Marmora Man

fredricketts - the people put the governments in. So if we get crap government - it's our fault. To my lasting pride I campaigned against Tony Blair's government before 1997, didn't share the joy of hos "New Britain", loathed him from the first and am pleased that my views seem to be shared by the majority. However, he's an example of how slick dicks can con the British public.

The locked doors are a bit of a clue! Opens later next week is my understanding after a decor refresh.

Is it possible, these days, to live "off the radar". By which I mean to disappear from all bureaucratic databases, work for and in cash only, never have to produce ID and so on? The new Tom Cruise film has Jack Reacher as a such an individual wandering around USA - doing good and beating up baddies, getting by on the odd labouring job, not owning a house, car or even clothes (he just buys new every few days and discards the old). There were the couple up in Teeside where the husband "disappeared" in a canoeing accident and then surfaced in Panama, John Stonehouse tried to fake a suicide but was found in Australia. So ................ what do you think?

I agree with both the above comments - particularly the need for institutions to serve, earn respect and trust. But a few dodgy Admirals / Generals, corrupt police, or weak media managers should not be allowed to skewer the reputations of organisations. However, I do worry about the default position tending toward suspicion and mistrust - this is something that responsible commentators should refrain from fuelling by, as Ted Max, suggests pointing out that individual failings are not, necessarily, indicative of institutional failing. As one, minor, example - the BBC (as an insitution) has been rather good at reporting honestly on failings of managers and individuals involved in the Saville saga. There are few organisations that are prepared to be so upfront in this way and the BBC (as an institution) should be applauded for this.

Ridgley Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > agreed what Funkychick Said, the more people > loosing there jobs they will need shops like > Iceland to shop in. At present the reported unemployment trend is good - ie falling.

But what about the apparently irresistable rise in suspicion of any, and every, institution or individual in a position of power. It appears that the working assumption is that if the organisation is big or powerful (BBC, Banking, Police, Parliament, Major manufacturers, Supermarkets, the press) or the individual is aristocratic, rich or through fame & celebrity in an "elevated" position (sportsmen & woment, pop stars, TV personalities, politicians) then they must be, de facto, abusing this position. Now I recognise that just because we're paranoid it doesn't mean someone isn't following us - but I think this working assumption is lazy thinking and gnaws away at mutual respect, courtesy and the fabric of society as a whole. Without trust and respect society fails and anarchy rules.

Those that profess support for Iceland and cite the demand for its services and good from the poor and unsnobby elementsof Ed should take up their case with Iceland's Board. The Iceland Corporate Responsibility page on their website (http://www.iceland.co.uk/about-iceland/corporate-responsibility/ )states they support over 750 communities. However, it seems they have decided the ED demographic trend is running against their offering. Their decision is undoubtedly based on a realistic commercial appraisal. Similarly M&S, if they do open a store on Lordship Lane will base their decision on a realistic commercial appraisal and understanding of the demographic trends of ED.

Interesting - would perhaps make the constituency more marginal than previously by mixing traditional labour held Camberwell & Peckham with the more mixed and perhaps aspirational southern portion. Would make for a less predictable result and probably see hard campaigning.

It's also worth noting that straddling the humps in a normal car can, given the poor construction of the humps, cut and damage the inner and unseen walls of tyres. This makes them more likely to suffer a blow out, which at speed can easily result in a major traffic accident.

Browns of Mayfair. They are all expensive - think ?30 pp minimum and some are much higher. Advance booking essential. However, a less costly alternative might be tea & scones at the Victoria & Albert museum followed by a tour of the museum (I understand there's a good exhibition of ballgowns at present in addition to all the other good stuff at the V&A)

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's not patronising to assume people who don't > have time to get properly involved / deeply > involved (as you suggested) in any specific issue > will be informed enough to discuss it > intelligently. As anyone who has ever gotten > deeply involved in anything knows, issues are > often difficult and complex with lots of grey > areas and require more than general interest to be > properly understood. > > For example, people are often rightly concerned > about the carbon footprint of the food they eat > and therefore decide to buy "local" as a means to > reduce this. However, the issue is vastly more > complex. In certain parts of the world certain > livestock and produce require less energy to > cultivate due to the properties of the area > (sunshine, soil quality etc). Also, in certain > poorer countries, where labour costs are lower > human beings vs. carbon-fueled machines are > responsible for more of the cultivation process, > again lower carbon footprint. Both of these > things can influence the final price of imported > foodstuffs and might in part be why certain > imported produce is cheaper than locally produced > products. The transportation of food is only on > element that determines its true carbon footprint > and your lamb from a British farmer might actually > be entail the use of more carbon-energy than lamb > cultivated and then shipped from New Zealand when > the entire production process is taken into > account. And this elegant exposition of why one single issue is more grey than Black & White doesn't take into account the economic advantage that may accrue to an otherwise impoverished nation, area or region from investing in agriculture and exporting the product. So importing green beans from Kenya / prawns from Thailand / lobsters from Ireland / sugar from the Caribbean may possibly have a higher carbon footprint than sourcing the same on an ED allotment / fish pond / sugar beet field but it's production and export may be enabling the funding of local intrastructure and schools in the area through taxes on the business while also giving wages and dignity to the employees as well as providing them with an understanding of entrepreneurial skills. How do you balance this "good" against the "bad" of higher carbon footprint - always assuming that you do agree that man made carbon is contributing to climate change - many would disagree.

Lulastic Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > PS- Mammary Man, I think you have just gotten caught up with something as superficial as the name of the thing. Clearly in the further description it IS about engagement, discussion, participation, understanding and action. (Though hopefully not fundraising *YAWN* although could be) I hope you come along and find us a better name. Despite the reference to my non exostent man boobs I may call in. I am working in the South West at present but should be passing Camberwell on the way home on Weds evening.

Burbage Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Give it a year or two and dimmble LED light bulbs > that don't need special fittings, or fancy > installations, should be available at a reasonable > price. > > Currently, they're about ?35 (down from about ?50 > a few months ago - example here) so it's probably > not worth splashing out on them yet. But they > should be more efficient and last much longer than > than the standard energy-efficient flourescent > lamps* and a warmer light than current LED > systems. > > *These can last 8 years or whatever it says on the > box, but as maxxi pointed out, a lot don't. > Especially the dirt-cheap versions trotted out by > the utility companies as a cynical way of spending > the Renewables Obligation on heavily-branded > packaging. Something that should never be > forgotten when reading the guff they print on your > bill, or watching the ads you're having to pay > for. The Dulwich DIY "system" costs about ?5.00 per lamp initially, therefater it's pennies I think. So a chandelier with 15 lamps is going to be expensive - but for one or two bedside / armchair side lamps it's not so bad.

Most light fittings can now be adapted to use LEDs - even fancy ones, such as chandeliers, candle look alikes and others. Dulwich DIY has the system - first unit is expensive but then replacing the LEDs is low cost and the system is compatible with dimmer switches.

Ariadne Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Artful, can I put the independent retailers > point of view? I have recently started a fruit & > veg stall attached to our butchers shop. It has > proved v popular with customers & much more cost > effective as they're buying quality fresh products > in the quantity they need.(1 red chilli for > example, thanks Marmora Man) Also less for the > recycling food waste bin. > The butchers start at 6.30am in preparation for > opening at 8. And when I go to New Covent Garden > Market it means a 3am start. It would be difficult > therefore to extend the opening hours with just a > small team of staff. We are not complacent of the > fact that we are missing a large part of the local > shoppers, hence the queues on Saturday. > In answer to your original question, yes your > weekly bill can be less than when you shop in the > supermarket as you're not always getting the > bargain you thought (thanks Maritrap) Where is your shop? I've not noticed a butchers with conjoined veg stall - but would like to come and see.

Lulastic said "I guess I am coming from a circle of people who do just generally care about a "more just world" - the cafe is a direct response to groups that take one issue and mobilise around that. Because actually myself, and many of my friends, care about LOADS of issues - the environment, the NHS, the Arms Trade, the food system- but don't have the time to be involved in any significant way with any of them." Sounds a tad precious - do you believe your circle of friends is in some way superior to others in caring about a "more just world"? I am sure many people do - but protest is a very limited route to achieving that ambition. Why not try participation, engagement, discussion, learning, understanding, fund raising, negotiation and action. Protest, on its own, without offering an alternative is about as much value as a child's temper tantrum "I hate you, I want sweets, don't want to eat that".

I find this concept rather strange - it's as if "protest" is more important than any given issue. As I read the proposal it's "let's get together and decide what to protest about" - a low level form of Mao's permanent revolution? Rather than create a cafe for p*ssed off people to plot protests, why not, instead, open a place where people can meet, socialise, drink and eat well, make friends, celebrate life, exchange recipes or knitting patterns, gossip, review recent films, arrange football matches, plan festivals or carnivals and, perhaps, also plot protests.

Ridgley Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I Don?t have a problem with Scottish independents if that is what the majority wants so long as it is total independent from England. I can understand this point of view - however, I believe the UK, as a whole, would be diminished if the 300 year partnership were to be completely dissolved. England, Scotland, Wales and, perhaps to a lesser degree, Northern Ireland make a coherent whole with a shared tradition. Separate them and each state becomes a smaller and less significant player on the world stage. I could be persuaded that ceding Northern Ireland to Eire has a logical basis - as that would also make a coherent whole. However, historical tensions make this very unlikely. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

"oh"7.00 when telling the time or "oh"2"oh"8 when giving a telephone number. "oh" is a letter and Zero is a number - plase use properly. I'm sure steveo's father would agree.

Zeban / DJQK I have run a small business and these days I act as an advisor / consultant to other businesses. No employer in their right mind would fire a good and valued member of staff for no reason - but nowadays getting rid of a poor worker is a long drawn out affair. Too often some employers resort to manufacturing a case for dismissal over a period of up to 6 months in order to avoid some form of Industrial Tribunal. This is immoral and bad for the employer, other members of staff and the individual whose performance is not up to scratch. As an example (real life and current - but far from East Dulwich): Member of staff - joined company 18 months ago. Has persistent absenteeism, long periods of sickness (some suspected to be faked), has abused the company's policy of IT (using company time to Facebook friends and send many semi pornographic e-mails - a recent investigation revealed an average of 8 hours a week doing this), been abusive to work colleagues and provided a poor service to the individual she was meant to be supporting as PA / Secretary. Over the last 10 months she has been counselled, had several performance management meetings with objectives set, but never realised, and been allowed to avail herself of a company interest free loan, reportedly to fund necessary repairs to her home but which was actually spent on a holiday in France. It has been clear for several months that she is not adding value to the company but, as yet, there is not sufficient, evidence that an Idustrial Tribunal would accept as irrefutable to warrant her dismissal. So the "hard fought for and there for a reason" employee rights are costing this company not just this individual's salary but also reputation, good will from other staff and the cost of cover for her poor performance. I have recommended a full investigation of the abuse of IT policy and statements from colleagues regarding her abusive bahviour but, in a counter move supported by her union representative, she has now submitted a grievance claiming harrassment - further delaying the process. What would you recommend in this case?

If reports are true only a single yes / no question will be posed in 2014, rather than include the "Devo Max" option as a second question. However, the trade off appears to be that for this referendum only 16 & 17 year olds, whose names are on the electoral roll, will be allowed to vote. Is giving 16 & 17 year olds a vote a good idea? Personally I would say no - they are far more likely to make an emotional rather than balanced judgement. This might suit Alec Salmond as the emotional appeal of independence is high. However, I don't believe it will be good for Scotland as I believe independence to be bad for Scotland and bad for UK.

And one to the founder (??) of Blood Transfusion on Colyton Road.

The Skye Boat Song loomed large in my school days - tho' Billy Connolly demolished it comprehensively later.

One of the reasons I love this area is that I can, and do, carry out almost all my food shopping locally. Why buy plastic wrapped meat, fish, cheese and veg when it's all available on Lordship Lane. On LL the food is invariably better quality, can be purchased in exactly the right quantity ( one red chilli rather than a bag of five and so on), usually at the same or lower price and has the added value of engaging with both other customers and the shop staff - making shopping a pleasure not a chore. It's good to walk into Pretty Traditional, W Rose, SMBS, EDD, The Flower Company, The Cheese Block, Franklins, Moxons and all the other splendid shops to be recognised and have conversation with the shopkeeper, or to discuss menu options and plans for the weekend.

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