Pierre

Has anyone else spotted the caravans and vans parked up on the southern end of the Rye (near the skate park)? Any idea what's going on? Is it OK? I respect travellers' rights to roam around, but... on the Rye? It's a well-used public park. They're already leaving rubbish and driving across the grass. I've only seen them from the road so far, so haven't actually said hi to them - it may be a perfectly legit camp of some sort, I just wondered if anyone on here knew anything.

Might be worth getting in touch with Adam Double over in Forest Hill, he runs Twist Studios and offers one-to-one personal training. I've used him before and he's excellent (he also runs a running club and one-day boot camp group training sessions). His website is http://twiststudios.co.uk/

I've got a couple of boxes of old scrap metal, some copper pipes, a couple of radiators and odd mixed steel and aluminium stuff. Does anyone have any RECOMMENDATIONS for the best places near here to sell them as scrap? I emphasise 'recommendations' because I know there are some places around but I've heard a couple of bad reports about two different local scrap dealers, so I'd be interested to hear from people who have actually used places and can recommend them. Thanks!

Yes, I know I'm stirring, but: She's essentially given you a big new blank canvas in your front garden. Concrete and slabs make a great surface for spraycan art, and it's a perfect opportunity to experiment... ;)

Pietro used to do the Mag Sunday evening quiz, he's now moved over to the Herne, and also does a quiz at the Nun's Head on Thursday evenings. Both as fun as ever, but without the Mag's lovely sausages and chips...

They won't get me, I've got my tin foil hat on...

We've always known that as the "South London Recycling Scheme" - leave something you don't want on the PAVEMENT outside your house, with a note saying "please take me" if necessary. Handy way to get rid of things that are too good to throw away but that you don't want (and if you have no luck with Freecycle). We've got rid of a bunk bed, old chairs, CD racks, a computer monitor and an old radio. However, as other people have pointed out, if people are taking things from inside your fence, i.e. actually on your property, that's theft. : P

ah. sorry. : P

It wasn't? So it's been edited to include the parentheses? Why? : P

I didn't really read most of the posts, frankly there's a load of the "you don't have kids so you don't understand" versus "calm down and stop making a fuss and by the way please get out of our pub" but has anyone asked why the original thread title was in parentheses (brackets)? It gives an impression of "psst! ooh, haven't you heard?! How SHOCKING!", which of course instantly leans me towards the "calm down and stop making a fuss" side... : P

Hi, sorry to hear about your loss. If you can let me know the make and model (and size) of each bike, I'll try and keep an eye out. : P

I keep getting my cover nicked, at least one a month. Not sure what is happening to them. Mrs. Pierre's got an Oxford cover for hers, and it has two loopholes for the locks to go through. Not that they're particularly substantial, but maybe a bit of a deterrent. : P

a) get over yourselves - it's hardly "appalling", chances are you wouldn't even think about spending that amount (?1.22?) if it was the difference between the organic and non-organic options at the supermarket. b) as far as I know, although the calls are charged at higher than regular landline rates, the PCT is not permitted to make any profit from them - they can only charge enough to cover the costs involved. And it's not _that_ cheap setting up a phone line to take care of the innumerable "are you open?", "what time do you close?", "what are your opening hours?" and "can I have an appointment now?" calls, but from the practice's point of view, it is worthwhile. : P

This is in danger of being lounged... I just wanted to add a) that the hifi shop near the EDD always looks a bit more like a car radio showroom (the perspex and excessive neon puts me off) and b) OK, so gold-plated connectors may be a valid choice explained by oxidation, but how on earth can you justify _directional_ cables? : P

Poor Michael. We'll keep an eye out. It's the only bike with blue tyres I've seen round here. : P

Yeah and get a cap in yo ass. Nah bruv, caps bare _cost_. Shankin's free, innit. *ahem* : P

...to repeat 'w*nker, w*nker' in your head as you stroll down the street and peer at the smiling innocents from under your hooded lids. In your head! So that's why I percieve (sic) ED as a place full of people throwing things at me... : P

Don't be silly Huguenot, _this_ is the place everyone unloads their unload baby crap. ;) : P

To reply to the OP, sorry to hear that, Shosh (and Tosh). That area can suck at night, principally because people who like to attack people in dark secluded areas tend to hang around the dark secluded areas. Best avoid the dark secluded areas, I'd say. The roads aren't that bad to cycle on (Willowbrook Rd and Peckham Hill St will get you to more or less the same location) and TBH I'd rather cycle slowly and carefully along the middle of the road than try and get through Surrey Canal Path again after dark. Hope Tosh gets well soon. : P

Not sure it's "sick", "vile", "shocking" or "horrific." But it is distasteful. And surely any civil person would avoid causing distaste. This woman was clearly not a civil person. Not like us. ;) And although it's off topic, I wish I could remember where I recently heard the phrase "aggressive selfishness" used to describe the blight of many modern parents. : P

At the risk of a "change? change?!" reaction, I'd like to know what the criteria are for spending money on that area and whether a crossing will actually _improve_ anything. It's a dangerous section of road for those crossing, granted. It's a bit dicey to drive down. If the traffic speed is too high, why not reduce the speed limit to 20mph? If pedestrians not using the crossings is a problem, why not put up railings to ensure crossing anywhere else is more difficult? (yuck) If the road is full of speeding through traffic, why not make it buses and pedestrians only (except trade vehicles within certain hours by parking permit)? I'm not saying any of these are the best idea, but I don't think that yet another crossing, on a curve in the road, is actually going to make much difference - people will happily wander into the road 20 yards either side of the existing crossings. : P

Couldn't see another thread obviously devoted to it, so for the record: The igloo on Goose Green was dismantled by its creators. They were three Slovakians, two guys and a girl (in a purple wig) who worked for most of the day on it. Although they were surprised to hear that this much snow is a rare event in London and that their creation had become a local talking (and photographing) point, they were worried that children might climb on it and it would collapse under them. After a good couple of hours standing around nervously accepting the praise due to them, they pulled and kicked it down. Just thought I'd mention it. : P

I wish I could take some of the credit, but I was one of the few people at work yesterday! : P

It's been an excuse to get the mountain bike out (instead of the commuter bike). However, as honk says, salt and grit on the road, and consequently splashed all over your bike, is really not good for it. I'm the mechanic at Balfe's Bikes and we all went to a trade show last weekend where Campagnolo demonstrated to us how they test their components for longevity: just a few hours of immersion in salt solution can be enough to make a real mess of most bits on a bike. I've had to service several rear road brakes over the last couple of weeks because people haven't had mudguards and the salty gunk flung into them by the rear tyre has caused them to corrode and seize. HTH. : P

Not sure if anyone else can see this because it's in a friend's facebook photo album, but it was really impressive: http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2053/91/5/875680286/n875680286_5775050_3444.jpg : P