Nero

Why not go for a walk in Dulwich Park, have a look in the gallery, have a cake in the nice caff there, have a g and t in the Dog and then go for a massage or facial at the beauty place just down from teh Post Office? Nero

I've done it before and will do it again. One time, in Strada in Clapham, a group of braying 30something parents (yes, they did bray) allowed their poppets to run riot. Eyes rolled, tongues clucked, so I asked the errant kiddies to please be quiet and go and sit still so that everyone coudl have a pleasant time. I couldn't not have done it without exploding. The parents said nothing to me but did repeat my request to their kids. Have a go. Don't suffer in silence. Nero

It is about a swimming pool, despite your rather recondite axe-grinding. I picture you in a frilly swimcap, noseclip and verrucca socks, doing a studied side-stroke. Who knows, if the place stays open, perhaps I'll get to see whether my prediction is true. Nero

It's a start, snoozequeen1. Now, you go and have a lie down. After all that up-to-date political satire you must be worn out. Sweet dreams. Nero

Tess Jowell MP reads this site. I will alert her to the thread. Nero

What about shady areas? What could I put where the sun don't shine? Am I limited to ferns and ivies? Would prefer native perennials. Nero

I have heard of this and think it is ill advised. If you get a petition up, let me know. I'd like to sign it. Nero

Hello all, I have some good quality, contemporary, hardly-worn men's clothes, such as sweaters, jackets, shirts. ChiChi RaRa is not interested as it is not vintage, so is there anywhere else, either nearby or in town, that would take them off my hands for a few pounds? Let me know. Thanks.

The Angel at Hetton, North Yorkshire. Ticks all boxes. Also, The Rock House, Stockport (RIP). 100% old-school 70s boozer. Double Diamond ashtrays (with those tan-coloured burns in the plastic), KP nuts hanging from card festooned with dolly birds, swirly carpet, Chicory Tip on jukebox, Shaws cherryade pop and peppermint cordial. I was six. Nero

I'm with Snorky. The original thread smelt fishy. Hope it doesn't close, though. Nero

It's fine with me, but why not just speak your mind there and then rather than bleat about it to strangers? Do you want someone else to do the complaining for you? Such a fear of confrontation is one of the reasons we have poor service in the UK.

I have noticed this several times. Hate to hassle the bus driver about it though, as he could then make my journey hell. For Pete's sake! What could he do? Threaten to paper cut you with a ticket? If you're being shortchanged in any way when it comes to service, complain, there and then! Get real.

It's sometimes not being discriminated against, rather seeing others (non-white) being given special courses, mentoring systems, traineeships etc that some people don't like. I don't like it really, especially when the people who are selected tend to be people who could have a really good shot at success anyway. Where some organisations fall down is completely discounting the fact that disenfranchised candidates can, and often do, include working class people, be they white, brown, yellow, or black. And who's to say that once selected to a scheme, they won't end up becoming just like the white people who selected them. Organisations tend to have a predominant culture, and it would be very hard to change it radically with just a few ethnic minority candidates, which begs the point, why select them in the first place? Nero

So where, apart from the two charity shops on LL, will accept old books? I have a few I want to get rid of. Nero

Hanging baskets would be nice, but I don't want municipal pansies. How about hanging baskets with local plants and flowers, rather than the gaudy stuff we usually get. Cleaner, Greener Southwark might help out here? If not, then there is a section of the council that does this, so why not ring and ask, Big Tone. I look forward to hearing more about it. Nero

Mine's about 6.5/10. We have recycling bins on every floor near the lifts for plastic, cans, mobile phones, CDs, batteries, DVDs. We have green plastic bags for paper and magazines in every office, as well as bins for plastic and cans. We have a sink and a kettle and people have their own mugs. Most people switch off their computers and screens when they go, much more so than about three years ago. Toners and cartridges are recycled. Lighting can be lowered. There is double glazing and blinds. Canteen scraps are recycled (I think). There is a very small car park and there are bicycle racks. There is a solar panel on the roof, with a display in the lobby telling us how much energy is being saved through its use. But people still prefer to get the heating whacked up rather than wear an extra pully. Nero

From my experience, the station employees have not been reporting the rubbish build up. There was some real ancient, sun-bleached examples there. Good to know the number. Ta.

Wrinkled

A while back I posted that I was going to contact the rail company to complain about the litter that gathers behind the fence. I did get a reply, telling me that it would be looked into. I'd copied the letter of complaint to Tessa Jowell, who, as TJMP, has replied to me. She told me that the railway station is cleaned daily and that it is considering re-installing plastic sacks in hoops for rubbish. She also said that Network Rail is responsible for the area behind the mesh fence and that they clean the area from time to time. I went recently and it is cleaner. In time, says TJMP, TfL might take over the station, which, she implies, would be good because TfL's standards are higher than Network Rail. Nero

Happening today Petition against them here 1.7 million freesheets left on buses tubes and trams every year. Do your bit, people! Take yours home or bin it! Nero

Cassius, I am not one bit surprised. That's just one of the reasons why my latent misanthropy grows ever bigger. It's not a facility I use much, especially at normal commuting times. If it offends any one on here, you know the number to call.....! (7525 2000). You might get an extra bin. Nero

Whatever the pros and cons are, hundreds of people are now more aware of the problem. Next mission - to rid the public transport system of discarded Metros and other such 'news'papers and other delights such as chicken bones and cherry stones. And if you think your area needs an extra bin, ring 7525 2000 and ask for one. They sometimes oblige, and if they don't, you can request a street clean either as a one off, or let Southwark know that that particular area is a grot-spot. Nero

Fast asleep and felt nothing! Nero

BellendenBelle, I share your horror of littering. When appropriate, your shaming idea is worth a go. It's so mucb better than silent seething or passive aggressive behaviour. I also think that when I pick up cans and bottles from teh street, a subliminal message is received by people, who might think twice about littering in the future. But I also feel sympathy with seanmlow's view that the wardens are less likely to pick on a group of men in Camberwell, or go looking for 'victims' outside a pub. Nero

PeckhamRose, I am an anti-litter person too. I also ask peopel not to drop their crap and pick up bottles and cans and put them into the nearest recycling bin. But I do think that ?75 for littering is too much, and that running a red light is much more serious than dropping a cigar butt. And I think that moer would be done if the people sometimes at least went around on their own, with radio back up and a camera. Nero