bawdy-nan

Yes, but 140000 a year is tiny for the value it gives. It seems to me its a lean organisation that is well and imaginatively run providing high quality services to a wide range of local people from all walks of life and income groups. It also has a national significance and is an example of excellent practice. The council is trying to svae several million pounds because, it says, the government have provided a lower settlement this year. From here, taking inexpensive toys from chidlren looks like cynical poitical posturing.

Yes indeed. Closing it will apparently save ?140,000 which seems very small for something so marvellous and well used. The council is supposed to be looking for "value for money" and, in my opnion, this is extraordinary value for money. The museum say they reach 20,000 people a year. I just had a quick look on the council website as I was interested in fidning out just how much the executive allow themselves in allowances - oddly enough, I couldn't find anything.

this refers to an exhibition from 2006 - the current one is about maps: current exhibition The council are meeting on Tuesday to discuss / ratify this ... the closure that is, not the exhibition. All the ED councillors are Lib Dems and, as I understand it, (reluctantly) in favour ofthe closures. I wrote to Richard Thomas and had a reply which said, essentially, that he was sad but it had to happen.

The Livesey caters for children under 12. It is superb. It was written up as part of the Guardian's series on family friendly museums in 2006. Apparently the council moved closer to forcing it to close this morning (according to an email from Cllr Andrew Pakes) From the Guardian: 3. Livesey Museum In London's Old Kent Road, squeezed between high-rise housing estates and derelict parking lots, is a real gem. The Livesey, a children's museum for the under-12s, boasts that it is "fully hands-on"; there isn't a Do Not Touch sign in sight. But you won't find any computer interactives either. Livesey is low-tech: open rickety wooden drawers and peer inside to find a remarkable object or put on a shadow puppet show. In their current exhibition, Myths and Legends, you can clamber into a tepee or on board a mythical ship, or enter a giant dragon's lair ("the biggest ever seen in Peckham"). The Livesey philosophy is to involve children at every stage of their productions: a panel of young people decide on the content of the exhibitions. Local schoolchildren tend to use it as a quiet place to do their homework and the handful of staff tolerate behaviour that would elicit loud "tuts" in any other museum. My own toddlers, suffering in the inner-city heat, stripped off in the courtyard and ran about naked, jumping into the pretend pool. The Livesey has simply reached places other museums haven't - into the hearts and minds of the local kids, who regard it as their own. Myths and Legends runs until August 26. ? Livesey Museum, 682 Old Kent Road, London SE15; www.liveseymuseum.org.uk; 0207-635 5829

Thats terrible. I notice that they are also planning to close the Cuming Museum which, as far as I can see, has just had a major refurbishment.

oh - there's also the 12 ... but AFN you are right itsextremely tricky. I've had nightmare journeys trying to get to West Dulwich (for a chidlrens party - took 2 buses and a long walk with very small children), Old Kent Road (Livesey Museum, 2 buses), Greenwich (185 hell to Lewisham thn change, or 3 buses via Peckham or 1 bus and two trains), Clapham Junction 2 buses (including the notorious 37). I recently inherited a car and, unfortunately, it has transformed my travelling range. Extremely annoying as I'd really rather not use the car for local journeys ... East / West travel is always hard all routes seem to assume that you're going to the centre.

hurrah hurrah hurrah

I've no idea what its like but was surprised by its website. Its part of a MASSIVE chain. Not necessarily a bad thing - I was just surprised to see childcare as a big corporate thingy.

and what has this to do with the price of fish?

Yes - these pesky pedestrians who can't make it across the road - if all drivers simply mow them down, they'll soon learn won't they ...

we got married in the old bar and gallery of a theatre in battersea - we hired it for ?50 (4 years ago). We had a crackpot humanist affair (so had to go and sign a register elesewhere) but it was great and really great not to be paying a fortune. We decorated the place with bunting and balloons and spent our cash on lovely food and wine. What I mean to say is - do you need to have the "wedding" patr in the same venue - licensed venues are quite pricey (becasue they know their market). What about upsatairs at EDT or something - it looks pretty swish .... good luck

I know the avoiding the elephant roundabouts trick - but its after that ....

Hello - can anyone recommend a cycle route to Oxford Circus. I used to do the route to Elephant (that someone recommended on here) and that was fine and dandy -slightly worried about going in to town ... should I bother?

sorry - it was on the telly (london tonight, ITV)

all about how parents lie to get places at secondary schools ....

well, it came it was cold we rang them they delivered more and it was hot (they also provided 4 pots of green stuff)

Have just placed an order online rather good value set meal which doesn't seem to be on the leaflet. Really worth noting that if you place your order online you get 1000 loyalty points - which are worth a tenner off your next order. Of course its a promotion to get you to try it, but why not ....

what about asking the school to put a note in the bags. When I dropped off this morning there were cars and a camper can - dropping kids off...

I think Richard Thomas has been on paternity leave...

does anyone know what's happening with this...? Are they still not having any playground? When I looked on their site they now say they are planning a courtyard or "agora" (odd - I think this means marketplace or meeting of crossroads - bit of a weird idea for a school..)

Chav - would you consider standing as a Green candidate in the local elections? Last time around I was really surprised to se no Green candidates for the East Dulwich ward. I'm sure they'd do very well and would certainly have my vote :))

Somewhere, I think, someone was referring to the dodgy plod of ED here's a link

what's to say? You tell your story powerfully and persuasively and its clear that you've fought hard to be where you are now - alive, passionate and articulate. You're right, there's an overwhelming need for compassionate care that's easy to access. I wholeheartedly agree with that. I'm not convinced the proposed services at DMC will fill that gap and I don't think that's their motivation (I mean I don't think this proposal is the result of a carefully thought through plan for delivering those kinds of services). I think its unfair to assume that anyone who doesn't quite agree with you in this particular instance has their head-in-the-sand and is hard-hearted. If that's not what you are implying, then I apologise, it just seems that you draw the "them" and "us" divisions very boldly. This is an emotive subject and I don't think its possible to hang all the issues around addiction and society's understanding (or not) of the problem and the people involved on this particular case. Does it follow that someone who thinks DMC is the wrong place for such services therefore hates all drug addicts or thinks they shouldn't get proper treatment and proper treatment in ED? I don't see how it does. I've written before that I feel ambivalent about it and am pretty open to persuasion but I'd like to know more about it - an estimation of the need, really if there are any likely risks and if so, how can they be mitigated, what do service users need and is this the best place to provide it.

I have to own up that I am a committed atheist and certainly not looking to convert - I'm just keen to foster my daughter's curiosity about the world and what's in it. I think she's partly fascinated by the whole God thing because of starting school and some of her friends going off to religious schools where they "learn about God". Whether you're religious or not, an understanding of Christianity is no bad thing, especially as much of our cultural texts require an understanding of Christian stories. In much the same way a thorough working knowledge of Greek myths is pretty useful.

Thanks so much for the information we'll try to make it soon. Alan, you are a terrible cynic! We're very happy at Heber...