tomskip

Vertical cracks on the staircase @malumbu. I was hoping for some local knowledge as I know that SE London and other properties built on clay soil can subside.

How do you know if your property is subsiding and who do you go to to get a sensible survey? And if the worst happens and subsidence is confirmed, what is it like to have it put right? Can you still live in the property while it is happening. Does buildings insurance cover it? Thanks in advance for all/any advice ...

I hope this cat is OK? We love to stop and say hello. He's popped into our house more than once. But I haven't seen him in a while, thinking about it.

For no particular reason, I'm wondering how many new homes have been built in East Dulwich since I moved here in 1996. I was out on an urban walk today and noticed a few new new-builds and it got me thinking. The big developments I can think of are Altima Court on the site of the old Ford salesroom. And the houses where the old wood yard used to be on the corner of Barry/Underhill Road and the houses on the other side. The flats above M&S (both sites). The houses at the lower numbers of Upland Road which used to be shops. I'm pretty sure we haven't added as many dwellings as we should have.

I just put mine out - never more than 2 or 3 at a time - and they are collected. I don't book anything separately. I imagine the £1 per bag is mostly the collection fee? So it's cost me about £15 this year to have my garden waste collected. I do also have a compost heap. Food waste goes in one of those small kerbside bins which I store outside the back door until bin day.

A year ago I bought 20 paper garden waste sacks for £20 and still have about 5 or 6 left despite having a very large garden. I'd suggest going down that route and the great bonus is you then don't need a fugly brown wheelie bin in your front garden or outside on the pavement.

Do we know when it opens?

I don't know if that was directed at me or not, but Upland Road and Dunstans Road could accommodate the cars of residents fairly comfortably until the removal of parking spaces from the mini roundabout at Goodrich / Upland up to the school gates. So residents from that stretch of the road, some with multiple vehicles, are parking further up meaning it is very common indeed now for people living further up the road from the school having to park on Dunstans Road (there is a lot of free space at the top near the fork with Upland). But now, with timed restrictions coming in on Dunstans, and residents parking permits if that scheme comes in, it won't be possible for us to use our car when we need to for our occasional commutes. So we will have to create a parking space in our front garden. It has nothing to do with "our spaces" or nimbyism. We are perfectly happy to park a distance from our house in order to keep our front garden. But not more than 2 streets away, that just isn't practical. So yes, I am complaining about people using their cars for the school run and behaving inconsiderately. The restrictions would not be necessary if parents didn't do this.

It's going to be gruesome on Upland Road when it starts. It's quite infuriating that so many residents on Upland, Dunstans and Goodrich are being inconvenienced just because some parents insist on driving their children right up to the school gates! Why not fine them every time? It would soon stop. From our point of view it looks like we'll have to fell our mature magnolia tree and pave over our front garden for a drive, which is something we've resisted doing since we moved here in 2004.

But why are they only asking more than 2 months later?

We received 5 Christmas cards yesterday. All in damaged/wet envelopes with boot prints all over them. Prior to that we got two about two weeks before Christmas. It was the same last year and the year before. I honestly can't believe that we just have to put up with this in SE22.

Is there a reason you can't donate to a charity shop? We have 3 or 4 on Lordship Lane. Alternatively Traid (they have a branch in Peckham) will come and collect from you. If the clothing is too tatty to sell on many charity shops will accept it sorted into separate bags as "rags" which they get paid for (as Sue said earlier in the thread). The recycling centre on Old Kent Road also accepts fabric recycling, goes without saying.

I just can't get excited about a Pret in East Dulwich - they are the most ubiquitous chain in London and I'm fairly sure I will never go in that branch. I know I'll never want a Pret sandwich on my way home from town, and if I want one on my way in I can buy it fresher (and without the worry of missing my train) from the eleventy billion branches that already exist in London. The idea of Pret out in the suburbs because people don't work in the centre any more makes me sad.

I park in Morrisons car park. Only a short walk, if you are physically able of course.

The Co-Op on Lordship Lane did have a bin (at the front, near the tobacco/drink kiosk) until recently at least. Sainsburys have a handy list on the outside of the plastic bag bins (near the photo booth) telling you exactly what kind of plastic you can now put in them. I expect it includes packaging for FROZEN PEAS.

Geraniums will be fine in dry, light soil. You need to be careful not to over water these. You might want to get some water retaining gel or crystals for the other pots. As you have very big pots - if it gets very warm and sunny (ha!) it's best to give them a good soaking every few days rather than a light watering every day.

You can now put "flimsy plastic" as they call it in the plastic bag recycling bins at Sainsburys Dog Kennel Hill. The tiny bin at the Co-Op on Lordship Lane is always full.

The Sainsbury's Saver Centre at Bell Green still has a big recycling bank. Or you can take them to the Southwark tip (if you have a ULEZ compliant car of course). We usually take a couple of bags of fabrics and shoes for recycling in our bi-annual tip runs.

I'm sorry to see this is still an issue. I came home to a parcel delivery recently where the driver had attempted to hide it by propping up my front door mat against the box. The box was about 24x24 inches so that was as pointless as just leaving the box on top of the mat. Luckily I got home in time.

Agree with Killing Eve. I loved series 1, but then watched first episode of series 2 and just thought "nope". Such a shame about Frasier. And Twin Peaks.

Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Council wouldn't do this without first writing > to you asking you to do it and telling you that if > you don't cut it back by a certain date, they will > do it and charge it to you. The waste also would > be removed. > > The fact it was done on a Saturday, with no letter > and the waste left points to a neighbour! > Renata Thank you for that information Renata.

I'm sorry to hear this gabys1st. As it happens the pavement is wide and it really wasn't causing an obstruction. Also as it happens I have a LOT going on at the moment which means taming that shrub was quite low on my list of priorities just now. It was the disappointment that a neighbour would do this without speaking to me.

I thought the same ITAM. The council don't have the resources for this sort of thing. I'd welcome a message from anyone on Upland Road (around the 300 door numbers) who wants to comment.

I'm guessing your first suggestion is correct KK. Making me feel pretty low.