civilservant

I've recently been involved in a discussion on this Forum about a certain cafe on LL. There was an exchange of views, in which some forumites reported their personal experience of eating there or working there. I now find that the relevant thread has been deleted, never to be seen again. But at the same time, I see very critical posts about other ED businesses, many of which I would recommend on this forum. These posts are also based on reported personal experience. But they are allowed to remain. Could anyone, possibly even an Administrator, explain - preferably in words of three syllables or less - what we can and what we can't discuss on this forum?

I'd go with all the excellent advice on here already - but I've never learned to manage tights, even at my advanced age! Anyway they grow out of tights at a rate of knots. I suggest that when the weather gets too cold for a skirt, you put her in trousers. There are some decent styles for girls available on-line at M&S and Next. Or do what the trendy set at my daughter's school do, which is wear leggings under their skirts, with socks.

Mnh, thank you for the planting distance table. I'm intrigued by the idea of apple trees in planters along the street. A nice idea, but sustainable? Given the need for constant vigilance to keep planters watered, and since the safe planting distance for a small apple tree is less than 5m - and also in light of this report http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18612661 - wouldn't it make more sense for the trees to be planted along the pavement, in the ground, by the Council?

cheese and crackers eaten standing up in the kitchen

thanks, all - very enlightening!

a warning - my daughter went through the obligatory pink phase at the time that we re-decorated our house and so her room was painted a pale pretty pink (Farrow & Ball no less) she has now outgrown the pink phase and shows signs of goth-ish leanings, although not yet 9 needless to say, the pink bedroom is no longer in favour, but it's going to be a while before we can afford to redecorate!

has anyone actually confirmed that the contents of these bottles are what they are rumoured to be? OTH, if it's supposed to be conceptual art, it's been done before http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist%27s_Shit

I think I understand - so do they share a single street door which leads into the shared hall? Or are these the houses with two narrow front doors side by side, in an entrance where one might expect to find a single (albeit quite wide) street door? I ask because my Googling has brought up precious little info on the subject

aah, that's better I'm not bothered as long as the holes in the bread aren't endangering small furry warm-blooded creatures

I've often wondered how a half house differed from a semi-detached house. Are they split in two vertically i.e. like a semi, or horizontally i.e. like a layer cake?

Nice try, Nette But what happened to the rabbit's EARS? ::o

Annette! Please! Desist! This is the stuff of bread-based nightmares! (and I actually dislike cats!)

Tree surgeons and sycamores already dealt with here - http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?30,894040,900462#msg-900462 I would recommend Hamish. The council is not interested unless your tree is the subject of a TPO (or Tree Preservation Order to the un-initiated). But as it is a despised sycamore, it is unlikely to be honoured with a TPO. Since I'm in the mood to be expansive - here's the Woodland Trust on sycamores - http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/wildlife/factfiles/trees/sycamore.htm They have one or two good things to say about them. And here is a nice picture of a finch eating a sycamore seed. http://www.uk-wildlife.co.uk/greenfinch-eating-sycamore-seed-redwing-and-fieldfare/ So not really to be despised after all.

We inherited four large sycamores when we moved into our house. We now have two, one of which is less than 10 feet from the house, while the other is about 40 feet away. We plan to keep these, because they provide shade, screening from road/neighbours and are also very attractive to garden wildlife, especially squirrels and birds. However, we don't want any more, as they've been expensive to manage (getting rid of two and keeping the others trimmed regularly so they don't drip sap everywhere. So we keep a vigilant eye out for the seedlings - the squirrels help by eating most of the seeds, and any seedlings that manage to escape them and germinate aren't really that difficult to catch and pull out early on, are they? One of the things that I like most about SE London is the amount of greenery, especially large trees, in residential areas, not just the parks. Sycamores need a lot less space and care than oaks, elms etc, so are a reasonably good compromise if you want a tree.

I agree! You did the right thing. If people challenged this kind of thing more often, then litter louts might feel less able to talk back, threaten etc. Race etc has nothing to do with it - I've seen all sorts drop litter, if they feel they can get away with it. e.g. young woman on the Tube finishes can of Coke and choccie bar - presumably her breakfast - and leaves can and wrapper on the seat when she gets up. I point out her litter, she replies "I am not a cleaner" and flounces off...

An additional vote for Battersea Park zoo, especially for tiny children (under 5). Alternatively, try Vauxhall City Farm, which is just around the corner from Vauxhall station.

Totally agree too

Example of lack of unmet demand - last weekend when we went to the Ritzy to see MIB3, we were the only people in the (main) cinema. That is, until the lights went down and a lone bloke came in and sat RIGHT IN FRONT OF the smallest member of our party. But that, as they say, is a whole other thread.

Thank you, MM, "marginally more nuanced" - I'm sure that the Daily Telegraph would so love to hear your endoresment! Lovely also to share your knowledge of British Imperial disengagement policy at its highest level. France and particularly Belgium as baselines for reference... hmmmm... Given that we still have a lot of explaining to do about the opium trade, the Malaysian Emergency, the Mau Mau rebellion - just to take some top-of-head examples at random - I agree that they are the only way to ensure that Britain comes out ahead of its co-players in the Imperial game. I would be very interested to hear your explanation of why "many African states fell into corruption and dictatorships" - I'm really looking forward to it.

This is shaping up to be the new M&S/Waitrose thread! I would love there to be a proper indie cinema in ED. But we've already got Cinema Paradiso and the Ritzy is very near. OTW, I don't think that there is enough unmet demand to make this a viable economic proposition.

MM, does this count as a nuanced view? http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/willheaven/100048709/the-history-of-british-india-will-serve-david-cameron-well-as-long-as-he-doesnt-talk-about-it/ It is from the Daily Telegraph after all One of the links in the article is to this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_famine_of_1770. I won't insist that we consider this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_famine_of_1943 as there is still some dispute about the (British) administration's culpability. I quote you: "those of us capable of a more nuanced look at the world can see both the enormous benefits that came out of the Britsh Empire as well as the many negatives - tho' many of those negatives are only so in the light of today's mores and not, of themselves, absolutely wrong or evil." and ask two questions man-made famines - are these an example of what is no longer negative "in the light of today's mores and not, of themselves, absolutely wrong or evil."? benefits of Empire - yes, of course there were/are many, but you seem to be using ends to justify means. Do I understand you correctly? No longer so easy to defend Empire. Even the Queen's advisers suggest she lay it to rest http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/honours-list/9249069/Queen-should-take-the-Empire-out-of-our-honours-system-say-Lord-Lieutenants.html,

we swear by Father Ted

No one minds how far you come provided you bring your own contribution and share it. It's free-loaders who aren't welcome.

the Tough-ty Club? I was tickled to see in Wikipedia or somewhere that "squirrel" comes form the Greek for 'tail that provides shade'

Small daughter and I went up to the South Bank, clutching flag designed as part of school Jubilee-related activity. Looking back, I really can't think what possessed us, except the feeling that daughter shouldn't suffer for parent's scepticism re "historic" event. Staying home with damp towelettes a la maxxi while waving the flag might have been a lot more sensible... The river bank was jam-packed with people clutching bottles of plonk and Sun-sponsored flags. Security staff everywhere turning people away from vantage points unless they had tickets, invites or the right corporate-sponsored wristband. Politely asked a number of people 'Can my child - not me - get around you to catch a glimpse of the flotilla. She isn't tall enough to block your view.'. Universal answer "No, we've been here for two hours and we are not going to move". Afterwards, the Festival Hall looked like a refugee camp. The loo queue snaked all the way around the ticket lobby, harrassed bar staff rushing around trying to cope and sodden people sitting exhausted on the floor, anywhere they could find a spot. The river walk itself full of enormous puddles and strewn with trash, the train stations a nightmare of overcrowding and no buses until you got to the Elephant. Lovely!