Pugwash

For past few nights even with extra jumper I felt cold and put the heating on for a couple of hours. We never put the heating on in the bedroom as neither of us like a warm bedroom. Difficult to get washing dry this weather so helps having short bursts of heat. To take the chill off in the lounge - I sometimes put the fan heater on for half an hour.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, we lived in Spurling Road and the Foresters was our local pub. I think that was the name in those days. Entrance was through a small door in Crawford Grove - I vaguely remember that this was for 'off sales' ( rather odd as there was an off licence at corner of Spurling and Crawford (opposite the sweet shop). Very much a working mans pub - cannot recall carpets etc

We have a dropped kerb - it was in place when we purchased the house in 1975. For the past few years we have double yellow lines - painted overnight without notice by the council and without any approach to ourselves. This mean when our family visit (with 2 children under 4) they have to let us know in advance. We then move dustbins etc and reposition my car on the flower beds to enable them to get into our hard standing. Our other daughter has teenage children and seeks ot parking spaces - usually a 10 minute walk away.

When I am with a child - I always cross at the lights and press the button, when I am by myself - I use my judgement as to whether it is safe to cross else where. As a driver, I find turning right from LL into Barry Road can be problematic as the filter light is not always working. I find driving down Court Lane then up Eynella to cross over to Barry at the lights is far safer. You do get the odd idiot who decides to cross Barry when the red light is showing and seems surprised when cars hoot them.

It is usually the responsibility of the cleaner who undertakes the daily clean of the toilets to change the bins. Many places where there is a large footfall clean twice daily. If there is overflowing bins - what is the general state of the toilets?

Hubby got his jab last week - he has asthma so at risk. GP has not contacted me yet - am also in the risk group due to diabetes.

Many hostels for the homeless are 'dry hostels' and will not tolerate those who drink. Hopefully a 'wet hostel' can be found for him. There were a number in Southwark cannot remember the name of the charity it has a greek sounding name.

have used Qwick Print for a number of years - seems to be a family run business. We use them for our newsletters (around 12,000 a year). Invitations and posters.

ED has a fair number of Polish Families but I do not know of any who may have teenage or early 20s 'children'

During the week you may be lucky to find a parking spot on CP Rd but rarely on a Saturday

It is virtually impossible to park anywhere in the vicinity of NorthX Rd, CP Rd and any of the side streets on a Saturday. Suggest you consider Darrell and Hindmans Road.

east Dulwich Ward Police meet in Christ Church on a Wednesday. I think it is 12 - 1 pm. There were too many complaints about the police meeting at the library as they were not given a private interview room and there was a lack of privacy for residents who wanted to discuss their problems/concerns.

Both hubby and I do voluntary work and have done since the early 1980's. What you will find in every community that it is the same group of people who seem to cover every thing. Even churches are suffering from lack of volunteers - people will come to church on Sundays but if the church wants to put on a fund raising event - very few volunteer. As a non Christian - my local church is more a community hub and I am happy to be involved in non religious activities there. Our children were also involved in voluntary work when they were younger and now with their own families still help out. One daughter is on the committee of a mental health charity which supports art and sculpture for those with poor mental health, her daughter is now also involved in the Art Project. The other daughter taught drama to young people with learning difficulties prior to having a young family herself. Those people who are given community service often work in charity shops some reluctantly and some willingly so this could affect their attitudes towards donations. Many shops have designated volunteers who deal with books and may only be in the shop once a week or fortnight. I assume that these people have good knowledge as to whether the book can be priced at ?1 or ?10 depending on the quality/type/ condition/rarity of the subject. I paid ?5 some time ago for an Art Book for my granddaughter to discover that it was priced ?45 in a well known bookshop. This was definitely a bargain.

Christ Church Barry Road weekends (SAT 10 - 1 pm SUNDAY during service times.

The church has got parking spaces for a few cars so I imagine it is first come first served situation. The bus stops are near Goodrich and Underhill so within a zebra crossing and lights. I got the impression that the lady I spoke with thought that with a zebra crossing outside Graham Court the car speeds would be reduced. Highly unlikely judging the number of times I have been overtaken when driving down at around 20mph.

Secondary school age and only a basic phone with pay as you go as they are easily lost. Also less chance of being stolen as thieves want Smart phones etc.

Hi James, I was approached by one of our local residents requesting that the council give some consideration to install a zebra crossing in Barry Road to enable Church attendees at St. Clements to cross safely (by Graham Court). I mentioned the Goodrich crossing and the Underhill lights but was informed that many attendees come by car and have mobility problems and the crossings are too far away to walk to. I felt that this may not be practical but promised I would contact you anyway.

St. Christopher's LL have had many paid managers over the past couple of years and some crackpot ideas have taken place. I had some clothes which were too small for me and good quality but I was informed that they would not take anything over a size 18. Being bigger than that - I have never been able to buy clothing in charity shops although the size 10 and 16 's in my family get many bargains. I have not been in the St. C's shop in Sydenham for years - we donated a lot of curtains/sheets and clothing when we cleared out my Mum's flat to the extent they told us that they could not take any more so we ended up touring all the charity shops in Forest Hill, Sydenham and Penge. I do go to Adlife in Forest Hill but find the quality of their clothing poor and somewhat outdated (I look for bargains for my grandchildren) But their book selection is very good - not keen on their bric a brac.

As well as reporting to the Police you can contact Social Services and they can investigate under their Vulnerable Adults Policy. The new Care Act places a duty on local authorities to investigate concerns raised even if the abused person is not receiving services fro social services.

From what I can gather from a volunteer at St. Christopher's is that when people donate, they are asked whether they wish the charity to claim gift aid . The forms are kept at the till and until recently only having one till and limited space for people filling in the forms, meant that frequently people purchasing would get impatient having to wait whilst the Gift Aid form was being processed by the donator and volunteer, that they would just dump their stuff and walk away - thus losing the charity many sales. With the reorganisation of the shop, 2 computerised tills have been installed, one will be used for general sales and the other for purchasers with a Gift Aid card as this has to be processed in a different way and takes longer to ring up. I have seen 'designer' or well known labels priced higher due to their good condition and did hear of a ?20 dress being sold and when the purchaser looked the designer up on the computer, found that the dress was selling for over ?100 retail, so they got a very good bargain. As St. Christopher's has many shops in SE London and Kent, stock not selling well, or too much stock is transferred to other branches. Bags which are left outside the shops are frequently torn open and scattered across the pavements and can be torn and/or get dirty ( or simply peed upon by dogs and humans) so have to be binned. Members of my family over the years have been volunteers in charity shops and have always been told that they have to pay for any goods they want in the shops so that the charity does not lose out. I have also overheard people trying to haggle a lower price for items in St. Christopher's - wanting something priced as ?1 for 10p!.

I would have asked the management if you could have another table away from the old folk. I can understand if your son was having a real strop ( having an 18 month old grandson it can be very embarrassing in public) But why should these old fogeys dictate . I suppose if you have young teenagers who like to laugh and chat - they would have also been in the firing line! Its people like those who give a bad name to all us retired people.

Once again the East Dulwich Community Centre has an Open Day - visit the animals from Surrey Docks Farm from 11 am - 2 pm Free. refreshments available for sale

My friend did speak to our 2 ward police officers yesterday whilst they were holding their weekly surgery at Christ Church so hopefully they can be on the lookout.

if the part time girl washes I give her a ?1, the cutter ?2 but if I have lowlights (?35-?40) I give the hairdresser (the owner) ?5 - I usually get a mug of tea or coffee whilst I am there.