civilservant

Tom Noonan, just 74 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/movies/tom-noonan-dead.html https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/remembering-tom-noonan-in-manhunter-michael-mann-1236668730/

i think you're being unfair, malumbu - this thread was shaping up to be nicely bonkers too. It has the potential to be great (or normal sized) if we feed and water it adequately

agree with Sue and Sue given that trees can be relied upon to lose their leaves once a year at the same time, the council is going to have its work cut out cleaning everyone's streets simultaneously - in addition to all the stuff that needs doing in later autumn. The leaves form an excellent garden mulch and a bit of citizen action to complement the council is probably all that's needed. Or maybe the council could just get rid of the trees? then we'll free up so much time to go to war on the dogs instead!

yes that's the one! it was (nearly) harmless fun to get the un-initiated to put the coin in for you i also seem to remember that the Hanway Street place was called Govinda's. it was vegetarian, vegan even - but it was much more palatable fare than the standard Hare Krishna stuff. I also used to go tot he Indian Y - which I remmber discussing on the EDF some eyars ago. And then the first Wagamama opened off Russell Street

thanks Jenijenjen and all - yes, i remember walking or taking the bus from the elephant (where i was working) to Camberwell to get there. I think Tim - who's still at Franklin's - was there in those days, and the woman who ran the cafe! Other food places that i remember fondly are the ones in Neal's Yard (with the Hunkin sculpture that you could put a coin in ) and the basement lunch place at the Tottenham Court Road junction with Hanway Street...

i used to go there in the late 80's and '90s (?) the food was served cafeteria style and there was limited choice, but what there was alays tasted amazing! The garden was an absolute paradise, you could sit in it to lunch in the summer! i've tried to locate its site but Walworth Road has changed so much since then - does anyone remember the house number?

can't believe i'm the first one on this forum to say that Chris Rea has done his last drive home for Christmas. He was on Mortimer and Woodhouse recently looking very unwell, poor chap, so its not the biggest surprise.

I've never been in a stand-off with a fox, and have never heard of this happening to anyone else before! we have foxes on and off in our garden and they tend to be quite timid. Our dog goes bananas when he senses one so that might keep them away. As for cats and foxes, i once saw a small one running up Denmark Hill for dear life mid-morning because it was being chased by a cat

the Post office seems to be the outfit responsible for delivering stuff ordered on Amazon in the Dulwich area Is anyone finding that their parcel delivery has become more unreliable than in the past e.g. not delivered because 'you were not in' or 'returned to sender as address incorrect'?

Another warm recommendation for James. Called him Monday, made time to come round Tuesday am, tracked down the fault, fixed it. All very y efficient, and a decent bloke to boot. Not to mention very reasonable rates. Will definitely call on him again.

Thames Water are sorting out a burst water main that flooded some local flats over the holiday. They've dug up the junction of Crystal Palace Road and Upland Road outside the old police station. Expect that junction to be closed till the end of the week. .

the launderette on Bellenden Road is pretty good - and a cleaner and less frantic experience than Wash and Dry on LL ever was. But I gather that it's also due to close - the owner is waiting for the buyer to get funds together..

i remember the weekend fry-ups at Dulwich Cafe that junior Civilservant was treated to when she was little - that was over a decade ago! We can still rely on Johnnie's and the caff on Upland road opposite ChichiRaRa if anyone needs a quick emergency infusion of sos/chips/beans

lady on the right - (Dame) Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee. Good to know she appreciates value for money

diable rouge Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Two schools of thought: > > Wean yourself off gradually > > or > > Go cold turkey... still here (tried going the full Gene Hackman but nah, it's not working)

thanks for letting us know this excellent news, madger, she must have been travelling all day and night so sorry i couldn't get hold of her earlier. i do hope she recovers her health and condition soon, poor little dog

madger - i suggest also posting on the Lost section - it may attract more focused attention

yes, please update if there's any news

lots of people walking past could have helped get this dog to safety. instead - response from a prosperous-looking man, woman and teenager near the Village: 'What do you expect us to do?'

medium size with very short light brown fur, areas of scarring and a shaved patch on body no obvious breed, but is clearly a bitch who has had puppies not too long ago

i spotted her at about 2 o'clock running up Townley Road. Followed all around the village with the help of a kind couple but she evaded capture. Very nervous, won't be lured with treats. We lost sight of her around 3 o'clock at the junction of Turney Road and the Village - the pavements and road were very busy and she may have hidden in shrubbery or headed back to the Park.

obligated

malumbu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've been murdering slugs, ... Then I find out that many of them do not feed on fresh leaves, rather eat mouldy old ones. Malumbu, direct your wrath away from the poor hard-working but plug-ugly slugs at those cute little snail chappies, the ones that stick their little horns out and look at you so innocently after lunching heartily on your hollyhocks and hostas. Gather them up into a doggy poo bag and stick them in your blue garden bin. Leave your slugs be! edited to add - the BBC says that the big spotty leopard slugs eat other slugs and doggy poo too, which is probably why i've got spare doggy poo bags for dealing with the snails. The BBC also has some other information about their mating habits, but i'll let you look that up for yourself.

good point, DF we could always use a wetted finger instead, or revive the moist post-office sponge of days gone by this brought to mind the episode of Seinfeld in which George's fiancee dies after (spoiler alert!) licking glue from cheap envelopes because George stinted on the cost of the wedding invitations maybe we could send e-cards to keep each other really safe, but that's just so not in the spirit of the season, is it!

the cost per free school meal per child is ?2.30 or ?11.50 a week (i don't suppose kids need to eat at weekends, do they?)