MrBen

Or save yourself quarter of a million pounds and get the tube and an extra bedroom into the bargain 5 mins down the road?

I'm sure it has but it was on nowhere near the same scale, severity and to the best of my knowledge the Aussies have yet to start shooting each other....

ED is clearly a "better" location facility wise but my question is about value - is it really worth ?250-300k more than a better property just 20 mins walk / 3 mins drive away?

Jezza - You can get a ?500k 3 bed in ED but it wont be 3 proper doubles, will have a wonky limb and will have a pokey garden. Take look and you'll find it a truly depressing experience. If you want anything on say Bawdale, Shawbury or Fellbrigg Road its 625K asking and on Melbourne Grove or Friern Road 700k approx. If you are trading up from a flat you need to actually be able to sell it to release equity OR you need to have cash in han at 15% deposit minimum which is ?80-?100k. I just wonder how many people have that stack kicking around their sock drawer....and of those who do, whether they'd actually choose to live in SE London?

Spooky....a letter B with a right bracket produces an unintentional but yet clearly prophetic cool smiley in my OP next to my Honor Oak option....

Apologies in advance for daring to post a property related thread in January 2011. But it's a simple question really. Let's say you're worked hard enough to be able afford a roof over your head and were considering trading up from your flat. Or perhaps you want to start a family or just be able to paint your own walls rather than continue renting. Either way, you've lived the "ED dream" for 10 years and in 2011 you're now ready and able to move to a family house. Would you choose: A) A 3 bed, non descript terrace in central East Dulwich for ?700,000 (almost three quarters of a million pounds) with a 35 ft garden, a patchy roof and some nice patterned wallpaper. OR B) A three story, 4 bed equally non descript terrace with a 50 ft sunny south facing garden in say, Honor Oak, 5 mins from the East London line but without the many joys and delights etc etc lordship Lane has to offer. (For that you'll need to drive for a whole 5 mins or walk for 20) for.....?400,000 (a whopping 300k less) OR C) move to Surrey (for Brendan) In terms of this "value differential" , the current difference between East Dulwich and Nunhead/Honor Oak seems plain crazy - am I alone in thinking this price gap doesn't stack up? I mean I like Green & Blue, William Rose etc as much as the next man but..... Am I mad?

The calm, gritty Aussie spirit in dealing with it all has been impressive. And in stark contrast to the shooting and looting post Katrina. Different magnitude but telling all the same.....

Nice to see so many tipping the hat this week. For me, Haggis and malt (blended or single) go together extremely well. For some reason I also need proper scottish neeps (turnip) - the orangey kind - none of this palid white nonsense that passes for it south of the border. We also usually have a malt tasting competition where we all bring a bottle of something interesting. Last years featured a 1972 Aberlour and a bottle of Grouse (Bossman Wines 2010). I address the haggis most years at a suitable gathering but this time round calls for a quiet one. Happy Burns' to all o' ye!

Indeed Jezza - let us make this thread useful. And I can confirm (in policeman like tones) that two of the break ins above were down to neglecting the basics: - Reliance on a front door Yale lock only for front door security. Usually forgetting to lock the bottom mortice. - Sash windows at the front of the house without any window bolt locks (i.e. just the basic old sash screw lock) My old front door is also now beefed up with the great London Bar - which Callows on the lane fitted for a really reasonable price. You have to have been broken into at least once to be arsed enough to fit one but you'll wish you'd done it sooner.

I could add our friends (newcomers to ED) last week on Landcroft Rd. Broke in whilst sleeping, took belongings, car keys drove off in car. Or my break in last year. Or getting robbed and beaten up on Whatley Rd just before Christmas. Just unlucky? I think not - I'm keen to keep perspective but my interactions with the police confirm that there's a definite higher than average freq at the moment. But London living eh? Give me the Outer Hebrides any day....it's just they don't pay as well...

Funny - as my vintage (2005) Ferguson DAB doesn't either - I've done several autoscans - not sure what causes this...

I thought The Gowlett was fantastic last night - particularly the DJ, resplendent as a camp King and showing off his amazing Freddie Mercury moves with a mic stand. I left the dance floor early at 1am surrounded by young and old all grooving to Dancing in the Dark - a very Gowlett moment indeed....

Sorry guys - I was testing my new Colt .45 out in the garden. It's the most powerful handgun in the world and with hollow points can splat coked up muggers at 30 yards. Perfect for your next post-midnight stroll off Lordship Lane ;-)

Thanks people - weirdly felt odd about walking down a dark street tonight but I guess thats to be expected. Two of them as well. F%%%^$^ cowards. Still, stiff upper lip eh what? LegalBeagle - you're right I could have been in hospital. Instead on my first outing you'll be pleased I managed to stiffly navigate three whole blocks to Green and Blue and you sold me a nice bottle of Claret. A good remedy. Films not to watch tonight.....Taxi Driver, Once upon a time in the West.....

A bit bruised today and ribs more tender than a SMG kettle barbecue. Hal's right. I was fortunate. I'm just really kicking myself I didn't do better - but all those well meaning bits of advice go out the window when you're on the deck with a foot on your throat, on the ice, after midnight and with no one around. With the weather the streets after dark are eerily quiet - even just yards off the lane. And it was only 25 yards from the police station. At that moment I made a quick mental equation and figured I have too much to lose to try anything clever. So a wallet and a phone was almost a fair trade. Time was 12.30am, and Whatley a prime throughfare for anyone walking off the lane slightly tipsy on a pre christmas Friday night. I had turned right off Landcroft onto Whatley. And for anyone yet to experience the joys of being a student in Stirling, the now glaringly obvious signs were: - Two guys on the road up ahead about 30 yards hovering, shuffling around - not going anywhere in particular - As I get to 20 yards they talk to each other about "a cigarette" i.e "shall we do this guy over?" - I'm tired (and rusty) so don't really clock it as I should an figure I'll be ok - its a main road right? - At 10 yards they split - one guy on the road to stop me - the other waiting by cars to the side ( pincer/distraction movement) And that was it....a Volvo estate drove by and saw my fate but didn't stop, I don't blame him/her really. Plain clothes guys were great - all designer black knitwear, super fast driving and a sense of humour when I guess I was still in a bit of shock- thanks again lads. Shame we didn't catch them .....yet... *drifts off into Death Wish 4 style vigilante scene*

Two guys 20-30, one black, 5 ft 9 chubby face, black bomber jacket and grey woolen hood the other a white pastey faced glassy eyed skag head with medium length short thinning black hair, a 3/4 length olive green coat and shit trainers. Did the classic "got a ciggie", stuck a foot on my throat, gave me a few kicks in the bollocks, a few punches to the face and head, bruised ribs then got my black Ettinger wallet, everything in it and phone....I'm just pissed off with myself for missing the signs ahead but I was tired after a long week. Thanks to the CID boys for picking me up minutes after. Just a bit sore now. ED is still the safest place I've ever lived - 9 years and this was a first. If anyone finds a black/orange lined leather wallet let me know. It has some sentimental value.....

I'm liking the reasoned, rational sanity of tog-in-sox all the way on this thread.

It's a Wolverine. And no mistake. Ask Mrs B (a Canadian) who had one try to attack her truck as she was was driving down a logging road in the Yukon in an artic winter. Also in winter, her Dad had one eat it's way through the breeze block wall of his summer cabin. It then ate some wooden furniture before eating its way out the other side (rather than go back out the hole it had made earlier). Beat that.

I love the understated gentility of Marleybone. I'd live there if I had the dosh. The Golden Hind (100 odd years old) and The Sea Shell are also up there. And then it also has a gem of a local boozer that still feels like a pub should do......with an old piano player playing 3 nights a week.

If it helps, I'm also finding page reloads much slower this week than before (by about 7-9 secs). I thought it might have been traffic increase given the forum is doing a great job of advising on the local travel than the tfl website. But its also happening on off peak hours (1am for example). Still ok though just a tad slower....

I'm on a half empty 40 home - all good - although looking a bit over dressed in they ski gear that I used to walk in to Leadenhall St today.... I agree with Gabba. The walk in is great if you leave early and make the effort. Work shy softies the lot of you.

Its Englands best chance to "win" the world cup that's for sure.

Spain & Portugal will win it.

No buses. No trains running. I'm walking in now. I may be some time...

I can safely say that...I'm hung like a rabbit.