Ganapati

Well, if you listen to some "experts" selling up and renting is the best option right now--that's if you believe the housing market will tank.

Chav--Heroin is not medicine (at least not in the type of case you are referring to). Besides that, I lived in America where nothing medical is free, and you still don't have diabetics stealing for their insulin. Anyway that is not my point. My point is that Spade made a comparison between the two which I thought was a rather tenuous one and that people were bending so far the other way as to make out that heorin addiction was a simple illness. I'm not sure why people are assuming that BARA is getting hysterical. People get up in arms on this forum over chain stores & estate agents moving in. I'm sure if Starbucks tried to muscle in on LL there would be a petition to stop them from coming (as what happnened when they moved in to Blackheath).

No offense taken Keef. But on the other hand I don't think we should totally shut out what BARA are raising. I don't live anywhere near CPR so it doesn't affect me, but if a methadone/needle exchange clinic were opening near me I would want to know what that meant and how they would manage it. Isn't that what BARA are trying to figure out? Anyway, Spadetownboy *is* trying to compare diabetics and heroin addicts. He says, "i wonder if there would be such a big hoo ha if the needle exchange was opened just for them, or is it just that you dont like the possible idea of hoards of drug users descending on crystal place road." Of course no one would give a toss about diabetics! Diabetics don't have an addiction and when have you last read about a diabetic stealing to feed their insulin needs? Will crime rise if a needle exchange program opens up? Who knows, but I think we should at least be realistic about it and not try to bend so far the other way (from thinking it will trash the neighborhood with junkies lurking around every corner) that we smooth over that heroin addiction has been known to drive people to commit crimes.

No, that's not what I said. Spadetownboy is trying to equate heroin addiction with being a diabetic. I was trying to point that they are not the same, not that I would turn it down. This thread is beginning to annoy me anyway. People who voice any worries about the clinic will just be written off the frightened middle class no matter what.

Uh, I think I would prefer to have a clinic for diabetics than one for heroin addicts. Lets not romanticise addicts just bc NIMBYISM annoys people.

James--her exact words were, "I never thought my daughter stood a chance with all the middle class kids..." I'm not going into the details as to why she's not middle class on this board, but it's clear she's not. Her daughter sat the exams for Haberdasher's so I'm not sure what you're implying with the statement that the school takes from all ability levels. Seriously, it is not just the "middle classes" who worry about good schools.

AllforNun--If you're referring to me, then you should read the thread more carefully. I LIVE in Nunhead and I've got a kid heading off to school soon, so believe me I know what I'm talking about when I say the schools in Nunhead are terrible. I find it amusing that there always seems to be this assumption that the only people who care about good schools are "middle class parents" and the plebes will just shove their children wherever they can. In fact, I met a woman at my daughter's nursery who in her own words was not middle class at all and was bursting with pride that her daughter got into Haberdasher Askes. She also told me to "stay away" from Ivydale (in Nunhead) and went into the pros and cons of practically the entire area.

Seriously though, don't "regualr" church goers get annoyed at non-regulars coming in just to kid their children in the school?

Nunhead Lass--Please don't take offense at what I'm saying about schools. I am not slating the children who go there. I am simply saying compared to other schools in the wider area, Nunhead schools are not as good. I'm sure we can all agree that it helps to have decent facilities, staff that aren't under-supported and over-worked (and probably underpaid), and parents who are willing to get involved in the schools. Unfortunately, all these things combined need to reach a "tipping point" before things turn around for a school. But of course, it takes a long time to reach that tipping point, and usually an under performing school becomes stuck in a viscious circle.

These days 5 bed wrecks, and I mean total wrecks, are going for 600K+ in some of the grottier bits of Brockley (near the dreaded double roundabout). I stand my ground on Nunhead schools. Have you seen how dire Ivydale is? Hollydale is improving but definitely not as good as the really good ones in Brockley and Forest Hill even.

AllforNun--I'm not saying the children are terrible I'm saying the schools are. Anyway, I am not going to open that can of worms about what makes a good school a good school or whether people should support their local schools regardless of what type of education their children will receive--whether from their peers or from their teachers. I also did not say the downturn will not have an effect, I said I wonder what sort of impact a downturn will have on these areas. If there is a downturn which looks more likely by the day, surely these areas will not regenerate as quickly as if during boom times. Will we see new shops opening up on Nunhead Lane if prices start dipping--doubt it. I agree that Nunhead Lane has a lot of potential; I love FC Soper and hope more stores like theirs open up. But then Brockley will be getting the Tube! Jeremy there is another bit to Nunhead. It's the area bound by Ivydale/Athenlay Rds, Cheltenham/Hawkslade Road, and the cemetery. This is where you will find the larger 3 bed terraces (about 1400 sq feet without the attic converted). And as scruffy as Evelina is, I saw a 3 bed there for 500,000.

Have you seen what some of the larger 3 bed terraces are going for these days in Nunhead? The ones I've seen are all priced in the mid to high 400's now. I agree with AllNun--TERRIBLE primary schools in Nunhead. You're basically forced to hope one of the Lewisham schools take mercy on you and let your child in. I live in the Ivydale triangle bit--lovely streets back here, but would love to see some life on the strip of shops in Cheltenham Road. Methinks we're going to be in for a wait. Brockley has 2 excellent primary schools going for it, plus really fabulous housing stock--above and beyond the three bed terrace layout. Still pretty grotty though towards the station. Wonder what impact a downturn will have on these areas.

He's making the rounds in Nunhead as well.

DaveR--I agree with you. I think that is precisely the problem. They seem to have a problem of logistics (the agonizingly slow service can only point to that) which it appears they are trying to fix by simplifying the menu (or dumbing it down as AllforNun might say. I was there today and waited 15 minutes for a takeaway sandwich. The man behind me was simply getting some juice for his children. There should be a separate line for a start for those not eating at the cafe. And isn't a double espresso with water an Americano?

That's ridiculous if you have to pay EXTRA for classes.

I seem to remember it being really nice just 2 years back. I remember being able to order kippers at breakfast. I have kids, but I have to agree with Allfornun, the food there is terrible now. It was really disappointing the last time we tried it. I know its hard to feed children, but surely there's a middle ground. Maybe have a "kids menu" and bring back some of the more adventurous dishes (though is kippers considered adventurous or just retro?).

The property market looks like its already stalling. We've been looking casually to move, and I've had estate agents hounding me night and day about how the vendors will "take an offer." Houses are definitely sitting on the market longer as well, and noticed a couple around the area that went back for sale after being under offer.

Has anyone used this nursery for your child/ren? I'm looking for some feedback on it. It seems to be on the expensive side, but looked well run. Thanks.

AnnieFen--PLEASE check out Nunhead. I'm talking about Cheltenham Road at the end toward the greasy spoon cafe (it just changed ownership and can't remember the name of it). I think there is even a site for it in what used to be called Mumtaz. It was a post office at one point (or post office outlet). That little triangle of Nunhead has tons of families/young professionals who have been pushed out of ED etc. and who moan on a regular basis of the lack of amenities in the area. Monica--I love a greasy spoon as much as the other person, but sometimes you do want more than eggs and chips.

Thanks. Not interested in (another) greasy spoon.

Here here, we need a good cafe in Nunhead. I think Cheltanham Road is ready for a nice cafe. I know so many young professionals and families priced out of ED that would practically live at a decent cafe in this part of Nunhead.

Did any of you notice if they sold Monmouth coffee beans/ground coffee to take home? Haven't found anywhere around here that sells decent coffee beans.

This is why I don't trust some of the local estate agents. There is a house for sale that I recently viewed. It appears that the vendor was going to split the house into 2 flats, and accordingly put in a bathroom and kitchen on the first floor of the house as well as the ground floor. I remember saying to the estate agent it was on with at the time...Hmmmm...what a good price for this. The new owner could turn it into 2 flats and make quite a good return on their purchase (though not me since I was looking for a house). The estate agent hemmed and hawed and muttered quietly, with the right planning permission of course. As it turns out, the vendor did not get planning permission, and in fact, the council has put a moratorium on flat conversions...(so basically, whoever buys the house will either have to live with 2 kitchens, or rip one out). The estate agent never said a word about this (I found out from a nosy neighbor who was looking at the house when I was and said "what on earth were they thinking embarking on this without proper permission?). I have since seen the price of this house drop about 50K, and gone on with at least three other agents. NOT A ONE has mentioned how the house is actually configured in their marketing. They market it as a 4 bed house, not a three bed house with an extra kitchen that needs ripping out. And they wonder why they get such a bad name!

Oh Spadetownboy, why must you be so cruel? Yes, it is a matter of customer service, but who knows, maybe they did think they could palm off some bad walnuts on this boy. I'm sure there must be some sizing up of customers to see who will complain and who won't. They seemed very put off and surprised when I complained. Anyway, I think you really crossed the line with the comment "wearing disability as a badge of honor".

Ibo--I too think it's awful how your son was treated. In my earlier post I said "forget about [him] being disabled" what I meant was, treating someone disbaled badly is poor enough, but it was also bad customer relations when you went in to try to rectify things.