katanita

I think most people involved in XR would rather not have to do any of this, but non-violent, disruptive direct action has a history of being the most effective tool in similar circumstances. Note: even in that article the police acknowledge that protest of this sort is a basic right - quote "we have facilitated a peaceful protest, balanced the rights of individuals with the right of free assembly and speech." Do you have any better suggestions? Genuine question. There is liaison happening between police/council and XR at these events, btw, or there certainly was at Hackney and Blackheath, that I know of personally.

This weekend is the SW London Uprising festival, a little closer to ED actually in Brockwell Park https://www.facebook.com/events/648407405657612/.

Sorry to hear about the attempted mugging, a useful reminder to be alert (anywhere! The two pub thefts I've experienced first hand happened on Carnaby Street and near Kings Cross). Bizarre suggestion that Rye Lane is a no-go zone. Have spent many a lovely evening without incident in the places named above by fishbiscuits (including with my parents - took my mum for her 75th to Pedler and very good it was too). @Fishbiscuits, you missed the Peckhamplex and several other places behind the Bussey, but I lose track of exactly what is there now. I prefer going out in Peckham to ED to be honest, much more going on there.

This weekend on Blackheath Common - full details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1118852464972779/ From the FB page: "Concerned about the climate crisis? Let's turn our ideas, hopes and fears into positive action. Extinction Rebellion is hosting a two-day festival on Blackheath Common with the aim of bringing our local communities closer together in the face of unprecedented Global climate change. Join us for creative discourse on climate solutions and training on direct action. You can get your clothes printed with our famous woodblocks, take part in collaborative artwork, hear from notable speakers, dance to live bands, watch engaging performances and more. Set on Blackheath Common, a historical meeting point of the Suffragettes, Chartists, climate camps and the ?Great Uprising? of 1381, we are reclaiming the land and continuing in the tradition of rebellion."

Is there an answer yet on the garden bags, in particular whether we can use older ones? I have one that will be full soon. Many thanks.

Jellybeanz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > paper cups and plates can be recycled Even if dirty/used? I didn't think that was the case but would be very happy to be proven wrong. Also some are plastic coated I believe so would not be.

Biodegradable materials are not necessarily compostable, and compostable materials are not necessarily compostable at home. This is a long but interesting article on the subject https://www.growingcommunities.org/blog/2018/11/packaging-update-reuse-reuse-reuse and an article on misleading claims about biodegradability in plastic products https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/29/biodegradable-plastic-bags-survive-three-years-in-soil-and-sea. That's not very hopeful, sorry! Maybe someone here has deeper knowledge and can suggest something but I suspect the best solution is to encourage people to bring their own?

And also a zero waste/bring your own shop at 2 Girls Cafe in Peckham, small but lots of good stuff (and a nice stop for a vegan lunch too)!

Organic Village and SMBS Foods on Lordship Lane both sell fresh turmeric root

Another good source of protein is quinoa. I hated it for ages but recently learned that you're meant to rinse it before cooking otherwise it can be bitter and this has made all the difference. Love the stuff now. Can get it in bulk at 2 Girls Cafe, Peckham, the red quinoa is good to bulk up salads etc and has a nice nuttiness.

Tofoo say you don't need to press theirs, and it does seem to be quite firm without it. What I'd really love to find is a plastic free source of tofu though, so if anyone finds one, please share!

Veolia have been quite response when I've asked questions in the past on twitter https://twitter.com/VeoliaUK, if you want to try them there, or on other channels https://www.veolia.co.uk/southwark/contact-us#no-back. They also have an open day in September https://www.veolia.co.uk/southwark/iwmf/wonder-day-2019.

Am a fan of the Minimalist Baker https://minimalistbaker.com/, especially for sweet stuff Anna Jones is wonderful http://annajones.co.uk/recipes (this daal is the business http://annajones.co.uk/recipe/harrods-dhal-crispy-sweet-potato-quick-coconut-chutney) Also recommend The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer Have found some good stuff on the Virtual Vegan site https://avirtualvegan.com/recipe-index/ Meera Sodha for the Guardian (and her Fresh India cookbook) https://www.theguardian.com/profile/meera-sodha Loads of vegan inspiration on instagram, if you're on there. The closest thing I've found to meat for something that isn't super processed but you can easily just fry and have with veg on the side is smoked tofu, so I always have some in (usually the tofoo stuff). I also always keep lots of tins of beans that go well in salads (esp flageolet) and can pull together a hearty bean salad in about 5 minutes. Chickpeas also your friend. For treats/trashy food - the Fauxmagerie for "cheese" in Brixton village, the amazing vegan build your own hotdog at Meatliquor, Vivera fake chicken pieces and burgers, Linda McCartney Sausage Rolls, Honest Burgers B12 burger. Prep helps - e.g. make loads more than you need when you do cook something and then freeze it for when you're too tired to faff about making daal... Gave up meat years ago, dairy and eggs about two years ago, and fish/seafood in Jan. Not bored yet. I could go on for ages, if you get stuck and want more recipes just ask. My triumph is an extremely good and completely vegan quiche (the trick is to mix gram flour and tofu...).

Thank you for answering on garden waste bags James. It would be good if details about this service were more prominent on the council website, including whether we can use existing bags. On a related note, what do we do with our food bags from next week? I have yet to receive the new caddy and it sounds like others haven't received theirs yet either?

You did, but that's OK, I may try that route too at some point!

Dear Councillors, There seems to be very little information about the paid-for garden waste bag scheme. There is no mention of this at all on the leaflets that were sent out. I can see no mention on the main page about garden waste on the Southwark website, and have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the FAQs before it appears. https://www.southwark.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste-collection-subscriptions?chapter=2 This copy says you can order bags from the main website, but there is no apparent way to do this from the front page of the site, nor any information about how to book a collection. Is there a reason that this is so hidden? Or am I missing something? Please can this be clarified here and on the website with more detailed information about how this scheme works and a working link to order them or book a pick up? I would also like to know if the Southwark bags I have already for garden waste will still be able to be used for this or whether they are now useless and I have to order more. I will have a bag ready to go soon and don't much fancy trying to cycle to the waste recycling centre with it. Many thanks

Thanks all. I used cycle.travel to plot a route, and then Citymapper which came up with a very similar one (and easier to navigate using the app). The route I took started on route 21 but then after Catford it wiggled through back streets to Orpington. It was a lot of rather dreary suburbia, and a bit tedious navigating all the back streets (apart from a pleasant stretch through Jubilee Country park). Also the A224 it took me along has no segregated path and is quite fast, not very nice. Such a shame that there is no nice official cycle route in that direction. Eventually made it into the countryside and almost all the way up Well Hill (brutal incline on a loaded bike!) before onto Shoreham. Unfortunately your post came too late for this trip @amac but will try that next time!

Has anyone got a nice quiet route for heading out of the city south on a bike? I need to get to Shoreham this weekend but would also like good routes out generally that don't involve horrible junctions or very busy roads. Not too many hills would also be good (will be heavily laden for the Shoreham trip). Citymapper suggests a very wiggly quiet route I could try but looks a bit tedious, or one that takes the B263/A208 etc and is maybe very busy and unpleasant. So if anyone has any info on that would be very grateful! Thanks in advance.

For anywhere around Old St I tend to take the backstreets/cycleway from ED to Southwark bridge, from the bridge continue straight over along the cycle route up King St as far as Guildhall, then turn right along Lothbury, left up Moorgate until you turn right up Worship Street and then immediate left up Tabernacle. The one way streets around there make it a little tricky to cut through to Curtain Rd but I think you can do it via Clere St and then Luke st. It's a pretty quiet route, lots of it segregated or back streets.

(I had to ring around the hospital and absolutely grovel to the department secretary but I did get an appointment back, thanks, it helped that I was able to point to news stories about the poor service from Royal Mail in this area! Some hospital departments do a text message or call, some don't).

I emailed Craig Wallace ([email protected] ) with my complaint, and got no response whatsoever (I copied in Helen Hayes too). Anyone had more recent responses or used a different email address for them?

No, but on Saturday I received an appointment letter for a hospital appointment that it has taken me YEARS to get. The postal date was the 15th February, the appointment was for the 28th February. I received it on the 2nd March. Because I missed the appointment, the hospital have now discharged me. So frustrated that this nonsense is still going on after months, and there appears to be no accountability whatsoever. I will of course be complaining, and copying in Helen Hayes, but it seems unlikely to make any difference.

Do you mean the Neighbourhood Vet at the old HSBC near the Co-Op or Medivet that used to be Lordship Lane vets further up towards Forest Hill? It sounds like the former, in which case I can highly recommend them, they were so caring and professional in dealing with my poorly cat, especially Amber. Sometimes a bit less sharp on the admin side but good customer service always made up for it. I have also been with Medivet/Lordship Lane vets previously who were OK but I had a generally much better experience with the Neighbourhood vet.

Yeah, apparently they are relaunching as an online only business at some point, which is a shame as they were often quite handy.

Thanks all! Looks like RS Components would definitely do what I need but will try the closer ones first in case.