Monkey

Baguettes are what sells best in France of course. They go with everything, being much lighter than Poilane. One would not eat Poilane with roast chicken or steak frites. It is a fantastic bread to have with a light dinner (salad and cheese, smoked salmon... for example) or for breakfast with butter and jam. We eat different breads with different things. My mother for example always serves cheese with walnut and raisin bread. I would not eat Poilane all the time. I like a bit of variety and I also like to buy it in the actual Poilane bakeries as it does taste different for some reason that when I have bought it pre-packed in a supermarket. Probably a question of freshness.

I am French and passionate about the bread I eat. Poilane bread is made of the finest ingredients, baked in wood ovens and draws upon a long tradition of bread making. French bakers are trained both at school and via apprenticeships and their skills cannot begin to compare with those of a Somerfield employee turning on an oven and banging some machine-made dough in it. So yes I am ready to pay ?10 for a loaf of delicious bread which will last me and my family for a week or so if kept properly. Poilane also makes the most delicious apple pies and I strongly recommend anyone to visit their shop in Elizabeth street near Sloane Square. Saying one prefers rice cakes or ryvetas to Poilane bread just disqualifies you from the debate, sorry!

Just to add some fact... Co-Op confirmed this morning that they were in takeover talks with Somerfield. Co-Op CEO Peter Marks told Bloomberg News that the business would be ``a great strategic fit.'' He said that he hoped the deal will ``get to the finish line.''

My children are not even born, in fact I am not even pregnant, and you guys are giving me school anxiety. Did not think this was all so complicated (upper band? Statement? Harassing headteachers?) I am starting to agree with my hubby who wants to send our future brood to the French Lycee. The French administration seems like a piece of cake compared to what you are describing.

Well, a friend who teaches in a private school once told me that her school (?12k a year) is cheap. She looked at me blankly when I laughed...

So East Dulwich state schools are representative of the socio-demographic make-up of the area? That's the best piece of news in a long time. I hope it stays the same.

It is not full because this is not the childcare that people need. It's great if you do not work or work part-time but completely useless for people who work full-time unless they can afford a nanny. It is sad to see a pre-school that serves the community closing down but maybe the money should be spent on services that serve the wider community.

Never heard of Timothy Whites and we use decimal currency now pops!

Dr Boo is great. They now have a beauty room and the therapist is simply fantastic. I can't recommend her highly enough. She does facials, pedicure, manicure and a lot of stuff for pregnant women. Hope Mr Monkey will get me one of their REN beauty boxes for Christmas...

Appalling. Having said that, it's also up to passers-by to do something when they find a dead cat. I took a dying cat to a vet with the help of a neighbour a couple of weeks ago - the driver who hit him did not bother to get out of their car. It's something the Cat Watch Group can help with - in terms of alerting owners I mean. Basically this group is just an idea I have had to put cat owners in touch and could become a bit of a social thing. It's always good to know your neighbours - -people are more willing to help when they know you.

I walk by everyday. Will keep my eyes peeled.

I did not expect such a fantastic response. This is great. I shall start working on a "plan" tonight and will be in touch soon.

With all the cats going missing in our beloved East Dulwich, we should start a cat watch group with one (or more) volunteer per ED street watching out for missing moggies... We could have little stickers in our windows like the Neighbourhood Watch lot. Any volunteers? Happy to coordinate.

I had spoken to your husband when my ginger cat also went missing from Whateley Road. Glad our little gingers are both back!

Sorry to hear your cat is missing. Ours went missing a few weeks ago and has now come back. He must have been stuck in a garden shed. We actually hand wrote notes (our printer was not working) and posted them through our neighbours' letter boxes quite late in the evening. Corfu was freed at 3.30am in the morning so the personal touch must have helped. I am not saying you should hand write your notes but you could print as many times as you can and post them through people's letter boxes. Also put posters up in hot spots if you have not done this already (bus stops, train station, supermarket...) Good luck and keep us posted.

I am very surprised. I have seen them every morning for at least six months I would say and they have never said a word to me, good or bad. They usually seem to be having a good laugh with each other. I hear what you say though. Why don't you chat to the owner of the shop? I also highly recommend the F*** o** approach which often does the trick!

Will read anything. Thanks- will look up The Magus tomorrow. I read Restless recently. It was rather good.

A black and white cat has appeared on my doorstep. He's been here all afternoon. I live on Whateley Road. His size is above average I'd say but he is slender. He's very friendly. No collar.

Unfortunately the council tax people are not that regarding.

I bought a flat in East Dulwich 14 months ago. Believe it or not but my property has still not been registered. Some paperwork seems to be stuck with the seller's lazy solicitors. No amount of chasing, letters and faxes seem to do anything about it. My advice: don't buy from property developers. They're bound to use cheap (+stupid/lazy) estate agents and solicitors and once they have their money, they won't do anything else for you. Anybody agrees?