stacey-lyn

Derek Jarman? (but also real)

Cryptic indeed. If the garden's a metaphor. . . Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex?

She's not been shy about it & has pretty much given it away in the press. It's won some sort of prize from memory. Just look for the inconspicuous roller out the front.

I thought it was 'Dulwichites'. Never mind. If you look at the "Famous People Seen in the Co-op" thread, there's a plethora of 'famous' names for you to consider (I would however discount the Gary Barlow, Cameron Diaz and Jordan sightings). Mind you, I haven't heard of about 90% of them. I guess one man's 'famous' is another one's 'que?' Good luck with it.

deteriorate? Huh? How so?

Highly unusual. And don't know why they'd be in the children's area. There are 2 parts to the Green - one is the dog walk part where you can close the gate. We take ours there almost every day and most dog owners are responsible and effective and normally use the dog part. There is rarely more than one or 2 other dogs and if there is, generally these dogs & owners know each other and the dogs are having a play - but certainly not tearing each other apart. We've seen the occasional 'rough' dogs there before as you do anywhere but have never seen anything as you describe. We were there yesterday - what time was this? In any event, to answer your question, this isolated incident certainly doesn't represent the entire neighbourhood. Like the incidents of violence and criminal behaviour (eg muggings, motorcycle burnings etc.) that you read about on this forum in ED aren't a general representation of ED.

No idea what that is. Anyway, on tonight's news - the sectarian warfare from Syria has already spilled into Lebanon via hezbollah. Quelle surprise - never saw that coming. And you insist this is a Syrian war.

(Caveat: I'm not saying that any of this will apply to the Tabernacle church but a development to expand the premises is likely to attract larger numbers and possible associated problems). What's that old adage - something like you don't p%** in your own pool/front yard. Ultraburner, the forecourt of the church always looks pristine and clearly you've benefited from living next door. I really do subscribe to 'live and let live' however your experience is certainly not the experience of the residents on Old James Street and Nunhead Lane which is where they park most of their cars and where they congregate. The street litter bins, though provided, are rarely used but rather fried chicken boxes and all sorts of food leftovers, plus drinks and so on just thrown about and often end up in our front garden. The worshippers make their way down the neighbouring roads and they DO linger for ages - an hour or more after they leave the church, shouting - I mean really SHOUTING. There are not 'proper services' like an hour or 2 then a break, then another hour or 2. Rather, these are uninterrupted and people arrive and depart in groups all day and night (mostly on Tuesdays). On Christmas Day they parked across our drive blocking our car in for hours (this was not the first time) and despite asking the church to have it moved, they wouldn't. Reluctantly we had to call the police. I should have recorded the exchange. It was priceless and surreal - the reason was that 1: disciples of the church can do pretty much whatever they like in the name of christ and 2: they came 'all the way from Luton'. As stompi says, we also get coaches from all over parked out the front early on Sunday mornings bussing in even more happy clappy LOUD people who are totally insensitive to the neighbours. We have even seen worshippers helping their young children pee in our front garden! I mean, really. Honestly, it is truly a nightmare. Lucky you if you're not affected.

Can't agree. This stopped being Syria's war long ago. Foreign fighters from an estimated 25 countries form a substantial part of the opposition - the majority are from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, Saudis, Jordan & Lebanon. And reports paint a similar picture of even more foreign nationals fighting on the side of the Assad regime. The mujahideen's mobilisation in Syria has been swift. Most of the foreign fighters who are dying in Syria are fighting with the most hardline organization involved in the uprising: Jabhat al-Nusra, which has allegiance to al-Qaeda's central command in Pakistan, and who are probably the most effective and well equipped in Syria and are attracting defectors. US intelligence officers in Jordan have advised Syrian rebel commanders to tackle J al-Nusra before taking on the Syrian army - with an ultimatum that if they don't, the US will. The last thing the US wants is an al Qaeda stronghold in the south bordering with Israel. So, if anyone would have a modicum of influence and steer Syria away from this mess to some sort of resolution it wouldn't be the UN or a quasi UN group that has the US at the centre, it'll be Iran and/or a steering body with the inclusion of Islamic nations - and Iran.

The OP was also alluding to solutions which is why I mentioned the Summit because despite any misgivings, Iran did provide something constructive. Iran's six-point plan aimed at resolving the crisis calls for ?an immediate halt to violence and armed actions under the supervision of the United Nations.? It goes on to propose "the lifting of sanctions against Syria to pave the way for the distribution of humanitarian aid. Once calm is restored, national dialogue must begin... a transitional government will then be in charge of organizing free elections for parliament, the constituent assembly and the presidency . . . the release of political prisoners by the government and impartial trial of those jailed for involvement in crimes . . .committee must be formed to assess the conflict?s resulting damage to Syria?s infrastructure. . . " It stresses at the outset that ?only the people of Syria have the right in a democratic process to determine their destiny and the political future of their country.? Ok, so it's not rocket science but a real attempt at a solution nonetheless. Sceptics won't agree, I know. As the main regional ally of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Iran is perhaps the most influential however, as was expected, given the anti-Iran climate, it has been discredited before the ink dried (led by the US). Had a similar document been drafted by the US, for example, it would have attracted applause - but they're too distracted with Russia. We'll see what they come up with in Geneva.

Islam's ancient divide - the sectarian conflict between sunnis and shiites - is something that those outside the region and/or with little experience of this power struggle have not grasped before entering into the conflicts - be it for peacekeeping, liberation or what other banner they're there under. The template that may work elsewhere does not and will not work here - be it softly softly or shock & awe or anything in between. As you obviously understand, the front-lines between the 2 sects runs throughout the region. The 'Arab Spring' may have started as a (imo shortsighted) rebellion against despotic rulers etc but it's a delusion to believe that this was truly a widespread uniform quest for self determination, despite the cries for freedom, without knowing that it would reignite tensions along old fronts. The shortsightedness and impetuousness of the revolts has forced the rulers into crisis and open warfare. Which is worse? Moreover, what started as the 'Arab Spring' has now been sucked into the maelstrom. Behind the backslapping at the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, there is fear and mistrust. Further, anyone who intervenes with Syria risks finding themselves in a war with Iran too.

My comparison to Lebanon goes deeper than just the images of destruction - that I have seen. Like Lebanon, and Iraq, Syria is heading for a permanently divisive sectarian split (arguably that already exists especially along its borders). The deposing of Saddam Hussein empowered the Shiite majority and sparked the creation of the "shiite crescent" that now stretches from Iran to Lebanon. The King of Jordan predicted this mess and warned the US back in 2008. The 'West' ignored this at their peril.

The Witch from Lion Witch & Wardrobe?

Thanks for the links panicm01. You reminded me that the Open Garden Squares is on this weekend. Details hereIt's always nice to drop into the Marsden Rd centre.

A result. Well done. So far, they seem to be the best of a dreadful bunch. Got to say, the engineers are always very obliging and seem to mess about & 'fix' something but it's never right and there's always a new problem & theory - cables, the street boxes, rats chewing cables in the street boxes, roadworks damaging cables, amplifiers, and on and on. Ho hum.

After checking the RF levels and RF quality (?) & changing the isolator the problem is with a damaged outside cable, probably during roadworks. Cable replacement booked for Sat 15th.

Maria Sharapova's shrieks. For the love of christ.

Sazzle30, yes. stecoward101, we seem to have had the same diagnosis re: the street box, installation etc. Where abouts are you? Our umpteenth Virgin engineer is about to arrive - tv still crap with freezing channels, pixalation etc at best, and internet down for most of yesterday, and this morning. Phoneline was also down for 2 days about 2 weeks ago so we had nothing.

the other sock

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm surprised the veg option is rarely changed, well, there you go. > I'd expect a veg option in particular to be > seasonal. if only. Nothing seasonal about baked spuds, courgette and cheese. > > If I was eating with veggies then yes, they'd > probably lose my custom on that occasion. Not sure > if that constitues a solid business case for > expanding the menu though. Losing a couple of > customers now and then may be a preferable option > to adding another dish onto the menu. oh dear :( pointless.

-- moved topic --

the-e-dealer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I do a lovely veg chilli. everyone round at yours then the-e-dealer :) And I love a good veggie > Roast. The Old Nuns Head did one but have been > perverted by Goat Sadly. Yes, it was good.

Indeed, numbers. Jeremy, here's a scenario: if you and a mate who doesn't or would rather not eat meat for whatever reason were to frequent, say, Franklins, a few times, there are 9 starters for you to choose from, there is just 1 marked (v) - I've just checked. For mains, I'm sure your friend will be sick of re-ordering the potato, courgette & Gubeen bake - you have 6 choices. Granted, The Bishop is better but other places aren't. It's that groundhog day experience you don't seem to grasp ie the veg option is rarely changed. Surely having a veg 'special of the day' is not a big ask and uses up any surplus - so cost effective, plus there are pantry staples such a pulses, polenta etc that have long shelf lives. If a restaurant has really good vegetables that they would use as sides, create something from those. Anyone who has an allotment can tell you about the joys of their produce. There are superb vegetarian - often vegan - culinary traditions of southern India as others too have mentioned, for example, or the non-meat dishes of Italy. The introduction of something 'that once had a pulse' will never improve a wild mushroom risotto. There are restaurants that specialise in serving what is little more than eggs, butter and flour yet the souffl? is held in relatively high esteem and is not labelled 'vegetarian'. What is unacceptable are veggie knock-offs of meat dishes: lousy lasagnes, chillis and roasts. Non-meat dishes should be good because they have no meat in them, not in spite of the fact. Chefs like Simon Rimmer get it

Virgin engineer came & went this morning - couldn't fix the external tv problem. They're sending someone else out on Saturday - noone available sooner. As soon as he'd gone, the broadband went down. Just sort-of came back up now after 8 hours but is on the blink. Engineer said he's been very busy round here. You don't say.

El Pibe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Blimey Beirut looked like that. > > And Brian Blessed in the FSA apparently with Bob Hoskins.