Dorothy

Have no intention of moving either. Your op seems to suggest that moving out is a given once you have children! Although we have only lived here since 1996, we have friends who were born in East Dulwich, Camberwell and Sydenham who have all come back to this neck of the woods or hereabouts. They went to Forest Hill Boys, a couple to Alleyns, Prendergasts - and all have drifted back after University or living elsewhere in London for a while. These friends have the great advantage of having their own parents nearby so their children see a lot of their grandparents. It is a very family-friendly area, not just good for people with babies and toddlers.

Apologies in advance for possibly the most vague/unhelpful post on this thread: I was told by an Estate Agent (yes, boo hiss etc) who has worked in the area for a very long time, that there is a reason why we don't have parking permits anywhere in East Dulwich and it is something to do with The Dulwich Estate and a covenant on the land. If you think about it, we must be one of the only places in London that does not have them (very close to the station) - our neighbouring boroughs do. So why would that be?

The new deli opposite the Plough which used to be called Tea Amore has a very festive looking window.

Sorry, I have no experience of dealing with the council in buying property - but am surprised that you are in this position. I thought council properties were in chronically short supply?

MickMac - I am sorry, I have been an epic fail. Something fairly stressful happened to me on 1st November and I couldn't not have a drink. Clearly I am not going to give up for the month of December (although I suppose that would be a sort of Iron Man Challenge in the world of drinking abstension and mebbe something I should contemplate) - so January will be it for me. Although I am intrigued by Melvyn's first 7 days of each month off method. Perhaps I'll make that my NYR. Jolly well done to you though :)-D

I'm a Goodrich parent and I know what the Arethusa trip is, but I do think this is a really odd way of complaining to the school about organising trip payments. When did you first find out your child was going on the trip Tamblyn? Could you have started putting money aside then?

And what if op wants J1 or J2 of the M3? Winchester is something like 8 or 9 iirc? Seems a bit daft to drive all the way to Winchester (granted, a lovely ride along the Hogs Back et al) when you actually want junctions 1 - 7 [:))

"I'd definitely use Kes' route. A3 to Guildford, then the A31 to Winchester where you reach the M3. It's always worked out best for us. You can get to the A3 from Wimbledon and avoid the worst bits of the South Circular." What happens if the op needs to get on the M3 before Winchester?

I do this journey about once a month and the quickest way is South Circ to Clapham South, Nightingale Lane, Bolingbroke Grove, South Circ through Wandsworth (can be a 'mare but extensive investigation has never come up with much of a way round it!) take left hand fork in the road to Kingston/A3 rather than right hand fork to Putney/Richmond. A3 for a few miles. If you need J1 of the M3 turn off at Robin Hood roundabout go through Kingston I think its the A308 (M3 signposted from hereon), over Kingston Bridge, Hampton Court, etc past the racecourse and on to J1 at Sunbury. If you need J3 onwards, don't turn off at Robin Hood roundabout. Carry on on A3, all the way to Wisley interchange with the M25 (head for Heathrow). If M25 is ok, its only 2 junctions, about 10 minutes, before you join the M3 at J3.

I prefer not to stand on or sit in the matter, if you see what I mean, so am quite definitely upper class >:D

Barbara Cartland? Heh heh - it wasn't though, was it? It was someone who said the definition of upper class was if you made the effort to get out of the bath if you needed to pee. I thought it was really famous. Perhaps I imagined it. Perhaps I said it in a rare witty moment. Hmmm.

I want to say John Lennon, but I know that's not right. I think his posh quote was to do with rattling jewellery in the upper circle. Any offers?

(Oh yuk at the smuggery on this thread) From what I have heard, Heber is agreat school op. My children don't go there but I have several MIDDLE CLASS friends whose children attend and are very happy there, so do rest assured.

The council did not clear the snow on our pavement at all last year. Not once.

We have one, with another two doors up, another two doors down, and one opposite. Ages 2 - 8.

So, I arranged to have coffee with my friend at the new Jacks this morning. Then I read on this forum that Jacks was going to be closed today. So we decided to go to Blue Mountain instead and darn me it that wasn't closed due to huge filming kerfuffle outside. We went to the new Blue Brick instead - very nice too.

It was just luvverly, wasn't it?

Sorry to say I was very unimpressed with the food at Si Mangia; and I really wanted to like it because its so handy for where we live. But being child-friendly and convenient aren't good enough reasons for us to return, I don't think. Unless it has improved tremendously in the past year or so?

"She probably thinks talking on her mobile while hogging the middle lane is perfectly acceptable too. We see these arrogant idiots all the time." Blimey! that's rather presumptious.

Waynetta - its strange but true. If you wish to drive on the motorway at a steady 70mph, what you need to do is drive in the left hand lane with all the lorries, old bangers, coaches, mini buses and unconfident people tootling along at 50-69mph. You need to overtake all of these on a one by one basis, returning to the inside lane as soon as you've gone past the slower vehicle, necessitating hundreds of overtakings (most dangerous manoeuvre on the motorway I'm told) in a journey of any distance. Meanwhile the middle AND outside lanes are available for all the people who want to go at over 70mph. I am with you in finding it questionable, but then the law often is an ass.

I am very fond of the view from the brow of Upland Road towards Canary Wharf. Especially at night. I like Therapia, Marmora and Mundania Roads too, and sometimes when I'm feeling extra cheeky I'll walk down Homestall Road for the thrill of it.

Gawd those pesky rogue apostrophes are catching!

I tend to rely on word of mouth or recommendations on this forum when I am looking for businesses/services. I don't think I have ever responded to a flyer posted through my door.

I like the sound of Melvyn method actually. Keeps you on your toes rather more than having the traditional one month a year off.

I will. I will give up for six weeks from tomorrow (with one particular night off, if thats allowed).