Senor Chevalier

SKIP THIS BIT IF YOU ARE BORED OR SHORT ON TIME: DJ "On balance" refers to where I come out when considering my own conflicting views on the matter. It was not some kind of wider judgment. I said "On balance I tend to think" not "On balance the outcome would definitively be as follows". I thought that was clear. "Show me the evidence" seems to be your go to argument which you reach for with increasing frequency whereas in reality we are all just guessing here... This is a frequent and tedious distraction to the flow of these discussions as people have to take time out to deal with it. READ ON FROM HERE: I think your final "ED is not an island" comment is the more persuasive. Perhaps the simple summary is to say that whilst, yes there may be consequences, we are not isolated from the rest of London and it would be naive and arrogant to expect special treatment. This line of reasoning is more compelling than the "there wouldn't be any issues - go on prove it - show me the evidence" tack that was taken earlier when clearly there is a distinct possibility that there may be consequences that may or may not be borne out in time.

Whilst I would have to vote for option 1 (mad as a hatter) I have to say the yarn bombed streetscenes do look very cheery. It looks quite labour intensive and to have impact I think you might need to localise it - Peckham and ED sounds ambitious. Good luck to you.

OK - Nobody has a crystal ball so it is impossible to predict with certainty the consequence of moving this YOS to ED (however strongly people on each side do assert their views). On the one hand it could be a positive thing for those attending and the logic that any offenders comitting crime would want to avoid areas where they are known could have merit and hence ED gets an indirect protection. On the other hand there could be problems - the logic of greater flow of offenders through the area leading to more crime in the area and potentially specific gang activity targeting of those attending etc appears to have precedent On balance I tend to fear the latter (I know, it's terrible, the NIMBY in me...) and admittedly selfishly would rather not role the dice. 2 Questions: 1) If there were 2 realities and people could choose to live in the ED with the YOS in it or the other ED without it then which would you choose? Answer honestly. If the latter then you are actually slightly against it even if you can't bring yourself to come out and say it. 2) If this YOS does move to ED (by popular demand) then are the good people of ED going to actually try to engage with the attendees and show them the love. Or, having expressed the right sentiments on this forum, will they get on with their lives, ignore them and possibly walk the other way to avoid any potential issues?

A friend of mine saw red when he was cut up and almost knocked over by idiot on Moped. He caught him at the lights and asked for an apology but just got told to eff off. Caught him at next lights, got off brompton, picked up brompton and threw half folded bike at the guys's head. Moped bloke was wearing a helmet so was fine, but it knocked him off the moped and shocked the crap out of him. He did then apologise. An extreme response, but made the point to applause from other cyclists. Fine line though, like the whole vigilante / take a stand discussion on the other thread. Right I'm back to watching Falling Down...

Ooh Falling Down. I think I have that on DVD somewhere - not seen it in years...

Yeah I have often thought that some sort of entitlement testing should be applied more broadly in society. For example, a simple common sense multiple choice test with a low (e.g. 3/10) pass mark attached to votes in an election for them to be valid... But this forum? The lifeblood of this forum is people who make twatish points and then the inevitable backlash that follows... Are you trying to get this thing closed down?

Just been for a pint in EDT (and to stockpile Hummus from the Dulwich Supermarket turkish(?) place) and plenty of people there - all seemed quite upbeat.

Just pedalled home from city via Southampton Way, Lyndhurst, Bellenden etc. Nothing to report. Plenty of people drinking in the sun outside pubs on LL. Might pop for a summer's evening pint. I think these people have the right idea...

Was in the Royal Oak on Sat. Great boozer. Very quiet at the weekend. Rabbit stew, cabbage and several pints of Pale. Repeated on me at least as well as any decent curry.

And Saffron surely it is "lego" plural not leggos. I know there's shit going down, but it's no excuse.

Snowboarder. As of half an hour ago, trains were still coming through from London Bridge fast to East Dulwich and then the usual stops, but diverted to East rather than West Croydon. Decided to abandon the bike and meet the wife and get the train together based on the posts on this thread...

I'd also vote Butterfly lamb leg. The chaps at WIlliam Rose will do it for you. I normally chuck chopped lemons, herbs, garlic and chilli straight into the bag with it and a load of olive oil. Leave for a couple of hours and then whack on BBQ, lid on. Usually done in an hour though not two, but I like it pink.

Not much to add James - the response is already overwhelmingly consistent. I once came out of the Ritzy, walked up the road and stepped straight on to the 37 being driven by a particularly assertive driver. Home within 10 minutes which was awesome, though I guess would probably have felt less sweet had the service not been as erratic as it normally is. You asked for good and bad and that's the only argument I can think of for not increasing the frequency / reliability of the service - pretty weak.

So the EDF is back. It's been a slow week in the office and every time I turn to EDF for my reliable dose of light relief (once I've seen the latest daily mash instalment) all I have found is some fecking carry on about bollards. I turn away for a day and come home to find an 8 page classic which whilst focussed on Foie Gras (of all things) acted as a medium for all the usual posturing. TM you have truly captured the hearts and minds of East Dulwich and provided a wonderful distraction from the Hackgate tedium. I salute you even if I would prefer it that you leave the Prince Regent alone.

Hackgate the movie

Each to their own indeed. Still, whilst not to everyone's taste, it's good that people have an opinion on it rather than most generic developer crap that is too bland to even provoke a response...

Oh dear, maybe it's just me. I do work with a bunch of precious French guys, so perhaps that's it. Never works so well telling people that something is funny does it.

I agree a lot of it is sameish but it is still occasionally brilliant. I don't want to hijack your thread with a spate of "my fave ever Mash articles" but below is an old one that genuinely had me in stitches at the time and to settle this once and for all I suggest you read the link. If you don't find it funny at its best then I'd go with your gut and give up on it. http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/french-trader-was-forced-to-work-30-hours-a-week-20080125680/

Exactly. Whereas these new places should be more or less maintenance free, no: leaky roof, tempramental old boiler, creaky floorboards etc etc and super insulated (as timber frame buildings are) so low on energy costs. I think the price seems pretty reasonable when compared to what you get for your money round here....and those that don't like them have no end of choice of bog standard terrace houses.

Yep - adjacent bell tower could get irritating if it is in use. The Lordship lane site is similar, i.e. a bunch of disused garages and a narrow access road. I'll keep an eye on the case file, there are always loads of neighbour objections on things like this which are bound to be hilarious...as all the local NIMBYs suddenly develop "genuine concerns" in relation to access for emergency services and anything else they can think of to block the development.

I spotted these too on themodernhouse.net I think they look fantastic and add something to the area. Finding good ways to utilise backland sites like this are to be encouraged and I hope the finished product will be as good as it looks on paper. I looked up the architects and applicant on Southwark planning website and they are in the process of trying to get another application through at 300 Lordship Lane which looks even more interesting...

Does anyone know anything about the burnt out car that was at the Townley Road end of Calton Avenue last weekend? It looked like a grenade had gone off in it.

I'm on corner of Melbourne Grove and East Dulwich Grove, and dead against a CPZ for all the reasons outlined by others above. Sure parking is sometimes a hassle but get over it. It would be worse with a CPZ and the zones are totally inflexible. When I used to live in a CPZ. I once got home to find my car missing. I called the police as I presumed it had been stolen. Turned out it had been towed to the pound. It had been parked in the suspended bay outside my house. I had suspended the bay (hassle) as I was moving into my flat and needed to be able to park the van I had hired. So the bay was suspended for my express use and when I had finished moving I parked my car outside the flat (one of the few times this utopia was actually achieved). Anyway no reason or logic would get my car released. I had to fork out ?400 (and the cost of a cab to the pound) and then battle with Camden Council to get the money back (which I managed eventually after various calls and letters). Those in favour, you bring this on at your peril. If a CPZ gets introduced then I am moving to the swankier CPZ resisting end of Melbourne Grove...

My beans are coming on nicely but will be a while yet. What I do have in abundance right now though is snails. I round them up occasionally but can't quite bring myself to eat them. A delicious treat for someone a bit less squeamish than me...?

Here's a small sample of the crap I get to listen to at work: "quote unquote" - for emphasis, but overused to the point of worthlessness. "That's quote unquote interesting" when it really is anything but. "so to speak" - added to the end of a perfectly normal sentence for no reason whatsoever so to speak "beachfront" - as in "it's all about building our beachfront" used when justifying expenditure that has no tangible benefit by implying that it is clever forward planning, positioning us for some future mystical opportunity or another that only stupid people would not understand. Groan.