sue k

hopefully the good people of ED will not support them, and if really want to get a tree, buy from the ones raising money for the local charities, and they will just realise it's not financially viable and so not bother to return next year. .. Better though If everyone donated the money spent on xmas trees that then get chucked outside after Christmas, to go to plant a tree that will live for years instead..that would be a good thing. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/plant-100k/ I use twigs painted and decorate with lots of lovely things and a few sparkly lights...still looks festive!

it happens once a year for 24 hrs....and then they're gone...it's a phenomonen!

i just feel it's sad that they haven't appeared to have taken any care or consideration to marry up with the brickwork of the station itself, so it is a nice continuity..i'm wondering how they will finish the side elevation of the station, that appears to be left unfinished from the demolition? Shame

I would like to recommend Matthew and his team, who stepped in late in the day to help me out to do some decoration on a commercial project in SE1, which had it's own particular hurdles to get through! Matthew worked hard to achieve good results,and I was impressed with his wallpapering too, which wasn't easy to do! Matthew was conscientious and gave a fair price and myself, and the client, are very happy with the finish.

Brian and his team, really are wonderful, do a great job, and are so respectful, and polite. Will go out of their way to make sure the job is done well and that you are happy. It is refreshing to have good, honest and reliable tradesmen who do what they say they are going to,,and a bit more too. They've just finished our spare room, which needed quite a bit of TLC, and repair work to blown plaster. All done and looks lovely. And all for a fair price for how much attention to detail they spend. thanks Brian again, always happy to recommend Brian. (and, yes, we do have one more room to do Brian!)

ooh a difficult choice...probably Cheners, just because they are independent, always have a great selection of books, and always happy to order one in...and haven't had a makeover (apart from removing the bucket when they repaired the leaking ceiling)!! (also love Farmers, SMBS, Dulwich DIY, John Barnett shoes, Lush)

hi everyone, great points raised ..I've just been on the site, and yes it's down for maintenance, so thankyou to Zak for the alternative contact. I've just written, so hope lots more do too!

We have just used Advanced Painters for the second time, having been impressed with their first painting job, at our house. Brian is a 'rare breed', as he is polite, communicative, does what he says he's going to do, respects our home, and his work is finished to an excellent standard and for a very fair price! He takes pride in his business and is an absolute pleasure to deal with. He has just completed painting the outside of our house, in quite challenging weather, and has again finished the work to a high standard. We are happy to recommend him and will certainly be asking him back to work on another room in our home.

Objection just written. anything else we can do?

hi I would like to donate a few items,a couple of gifts and some non perishable food and xmas crackers etc.. where do I need to take them to please?

Great to see Chris and the boys back selling fruit n' veg...they are going to see how it goes, as the rent has increased considerably so....we all need to support them, so they can stay! So do spread the word that they are back, as some might not realise....as it had been closed...but now definitely OPEN!! aah happy days....

hi James Apologies if you already have had postings about this topic..but I was really upset, along with many other ED residents, to hear that Chris Burgess's grocers on Northcross rd, has been forced to close by bailiffs who changed the locks last week (I hear there is a short reprieve of maybe a couple of weeks)This as you know, has been a family run business for 47 yrs, and has been a valuable, good quality, and much loved business to many of us who chose to support him, rather than buy from the supermarkets. I just wonder, is there anything that we can collectively do, to change this decision? I know it has been a tortuous 'family' rift which made the lease a problem, but many of us signed petitions against closure, which apparently were not even looked at by the delegation who made the decision,of 4-2 against saving it.. Can you shed any further light on this, and what, if anything, we can do? I cannot believe the ED can lose a much needed, and only grocers.,,I am gutted many thanks,Sue

hi we recently had to do this, as my neighbour has been building a loft and side return...we only found out about having the party wall aaward at the last minute, as they didn't get anything in place, and so glad we did! We used Mark Douglas, and he has been really helpful and helped us in some compensation payment as a result of the neighbours rubbish builders which affected our roof!! He is thorough and recommended and helped us enormously . his email and mobile are- [email protected] 07971 710 041

hi James they are brilliant, and it's fabulous, that Madeleine, who I met giving out these lovely maps, took it upon herself to put this together along with the artist, Emma... Thanks too, for the funding to get them printed! I know Madeleine was mortified that a 'few' little shops had been missed off, but am sure, and hope, there will be a re-print to include those missed next time! Good for all of you to put this together..it makes a lovely difference and helps us all remember what fantastic independent shops we have on our doorsteps. I would be happy to help out and will email Madeleine to see what I can do. Maybe those who can't resist a negative comment, should also offer to help next time...these two ladies have not been paid for this, and done it off their own initiative.

we had about 12 or 14 clustered in a corner of our kitchen ceiling end of October/early November last year...one by one they came over a period of several weeks and huddled together. That was the long long winter...so guess it's a sign of what's to come! They stayed there for the duration..and then gradually disappeared when it started to warm up.....just left a few little dark spots which were easily cleaned away. Best house guests we've ever had, no bother at all! Don't hoover them !

the thread is about the closure and imminent new development of the garden centre site,and I noticed in an earlier post that James Barber mentioned that there part of the new development will include a 'shop unit'. I have heard a rumour, and I really hope it's not true, that it will be a Tesco Express?? Are they getting in again, through a back door yet again?? !! Why can't it be a small independant shop...we have enough of these bullish faceless heavyweights already in our neighbourhood. Can James Barber confirm this is what is happening? Can we object to it still, or is it a fait accompli?

just looked at my tea towels! there is one with carrots, and one with a beetroot design, and also one with an owl and also wild pigs..yes really! They had more designs though, quite quirky but I loved them, go have a look..I am supposed to be giving them as Christmas presents, but might keep one, or two..

I have been to the pop up shop on LL called Lush Designs, who are in the old Soup Dragon shop The shop looked really bright and colourful in this dreary weather, they have some lovely, lovely colourful gifts and homey things, like lampshades, teatowels (i bought a few as they are so light & cheap to post!) also saw mugs, and coasters and lots of reasonably priced things, so will be going back! They also do a fab range of cards..well worth a visit! I love LL for shopping,,won't go anywhere else!

I finally got to go at the weekend...and bought some lovely teatowels and a tray...really love their things and could have bought more! spoke to one of the designers who was in there, just loved her drawings.She said they are there til Jan 20th, so not long.. hope they can find somewhere permanent, as it's so nice to have a small local business making great things.