Pugwash

Some years ago, one of my clients had to move from his private rented tied house (the house went with the job)and was eligible for council housing. He and his wife were asked along to view a property on the Kingswood Estate - when the Housing Officer saw the couple his/her face fell as nobody had checked the application form properly and had allocated a flat on the 3rd floor, without a lift to an amputee who was permanently in a wheelchair! They were rehoused some time later in sheltered housing - they reluctantly accepted this as no other suitable housing.

Had fantastic fish, chips and peas at the Bread of Life caf? at Christ Church Barry Road, last week. ?7.90 to eat in, but they also do takeaway. Caf? currently open 10 - 3 pm Monday - Fridays.

Hubby cycled most of his life until about 4 years ago when his health deteriorated through arthritis. He sometimes rode from Tulse Hill to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire as he could not afford public transport (was unemployed at the time)- he frequently complained about other cyclists being a danger to themselves and other road users. He has always argued that cyclists should pay some form of road tax. Bike frames could have registration numbers etched on their frames. Also have a form of insurance. As a younger and fitter person, I used to cycle from East Dulwich to Westminster, but having poor balance, I had the bike fitted with wing mirrors on both handles so I could see traffic behind me. Many years ago, my aunt (in her late 60s) was knocked down by a youth (around 12- 15 years of age) cycling on the pavement outside the now Sainsbury's Local. She fractured her hip and throughout the rest of her life was in pain. The young man rode off when he realised that many pedestrians had witnessed the accident. Police were involved but never found the culprit.

Recently when visiting daughter in Durrington On Sea Sussex, we took a bus into Rustington. Good shopping areas, various types of houses/flats/bungalows. Mixture of generations. Next time we go to Sussex- will spend more time exploring Rustington. ( it is on the Littlehampton Rail line I believe)

Having ordered 2 books in late August I still have not heard whether they are now in Dulwich Library to collect as not had any emails. So long ago - I cannot remember what I ordered. More logical (to me) is to have a couple of mobile shelves/trolleys of various books (fiction/ non fiction) for people to browse. Shelves/trolleys can be moved each night into 'isolation zone' for 72 hours and a fresh lot of books put out the following day etc.

All depends where you live in ED as many practices have catchment areas

With more adults and children cycling due to road closures etc - has anyone got any idea if they have been involved in accidents and 'near misses'? I ask as I have noticed the following:- more adults with young children (under 11) cycling on main roads i.e Barry Road and Lordship Lane - adults leading with children following - frequently with large gaps between them. I would have thought it better for adults to be behind children. More pavement cycling of both adults and children. More running through red lights - adults and children. Cutting up of pedestrians on crossings and pavements.

Clarification on Government website dated yesterday. Pubs/cafes/restaurants can remain open with usual SD rules and also Track and Trace forms to be completed. Maximum seating is for 6 people in any one group.

I do not often go to Melbourne Grove and would not go in a car as always very hard to find parking spaces. Just as easy to get a bus and get off at Elsie Road or station depending which side of Melbourne Grove you wished to shop in.

have used Quick Print for years - very reasonable and helpful.

Speaking about the closures to our local police officer, he was concerned that a normal 10 minute journey for the police took almost an hour. It would seem that the council did not consult Southwark Police about their schemes. Our police officer is going to talk to his colleagues in Goose Green and Village wards as to their views about the traffic situation and the effect they are having on the emergency services.

Came back from Sussex today and automatically turned into the Village and realised that I could not go up Carlton. Joined a long queue turning right in EDG - after several traffic lights changed was able to do this. Spent the next 10 minutes waiting in traffic to get to the lights at Townley. Noticed many of schools appear to have gone back - large number of primary and secondary aged pupils on the streets. Turned into Townley and came to a standstill - there were 11 coaches parked both sides of road. Car in front of me could not proceed as car in front of them was wide and only managed to get through the parked coaches with inches to spare. Lorries were coming from LL end obviously thinking they could avoid the queues in EDG. In all from Village lights (Turney Road) to get to Dovercourt Road it took from 3.10 pm - 3.45 pm. This scheme is completely mad - causing more pollution from idling engines and driver frustration which could easily turn into drivers taking risks.-

A friend spent several months negotiating a leasehold flat and discovered that the shower and bath were not working due to some complicated plumbing issue. (The current owners were allowed by the management company to use the bathroom in a vacant flat next door)She employed a plumber to give an estimate which was in the region of ?1000 as whole bathroom would have to be ripped out and floors dug up (it was a concrete floor as purpose built block of flats) She tried to get a reduction in price but was refused. Decided that it was better to lose her deposit than try and get problem fixed. That was over 2 years ago and the flat is still on the market as once prospective buyers know about the plumbing they are not interested. The management company are still refusing to fix problems.

The whole Southwark website is a joke - I spent an hour or so trying to order 2 library books. Also took me ages to get to grips with everyone active website to book a swimming session for hubby.

We keep a couple of Oyster cards to give to relatives who live outside London when they are visiting us. Top them up once or twice a year.

The team I used to work in voted against hot desking, but our colleagues in the main building all opted for hot desking. They found that it as harder to work as very often all the desks were occupied and they had to check 2 floors to find a vacant space. Working from home was offered for report writing and other tasks which required concentration. Also if out visiting clients were not expected back at base if it was easier to go home and work from there. I imagine that the main Building colleagues do not have the pressures of hot desking at the moment and that many enjoy the freedom of working from home. I think it sensible for workers to return to work but allow 1 or 2 days home working a week. Through most of my working life I have tried to opt out of the 9 - 5 mentality, my last job before retirement was 10 - 6 pm on the grounds that I was frequently having to make appointments with relatives of clients who were working and it was much easier to see them after 5 pm. When there was a transport strike many years ago _ worked from 11 - 7 pm as I was dealing with youth workers who tended to work after school and in the early evening.

Twice a day for past week HMRC have contacted me - soon as I hear the recording I put the phone down.

Why not consider moving the stop to outside Mrs. Robinson and the barbers - plenty of space there.

Hubby did see a notice on Friday - I think he said weekends were 10 - 2 - I know the hours were shorter than the weekday openings.

Having done a couple of speed watches with Kevin, it is an interesting way to spend a couple of hours observing people's driving habits. You get to use a speed gun. The Barry Area Residents' Association (BARA) instigated the speed watch in Barry Road and we were based at Etherow Street junction and a few others with local councillors were based at Upland Road.

Had a meal in Weatherspoons in Lewisham High Street on Thursday. Asked hubby if he filled in register of customers. he said there was not one - those who paid via AP automatically had details listed but those paying by cash or card did not have to fill in details and there was no visible recording sheet by bar. Pub was busy but people were SD.

Hubby has been to Johnnies several times in the last 4 weeks on different days of the week, He checked whether did the 50% offer Mon - Weds and was informed that they were not in scheme. Talking with one of the servers he found that staff must have been on zero hours as nobody was furloughed. Kinsella's opposite Johnnies is in the scheme.

Tried ordering via catalogue - managed to order 2 books only in nearly an hour - not a very user friendly site. Hubby ordered a book by phone and was advised later that it was sent to Dulwich Library on 17th August. Went to collect it on 21st and was told that boxes had not been unpacked. Eventually collected 27th August and talking to librarian about my difficulty in ordering via internet , did comment that many people have found the system slow and not helpful.

I have a few friends who have been working from home. One a senior manager is fed up being at home and has asked to return to the office but was refused, yet his junior staff have been encouraged to return. The other is a friend whose daughter has been working from home since March - daughter has a business mobile phone plus laptop. Her elderly mother is becoming increasingly frustrated at the noise of the phone, the tapping of the keyboard and also that her daughter questions why she wants to go out of the flat to the local shops. Having to spend 24 hours each day with her daughter is driving her up the wall- she is used to daughter being out of house between 8 am - 6 pm. Another friend is a social worker in a Children's Team, she has been working from home since March, contacting her clients by phone but going into work 2 days a week. Some of her work is child protection and she needs to visit families/foster parents etc for face to face meetings.