KirstyH

A murmuration of starlings A charm of goldfinches Not quite so sure of this one: a lek of capercallie - or is lekking more the courtship ritual the males do rather than the collective...either way. The other thing re foxes is if you whistle at quite a high pitch they always stop - I think they like a tune too. On the cycle path behind Peckham Libr late at night if you are whistling away and cycling reasonably slowly they will always stop and look at you before going on their way. I wonder what the origin of that is ie reaction to higher pitched noises - same with dogs. Just heard on the radio that its RSPB birdwatch weekend.

Nunhead way - Old Nun's Head and Frog on the Green both have free wifi.

Monmouth coffee at London Bridge do a proper flat white ie its not half a pint of coffee coloured warm milk. Could some of the kiwis perhaps open a wee cafe here - come to Nunhead - we have a fab greasy spoon, and of course the unsurpassable Frog on the Green Deli, but we could do with a down to earth place to caffeinate. I can lend my mid-1990s Atomic cookbook if that helps (I've still not actually mastered the cooking bit, but its lovely to slaver over).

What I find strange here is the assumption that everyone has (or should have) the same noise tolerance. It's not the case - like being short or tall, some people are very noise sensitive, meaning its hard to shut it out, and really stressful. I moved here fm Hackney where there is very little plane noise and it was almost shocking after I'd moved in (unless you go and view your flat at 5am!). I looked at triple glazing and other methods - but given cashflow at the time it was earplugs, and never having the window open at night. If noise smelled like cigarette smoke or was coloured it might be easier for non-noise sensitive people to understand - its like a potlid. So if the agreement not to expand 3 London airports means City is looked at next then I'm with mistymorn and would want to do something about it. In terms of cutting down plane use, I've been surprised in the last 4 or 5 years that the telecoms/communications industry hasn't been more on the ball offering communication alternativs (eg videoconferencing) for a chunk of business travel. You can debate what proportion that is, but I don't know anyone that flys regularly that actually finds it a pleasant experience, but there are no comparatively easy ways to 'book' alternatives - eg no 'expedia' or 'skyscanner'. Post-9/11 BA had a series of adverts to ensure businessmen felt they might lose out on deals if they weren't there in person.

To mark historic plane-free weekend, I got 'The Cloud Book - How to understand the Skies', Richard Hamblyn - now leapt to top of my new favourite book list. Excellent, produced with met office, lots of photos and explanations (including where 'Cloud 9'comes from). Not yet quite confident enough to say what's up there at the moment, maybe a spot of cirrostratus fibratus? Was worried for a moment there it was going to be cloud-free and sunny forever.

just posted in naturewatch thread - this might seriously be the only time in our lifetimes. So what are the 10 things to do while there are no planes? I've dusted off the minidisk and am doing wee recordings of outside things.....

This may be the once in our lifetime there will be no planes over London, absolutely lovely. Windows open, birdsong flooding in, I bet everyone is more relaxed. Nunhead cemetry was fantastic yesterday, rippling with birds, and no potlid. I took some recordings, and intend to compare with how loud it is when the planes go over. If I can remember how to do it, I'll post the 'before and after' audio files (if they aren't too big). Am thinking, 10 things to do while things are more peaceful.

Its all explained by the nice canadians at http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/names.html - apparently the falcus bit means sickle (shape of wings/talon/beak) and the peregrine element - wandering etc. Only need to look up modernus tatae to check they are a suitably arty-farty location for the peregrines. I did a nightclass 3 or 4 years ago via Birkbeck, and was sure there were peregrines in the square their library looks over (close to SOAS).

HI there, never been on this bit of EDF so good to discover this thread. FYI - there's a huge cherry tree opposite just at point of blossom opening (27 of march); from my notes, last year it was 3 weeks earlier (March 8th) and the year before that it was 25 February! I saw that they were predicting late arrival of spring. I'm interested in re-learning birdsong, in case anyone knows of an early morning thing one weekend.

Fresh n' Wild north of river used to stock McSweens and the veggie version (also v good). Anyone know if any of the pubs are adding haggis to sunday lunch? I saw that Hootenanny have got some mental sounding gaelic rock Motorhead band on, which in absence of haggis I may venture to - ever seeking a good Runrig bash equivalent.

Got myself slightly overenthusiastic there - but here's the Asian Review of Books on Mo Yan's Republic of Wine, makes up for my rather non-literary description http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/article.php?article=72

for really good storytelling I'd go for anything by Peter Carey (eg Oscar and Lucinda) or Harukai Murakami (eg wind up bird chronicles, okay and nearly everything else); agree Engleby AND Rebus (essential). but don't get ?30 out - get ?7.50 out, or a credit crunch fiver, and go to that fab second hand book stall on Northcross Road on saturdays, or the Mind shop, and buy 3 slightly random books that look interesting (or 50p/?1 each at Tony's on whatever that road is called Choumert I think). I'm currently on Jean Genet's Prisoner of Love at the moment by this method - definitely worth a read, the bloke hung out with the Black Panthers and the Palestinian liberation fighters in his latter years, bloody hell. One of the most bizarre and imaginative and, frankly weird, was The Republic of Wine by Chinese writer Mo Yan (roughly speaking about an investigation into a baby-eating scandal). And oh yes definitely Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig) for thought provoking plus the inevitable weekend of wanting to be a philosopher. Julian Barnes History of the Universe in 10.5 Chapters is great too. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, followed by Eduardo Galeano's Memory of Fire trilogy which is a history of Latin America, but its not like any other history - he is the most devastating writer about the human condition, probably the writer I most admire (prob not via second hand). You can tell I've just been nipping up and down to the bookshelf and then you remember something else that's been excellent. Will stop now. PS have two Rebuses in case you want risk free trial. Am trying to have an alcohol free night in, so this is the result.

Hiya I cycle Nunhead to Victoria - or London Bridge depending (freelance). I do it Amsterdam style - no helmet, no gear (ie fluorescent kit). 4 years in Amsterdam is good training for London as you have to make fast decisions because of all the other cyclists - no one stops at red lights - or even hesitates even with a kid on the front and back (liability is always with the motorist and most motorists are highly tolerant as most also cycle). Having lived in Hackney I do find the straight route along by Camberwell more challenging because of the cycle lane occupied by demonic buses. The main thing I find challenging about London (apart from the fact no one ever looks at each other - I spent the first 6 months saying hello to other cyclists, yikes!) is the soul-destroying intolerance towards cyclists(pedestrians-drivers)- I'm a considerate cyclist (though I do go through red lights on occasions, Amsterdam style, but always let all pedestrians fully cross first) and I've been staggered at general hatred that each grouping has towards each other. It breeds intolerance, it feels hard to love ones fellow pedestrian if they moan on to you generically about their frustrations. Equally professional drivers especially are totally mental here. I think the British have an odd relationship with rules and who should observe them, and why. The great thing is that as more people cycle the greater the possibility of tolerance as more people will know what its like, or know a cyclist. I feel that everyone should spend a weekend in Amsterdam observing how tolerant people are over there, and then come back here (good fun too). Kirsty

I moved south, from Hackney (in august) and was really shocked at the level of aircraft noise (windows closed, and earplugs at night), particularly as I paid alot of attention noise factors when moving, but never thought about aircraft as its not an issue in NE. Its been v useful to read the above, and realise there's a bit more to it than 'just getting used to it' (which of course you have to do). I spent an afternoon looking into triple glazing, which isn't necessarily better for noise reduction than double glazing, depending on the design and installation of the double glazing unit - a whole swathe more geekery possible here! It was also pointed out that basics like checking the seals around the windows can make a big difference to noise entry. In the last week or so - since mid Sept - I've too noticed it being quieter, and less hectic, on the aircraft front. I think people have varying sensitivities to noise, and it can be pretty stressful if you find it intrusive.

Can anyone recommend a reliable washing machine repairer? I have just moved into a flat with a machine that seems to boil my clothes for 1.5 hours even on the lowest available temp setting (40 degrees), and of course the manufacturer can't help... I'm over Nunhead direction. As a bonus query I'm keen to get a ticket to Manu Chao on 4 or 5th October (playing at Brixton), but not at hectically ramped up prices I'm afraid - just in case the spirit of Manu Chao lives on with someone unable to use their ticket!