Huggers

could it have been the giant rabbit?

There is an african restaurant in Choumert Road and one within the arches of Peckham Rye Station so perhaps one in Bellenden Road wouldnt be able to compete. Blenheim Grove has the Sardinian, and Holly Grove the Ganapati, so these foods too are represented already. I loved the Peckham Experiment in its first incarnation. The food was lovely. Simple and delicious. There were jazz nights, the odd comedy/poeetry performance night. Then it bit off a bit more than it could chew with cocktails that there wasnt really a market for in the area and I think management became haphazard. But I miss it. I think its 'role' has now been fulfilled by Bar Story in Blenheim Grove so maybe it is uneconomic for it to return to those days.

and while we're at it can people stop 'recycling' food in the park- sometimes great vats of boloignaise in huge heaps in PRye and bread all over GG- the only kind of wildlife it is benefiting is the kind of wildlife you really don't want to know.

I think that is the very book. I can't find it now, but I think the title was the character's name.

I would like to have a pub called 'The Jim'. It would be a place of sanctuary and alibi.

Hi Peckhamgatecrasher, it's not just for disabled kids now. They have general (young persons?)riding at Vauxhall City Farm and are now affiliated to the Pony Club too which has been very exciting. When you join you commit to fortnightly rides so that you are paying even if you miss your slot, as it subsidises the keep of the ponies and they depend on this continuity . Having said that, we sometimes swap with members of the other group if we can't make it. The space is limited in that there is just an outside school in the little park but my children have learnt the basics there and do pony maintenance, participate in gymkhanas and work towards their ponyclub badges and go on ponyclub trips and outings too. Numbers are limited too so there is probably a waiting list. For those who don't know it Vauxhall City Farm is a treasure and urban children can work there as volunteers too.

I bought a book off a lady sellling door to door but I havent actually read it.

Meant to be a great stables at Lee with semi-rural rides. Mine ride at Vauxhall City Farm.

We don't aknowledge death in the same way that the Victorians did with their cult of death and extremely ritualised funerals and public monuments, nor engage with it on a cultural level through poetry and art in the same way that previous generations have done. In many ways television is now the conduit for these things. When someone in the public eye dies or is at the point of death or is terminally ill many people will engage with their public persona, 'feel grief', contemplate mortality; it's what we do instead. As for the cult of celebrity being a new thing, that isnt either. One thing about Jade Goody is that having redeemed herself to some extent from her dysfunctional family, she didnt stick it all up her nose or fall out of nightclubs in her bra and pants every night as many who have 'deserved'their celebrity have done. She forgave her horrible mother and didnt seek revenge. She had a ****ed up childhood which she didnt revisit on her own children Lots and lots of people wouldnt manage that- whatever their 'class'. woops, BB cross posted with same thoughts. And yes Sean, I think it does make us more compassionate because for a moment we put ourselves in someone else's shoes which is the basis for compassion-empathy.. Except the people on facebook who indulged their kitten-microwaving sentiments.

The books are totally brill and I'm thinking maybe the telly might pull this one off in terms of complexity and atmosphere as long as the final episode does the biz in enlightenment wow factor. The books are chronological so everything unfolds and reveals itself bit by baffling bit- whereas this adaptation is putting the first last, I think. I really recommend the books- they are unputdownable and mesmerisingly written.

'Testament of Youth', Vera Brittain's account of being a wartime nurse during the Great War centres mainly on Kings College Hospital so Nunhead would be the nearest cemetery I think for those who didnt make it.

Homeopathy worked on my dog and he was sceptic. Oh no, sorry he was septic.

I went to one of the meetings re the tram. As far as I remember, the artists thing was quite a peripheral issue, the main one being the destruction of a fairly newly built large housing estate behind Rye Lane- the one that is built with 'closes' a bit brookside-like- where the trams would be stored . I think maybe there's a difference between 'terminus' (thriving station like interchange thing bringing life to Peckham which everyone would love) and depot (big garage physically removing big part of town centre, think roads behind kings cross,possibly a bit wastelandish). There was no voting at this meeting and I personally never heard another thing about it. If the government really wants to do something they are not going to be stopped by a group of artists- look at Heathrow's planned runway and what they are prepared to run roughshod over to get that done. I expect lack of funding is behind it, after all its the whole tram system that s in doubt, not where to put the depot. Having said that, Peckham was saved from channel rail link destruction and that was a very good thing.

BBC Breaking News-The Wire is to be shown on BBC2. whooo hooo!

Bayberry was understocked and overpriced.

The school stopped being selective a few years ago so it now has the same mix of kids that other schools have- that doesnt mean it's going downhill-but it will be dealing with some challenging behaviour that would have been weeded out through the selection process in the past.How it does that and whether it will maintain its high teaching standards for all its pupils will be the measure of how successful it is.

Oh yes you're right BB, they can't use the gym. But I think its two quid a guest for the pool/tennis etc if you are under...?can't remember!

Can I also add that all my daughter's friends from primary seem to be having positive and happy experiences of their different and various secondary schools too, in and out of the borough. So much of the school thing is just hype for the parents and what really counts is how your child experiences a school.

Mamma Mia, they do operate a guest system if the guest pays for their visit.

Yes this anti-bully policy of getting bullies to be confronted by their victims seems to be implemented in a lot of schools and sounds really idiotic. Unfortunately all schools have incidents of bullying whatever they profess. However my daughter loves Haberdashers - she is in year 7. She finds it stimulating, has made loads of friends and the music is fantastic - she didnt get in on music but gets free piano lessons. She says it is still a noisy school and is not as disruption free as you would imagine and that the idea it is an idyll of academic calm is illusory. But She seems to be working hard though and being given the space and encouragement to do so and is gaining social confidence all the time. she doesnt have special needs, but I think the school's special needs unit is actually autism specialist.

Don't mock Peckham Village. I'm just off to the the darling little local grocers, old Mr Lidl.

I'm a bit suspicious there was no swearing, no 'innits' and actually quite impressive grammar from the young rascals on Poppy's bus. Perhaps those school improvements are having an effect.

Reintroduction of dog licences together with dna hair sample of dog, then -like owners of mis-parked cars- owners of non-poo picking up dog can be tracked and fined. I think this is the best idea I have ever had in my life and will now do nothing for the rest of the day.

thanks to Clazza and her wire-famine rescue mission we are about to embark on series 2.

To break up a fight, douse with water- if you happen to have a bottle on you. To make a staffordshire type bull terrier unlock its jaws, insert stick up its anus. I personally wouldnt like to try this but if your child is trapped in its jaws it's a very useful thing to know.