Pugwash

Bread of Life Cafe in Christ Church Barry Road

Purchasing goods in Mothercare and leaving everything in the shop. Remembering the next day and rushing to Mothercare in my lunch break - only to find I was a nomal pregnant woman and the shop staff had countless stories of other pregnant women doing exactly the same.

Agree it is a blind spot- you only just see people coming out as you are nearing the junction when driving up the hill. The other day I noticed that 2 women with buggies and a child in tow were attempting to cross LL at that point. Fortunately a car coming up the hill spotted them and was able to slow down and indicate them to cross. I was on a bus going down the hill - who also spotted the group and stopped.

Gumboots are holding a 4 week playscheme at the East Dulwich Community Centre darrell Road. SE22. 1st - 26th August 8am - 6 pm. ?22 per day Contact Dave - 07535 96 3880 or email him - [email protected] Activities include arts and crafts, trips out, film club, hockey, basketball, football,tennis, volley ball, table tennis,snooker etc. Art and Recycling workshops. Gumboots have been providing after school and holidays scheme for well over 10 years are are OFSTED Registered.

Agree all dogs should be on leads in the street and short leads not flexi length leads. Having had 4 dogs (retired greyhounds) they were all kept on short leads and muzzled so the local cat population was safe. Even in the park they were rarely let off the lead as were prone to attack by other dogs - especially little ones like Jack Russells. I find owners who use the extending leads to be generally irresponsible in their handling of the dog. They use the extending leads in the street allowing the animal to run 8/10 feet away- many a time I have seen a child become unsettled by a bounding dog, the leads are a menance to those with poor mobility or poor sight as you can be tripped up easily.

Years ago a single woman with 2 young girls moved into the council property next to my house.The girls were around 3/4 and 5/6 years of age. They started throwing food, bricks, shoes,wood etc over the fence and also almost hit an elderly blind relative who was in the garden at the time. After explaining to the girls about not only nearly hitting my aunt that she could not see items on the floor and could easily fall. Things carried on and we spoke to the mother who apologised and did nothing. Follwing an incident when my aunt was hit on the head ( it was something soft like food) we contacted the housing office and read them from their own conditions of tenancy rule book - the section on harressment and unsocial behaviour towards neighbours. We and other neighbours kept ringing the housing officer to report incidences until such time, the housing officer visited the mother and advised that any more complaints about the children's behaviour could end up with her losing her tenancy. Things were a little better after that.

whwere are you near - all quiet in LL/Barry Rd area

I have worked all my life with the exception of 5 years when I went to university as a very mature student. Worked in the public sector for 20 year before becoming a student, in a clerical and administration capacity. Whilst at Uni I paid voluntary NI contribitions of ?3 something a week out of my ?1000 pa grant, to ensure I had enough contributions for my pension. Took a professional job in public sector when graduated with degree plus a 2 year professional qualification, always aimed to retire at 66 as enjoy my work. My colleagues think I am mad not retiring at 60 -but that was never on my agenda. Recent blurb from work indicates that my annual pension will be around ?6,000 - ?7,000 a year. My contract states that my employer may increase my contribution without consultation up by 3% if they wish. The only public sector workers who get a high pension are those who are in the ?80 - ?200K a year bracket - Chief Executives and Senior Managers. I have a friend who worked in the Civil Service from the age of 16 - 55 when was told he would be retired as his job had ceased to exsist. He has had to find alternative work full time as his 'retirement' pension is insufficient to live on as has a mortgage still to pay.

having had cats who jump up every where - I have hidden food in ovens (heat off) microwave, fridge. Cats have weird taste, one of our cats loved curry - hubby got a very hot takeaway one night and the cat licked the container we had to laugh at his reaction - still did not put him off curry, As long as you keep surfaces really clean - I should not worry too much

My daughter wanted a professional photo shoot for her 21st. This included make up, several photos and a cd. Cost around ?120 4 years ago.

many thanks for your notes - I will take comfort to know that he probably made his way back home. We took him down to the vets yesterday so that he could be cremated. He had a habit of sitting on top of the fridge and whenever you opened the door, tried hanging upside down to swipe food as you took it out. As the only male cat in our 4 cat household, he loved to sleep on hubby, which funnily enough as did our last male cat Roger who died about 2 years ago from natural causes.

My Mum always wanted Bridge over Troubled Water at her funeral but it had to be Simon and Garfunkel. She got it She loved 'Bring him home' from Les Mis.( as the coffin was being lowered) The final song was 'Time to say good bye'. What annoyed me, I spent so much time sorting out the songs and the order, yet the undertakers tried to rush us away after a few bars of the final song. I grabbed hubby and closed my eyes and made out I was praying to hear a few more bars. Would not have minded if there was someone waiting to come in but there was nobody. Father in law being Polish had a Polish Ballard about white roses. ( we had white roses display with artifical red poppies as they are the national flower of Poland). Mother in Law went out to Verdi I fancy Tom Jones - Green Grass of home', possibly a bit of 'Phantom of the Opera' sung by Michael Ball or Russell Watson.

Gumboots After School Club is a completely different venture. It operates from 2 sites - Goodrich School ( for the kids of that school) and East Dulwich Community Centre. However, for the 4 week summer holiday scheme, any primary age child can attend. Full details are on the 'Whats on' page.

Got home from work at around 8.30 pm and found my 3 year old black and white cat Gerry, dead in my front garden. Blood all over his face and paws. He was either run over or attacked and someone had just laid him under our rose bush. Whilst it was comforting in some ways to see his body in the garden, I looked to see if anyone had dropped a note through the door explaining what had happened. He was a very friendly cat and if anyone stroked him, he would follow them, even across the road. If we saw him outside, we would put him over the gate into the back garden or take him in the house. if anyone knows what happened, please lets us know. We live opposite Christ Church and Gerry was well known to all our neighbours as he was a bit of a character. It was not very nice having to tell the grandchildren that they would not see Gerry tomorrow when they visit. Gerry loved children and a child might have petted him, and encouraged him to follow them. Whoever found Gerry must have known he was our cat to put him in the garden.

We had greyhounds who were not cat friendly so thay were always muzzled outside the house just in case. very friendly with children although we always kept an eye on them just in case.

All the boroughs are reviewing their library provisions, a friend is very involved in the only independent library locally - The Upper Norwood Library- and he is in great demand as to talk to loal councils as to how his committee runs a library much cheaper than LA. His answer is to cut back many of the managerial posts in the Library service without cutting back on librarians and resources. I rarely get music or CDs out of Dulwich Library and usually have about 10 books on the go each month - rather than to use the library service I would be happy to see an early closure one evening a week (say 6 pm), I would also be happy to pay an annual subscription of around ?26 to assist with financing. Many out of London libraries are charging ?1 per day per item for overdue items and only open weekdays so we are lucky up here. Unfortunately we will be on holiday on 11th July but will pass the word round. James, if you want to meet up with my friend and are around Camberwell early evening or lunch time I can probably sort something out.

My parents seperated when I was 2 years old and my father was allowed to see me twice a year. I hated going out with this 'stranger' for the day. It was not until I was 16 plus that the courts revoked the order and I had unlimited access to my Dad. I got to know him and my stepmother more when I worked in a residential children's home near them, I was 20 at the time. I am now listed as my father's next of kin and hold a lasting power of attorney for him as my step mother decided that she did not want him living with her and he went into a care home. I always stated that if my husband and I ever split there would be no limit on how often he saw the children and that we would come to an amicable financial arrangement. Hubby's daughter by first marriage - he financially supported her even when on the dole, access was messed up by ex wife and used as a means of getting extra money. Many years later, hubby sees his daughter regularly and phones weekly - yet her mother has not seen her for over a year ( and lives closer to her)

Personally i would like to see part of the site to be some form of medical centre i.e. Older persons out patients like the current Betty Alexander Clinic. Some rehab facilities, X ray and blood tests (as now). Part of the site to be developed by a Housing Association as an Extra Care Sheltered Housing Unit. A small private sheltered housing block (for those home owners who need to downsize or have extra support) A few bungalows for those with disabilities and possibly a small nursery. I do not think the site would be big enough for a school.

Sunday lunches at Le Moulin are always good in terms of choice, cost and taste.

Gas works in Friern Road. I assume this will involve closing LL - Etherow Street off for 2 way traffic. What is the plan for the buses? 16 weeks does sound excessive - although when you think that 2 men working M- F 8 - 4pm, with stoppages for rain, tea breaks and discussions around the 'hole', and long absences from the work site - could be about right!! if it takes x men to lay piping x feet 16 weeks, how many weeks would it take 10 men to do the same work? I used to hate those sums in my maths lessons

I grew up in ED (in Spurling Road) where my mum was a single parent ( my Dad having left her for another). Our upper floor flat had one gas fire, mould growing in the rooms due to the leaky flat roof which the private landlord refused to repair. We had no hot water, or bathroom and the only wc in the house could only be accessed by going through the downstairs flat's living room and down the garden as outside wc. When the wc was not working we had to use slop buckets and use the house next door's wc. Spurling Road was designated for slum clearance twice in the 1950s and 1960s. Mum was on the council housing list for 18 years and did not get an offer. School Uniform was a struggle for her - I had a mixture of new and 2nd hand clothing. From the day I left school, I vowed that I would never let my children live in such housing conditions as I was ashamed to bring home friends etc. My wages were ?13 pw with the GLC and I put by ?1-2 pw into savings, the rest going to mum and my fares. I got my first mortgage at the age of 25. My eldest daughter went to Goodrich, and they had regular jumble sales - there was always a table with school uniforms and barely worn shoes - everyone made a beeline for this stall - you could get a complete uniform for ?1. St.Anthony's had a similair set up when daughter No 2 went - and always had a 'spare clothes' cupboard for 'emergencies'. My grandchildren usually wear 2nd hand clothing - they are now 12 and 7, they are not into fashion in a big way thankfully, although the 12 year old usually spends her birthday and Christmas money on clothes. I think many children are raised with values that new is best, you must have the latest fad to be accepted by your peers. When daughter No 1, moaned as a teenager that we did not spend enough money to keep her in fashion, I asked her how fashion trends were started, why become a sheep when she could be a leader. She took this on board and set up her own fashion style (flowing indian/ethnic dresses/materials etc) which within a couple of years - everyone was following. She is now 38, still wears 2nd hand clothing and still likes the 'ethnic' look.

My daughter is/was in a similiar situation as she had lodgers who ran up debts. When they moved out they chucked all the letters in the rubbish bin. Daughter took them out and rang all the agencies involved explaining the situation. Fortunately she had the address of one of the lodger's parents, so she gave this as a forwarding address. She also stated that since all the utility bills were in her name, she would be happy to show any bailiff proof that this was her address - she also a photo ID card from her work which verified her identity. The National Debt Line were good- they gave advice when another company tried to get almost ?10000 from her in unpaid rent from a former student house, where she had moved out a year previously and had given written notice to landlord. Same when an ex boyfriend took out a mobile phone contract in her name and address.

I see my name mentioned - what have I said??

The ground floor of Holmhurst was used as the Day centre, the upper floors are used by the Community Mental Health Team for Older People. Many of the users have been at Holmhurst for years and will be disorientated for a while in new premises. My understanding is that all the users are being reassessed as it was discovered that some had not ben placed by social services and therefore were not included in the community care charging process (effectively receiving free care whilst many other atendees were paying). With the numbers increasing at FFrancis - it is possible that the Holmhurst people will not get the same number of days allocated to them. Most day centres now have older people who are in varying stages of dementia - however those at Holmhurst tended to have Alzheimers or end stage dementia, some with challenging behaviour. I would like to see Labour councillors vote for retaining day centres and scrapping the free meals for primary kids. Cutting back on day centres and similiar will have a massive effects on carers - depriving them of breaks, increasing their stress levels and ultimately forcing more people into care homes as carers physical and emotional health will eventually breakdown. There is a general agreement throughout the country that too many older people especially, are being force prematurely into care by the lack of community provisions. Southwark Council have been advised to cut back on the number of placements it makes and to keep people at home longer. The Tories (in Government) aided by Labour (Southwark)by a combination of cuts and ill thought out policies are determined to make life for the borough's older population more difficult.

Does anyone know if there is an organisation within easy reach of ED that does a basic manual handling course for carers? A relative is applying for paid carers positions and has been advised that before any agency takes him on, they prefer him to have a manual handling certificate .(It saves them paying for the course) From what I gather this will possibly involve correct way to help people from a chair, a bed and support them mobilising and may cover hoist transfers. Relative is on job seekers allowance, so course should not be too expensive and produce a professionally recognised manual handling certificate