Bellenden Belle

There is a lot of resentment in Penge towards Bromley Council, being the only Labour ward in an otherwise story Council means the area does get overlooked and there is history of its voice and needs being overlooked.

I know MrBen - I'm thinking we can have a Forum Drinks 2008 Reunion there!

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bellenden Belle Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I have a soft spot for areas that are slightly > > down-at-the-heel. I like it when there is > genuine > > excitement at a new bar opening, rather than > > cynicism. Otherwise it's easy to take things > for > > granted when you have so much choice in an > area. > > That said, I shall miss Bellenden Road greatly > > (particularly Flock and Herd's treacle bacon). > > > Thing is, Bellenden Road and East Dulwich both > used to be exactly like that. I am really liking > the direction Penge is going in, but (for ME) I > hope it doesn't go as far as ED, because (again, > for ME) that's too far. Otta - spot on.

Well me and Mr D_C are leaving Peckham for Penge after eight very happy years here. There's definitely an exciting vibe there at the moment. For example there's a fantastic group of people trying to set up a community cafe - CanTEEN - that will help train local young people whilst serving delicious affordable meals and another group is working on opening a new community centre. There's a real sense of people getting behind the area and giving it a push in the right direction. I have a soft spot for areas that are slightly down-at-the-heel. I like it when there is genuine excitement at a new bar opening, rather than cynicism. Otherwise it's easy to take things for granted when you have so much choice in an area. That said, I shall miss Bellenden Road greatly (particularly Flock and Herd's treacle bacon).

Peter Pan is on at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. It won't be panto-style, but I'm sure will be utterly charming. I've seen the Albany production of We're Going on a Bear Hunt with my two-year-old twice already and plan to see it again - it really is an absolutely wonderful show, particularly good for little ones who may be too young for proper panto.

Does anyone know of creative solutions for childcare if going down the 'term time only' route of childcare. We're moving to Penge and I'm considering a lovely nursery there but trying to think what to do in the holidays. Are these places only suitable for those with nannies/ au pairs or stay at home mums? Has anyone sent a child ages four to a playscheme? One seems to run in Beckenham for that age but that feels quite young. Many thanks

Our 2.5 yr old son used to wake at this time every morning. It was ok in the summer when Goose Green playground was his own personal fiefdom at 7am but at this time of year it's very hard. In the last few months though we bought a gro-clock for ?20 from Tesco and it's really worked for us. It comes with an (awful) story book that teaches him about animals sleeping and how to wait for the sun and, by and large, he does wait till the sun comes up on the clock before calling out. Sometimes he wakes a little before but is allowed a small number of toys in his room to occupy him until 7am. After breakfast and stuff it makes the morning more bearable than sitting in the dark at 6am! It might not work for everyone but for ?20 might be worth a try. Good luck.

Do you have a chimney breast? As a student I went away for the holidays and came back to find a pigeon had died in the chimney breast. It was unimaginably awful.

Well spotted Jah Lush - it's Gails bakery

Thank you dear forumites. We are going with the structural option. Though I've read all the comments with interest. Curious that no one in Chelsea does surveys...do they simply already know they can afford to fix any problems? I will be advertising my one of my kidneys in the for sale section shortly....

So we are buying a house. It is a Victorian terrace that has had a loft extension and a side return done since the present owners moved in. All of the surveyors we have contacted so far have refused a homebuyers survey and said we need a structural survey. Is this wise advise? Likely to save money in the long run? Or just a money grabbing exercise? Having already paid for one structural survey on a different property ( Georgian terrace so it felt more Necessary) I am reluctant to spend another thousand pounds.... Wise forumites - advise me!

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1085722,1086196#msg-1086196 Same street, worth having a look - but this is a thread about public transport, not driving. Personally I think it's easier to entertain kids on public transport than in a car.

http://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk Theatre Peckham. This is a participatory children's theatre that is one of the Arts Council's National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs). Becoming an NPO is such a competitive process that we should really celebrate the fact we have such an organisation on our doorstep. Drama can be such a powerful tool with children and young adults but I agree you are right to choose carefully. It isn't just that jazz hand environments are cheesy - they can also be extremely competitive and demoralising. Really good participatory work will encourage teamwork, co-operation, inclusion and build every child's confidence. Such work is often more interesting creatively as well - with a focus on imagination and creation rather than tightly choreographed routines.

Alan Medic Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm with Foxy for the most part. Businesses will > stand or fall by how successful they are so good > luck to people who invest in one. It does amuse > though that the place across the road 'Blackbird' > appears to have been the apple of many people's > eye. Now there's somewhere else to go to we hear > about what's wrong with it. > > PS What actually makes the cafe 'Italian'? The short sandwich options are all based around Italian meats and cheeses and the staff themselves are also Italian.

Just been into the Grove Vale branch and quizzed a 'volunteer'. Feel terribly cross. She said 'we don't support local charities, we are a charity ourselves.' She then went on on to say they wouldn't be donating any miney until 'the end of the year' and then made some vague suggestion that they would be 'setting up a food bank'. 'Oh where?' ' we won't know Til the end of the year' 'but there are already food banks in the area, couldn't you support those?' 'You have any questions speak to the owner' 'when's she in?' 'Tomorrow' I doubt that's true but if anyone wants to pop in, if be intrigued to know. It's seems a total scam to me.

Lovely cafe, gorgeous focaccia, friendly staff. I'm never overly enamoured with Blackbird, so this is a fantastic addition to Grove Vale.

Artusi on Bellenden Road http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/04/artusi-peckham-restaurant-review-jay-rayner Or Peckham Bazaar - recently re-opened.

Yes - we'd be interested too. We are probably moving but hopefully will be involved for at least one order.

numbers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's not just hipster Central Peckham Rye, Lewes > is just as bad! > Actually the last time I was in Lewes, a member of staff rushed to help me on the train. It wasn't even necessary but I was terribly impressed. Also, to be fair, I have been helped a lot at Peckham Rye - but yes, sometimes by women, and often by suited men who I think may well have sprogs at home.

mima08 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Agree with OP - and that includes station staff: > if there are three of you standing around chatting > while watching someone struggle up or down the > stairs, feel free to pitch in (and yes, I did say > make that comment to the staff in question at the > time, too). I avoid PR station at all costs and will even get a bus to herne hill/ Denmark hill and then a bus home because those stations have lifts. It wasn't at Peckham Rye but at Herne Hill when the lifts were out that I was told by a member of the station staff they were not allowed to help for 'health and safety reasons'. I imagine it's the same at Peckham. But sometimes PR station is unavoidable. I have found that mostly it is only when I hoist the pram up a couple of steps myself that someone helps. And I hate to jump on the anti-hipster bandwagon because it's a cliche but sadly they really do exist in a bubble. I don't think they even compute someone needs help. It makes me feel invisible in my neighbourhood. .

Forest Hills, California seems more likely....

In response to your post rodneybewes: For me the truth lies in the original poster being giggirl. Giggirl has been posting on this forum for seven years. Many of us old-timers (including "admin") have met her. I trust her implicitly. There are lots of posters on here who engage on a broad range of topics and I often go by a person's posting history as to whether they are genuine or not. That posting history - for some established over many years - is why I value this forum as a resource beyond many other sites.

Many moons ago, when I was a ten year old, a book called Forever by Judy Blume made its way around class. There wasn't a single girl who didn't read it. At ten, sex is starting to be a topic. That doesn't mean you're contemplating 'doing' it - but chances are you know girls who have started their periods, others will have had the "talk", and it's definitely a topic of discussion - albeit confused, misinformed debate. Better to let your daughter read the book and then chat together about it afterwards. In many ways the culture I grew up in - where books were read but shrouded in secrecy - was far more unhealthy.

Sorry Alice for not replying earlier. We haven't as yet because we are waiting for a hard copy of the survey (due Thursday) so we can quote and give accurate quotes (though we have had an indepth discussion with the surveyor so we know the contents already). I don't imagine someone taking off 50k and we just can't afford to meet them halfway as is the usual case when you buy a period house. But we will ask....

No. I looked at selling my wedding dress many times - looking at ebay at similar dresses and suchlike. There are hundreds for sale out there and mostly I think you are better to stick to your budget, find something you absolutely love, and treasure it. I gave mine to Mind last week. It cost almost two grand, and was in almost perfect condition....if you're 5 ft 1 and a size 10 you could be in for a treat!