ito1

18 months ago I had numerous infuriating encounters with DMC ranging from ineptitude, poor management to peculiar policies. Thoroughly annoying at the time but I have now moved surgeries and, fortunately, haven't had to find out if my new surgery is equally bad. It really doesn't surprise me at all to hear that the DMC has failed to meet simple standards again. EDITED to amend rubbish grammar

At risk of putting my head above the parapet, many years ago I went to a London private school and took a coach every morning and afternoon. Parents were sending in their children from all over south London (I believe much greater distances than the typical catchment areas of many schools) with my coach journey taking 30-45 minutes when public transport would be, at the very least, double that. A number of my school friends were also beaten up or mugged whilst in school uniform and I'm sure this may have played some part in my parents putting me on the coach. Needless to say a quick and easy journey home worked for me. Given that this thread is about coaches causing travel disruption rather than social injustices it appears to me that the net benefit of ferrying children in coaches rather than cars must outway a little traffic. I now live very close to Alleyns and I'm not inconvenienced by the coaches at all because I'm always on public transport.

There were two green cars on Grove Park who have had their back windows smashed in the last couple of weeks... is someone chalking up colours?

I know it's too much to compare The Palmerston & Arbutus on quality, one has a michelin star and the Palmerston has a few gastropub awards... Pricewise, however, they are on top of each other - Arbutus is a pound more at ?15.50 for the lunch menu and I know I definitely didn't feel the need for a side order (I'm not sure they even had any, although maybe my stomach just wasn't looking for one). In my humble opinion Arbutus is one of the best restaurants, and best value lunches, in London and I'm afraid to say I left my only Palmerston dining experience feeling as if I'd paid too much for something distinctly average for the price...

All around a super selection of wine with some very interesting small parcels - the first (and only) place I'd look in East Dulwich, although if Oddbins succeed to pull their socks back up under new management their Dulwich Village shop might come back into my local sights.... However, the authoritarian tone of the G&B summer tasting sheet that listed the expected behaviour of participants, including instructions not to pour too large a glass as it was ?rude and greedy? and that it was a wine tasting and not a chance to chat with friends amongst other instructions, completetly turned me off the idea of attending one? Possibly because of this, and I am all for the careful use of plastic bags, the sign advising they are no longer provided because of their ?proliferation? somewhat rankles (and I'm the first to admit that this is probably me rather than a valid greviance) Apologies for the negativity, but on a final positive note I still think that their wines are delicious and I suppose that?s what it?s mostly about.