sillywoman

Errr, sorry - I seem to have missed this. Who/ what is 'the whistler'?

There doesn't appear to be the same traffic congestion problem around the Charter, or the village primary schools as evidenced by a trip round these areas at school drop off or pick up time when the private schools have broken up and the state schools haven't. I can only assume it's because their intake is local and almost all the kids walk or cycle. I agree with Asset wholeheartedly on this issue. AFN, I think you're either being deliberately provocative, or burying your head in the sand over this.

Yeah, but they did nothing to follow it up. I've seen these voluntary one way systems be very effective, but it does need enforcing. The Parents Association needed to be out there in the first week following the instigation of this system, encouraging people to go in the 'right' direction. I wanted to do it but couldn't remember which way was the right way. Even a cardboard arrow on their fence would've helped, but nothing . . .they don't really seem to want to put their money where their mouth is. I don't get the impression that they're really that interested. Regarding gridlock AFN I don't know where you drive but it's obviously not down the back of Alleyns at 8-9am or 3-4pm. It's carnage down there.

Townleygreen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Indeed, quids, you are right, and Alleyn's was > itself a grammar school until first the ILEA and > then the government withdrew their support for > such institutions. In 1976 it was - therefore - > unwillingly forced to go independent. Previously > it had taken masses of boys (in those times) from > ED, as well as Peckham, Camberwell, Brixton, > Southwark and so on. I don't think that this is right - my husband went there from about 1969 - 1974. It wasn't a Grammar school then, or before. It was always independent. Though he did go there on a local boy scholarship, as did his brother. Shame they don't do them any more. > > How nice it would be if it was still free & a > grammar school, open to the children of ED. > > Thanks dogmatic politicians for achieving this so > called progress.

James Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > What is the difference between paying for a > private school through fees and buying your way > into a decent 'comprehensive' by buying a house > near it? For our family, If we had done that, about ?250,000 (working on the rough cost of private secondary education for 4 kids against the extra value of our house in the catchment for the charter over that of our old house out of the borough). It's a bit tortuous but I'm hoping you'll get what I mean?!

dv1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This has turned into more of a boring > repetative socialist rant at fee paying schools > than the event itself - by people who aren't even > prepared to put their own name to the post e.g. > 'sillywoman' - how fitting. Ooooooooh - woooo! un-knot your knickers dv1 edited to add that I would be saying the same if a state school were as bad mannered and arrogant in their dealings with their community. It just happens that Alleyns isn't a state school.

Lucky you Surprise - I guess you live "adjacent" rather than opposite or behind. I agree wholeheartedly with all the comments about exclusivity. Not many really mind a once in a while party. It's the absolute arrogance and PLU attitude that Alleyns consistently displays to anyone not giving them money or kudos in some way that makes them a legitimate target for our griping. They really do believe they are the heart of the local community and cannot see beyond the boundary of their playing fields or Woodwarde rd (are there any children on this road who attend a state secondary?). I suspect they put letters through a few houses on Townley rd and considered that they had notified "the community" of the event? This is just the latest in a long line of incidents that shows their true colours, as described so well by MP (see below). "Presumably by inviting Parents to their fee paying school, they thought they HAD told the local community. Non-fee paying Parents being of the lower orders and so not worth considering." Grrrrrr(6)

And me, and my 4 children. We have jobs and school to get up for on a Monday.

I agree about the idiocy of this approach to Bullies. I'm glad to hear your daughter is thriving though Huggers, and very envious of the free piano lessons ;-)

My friend withdrew her year 7 daughter in the summer term 07. Her daughter and two of her friends were bullied by another 'alpha girl' in their tutor group who wanted them to thieve for her. The schools response was to get all the girls (bully too) in a room together and ask them to work it out. A disaster. The bullied girls were so scared of what the 'alpha girl' (and her gang) would do to them or their families that they all just and backed away mumbling that there was no problem. the school said 'job done - no bullying happening in our school - no problem here' and the bullying just carried on unchecked. My friend tried and tried to help her daughter but the girl was petrified and in the end scared to leave her house. They withdrew her and moved away. Last I heard the bully was still there.

And, as usual, Alleyns showed courtesy and good manners by sending advance notification of the event and an apology for any disruption caused to those who live closest to it. Not.

giggirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This is bang out of order Keef. There was just no > way to get anywhere from ED on Monday. Not strictly true GG - Sillyman made it to work for a 10am start. He left home about 9.10am. Admittedly he works on the Southbank, so only 4 miles or so, but he didn't even consider not going in because of a snowfall. He was sad to have missed the kids day off but as he said - it's a question of pride in the job and setting a good example (he's a boss). How would it have looked if other people on his team had made the effort and he hadn't? I was very proud of him - and a bit worried. Very glad to see him home at 11pm that night.

Post today opposite ED hospital. About 11am. Also Living South & Southwark News - all making up for lost time.

Mellors Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ocado = Tesco price match, free delivery and I had > a 15% off voucher this week. Very credit crunch > friendly! Free delivery - how do you get that? I paid ?5.99 for delivery on my order today. Where am I going wrong?

Surely not thinking of getting rid of the tree just yet Pete? Just when you've found the perfect position too ;-)

Me too.

Okay EDOldie, it's curtains for me, the rest of my material is just sew sew.

Sorry HB, just repeating the pattern. eye'll try and hook up with you later.

only just cottoned on to that one HB. (sorry, just popped into my head, couldn't stop it, honest . . .)

DaveR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > . . . the problem is this. I have a five > year old daughter who likes riding her bike in the > park. In order to get to the park, we cycle. I > will introduce her to cycling on the road when > she's ready, but I think now might be a bit too > soon. I guess I could stick the bikes in the car > and drive to the park, but I'm guessing you > wouldn't favour that either. Or she could cycle > round the garden, but the view gets a bit > monotonous. So we cycle, together, on the > pavement. And I try and make sure that we don't > endanger, or hopefully even inconvenience anybody > else. > > And that's the point really. If people are > conscious of their environment and essentially > considerate of others, problems are minimised. If > you are a cyclict on the pavement you should have > the mindset that this is not primarily your space > - you should make room for pedestrians, not the > other way round. If you are a cyclist on the > road, you unfortunately often have to remind > drivers that the road is not just their space, but > you should also follow the rules. I've already > admitted on another thread that I sometimes go > through a red light on my bike, but only if I'm > not endangering myself or anybody else. That > doesn't make it OK, it just puts me in the camp of > people who sometimes break the rules whilst > generally respecting the principles behind them - > so be it. > > Drivers, cyclists or pedestrians are all capable > of being stupid/reckless/inconsiderate etc. But > as part of being considerate you should also be > aware of the potential for harm from what you are > doing, and penalties (and enforcement strategies) > for breaking the rules should be similarly > proportionate. Fining cyclists for riding on the > pavement without any aggravating features, and as > part of a random 'swoop' at a particular junction, > seems disproportionate to me, but that's not to > say it shouldn't ever happen. Oh my goodness I wish I'd written this, and so eloquently too. Put me down as saying all that . . .

Why arrogance gigirl? I thought everyone knew that and it kind of went without saying? Just fact. Nothing's harder. Nothing. Mr SW (using Mrs SW's identity).

A friend of mine has lived her for 8 years. She has a great career, money and no kids. However, during those 8 years she's met, married and is due her first baby in November. ED does tend to do that to you. If you take a stroll down Lordship lane on a Friday/Saturday night the pubs and bars are full of people who seem to fit your criteria Angela2711, it may be that they've come from cooler Camberwell and environs or that they've got babies safely tucked up at home with a babysitter, but I don't think you'll be lonely here. Your people are out there . . . It is a great place to live and I'm sure you'll be happy here if you do decide to make the move. ps. Is It possible that you've only checked us out during the daytime when most of the women you describe are at work leaving the coffee shops free for us 'mothers'?

kidder Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Check out this map which clearly shows Cut Throat > Lane undeveloped and not much going on in ED. Wow! do you have a date for that map. It's fab. i love stuff like that.

Yet again Margot, Bah Humbug! (see ED school thread for more of Margot's positivity.) Boy, you really don't like what we've got in ED do you? SW P.s With Kids - paddling in the stream in Peckham Rye and a picnic. Picking Blackberries in the cricket fields off the south circular. Without kids - any pub with tables outside people watching.

Margot, Bah humbug! SW