lozzyloz

Make that 74 years Macroban. (Does nobody read or add up round 'ere?)

But then the BNP win the next general election and all gays, immigrants and non-whites are persecuted, expunged or sent into exile. I wish there was no longer a developing world but just one world without borders and prejudice.

Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci and Muhammad Ali had poor spelling ability. But hten agan so did George Bush.

And then the US military accidentally drop a smart bomb and erase your memory so that you can no longer remember where you left your ipod stash. I wish global warming would speed up a bit so that I could grow mangos and other exotic fruit in my garden.

Vive le Pancras jour

no, mind the GAP

United in states?

Sorry Keef. The CPT comment was a cheap shot. I take it back and substitute it with Hoopers.

Great. Let's open up a bar and serve alcohol in empty ink cartridges and snacks served on cdr's. We can argue about change of use later. Should be able to stay in business for at least 5 years as long as we never turn up to application hearings.

What's wrong with being nannied? Slightly more attractive than the cleaner.

Reads like an article about the state of the smoking ban not the nanny state. I can imagine a lot of people reading it and agreeing with it without a second thought. He says: The current ban on smoking in buildings means empty bars. Rubbish. That would mean that only smokers drink. Go to any pub/bar in ED on a Friday night and see how empty they are. Well OK the CPT. Smokers go outside in the cold, and often the non-smokers join them rather than be left behind. I have smoking friends but I dont go outside with them. Also I find a lot of smokers smoke less and stay in the pub and be more sociable rather than standing in the wet and cold. I believe that I have a right to fresh air, and that smokers have a right to smoke. Agreed. In a mature society, we have to find the best balance between those rights. Agreed One obvious solution would be to ensure that in all but the smallest catering and leisure facilities, there are clearly-marked smoking and non-smoking zones. So by enforcing this wouldn't it be a nanny state intervention? Who covers the cost of maintaining the smoke free zone stays smoke free? Most pubs have more than one bar. Why not a non-smoking lounge and a smoking snug? Why not if the space permits? The balance has tipped so far against the smoker that it becomes a real issue of freedom. What about the freedom of children, pregnant women, workers and other non smokers? Their health doesn't have to be harmed just because a smoker wants to damage themselves I believe that government is right to ensure that the facts about smoking, and the harm it can cause, are well known and after that they should back off and leave us alone. Why don't we apply the same rules to Paedophiles, drunk drivers, racists etc. What bollocks.

Wise words Cassius

I guess ATG you are refering to stuff like: Having to wear a seat belt in a car Having to wear a crash helmet on a motorbike Smoking ban in enclosed public places Not being allowed to beat children Restrictions on Sunday shopping Constant health warnings about obesity, high cholestorol, lack of exercise etc Observing the highway code Sending your kids to school What else?

. . . but your cotton socks were actually nylon and generated static electricity from your efforts which caused an audience members flatulence to be ignited by an errant spark, leaving you with 3rd degree burns. I wish East Dulwich had a beach

I thought the administrator was our censor (if needed)? Davina sounds grown up and apart from a few idiots (which she'd easily deal with) I'm sure she'd get a lot of useful feedback if that's what Davina is looking for. She doesn't need our approval to post or not. Isn't that the spirit of the EDF?

As I said in my post above, neither Cafe Nero or East Dulwich are unique to this situation and people and councils seem divided in their opinions. There's plenty of examples out there:- Retrospective change of use - Hexham Were the Reigate counsellors bribed with free coffee? Work started before planning approval in East Hampshire Chiswick councillors have balls? Great News! Cafe Nero can continue trading in Sidcup

What war?

I think the CPT can work as a pub. Really. Trouble is it at the moment it isn't really tapping into the market on its doorstep. Being a 'real boozer' for the few regulars that like a no frills, shabby and quiet environment to slowly sup a cheap beer doesn't pay the wages and overheads. Providing something that meets the needs and tastes of the local market who don't want to go to LL will. I've seen some pubs that are well off the high st where all the footfall is, that are very successful. Not saying it would be easy to do, but with a bit of thought and creativity to create the right product and a motivated management (with a bit of cash) the CPT could be transformed, instead of being converted into yet another block of 1 bed flats.

Don't mention the war!

Fantastic news. Good luck, I look forward to sampling your food.

It's just a wind-up doing the rounds on various chat rooms. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to believe it. It has started an interesting debate though. As a recent ex-smoker I'm quite pleased that pubs and bars are smoke free. Much the same as I was pleased when trains, planes and cinemas went smoke free and I was a 40+ a day smoker in those days. the freedom to smoke is not being denied but it does mean that those who don't want to breath it, especially people who worked in smoky bars have the freedom to a healthier environment. How can you deny anyone that? Having a separate smoking bar space within a bar or restaurant doesn't work either. It's expensive to maintain (extractors, cleaning, space cost) and it stinks. Everywhere I've seen it tried its been abandoned shortly afterwards. The problem now of course is enjoying a drink in the sun outside a nice pub with young kids in tow, because now the density of smokers has increased. Perhaps the ban should be modified to ban smoking within a 50m radius of ANY public building! Rubs hands in ex-smokers glee!!

The Faces of Southwark photographic competition looks interesting and is open to everyone. More details in SE22 magazine.

Along similar lines to Jenni. Don't write anything down. Structure a short and sweet speech in your head and tell it straight from the heart with a humorous anecdote thrown in for good measure. All the guests will be thanking you, especially if the brides father spoke for far too long.

Bit early for April fools?

Sexy Dancer - Prince