louisiana

Back in the day when I lived on ED Road (overlooking the Green), the local posties wouldn't go round the DKH estate except in pairs, as they used to get the mail robbed (PO giros I assume). That was in the mid-80s. Has all that changed now?

Agreed Mark. The turnout for the WI meet last week was full of stunningly normal people who were almost abnormal in their normality :)

I actually think G&B being upfront and open about their sales tactics quite refreshing. Traditionally business favours secrecy and being two-faced - I'd much prefer people to be open and honest. We know they're in business, we know they have to make a living, and we know the life of small business is not easy. And a good deal is a good deal!

Actually, I can't understand why landlords are doing this. I can't see any chains in their right minds wanting to be in North Cross Road. Food/drink/entertainment venues may be a different matter, but wouldn't that require a different type of licence? And a chain may be here today, and gone tomorrow when the rate of return doesn't pan out straight away. Unless what they're after is investment property per se, Tesco-style, and then they won't be paying rent. Does anyone recall what happened in Soho? Many of the smaller people were squeezed out, then hords of yukky sex outlets and sex tourists made it an awful place. Did not Westminster - that most Tory and non-interventionist of councils - step in? There's something circular here: people come and shop because of the shops there now, paying current rents. If those shops go, those people may well go elsewhere, and the argument for raised rents disappears.

A lido. A beach. Pan-ED free public wi-fi.

I think G&B are fine. No business is going to get it right 100% of the time, and G&B have certainly had their hands full with the expansion etc. I think they care, and that's what matters.

Should be there.

According to recent research, a girl's name can have a real impact on her career decisions. Girly names, apparently, tend to lead to traditional professions/jobs. 'Alex' may become a firefighter or an architect, but 'Isobel' will more likely become a nurse etc. Or somesuch. Do not name your offspring Jane and John if you have any ambition for them. But, as they probably didn't control for other variables (parental wealth and ambition etc), that's probably a load of rubbish. My grandfather was Cripsin, which I've always liked, and which has never become fashionable. Your child does not want the same name as everyone else (unless they live in a Catholic country, where everyone has the same state-approved, generally religious, names, by law). And how on earth can people name their children Freddie or Jack? These are not names, they are nick names. That's very non-U. The one thing I really object to is the books that title themselves 'Choosing a name for your baby' or 'Baby names' or similar. You are not naming a baby: this person has to live with the choice for the rest of their life.

The Fabulous Tits

In fact, I'm going to remind Mr L that he has yet to take me out to the best restaurant in Whitstable :(

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > To be fair, I don't know that all these people are > on minimum wage, I think we're jumping to > conclusions... They could be very well looked > after for all we know :-S The ones at Green & Blue were taken out to eat at the best restaurant in Whitstable recently... Sounds okay to me, and hardly what Sainsbury's etc would do.

Casper29 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Has anyone heard about a new childrens wear shop > that is supposed to be opening in East Dulwich? > What you think? What do we think, Mr-doing-my-market-research? Well, adopting the persona of Violet Elizabeth Bott for one moment, it makes me want to thkweem and thkweem and thkweem...

Not a car park. A cycle park >:D

I've noticed that Mr L never opens his garden shed (some buried secret there?) but has an intimate relationship with his (double) garage, which is the size of a bijou London residence and comes complete with fridges and freezers as well as vehicles and all manner of objects in a variety of materials. I do believe the garage is the (post)modern shed.

Mr L was mainly a Boss man, but since I came home from the airport with a J P Gaultier Le Male Kilt 'collectors edition' (yes, Le Male wearing a lovely red kilt - Mr L is Scottish), there's been no going back...

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Oops, my mistake. Anyway, record shop, record > shop, record shop. Who's the guy that sells CDs in North Cross Road market? Does he have a shop, or is it just a Saturday/spare time thing? Louisiana

Yes, indeedy. But of the more laid back variety :)-D

Rather than *longer* opening hours, some shops may find it beneficial to have slightly different opening hours. e.g. opening slightly later, closing slightly later, on one or some days. Though if you're expecting deliveries can be tricky. On the other hand, if many or all did on the same evening, everyone would benefit - people then don't have to rely on knowing individual shop hours. Maybe some of the 'ED community' money could be used to develop/publicise that?? And perhaps business owners could chip in by having any promotions they run (e.g. customer events, meal offers, happy hours, whatever) on that day.

Tower Bridge, Rotherhithe, Greenwich...but not ED unfortunately :-S Sez the Southwark Council website: The biggest annual sporting event in the world is coming to Southwark! For the first time ever, the The following link opens in a new windowTour de France will be starting in London in what is set to be one of the most exciting sporting events to ever hit the capital. The following link opens in a new windowThe Grand Depart will give the locals a real taste of what is to come with the 2012 Olympics. The race will be in the UK from July 6 to 8 2007. Southwark will be welcoming these world class riders as they race over Tower Bridge across through Bermondsey and Rotherhithe before heading towards Greenwich.

Unkle feat. Ian Brown - Reign

Sussex AC has all kinds of stuff, including jazz. It's what people want it to be that counts. (Of course they have the big advantage of occupying a building that used to be a gentleman's sporting club, so almost made to measure.) I suspect the powers-that-be would see ED as too wealthy now, and not meriting such projects. Whereas Deptford...or Peckham... So if the impetus is to come from anywhere, it's got to be from local people. We really do have few indoor amenities here. If the po-lice are moving out in the medium term, this seems just the right time to start investigating that property. Has anyone had any experience with lottery etc funding on community projects?

I talked Mr L into wearing a white wedding dress for our 'festival wedding' at Glade last year (both bride and groom wore white). Does that make him metrosexual? :)

I'll be dropping into the optician tomorrow, so will definitely check out the G&B scotch eggs :) I wonder if there's such a thing as a healthy pork pie :-S (I've been on lunchtime salads all week - trying to get the tum under control ready for the imminent Great Highland & Island Bike Ride) Louisiana

Yes Sean, Hitchin Hill or thereabouts, up on the high ground (tho expect it'll be busy up there B) )

I think both of AnotherPaul's original ideas are great. Where is the nearest proper art supplies place? Goldsmith's College? Something that does fine art, graphics, and pots of everything for crafting toddlers, would be good. And something like Brighton's Sussex Arts Club too (music, bars, DJs and bands, exhibitions, rooms to hire). Or do we have many mummies and not enough trendies?