Maurice

Andrew Marr can do it, why can't we? In fact, I read with great interest the Times story 'Hamid Karzai says bring Taliban to table' and thought it deserved higher positioning. And then the lovely lady on Mr Marr's programme agreed. And in a shocking confession, I admit to visiting News of the World online of a Sunday. It is a guilty pleasure and beats rolling it up discreetly inside the Times and Telegraph at the news agents. Today: Michael Jackson killer soon to be arrested. Marvellous! What are the good people of East Dulwich (and hangers on in less desirable adjacent postcodes) reading?

Oh my has the Maudsley had a breakout overnight? I must go lock the garden gate again. For those of us alive and aware in 1969, we know what it meant to the world, which, given the events of 1968 particularly, was in a horrible state. It was the one item of news that was hopeful and full of possibilities.

One did have a revelation. Twitter has certainly taught a lesson about brevity. Perhaps we could restrict some posters here to the rules of twitter in terms of number of characters? What do you say Tony, old chap?

Perhaps but hardly an excuse if he did. Assuredly past generations did, but each were aspirational and took personal responsibility to make life better for their children. We lack such a culture in the UK. We always start with the premise that it's the Governments fault, if not the wealthy.

Quote from his speech this week to the NAACP.

May I just plug Camberwell for our large number of barbers. Where else can you get a cut and, at the same time, transfer money to any number of foreign lands? Do come visit.

Oh dear crasher, I have several drawers full of ointments, one of which may help. Do let me know.

I read with great interest in the FT about the young man who finds twitter pointless for young people and, in a rare moment, found I share a viewpoint with someone in their teens. I've become quite savvy on the new media scale for an old fart. And though I may not fully understand it, the whole twitter world seems pointless. True, there appear to be a few people who excel at using it as a vehicle. But they were people who were interesting anyway. The onslaught of people posting mindless tweets about 'I'm am on the train to work' and 'tonight I cooked Delia's latest recipe' has not capture my interest. And, it appears, not the young generations either. Do you tweet? Article from FT

I don't recall crowds waiting all night to walk past Jill Dando's body, but then I don't recall her death. The Queen Mum's death was a sad day, though her long life and contribution made it a day to celebrate her, too.

I just realised in thinking through this exercise that BBC Radio informed me of every death. It was the world service in 1977 regarding the death of Elvis. I was in Rhodesia and we were, I believe, in the midst of an election. Difficult days they were. For Diani, it was Radio 4. I recall it was a Sunday morning and I was up early having morning coffee. That was a beautiful summer, as I recall, though the outpouring of grief bizarre. It was Radio 4 again that informed me of Mr Jackson's untimely death over a morning coffee, too. I'm struggling to recall the JFK announcement, though I'm sure it was World Service. It may seem, at times, like yesterday and yet I cannot remember it so clearly. I shall continue to ponder.

Odd? Generally people who meet me opt for 'eccentric'! I was, of course, referring to the young man who started this thread many moons ago and seems to have left, just as you arrived.

Oh that is wonderful news Silly Woman (I do hate using your screen name). I was awaiting a response from the Southwark News but it seems it has been dealt with already. Marvellous.

Are they not available for download online?

Even this old hardened soul finds the whole fire episode in Camberwell heartbreaking. I read this tale today and am moved to help. I thought perhaps others may be, too. Father needs money to send bodies home to Brazil

Oh welcome dear lad. Do tell, are you or have you ever been a member of any People's Republic?

Oh the mere mention of Camberwell used to ensure no cab, much less if you say close to Peckham. In more recent times, I find saying 'Kennington area' never fails and when you get close, you just have them hang a left on Camberwell New Road and it's 'just a bit farther'.

You walked right into that one dear boy.

Oh the poor dear being whipped up in an emotional frenzy then put on public display. It reminded me of an evangelical church rally. Horrid!

Rotary club? Not terribly likely.

I do believe I have seen you wandering around Camberwell Green speaking to strangers. Do you carry a green bottle wrapped in brown paper? Old fishing hat atop your head? Marvellous. We have met before!

Queues. One does apologise.

Well that clears it right up Tony, thank you. So you've not had experience with housing qeues since 1983? Well done on getting on the property ladder. You do live a most wonderfully exciting life, dear boy.

Oh yes. Another favourite award: Best line from a speech: 'Michael was a trailblazer, always trying to top himself' The gentleman from MoTown (did I spell that correctly?)

Why have you lived in Council housing for 40 years Tony? You once said your family owned five or so houses in Walworth. What happened?

Excellent point Santerme. When people blame Baroness Thatcher for 'selling off' council houses, they fail to realise that she sold them to people working hard to pull themselves upward. And that had they not been sold, they would still be occupied by those people (or their kin) and we'd have no more housing stock now.