Mojave1979

Unbelievable decision by Chelsea. They have the patience of a two year old child. I know football went mad a long time ago, but I think it may be time to check the prescription and up the dosage levels.

Great effort, Georgia. Hopefully I'll meet you at the FHT next month.

Coldplay should be sued for ripping of the Sgt. Peppers look.

It's sad that young managers aren't being give more a chance. But, if you're an ex-pro entering management, it's probably better in the long-term to go the Martin O'Neill route and learn the trade at the lower level, and out of the media spotlight, then be a Gareth Southgate who is under pressure game after game.

I'll try and make my debut appearance. It'll be good to lose my EDF drinks cherry.

Knocked for six by the news. He'd been in ill health for many years, but it's still hard to take when it happens. I'm finding it hard to concentrate on anything tonight. RIP John.

Georgia, I think since the private club's moved in upstairs, all the clubs have stopped at the EDT. I'm happy to be corrected on that matter, though. My wife and I keep on meaning to go and see some local comedy, but haven't yet got round to doing so.

Welcome to East Dulwich, Ocean.

I would love to attend one of these drinks one day. Firstly, though, I may have to stop stalking this forum and start participating more actively. I would go to the next one at Black Cherry, but I have a friend's wedding to go that day. Judging by the photos there seems to be a good crowd of people there. It's always good to make the world a smaller place, isn't it? Right, I'm going to stop being lazy and start posting more often. I have plenty to say on SE22, despite being a SE23 resident. Maybe I'll be able to break my EDF drinks cherry at the March meeting. Here's hoping.

This is probably a better response than my original. And certainly less insulting and more persuasive. It's from givemetrees.org Trees are not just for the far away mountains and jungles. They are very much needed right where we live. In the city. In our neighbourhood. Where we breathe, where we live. Trees are needed right where we live not just in far away forests. Trees are home to birds and squirrels, and they are home to people as well, providing a place for solitude and repose away from the pressures of the city. In fact, trees contribute substantially to property values. A treed neighbourhood can increase real estate values by over twenty percent. In town, people tend to shop longer along streets lined with shade trees. Apartments and office space are rented more quickly and for longer periods in green areas, and businesses are more apt to locate in a community with a healthy urban forest. But trees have tangible health benefits as well. How many of us suffer from some sort of respiratory problem? Trees act as an air filter, trapping dust particles and absorbing gaseous pollutants. Trees also reduce greenhouse gases through photosynthesis as they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Trees moderate the effect of urban heat islands, where temperatures are often 3 to 4 degrees C greater than the surrounding area. Trees also shade us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, which are becoming increasingly dangerous with the thinning of the ozone layer. Trees muffle noise by absorbing and diffusing sound waves. People seem to be less bothered by noise when the source is screened from view by trees or other vegetation. Trees can lower energy costs?by as much as 50 percent for air conditioning and 20 percent for heating?by shading our homes in summer and breaking the force of winter winds. These savings on energy consumption translate to burning less coal and oil, less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and a reduction in environmental degradation. Trees even contribute to recovery from illness. Researchers have found that recuperating hospital patients placed in rooms with windows facing trees heal significantly faster and require far less pain-killing drugs than those in rooms without such a view. But urban trees are often left to take care of themselves in the harsh urban environment. Did you know that we continue to lose our established shade trees at a rate of four trees for every one tree planted? We can all help protect our urban forest. We can work together to ensure that our municipal governments have strong policies to conserve urban trees. We can also join community efforts to maintain our city's trees. The simple act of planting a tree in your own yard is a contribution to the survival of your urban forest.

There were two people outside the pub when I walked past last night, and they were painting the outside jet black.

What a stupid idiot. I've been watching this thread develop over the last few days/weeks and can't get my head around how pointless this whole "debate" is. Writing a letter to a mayor when you can't even be bothered spelling his name correctly, treating each right-minded response by saying people are "missing your point" and going on about how expensive leaves are to sweep up, are just three examples of how dumb this argument is. Trees are beautiful, end of story, end of debate. I would much rather be able to sit in my living room and look at an ever-changing skyline as the seasons change, then stare at row upon row of generic housing. South London is more leafy and green than North, it's one of the things that attracted me to move to the area last year, and it makes me wonder how you manage to maintain a normal life when you can't even see how idiotic your point is. Have you had a response from "Mr. Johnston" yet? The same, standard reply most people have when they write to somebody in office. Are you planning on vigilante action against these natural wonders? Chainsaw, possibly. Have you taken your medication recently? By the way, the trees were here first. To say anything else proves that nothing you say holds any water.

Great write-up for Blackbird Bakery in this week's Time Out. That reminds me, I really must visit it soon.