Earl Aelfheah

It tasted like it came from a dog.

How about the passive aggressive

I grew up in the suburbs and there was nothing to do. There were a lot of drugs, teenage pregnancy and no small amount of petty criminality and casual violence. As teenagers you also had to drive everywhere, to pubs and parties, often long distances. A couple of kids at my school died young, one from a drugs overdose and another in a car accident. It's easy to find false reassurance in the fact that the kids all from similar backgrounds and things are quiet, familiar and so seemingly secure. I think London offers so much as a place to live, as an adult, but as a teenager too.

The problem is the dogs are pooing in it during the day

It's the same in Dulwich park, which makes me think it must be intended for kids to play in. Weird how in both cases it's just randomly dumped with no sign or anything.

I'm assuming you mean Dulwich park? Unless there is some in Peckham too?

... There were loads of kids playing thre the other day. Anyone letting heir dog use it as a toilet should have their noses rubbed in the 'doings'.

It is a bit odd. Seems to be proper 'play sand' as opposed to builders sand as well... Which adds to the confusion as to the intention. Anyone know why it's there?

I think you mean using 'cell'

A Home Counties blow in no less ;-)

Have you honestly never lived anywhere else Louisa?

I was walking down Lordship Lane yesterday and a lady (who was being carried in a sedan chair by four dirty faced, bare footed children), punched me in the goolies and told me to 'get back to Catford'. She was wearing a t-shirt which said "East Dulwich: discovered 2010". This kind of thing is becoming a regular occurance in ED.

Quite, anyone who has resided in ED for under 30 years is a blowin... Errr, I think....or is it 40?

The rubberknecker - wants to look away, but just can't stop themselves looking (and then posting)

If by 'snob' you mean stereotyping / prejudging people based on their perceived social or economic status, then maybe you should consider whether you may fall into that group Yourself Louisa

if someone has genuinely 'told you off' in the street for using a carrier bag, I would be absolutely astonished.

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > MS and Iceland are two ends of the same shitty > shick; both play to the worst instincts of their > different demographic. > > I'd rather have a Lidl. Yeah, agree with this.

It would be interesting to know what's going on with this place. I'm always amazed that there are people who can afford to just leave retail property empty for years on end.

That's fair Miga. I do hope that Mark's will try to find new jobs for the Iceland staff effected by this.

Let's hope they get convicted. Motorcycle theft is a big problem in the area.

rahrahrah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sure, I accept what you're saying with regards the > attractions of low price, poor quality processed > food. But it comes at a pretty terrible cost to > health. For that reason I'm not particularly keen > to mourn Iceland's passing. That's not to say that > M&S is much better. .... btw, I do realise that this sounds a little sanctimonious. To be clear, it's not that I'm against people being able to make their own choices, or that I don't understand the pressures on someone working double shifts and juggling childcare on low pay. It's just that I can't find it in my heart to mourn Iceland.

TUPE doesn't apply here, so the staff have no protections. I think Otta's idea about writing to M&S suggesting that they look to re-employ the Iceland staff is a great one.

Sure, I accept what you're saying with regards the attractions of low price, poor quality processed food. But it comes at a pretty terrible cost to health. For that reason I'm not particularly keen to mourn Iceland's passing. That's not to say that M&S is much better. As I said, if you were talking about the cheap wholesale places, or fresh food stalls (which are fairly abundant in Peckham) being forced out of business by 'gentrification', then I would be 100% with you. Likewise Lidl - which does sell 'proper' food at low prices.

... just to add - last survey I saw about this, Iceland were actually more expensive on Frozen than their competitors (although this may have changed).

I'm not convinced that Iceland is particularly cheap. It has a few very good value basics (milk being the main one), but actually a lot of the food is really poor value - heavily processed, high fat / salt. People are picking a couple of things Iceland do offer at a good price and making out like the whole operation is some kind of hero to people on a budget. I would say they're closer to a villain if anything. People on a budget don't need to be sold poor quality, bad value frozen meals - and this is Iceland's core business. M&S is arguably very similar in many ways (heavily processed, 'value added' (aka ripoff) ready meals) - but at least they're generally flogging the stuff to people who can afford to waste their money. The caricature of Iceland as a life line to those on a budget doesn't stand up IMO. Lidl maybe, independent grocers and wholesale places certainly - Iceland - not so much.