MrBen

I've just found this thread - Miles you have got these young ladies into a fluster! I did enjoy the last drinks and having met you on my departure I can vouch that you not a serial killer but a decent man indeed. When I left a rather attractive lady said "my mate fancies you" - a line I have not heard since I was 12. Who was that? Sean was that you? It reminded me of Love Hearts....remember them? and that first giddy flush of love. My first kiss was at a school disco with a girl called Laura Grant - she was ginger,quite overweight and chewing Hubba Bubba - but had a good heart....and the song was...T'Pau China in your Hand. Awesome. Ahem anyway...next forum drinks for you Miles? Sounds like you'll have some lovely ladies to choose from.

Have had a similar experience the other night. Guy knocked on my door and asked " Do you believe in God?" I said a polite "No. But I have other spiritual beliefs around how the universe works". He then expressed a keen interest and asked if he could come in for a chat. It took me three hours to get rid of him but when he left he gave me a little coloured book full of yoga moves. Is this the same man??

Er...this is a good thread and I wish to save it! I'd say your feelings are very normal. The best bit of advice I could give to anyone looking for "The Path" would be to follow your inner voice. Don't want to get all Dream Machine on you here but I spent too long not listening to mine. If you don't like what you're doing change it! Life's too short. And don't work for anyone else. Starting a business of some kind was a big move forward for me (and I risked everything) but it has been the most rewarding life experience I've had. I also wanted to combine this with a social/charitable enterprise aspect....this excites me most! Anyways stop worrying and whatever you do just go for it. I tip my hat and wish you well.....

Awesome night. Made really good by all the new people who came along and were surprised to find it not the cliquey, awful bunch of internet geeks they had feared. Where else can you meet an actress, an actuary, a builder, a pensioner, a student, straight people, gay people, an off duty police officer, the great Mr & mrs Bob and a bloke called Miles. All in one night. And all united as one. By the commuity that is....EAST DULWICH!

Feeling you are being reated rudely as a customer is fair enough. And if I'd had that perhaps I'd look for an alternative too. But looking at how many people pass through the shop happy I'd say those experiences are in the minority. Whats unfortunate is the implied tone of resentment in lining his pockets. Its a peculiar British attitude... and one which I dont see so much of in the US or Australia from a business / community perspective. Tall poppy syndrome. Or perhaps I mis-read....

On a saturday, William the butcher has 5 staff. Each serving a customer pork chops and pheasants in an average of 5 minutes a time. And the average customer spend is ?10 per person. From 9-5. What does William make in gross takings for the day? Er...thats...?600 per hour x 8 = ?4,800 for the day. X 50 Saturdays = 240K revenue a year for Saturdays alone. Add in weekly takings of say ?6K per week. Plus a bonanza at Turkey time. Minus wholsesale product costs, ?3 per hour for the young lad, ?6 p/h for the rest, rates, lease on the former lingerie shop, utilities.... thats....um... a decent profit for a 600 sq ft shop in SE london. His timing was spot on. Anyone who resents "lining his pockets" can go to Sainsburys. Or start their own butchers as competition (not easy). So best of luck to him.

Magnolia, Having eaten 4 times I was mightily impressed. Are you open for lunch during the week? And do you still have Wifi?

Dream Machine - you are to be commended for bringing alive a little piece of 1969....in 2008. I like your hippy style. Where shit just "happens". You also remind me a bit of "old" East Dulwich. The bits I liked that is. I popped in a while back and bought a Jimmie Vaughan record too. Nice. BUT....like the days of peace and love I fear yours are numbered as the cold laws of economics take effect. I think you could work on a non profit basis. But you might need to get your shit together as there are not enough musicians alone to make this viable. With a bit more organisation, marketing and a clearer product offering for joe public (shop by day, gigs by night, flyers in bars. It could be possible. All with Dream Machine ideals of course. Hey - this doesn't mean you become "corporate" maaaaan. Good luck. And count me in as a Dreamer.

I'm not a big Big Brother fan. And please forgive me this thread. But I flicked on C4 tonight hoping to see the super Swede stunner I fondly recalled from my student days. And got a bit of a shock. Yes it's ten years later. And we all age. Hey thats cool. And looks beauty is skin deep anyways etc. And I was hoping for some graceful wrinkles.But has anyone else noticed there is something really weird about her face now? I think its the cheeks...but can't put my finger on it - can anyone else? And while I'm at it, what about La Toya Jacksons nose? She is looking like ET with long hair. Or her brother Michael. Is this all plastic surgery in action? Whats wrong with ageing gracefully?

Happy New Year everyone. I'm still recovering from the NYE bash at The Rye. Not quite as fantastic as the very first one in 2004 (when the Rye's arrival and opening was like an amazing gift from the gods to those of us living on the borders) but awesome nonetheless. The incident splattered evening was great fun and featured: - A very warm and friendly welcome from the bar staff - A great DJ - A drunken fireworks display (set off by a man with a pint in his hand) - of water I'm sure. - Bare breasts! (Thanks for that) - A flashing fellow Scotsman - chiplolatas ahoy! I still cant get over the breasts...not sure how this compares with the CPT?!! Edited for legal reasons.

Nice idea - a collective local Christmas tree recycling world record attempt! Time/ details??

Dont forget to remove the decorations first! I will be slinging my 18ft tree over my shoulder and heading down to Peckham Rye park recycling on Monday night safe in the knowledge that the needles will be made into mulch to fertilise Southwarks green spaces. And the tree trunks cut into tiny matchsticks to make little toys for all of the orphans of the area. Er well...Perhaps not that bit. But I will be doing this for the first time this year. I'm getting a lot of recycling statisfaction these days. Especially when I managed to cut my weekly black bin bag fulls by 50% (although I can do much better). And I started thinking that if everyone did that....

Y'know Marmora Man. I said the same thing to a famous forumite recently. But I was in the states this week. And it was kind of comforting to log on and check out how many cats had been run over, debates about buses. And fences in SE22. There is a sense of community here that I havent found elsewhere in this big city. I like it. Personally I'd like to see the forum do some kind of charitable event for the community - become the social conscience of the area. But perhaps I'm wrong. Or a bit tipsy.

I gave myself holiday today. I'm a bit bored tonight - anyone fancy a late pint?!

Apologies for my late arrival (11.45pm). What a scene though as I walked in. Four of the hardest guys I have ever seen. Someone sitting on the floor. Some 15 yr olds with wooly hats on and tracksuits. Ten completely plastered fourumites And Keef and Jah Lush duetting Suspicious Minds. Not too steady myself I almost knocked over a builders wife's red wine. Which had nothing left in it. But had to apologise profusely to avoid getting stabbed. Top night.

The two gents at PlantNation on Uplands are brilliant and two of the nicest funniest men I have met. I tip my hat to them. But there is already a thread about this in recommendations here. And if you can all shop with funny cloth bags then you can all by an artificial tree and help save the planet?! Right on man.

That's one fat ass cat you got there man. I saw a treadmill for dogs on Dragons Den. Perhaps they do one for cats.

ED and Peckham Rye are loosing train connections all over the place, with the London Bridge to Victoria service being taken out in 2010. Good for that maintinaing that villiagy feeling, bad for getting to work. BarnSeeker

I like the Plough too - and its busy most sundays these days but peronally I find it's choice of pints, identikit chain menu and bar staff a bit souless...despite the sofa's But ED is big and busy enough now to have a place that's calmer but does great food, friendly service and good ales. And Wifi. And kid friendly. I went back again today for lunch. And it was ace.

Conveniently situated for the many pints that the CPT has to offer. Like most of you I rarely drink in there though.

I like to think so! ;-)

?25.07 Karter

Indeed. Good stuff chaps.

My first visit to the Mag. This week. And on a Monday night too. Mondays always quiet down the lane but the Mag had 5 odd tables eating. Really liked the airy friendly feel of the place and the unpretentious but tasty food was great. ?9.99 for a HUGE sirloin with pany fried spuds and cabbage. Not a Franklins steak mind. But a f****ing good ten quid steak. A delicious smoked fish pate on toast to start. A good pint. And very friendly service from a lovely lady called Rose. This place deserves to be successful.

Wispa's are fantastic. That and the reintroduction of the original Monster Munch range (now as big as you remember!) make 2008 a great year for retro snacks.