Cam123

Where was it that was doing squirrel this summer? It was one of the pubs on LL and I kept meaning to call in to try it. The dog quite likes the idea in Peckham Rye Park too, but to no avail as yet.

How funny - and i'm so glad they had what sounds like a great day.

I looked at a house for sale on Worlingham road a couple of weeks back. Personally I thought it was quite narrow compared to a lot of terraced houses in the area, meaning that if you have a good sized middle-of-the-lounge coffee table, it ends up virtually on top of the hearth of the fire. Also, the garden wasn't a postage stamp, it didn't really exist beyond the side return. On the positive side, the location is good and I guess that's what your paying for. Personally i'd move into Se15 slightly and get a slightly chunkier house, but it just depends on your priorities.

What's that you say about my Mother Zeban?!

I'd agree - not another Indian. Rustic Italian (not just pizzas) might be nice, or i'd agree that Japanese would be good too. I think there's a good group of foodies in ED who have a good solid disposable income that you should be aiming at - an Indian might not be aiming as high as you might given your audience.

When we moved into the area we went for Peckham Rye as the poor relation of East Dulwich; if we could have got a house in ED we would have. Funny thing is that now we are able to trade up and have been looking in SE22, we've actually decided it's not for us to settle for poorer transport links and we're sticking further up in the Peckham Rye/just into Camberwell area. I think it's important to recognise the huuuuuuge difference between living in the Bellenden area of Peckham Rye (which is basically what i'm talking about) and "proper" Peckham. Spend a Saturday morning with cake and coffee in Petit Tout off Bellenden Road and you'll see what I mean. The roads that people have mentioned already that are just into SE15, but not far from Goose Green are an all-round good bet i'd say. And whilst they may not yet be as pristine as in ED, they have come along way in the 4 yrs i've been here and they are continuing to go in the right direction very quickly. Oh and when we had the dog show and family day on Peckham Rye a few weeks back, my Mother from Yorkshire remarked that "it's not very errrr... Peckhamy is it?!" A comment which I think 90% of the London population could easily have made, give the mental pictures "Peckham" conjures up.

It seems to me that things higher up the property ladder are doing ok if they are fairly priced. We sold a house (3 bed 2 bath) at a good price, and we were gazumped on one that we were trying to buy. We are now in something of a bidding war on another property not too far from asking. At the flat end however I think because of the lack of first time buyers, one bed flats are really really struggling. When you're forced to sell at a level which makes it appealing to an investor as there's no one else to buy it, you're going to be taking quite a cut on the price. And whilst I think benmorg is spot on about valuing a flat according to it's rental yield, I don't know how well that will be working right now according to 5%-6%. I think investors are expecting more than that - and I think they can get it too. I've seen a flat in the Bellenden area sell in the last few weeks at under 170,000, and is on the letting market at 1200pcm - that would be nearly 8.5% yield. Using 5- 6% to value it, it would have been valued at something over 250,000! I know that difference of over 2% is extreme, but it does serve to show the chasm between supply and demand and how far prices have to move before investment props them up. I've been following the flat market in the area daily, both auction and private treaty sales for over a year now so if you wanted my honest opinion i'd be happy to give it if you want to PM the link - if it helps I will certainly have already seen it on rightmove and may have seen it in the flesh too.

I would like to add in on the back of Masterblaster's comments that if people should always have 100% control of their dogs, which is a nice idea, then people should also have 100% control of their children. I have lost count of the number of kids, some small toddlers, which have stumbled their way towards my dog whilst their parents are oblivious or assume it to be fine. In reality, we live in a very densely populated area. kids will be kids sometimes, dogs will be dogs sometimes, and as long as they and we are good natured about how they end up interacting, then that isn't too terrible a situation.

I think it worth mentioning though that charities do often outsource their fundraising, including clothing collection, to standard profit-making companies. I've recently had the rspca, shelter, and a couple of others fundraising door to door, and not one was doing it themselves. So regularly there is a middleman paying their staff, and making their profit margin, before the charity gets their 30% slice if they're lucky.

Hi KidKruger, I understand that a 6 month let worked for you but for a lot of people circumstances dictate that a 6 month let is just not right for them, for whatever reason. It seems to me that there is just nothing if you NEED something shorter. As to our specific situation, I fully renovate houses and have lived in them throughout the refurb before; now though we need something that we can move into on a relatively regular basis for a short period each time. Renting for us is also difficult because we have a dog which we would most likely have to farm out with the in-laws!

Having sold our house recently but not having managed to buy another one yet, we have been looking in vain for a short let (2/3 months)in the area with absolutely no success. On here i have read of a B&B which has now closed, and various pub rooms that haven't been well-rated, and i've also seen posts by others who are renovating their homes and need a place to stay for a wee while, and those who have family visiting and who could use a hotel room for spill over family members. To the point, we were thinking that we might buy a weeny flat in the area for us to live in until we find the right house, and that we can use as and when we need to around the house building works (we'll be buying a fixer-upper). The question is, do people think there would be demand to rent it out inbetween our use of it if I offered the flat on a one night - 3 months rental basis? Obviously there are the pricing, deposit etc. issues also, but I can deal with those; i'd just like an idea as to if people feel the need is there. Thanks for your thoughts!

Whether or not one is offended by it, child, adult or otherwise, the fact that the footballers aren't thinking that other park users MAY be offended i think shows a pretty bad attitude which they should be pulled up on, as much as for the actual act per se. On the dogs point, mine has been nervy of kids since she was a pup ever since an incident with a child screaming at her, then hiding, and then jumping out and running screaming toward her again. The mother did nothing but look terrified of my puppy when she, entirely naturally, started barking. We had been walking along minding our own business and my poor puppy simply thought she was being ambushed. She's a breed which I specifically chose because they are so kind natured and gentle and good kid dogs, but because of that incident there is now a slight question mark in my mind. So, dog owners do get some very negative consequences from non dog-friendly types, it isn't all one way traffic by any means.

Surely they own 35% of the flat's current value, otherwise it wouldn't be a 35% stake, it would be a set figure. The point of it being a percentage is that it adjusts with the market, inflation etc. And you probably wouldn't ask if your 65% was 65% of the value then or now would you? No different the other way around.

Fair enough. Seems a bit weird to walk your dog over the little fence and into the flowerbed area, sign or no sign.

I think e-dealer that perhaps abuse was resorted to out of sheer amazement at you taking pics of a "no dogs" sign and a lab trotting about, seemingly doing no harm whatsoever. I entirely agree that dogs should not be allowed to damage that area in any way; the planting is really beautiful and well done, and so it makes sense to have the sign there. But lets not go overboard - the dogs weren't harming any of the displays were they? Also, the chap that you pulled up for having his dog on his lead, am I right in thinking that he was walking his dog, on a very dog-friendly, dog-centric day, on a path, next to a flowerbed with a no dogs sign, and you thought it necessary to give him a lecture?

Yes, Sexby Garden is ok for dogs - i have specifically checked as mine loves to jump in the fountain when it's hot. Can i suggest to the original poster that perhaps getting to know a little dog belonging to a friend or neighbour might help? Just in terms of understanding dog body-language so you recognise happy-puppy for what it is, and hungry-savage-wolf for what it is too? Just an idea; it can't be nice to be so terrified of them.

Hi, we're thinking of putting an offer in on a property in the area, the vendor for which is Southwark Council. Was just wondering if anyone has any idea as to the process for accepting or declining offers within the council ? We basically think the house is over-valued and want to put in a low offer, but wonder if they will always refuse low offers until it has been on the market a considerable time and the market has shown it to be over-valued. We unfortunately just do not have the time to wait around for it... Any thoughts?

I just headed up (the side of) Rye Lane about 15mins ago. The atmosphere was getting tense, lots of groups of youths milling around at the bottom of choumert road, and someone was saying that "they are hitting the sorting office". Didn't stick around to see if it was true; turned around and had a swift march home.

Anger / bad attitude, it's all the same really. It seems to have got to a level where it's like mass hysteria and people are looking for an outlet for their heightened adrenaline / excitement / stress, call it what you will. I'm glad we all have this little outlet here, otherwise who knows what we might do. Perhaps we should try to take our streets back? Anyone?

I just spoke to a friend who's balcony looks over East Dulwich road, she reported seeing a "child, 12 at most" carrying a full shopping basket away from Tesco earlier.

hubby on train from victoria has just reported that the train is not stopping at peckham rye due to a security alert

Hi, i'm having a similar issue myself and have come across this article which I think offers advice for getting post-pinning insurance that is also not maddeningly expensive - http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/feb/08/subsidence-home-insurance-quotes-soaring Out of interest, is anyone aware of any subsidence on Idmiston Rd ?

I think 850k for that amount of space, with good design and quality finish is not bad value at all. Bunny, you really don't get over 170m2 for 650k unless it's a fixer upper! I saw a very modern house on the market recently in a similar part of ED which was not much cheaper but was 30 - 40% smaller.

According to my little chart from some subsidence advisory group or other, sycamores should be planted at over 17 meters away from your house in order to ensure they can't mess with your foundations. If you're in a block it may have considerably larger foundations than a single house, esp. if the house is old and the block is new - sorry, but personally i'd prefer to be you with a bad view than your neighbour with subsidence! Shame you weren't consulted - i think trimming them back can work as a solution to reduce root growth?

A friend of mine who lives in the large period building at the end of Solway road which has been converted to flats has had a bit of trouble with a group of lads. Nothing as bad as your horrendous incident, but pretty antisocial - they sit on the private stairway leading up to the flats, blocking the way and often smoking weed. It's all a bit intimidating for her (or guests for that matter) when coming and going, they don't have the most delightful of demeanours when you ask to go by... Who's to say if they are the same kids though?