Louisa

Just a heads up on the current situation. I was out walking about an hour ago and used GG footpath as I always do. I have to report some rather hazardous and deep puddles have formed for probably 2/3 of the entire path from end to end. This may not be a concern to many, but for those with disabilities, elderly people and parents with youngsters on foot this could be extremely tricky. Added to this, we are expecting snow to form later this afternoon with an early clearance and ice hazards through tonight. Take care everyone. Louisa.

Clapham Lulu Big supermarkets Mine and Foxy's EDF stint Louisa.

Angelina Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sidestepping the alcohol and picking up on the > curries - I learnt that chillies originated in > Portugal and were taken to India in the 16th > Century. > > Where would curries be without chillies? ! ! ! ! This is indeed correct Angelina. The whole Peri-Peri phenomenon of recent years was as a result of Portuguese colonialism. The chillis were brought back from African colonies and grown throughout the warm climes of southern Portugal, and were eventually exported to Asian countries. More especially Sri Lanka. Louisa.

What an ingenious idea Foxy. I may take a leaf out of your book. You've inspired me today. Are you still attending curry club, and if so, are you substituting alcohol with water? Louisa.

Thanks for that rendal. Interesting. I wonder if they came here on a boat with goods from the empire? Many ships on the Thames at this time bringing exotic items from the four corners of the globe. Or perhaps an early sign of global warming? This was right at the end of the British Isles "little ice age", which saw severe winters for a good 300 years or so. The warming effects would easily attract wildlife from further out. Interesting they're only in the south east of England and not elsewhere. We are statistically the warmest region of England. Louisa.

I think the sound of birdsong is lovely. I've noticed in recent years the return of so much wildlife to this city and it's a joy to see. Also, slightly side, I was in Dulwich park recently and saw parrots in the trees! Was I imagining this? Louisa.

Well I've been taking a break too. It's been 6 days since my last drink and I feel really good. Also doing regular evening walks down LL if anyone wants to join me? Small things make a big difference when added up. Louisa.

Thank you buddug for the heads up on this. I do hope you are ok first and foremost? It must have been a traumatic experience for you, which I think rendalharris has taken into account with their measured responses to you here. I agree with ed_pete, why the need to escalate it off topic baring in mind the situation being discussed here? Just drop it Sue. Louisa.

The walk to DV PO is always pleasant enough. Nice people too. Louisa.

Dog duck Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But we all see Louisa constantly relieving herself > all over this forum? Yawn. You seem a little obsessed, maybe you should find something else to talk about? Perhaps keep the thread on topic for a start? Louisa.

I found a cat relieving itself in my back garden last week. Despite numerous attempts to track down the owner I have failed. I think the time has come for me to take a leaf out of the OP's book and invest in a camera. The swine could return and damage my budding daff's at any moment and I am completely helpless. Louisa.

;-) Louisa.

The decline in big supermarkets, is a kind of double edged sword. In some places it means that the growth of smaller 'local' branded big name stores enhances the high street and increases footfall. That's got to be a good thing right? The appearance of M&S on LL has probably resulted in a bigger footfall, but that's pure hearsay and based on the increase in shear numbers of people. It certainly helps the independents in a place like East Dulwich, I would argue. On the other hand, the apppearance of Tesco express or Sainsbury's local in a place like New Addington or Biggin Hill would probably be a detrimental side effect on an already struggling high street for independents. I guess as you say Seabag, shopping habits are horses for horses and dependent upon so many variables. Louisa.

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > to be fair rahrah I don't actually go to > supermarkets anymore, especially when buying > cheese. Why breeze arund in 2mins when you can > prevaricate and pose or HOURS outside a trendy > cheese shop, fish shop, butcher, flower shop, > bakery ? > (Jeez, starting to sound like a modern day high > street there , eh ?). > > You can tell times have moved on when finally, > after ED High St has rebuilt itself after being > devastated by Sainsbury in the early 90s, people > complain about the what is basically the return of > a normal run of shops again at long last. > Some people are now conditioned into believing > supermarkets trump local shops. I don't think most people take issue with having a useable high street, maybe a minority. It's clear from recent trends that larger supermarkets are end of week 'big shops' are not as popular now. The growth of indepdent shops locally is to be celebrated, but they have to be relevant for everyone. Retail diversity is incredibly important. Rye Lane is a classic example of this. Segregated retail options are not healthy, we should have high streets with independent options for every income bracket. Louisa.

Sainsbury's DKH had a mobile recycling vehicle parked up in the car park today when I went to visit Timpson's. Louisa.

Seabag, How can someone possibly be offended at an observation about buying cheese? Surely only those who partake in said activity could possibly be the ones offended. Lots of people insinuate I'm a lonely alcoholic, now that's offensive, but I don't choose to take offence because I know it's not true! People only take offence when the cap fits. It's not about me being right and them being wrong, it's about my observation of what I believe to be a peculiar activity. As I said, buy your cheese whenever and wherever you like, none of my business! But others have on this thread already agreed with my observation so it can't be entirely unjustified? I let people be, they just choose to take offence when I'm not even talking about them? Bizarre. Louisa.

joom Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Louisa, you could apply your "look at me" opinion > to yourself on this forum. Really, I am so bored > of your bile and miserable outlook, is there > nothing that you can't just let be? There are > probably 100 more cheeses to choose from at the > cheese block - a local, independent shop, than > there are at a supermarket and for some that live > around here supporting the local economy is much > more important than spending it all in shit > supermarkets. There would have been hour-long > queues to get out of the car park at sainsburys, > chugging out pollution and you're moaning about > community minded people queuing for cheese for > half an hour! > But you get what you want, don't you? Loook at > you, look at Louisa, ooh, look at what Louisa > said... If you're always so in need of an audience > why don't you get out of your house and on to your > soapbox? That way you can say what you think > directly to the people you're seemingly and > continually so appalled by, straight to their > faces, see what kind of an audience you get then. I thought the purpose of a forum was to air your opinion about local 'stuff', spread some words of wisdom. Educate people. Forgive me here, but I have an opinion you and others disagree with, so we discuss it. Isn't that my right? You may not agree with me, but you have no right to tell me not to have that opinion. The 'local economy', as you put it, contains various long standing businesses, the vast majority of whom do not even make trendy newspaper articles about the next hip area of London to live in. By all means buy your cheese whenever you like, but seriously, standing outside and queueing for it on such an obviously busy day of the year as Christmas Eve is about as decadent in its unashamed indiscreet nature, as one could possibly get! Unlike some of the sheep on here who have agreeable opinions on everything, like minded to the extreme, I choose to have my own opinions. Why does this bother you so? I think people nowadays are too quick to not express an opinion in case it hits home, which let's face it, on here it does. SOME of those offended by my 'look at me' observations are in fact guilty of this behaviour themselves, hence the disproportionate level of offence taken. Anyway, happy new year to everyone. Louisa.

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > DulwichFox Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > To be honest.. Let's look at the options... > > > > 1. Queue up for 20-30 mins to get served at > one > > of the local independent outlets. > > Get to your turn to find sold out of want > you > > want. ? > > > > 2. Shop at one of the large Supermarkets and > > queue for 20 - 30 mins to pay. > > Get to pick what you want. Choose the item > > that best suits you. > > > > Foxy > > > It's a lovely thought Foxter, but many people > often buy cheese and stuff in a quaint way. > > The old eyecrometer is often employed "Hmm a beit > more to the left, right a bit" when judging how > much cheese or pate a person might want to buy. > > So buying in a supermarket is fine if the > selection is good, but I'd bet many people go to > places like the cheese block to see help with > choosing. It's like if you think you like Edam, > the shop might suggest you try Jarlesberg too. > That's not the case in most supermarkets. What a load of old rubbish. Pay double what you'd pay in the supermarket for the same/similar item(s), and probably end up taking home more than you initially wanted/needed. And apparently get service with a smile according to some above. Yep I'll stick to the supermarket thanks. I don't need to be seen buying stuff, Christmas or no Christmas. Louisa.

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I see the Cheese block have won a Time Out award > for 'this is the place to be seen' waiting in line > for cheese > > Well done Just another symptom of a bigger ED illness associated with being seen in specific locations to fit in with the 'cool kids'. Whether it be eating at a restaurant on opening night, walking down the lane on a weekend afternoon looking at people hoping they're looking back at you, or queuing for a product which you could have got in Sainsbury's et al weeks ago. Yep, the 'look at me' illness can be blamed on sneering older/working class people judging others, or it can be taken at face value for what it is. Place ya bets now! Louisa.

Saw the 'look at me' brigade queuing for cheese on Christmas Eve, at this place. Bizarre. Who queues up for cheese in 2016? Most normal people go somewhere and discreetly buy the stuff a week or two before, but oh no not in ED. Any excuse to be seen doing something. If it wasn't so pretentious I'd be belly laughing on the floor. Talk about 'cheesy' behaviour. Louisa.

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If there's anything worse than a bad loser it's a > bad winner. > If Trump, Farage, Johnson, Gove et al aren't > 'over-privileged' then I don't know who is. You've > been mugged off by an elite pretending to be > against the establishment. Gold plated lifts and > celebratory bashes at the Ritz...true men of the > people, yeah right. > And if you think Trump is going to address climate > change/pollution, you're having a giraffe. > When these jokers don't deliver who are you going > to blame next?... I agree with you RD, the working classes have for sure been mugged off, but such a situation would never have flourished if social democrats had addressed long standing isssues with immigration and deprivation, and not allowed a political vacuum to take hold. The borderline contempt for traditional electoral bases from the likes of Labour and other left of centre political parties in the western world, are ultimately to blame for marginalising working class, and more especially white working class, communities. They've concentrated political efforts on creating a globalisation model which is alien to almost everyone outside of wealthy urban centres such as London, New York etc.. Louisa.

Brexit and Trump are not outliers, they sum up a growing and powerful feeling of disenfranchisement in struggling working class communities. The social democratic urban elite have been brushing it under the carpet for a good few decades and here's the result. For me the low lights of this year are: - Privileged left of field urban dwellers ignoring realities outside of their bubble causing far right politics to flourish - The continued and shameful situation in Aleppo, where people are being massacred and yet the politicians and media seem to live on a different planet in their response. - some of the awful stories on this very forum about street crimes e.g. Mobile phone thefts. - the continued threat to the United Kingdom as a nation state by regional nationalism. Louisa.

almost 17 years into the new millennium, and Donald Trump is president elect, the UK is leaving the EU and the 'Co-Operative' is selling bread in bulk style to private businesses. That's progress for you! Merry Christmas everyone! Louisa.

The silly season is upon us, another serious thread turned into a fox hunt. Louisa.

AM the fish stocks are always awful in the co-op and I've had run in's with staff previously, especially on smoked cod and haddock. I tend to use soper's of Nunhead for that very reason. However, the bread is no excuse, as they tend to be stocked up but then it miraculously vanishes at the blink of an eye when a greedy local cafe decides to clear the shelves. I'm not denying this store has major stock issues, nor am I denying the powers at large could do more to remedy this, but equally it is a co-operative, the clue is in the name, businesses are not entitled to take whole shelves to re-sell on, it's just madness and selfishness at this time of year especially. We don't even know how far the OP had to travel to get their favourite loaf. On the topic of me signing off, I've always done it, it's not a recent thing, nor do I think it's superfluous. I could argue going to a 'look at me' restaurant on opening night is a bit uncalled for, but I couldnt possibly stoop that low! Louisa.