Sue

Have you complained? Are the GPs aware? Are you sure that what they are doing on their phones is not work related?

Majority opposition to implementation? I don't recall being asked?

Nobody can "do it alone", but that doesn't mean you don't do what you can.

I know I keep harping on about this, but I genuinely can't understand why people stay with a GP practice they aren't happy with, when it's so easy to move elsewhere. By all means give them chances to improve, but OVER NINE YEARS?! And not even going to meetings where you might have a chance to get things changed? I've moved twice. Your old practice doesn't even need to know you are moving, the new one does it all.

I keep hoping to see a bat in my garden - I have done occasionally in previous years. Maybe I am going inside too early.

I'm not sure a guerilla gardener would plant grasses,unless they are intending to harvest them (possibly covered in dog pee) 🤣

No. That would be a very long way round to get to Kings for for anybody starting at East Dulwich, surely? I use a 40, 176 or 185 - whatever comes first.

Is anybody else finding that the Royal Mail app currently goes round in circles? I am trying to rearrange a delivery date. I sign in, rearrange the date, then it goes back to the sign in page without having changed the date. Every time, I have to do it on the Royal Mail website rather than the app 🤬

Woodcraft Folk have groups for all ages. My daughter and (now teenage) granddaughters are all very involved, but not in this area. It's a very friendly community. However they do have camps sometimes, so some of the activities may not be suitable.

Well it may be normal, but it sounds more like blackmail to me, stating that you will stop paying rent unless leases are renegotiated (sic). An individual renting a residential property surely wouldn't be able to do this if they were in financial difficulties (at least, surely not without legal consequences?) so why should it be acceptable in a business environment? It seems morally wrong to me, but what would I know. I'm sure there must be relevant things I'm not aware of.

I think this is relevant to several threads in this section, but admin please move it to the lounge if you disagree. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/19/uk-toxic-air-killing-people-doctors-warn?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

From what starting point? I have been to Kings a few times recently, and the only things lengthening the journey time were temporary roadworks.

Please just make sure they can get out if they fall in (unless it's a very shallow container). Eg by a pile of pebbles on the inside and some sort of ramp on the outside. I was devastated to find an apparently drowned baby (or very small) mouse in one of my mini ponds a few months ago 😭

In case anybody else can't be bothered to Google, here's a link 😀 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/17/poundland-shut-68-stores-restructuring-jobs-gordon-brothers?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I do love to be in it, but it has got very overgrown. My problem is that the overgrown climbers and rambling roses are hiding houses and loft extensions at the back, so when they are cut back instead of being surrounded by greenery I'm going to be looking at houses (and from my back windows as well) 😭

I haven't "attempted" to twist words. Nor have I actually twisted words 🤣

So because you have (you say) never seen a cyclist on the odd occasions you are on Sydenham Hill, therefore the cycle lane is never used? You wouldn't pass any exams in logic, would you? 🤣

There's a thread immediately (at the moment) next to this one with recommendations for podiatrists. ETA: Ooops, because I posted that the threads aren't next to each other any more. Sorry. It's on this page, anyway!

😮 That seems a very strange way of going about things. Who is reporting it? Is it based on any actual facts?! Do you have a link?

Of all the many possible reasons, too 🤣

Crofton Park (borough of Lewisham) has a community notice board which as well as listing councillors is full of notices about local community activities of all sorts and for all ages. It is clean and tidy and only has one small fly poster (attached with one very small piece of tape, and easily removed - I didn't though). Crofton Park also has a lovely little community garden alongside the station, full of flowers, with lots of things of interest to kids, and also obviously lovingly maintained. I don't know who the land belongs to - possibly the station, though access is via the adjoining road. If Lewisham council/Crofton Park residents can maintain a community notice board, why can't Southwark Council/East Dulwich residents? ETA: As an unrelated aside, Crofton Park seems to be in the midst (?) of gentrification.

I'll post another update after the next car run! Will have to wait a few weeks! Probably to Coolings, as the local places aren't far enough to charge up the car battery (and I can't buy any plants till after the nesting season, when I will be cutting back my rampant climbers - sorry neighbours - and also filling in the three large fox holes and addressing the pigeon trampling problem beneath the bird feeders 😭) This is the smallest garden I've ever had, and presently the hardest work - curses on the friend who highly recommended Holboellia 🤬 , beautifully scented as its flowers are 🤬

How often are you actually on Sydenham Hill?

Maybe. Does that kill grass? If so, possibly the same dog that has left its poo outside my house - pretty sure it's not fox poo.

Here you are, intexasatthemoment (you seem to have been in Texas for a very long time!) We went to three of the recommended places yesterday, as they were all in the same road (just near Wallington) and I needed to give the car a run to avoid another slap on the wrist from my garage (and another new battery). Here's my findings. BARNES Parking We thought we would go here first as it was the earliest to close on a Sunday (3pm). There was no apparent entrance or anywhere to park. One notice said do not park on grass verge, and another one said staff cars only! Flittons was opposite but I'd already passed the entrance, so I had to drive down the road, turn round at the next available place (covered in signs saying do not park here) and park in Flittons car park! Plants Barnes specialise in hardy perennials, so that was basically what they had, but an excellent selection, and many more unusual plants (or at least, plants you probably wouldn't find in a garden centre), eg Corydalis, lots of different varieties of Epimediums, Trollius, some lovely Phygelius, lots of different ferns). The plants were divided into sections according to whether they needed sun or shade or could cope with both. They had a particularly good selection of shade loving plants. There was really useful information above each group of plants, which meant you didn't have to look at individual labels. All the plants looked in good health and very well cared for. They don't produce a printed catalogue, but they said their plant list was online (I haven't looked yet). I assume most of the plants they have at any one time are when it's their flowering season (if they flower). I wasn't intending to buy anything, though was very tempted, but I'd definitely go here again once I've sorted out my overgrown garden. Other Stuff Don't think they sell pots, compost, etc. No cafe/tea room and I didn't see a loo, but Flittons is just over the road. FLITTONS Parking Easy to park Plants Sorry, but mostly terrible. There was one section with vegetables and the rest was flowering plants. There was a general feeling of delapidation. Some of what was on display was actually dead (surely it would only take a minute to remove dead plants) and a lot of the rest was very poorly maintained, eg gone to seed, weedy, apparently unwatered, or with a lot of dead leaves. There was a notice asking for volunteers to work there, so I can only assume they can't afford to pay staff. Other stuff There was a notice to a play barn (?) saying invited people only, so I think they must host kids' parties or something. They redeemed themselves with a cosy little cafe with savoury stuff, nice cakes, iced chai and oat milk, and a loo. Also a selection of books and CDs on sale for charity. If you want an Andrews Sisters CD, you can find one here. There is a small shop with gift shop type stuff and a display of the history of Flittons, which apparently is family owned since the sixties (I think it was). I suspect that the arrival of Dobbies down the road must have greatly affected Flittons' fortunes, which is sad. DOBBIES Parking Easy in theory once you had navigated a rather narrow entrance, but it was very busy so it took a while to find a space. Plants Lots of plants, well maintained but I imagine their turnover is high. Lots of nice bedding plants for hanging baskets, window boxes etc to cater for all tastes (ie some of it wasn't mine, but fine if you like those horrid little begonias (my opinion only) but they did have some nice (in my opinion) stuff as well. I was tempted but decided to buy from North Cross Road market. Fair selection of climbers, various different Clematis etc. I'd be happy to buy plants from here. The prices seemed reasonable and they were in good condition. Other stuff It's a big garden centre with all that entails these days, so a large area selling garden furniture and storage, tools, animal collars, pots, all the usual stuff you would expect. Very helpful staff. There's a cafe which we didn't check out, charging points for electric cars, a Waitrose (no idea how big, we didn't look). Only on our way out did we see that there was a drive through "express section" for compost etc, which was annoying as I wanted compost and hadn't seen any anywhere, but I was getting tired by that time. WILDERNESS ISLAND Off topic, but a ten minute drive away is Wilderness Island, not selling plants, but a nature reserve in Carshalton which is well worth a visit. We heard eleven different kinds of bird (according to Merlin) and saw a Kingfisher flying down the tiny river! Free entry and open 24/7.