Sue

What is the "sale of articles for private gain" mentioned on here? Are they selling stuff? I thought they were "just" collecting illegally in the streets (and apparently, according to that link) pocketing half the proceeds.

That's really poor, isn't it? Did they say what the hold up was?

This sounds great! I've got a ticket!

My last paragraph was relevant. I was in central London having a meal with family on the same day as the recent large right wing march. The date of the meal was arranged before it was known about the march, and the venue was convenient for one of my brothers and his partner, who had travelled down from the midlands and had a hotel and theatre tickets booked near the venue. It was just up the road from Trafalgar Square, and my partner and I were seriously concerned on the way there and the way back that we would encounter violent people from the march. Luckily we were able to avoid this, but as I expect you will have read, several police officers were injured, and a friend of mine was amongst a group of counter protesters who were hemmed in by marchers for hours, which was obviously very frightening. The group had to be protected by police before they were finally able to get a safe passage out. Therefore, I don't think my last paragraph was unnecessary at all in the context of when I personally feel unsafe in London. I am not "going through a bad patch", beansprout, not am I "having a bad day ". Nor do I need to "get things off my chest". I am interested to know how you think I have "totally changed my tune"? Could you give some examples from before and after I "changed my tune"? Perhaps you would like to come and discuss your opinion of me face to face? I am very easy to find. I run gigs and Singarounds locally with my lovely partner, and we have organised two Forum Drinks, with a break over the summer. We will be organising an October meet up soon, so perhaps you would like to come to that, if music isn't your thing? You could take the opportunity to meet some other forum posters as well

Some who have been on the forum for a long time will remember the "crushed and devalued" thread. It reminded me of that, that's all.

"Firing"? "Demanding"? A "habit on here of 'demanding' answers"? Crikey. I didn't say you "should" do anything! This is a forum. For discussion. I will say whatever I like and ask whatever I like, within the forum rules, as can anybody else Please move your issues with me to the thread I have started in the lounge on feeling safe in London, because this is a thread about a burglary in Lacon Road. If you continue to post your complaints about me on this thread, I shall not respond, so do feel free. Or if you think I have broken any forum rules, do feel free to report me to admin.

Toad rage? Crikey, what have you done to upset the amphibians? How do you find the frogs? 😃

I'm interested to know other people's experiences. As in any urban environment, I'm careful. I try not to use my phone outside unnecessarily, and if I'm coming home by myself late at night I also keep an eye out for any potential threats. But that doesn't mean I "don't feel safe". It's just sensible. The only time I have ever felt seriously unsafe in London was decades ago when I was a teenager, and that was one specific incident which could have happened anywhere. I do however try to avoid places with loads of right wing thugs getting drunk and waving flags.

I'm genuinely sorry if I have derailed this thread, which started off as being about a specific burglary in Lacon Road. I will start another thread in the lounge, because I think the general points being discussed are important.

It was you who made it personal in the first place, Jazzer. You said you didn't feel safe in the streets, and you said you didn't go to Central London because you didn't feel safe there. So are you now saying that wasn't "personal"? "Fire from the hip." Another interesting choice of words 🙄 I'm not "demanding" anything! I asked you some perfectly reasonable questions in response to your own statements. None of which you have answered. Never mind. It seems to be pointless having a discussion with you. It's long past my bedtime. I'm going to turn on my sleep app and go to sleep 😴💤

No. I'm just genuinely interested to know why you continue to live in a place which you consider to be "lawless", and where you don't feel safe. Interesting turn of phrase, though, given your views of East Dulwich and Central London, "all guns blazing".

So you don't feel safe in London, but you don't want to live elsewhere? What do you do, barricade yourself in your home and never venture out? I have my eyes (sic) open. Yes there is crime in London. That doesn't make London "lawless".

Also, as discussed on another thread, that particular assailant was possibly (we don't know) mentally ill. Whereas I'm guessing most crimes locally are committed for money, (ie things that can be sold, or in hopes of insurance money), food (if someone is really desperate, or to sell) or just pure mischief (like the recent goings on on Peckham Rye). I'm a 76 year old woman, and I feel safe on the streets, and I frequently go to Central London. If you seriously don't feel safe living here, why on earth don't you go and live somewhere else?! It's absolute nonsense to say London is lawless, and it's absolute nonsense to say the police stand by and do nothing. There will always be crime. It used to be cutpurses and highwaymen. And organised gangs of thieves. And people like Jack the Ripper.

I realise this is highly unlikely, but if anyone has a colour laser printer in very good working order, I'd be delighted to take it off your hands!

Does anybody have a folding pasting table they no longer need? All the ones I've found online seem to have terrible reviews, mainly due to being unstable, or else coming apart! I don't mind if it's grubby, I just want it to gesso wallpaper lining paper, for art not walls!

Childish behaviour by Trump, so quite appropriate, I would say.

There's a folk choir that meets upstairs at the Castle, can't remember what night but the pub would be able to tell you.

The recommendations for tradespeople are in the "reviews" section. I agree it's confusing.

Thanks for this. I appreciate your suggestion. However, I have walked to the Oxfam shop with a shopping trolley (quite light when it's empty) load of books in the past. I have also taken a trolley load of books on the 37. Both times I came back on the 37 with an empty trolley. I'm 76 and not particularly fit. I also have a problem with both my arms (golfers elbow. No I am not a golfer. Dragging weights makes the pain worse). To walk to Herne Hill from my home involves dragging the trolley uphill for the first part of the walk (downhill after that). To get a trolley of books onto and off the bus is very difficult, because of its weight. I don't use my ancient car (1998) very often because it isn't ULEZ compliant, but I have come to the conclusion that this is the only way I can get another load of books to the Oxfam shop. *Breaks down in a piteous fit of crying for her age and infirmity 🤣🤣🤣*

I was replying to Jazzer, who said it wasn't going to change Trump's presence here. However, you are also obviously right, and also nothing will change Trump for the better. And yes, this could be counter productive. But I'm sure the silver tongued Keir Starmer will be able to smooth things over. Not to mention the King and Queen 🤢 I think it's right that people should feel able to make their feelings known. It appears to be a peaceful and well planned demonstration, and presumably they won't be bringing out the Baby Trump inflatable again, which must be well deflated by now.

It's a peaceful protest telling Trump he isn't welcome. Or at least, telling him that he and his views are not welcomed here by everybody. It is obviously not going to change Trump's presence here. It is just sending a message to him. I feel very sorry for everyone who has got to grit their teeth and be nice to him. I even feel sorry for Keir Starmer 🤣

It's the lounge. Aren't we allowed to post anything (within reason)?

I'm not certain, of course, because I just asked ChapGPT, which is not 100% reliable. I have never seen them before. I asked again, and Friernlocal is right!

ChatGPT says:

Both great ideas. I went round that house in the early eighties (I think it was, may have been later), but I think the tour is differently done now (and a lot more expensive!)