Marmora Man

I'd heard it was going to become Mrs Robinson's clothing branch - leaving more room for expensive knick knacks in MRs Robinson?

On occasions Libretto's also sell other stuff. A while back I was able to buy two tickets to the Cream reunion concert along with two good sirloin steaks. Meat & chat always good but my bro-in-law, a West Country butcher always feels the shop needs a good scrub out - it carries the trad look a little too far in terms of apparent cleanliness. That said it remains a good competitor for WR but its location, far from all other food outlets plays against it.

Macroban, I think the two points you make go together. I will be selling poppies this year - not sure where yet. Restoring the War Memorial would be an action that marked local support for Armed Forces and could create a nucleus of people prepared to engage with the British Legion's campaign.

Tedsmum - there is a thread on this with quite a bit of action taken. I support your concerns completely - and have contacted the council on a number of occassions. Unfortunately I think we're stuck with them for 2 years. See below for more info Traffic Lights

The Lib Dems are an endangered species but should be protected. It's good to see so many jumper and sandal wearing nice people playing at politics at the seaside. Rather like watching children in a sandpit - knowing that one day they'll grow up and get real jobs.

The problem with the idea that the forces themselves should support the serviceman and servicewoman is that they are not properly funded to do the core job; Land Rovers instead of armoured vehicles (hence more wounded / killed), desert boots that melt, radios that don't work. As a result they are not funded to look after retired service personnel. The aim of the British Legion - and my postings - is to raise awareness of the issues, encourage the general population to think more about them and to lobby those who can make change happen, particularly politicians. The "Covenant" request is: The Royal British Legion is calling on Government to honour its life-long duty of care to those making a unique commitment to their country. We believe: 1. There should be a just compensation scheme which recognises the commitment and sacrifices made when serving the Nation. The Government should: A. Substantially increase the value of awards made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. B. Recognise that Armed Forces personnel should not have to fight the State to prove that their injury or illness was due to Service ? the State should shoulder the burden of proof. C. Recognise that valid claims for compensation can arise long after injury or illness and so dispense with its five and 10 years cut-off dates for making claims. 2. There should be a greater commitment to support the physical and mental health of Service people and their families. For Armed Forces personnel, the Government should: A. Ensure that GPs and other NHS staff can access the medical histories of personnel who have been medically discharged. B. Meet the cost of accommodating the families of injured Service personnel. C. Extend in-depth health surveillance to all Service personnel ? and offer voluntary health monitoring for Service families of personnel on active deployment. For Veterans, the Government should: A. Ensure there is immediate access to healthcare for War Pensioners making priority treatment work not just in theory but in reality. B. Identify the number of veterans who are eligible for priority treatment and provide the resources needed to deliver it. C. Urgently increase the provision of mental health services for veterans, and deliver priority treatment in this area. 3. There should be more support for bereaved Service families. The Government should: A. Provide additional resources to coroners experienced in conducting military inquests in order to clear the backlog of Service inquests and to enable the establishment of a ?centre of excellence?. B. At public expense, provide Service families with legal advice, representation and advocacy during inquests. C. Appoint an independent commissioner to investigate complaints relating to in-Service deaths. I plan to be at the drinks on Friday and would be happy to continue this discussion - I think it is a very important topic. The government, with our tacit support (we didn't vote them out) has repeatedly sent our armed forces into danger but has not provided properly for their care on return. In fact it has actively dismantled some of the support services that were in place 10 years ago.

macroban Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A first step for East Dulwich might be a greater > attendance at our War Memorial on 11 November this > year. Agree - a great idea. Regrettably I will unable to attend - but will be at another Remembrance Day service at my son's school where he will be playing the Last Post. Do the local SCouts, Guides, Boy's Brigade attend these days?

downsouth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I find them deeply patronising. > > Better get back on topic. Dig Dig Dig - I thinks that's allotment speak?

downsouth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- In the meantime I will practice keeping by > belongings safe as per all the council and police > public information posters. Do these posters annoy anyone else? I don't like to be told to hide my mobile phone (or Ipod if I had one). They are portable items of equipment meant to be used in public spaces. The posters imply that by using a mobile phone in public I am somehow responsible encouraging crime and criminals. This seems, as my Devon neighbours used to say, "Arsy versy".

Brendan & lozzyloz, It is difficult to express exactly what I mean - I agree nursing, police and fire all are fine organisations that, in general, do enjoy strong public support. For some reason the Armed Forces are less visible - perhaps because fewer people have experience of the forces. While the government of the day pays servicemen's salaries - the covenant should extend beyond just pay and conditions. Governments tend to support what the public supports and the British Legion's campaign seeks to build greater support. There is a phrase "we sleep safe because other men guard our walls". The covenant is the deal between those of us sleeping safe and those who are doing the guarding. I have been lucky enough to meet many veterans - a Wellington Bomber navigator who parachuted out of a burning plane to spend three years in POW camp, a sailor who lugged a live bomb, on his chest, from beneath a submarine casing - aware that at any moment the submarine might dive (he won the VC), a young Royal Marine who has, in the last 5 years been at the forefront of the Iraq invasion and served two tours in Afghanistan. In every instance they insisted they have done nothing extraordinary - all are interesting, articulate and proud of their service careers, but disappointed that their wounded colleagues, families and widows are today not given the sort of support they had in previous days. Somehow British society, as a whole, does not give the Armed Forces the respect or support I feel they deserve. It has ever been thus - but the British Legion's campaign seeks to change that. Tommy - Rudyard Kipling Honour The Covenant

Interested in this general subject? See link below. Honour The Covenant

The British Legion has just established a new campaign to encourage us all to "Honour the Covenant". For those that haven't heard of the concept it's all about recognising that the UK asks a lot of its servicemen / women. In return the country should look after them if they are injured or hurt in the course of their service. We used to have dedicated military hospitals - where wounded servicemen could be treated in the company of their colleagues by medical staff who were also Army / Navy / RAF trained. No longer - a returning wounded soldier could be treated on an NHS orthopeadic ward with only several elderly men with new hip replacements, far from his regiment, friends or family. We used to applaud our servicemen for the skill and courage with which they performed their duties - not today. I have heard of instances where soldiers just returned from Afghanistan and in uniform were asked to leave a pub becuase "the uniform might offend others". Over 50% of London's rough sleepers are ex servicemen - whose return to civilian life has not been a success. In some other countries servicemen are helped - given discounts in shops, cinemas or when travelling. Patted on the back for their service and commitment. Veterans were listened to and given priority on busses or in queues. All this helps our service personnel to feel pride in what they are doing and themselves - it compensates in part for the hardships they endure / have endured on our behalf. No matter what some might think about government policies that have led to our Armed Forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan there is no doubt that soldiers, sailors and airmen are living in appalling conditions, have inadequate equipment, lousy pay (the average private soldier takes home less than ?800.00 a month) and many are being wounded or dying in pursuance of this government's foreign policy - we voted the government in, we have, jointly, a responsibility to our service people; not just those serving today but all those who have served during their lives. Some readers may be retired service men or women themselves - many will have a grandfather, grandmother or other relative that served during WWII or later conflicts. I urge you all to look at the website below and consider what you might personally, or corporately do for the British serviceman Honour The Covenant

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Pah! 'Tis cheap to slag off the incumbent with > 'hopefully their last days', but I don't see > anyone coming up with a bright alternative. MP can > you even name the representatives of the erstwhile > opposition, and do you intend to vote for them? > > No checking on t'interweb... The answer is, of course, that the Camberwell and Peckham Conservative Association have not, yet, selected their candidate. The previous candidate was selected for a "safer" seat elsewhere. Tories see Camberwell & Peckham as a training ground.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > mamafeelgood- you've lost me > > Marmora Man - I dont know how many times I have to > say this, but ALL fish which is brought to market > in London HAS BEEN FROZEN! Next you'll be telling > me that Moxons freeze their fish in a special way > which Sopers do not. Good grief. Not all fish has been frozen - it may have travelled in ice but not so that it became rock hard and deep frozen. Equally nowadays much is transported in chiller units at temperatures between 0C and 5C, particularly the line caught wild salmons, bass and trout. Trust me - I have spent a lot of time with fishermen.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 'do the math' - no reason to use an Americanism to > be condescending Asset! I'm fully aware that there > are good cuts and bad cuts of fish, but when you > buy from a market like Bilingsgate the produce > isnt sold unless it reaches certain standards. No > such thing as a cheaper cut is sold unless it is > bought in bulk by supermarkets. Mxons and Sopers > both buy from the same suppliers at Billingsgate I > am willing to bet. You wont admit it Asset, but > the real reason you enjoy going to Moxons is > because you want to feel as though you are getting > something which is better than what other people > get. I dont blame you of course, this sort of > snobbery is usually unknowingly taken for granted > in certain gentrified communities in London. Louisa, you must know Asset to understand his / her life rationale so well? I used to use Sopers - still do on occasions - but Moxon's is closer to where I do all my other shopping, has a good customer service ethic that Soper's wasn't as good with (Moxon's have advised me on cooking styles, timings and accompaniements, usually unasked - Soper's never). I certainly believe the qu ality of the fish is better - based on taste, on looks and on obvious freshness. A lot of Soper's fish was defrosted from frozen - Moxon's fish don't have that appearance or flabby texture when cooked. And before anyone accuses me of being a yuppie - I failed the "young" and "upward" bit years ago. But I do like good food, well prsented and properly cooked.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Gentrification - the buying and renovation of > houses and stores in deteriorated urban > neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families > or individuals, thus improving property values but > often displacing low-income families and small > businesses. Or Urban Regeneration - the renovation and development of attractive properties in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by developers in partnership with local authorities thus improving property values, security and economic well being of local communities and small businesses. Choose your views and choose your definition.

Many people's view of their own economic well being is tied to the perceived value of their assets. Usually their mortgaged to the hilt home is the principle asset. If house prices fall (starting to happen - tho' not, yet, in London) they tend to be more careful with money. More careful with money - less shopping and buying, less shopping and buying - slows the economy. Slower economy = house prices falling. Could be a rocky ride.

Louise, You made one absolutely correct and sensible observation with which I agree entirely. "I find the suggestion that she should be forced to let out "prime commercial property" totally ludicrous". Agreed. Thereafter the heat and anger you to generate personally over this whole thread is amazing. I propose connecting you to the National Grid as a power source. If we can walk one "loud mouth yuppy buying venison for a dinner party" past every hour it should provide enough energy to power all the computers in use in East Dulwich.

Ko Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What does 'hooky' organic meat mean? I think I > may be on a slightly difference wavelength... Hooky - London / cockney slang - generally either slightly dodgy (may not work properly) or from dubious sources (fell of back of lorry) Hooky

Cars are now beginning to use Marmora Road and Scutari Road as a rat run to avoid the lights - either turning right onto Colyton Road and along east side of Peckham Rye or left onto Colyton and rejoing Forest Hill Road / Peckham Rye at these blasted lights. Usual morning traffic has probably doubled in last week. This manoeuvre also creates holds ups at the Cmberwell Cemetry light as cars queue to turn into Marmora. Very little planning seems to have gone into these lights. Removing them asap and puttting a Thames Water man with a Red / Green Stop / Go sign would be cheaper, more flexible and would only impact on traffic 9 - 5 Mon - Fri. Let common sense rule. Keep e-mailing the council and councillors

This morning it's been very quiet. Weather clear with slight haze over London to the north. Minimal winds.

So far the ratio for / against is about 3 / 50. It's in everyone's interest to ensure Southwark council does either remove the lights o/c of the Thames Water engineering or conducts a proper consultation about their possible retention. If we become lazy or complacent they will certainly become a permanent feature.

Could do with a bookshop where it's comfortable to browse, where staff appear interested, where it's possible to sit and sip a good coffee and even maybe eat a cake or two. A cross between the two Dulwich bookshops (One in the Village proper and one on the strip in West Dulwich) and Chandelier. If they also had a decent selection of DVDs (ideally including classic films), music and instruments for sale and evening events such as poetry readings, discussions and live music it would be near perfect. I would / could waste a lot of time and spend a lot of money in such a place.

FOR INFO: I raised the following with Southwark Council: "There is some concern that these temporary lights could become permanent. Is there a fail safe mechanism that will ensure their removal unless positive action is taken to make them permanent ? or, as I fear, is it the other way around? That unless positive action is taken to ensure their removal then, inertia and general bureaucratic laziness will result in them becoming permanent." I received the reply below: "I have been passed your e-mail and asked to respond to the query The lights are temporary and funded both for the installation and the ongoing maintenance by Thames Water while the tunnel works for the ring main are in progress. At the end of this period the lights will be removed unless a case is made for their retention on the grounds that the arrangement is better than reverting to the previous arrangement. To establish this will require monitoring of the usage plus consultation with interested parties including the Community Council. If it is decided to keep the lights then the maintenance cost will pass to Southwark as part of its payment to TfL covering all the traffic lights in Southwark. Thames Water works are due to complete in March 2010 but we expect the lorry usage to diminish before so the lights will be being review about the end of 2009" Andrew Downes Street Scene and Transport Infrastructure Manager London Borough of Southwark 0207 525 2091

What's the problem? Is it Foxtons or the glass? Two points: 1. DD states Foxtons have planning permission. 2. An expanse of glass with views of a tidy and calm interior (that's what their sites look like elsewhere) is a huge improvement on the brick and concrete monstrosity that was there before.