Pugwash

My friend works as a Lab technican and her school (failing) was taken over by Harris. Everyone had to reapply for their own jobs and were told that unless they met 80% of the criteria they would be given 4 weeks notice, no redundancy pay etc. My friend has been working at the school for last 19 years and has with her senior colleague developed the wild life garden and nature area which she tends during the school holidays in her own time. One of the criteria she had to meet was teaching in the class room, which as technican was not her role ( she prepared for all the experiements etc). To get round this criteria, we realised that the nature garden was visited regularly by local primary school children, who frequently asked her about the plants and wild life and she gave information and advice how to grow things. We interpreted this as an outdoor classroom to meet the criteria, and since she is still working, we assume she met the 80% goal. She however reports that many of the teachers are unhappy the way Harris runs the school ( these are good teachers who have the respect of the kids and know their subject) and have handed in their notice. From the school gossip - it would appear that the turnover for staff in academies is generally very high as is the rate of sickness.

I think the problem you will find is that of space. There is a general shortage of space in ED which is toddler friendly. Also meeting the various operating criteria of OFSTEAD and other bodies. Unless you want to do this as a businss - it could take some months to organise

East Dulwich Community Centre

Having read the planning link (see First Mateas' entry above) I am further in understanding the complications which will arrive from the approval of an M & S store. All those people in favour should have a good read of this link to see that any change in size of the store and the implications of additional residential accommodation would have a dramatic effect on local residents. I suppose if you want your daily life disrupted from 6 am to late evening by the arrival of refridgerated lorries on daily basis, Your car bashed in as lorries try to negotiate a tight turn in to the delivery yard. . build up of traffic in LL as motorists try to reverse out of Chesterfield as road is blocked by lorries, your and your children's lives put at risk by lorries mounting the pavements as road is too narrow.................!!. Even driving a family size car out of Iceland's car park is tricky due to the poor visability, the angle you need to swing out onto the road, means you can easily meet an oncoming vehicle who is travelling too fast for the road. I have never been in favour of having an M & S or a Waitrose in ED - although I agree that their goods are generally of a high quality, the costs for the most part are outside most people's reach. I do feel M & S sandwiches and their meal packages ( Dine in for ?10) are good value, but the majority of it's food products are over price. When my mother was alive, she asked me to find out whether M & S did an asparagus soup - they did but at ?1.50 a tin ( this was about 3 years ago) it was way beyond an OAP budget.

What ever you do, don't allow the kids to advertise it on Facebook etc. A samll private teenage party at a local venue ended up having Noise Enforcement and Police attending as the youngsters had spoken about it on facebook, and it went from about 40 kids to nearly 200 turning up. The parents organising the party were forced to abort the event half way through, and lost their deposit for the hall and were asked to pay for the damages incurred to the premises by angry teenagers who were forced to leave. I think this is why so many venues are apprehensive. many hiring agreements state that events for under 18s need to be supervised by appropriate number of adults over a certain age. Pubs may not hire out their halls/rooms as they would not get any money from sale of drinks. Some schools will hire out their halls.

So sorry to hear the sad news, but I am glad that you received so many offers of help both practical and emotional. It is at times like this, one's faith in the general goodness of other people's hearts and actions, is restored. At an age where money and self gratification is so rife, it is good to know that most people are basically kind and selfless.

I started with one and then met my husband who had a child 2 years younger then mine, who we had weekends and holidays. We then had our daughter. Between the eldest and youngest is 13 years and 11 years with the middle one. All girls - we now have one daughter with 4 children aged 2 - 18, one daughter with a 13 and 8 year old and one not yet started on a family.

There is a bin in the Plough car park

having suffered sleep deprivation with my two when little, I was always grateful for my Mum to come on a weekly basis to me for a few hours. She would take out the child or play with them so I could unwind, I would then make dinner for all of us. When the girls grew up, I vowed that I would be an active grandparent. Eldest daughter has 2 children and for 6 - 12 months I had my grandaughter every Friday from 9 - 5, which allowed daughter to have a job one day a week. Prior to that daughter used to come to me every week and would have a lie down for 2 - 3 hours whilst I had baby all to my self. Grandkids are now 13 and 8 and I still child mind where possible to allow their parents to have an evening out/visit the pub/go to a show. When you are deprived of sleep and working as well - it is essential that you have some time out.

I do not like to bring this up but is there a possibility that he may have been 'abducted'? Has he formed any new relationships/friendships over the last year? Do you have access to his bank statements to see if any unusual amounts of money have been withdrawn. There are unfortunately many dodgy people in the community who seek to befriend an older person, especially if they believe them to be generous with their money, or that they are open to friendship. Some of these dodgy people are in their 50s and 60s themselves and often pose as church/ hospital/charity visitors to gain vulnerable peoples' trust. They can pursuade some older folk to give them power of attorney/change wills or in extreme cases, allow themselves to be taken into a care home way outside their usual environmen and near to their new 'friends'

Most places have a 11 or midnight closure. The East Dulwich Community Centre has a 10 pm closure. Kingswood House I think is 11 pm

Have you informed Social Services Out of Hours Team? he may already be known to Social Services, but having done out of hours work, I have experienced general public ringing through with concerns about vulnerable people, specially if they are unable to give details of name and address. Check out with A& E Kings and Lewisham Hospitals ( you probably have already done this) Southwark Social Services often get circulated photos of 'missing people' Hope he is found safe and well

I always thought that street parties were organised by the residents of that street and everyone made /donated food. I remember someone that I knew turned up at the CP Rd street party a couple of years ago and there were loads of complaints that he lived on anothe street 15 mins walk away and that he went round collecting food to eat.

I am afraid that this is becoming an annual problem in ED. Henslowe Road had a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme some time ago I do not know if it is operational still. If you let one of the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team know - they may have previous suspects, PC Adrian Crust walks the Henslowe Road beat regularly.

Croydon is in Surrey - perhaps if you are more specific re location, there may be alternatives to the A3

My 13 year old grand daughter likes Punky Fish clothes (The Glades Bromley) so vouchers are always acceptable for this shop. Aimed at young teens and twenties - most of their clothes are under size 14

Same blank space.

I find it slow going towards DKHill from about the roundabout to the station. If LL appears slow from about Whately Road, I nip down Melbourne Grove as it does save a few extra minutes

performance indicators to be worked to. Have twice yearly appraisals and have to demonstrate how I have met them. Best way is to re hash last years blurb. Identification of training needs - each time filled in identifying essential training but found out that nobody reads them in HR or Training and Development.

ballet classes Saturdays at ED Community Centre

Little Kickers meet Saturday mornings at the east Dulwich Community Centre

Armed is a lovely guy, I think he knows the name of all his customers. If you are advertising an event he will always put up a poster for you. He donated a prize for a raffle - 2 free fish and chip meals. The winners were delighted. Food good as well

The petrol stations which have M & S food stores attached to them appear to do well, as do those who have a Sainsburys and Tesco local.

I had to put bins outside my Mother in laws House once to reserve a parking space. I also put out at note expaining that a skip delivery was expected and the bins would be removed once it was delivered. There was no comeback from neighbours. When I have to use my local garage, I drop the car off about 9/10 pm the night before as hardly any cars in the street near the garage. I go down in the morning around 9 am to drop off the keys, and the street is bumper to bumper with cars. This shows that local businesses and commutors are the prime 'suspects'.

A parking or residents permit does not guarantee that you will be able to park near your house. permits usually cover several streets. Again I suggest that you read the 'million' other comments on this subject.