genwilliams

You can use Orange/T-Mobile's 2G signal but can't yet use 3G across both networks - that is due next year.

Is your girlfriend's Vodafone mobile an iPhone/3G smartphone too? doubledipper Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My O2 reception in ED is pretty bad; 3G coverage > is intermittent, too. Mind you, I've found that > O2 has heaps of black spots in London, whereas my > girlfriend's Vodafone mobile always has coverage. > Just for fun (!), if you have an O2 mobile, try > using it in Shad Thames. No coverage. I worked in > an office there, and we all got iPhones back when > O2 was the only provider, and none of us could > actually use them without a 5 minute walk! I'm not > sure why I'm still with O2; it's been 8 years, > maybe it's time for a change? I think I'm just > lazy...

Interesting! Which model do you have? I have an HTC Touch HD (I think?), and the touchscreen is annoying, it's forever turning itself on in my bag, the software (Windows mobile - I know HTC are on Android now though) is dreadful and really glitchy, and the reception isn't great either. One of the reasons I'm thinking of leaving HTC behind and finally getting an iPhone. kamila Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have got HTC Touch phone on Orange and its just > getting worse and worse! I think its this HTC that > has a problem, also thinking of getting iPhone as > soon as I can.

Wasn't sure if this should go in here or one of the other forums - if I've got it wrong, please do move it! ED iPhone users, what networks are you on and how's the reception? I'm currently on Orange with a rather decrepit old HTC Touch phone. My iPod just died today and I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and getting the iPhone 4 I so shamelessly want. But I'm weighing up whether I'd be wise to fork out & stay with Orange (and it is bloody expensive), or what the reception's like on other networks, in SE22 and SE15 at least. I live and work here so it'd be a pain to end up with a phone I can barely use. If your network has really good or bad customer service it'd be helpful to know too! I've only ever used Orange so I'm apprehensive about joining the wrong network and being stuck with a really poor signal. Any recommendations would be really helpful. I've heard poor things about Vodafone but don't know if this is true for this area?

Hear hear. And if a train is delayed or cancelled, you can be stuck for ages. I wouldn't expect or hope for a tube station in East Dulwich, but ANYWHERE between ED and the Elephant and Castle really would make life a lot easier - it is very strange and outdated that the Bakerloo line should terminate in zone 1! rahrahrah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The train often takes longer than the 12 minutes > claimed. My morning train takes closer to 20. > > An extension of the Bakerloo line would connect > directly with far more places in central London - > London Bridge is fine as a starting point for your > journey, but for most it's not the destination. > > And the frequency is a big issue - Two trains an > hour post 8 O'clock. Only four trains an hour, > before 8 on Saturdays. And on Sunday, two trains > an hour up to 10pm, in the rare event of their > running at all! > > This is hardly a 'turn up and go' service. The > tube has it's faults, but at least when it's > running properly, the service is frequent and it > takes you were you want to go quickly.

I wondered about this yesterday morning! Rescue vehicles, scientific investigation units, something like 30 fire fighters clustered around the pub (and some ambulance crew as well), even a hazmat car... what on earth was going on?

I dearly wish they would extend the Bakerloo down to Camberwell (or Peckham High Street... or Albany Road... or ANYWHERE south-east of the Elephant & Castle), because it's between Denmark Hill and the Elephant and Castle that the traffic really bottlenecks and makes bus journeys so long. I went to Camden yesterday by bus and it took the best part of 2 hours, though I didn't have to wait long for buses at all. That said, you can get the 185 to Oval and jump on the Northern line there - but it doesn't avoid the problem of the traffic, especially near Coldharbour Lane, and as pointed out above, the train services aren't always great. No-one wants it to cost more to live here (unless you're selling your house, I guess) but if you can't get to where you need to go, it does make life difficult!

Boho Bar does seem a bit unpleasant. I've been in twice, the first time it was rather dull, the second time there was an air of leering desperation about the place. I have had many a great night in Adventure, and though I've not been in recent months I'd like to defend the place. It's very cheesy, but it trades off that and is fun. The drinks are nice (and the staff tend to remember what your favourite drinks are if you go in a few times), the staff are funny and friendly, and though it can be boisterous I've never had any problems or felt intimidated or offended by anyone in there. If you want a quiet drink with a friend or a sophisticated evening it's maybe not the best choice, but it's great for a silly night out with a group of people. I think the place gets an unfairly bad rap.

A nice boy I know bought me a lovely mahogany backgammon board for my birthday so it would be a shame not to bring it! Bit scared about turning up on my own though...

They're really not very good, are they. Il Mirto are much better. njc97 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Strada? What does anyone need with a bad pizza > chain?

Alas, beaten to the punch. I was in Co-op just now and couldn't find any fresh thyme. (End of universe, etc). I want Waitrose.

Would like to see a 'Poundland' in it's place Waitrose, surely!

I have to agree with georgia, and I would also like to defend Adventure, as the place has brought me a lot of joy over the last year (and I've managed to enjoy it without puking or weeing in anyone's garden, throwing tins of lager about, punching anyone or stabbing anyone. Am I that unusual?) Re: underage drinking, I don't know about Boho Bar because I almost never go in (it is a bit odd in there actually), but as a regular at Adventure I know they check ID a lot. I'm 28 and I still get regularly ID'd there. It's bloody annoying actually, but I respect them for doing it. I'm sure that teenagers do slip through the net sometimes, but as someone who used to work in bars (small independent places who took their licences and reputations v. seriously, as it happens), even with the best door team and most consistent ID checking in place, people do still slip through. I don't doubt the reports on this thread of the unpleasant drunken behaviour people have had to deal with, but Adventure's clientele, mostly at least, seems to be regular folks who either go in for a few beers or cocktails, or a party crowd having a cheerfully drunk night out. While there are exceptions in any bar, if it was full of beery aggressive idiots who'd punch the first person who bumps into them, I would not go there, and I doubt my friends would either! I don't think 2am on a Sunday is necessary (though pk above said they only want 12/12.30 on Sun? Can anyone clarify which is correct?) but I have no problem with the Thursday application. As an ED resident (I live 5 mins from Adventure) I specifically like being able to have a local, safe and late night out toward the end of the week - the alternative is dealing with the serious aggression and idiocy that populates the nightbuses in central London after 11. As far as comments like "Can the offending bars -- and only two are mentioned above -- have their existing late licences revoked?" go - I think that's pretty unfair and lacking perspective. Adventure is far from the worst offender - the Kebab and Wine seems a lot more dodgy in terms of the atmosphere & licensing, and it does have a reputation for being quite druggy. Adventure seems exceptionally professional in comparison! georgia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think it depends where you go on Lordship Lane! > I don't think that all the bars between Goose > Green and The Palmerston are full of under-age > drinkers who behave anti-socially, even late at > night. I can go out with my friends till 2am to > the EDT or Bishop or Liquorish and have never seen > any trouble on a Friday or Saturday and many of > these bars have an over-21 policy anyway. There > are plenty of people who enjoy a late-night drink > at the weekend without resorting to fighting, > vomitting in the street or whatever else people > say they see on LL. > > And East Dulwich is not a village, it is a surburb > of a large city. If people want a village > atmosphere, move out of London. I personally > choose to live in East Dulwich because it's busy, > lively and has a number of good bars and > restaurants. If I wanted quiet, peaceful and pubs > that closed at 11pm I would move away.

Could do with a good Italian trattoria, something nice and homey with huge traditional plates of pasta and a serviceable bar. I have to travel quite a way to find a good one. Only good/local Italian places I know of are Luigi's, which is down in Gypsy Hill (and not exactly low-key), and Il Mirto, which is nice for a casual bite or quick dinner but has no bar/licence and not so comfy for a proper, dim-lit evening meal. I would quite like a Superdrug. The various chemists are okay but no use for an emergency make-up fix!

Well, my reception is still rubbish, and has been for two months now. It's definitely getting worse - first it was just in my house (Copleston Rd), now I can't get decent reception at work (Bellenden Rd) or in the street either. My HTC's reception was okay until the last couple of months. If Orange can't fix this soon, I'm buggering off to another network - my contract's up for renewal soon anyway, and I don't see any reason now to renew it.

Popped round to the Bellenden and Ivanhoe parties but eventually settled at the Ivanhoe one. What a restful and friendly way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Well done all!

I love backgammon! This sounds tempting.

I've complained to them about this actually. I'm on Orange and have had trouble for the last two months with reception around Copleston Road (SE15). I've not got an iPhone, just an HTC thingy, and if they can't improve the reception soon I will switch providers.

Your post, and firstmate's post, make sense. The number of mistreated or badly trained, uncontrollable dogs around makes a strong case for making it illegal to own a dog without having proved you have the will and understanding to look after it properly. Equally, I think it's a shame to just dismiss the 'scarier' breeds across the board as dangerous and call for them to be banned. With few exceptions, a well-trained dog will be a joy to its owner and those who the owner allows the dog to get close to - and the owner won't let the dog near others! My aunt & uncle are saluki breeders, and have always had a rottweiler as a guard dog. Said guard dog is also a pet, and is treated lovingly and firmly; she knows what's allowed and doesn't stray beyond it. I definitely agree that smaller dogs need training too. I do not refer to the OP here as it doesn't sound like she was at fault at all, but generally better training of all dogs, so they don't react badly to new faces (human or otherwise) would minimise these sorts of incidents. hpsaucey Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So we're back to getting dog licences and making > sure that potential dog owners get training? > Should be like passing your driving test. Then > again, think new parents should be trained too! > Seems ridiculous that you have to be trained to > drive a car, but can be guardian/parent of a child > or owner of a dog without any training!

I find it really sad that so many people feel they can't co-exist with the creatures alongside us. I don't see that foxes (or squirrels, or pigeons, or most other animals that get routinely complained about) do us any real detriment - certainly nothing to compare to the damage humans do, even in their local environment (let's start with car pollution, litter, drug waste, graffiti & vandalism, various crap chucked into local water that affects the birds & fish, and food left out that actually encourages the animals complained about here, plus of course the rats). These animals are beautiful, and make our environment more interesting. A little more tolerance and perspective wouldn't go amiss. London would be a sadder place without its wildlife. Long live the foxes.

Dubluke, I agree with your post completely. I think there are few things more despicable than a crooked estate agent. When dealing with people's homes and such a sizeable chunk of their money, a little integrity is called for.

How horrible. Please report it - I can understand why you'd feel worried about it but as with any issue that involves a bully using threats to intimidate other people, the only way to stop them is to report them, and how do you know you won't run into this dog or its owner again? And this could have happened to other people as well. Don't let this awful dog owner get away with it. Owners like this give their dogs a bad name.

Interesting idea. Personally I've no problem with the foxes. I'm not woken by them, and have no kids, or garden pets to worry about, so I appreciate it's different for some people; I do feel that foxes will go where the food is, though, so if one can be careful about disposing of rubbish, it discourages them. My mother's a firm fan of them, mind, and tends to put food out in the back garden. My family have always thought of them as rathre beautiful and mostly benign creatures when you see them in an urban setting.

Oooh.. well I work a few doors down, so I might just do that!

Don't they sell sweatpants with JACK WILLS emblazoned across the bottom? Not keen. I'd like it if Anthropologie thought to open a little branch in ED! It would suit the area much better.