Sue

esme Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I like Pistachio Club and have no idea why it's > not busier, as I think that puts people off trying > it out. Curry Cabin is good but a bit crowded and > hard to get a table sometimes. xxxxxx Unfortunately I think Curry Cabin is crowded due partly to my bigging it up on the forum, it was always almost empty whenever I went in before, even on Saturday nights - sorry :))

Don't mind the helicopters, they're not very frequent, it's the blooming planes that drive me bonkers :)

Can't recommend First Direct highly enough, I've been with them for years and they've been absolutely brilliant in absolutely every respect. I also have an offset mortgage with them which I've been very happy with. Also second Martin Lewis's website, I think it's MoneySavingExpert.com but there is one with a similar name so make sure you go to his. His financial newsletters are also excellent. I personally wouldn't stay with any bank where there was the slightest hint there was anything likely to go wrong, but then I'm not a risktaker ....

Would be good if there was a system such that you only get one email about one thread, and no more until you've actually visited the thread. Otherwise, you can go out for the day and come back to find your inbox full of emails all relating to posts on the same thread ...... But I guess it's too complicated .....

It's actually very useful for me to be able to see the number of views for threads on events the Goose is holding, though I can see that for many threads it's a bit pointless (though interesting to see which subjects are the most read!)

Amelie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Guneh (not sure if that is how he spells his name) > is a really nice guy. He made my blinds which are > fantastic, and his family have lived in ED and > owned the shop for at least 2 generations. xxxxx Eh? The shop hasn't been open that long !!! Are we talking about the same place?

Clinker Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > As a cyclist, I must have found 4+ wallets on the > road this year, I went to various lengths to try > to find the owners, but never could so I handed > them all into the Police Station... > I think there are a lot more honest people in the > world that we realise...! xxxxxxx I agree, I've also handed in a wallet that I found on a station platform. An ex of mine once dropped a bundle of banknotes from his back pocket (don't think he possessed a wallet!) and someone following picked them up and gave them all back to him (yes, ex did give honest person a tenner in thanks).

What's the point of keeping this thread in the forum when the original post is missing? I've been away and I've got no idea what it's about :-S

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There could be the argument that all this talk > about the rights of policemen to belong to > organisations is null and void because being > non-prejudiced is a prerequisite for the job. > > Hasn?t it been a long standing tenant that you are > a policeman first and a ?whatever your religion > is? second? > > So you could argue that in order to be a policeman > you have to be able to prove that you will > approach any given situation representing the law. > Therefore if you hold any beliefs, be they > political or religious, which compromise this you, > do not fit the job description. xxxxxx Just had to have a quick look at the thread before I rushed off! I used to be a community assessor for the Met (we were involved with the selection process alongside permanently employed police HR staff) and part of the process involves several role plays. These are carefully designed to demonstrate various aptitudes (?not the right word but in a rush) necessary for police officers (or PCSOs who undergo a similar selection process) and being unprejudiced if I remember rightly was one of them. OK that's not an aptitude, but you know what I mean. No selection process is infallible, but the Met really were doing their best to ensure they were recruiting people who would treat others fairly. Having said that, the present process was only introduced relatively recently, so older serving police officers will have been recruited when people were oblivious to any kind of "equality" issues (I hate the word equality) and no amount of subsequent diversity training is likely to change entrenched views, though it may hopefully change behaviour. And now I really really really must go!

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've been mulling over the issue of police not > being allowed to join the BNP. I think that's > wrong. It reminds me of when I worked in the MOD > many moons ago and members of GCHQ were not > allowed to strike. > > Whether you agree with unions/closed > shops/political parties or whatever, if they are > legitimate under British law, I don't think anyone > should be discriminated against. > > My take on it anyway. xxxxxxxx I think the two things are different - surely GCHQ is concerned with national security, and striking by members could have dire consequences as a result? The reasoning behind members of the police force not being allowed to join the BNP is different, I think. Forgive my ageing brain cells if any of the following is wrong - supposed to be off to a conference shortly and no time to Google! After the Steven (sp?) Lawrence case there was a lot of soul-searching in the police, and the case led to the MacPherson (sp?) Report and then the introduction of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. That act was intended to ensure that public sector bodies in particular took steps to ensure that they were not discriminating, directly or indirectly, against members of black and minority ethnic groups - and publicised what they were doing so that everything was absolutely transparent. Racism and/or what became known as a result of the McPherson Report as institional racism in organisations were very sensitive topics and it was necessary (and right in my opinion) for the police to be seen to be doing everything possible to ensure that all members of the community were treated fairly. Whether or not the BNP is a legitimate political party (I expect the Nazis were too?) membership of it by a serving police officer would surely not be in line with the police force's requirement to comply with the legislation relating to race in this country. I'm not a lawyer so I can't say for sure, but quite apart from the clear need for the police to be fair - and to be perceived to be fair - I think legally they would be skating on very thin ice if they were to allow BNP members amongst their staff. And now I must rush!

Knocking at the Door - Cockersdale

Michael Palaeologus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I guess that we can easily be lulled into feeling > that the rather pleasent comfy world of the EDF > relects East Dulwich. xxxxxxx Pleasant comfy world of the EDF? Yes, mostly, perhaps. I gave up picking up on racist or bordering-on-racist comments on the forum due to the grief I was getting from certain quarters. There was one post very recently saying something like the poster had had "120 Africans phone me up to ask what was the strange noise from the engine" which I was sorely tempted to respond to but didn't want to start them all off again. I am not surprised that there are BNP members in Dulwich. I expect they're everywhere. Stupidity and prejudice isn't confined to certain geographical areas.

I've only ever experienced excellent service in Ganapati, but I agree the ambience isn't great. But I think that the wonderful food (that crab starter, yum. Ditto the beetroot curry (?) and yes I know it sounds disgusting but it's truly yummy and I normally hate beetroot!) and original choice of drinks (beer from small Greenwich brewery, for example) more than makes up for that. In my opinion.

HonaloochieB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > > Loaves? Fishes? > Jesus. xxxxxxx :))

Who Knows Where The Time Goes - Sandy Denny

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > True story this. I once looked at houses in > Brockley. I got to the estate agents and the > window was smashed from a break-in they had had > the night before. I then walked to a couple on > properties with the chain-smoking agent who > proceeded to get into a fight with a group of > girls en route. > It was a very entertaining afternoon. xxxxxx So, er, did you buy a house there then??

And with me, I'd be delighted :)

MummaB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I recently ordered stuff on the internet for the > first (and last) time since living in my new flat > in Crystal Palace Road. They were kindly > delivered to me by a woman who lives in my block!! > The parcels had been left for anyone to grab on > our post boxes in the main corridor!!! xxxxxx Are you sure they were delivered by Royal Mail? I've had problems like this in the past but it was a different company who "delivered" the parcels (to my wall - and once to my bin :)) ) not Royal Mail.

HonaloochieB Wrote: > I think I preferred it when it was in the old > house down the road, it was handy for the Uplands > if you got bad news. xxxxxx Well it's still very near the CPT :))

I don't know who you mean, the only receptionist I know there has blonde hair and has always been perfectly pleasant and helpful to me - it's hardly her fault the system is crap. I've never had anybody be rude to me at DMC.

OMG, that's like something off Kenny Everett's Worst Records. :)):)):)) I guess you had to be there .....

Cora Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Found the questionaire really frustrating - > questions set in a way that do not address the > real issues. Just felt like a box ticking > exercise. xxxxx But they say you can add any comments you want, so I added quite a few at the end - plus I printed out this thread and attached that as well :)) Will it reach whoever's conducting the survey? Who knows. I handed it in at reception this morning!

Seems to be a London-wide problem, I was at a meeting today and one borough apparently had only one park warden left :-S

I saw him in a pub in Chiswick or somewhere in that direction about five years ago - he was still doing the same stuff then :) I believe Wild Willy Barrett is still gigging, as well :) at least I vaguely recall seeing his name on some agent's blurb.

MadWorld74 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hornimans Gardens with your own six pack of > Guinness....cheapest night out option. xxxxxx Don't forget the crisps