Pugwash

I had all day sickness with baby no2 for 4 -5 months. I lived off Bovril drink, wholemeal rolls and cheddar cheese. End result another Girl, and I was the same weight post pregnacy as before pregnancy.

if anyone cried ha ha - Aunt Vi would follow it with Ha Ha she cried waving her wooden leg in the fog! Whats to eat - Bread and Pullit. Of a talkative person - she is all mouth and no trousers ( I used to mishear this and thought it was a person called Martha Trousers. Generally it was said of a certain mother of 4 sons and my family thought it hilarious that I thought her name was Martha) Girls were told in the 1950s/60s not to wear patent shoes as people could see their knickers reflected in them!!

My mother and her family were Batemans who lived in Landells Road no.63. My nan was Alice, her sisters Violet and Gladys, they had brothers Walter and Harry (?)( Or was Walter known as Harry? - I know there were 2 boys). Cousin William married Viney and settled in Pellatt Road with 2 daughters - Linda and Jane. Family way back had all lived in Pellatt Road before some of them moving to Landells. When I have time I need to look up my father's family - discovered last year when I was given a painting done by my grandmother - that she was a member of a music hall troupe called the Aubrey Sisters. I had known about the music hall stuff but thought they went under the name Witham as my great grandfather was Walter Witham. My great Uncle was Dion Wade another music hall star but real name Joseph Cregan who died in his mid 30s and is buried in Putney Cementry.Walter Witham was an artist who exhibited in his native Liverpool and Inow have several pictures painted by him. Intrestingly enough, whilst I cannot paint or act for toffee, both my daughters are quite artistic, one teaches drama and is a good singer, and my grandaughter is artistic, wants to be an actor and writes poetry. Funny how we inherit some traits/skills from long gone ancestors - nature or nuture?

Thanks James for work you have being doing behind the scenes regarding reducing traffic accidents at Underhill/Barry Road. Lets hope the measures proposed,when they get installed, help.

When we had greyhounds - they could get at bit upset around small dogs at times so we always kept them in a muzzle when they were outside the house. They were very good with children and generally very easy going animals. Just sometimes they got stroppy with other dogs who bounded up to them. I know how devestating it is when your animal is injuried - hope Woody recovers soon.

Am I one of the few people who get and read Southwark Life and all the rest of the blurb that comes through the letter box. Does have useful info in it at times - I do tend to keep it for 2-3 weeks before it goes into recycling. I agree with previous writers about CP Rd, was driving up there on Saturday after taking the cats to the vets in Peckham, going around 20 mph due to potholes, bumps etc when I was overtaken by a prat in a van on the wrong side of the road between North X and Whateley going around 30/35 mph fortunately there was no oncoming traffic otherwise. Regardless whether you make this a 20 mph zone or not there will always be a few idiots who take no notice. Is it illegal to put up 'dummy cameras'?

Lived in East Dulwich all my life ( well except for a couple of years in Forest Hill). Good community feel - we have a lively Community Centre ( East Dulwich Community Centre) which has social events as well as being home to various organisations. A Fair Traid Centre at Christ Church (Barry Road/Lordship Lane Corner) which also has a cafe Mon- Friday.Christ Church is hosting the SE London Jazz Orchestra on 30th January (see Whats on in ED section)A family Barn dance is planned for early March. We have lots of pubs, wine bars and various restaurants, organic butchers, Eastern European Shop, wet fish shop, Sainsburys. If you have primary aged children - get their names down quickly for schools as many popular schools around here. Friendly Police - The East Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Team are very helpful - we know most of them by their first names. Dulwich Community Council meetings are a good place to find out what is going on in the area in terms of policing, developments etc. Very few council estates, most council and housing associations are street properties, various residents' associations. Street parties, lots of family events at pubs - what more can you ask for. Population mixed - loads of families, students, singles, lots of oldies who have been around half a century and more in the area, plus newcomers. Actors like ED and you will see many familiar faces.

I pay into the Beneden private health scheme - this covers members for consultations and treatment but you need to try and use NHS services etc first. Hubby had severe back pain some years ago, could'nt move so was taken by ambulance to Kings A & E - not really sure of cause, but gave antibiotics as thought may have infection and also pain killers. Pain went after a couple of weeks. Reappeared again a year or so later, GP tried to arrange a specialist appointmnet - waiting time for appointment 4 - 6 months. GP wrote letter to pass to Beneden, who got a private patients appointment with same specialist within 2 weeks - tests showed that hubby had done so much running over his life ( anything from 10 - 60 miles a week) that he had worn out some of the discs in his spine. Running reduced to once or twice a week for less than a mile - improvement in pain, but ended up having to give up running. Beneden is a good compromise - getting private consultations early to identify cause and you have an option to wait for NHS referral and treatment, or being treated privately.

It sounds something like a film shoot! Clint Eastwood was not around? Or the cast of 'The Bill'? Will have to ask the Safer Neighbourhood Team at their next meeting!!

I also get a Freedom Pass for a disability but being 60 next month have been advised to get the 'oldies' one as covers out of London transport. Men qualify at 60, in line with retirement age for women - what will happen when compulsary retirement age is 65 plus for both sexes?

Mum and Dad are hilarious, Tindy is a bit of a spoilt brat getting his mum to turn up his music cos he did not want to get out of bed. House husband son in law - unusual as most Asian males I know would rather be the bread winner.

My youngest daughter did work experience in a private day nursery and was upset at the way some of the staff reacted to the children - they were not cruel just thoughtless. She told me of an incident where a child around 2 -3 did a painting for her mum, the staff told the child it was not good enough to give mum and tore it up. Daughter had to comfort child as staff did not seem to realise how their actions had upset child. I agree that you need to talk to the Nursery manager - having worked with children with learning disabilities, they too need to know 'good' and 'bad' behaviour, it may take longer for them to realise that pushing other children is 'not good' but it is essential. Are the staff wary of repremanding the child with LD - they may feel that they are 'picking on him'. Is the child's mother/father aware of the pushing incidents?. I must admitt my youngest went to my workplace nursery from 6 months to almost 5 - any incident I was immediently told about when I collected her. There was a child who was going through the biting stage and my girl got bitten on the cheek- i was rung up at work and told about the incident ( which was also in the incident/accident book). After a few similiar incidents, the child's mother was informed and together with the staff, the parents were supported in implimenting some behaviour modification techniques with the child in question, and the biting gradually ceased.

Tessa Jowell's popularity has waned over the past few years- partly due to her cabinet role and not being seen around DAWN ( Dulwich and West Norwood). Secondly- her husband did not help the situation with all the goings on with the Italian PM, for which he now may receive a jail sentance. Tessa has been seen in East Dulwich - she was in North Cross Road apparently a few weeks back. I do a lot of community work and used to bump into Tessa frequently at various events -I don't think we have been at the same events over the past 3 plus years. One person I do bump into frequently at Community Events is the Lib. Dem. PPC - Jonathan Mitchell. I hear from associates in Lambeth that he spends a great deal of time on that side of the fence as well ( more than Tessa it seems) The Tory candidate for DAWN has been seen on a couple of ocassions.

Verbal abuse and emotional abuse are very damaging to a child. From what I have read there seems to be older children in the household? Do they get the same treatment? If so and you can identify their school - you may feel happier talking to the Head or the nomimated Safeguarding person in the school. I had a neighbour several years ago who ignored her 2 under school age children - they ran out in the street in early hours of the morning. At one time a man approached me quite concerned as the 3 year old was walking in her pjs in the main road. He was apprehensive to approach her in case he was suspected of child abuse. He had taken to knocking on everyone's doors to see if they knew the child. When I went out in the street with him, I recognised the girl and took her home. Her mother was not at all concerned - I said if that there were any more situations like this I would have no hesitation in calling Social Services. My other neighbour also had concerns over the family as the new 'step father' was often heard yelling at the girls if they wet the bed. We managed to find out the nursery they attended and rang the nursery who informed us they had not seen the girls for a couple of weeks and were worried. We gave them details of what was happening and they rang the family's social worker. I would urge anyone who suspects that a child or even an adult, is being abused physically, emotionally, financially or verbally to contact Social Services. They can do it in confidence - social workers are not allowed to inform of their informants in Safeguarding cases. Constant verbal abuse is equally damaging to a child. As a parent - I have had times when my kids were young of feeling that everything was on top of me, that I could not cope ( I had long standing post natal depression which was not picked up for a number of years) Ok this lady may have just 'lost' her partner and things are emotionaly and financially tough for her - but alerting someone in social services may not only help the child but also the mother- i.e. accessing benefits etc, providing support. In the worst case scenario - think of Baby B - perhaps if concerned neighbours alerted social workers more - things may have been different. As responsible adults - we most follow our conscience.

If I recall correctly - Greendales comes under Robin Cruickshank Hilton the Tory Councillor under Village Ward. I maybe wrong. Robin is pretty good with local issues and lives around the East Dulwich Grove area somewhere as very keen on getting things right for local residents.

Tessa has full time paid assistants to answer all her queries. They sometimes take her surgeries. Tessa over the past few general elections has been losing votes in Dulwich and West Norwood, and needs to keep a high profile to ensure her supporters vote for her. As far as I am aware, councillors do not get paid secretarial or admin support, although those with special responsibilities/chair committees are likely to.

On Saturday the boys in blue turned up in Barry Road, following an incident where some 'chancers' decided to climb scaffolding errected on a building and nicked some lead on the roof. Not contented with that property, they made their way to adjoining properties and attempted to do the same. Unfortunately they were spotted and eventually nicked. Peckham Police officer informed me that there had been a number or burglaries in ED - some of the thieves had been caught- these were people from both the Camberwell and Peckham areas. ED is seen to be a 'wealthy area' hence the 'tourists' see us as rich pickings.

Agree that by taking a date a couple of days before school holidays start can save pounds. My daughter took her chidren to Disney Land Paris in January and missed 2 days of start of term. School were quite OK about this but had she missed more days they would have objected.

The East Dulwich Community Centre is on Darrell Road, SE22 Lucy is the lady in charge but I do not have her phone number

Just a quick plug before the Forum goes on holiday! Monday 19th October 2009. 7.45 for 8pm. East Dulwich Community Centre, 46-64 Darrell Road. SE22. Invites you to its AGM. Agenda: Welcome and Apologies. Minutes of 2008 AGM and Matters Arising. Report of future of Centre. Annaul report and Audited Accounts. Resolutions. Election of Committee. Election of Officers. The AGM is open to all people living in the area of benefit ( bounded by Lordship Lane, East Dulwich Road, Dunstans Road and Upland Road) As we are now a charity, you will ned to register with us as a member to participate in the AGM. Anyone who attends and signs the attendance sheet will be considered to be a member. Individual members can stand for election to the Committee. Free Raffle Tickets will be distributed at the start of the meeting. 1st Prize to be confirmed. 2nd prize Hamper of fruit and/or veg from Pretty Traditional Northcross Road. 3rd Prize - voucher for Emily's Fish Bar Northcross Road. After the meeting there will be a supper and short performance from the Incredible Sax Band.

Hi Ko and James Both ends of Landells are pretty bad. Hubby Chris is always moaning about it as cycles up the full length of the road at least three times a week. KO wait until you have to push your pram over the road -you will notice it more then!

Why not feedback at the East Dulwich Discussion on 13th October at the Community Centre - see General issue section for details.

Why not come to the East Dulwich Discussion on 13th October at East Dulwich Community Centre to feed back. See general section for more details.

Bumping up again

James, Have you cycled up Landells Road recently? Suggest you do so - the road is terrible - hubby says can you see if it is scheduled for resurfacing?. Thanks.