James

Sillywoman you have my sympathy. The sad thing is, given my experience of the police, it seems pretty familiar. On one occasion I had my wallet stolen and money fraudulently withdrawn from my bank account. Was given conflicting information about what to do from different police officers. When I eventually got to see someone his response was "How do I know you haven't just staged the theft with a friend of yours and pocketed the money?" Talk about complete lack of empathy and total disinterest in doing their job. For me persistence is key. Keep hassling them - in the end they will want to take action just to get you off their back! Threaten to take the matter further. If all else fails try your local MP.

Oh face it please, some of those butchers on Rye Lane are obviously filthy. Open your eyes. The reason they stay open is because they are so freakin' cheap. William Rose is clearly the sensible choice. Better still, go veggie. Better for the environment and your health!

Standing by for an onslaught from the "chicken nuggets and frozen pizza brigade." And I thought I was a snob!

>>Empty suits filled with smug self satisfaction, oblivious to the role of fortune in their overprivileged lives. Couldn't agree more! In my experience this applies to many Tory voters. Reminds me of watching Boris on 'Who Do You Think You Are.' Having discovered that he is related to the royal family he somehow managed to conclude that it just shows how random everything is & how much social mobility there is in this country. Interesting.

Love that description of Blears Ted Max.

Not trying to get into an argument with you Jeremy! I just think that we have lost all sense of idealism in British politics. If you're an idealist you're labelled naive and childish. Instead people are persuaded by arguments based on expediency and fear, and we end up with mediocrity. I wish we had politicians with a little more charisma and vision. Next to Barack Obama, Cameron and Brown look like the two old men in the Muppet Show.

The Citizen's Income thing sounds a bit dodgy. However being ambitious about renewable energy and banning animal testing are two things I wholeheartedly agree with. It seems that being principled in politics is seen as naive. Personally I'd rather have people with principles in charge than the cynical, career-driven hypocrites that seem to populate the two main parties.

Has anyone said 'Hazel Blears' yet?

Jeremy which policies are you referring to re. the Greens? I switched from Labour to Green this time (like many others it would seem)

The sign for it could be a horse's head in a Bugaboo

Sadly we are living in a warped Orwellian world where people are losing touch with reality. I'm not talking about Labour's ID cards or CCTV cameras. I'm referring to the stranglehold that vitriolic right-wing newspapers and their peddlers of lies and hate (like Richard Littlejohn and Kelvin MacKenzie) have over sections of the British working classes. It is THEIR (the owners of these papers) FAULT that people are voting BNP - the red tops are making increasing numbers of people feel they have no other alternative. It's all pretty depressing, really.

Locale is a let-down. Somewhere with atmosphere, character and proper, authentic food could be a winner

Shameless plug for your blog?

It needs disco balls, flock wallpaper and plasma screens. Trust me.

Maybe they should turn the Castle into a gay bar? That would cause a bit of a stir!

I think it's a bit arrogant and patronising of certain middle-class types to rally to the cause of scruffy working men's boozers personally. Especially as many of these people never actually set foot in them.

Whereas if I still lived there they would be obliged to ask me permission

Okay well I went back to my home town the other week and they had refurbished some awful old pub. HOW DARE THEY do this without asking my permission first?

I'm not suggesting that! The point I'm making is that we are not living in the 1950s. People of all classes and backgrounds move about, especially in a place like London. Are you suggesting we impose a quota system for pubs with net curtains and horse brasses?

The trouble with this argument about gentrification ruining places is the inherent hypocrisy of it all. If you don't like ED smartening up why not move to Penge or North Peckham instead? Besides which, this patronising view of the working classes all sticking together and enjoying their spit & sawdust pubs is a total myth. As soon as they can afford it they're off like a shot to the nearest mock tudor mansion in Bromley or Basildon.

Oh my gawd, why would anyone want to preserve this eyesore and general chav haven? Bring on the chandeliers and flock wallpaper I say

Appeal! I read somewhere that most appeals are successful... Persist & don't give up! Provide photo evidence and don't back down. I did this recently against Tower Hamlets (badly signposted parking restrictions) and they were overruled by the parking ombudsman in the end; the fine was cancelled.

I second TT's post Loobylou

I know if I was looking for a builder I would definitely want one who had knocked someone off their bike.

He DARES to annoy a company that supplies PRINCE CHARLES! No wonder the Daily Mail is enraged. Off with his head!