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I'll give ?5. Where are other people taking part in the fair getting their marquees from? The organisers might have a special deal with a marquee company. Mark - thinking very far ahead: if it goes well and you want to do it again next year, you could probably get a grant from the council in those awards they give for improving play areas, supporting street parties etc (it might be the Cleaner/Greener/Neighbourhood awards - I have the details if you need them this time next year (all the money has already been awarded this year).

Yes hurrah for Whateley!!!!!!!!! This is used as the main road linking Lordship Lane and Barry Rd, used by people on Silvester, Landells, Crystal Palace Rd etc. Thanks for your input Richard. :):):)

A little off topic, but when was the fish factory last open (just want to find out more about the history of the place)?

If the Bank of China own it, maybe they repossessed it when a mortgage on it was defaulted. Perhaps they tried to sell it but no one was interested 18 years ago? Your friend should contact the Bank of China and see if they would consider selling or leasing the property. Alternatively, is there a letterbox through which your friend could put a letter - if the family is still living upstairs then you could try to contact them.

I've been there quite a few times and love the food. Its one of my favourites.

Behind the blue gates which are next to 148 Landells Rd (will get new gates soon). Only thing is that they don't have gardens - just a small shared courtyard.

They have definitely said that Phase 2 won't be built before the Olympics in 2012, which is a shame. Originally there were grand plans that Phase 2 would happen sooner. Mockney - yes 2015 for Phase 2 does sound more realistic if they get funding. They have said that there will be new trains with air-conditioning (I remember when I used to use South-West trains - until 2 years ago the trains on my line were old slam-door trains with no heating or air-conditioning...) Phase One is due for completion in 2010 so it remains to be seen if they get that done on time (at least they have given themselves a deadline of 2 years before the Olympics in case they overun). It was originally touted that Phase One would be completed in 2005, so its now going to be completed 5 years later.

I think the main thing about Phase 2 (which will include Denmark Hill) is getting the funding. Even when Phase One was announced, there was still a lot of "will they, won't they" because of the issue of where the funding would come from. I understand that Phase One was seen as part of the Olympic bid because the northern part of Phase One will connect the North London Railway and the East London Line tube. That has meant that they will have to get it ready before 2012 which is a real incentive to get on with the work, rather than the usual dilly-daddling that takes place. East Dulwich missed out on the tube, but that's not the main reason we moved here (when we moved a few years ago, they were saying that ED was *one* of the proposed routes for the East London Line tube extension, but it was always made clear that there were *2* proposed routes and only one of those would get the go-ahead). We moved here because it was a nice area with lots of green space and it was very easy to get to the City (12 mins to London Bridge). I'm sure if Camberwell gets a new service, East Dulites will support it because all improvements are good. Even without improved transport, Camberwell has some nice bits (I wish I was rich enough to live on Camberwell Grove!)

I talked to them about the house for sale and they didn't seem to have anyone lined up to buy it and they haven't yet set the price. You could always drop by and try to get in first!

Peckham Rye Common and Park are absolutely lovely. Its a huge space and there are quite a few people out and about there at the weekend, but its still peaceful - nice in summer when Dulwich Park gets a bit overun. I live slap bang in the middle of Dulwich Park and Peckham Common so its nice to have a choice. The gardens were all spruced up about a year ago with a lottery grant but it was still nice even before that. The name should be kept, especially with the history of William Blake having a vision of angels there.

Re shopping bags - it always amazes me in Somerfield how hardly anyone uses reusable carrier bags. A 'bag for life' (those big reuseable bags) costs 50p and it is replaced free of charge when it breaks. You can also buy stronger bags for ?1 each at places like AJ Farmers. When I first got a 'bag for life' from Tesco 6 years ago, one of my friends told me she thought they looked shabby after a few uses and that she wasn't going to use them!

Damn - I've just logged on and I didn't think to mention the Forum - I should have said something like "Yes everyone has been talking about it on the East Dulwich Forum". Sorry!! I was interviewed this afternoon for the programme and the best bit was that I was allowed on the site to see the houses. The houses look really good - attractive wooden cladding, huge glass doors around the living rooms and a small courtyard between the two houses. The builder is going to live in one (him and his family seem really nice) and they are going to sell the other one. The houses will be finished in about one month.

I'm now on the wrong thread as well!!!

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm curious as to where it is exactly, here's a > photo of the area with the sorting office pointed > out Is it the building with the turquoise > tarpaulins to the right? Mark I think you're on the wrong thread now in your quick change of identity! I think you've deleted my reply re location. No its not the turquoise tarpaulin. Its 100 metres south-east of the sorting office. If you look carefully, there's a small plot of land between the back gardens of houses on Landells and Barry Rd.

Mark you're being naughty!

Yes the wooden clad boxes are the houses! My husband says that you can get a good view if you walk down Silvester Rd. A man who lives near to the site stopped by my house and when I asked him how the noise was, he said that the builders did try to be considerate and that there had been noise before with the business. From what we can hear, there does seem to be a fair bit of noise caused by the building work, although they do try to be considerate. They were filming there again last week. When I originally asked the planning office about what was agreed, I think (although my memeory is a little hazy) the final decision was to allow two 3-bed houses to be build.

Sometimes I give the money but I never take the magazine (as I prefer to read a newspaper!), although it should be everyone's individual and private choice to whom/which charities they give money.;-) The charities I have volunteered at in the past have targeted groups including the homeless and low-income people and its shocking what some people have to survive on. Even a significant number of the elderly these days live on paltry amounts of pension and struggle just to pay their heating bills which is really sad state of affairs. That could be us one day...

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "criminals swap GTi Turbo for bus, they say it's > greener and more efficient" Mark - you're wasted in your day job, you should be a reporter!

Oh dear, I hope that I didn't cause offence to anyone and if I did I'm sorry. I was just repeating what happened today (the other thread said that the Romanian women trying to swap the notes got away on the 176 bus), but I was being very tongue in cheek (I too hang my head in shame). I just thought it was hilarious that the 176 could be used as a getaway vehicle. Imagine if the police had tried to chase the 176 bus! I actually feel sorry for the Romanian women who stand outside Somerfield selling the Big Issue and when they offer the Big issue I always give them a smile and say 'no thanks' rather than just ignoring them. It can't be very nice for them having to stand outside trying to sell a few magazines. Its a mad, mad world where such differences in wealth exist.

No, you're all wrong. I asked the news crews as I went past. They said they had got a tip off that the Romanian women were going to use the 176 bus as their getaway vehicle after trying to swap fake ?50 and ?20 notes on Lordship Lane. The crew were going to wait all day to film it - they were hoping that the women were going to go past the train station waving their ?50 and ?20 notes out of the bus windows at the cameras.

bailey Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > these guys are okay just a little aloof, agreed > could be more friendly, > nothing compared to the moody guy from SMBS ( same > company ? ) > the middle aged unshaven guy, think he's the > bossman, now he is > one misantrope and the younger guys are wicked. > All a bit strange. The middle aged unshaven guy - the other day, he came up to me and started telling me what produce was particularly good that day (he'd been to the market that morning) and having a joke with me. I also once asked his advice about something I wanted to buy and he was really helpful. To be honest, they're not the sort to shout a smiley greeting to everyone who comes in which can give the impression of aloofness, but if you get talking to them they are really friendly. I suppose just as often as we get aloofness from shopowners, they must get just as much aloofness (and rudeness) from a number of their customers. I actually find SMB and Cheese Block to be more helpful than East Dulwich Deli, so I will continue to use them (but the queues at SMB on Saturdays do my head in!)

Porkpie from Desmonds! That's a cool blast from the past!

Council's environment line is 0207 525 2000. Yes they do manage to drop loads of stuff. You have to sometimes complain a few times before they get better!

Beth - thanks for the reply. You know quite a bit about the subject!

That's absolutely disgusting!!!!!!!!!! Does the man work at the Bishop?