Michael Palaeologus

*Giggling - not quite sure how to do mimes in this reality* *Welcomes Drum-Saturdaygirl with a wave* *What things you have missed, swimming in abundance, remarkable views of amazing landscapes, genital mutilation by a dog looking remarkably like the Drum's doggie, lactating donkeys .....* *Many more excitements to come*

Louisiana - I can empathise. My late father was a gifted carpenter and made many great pieces of furniture from oak, none of which I can get in my flat. At the moment my Mum still has them; however she will eventually move to a much smaller place. None of the rest of the family have room. So, what to do?

*Walks in followed by lactating donkey now in sort of donkey sized maternity-bra. Notice that donkey is starting to bob-about rythmically - Mrs Dobbin is getting into the groove! Fantastic. *Settles in comfy chair to watch the masterpiece emerge from the creative brush of Mockney* *Enjoying the wobbling Keef*

I would firstly create an oasis of calm in what will be chaos. Maybe start with your bedroom? Then identify the expensive things - kitchen and bathroom and wait for a few bargains to crop up. Have a longer term plan with these - perhaps you could splash a bit of paint around to at least brighten them up pro-tem. A few quick-wins is good for the ego.

Clearly NOT donkeys as such - but you're a Mum and, and, and ..... "Mrs Dobbin, come on, mind the carpets"

Gambatini piccanti to start - tiger prawns sauteed in chilli-butter (i.e. with chilli powder and a de-seeded chilli), served with chilled melon - great combination of flavours. Rick Stein's beef stroganoff is lovely - dead easy and looks fantastic - great with rice. You can find it on the BBC - use Polly's link. Use good steak though - Borough market is open tomorrow. A great sweet is Cocount Creme Brulee - just replace half of the milk in the custard with cocout milk - easy, looks good after the flaming and is a bit unusual.

Clearly.

*Ummm, D-M, Mrs Dobbin is, well, leaking. How do I stop it? Somewhat beyond my experience this*

There was some discussions about stopping trains if the ELLE went ahead - to force people to avoid LB and Victoria. But stopping trains because they are over crowded makes sense, of course.

I am not sure using lent as an excuse to try and reach size zero is to be approved of DM. On your knees and give it some Hail Marys Soldier!

Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Empire was based on good British violence, still; "Here you are Mrs Dobbin, have a carrot - now how to get you down the back stairs ....."

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Faints

We are going to actually meet Dulwich Mum !! OHMYGIDDYAUNTIAMSOEXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XXXXX

I have never seen Mr Nesbitt - perhaps we should invite him to the CPT on 13 April? Doubt he has anything better to do.

Better root out my spare liver.

*Wakes up to Guns n' Roses, what sounds like whimpering coming from behind the Japanese screen and the place is full of lactating donkeys - get a grip people, this is a quiet room not the Glastonbury Festival* *DM- I couldnt help notice from your blog that Ana's beau is being beastly to her Should we get a vigilante group together and have him flogged?*

I lived in Camberwell for 19 years - then I moved to ED and life began :))

Historical reasons. This area was a farming area and Peckham was the market town - the Rye is identified as farmers fields and salad gardens on maps from the 1600s (I saw them at the British Library exhibition of London Maps a few months ago). The Rye was identified as being part of Peckham as was Goose Green (it being where the outlying farmers drove their geese to sell them to London traders). Dulwich was really a small settlement (a hamlet - hence the footie team). East Dulwich did not exist as an identified place - that came in as the city grew and there was a need to differentiate the bit in between Dulwich and Peckham - which is why the area of ED is quite small. Whilst Peckam Rye may be in the ED post code - its Peckham connections are far older than the Royal Mail. Homework in next Tuesday everybody, Timmins - see me after class, stupid boy .......

There is a section of tube running down Walworth Road from the Elephant The plan was to extend to Camberwell - but then it didnt. This odd bit of tunnel is used to park up the Bakerloo line trains. As for tube line extensions over this way - I doubt it. Huguenot pointed out the geological reasons why tunneling in this area is very difficult and expensive - so no Bakerloo line extension. The 2nd phase of the East London Line is due to start after the Olympics - so that wont happen because our blessed MP has b*ggered up the Olympic budget and that will suck up all the cash. Trams are more likely as they are relatively cheap and the plans would help re-generate both the Elephant in its new form and Peckham. The recent very glossy consultation exercise would seem to show an unusual level of commitment from LB Southwark. I suspect that they have more or less given up on tube extensions to ED and surrounds and see trams as do-able. The BIG issue is the Tube MAP. Our over-ground rail services are the same as the Metropolitan line - they are relatively short range shuttle services. I have always thought that a re-branding and inclusion on the tube map would comletely change people's perspective. Getting the tram lines on the tube map would help as well. After all the DLR is on the tube map and is seen as part of the tube network but technically isnt. Its all a matter of perspective.

I am being made to feel like a piece of meat.

About 10 days; or There is a little known Christian sect in a small corner of Ethiopia that believes that Easter Sunday is actually TODAY!! Given your move from the Papists to the Prodies, I suspect that a further shift of theological perspective would make little difference in the eyes of the Lord (or your Mother) and you would be able to seek comfort in the arms of Messrs Gordons and Schweppes.

*Comatose and snug. Making noise like a russian tractor on freezing February morning - sorry folks*

Off to Antwerp for easter - mussels, beer and choccie. Coincedental meeting - I went to Brussels on business a few years ago. I was having dinner off the Grande Place when a man mountain walked in wearing bush-shirt and shorts with a kiwi flag sewn on the arm - he made an impession. Nine months later I was stood in a queue for the Backdraft ride at Universal Studios, Los Angeles. I turned around, behind me was stood the man mountain in the same bush-gear with the kiwi flag on the arm. Unfortunately I was too gob-smacked to talk to him. Spooky.

12 or 13 April is good for me.

*Wobbles in feeling somewhat jaded and in need of comfort food and drink* *Waves to all concerned and collapses in a heap in comfy chair* *Leafs through slightly aged sports pages - I dont like sport I remember* *Pours self a glass of Shiraz - waves bottle at pals - anybody?* *Ahhhh*