Bellenden Belle

I've had a pretty poor dinner at the Florence recently - though the complaint was handled well by the management. It's just too busy on weekend evenings. Had a lovely lunch at the Regent a couple of weeks back - it suggested some real thoughtfulness in the kitchen - so would definitely try their dinner.

RosieH Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > As for lending, well I have a few DVDs out there > with forumites that are overdue. I'll be imposing > fines... > Erm, I believe we too have your West Wing DVDs..... Is Rosieh's ubiquitous generosity the reason for the demise of the Apollo DVD store?

Safer Neighbourhood Team I presume.

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I will not be filling out my census form this > time... which is illegal. I can only hope that > millions of other will not want to give their data > to a US arms company, and will object to the ?150 > million contract being given to them, when public > sector jobs are being lost! > > > I'm not signing mine and here's why.Please sign > the petition That's disappointing Jah Lush. The census is one of the most important tools in helping to determine future services. As a charity sector worker, I regularly find myself quoting the 2001 census in order to demonstrate need as a way of accessing vital funds for work. Whatever you think about the administration of the process, it is foolhardy to undermine the collection of this valuable data.

Womanofdulwich - that sounds like a good deal! You're more than welcome to borrow our copy - we're in Peckham Rye x

It's a difficult one. I have a deceased friend on facebook and he often pops up on my page - sometimes Facebook even helpfully tells me he has found friends using friend finder! Really Facebook? Are you sure? But actually deleting him would feel wrong - I like the fact that it means he still has a presence and the people who loved him are still connected through that network. Not so sure about telling his wife as she may well not know his password in order to delete the account anyway and it might just cause further sadness. Perhaps a message is all that's needed.

http://www.reviewbookshop.co.uk/events-diary/world-book-night-giveaway-extravaganza.html A new "literary cafe" is apparently launching on Bellenden Road on that night and will be giving copies of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie away. Looks like the perfect opportunity to give a new business some support.

My office has two dogs that regularly come and stay for a few weeks. But we're a small team, the dog owners have been there for a while, and it's not a permanent arrangement. Quite frankly the job market is tough out there - do you really want to put stumbling blocks in the way to employment?

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Southwark Council have always collected large > items of rubbish or waste when asked, on time and > free of charge. > > Bravo. Erm, except the large piece of garden fencing that I requested be removed about a month ago.

Sanne Panne Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- My Steiner friends are all pretty > healthy atheists although one does genuinely > believe that there is a (real, living) man who has > a little bottle with a magical solution in it that > can clean polluted lakes and seas by just adding > one drop of his magical potion. Isn't that called homeopathy?

Yes meal moths are definitely already around.....we had them last year. They can even drill into tupperware! Literally. Clear out your cupboards; then look around your walls and all surrounding areas for larva (very small white threads) and then start saving all your glass jars so that you can in the future transfer any open packets into them. The good news is that I googled and googled and could find no evidence that meal moths actually do any harm (other than making your stomach turn a little at the thought) - they don't carry disease and indeed if you've inadvertantly eaten anything you can just consider it extra protein!

catma Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The posters in Bellendon Road shop windows from > the police indicating a spate (is that word > acceptable???????;-)) of car break ins might > indicate that there is something to be alert to. I have only seen one such poster on Bellenden Road (in the newsagents window) - do correct me if I'm wrong. And if that's the one you're referring to then it's been up in the window practically since I moved into the area five years ago. Lock your doors and close your windows by all means - but do that because you live in London in 2011, not because you perceive you live in some high-risk area.

My guess is that the gap between rich and poor is probably much greater in Katrina and that the levels of poverty would bring about that level of looting. Whereas I imagine the gap is far less great in Brisbane, so that people in the same situation are more likely to experience empathy for each other in this situation and help.

It was foodstories - an excellent local food blog - I don't think she makes money from her blog, just gets the occasional free meal. Perhaps a good solution would be to simply put together a list of people who have expresed an interest on here and pm them as a group - once you've tapped in their names, you could just hit "reply all". Wouldn't that work? And would be a discreet way of reaching your audience.

At the risk of sounding churlish - surely the blog itself has a facility of enabling people to find out when a new post is up? Or they can follow leaglebeagle on twitter? I say this as I remember people jumping all over a poor food writer, accusing her of promoting her blog, and it seems quite unfair to suddenly have one blog above all others being promoted.

Just to say I've been to a wedding where Keef's band played and they were excellent ...very good at getting people on their feet!

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bellenden Belle - I think most of us realise that > we're lucky to have good butchers in the > neighbourhood. The point is that there's a market > for both. Actually, there are people arguing on here about supermarkets being more cost effective which makes me think lots of people are making assumptions about what supermarkets will bring to the area. Later opening hours and perhaps greater convenience for some - yes. More choice and better value for money - not necessarily. That was my point.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Also depends how many mouths you're feeding. Bit > of top quality meat for 2 of you is fine, but when > you have 4 or more mouths to feed, your standards > may slip a bit. Very true although actually the supermarkets tend to only offer certain cuts of meat - those more recognisable to the consumer and consequently sometimes more costly - leaving people to rely on cheaper affordable options. Whereas if you're on a budget and do a bit of research you can get really good quality meat at William Rose for far less than you would expect. For example I've had a lamb's heart for 50p from WR recently that was absolutely lip-smackingly delicious - and was told how to cook it by Dave the owner himself. Similarly I'm a big fan of pheasant - a bird serves two, sometimes with leftovers, for ?3.50 - a really good alternative to chicken. But those are just two cheap options that you won't get at your supermarket. Leaving you with that economy packet of mince instead. So actually when we talk about choice, I would suggest that's one of the last things supermarkets offer.

duke Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > you may think that the healthier option from > Waitrose or M&S might be more expensive than the > local independent shops, you would be wrong. The > only competition would be from the local shops > claiming to sell healthier or a higher quality, > but at higher prices! This is an absolute myth. Meat, fruit and veg is ridiculously expensive in supermarkets compared to using a greengrocers at Pretty Traditional or a butchers like William Rose - particularly if you choose supermarket organic or premium ranges. There have also been a number of times when I have gone into the Co-Op to buy essential groceries - storecupboard basics and toiletries for example - only to find them more expensive than either the Turkish supermarket opposite East Dulwich Deli or AJ Farmers. True - there are some expensive independents - East Dulwich Deli and The Cheese Block spring to mind - but they are offering products that I wouldn't necessarily have every week but which are wonderful as a treat or a special occasion. Duke - I would happily challenge you to a price comparison if you send me your last supermarket receipt!

Roz Pendlebury is a local East Dulwich psychotherapist (UKCP registered) who I have seen both as an individual and as a couple. I found her excellent in both respects. Her website is here: http://www.psychotherapyuk.co.uk

Absolutely not, for all the reasons stated.

Hoopers I think. It's just business as usual. Think The Victoria is free too.

Sue Wrote: > > Ah yes, the Smith (I think his name was Smith) > sighting. I've carefully avoided mentioning the > Smith sighting. There is a very peculiar tone to your writing here Sue. As if you have suddenly stepped into a production of "An Inspector Calls". As if you are waiting for people to make points, only for you to bat them down with your superior knowledge before finally pulling the trump card out of your pocket with a magician's flourish. In short - I think you might need to take a step back. In your post to Mockney you comment "I have already said that I have an interest in this case, and have had since it was first publicised. Do you not have interests in things? Is that somehow different, in your superior case?" I think there is a difference between taking an interest in subjects or current affairs and becoming unhealthily preoccupied with individual crime cases. My personal opinion is that the second can slide very easily into voyeurism and judgemental behaviour, justified by the argument that you have examined the facts and evidence. What exactly do you hope to gain by this thread Sue? Why are you putting so much time and energy into this? I'm actually more curious about your response than the actual Mccann case.

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > d_c = (td) due to sickness but surely d_c = (tu) due to pending holiday?

It's my last official day at work before a three-week holiday! So yeah, you can imagine my happiness......