PeckhamRose

"This is not my beautiful wife". "Oh my God, how did I get here". I am 50. I am a motorcyclist. I had a crap childhood and have never wanted - nor have I had - children. I live in one of the most exciting diverse cities in the world. When I feel down I jump on the bike and either ride round London, or go down to the coast - Brighton or Thanet. When my mother was 50, I was 19 and - looking at photos of her at the time - she looked like 70. Where as I look fabulous. But as for being grown up - having a child is no guarantee of that happening!

What's wrong with you lot? Southwark Council get an awful lot of things very wrong and waste a lot of money doing so. But on refuse collection they are very ahead of other councils, and we should be grateful. Boosboss gave you all you needed to know, and here is the link for more information. If you do go to their dump on Manor Road (off Walworth Road just by McDonalds) then remember to take ID in case they ask you for proof you're a Southwark resident. Here's the link to the map. Now, having helped you, I'm off to work.

I hate being made to feel guilty for not getting involved. I am so glad I do not work for a big corporation where it was "expected" you join in. You just know that any negative reaction will go on record somewhere and you'd be marked against it in the assessments. I also cringe when I hear the Radio 4 presenters talk about having joined in - oh how funny that they did. You can tell they cringed too. It's all too big and corporate. Should have all stopped after the first Live Aid in '84. Whinge whinge

Old Vic Dancing at Lughnasa GREAT reviews. THE most BORING piece of theatre I have seen in ages. A group of women talk about stuff in their small Irish community in 1936 and how life is changing. There: just saved you a ton of money.

I read the title of this and dived in to write the word, "Read". I was one of those at school who was always on the sidelines due to health, and knew to take a book. Or a comic. Now, it's a laptop. If you mean, "What do you do if you don't like watching sport", pretty much the same answers apply!

See, this is interesting given there are so many complaints about this practice. cate's questions are right and fair and do not seem to have been answered. I am on a Patient Feedback group at Nunhead Surgery. I have never met any others from there and to my knowledge there are no meetings. I am asked my opinions on things like the newsletter and how the surgery is run. And the team of doctors and reception and support staff really do listen and discuss problems. I do not have (nor need) an NHS email address. The Nunhead Surgery (the one privately owned and with an 020 number) doesn't need these PR gimmicks. (Note to self: erase this message if I get bought by Nunhead Surgery!)

Would not that be all too much for the Ferret? They only got little legs!

Horse. Delicious. Was not aware it was horse at the time.

Anyone remember that Thora Hird drama written by... Can't remember. Her son says, "What do you want Mum, burial or cremation?" Thora Hird's character, "Surprise me".

I think it makes our bike insurance cheaper, and we have quite a few bikes in those garages so yes, peace of mind is very important. Still - 25%!!!

At the moment benefits are going to McDonalds, KFC and the cigarette companies. What's new? MrRose claimed unemployment benefit recently. As taxpayers we are taxed separately (I am self employed), but when claiming he was assessed as part of a couple, and even though I earn less than ?10,000 a year, and he was out of work, guess what - he only only entitled to ?60 and no council tax benefit either. We don't have a mortgage and don't pay rent. What's even more frustrating, Peckham's JobCentrePlus gave NO help or advice regarding retraining and new NOTHING about all the schemes and plans and extra help and retraining that the government keeps telling everyone is happening now. Peckham JobCentrePlus is utterly useless. Fortunately, quite a few of you kind lot are employing him at the moment and so we hope this will continue till he gets another job because he signed off since there was absolutely no point in signing on.

Maybe the northerners think London MEANS "South East"!

I do intend to vote. My Great great Aunt was a suffragette; the fact it's all rather soft means we need to change things from within and we are all not suffering enough and together to do so (I mean really suffering!). But I will still vote. As for which party, probably Labour. Listened to Glynis Kinnock on Radio 4 the other day and it was heartening to know there are people in it for the right reasons.

Know what you mean! Still, wonder if it worth arguing to the rent tribunal. I don't think they care too much about optional non residential places though...

But but but look! He wants South East London not South East OF London. Still - useful for the rest of us too anyway. Keep them coming!

Just asking around what you lot may pay. We rent garages off Southwark and it's just gone up a whopping 25% and we will now pay ?12.24 a week. Southwark claim this is still at the lower end of the London average. Do any of you rent garages and is this true?

I recommend Drs Martin Iu, Anderson (male doctor) and Yvonneke Roe for everything including mental health at Nunhead Surgery if you are lucky enough to be in their catchment area. They are an independent practice with an 020 number, lovely receptionists and I am a long term regular patient who also am on their patient feedback panel. It is appalling that you had to write this post and my heart goes out to you. The important thing here is - that whilst it is perfectly right we should hear the other sides' point of view - that you felt compelled to share this, and your impression is what is important.

Get the train to Ramsgate. Make sure of the tide time tables, then walk to the coast (a few minutes), and then walk all around the Isle of Thanet (which includes Ramsgate Broadstairs, Viking Bay, Kingsgate, Joss Bay, Palm Bay, Walpole Bay, Cliftonville (get a bus to Margate station if you're knackered by then) and on to Margate. Thanet also includes lots of inland little villages too. Can you tell I grew up there? If you make it as far as Margate, Margate station is on the coast road. (I did that walk in about 4 hours slowly as the seashore is my 2nd fave place to walk and explore) There are caves and inlets and great sand and about 16 different bays. WAIT - edited when I realised he said SOUTH EAST LONDON. OK, Crystal Palace to London Bridge doing as much of the green chain as possible. Or. From Tower Bridge to Chelsea Bridge and beyond if you're up to it. Just get an A-Z of London and pick the bits you fancy!

No, and I won't; their advertising pissed me off.

As someone training to be a Humanist Celebrant, and who worked in funeral directors for a few years in the past, I am happy to inform you you have more choices than you ever ever did before. Motorcycle hearses (choice of classic Triumph, Harley Davidson or classic suzuki motorcycle to pull (with - I kid you not, the obligitory No Smoking sign on the hearse window even if you're going to be cremated ...)) - your ashes turned into a firework, anything you want. For myself I have already written in my Will, and arranged separately with the London Anatomy Office that - if they will accept it - my body is to be taken immediately to the London Anatomy Office and they will arrange for it to be studied and dissected by medical students. (After all, NHS saved my life many times when I was a kid.) The LAO reject bodies of amputees, and various other reasons. Otherwise donate parts that are useful and have the hospital burn the rest. The Clockhouse is to get a lump of money behind the bar and everyone to go down there with my mate Sally the Celebrant to have a party. Good for you dulwichmum to raise this issue - I realise you had tongue in cheek with some of your thoughts, but either way it's a good thing people do think about it. Many was the time people came into the office and wills had not been made and some families not even aware there was a first wife and other children!

Wearing a lambswool sweater maybe (ie in sheep's clothing. Sorry, only on 2nd coffee of the day)

I got the same ticket for a different area with the same lack of a no u turn sign. Going down St martins Lane and trying to turn into the Trafalgar Square. No right turn! So did a left then followed all the other cars doing a u turn. Westminster must be making a killing. I've paid up.

Fab sculptures! Made me grin. Hoorah! Wish there was more public art around. Thanks Southwark for commissioning this; don't think we've forgotten the damage to the Blake mural tho!

Pub in Wanstead the other week offered me chilli and chocolate crisps. Seriously.

As soon as you see the Gulf Stream aiming for and hitting the Azores High, then you know to ditch the brolly. This statement, apparently makes sense to some people.