simonethebeaver

We love Ocado. We gave up on Tesco after a string of missing items/substitutions/late deliveries, culminating in the day when they had 'no bread' - no substitution offered, just 'no bread'.

Thanks, and thanks for the PMs too on this. I'm hoping to take a year out so won't need to find something till spring 2012, so I may leave it until the New Year at least. We're also thinking of childminders so plenty to find out about.

Hi I'm due in May next year. I've just been looking on Mumsnet and people are booking nursery places already, for 18 months ahead! Is this necessary around here? And if it is, where should I be looking? I have to confess, I hadn't even thought about it yet. Help!

We got fed up of no swimming pool and finally took the advice of friends and joined JAGS. It's wonderful there and I would recommend it to everyone. They have a phone and online sign up for swimming lessons, nice warm water and long opening hours. The only inconvenience is not being able to use it in the day, but that's rarely an issue for us as we're out at work/school in those times. No sauna/jacuzzi etc., but a lovely pool, good gym (with an overspill area and a power plate machine) and a few decent classes. No connection, I promise, other than being a happy member.

For underwear, there's a fantastic place near Forest Hill station called the Fitting Studio.

I'd endorse the 363/63 if you're at all near Forest Hill Road. They take the Old Kent Road to Elephant rather than going through Camberwell so are much quicker than the LL buses, and there are plenty of them too.

Bus to Elephant, Bakerloo to Paddington, Heathrow Express.

There's a bus from Lewisham to Brenchley Gardens - could you use that at all? Also, the walk is very straightforward if you ARE on Lordship Lane - it's less than 10 minutes from the top of Lordship Lane near the South Circular across Wood Vale or Honor Oak Road to the top of Forest Hill Road. I moved from Glengarry Road, near Dulwich Hospital, to Marmora Road, after living in the first place for seven years. I love Marmora and would stay there except we need to buy a four bedroom house and can't afford anything like that in East Dulwich. The street is very peaceful apart from mad golf racer boys on Saturdays and the neighbours I've met have been very friendly. The 63 bus service beats all the Lordship Lane buses, and I've always commuted by bus so I know what I'm talking about! The shops are fine, and you really aren't far from Lordship Lane.

I wonder how this bit of the response I got: In future we will retain control of the distribution prior notification letters to residents. will be implemented, as it appears that Conways will be letter dropping in Ivydale?

Hi Interesting to see what happened at the Community Council - thanks for letting us know. I've been meaning to post the whole of the quite helpful response I got: Firstly I would like to personally apologise for the obvious aggravation caused to you on the morning of the 19th due to our carriageway resurfacing activities in Marmora Rd. In the Streetcare team we are very much aware of the potential that roadworks have in disrupting residents' lives and have established procedures aimed at minimising such disruption. However in this case it appears that these process went badly wrong and then compounded by your difficulties in contacting the appropriate Council officers via the call centre. We have investigated the issues you raised and while it may be of small recompense changes in our procedures have been made to ensure that the difficulties you encountered last Tuesday are not repeated. Prior notification to residents: It is normal procedure to advise residents by mail providing warning of the impending works and request their co-operation regarding parking. In the case of the Marmora Rd scheme we were in a period of uncertain of weather and having to make decisions on a daily basis on whether to proceed with projects. It was decided therefore for the contractor, FM Conway to handle the prior notification via letter drops as a means of shortening the communication chain. Also at that time available officers were occupied with gritting / salting activities It appears that although prior notification letters dated 11th Jan were sent out (but not all received) these were not followed up by advising that the work had been delayed due to bad weather. On Wednesday 09:00 -10:00 we carried out a survey of 42 properties in Marmora Rd. As may be expected most people had left for work. Of those we able to interview 13 confirmed receipt of letters and 3 had not. It would appear that you were not alone in not receiving letters. In future we will retain control of the distribution prior notification letters to residents. Two letters will be issued at 2 weeks and 5 days prior to the planned commencement of works and supplemented by signs providing contact details. We will also ensure that a Council representative is available at the commencement of activities to address any issues that may arise on the day Difficulties in accessing the appropriate officer / unit via the call centre: This very disappointing since we have recently provided updated lists of work area, names and telephone contacts. We are in discussion with colleagues in the call centre to rectify this problem. In future we will supply details our imminent schemes, names of roads and contact details to the call centre. By naming the road we hope that the appropriate officer can be immediately recognised Attitude of site operatives: I have spoken to Conways management regarding the altercation with your builders and they are investigating the matter. They are keen to identify the person who apparently requested ?70 for the relocation of the building materials from the carriageway to the footway. I am happy to act as a middleman between your builder and our contractor if this is preferable. We will endeavour to ensure that the remaining works are handled smoothly but should any issues arise please contact me

Good to read this thread and know I'm not alone. I have what I think isn't a massive infestation but it's very stubborn! Traps didn't work, poison is going untouched from what I can see. I think ?80 would be worth it to feel comfortable in my kitchen again so I'll give the poison a few more days and then give them a call. I do have a cat - she ignores them entirely.

No connection at all as far as I know. Just a happy coincidence. I had a really good reply to my complaint from the highways people-it's on my work email but I'll post it when I get the chance. Basically it was an apology on all counts. Conways had been asked to do the letter drop-council's check the morning of the work revealed 3 of the 16 people in at that time hadn't had any letters and of course no one had correct date-council will do own drops in future and have someone on site at the start of all works ( although presumably whoever was doing the survey could have helped out?). Apologies for rudeness of staff-Conways will investigate. Apologies for crapness of service centre-sounds like things went seriously wrong there and inquiries are being made.

I'm so shocked to read that this poor little girl has been killed. I saw her after the accident and also saw which lorry did it-one I had seen racing down Forest Hill Road soon before. I crossed there several times while the lights were up and it was scary enough for an adult. Why on earth weren't pedestrian crossing provisions made? The whole handling of these roadworks has been appalling.

I've complained to the councillors, who have passed it on to the complaints team at the council. I'm glad you got some sort of warning, Marmora Man. We have searched all our post and none of us received anything at all, so maybe the letters only made it halfway up the road.

I've also emailed them. The rudeness of staff and Conways complete failure to communicate are unacceptable. I've also found out that the work was due to start on 13 January but postponed owing to the weather. So any warning letters received will have been pointless in any case, as the commencement date is wrong.

I have done lots of chasing, including an unbelievably unhelpful and uninformative call to Southwark Council (who didn't have contact details either for the contractors or their own highway department), and spoken to HM Conways, the contractors. Both the council and contractors have had 'several' calls on this so far today. Conways claim warning letters went out, but are investigating why this seems to have failed to reach everyone. They also say warning signs and cones were up, but again, not true. Anyway, if you do live in the area, and come home tonight to find your car missing, you need to call 020 7737 3333 to find out where it's gone. Presumably during business hours.

Just a warning that workers turned up this morning on Marmora Road to start digging it up. They claim that warning letters were sent out, but we received nothing and, from the fact that no one seemed to have moved their car, I don't think my neighbours had either. They are putting cars on to lorries, and being pretty charmless about the whole thing. I have no idea where the cars will end up. Anyone had any warning of this?

Marmora Road - pavement and road - remain lethal, to the point that I am scared to leave the house as my balance is poor and I don't want an ankle in plaster for Christmas! We've not been gritted at any point in the last five days. A poor friend of mine had to drive from here to Finchley yesterday - it took him five hours, but he said the worst bit of the whole journey was Marmora and Scutari Roads.

Next year (fingers crossed), you'll be able to go direct to Canada Water from Honor Oak, Forest Hill or Sydenham on the East London line, which is one stop from Canary Wharf on the Jubilee. Not too helpful if you live at the other end of ED though, I realise.

Gubodge Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you're going to mention butchers, it would be > criminal not to mention Libretto's on Woodvale. > The best in the area and predates the development > of ED's 'thriving food scene'. He also should come > top of the list of interesting foodie characters. > He knows everything there is to know about meat > and views every sale as an opoportunity to pass > that knowlege on. Absolutely. Kim the butcher is one of my favourite things about living in East Dulwich. He is very friendly - knows my name and all about my life - has fantastic meat which he cuts to order and loads of expertise about cooking and preparing it. The reason he has queues is that he chats to everyone, and it's always a bit like a party in there, with a real community feel. For his son's 21st recently, who also works with him in there, they put out sweets and cakes for everyone. I almost don't want to recommend him because it's nice not to have the William Rose crowds there. An article on Kim would be fascinating. He used to be a wrestler but has had his shop now for around 30 years, with very faithful customers from all walks of life.

There's an adventure playground next to Sainsburys on Dog Kennel Hill - annoyingly not open on Sundays, or at random times in the winter. Turkish bread can be bought from the Turkish supermarket on Forest Hill Road, near the Forest Hill Tavern - also a big variety of baklava. There's a music/instrument shop near Northcross Road - carry on up to Crystal Palace Road (I'm very bad on road names - is it Underhill by then?) and it's on the right. I've never used it but it is likely to have picks etc. and sheet music.