazy booking fees online. Given that I was getting some other people along I decided the prudent thing was to call the venue and make sure that they were selling tickets on the night. They were but at greater cost than was available online! Now I understand why. On a related point, I always thought that this was quite cool: "sigur r?s and the toothfaeries, the creators of their merchandise, are fed up with the extortionate fees they are required to pay to concert venues for selling their t-shirts to fans at the american shows. half of the profit of all merchandise sold at tonight?s show at ?the joint? in the hard rock hotel, las vegas, goes to the venue and new taxes. sigur r?s have decided to protest against these ridiculous fees by selling their t-shirts for $1 each at tonight?s show in las vegas, leaving the venue with about 50 cents per tshirt. here is a message from the band?s manager regarding the decision." (from here clickety click) Apparently it cost the band and toothfaeries some money but they wanted to register their protest nonetheless.

I've not yet made it to one of the get togethers but am hoping to do so in the future. Would be nice to meet you guys.

Just popped back in and bought a couple of CDs of independent artists I'd not heard of before and which John recommended to me. We had a nice little listen in the shop and the recommendations were great. It's lovely to be able to do that. I actually went in to buy a CD for my brother's birthday but ended up buying some for me too!

Ms B I like the sound of that top... But I do agree with you - I don't mind the clothes in White Stuff and I've bought a few of their shirts. Think people are overly harsh.

We popped in too and had a nice chat with John. I'll be going back once he's managed to put a bit more stock out and hopefully make some purchases. Best of luck to him.

Hi KK. Good point. Yep we mentioned it everytime it happened. We didn't leave written complaints but we did (politely) point out to the staff the amount of time we've been waiting and saying that it wasn't good enough etc. etc. I like the place and would love to be able to go back without wondering if 90 minutes is long enough to eat breakfast.

We've been increasingly miffed at this too. Been a number of times when it has happened and we've had to hurry things along. Hope they do address this soon!

Tend to go for train to Elephant and Castle (from Denmark Hill) or bus to Elephant (if you can stand sitting on the Walworth Road for ages) and then Bakerloo line from there.

I'm shining my tankard as we speak (not intended to be a euphemism...). Looking forward to it.

Ha ha! Unfortunately JJF the post was posted when I didn't mean it to and was about to take that line out because it made it sound like some sort of personal ad!

There has been a huge amount of vitriol directed at ESPH. I love the place. Know a lot about opening and running a gym eater81? Going by what I've heard from the staff, they're meeting their targets and subscriptions are where they want them to be. I was a member at a central London gym for a long time - it had loads of aerobic machines, a boxing ring, punch bags and tonnes of free-weights. It also had all the usual creatine guzzling meatheads that go with it. As you have said, it's horses for courses and everybody has a different opinion of what constitutes a decent gym. The fact that it isn't massive and that there are classes and help etc. freely (in all senses) available works just fine for me. Your biggest gripe was the number of, or lack of, free weights. I did go to Fusion a couple of times and found the free weights section to be something that looked like it had been cobbled together from purchases at car boot sales. Maybe they've done something about that recently and would happily stand corrected. As for the weight machines, you can set them pretty high on the pneumatic ones and the reason the physios give for choosing those over weights is that they are a better action for you and your joints (something to do with a smoother, more consistent resistance or something). If you're lucky enough to be a big guy with slabs of muscle and that is what interests you, then I agree that ESPH probably isn't for you. Again, you acknowledge that. But to wholesale slag it off seems unnecessary. When I was going to my previous gym I was using fairly high weights of dumbbells for things like bicep curls. Now, at ESPH, I'm using much lower weights because the technique and type of exercise they've got me doing is far better i.e. it isolates the particular muscle. Again, using bicep curls as an example, it's easy to "curl" a 30+kg weight if you're chucking it up using your arm AND your shoulder. Unless you're a total beefcake, curling the same weight with good form and just using your bicep is a totally different kettle of fish. I'm sure that any of the PT's at the old gym would have happily pointed out the error of my technique. I'm not saying that ESPH is unique in that regard. What I am saying is that when I first looked around I too thought "22kgs? That's not enough" but when I was doing my assessment and first session I was (unpleasantly) surprised that at the moment 22kgs is plenty to aspire too! I'm not having a pop. I'm also not suggesting you don't know how to work out. I just feel that people don't give it a fair crack of the whip. It isn't cheap, admittedly, but to have a go at the place just because it doesn't suit you seems a bit harsh. Of course, I recognise, and embrace, that forums are precisely the place where people can air their views and speak freely. It just felt a little bit like an attack.

Chips on shoulders still in evidence

Quite liked it actually...food was ready on when promised and was nice. Happily order from there again.

Oh, and Edenial, my wife has been to a pilates class and a yoga class there and enjoyed them both. Hoping to get to a pilates class myself in the near future.

Big fan of this gym. I echo all of the positive sentiments above. I guess a gym is no less subjective or 'horses for courses' than anything else. If you know what you're doing and feel confident to pursue your fitness yourself, then all power to you. If you feel that you would benefit from some dedicated attention then I can't recommend this place highly enough and for all of the previously listed reasons. One other point I liked - they have a ski-fit class. This came into being because people were saying that they wanted a session and so they created one. I like that responsiveness. It suits my needs fine. I like it enough to cancel my membership at a central London gym, where I pay a great corporate rate for heaps of machines etc etc. Undeniably convenience plays a massive part in my decision, but I feel I'm getting extra value enough to make up the rest of the difference in membership fees. As Edkiwi says, if you don't like it, I don't mind! Means I can continue to visit it and be able to use what I want when I want. I really don't think this is a subject to get emotive about. If you like it, great. If you don't, my best wishes in finding somewhere. And, in an effort to pre-empt those people who seem to spend their lives in a mood of suspicion, I don't work for the gym. I'm just very happy that it is here.

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I thought that was a great development in line > with the local area. Unlike the affordable housing > opposite the Texaco garage, which was particularly > untalented! If you're referring to what I think you are, that building is accomodation for junior doctors. So technically, yes, it is affordable housing albeit for individuals rather than families. I'm not sure this necessarily makes a difference, just thought I'd add that bit of knowledge! As for the grass in front of Dawson Heights, at the recommendation of someone on here I took a quick walk up there and the view is great (as is the one from the Horniman). A real panorama from the Isle of Dogs all the way around to Battersea and beyond (with the Wembley arch in the background).