Nero

I did complain to Southern and got a reply. Moreover, the company actually did do what they promised in the email, that is, to clean up the station. So, please bombard the headquarters with your complaints, because you can make a difference. It takes the same time - or less - to look up a contact number or address as it does to write a line or two on here, go for a ciggie, check your Lotto numbers or watch a YouTube clip, so please have a go!

My past is a foreign country, Azul

Mr Ben's mentioning of burgers in NYC on the thread about Gourmet Burger Kitchen got me thinking about how useful a thread on our favourite bars and restaurants abroad would be. So... In Sydney, my fave place is Awaba at Balmoral Beach In Manchester, it's Greens in Didsbury (no website I can find, though I have done in the past) In Brussels, it's Le Belgica

Someone was displeased with the station, mainly its litter problem, and wrote about it on here. I contacted Tessa Jowell and she replied thus: Dear Nero, > > I raised this with Southern and received the reply > below: > > "The station is cleaned of litter daily at least > in the areas where staff can gain access i.e. > platforms, walkways, shelters and the ticket > office area. Where we cannot clear is the area > behind the wire mesh fencing adjacent to the > walkways to the platforms. This is not part of > our lease and indeed is not accessible under > normal means. Such areas are the responsibility > of Network Rail, owners of the station, and they > periodically arrange for the litter to be removed. > It has built up of late and we have asked them to > arrange for it to be cleared. > > "Recently, the DfT?s security section relaxed the > rules on bins or plastic bags at stations (these > were/are not allowed depending on the category of > station) and the local station manager is > exploring the option of adding metal hoops and > plastic bag style bins at the station which should > also help to reduce the amount of litter that is > thrown away." > > I have looked into this a little more and I > understand that the franchise for the South > Central area is up for renewal shortly. > Consultation will commence in May. > > Network Rail own the station which is an anomaly > that I believe dates back to the way the original > franchises for the old Southern Region were > organised. It is to be hoped that this can be > rectified with the new franchise which will > commence in late 2009 / early 2010 so that, if the > station has a problem with litter, grafitti etc > anywhere in its curtilage, there will be a single > organisation responsible. > > Personally, I am keen for TfL to become involved > in the upkeep of East Dulwich and other stations > as the standards on 'London Overground' are so > much higher and include all day platform staffing > and other benefits. > > An improvement of services in the 'South London > Metro' area are a key priority for the Mayor and > something I have been actively supporting - > including bringing forward the Phase 2a extension > of the East London Line. I am working on with > other south London colleagues including Harriet > Harman, Keith Hill and Jim Dowd on these issues. > > I do hope this is helpful. > > Tessa Jowell

I was more than surprised. I was shocked. Dulwich Village is posher than ED, but it's not snobbish. I've never had exemplary service there, but neither have I had anything approaching as bad as the episode I describe above until now. I've been there many times before and had good service, but this was something else. I'm emailing the thread to Le Chardon just so they know. (The woman in question knows herself what I thought of her attitude, so it's not a case of bleating from a distance.)

It's just round the corner from Dulwich Village, ie a little way down from the Dog on the way to North Dulwich station. It's part of the Le Chardon/The Green empire.(........)

I don't get that line of thinking. I don't want rose petals strewn at my feet and witty banter galore, not even a smile, just courtesy and politeness, when I go somewhere to spend my money. What I got was the very opposite and warrants no excusing. French service in France is generally brisk but good. This was a mix of recalcitrance and antipathy and very unexpected and uncalled for.

I asked a woman behind the counter whether she'd pull the awning out further so I could sit under it. She was rude and sulky, rolling her eyes and looking at her colleague with that Vicky Pollard pout we all know and hate. She told me that I'd get wet, which wasn't concern about my welfare, but merely a way of fobbing me off because she really couldn't be arsed to help. I told her that I got the distinct impression that she couldn't care less about my wanting to sit outside so I'd go elsewhere. At the time, there was nobody else in the shop, so she wasn't at all busy. She was very unpleasant and the very opposite of what good service should be and I won't be going back.

I agree, Macroban. Who are these people and why do they want to redraw boundaries? I'd like answers, so if the two journalists are looking at this, consider it as a story, please. I'm willing to be interviewed. It's nto that I am anti Camberwell, just anti-meddling, anti-waste and pro-status quo.

This is quite fun

The barber on FHR says he's planning to use the space at the back of his shop for a ladies' stylist to use. And he told me that the man who owns 'The Blue Shop' on the corner wants to rent it out, but not sure as what. I told him I was glad to hear it.

About 35% of the leaves remain. The stems are sturdy and green. There had been plenty of growth hitherto.

I had it at about 14-15000 feet in China/Pakistan. It is not pleasant, and it was made worse by a stomach bug. The headache, nausea, breathlessness and lethargy it brings are nasty. I believe we ascended way too quickly and once I got down to a lower altitude I felt much, much better. A friend was unconscious with it and, perhaps, the cold - we were stuck in snow for a couple of days in the mountains. Because we were young and bold and very naive and under-prepared we didn't dwell on it. I'd check the Foreign Office website for further advice and don't underestimate it. Nero

I used to live in Clapham until eight years ago and agree that the demographic there is different from here. It was and is just 'smarter' and, because of the Tube link, there will be that many more City-types. The 'twixt the Commons' area was and still is very much richer than SE22 and some parts of SE21. Most of the kids I knew of went to private schools there. Nero

I put it in the garden when that agoraphobe yellow thing popped out for a few minutes last week, but failed to bring it in one night. I watered it sparingly since I got it. The leaves shrivelled and then dropped off. Perhaps it's not getting enough warm sunlight. And my M-I-L's tongue has lost its colour. Nero

It's the third one to go Northern Rock on me. All the leaves shrivelled and then dropped off. If I tap the pot, the remaining ones fall to the ground. Someone on this site said it's nearly impossible to kill them, so what gives? I yearn for a massive, glossy-green plant, like you have in Chinese takeaways. Nero

I agree that FHR is predominantly functional in terms of businesses there, but am confident that a revamped Anatolya and a new coffee shop will encourage more interest from customers and perhaps other businesses. Nevertheless, I still would like the parade to be pleasanter in terms of the way it looks. We'll see. Nero

Jumpinjackflash, hello. If you see the Two Trees man, could you ask him whether he has any plans for his place, or even if he'd like to clear it up a bit. (I know some might see that as an imposition, but I wouldn't, before there are 'how dare you' posts.) Nero

I'm all for it. Hopefully it'll help that parade 'get better'. The revamped launderette, the beauty parlour, Si Mangia, Anatolya and the established businesses are all good, but there's still an air of shabbiness about the place. Does anyone know who owns the yellow and blue place next to the barber's? It's a dump. And what is the blue place on the corner? PM me if anyone knows. Nero

! Just seen the previous post. Please could admin delete. Thanks.

There will be a coffee shop where Bont interiors used to be, on Forest Hill Road. People are working on the site right now. Nero

The Mind shop is at Goose Green, and I usually give stuff to it. I think I might just hop on a bus at Dulwich Library going the opposite direction than usual and see what I find.

I saw someone working in there the other day, after a longish period of quite. Nero

Was hoping for somewhere on a bus route. Nero

Are there any other charity shops I could take some books and clothes to? I usually give to Mind, Trinity and the place on Rye Lane, near to the Pulse, but wanted to see whether there are any others in SE23 or 21, for example. Nero