Nero

Do not scrimp, and try to get a free stopover (though it might cost you more because of taxes). For the sake of a ?100 or so you could get a good deal on a good airline, like BA, Qantas or Cathay. Emirates is also good, but you are less likely to want to stop over in a place some 5 hours into your journey than at one about 11 hours in, like Singapore, HK or Bangkok. Don't underestimate how debilitating travelling in economy is for such a long time. You will pass through at least seven time zones and will arrive feeling pretty crap even on the best airline. Yeah, it's worth it in the end, but do yourself a favour and get the best and most comfortable flight you can.

The photography shop right near to the pelican crossing near the police station has closed down. The owner is still continuing his business but not from that retail premises.

If you have a mortice lock, get another one. I have two, fitted by a locksmith, and feel much more secure than with just one. It might be regarded as overkill, but I read that two locks are a real deterrent to a would-be burglar.

Only if it had been drizzled in biodynamic walnut oil and sprinkled with Himalayan salt, obviously.

James84, I don't think Councillor James is trying to make political capital out of the subject of burglary in the area. He is quoting statistics, which is what politicans - of every shape, size and colour - do. Whilst he is in a position of authority, and even power - to an extent - you and everyone else have to recognise that you have a part to play. Are you mindful of your own house's security? Have you done an audit of your immediate environment, ie. your street, your neighbours' houses, so that you are aware or potential weaknesses? Do you complain when the street lights go out or when graffiti and litter and dumped refuse gather near your property? Do you report any suspicious activity to the police when you see it? Do you keep an eye out for your neighbours who might be less well-placed to help themselves when it comes to security? Rather than bleat about not seeing enough help coming from a local councillor, whose name you would probably not know unless you came on this site, understand that you and me and almost everyone else is able to contribute to our own and others' security, even if it is just in a very small way.

Ko, Maybe they'll be ignoring you to chat about swingeing public services cuts next Wednesday?

Damon, Why not ask the owner of the tree whether you could have access to it? S/he can only say no (or yes).

QED

FHS, give the wo/man a break! The way you pounce on him/her like Angela Lansbury with a migraine is shaming. It's as if you are expecting, nay WANTING, the poster to be a crypto-racist just so you can be the first to jump up and down with your liberal knickers in the air (and yes, that is a Jonathan King reference, but I am not a pedlo, before you start.)

I often notice that there are scores of fallen apples in the yard right behind the Franklins shop. Could they be collected and used, even if for animals? You probably haven't noticed them, but it does seem incongruous for you to be extolling the virtues of growing and using apples at home when there are loads of them in your very back yard going to waste.

Saw a collared dove and wood pigeon eating berries from the pyracantha in my back garden. The former was much better at it than the latter, which just sort of stood about on the branches looking a bit clueless.

It was the EDF Wayward Apostrophe Unit.

After a long and hard shift, I got on a bus that was crowded. I inched my way along to the back and saw a three year old sitting next to his father, so I asked him to put his child on his lap. From his reaction you'd've thougth I'd asked him to hand over all of his worldly goods, but he did put the child on his knees and I got my seat. If you don't ask, you don't get.

There's been an accident on Underhill Road, according to the driver of one P13 whose bus was on diversion. P13s are going straight down LL and turning at the Harvester.

I email US people quite often through work, and they inevitably reply 'thanks so much for reaching out to us', which is US overkill for 'thankyou for contacting me'.

I saw some very new-looking Bag It and Bin It signs on Dunstan's Rd yesterday.

Oh, good grief! 21C too 'cold'? What rot. Butch up a bit, mate! Sheesh. Over-heated pools and changing rooms are uncomfortable and wasteful, of money and electricity.

Cd you post a link that has - hopefully up to date - info on swimming times and prices. Thanks.

You think it a good idea to goad an obviously ill man by nicking the hat of his head? If you do, then you are maybe as 'mental' as he is.

Missed out due to workage, but popped my head inside this morning, and it looked great. Glad to see Meantime beer on sale (tho' wasn't able to make out whether it wast IPA.)

Mrs P, The only way to deal with it is to either collar the person who is responsible, or contact the council's environment line and request that the pavement be sprayed with 'bag it and bin it' signs. 7525 5000.

Scoresby, You must have spent a good ten minutes writing that very informative and impassioned post. Why not spend another ten tracking down the right person to write to and do so? It might just get something done.

Dunno. Perhaps it's in competition with the (now mythical) Dulwich Baths to see which one can remain annoyingly out of action for the longest time.

Applespider, Cd you PM me the recipe for the sourdough bread? I don't have a machine, so am looking to bake it in the oven, in a 2lb tin. Thanks.

I heard on the PM programme on Radio 4 that the Post Office/Royal Mail will be nixing its 14,000 bikes and replacing them with vans, mainly because the pushbike can't accommodate all the Amazon/ebay etc. material that the modern-day postie has to deal with. Why not, Monica, get in touch with a Royal Mail high-up and see whether they would consider donating old bikes to your campaign, and to others up and down the country?