Sue

I think I'd keep the dog/non-dog sections, though possibly not in the way they are presently divided. I'd replace the existing fence with one which is in the style of the perimeter fence, and which would not appear to be such a visual barrier dividing the two sections. This works and looks good in the park next to Sainsbury's. I'd spend some additional money on enforcement for a period of time and come down hard with maximum fines on dog owners who were not adhering to the rules, in the hope that a few short sharp shocks to the pocket may have the desired long-term effect. However I don't know what this would cost so it might not be viable.

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You could merely eliminate each venue after they > have been visited. xxxxx That's a bit drastic, look what happened to kebab and wine :))

Yeh agreed again, of course we should do all we can to try to understand why it happens, and try and prevent it, and all the rest of it, and maybe we will succeed (we will never know will we, we only see what happens, not what doesn't happen) but - it will still happen. Sometimes. And yes, if you want an eye for an eye that makes you just like them. Which isn't to say that if I saw someone doing anything remotely like this I wouldn't beat the s**t out of them, but that's a knee jerk reaction of an individual, not the way society should "deal" with them. In my opinion.

Agreed. It's same old, same old. No systems will ever prevent cruelty. It's built in. All they can do is maybe prevent the effects of some of it.

Great idea, but would there be some kind of system so we didn't end up going to the same place every time? Or even every other time! Edited to say: Why not just list every pub/bar in ED/ED borders, eliminate those unsuitable because of size, put them more or less at random against each month but have those with gardens between ?May and September?, then just start again when you get to the end? Adding on new pubs as they open or taking them off as they close?

kristymac1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > As for dogs being able to clear the inner fence - > the owners of these dogs seem to be perfectly able > to keep their dogs from clearing the outer fence > into oncoming traffic - why does the inner fence > pose such a problem for dogs jumping over? xxxxxx Because it's lower? (If it isn't, I apologise - have only winced at it from a distance) Edited to say: And maybe green grass is more attractive to dogs than a load of cars and buses in the jumping-over stakes

Hey, what's wrong with a pink hearse? Funerals need cheering up a bit if you ask me :) I think I shall send another email round to my family in addition to the one sent recently specifying the two songs to be sung at my funeral (hope this isn't some sort of premonition). The Rose by Bette Midler and Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright, since you (didn't) ask :)

ChavWivaLawDegree Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >> > All the miserable tw@ts trying to push nervous > cyclists onto the roads should get out of their > cars and stop taking up our road space. xxxxxx I have - that's why I have been almost knocked over by a cyclist on the pavement :))

I completely sympathise Chav, but what happens if your daughter knocks someone down who is walking on the pavement? Edited to say: How old is your daughter? When I was at school (admittedly centuries ago), everyone who cycled did a cycling proficiency course and took a test.

Strawbs Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > if we are after suggestions then my two pence > worth is the rye.. I organise a separate meet up > there once a month and they give us the back > section with heaters etc and are great at catering > for large numbers!! You never know they may even > decorate for us given our numbers!! > > Otherwise Georgia Im happy just to go wherever you > tell me to! > > xxxxxxxxxx Food is good there too

I have been known to use the sausage man's samples in North Cross Market as a stopgap between breakfast and lunch on a Saturday (do sometimes buy a whole one though :) )

Moos Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is it just me, or has this thread become utterly > silly and disappeared up its own bottom? xxxx That would be a change then :)

Sounds a bit like John Otway who used to (probably still does) bang his head against the mike till it drew blood, before climbing up those steps you use for decorating and then jumping off the top. Oh happy days :)) The flowers in the garden, you know they're gonna get you. Yeh. :)-D

My personal view is that all cyclists should be required to take a cycling proficiency test. But yes, the logistics of it would be horrendous.

Hey, I want some of those wheelie shoe things for Christmas! Preferably the ones with flashing lights, if they come in an adult size 5 :)) (Erm, shan't be using them on the pavement, obviously :)) )

If "off" meat is an ongoing issue, then yes, I would be inclined to inform the council. I don't shop there however, so it won't be me .... Somebody could be seriously ill (or worse in the case of a child) as a result of eating the meat.

:)) I can almost believe that's true :))

I am really pissed off with cyclists cycling on pavements, jumping red lights and generally behaving with no concern for anybody else and as if the law applies to everybody else but not them, so if they are being clamped down on I am delighted. I nearly got knocked down by one cycling on the pavement in Lordship Lane the other day. What's most annoying is when they do it when there is no traffic on the road but lots of pedestrians on the pavement! If they can't handle cycling on the road they shouldn't be cycling, full stop. And why the hell don't they use lights at night? They appear to think that because they can see OK, car drivers and pedestrians must be able to see them (if they think at all). I nearly got knocked over (must be accident-prone) whilst pushing a buggy across the road because the ******* cyclist came round a corner very quickly in the dark with no lights on and I didn't see him in time. I was more concerned for the occupant of the buggy than me, obviously. Rant over :) Edited to say: I'm not against all cyclists, just the antisocial ones :)

Rubbish, innit. Dunno where this enclosed map with the red parallel lines is - I shall chase that up as well!

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This seems to be an ongoing and significant issue. > I therefore propose that, the Social Committee > form a Sub-Committee responsible for the venue > rota for the monthly booze up. The Sub-Committee > should then set up a Working Group for each month > who will submit a shortlist of 3 venues to the > Sub-Committee for approval one month prior to the > booze up for which they are responsible. The > Sub-Committee will then rate the three venues in > order of preference before submitting them for > approval to the Social Committee. > > The Social Committee will then commission a > Life-Panel for each suggested venue. The > Life-Panels will take advice from the other > Sub-Committees which will also have to be > established such as, The Sub-Committee for > Seasonal Affairs, The Sub-Committee for the > Availability of Draught Beer, The Sub-Committee > for the Variety of Draught Beer, The Wine List and > Nibbles Sub-Committee, The Overall Scrumminess > Sub-Committee and the Sub-Committee for the > Avoidance of Unnecessary Bureaucracy (a > sub-committee to an overarching group called The > Advisory Panel on Ostentatious Officialdom or A > POO) > > The Life-Panels will them make a final > recommendation on the suitability of each > suggested venue to the Social-Committee who by > this time will have fallen out with everyone and > gone to the Wishing Well. xxxxxx :)):)):))

Well, this took over two months to come (after a chaser yesterday) but there are two documents on Tessa Jowell's website which are interesting (they're currently the first two on the page), though the letter from Geoff Koon appears to be just passing the buck, basically. Dear , Thank you for your email and I apologise for the delay in responding. I have placed a copy of a response that I received on my website. You can see this at: www.tessajowell.net/campaigns I do hope this is helpful and please do let me know if you feel I can be of further help in the future. With best wishes, Yours sincerely, Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP

I don't read news stories which I can see from the headlines are going to upset me. Unless you are in a position to actually do something about these things, which is unlikely, and certainly you can't after the event, they just provide material to prey on your mind and make you disturbed and unhappy. Cruelty and anger and all the rest of it are part of the human condition, and the news media will always report this stuff because people find it more "interesting" (on the whole) than good news stories. These things have always happened, always will. But - mostly they don't. Let's be thankful for that.

We'll bear you in mind for a gig at the Goose, PGC :))

Of course I'm not keeping a tally, that would be completely pointless :) As if the whole of ED is reading this thread :) or could be bothered to post on it even if they were :)

kristymac1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ok, fine, you win, you hate it more than I like > it. > xxxxx Eh? That's not my point at all :) But yes, the aesthetic issue is something of a side issue - though not unimportant, less important than issues of health and safety