Pugwash

Organised by the Barry Area Residents' Association (BARA) This is a free family event to be held at the East Dulwich Community Centre, 46 Darrell Road. SE22 9NL Prior booking essential to ensure sufficient container/compost and plants . Book either via email to [email protected] or 0208 693 5536.

Southwark in the past have not been proactive in collecting debts =.

Obviously a Sunday Lunch at £45 can only be considered a treat for a special occasion. With all the extras that Suzanne mentioned and classed as private dining for the odd anniversary lunch is probably ok. The hospitality business is being hit hard - we used to have a takeaway meal every 2- 3 weeks, but our local Chinese shut down a few months ago and we have not got round to finding another within walking distance. Had Fish and Chips from Joseph's a couple of weeks ago as was too tired to cook.

Maggie Browning a DH councillor recently had a baby and I believe plans to return to work. I think that to have the additional stress of being a councillor, a new mother and having a job is a good reason for not standing again. Maggie was one of the few labour councillors who were approachable, acted on your behalf in regards to several concerns and appeared at various public events i.e Police SNT Meetings, community events etc. Have met one of the new prospective councillors and introduced her to various community based organisations.

Have you spoken to Turners in Barry Road?

Agree that councils were not allowed to plough back housing revenue to create or improve stock. Young people especially, if they are lucky to have a decent job salary wise, find it impossible almost to find rented accommodation which is in a reasonable condition. We have a family member who is sharing a 3 bed ex council flat in Kings Cross area and are paying £2,500 pm between the 4 of them plus all utilities.

The lack of affordable housing is down to Thatcher's promoting sale of council properties. When I was working, I had to deal with many families/older folk/ disabled folk in inferior housing. The worst ones were ex council properties purchased by their tenants with a very high discount who then sold on for a profit. The new owners frequently rented out at exorbitant prices and failed to maintain the properties. I remember a gentleman who needed to be visited by a district nurse daily becoming very upset as he rented a room in an ex council flat and shared kitchen and bathroom with 6 other people (it was a 3 bed flat) the landlord did not allow visitors to the flat and this gut was frightened he would be evicted if the nurse visited daily. Unfortunately, the guy was re admitted to hospital and ended up in a care home as he could not receive medical help at home. Private developers are not keen on providing a larger percentage of 'social housing' as it dents their profits. Also a social rent is still around £200 plus a week

I was lucky that I received a student grant from 1990-1995 first 3 years for degree and 2 years post graduate bursary. Both were based on my income and I did not have to pay back. Eldest daughter got student loan and after 20 years managed to pay it off, Youngest daughter still paying hers 18 years later. Granddaughter - still paying after 6 years. Grandson decided against FE and secured an apprentenship. I am glad that I am an old codger and not young anymore !

It is not only Southwark - our grandson, partner and 7 year old had a one bed council flat for years in Harlow Essex and all the properties offered were in poor condition. They eventually took a property as if they refused another one they would drop to the bottom of the Housing List. It was damp and in need of a level of renovation. Having lived in these conditions for a while they were offered better council accommodation recently, but further away from child's school. They had to pay 2 lots of rent for a few weeks as council had to undertake work in the new premises before they could move in,

Try Baseline who are based in Peckham - find them under Which Trusted Traders,

Niko recommended by many on the forum - 07818607583

It looks as though there will be 10 of us! We are going to Love Dulwich again for a lunch and will checkout their 'normal' menu - from what we remember from the last 2 times we went = there was plenty to satisfy every one and they were happy to take party bookings.- Hubby and I have worked out that if all our daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren were to come - there would be 20 of us!! As it is - the Essex family branch live too far away to come over for an evening - so we will meet up in Essex at a later date.

Tend to use 37 or 42 bus as rarely been able to find parking space. Sods Law - there is sometimes a few spaces when I bus it.!

Both of our girls went to Dulwich Orthodontics - both had braces in their early teams.

Looking at the prices - !!!! my cut and blow dry usually costs me less than £25 with lowlights around £60. Adam in Forest Hill is a qualified hair dresser with many years experience.

Like most children they go through food fads! -the boy was into wraps and satay chicken before Christmas, but abandoned the wraps over Christmas. Likes Chilli con carne providing there is minimal sauce.. The girl will eat a mild curry, but not cheese, milk or yoghurt. Both will eat pizza, shepherds' pie. roast dinners, sometimes burgers, rarely chips. Their mother batch cooks meals to put in freezer as the nearest supermarket (Asda) is 2- 3 miles down the road and not on a bus route - so they rarely have takeaways/ready meals or eat out. They both eat fruit and veg daily and there is never a problem getting to eat these. Agree that The Plough can be hit and miss - a friend asked them to cater for a post funeral buffet and the food was terrible and was in short supply with some of the guests going hungry. She made a complaint and asked for a refund - and after a wrangle got it.

At least it is on the bus route - I do not use the car if I am dining out in ED as parking is so bad. Cannot wait to see what is on the menu.

Must recommend Baseline Build and Renovate Firm, who have recently completed remedial work in the kitchen and shower room in our ground floor extension. They also undertook some repair and repainted the external wall of the extension. Callum, the supervisor, came round regularly to check on the work underway and to answer any of our queries, The two guys who did the work were friendly,. hard working,, ensured that our floor and units were well covered with sheeting etc and cleared up daily before leaving, Had a couple of days when the rain was too heavy to undertake the exterior painting but work was completed within 7 days. I found them on the Which Trusted Traders web site They are based in Peckham.

Chern would be ideal if we did not have the children with us -they do not like Chinese/Indian food (their mum has tried with them) Went to The Plough for a drink after a funeral last week and had a look at their menu - expensive and unless they had a separate children's menu, did not see anything suitable. Lunch Time sandwich and drink was £12.

Had a meal at Chern Thai in Grove Vale today - a belated birthday meal for me. We have the lunch time specials as they are good value. Hubby used to go there every week but had not been for several months due to illness. Pao was happy to see us again and as usual the food was excellent . 0208 693 9749

We now go to the Forest Hill pool - more expensive (we are silver swimmers at ED) but much easier to book in person. Can book and pay for several swims in advance. Better and cleaner facilities.

Have been to both pubs in the evenings - whilst fine if there is only a couple of you but quickly gets full up and noisy. It will be a Friday evening - the only time everyone can make it due to work commitments. We went to Maria's Tortillas next to the Picture House last time and the food there was great for everyone, although we did not have the 10 and 12 year olds with us that time. I am hoping that the Persian restaurant opposite Grove Tavern will be opening in the next 3 weeks as this would be ideal. I tend to stick to fish, chicken and veggie meals.

The whole point of a family meal is for us to celebrate the families birthdays and we have traditionally paid. Both daughters only work part time and have mortgages etc. The food was good at the Vietnamese [lace but was spoilt by the overcharging of beverages. The 2 veggies usually share each other's food! £30 per head is way too much especially given the children do not eat much. When you do a booking at £x per head that usually covers all adults and children and only toddlers sharing parents food go 'free'

Shortly to commence is the St Anthony's school street which will cover Friern Road from Goodrich to Lordship Lane plus Etherow Street.