rgutsell

Hiya all Reading about all of the local crime on EDF, I looked out of the window this morning, looking for dodgy goings on. Nothing happened. Yours R N Gutsell

Anyone else up?

Hallo all Yup Alex K; good ideas. I'll keep you in mind. (You can tell I'm not a gardener, I did not think of crocuses.) The idea is to plant bulbs that can regrow the following year. It's a spontaneous idea of mine; I just thought it would look excellent, and be a creative and "green" thing to do. Originaly I was going to do it anyway, without permission etc, but I don't have the funds. I also thought that woodlands plants that live in shady places would do well. Bluebells perhaps? The council does do some of this, but they are too big to focus upon this and do it repeatedly and on a sufficient scale. Additionaly, why shouldn't we have a stake like this in our local environment ourselves? It quickly became apparent that planting significant numbers would work out expensive (I don't have the funds.) It will also fit with council procedures as they don't strim the bits of ground that I have found, or dig them over. Bulbs will survive so long as quirrels aren't too hungry LOL. All ideas are welcomed and thanks for the offer of time and materials. Let others know, it'll be fun! Yours Robert N Gutsell

HIya all On the suggestion of someone on this forum, I have applied to Southwark LA for funds from the "Cleaner Greener" funding programme, to put spring bulbs into bare patches of ground that are nominally managed by the LA, but which are usually only planted with functional low maintenance bushes. There are more around than you think. These patches become litter traps (and doggy do-do areas, dare I say it!) If we get the dosh, do you know of any such small pieces of estate or LA land local to you, and would you be interested in helping with the planting? Nothing elaborate...just snow drops, daffodils, and bluebells. You won't need to be a gardener, (I'm not) and it all depends on getting the dosh. (?500-?1000). Sadly, the funding may be too late for this spring, but I am now looking for ways to start it this winter ie now. Get in touch, and if it comes about, I will be in touch! PM me here, or rgutsell2@yahoo.com, or 07748197348, or 0208 299 1896. Yours Robert N Gutsell

WARNING! Here is a rant from an anti-dog man.....! Turn away now if you love doggies! My interpretation of what occurred was that it was a violent incident that occurred because two (note that..TWO owners) could not control their dogs (on, or off, the lead). In my, anti dog, view, the violence is that of the owners!! Why didn't the Police arrest them both? As a life long runner, I have been using public parks for decades, and I am very fed up of inneffective owners telling me that the dog that has just chased me, nipped me, barked/growled at me, is "really a nice dog, and very friendly" (So, of course, I must be a horrible, animal hating and unreasonable person) The latest incident that I endured was in Chiswick park, on a saturday morning, when we entered a cricket field that had been effectively taken over by dog owners, who obviously knew each other as regular saturday dog walkers. We had a 5 year old boy with us, who was bowled over by a fast moving dog, the same size as him, and who was very scared and shaken. He spent the rest of the day shying away from any dog that came close. In my opinion, that was an assault on the child by the owner. And..lets not even talk about the numerous park cafe's taken over by groups of doggie owners on week ends. I am clearly an insane, embittered, odd bod, who has not developed the natural English love of our canine friends. I believe it to be a sign of our insanity, that we will cull Badgers, but not dogs! Looking forward to many "animated" replies, Yours R N Gutsell

Hiya all Has anyone noticed the low level, but regular appearance of abandoned suitcases, still with air travel paperwork attached, and discarded items inside, left around on the area's streets? I have a fantasy about this; it's a luggage nicking ring taking them from Heathrow, and abandoning them away from the airport after going through them. Yours R N ( Conspiracy theory) Gutsell

ANYTHING that comes from the Boris is suspect. The only reason he idealises them, is that he has a romanticised view of "plebeian" life, which of course he never had to endure. He thinks that life for us working class "chums" was a matter of great fun as we gleefully, and charmingly, hung on to the rear of those crappy, tiny, noisy, innefficient Routemasters, and risked death falling off them. They were retired for a very good reason; They were innefficient, not cost effective, and dangerous. A Myth has grown up about them, and as a person who used to drive them, I can state categoricaly that modern units are vastly superior, and that the "pre-selection" gear box fitted to the original was confusing and problematic. Bring back the berndies; not attractive, but much better sense.

Hallo all Last week, I attended a session at the Maudsley Hospital, to take part in research into Degenerative Brain conditions, like ALS. It was fun, interesting and useful. The information collected is part of a large enquiry that compares patients with non patients, and may help specialists to pick up brain degeneration much sooner. You are not being investigated for the degeneration, just providing useful research info. You get fares paid, and possibly a ?30 M and S voucher. They are looking for men in the age range 60-75 to take part. If you are in that range, or you know someone who is, consider taking part, and contribute to some useful research. Contact Watermeyer, Tamlyn ; Yours R Gutsell

Yesterday, I attended a session at the Maudsley Hospital, to take part in research into Degenerative Brain conditions, like ALS. It was fun, interesting and useful. The information collected is part of a large enquiry that compares patients with non patients, and may help specialists to pick up brain degeneration much sooner. You are not being investigated for the degeneration, just providing useful research info. You get fares paid, and possibly a ?30 M and S voucher. They are looking for men in the age range 60-75 to take part. If you are in that range, or you know someone who is, consider taking part, and contribute to some useful research. Contact Watermeyer, Tamlyn ; Yours R Gutsell

Hallo Huguenot The portrait is in my posession, I like it, and I am intrigued to know more. The V and A passed me onto the London Museum and they stated that I would need to cary on doing what I started; ie get in touch with European museums. Yours, R N Gutsell

Hallo Alex K Thanks for these ideas. I will try the V and A. I have already been e mailing museums in Sweden and Norway, but either they don't reply or they don't recognise it. An auctioneer suggested that it may have been done by a street artist. I will let you know If I get anywhere. Yours, R N Gutsell

Hiya all Well thanks for that, you guys. I have been thinking along similar lines. It may be a street protrait of a tram driver etc. The paper that it is on, comes from Norway. Any more ideas? Yours R N Gutsell

Hiya all Attached is a full length portrait of a gentleman, probably european, circa 1900's. I am researching it, and would appreciate any input! Yours, R N Gutsell

Hiya all, Here comes an anti capitalism rant!! The "Market".....what is it? "Markets" do not exist. There are only self interested people seeking their own enrichment. (And, if you want to work hard enough, you can find out who they are...there aren't as many as you think!) The "Market" is blocking normal people with families and children on normal wages (circa 28K income)from important areas of the UK. It is actually reducing support and resources to other areas. Houses aren't investment capital; they are places we live in, and are essential. We have to be brave and stop following the crowd, stop thinking its "cool" to be in places East Dulwich, and start investing commitment and energy to local community, local activity, and seeing our localities as places to live, not places to use to get rich. There, I feel better now! Yours R N Gutsell

Believe me!!! LOL They ARE loud church goers! They are very commited and vociferous in their faith. Then they come out and happily chat loudly at silly hours o0f the day/night. And bang their car doors and happily watch their noisy kids playing about without intervention. At the risk of being a cruddy old English fart, I don't mind their faith, I'm envious of their happiness, but I wish they would shut the F%^$&k up! (With tounge in cheek) Yours Robert N Gutsell

Hallo I agree. The noisy zones could be anywhere on Lordship Lane within 50 meters of a pub. Yours R N Gutsell

Hiya Ive been working with homeless people, and those with drug and alcohol problems, for 20 years, and I do not give anything. Its no that I don't care. Its just that overall, whatever you give, won't change anything. If its used properly it will provide the person with food, but people in that situation have often re-arranged their needs over time, and will often buy drink or drugs. Don't feel you are being uncaring. If you want to make it count, give your hard earned dosh to useful charities etc that do make a difference. Yours R N Gutsell

Hiya all I am fed up with loud buses, loud drunken people, loud telephone conversations, and the occasional fight, and loud fast moving emergency vehicles and motorbikes, and loud church goers, on East Dulwich Grove after 11pm. Any night. I propose "residential quiet zones" be set up by local people. We could have large red frightening notices at the edges of the zones, warning people that they are entering quiet zones, and that uniformed edf vigilantes will leap out of hedges and use sticky tape to shut them up. (No one Expects the edf inquisition) We could have electronic signs, like those speed warning signs, that light up with a smiley face if you are talking on your mobile under 40 decibels, and then with a terse "F&8%k off you noisy, selfish b^"*&^d" if you are over. We could have hidden ramps in the road, that measure the noise levels of fast approaching emergency vehicles, motorbikes etc, and suddenly flip up in front of them according to how noisy they are. Quiet vehicles will get small bumps. Noisy ones will take off and land somewhere near Dulwich Village. (going east, that is!) Any other suggestions? And really.....why not have quiet zones? Yours R N Gutsell

I was thinking of becoming the next mole man. He is here to film me building a subterranean house in East Dulwich Grove, the emerges onto Peckham Rye. RN Gutsell

Sorry to hear about your horrible experience. Get some support from "Victim Support" (details from the Police). R N Gutsell

Hiya all Does anyone know what the outcome was from the councils recent parking consultation? Yours, R N Gutsell

Hiya all Just to add some "Flavour" to this.... The 37 bus that I came home in yesterday, broke the 30mph limit along the first section of EDG towards the hospital, (the sign lit up...it does light up early though, around 28mph). The same bus also was speeding along the road between Herne Hill and the junction at North Dulwich Station where the road works are. The temporary traffic lights at the road works were at green, and he put his foot down from a long way out, passed the trafic island on the wrong side, sped through the works, and had to brake rather quickly at the bus top. There you go..... R N Gutsell

Hiya James Barber What does all of that mean? How can we get the Council or responsible authority to do something? There has been a vehicle count box on the road by the shops on east dulwich grove for a while. Yours R N Gutsell

Hiya all Loads of responses...thanks! If not raised zebra crossings then those square raised bumps that force drivers to line up their cars to reduce the bump. Buses drive right over them and straddle the bump with no effect. If they were not too far from the crossings, the slower cars would be more likely to stop for pedestrians. How to take this forward? Yours, R N Gutsell

Hiya all The arrival of M and S in East Dulwich will be the end of any remaining pretensions that East Dulwich has as a "Bohemian" place. From that point on, we will all have to admit that we are all fully paid up members of the stuffed, conservative, and aspiring, middle class. (!!LOL) Yours R N Gutsell