James

Yes it has been discussed; sadly no gay places per se. Your best bet locally is probably the Rye Bar & Grill next to Peckham Rye, very gay friendly and usually a few lesbians in there on any given night.

Sadly I never believe anyone who asks me for money any more. Too many scammers like these! Recently, on my way home near Barry Road I was asked by a bloke for some money as he was locked out and had to sleep on the street. If I was in a similar situation I think I would be more likely to try one of my friends or neighbours than approach a random person on the street.

Wouldn't affect my concentration!

Was listening to a report on radio 4 the other day about a town in Denmark where the mayor has decided to remove ALL traffic lights and give cars, pedestrians and cyclists equal right of way in all situations - following a similar scheme elsewhere that REDUCED accidents. Why are we moving in the opposite direction!? Is it some weird idea that we need to try to put people off driving by making it more inconvenient?

LOVE the idea of a Mr Ben fancy dress shop Dulwichmum! But don't we already have this (Chichirara)? Always thought the houses in Mr Ben look suspiciously East Dulwich-y

The line used to serve the Crystal Palace, with stations where Brenchley Gardens is now in Honor Oak/Forest Hill & at the Forest Hill end of Lordship Lane. Think it lasted until the 50s. There's still a tunnel and bridge there. I read somewhere that the chapel was part of one of the villas there. But I wonder why they were left to ruin?

French friend of mine stocks up on Pimms and Marmite whenever he's in London. He absolutely loves Marmite. Which, for a French person, is quite something.

Tell us about the man who used to live in the painted shack! Dose anyone know what the ruins/bricks in the woods are? I assune they were houses, but if so, why were they abandoned?

How about a small music venue with an M&S food hall in the basement?

I reckon a small venue would do okay. We're near enough to Brixton and Goldsmiths (spawn of Blur, Klaxons etc.)

Live music venue with decent bands

At least it's not a spectacular glass-fronted baby clothes boutique.

Oh if only we could get East Dulwich back to the good old days with a few mobile phone shops (eh!?)

I reckon that place opposite the station would be a winner - the station itself is so manky and unloved that lots of people waiting for a train would be bound to pop in for a cuppa.

Just kick me if I start saying things like "You couldn't make it up!" or "It's political correctness gone mad!"

I'm quite flattered that you remember my stories Bob! Yes, I guess we have heard this sort of thing before. But I suppose it's the nature of a forum where people dip in and out now and again that there will be repetition (how many times has someone bemoaned the lack of a local Italian restaurant... and been directed to Si Mangia!?)

Domitianus, you have my sympathy. And I am a parent! The incredible thing is that the middle-class parents are, if anything, worse than the chavs. A romantic evening at my fave Indian restaurant was ruined by a group of kids literally running around the restaurant screaming. When one of the parents intervened I thought a good telling-off was on the cards. But to my amazement he lifted one of the kids up (who looked about 6 years old) and playfully shook him around, upside down - winding him up even more. The adults were a bunch of beardy intellectual types who should have known better. Some people seem to think that we should all enjoy their little darlings as much as they do. A bit of discipline and respect for others wouldn't go amiss. Related pet hate is the classic unloading of the people carrier into the middle of the road, blocking & completely oblivious to the traffic. A favourite of ED's yummy mummies and daddies - as if they are somehow more important than everyone else.

Can someone tell me what the point of Southwark Life magazine is? And how much of our council tax is paying for it? And whether I am turning into a grumpy old man?

In Paris they recently invested in a flash new dog poo removal machine. Maybe we need one of those?

The idea that you're paid "what you're worth" doesn't ring true to me. Are you telling me a city trader is 'worth' dozens of the rest of us? What does that mean? Is he more important (for it usually is a bloke - generally speaking a pompous, white, over-privileged, aggressive twat - for these are the characteristics that help you thrive in this line of work).

Which explains why we kept the Tories in for so long in the 80s. Most people hated them but thought we'd end up with more money in our pockets than if the other lot got in. Never mind that our schools, hospitals and trains were literally crumbling due to years of under-investment. Personally I, like many people, would rather pay a bit more tax and have public services that aren't third world. The Tories seem to have finally woken up to this (doh!)

Good point Bob - I always suspected it was people like Rove, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz making the real decisions. Which is scary as they are all like comedy villans in a children's cartoon. Is there any such thing as conviction politics any more? Or does everyone just say whatever they think will look good as a newspaper headline?

Everyone knows that mid-term polls always over-estimate support for the opposition - because people use them to register their gripes with whoever's in government. When it comes to an election, most of these people end up voting for the party in power. Unless there is a huge shift in public opinion (e.g. 1997). So if the Tories are just a few points behind Labour, they are doing very badly indeed. They would need to be way out in front to stand a real chance. Personally I think Cameron is losing his nerve. First there was the greenwashing, hug a hoodie & other moves to try to push the party back to the centre. Now we're lurching to the right again (together with some bizarre proposal that they will cut taxes whilst maintaining the level of public spending. Presumably they will also be introducing square circles and flying pigs.) We also have the "tacit" approval of Boris as mayor - an old-fashioned, nasty Tory masquerading as a clown. What a shambles. The Tories' sad demise should make me happy - if it weren't for the fact that our "Labour" PM has just been singing the praises of Maggie Thatcher. I thought we lived in a democracy!? At the moment it's more like a choice between dumb & dumber.

Round The Twist (demented 90s Australian kids' show)

Dogging? Now you're talking. I will read it if you discuss stuff like that.