doubledipper

Our two boys (7 and 10) attend a school that is 15 minutes' bike ride from our house. We are looking for an after-school child minder to collect them (at least) 3 to (ideally) 5 days a week at 5pm during term time. It would be preferable if you lived reasonably close to the school in West Dulwich or to our house in East Dulwich so that you wouldn’t need to rely on public transport and could cycle or scoot to collect them. It is essential that you can cycle or scoot alongside them as the boys cycle home: they are very good cyclists - walking alongside them would be too slow! It's a good cycle, through Dulwich Park - great for fitness. Once home, you would get the boys settled to complete any homework they might have so they can relax for the rest of the evening. The role would be paid for 2 hours a day, but there would be 1-2 days a week where we would need an extra hour. Any questions, please let me know!

Another recommendation for Kyjah. He redid four panels of our fence - it now looks great! He was efficient and obviously takes pride in his work - and made sure to leave everything tidy. We'll definite hire him again.

My immediate neighbours and I have all noticed a really high pitched noise coming from somewhere between 115 and 119 Barry Road. It's been going almost continuously for more than a week. It kind of sounds like an animal deterrent turned up so loudly that humans can hear it (even over a TV). The council noise team has been around and said it was probably someone's boiler malfunctioning (apparently a common problem). Has anyone else noticed this?

Another recommendation. Home Cert fitted new sockets for me ahead of a decorator coming in. Very efficient, tidy, punctual and friendly.

I would also like to recommend Nicola. My wife and I wanted a low-maintenance garden for "entry level" gardeners (!). Nicola designed a garden for us (with sketches and photos of potential plants) and refined the design until we were completely happy. She was quick, tidy and efficient in planting and always communicated well. Very helpfully, she provided us with a brochure of all the plants and maintenance requirements. In summary: Nicola did an excellent job. If you'd like any more information, please PM me.

I'd also like to recommend John Powers. My boiler died (no hot water or heating) and my home insurance sent out an emergency plumber who said it was due to 'sludge' build up and he couldn't do anything. I called John up and he came round the same day and fixed it immediately and affordably. Long story short, it wasn't sludge and it was fixable - but it took a plumber like John who knew what he was doing!

Hi all, I'd like to recommend a local landscape gardener. Tony Pooley and his team (Andy and Ben) came highly recommended by my neighbours: he had remodelled three of my five immediate neighbours' gardens - including mine about 6 years ago for the previous owners! From our first meeting, it was evident that Tony was very flexible and just wanted to come up with solutions to make his clients happy (unlike several other local firms that gave us quotes...). Even after the job started, he made changes to ensure we were completely happy. The guys were very efficient - and happy to work around inquisitive cats and toddlers! They were very tidy and punctual, too. Tony provided us with a very fair quotation with thorough breakdown of costs. I highly recommend him and his team. Tony's number is 07931 549 144 and email is [email protected]

At about 1am this morning, a loud crash woke us up. Some w*nker had decided to snap off the wing mirror of our car, which was parked in front of our house. What is wrong with with these people?! Edit: just got the quote... 160 quid down the drain. All because some kid's football team lost.

Yeah, we're planning to start up again in a few weeks' time. If there aren't enough players for a Rye game, we might move it to Dulwich Park.

Every fortnight the brown bin guys give me a different neighbour's bin, and I can usually figure out whose it is. This week, everyone appears to have theirs, but I have an extra one. Is there anyone on Fellbrigg or Bawdale Road who is missing one? Or are they mysteriously multiplying?

Don't get me started on Amazon... I ordered some books from them next day delivery on Monday, and they are still 'in transit' (Friday). Ridiculously, I ordered something from them on Tuesday standard delivery, and that arrived today. We're still missing about 5 packages from the absolutely cataclysmic, once-in-a-generation, never-before-seen and not-likely-to-again snow of last week. I blame Royal Mail; any excuse to take a few days off. Snow is snow; they'd best get used to it, as 'global warming' actually means a less salty Atlantic, slower Gulf Stream and colder winters in the UK. I've bought my snow shovel and grit :)

In the past two months, I've had two visits from these ex-prisoner salesmen. They are indeed 'lightly menacing' - the latest one showed me his ankle tracker and became abrasive when I said I'd bought from them before and didn't want to again. But, in the interests of not having a brick through my window, I gave him 6 quid for a cloth. Is this some new form of protection racket? Pay up for potentially stolen goods... "or else"? I would not be pleased if my girlfriend was home alone and was confronted by these guys on the doorstep. Is this a genuine scheme by Southwark Council?

In the past two months, I've had two visits from these ex-prisoner salesmen. They are indeed 'lightly menacing' - the latest one showed me his ankle tracker and became abrasive when I said I'd bought from them before and didn't want to again. But, in the interests of not having a brick through my window, I gave him 6 quid for a cloth. Is this some new form of protection racket? Pay up for potentially stolen goods... "or else"? I would not be pleased if my girlfriend was home alone and was confronted by these guys on the doorstep. Is this a genuine scheme by Southwark Council?

Had a great time last week - I'll definitely be there on Saturday!

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...

A few of us are thinking of playing some touch rugby this Saturday (20th Nov) in Peckham Rye Park, around 11. Anyone else interested?

Great news!

Was anyone else woken up by a wild boar grunting and yelping its way down Bawdale Road this morning at about 3am? And, no, I wasn't drunk or hallucinating :) Boars in Bawdale Road. What next? Geese in Goose Green and dogs on Dog Kennel Hill (although those are both pretty likely).

For cocktail bars, try the Green Door. My girlfriend and I loved it! (http://www.greendoor.de) And for accommodation, you can't fault The Circus Hotel (http://www.circus-berlin.de/) Hope it helps!

I was part of the Tue night game that fizzled out. Count me in for Saturday mornings!