Pugwash

The scenario quoted took place before the Welfare Reforms of this year took effect.

Sounds familiar!! We just ignored our daughters stroppy behaviour, tried not to rise to her baits, eventually worked. She got fed up trying to attract our attention by shocking us with her behaviour. It does come back - when they are teenagers.

Only last week hubby saw a loose wienamara ( I think that it is spelt correctly)charging down LL from bank opp. Dulwich Library. Followed by a man running with a lead in his hand hubby asked him if he had lost a dog and pointed out the direction the dog had taken. Guy informed him that dog was not his and he had him off lead ( in the park>) Hubby thought guy daft to let a valuable dog which was not yours off lead. He wondered whether it was a paid dog walker

Working in the social care sector, I have considerable contact with the various housing offices and have come across situations where according to tenancy agreement - only one tenant living in the property say over the age of 65. Since pensioners are not affected (yet) by the 'bedroom tax' many have 3 bedrooms as family have all grown up. What you usually find is a number of relatives living in the other rooms. fair enough they have a roof over their head and hopefully contribute towards the running costs of utilities. In many cases the Housing Offices are not aware of these additional adults, some who are in work. The debate is that the official tenant is receiving full HB, if there are other 'official' sub tenants ( for the want of a better word) HB is reduced by a small amount depending the sub tenants income. IE Fred aged 70 gets full HB for his flat at ?110 per week, if his relatives are known to be living there, his HB may be reduced to ?90 pw as the relative would be assessed on their income to make up the ?30 difference. If HB do not know about the 'unofficial' sub tenants, they continue to give full HB of ?110 pw - the other household members may be earning far in excess of ?110 pw but do not contribute towards rental costs. It is a controversial situation - should councils recover some of the money paid out by HB if there are more people living in the property than officially permitted. Or given the housing shortages and waiting lists, should the 'unofficial tenants' continue with the status quo as far cheaper for the council in the long run. From what I have heard Housing Officers are being surprised by the numbers of 'hidden tenants'. One HO informed me some time ago that he had an elderly gentleman living with his wife in a 2 bed flat in Peckham. Following complaints/concerns raised by neighbours as to possible over crowding, they visited the property and found that the old couple were renting out the spare room and lounge to 6 adults and charging them around ?60 each in rent. The old couple were receiving full HB yet getting ?360 pw from their 'tenants' I agree that there are insufficient properties for people to downsize into, if I were a tenant I would not be happy swopping my 4 bed property for a one/two bed in an area I had no affinity with. To make this scheme workable new properties need to be built/developed in all areas of the borough. If you consider the empty properties in the borough which have been empty for over a year, there should be some way of getting the registered owners to sell up. There are instances where properties do lay empty for some time awaiting probate etc.

James - Have many of your ED residents been to see you about welfare reforms? Do we know what impact these reforms are having on the ED public? Southwark CAB are holding a question and answer session on Welfare Reforms on Tuesday 10th September 8 for 8.15 start at the East Dulwich Community Centre in Darrell Road. It has been organised by the Barry Area Residents' Association and is open to all ED residents to attend. If you would like to publicise this event ( and attend if you do not have other council business to attend to) please feel free to do so. Do you have any figures to indicate how the bedroom tax is affecting ED?

There are a lot of Eid parties going on in the area. The Carlton Centre is managed by Southwark Council I believe

I would avoid any ex council flats - someone I worked with has a flat on the Kingswood Estate - their share of the works was in excess of ?30,000 - being pensioners they did not have the money so Southwark Council put a legal charge on the property. The old boy is now dead and his wife in a care home, son cannot sell the property so is having to offer it back to Southwark Council at a greatly reduced market price as no one will buy. the house next door is in 2 flats and council owned. My neighbour purchased her top floor flat many years ago, but had to pay ?6000 as her share of external repairs, The annual ground rent increased dramatically and in the end she sold out as with 4 children and being a widow, could not afford to live their anymore. We brought an ex council house in Sussex 7 years ago, however most of the street is privately owned and there is no extra charges. We paid ?127.000 for a 3 roomed house in 2005 and just an estimates from estate agents valuing it between ?135 - ?160K

My old aunt was knocked down by a pavement cyclist some years ago on the stretch of pavement between Landells and CP Rd and broke her arm. She was deaf and even though wearing her hearing aid, did not hear him come up behind her. He fled quickly so witnesses informed us, if the police could have found him he would have been charged.

What is worse - cycling on pavements or those who cycle the wrong way up one way streets and get annoyed when motorists beep them?

This happened to someone I knew on the Kingswood Estate - being elderly they did not have the money so agreed that Southwark could place a legal charge on the property which means that if the flat is sold, Southwark have to be repaid before money goes to seller.

Political parties doing canvassing have clip boards - they have been doing the rounds this week in ED

When clearing out my in laws house, we hired a contractor to take the stuff away to an approved site. About a week later we got a letter from Lambeth Council asking why we had dumped our stuff on Peabody Hill. We rang them and they came and took the leaflet we still retained of the contractor, asked him to pick up some stuff at an address and had a gang of people waiting on Peabody Hill to nab him. Lambeth were very grateful for the info as this guy had beenfly dumping all over the borough.

Mrs. Robinson the Vet in Highshore Road often examines animals brought in by RSPCA - I wonder if she can influence a visit by RSPCA - she is very good with dogs.

For the past couple of years we have been visited by a male unneutered tabby who we have nick named Bill. Very timid. he started to come through our cat flat and over time our cats have grown accustomed to him. He eats their food and during the winter we find him curled up in various parts of our house, we shoo him out but eventually he creeps back in. We do not go out of our way to feed him- he helps himself to our cats food - he is either a stray, he is very slim or his owners keep him out all day and night. If he is a stray - at least he is getting some food and shelter. He does not let you pick him up ( I managed to do this once that how I found he was still 'intact') so he is either wary of people or selective.

yes it was the Fred Francis Day centre

managed to get part of this on Alan's link before it froze. Our youngest daughter (27) was always aware of her dad's illness and like Rachael Bruno was embarrassed when younger. She now talks openly about her experiences and has done presentations at her college. Recently she discovered that a lecturer friend husband had been diagnosed bi polar and her friend was worried about the effects on the children. Daughter was able to provide her with some insight. Daughter is very much a Daddy's Girl - he is the first person she will call - so far they have phoned each other 4 times in 3 days ( Hubby is on a high at the moment). Apart from a couple of people on EDF- nobody has expressed an interest in having a meeting at ED Community Centre - I am still willing to go ahead with this if we could get at least 6 people and meet on a week day evening in August (Most of the regular groups are on holiday during August so we have a greater choice of days).

We seem to be the opposite - I am knocking on retirement age, (hubby already retired on health grounds) we have a large 4 bed house which will be too expensive to maintain on a pension. I would like to downsize in ED, but would still want a 3 bed place as our grandchildren stay over regularly. Both of us have arthritis which is likely in years to come prevent us from walking etc. Ideally a bungalow - which is impossible in ED. Or a house with stairs wide enough to take a stair lift, or space to add an extension including a shower room/wc so that if we are wheelchair bound we do not have to go in a home. Also would want a garden of sorts. The 3 bed properties advertised for ED are the same amount we would get for our 4 bed and have much less space. neither of us want to leave this area as have good GPs and hospital, and belong to various community organisations in ED so are rarely lonely. Both of us have disabilities so it is harder for us to integrate. We have kids/grandkids in Harlow, Orpington and Worthing. If one of us dies. we have a good ED support network for the remaining spouse. From what we have observed from friends etc moving away fro ED and other places, that it takes about 2 years to get accepted in a new community and many areas longer as neighbours keep themselves to themselves etc

After a gap of 13 years between our girls, hubby and I attended anti natal classes (refresher course for both of us), Advised that since babies tend to arrive when the hospital restaurant/local cafes are closed, that birth partners should pack a picnic for Mum to be and themselves to have after birth. Also that ward will be hot so wear cool clothing. came in on a Saturday evening with a plan to be induced Sunday morning but went into full blown labour. Hubby turns up with a bag - flask of coffee, water, cake, sandwiches, fruit. Wearing a track suit strips down to running vest and shorts. Baby born at 2.51 am - there were the 4 of us in the labour ward, me, baby, hubby and junior doctor who did delivery - sharing the food and drink and chatting about music and football. Young Dr was grateful for the food as had been a busy night and he did not have a chance to have a break.

They have cut the Noise Team and their staff so more difficult to get hold of and get some action

Local Authorities have a set procedure to respond to level 3 and level 4 warm weather alerts. It would be worth trying to contact Sarah McClinton - Southwark Social Services as she can issue instructions to social workers to look up vulnerable adults in the area who may need additional help in accessing water and water supplies. Failing her - try Ray Boyce.

Yes must admit only do the 3 point turn when desperate especially on some days I have morning appointments at my base and managers know I am one of the nearest workers so if I am very late - I get reprimanded.

I do this journey daily to work, if Denmark Hill is blocked then the traffic builds up to Dog Kennel Hill and it had taken me as long as 20 minutes to get from the lights at DKH to the lights by Denmark hill station. It is very tempting to do a 3 point turn down Grove Lane. I have done it a couple of times but I have a clear view of the traffic in the opposite direction and also to a certain extent those behind me. . The only way I can get to my work is via Windsor Walk and Grove lane ( my base is in Love Walk). If I want to spend another 10 - 15 mins waiting in traffic, I could go into Denmark Hill and then De Crespigney park.

gardening programmes have confirmed that using cool washing up water or bath water is ok to put on plants. We keep a bucket by the back door and tip in the WU water if it is not too greasy

Gumboots Holiday Play scheme might have a vacancy for one day only ?24 per day - primary aged pupils only. I put details of contacts etc on EDF some weeks ago

Since I only have a basic mobile phone - no apps please.