Pugwash

I always wore a bum bag when took my youngest out in the pram, with my cards and any notes. had a small purse which I placed in nappy bag with only a couple of ?s in it for papers etc.

From my experience - Speech and language therapists for children are usually in short supply. Many posts were cut by PCTs a couple of years ago. You might be able to get more information from Sunshine ( I think that is the correct name for children's services) House in Peckham Road.

A friend of mine had her bag stolen from underneath her grandchilds buggy in the Old St. Christopher's Hospice shop. Talking around she discovered a number of people have had bags/purses stolen when in the LL Charity shops.

Agree James is exceptionally good. Jonathan Mitchell also a good councillor but currently off sick following a heart attack - though I did hear he was due back this month. Have known James for some years as a councillor and amazed at the extent of his knowledge on local affairs. The 3 ED councillors have their surgery in the East Dulwich Community Centre

I have had a 'failed MOT' and it has turned out that one brake light was not working consistently. Also had a fail for windscreen wipers not cleaning sufficiently (needed new blades). My last MOT the garage informed me that the mechanic had failed the car, but when the boss double checking it noticed that my rear light bulbs had come loose, he tightened them up and all was ok - advised me to check these every week. I had been driving over very bumpy unmade roads in the country and for some reason the bulbs had become disconnected

Daughter doing OT Degree gets an NHS bursary however she does not qualify for children's allowance as her partner earms ?500 a year more than allowed. he is self employed and has fewer jobs this year so she hopes that they may qualify for her 3rd year. When she started her OT Training - it was a Jan - Dec Academic Year. On Year 2 they Changed in to April - March. She has taken a year out due to a bereavement but rejoins in Jan 12 to resit her 6 weeks placement ( which was curtailed 2010 due to the death) and then joins Year 3 in April. She heard that many NHS courses are being reduced and some scrapped from this year. Out of the OTs that qualified in March 2010 (25) only 5 have managed to find permanent jobs. If you retrain in a skills shotage area you could be lucky. Youngest daughter was telling me that in West Sussex where she lives, teaching posts in both primary and secondary were being cut and larger classes brought back. Originally you could get on the Graduates Teacher Training Course run by the Government and get a wage around ?12 - ?15 k- do not know if that is still running

Doggett Cap and Badge on Blackfriars Bridge. Have been to 2 events there - great looking out over the river from the terraces. Good food as well

Sorry you feel that way - perhaps you would like to visit the Open day at the Centre between 10.30 - 3.30 on Tuesday 13th and talk with the Univercity of the 3rd Age etc,and see for yourself the activities at the centre. Or put your views across to the Development Officer. I agree that it is the type of activity rather than the age but the centre needs ideas as to which/what activity and how much are people prepared to pay. The Centre has to raise all it's running costs themselves so very few activities can be free - you may get a few weeks free trial of a new group to see if it was a viable venture, but after that the hire charges need to be paid. You can be any age to enjoy the Vauxhall City Farm

I Think the reason this has come about is if you look at most of the activities in ED -during the day, they are geared to parents, children, those who are physically active and want to take part in Zumba etc. There is a great swathe of people in ED over the age of 45 ( and if I recall some statistics from the Dulwich Community Council a couple of years ago - this area has the highest number of older people who have limited incomes and in older properties) who are of low income and cannot afford to pay ?5 - ?8 a session for an hour or two of kick boxing/pilates etc. Many are unemployed or have been medically retired due to continual poor health. There are a large number of carers in the area who are looking after relatives who are in their 70/80/90s who feel somewhat excluded by the rest of ED as their caring responsibilities and the lack of respite care, mean they cannot commit themselves to attending regular classes, or they cannot afford them. I think BARA and the Community Centre have been asked to look at redressing the balance of activities in their area and at the centre. If more people of 45 plus indicate they need something to meet their generational needs - that is fine as I do not think the 50 plus age range is set in stone. With many voluntary orgainsations in Southwark facing extreme cuts in their funding, Southwark has been asking through various consultation documents as to how best limited financial resources can best be distributed amongst the Voluntary sector. For instances there are several groups representing different refugees and their ethnic background, it may be more beneficial to have one overall group on one premises to reduce costs and have one level of funding. Equally there are women's groups covering different ethnic or religious groups, where some of the aims and activities overlap. There are 60 different organisations meeting at the community centre, whilst some such as Weight Watchers cater for all age groups. others deal with the under 11's (after school club and holiday play centre) Youth Organisations, Under 5's activities, specific ethnic groups i.e. Pioneers, Southwark Muslim organisations, church groups etc. There is nothing geared to those in retirement or over 45. Whilst early onset demenentia is rare, Southwark has a very high rate of people who have a range of mental illnesses. Due to the economic climate and loss of employment many more people have been diagnosed with depression and the statutory services cannot cope with meeting their needs. Depression usually leads to isolation from your community and family and there is a need to provide more stimulus at community level. With the future configuration of the mental health services in South London and I am including the boroughs of Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich in this, there is a greater need to provide activities and meeting places for people to go to to seek companionship, to reduce isolation and in many ways, to act as a preventative measure to ensure future mental health.

I think most of Dovercourt comes under the Dulwich Estate - the section that runs from Court Lane - Woodwarde. Desefans and Dekker do. A section of LL from the Library to Court Lane used to be under Dulwich Estate as I remember people complaining that they had to pay extra towards the Christmas Lights in the village and vague recollection that those properties were mainly leasehold

With the council cut backs, many of the Day Centres or Pop Ins enjoyed by the over 65s will close or are only available to those who have a Personal Budget as they will need to charge Market Prices (From ?10 - ?38 per day)Some will inclide transport costs, others you pay extra for lunch (?3.50 -?4.50). What we need in ED is a club/pop in for those of us who are 50 plus and mentally with it, to have various topics discussed or crafts practiced. I have always fancied patchwork but would like someone to show me the basics. A friend would like a bread baking morning a 'bread and bitch' type session. I know the centre has a qualified dietician on their management committee who has run workshops in the past. I have also been to the centre where they have had a well being day - with reflexology, head massage etc. However, there are a great many people who are not working and who have various skills and experiences they could impart to others - I know that the BARA Committe and the Centre are hoping that they can put together groups and volunteers to run the groups. I personally would welcome a set day/morning with a programme of events/talks/demonstrations so that there is a wide range of topics etc. It could also serve as a meeting point for people who just want to chat, have a drink and a sandwich, and get to know others in their community. I think the worrying aspect of retirement is the loss of companionship especially if most of your friends or social activities come from the workplace. I have built up over my years of living in ED a circle of friends who are of varying ages (mid 30s - mid 80s) who are active in the community and many of whom share the same interests as myself. This is not true of everyone - retirement can be an isolating experience and can lead to depression. I very often pop into Christ Church on a saturday morning between 10 - 1 pm, sometimes to purchase goods in the Fair Trade Centre but othertimes to buy a drink and meet up with friends etc. A weekday session at the Community Centre would be good. I however am not yet retiring, but would take the odd day off work if such a group could be formed and there is topic that interests me.

When eldest daughter was 18 and youngest 5, I took redundany from a senior management position with ILEA, did a degree and post graduate course and became a social worker. Eldest daughter having got a degree and working with people with learning disabilities, when her youngest child was 5, returned to university and is 2 years in to an OT degree. Currently taking a year out owing to a family death, and working in a mental health day centre and also a older persons psychaitric ward as a locum. Admits that if she was not going back to finish her OT training in January would seriously contemplate psychaitric nursing.

I grew up in ED in Spurling Road, it was condemmed twice as a slum area due to the poor condition of most of the rented housing. We had 2 families living in our house, no hot water or bathroom and one toilet in back yard.My Dad walked out on my Mum when I was 2, Mum tried to get benefits but was told she was a healthy young woman go and get a job. I went to DK Hill Nursery for 3 years.Through illness I became deaf and had 6 years of speech theraphy. Although I got 8 GCE's and an A level, the Civil Service decided I was too disabled to be employed by them as a clerical officer (min. qualification 5 GCEs) I was eventually employed by the GLC then ILEA and gained several promotions. At the age of 40 following redundancy I went to Uni, got a 2:1 degree then did a 2 year post grad professional qualification - I had a small grant but supported myself and family for 5 years on my redundancy money and holiday jobs. I was brought up in poverty, Mum worked as a shop assistant, there were days when finding money for food was a problem,I was sent to my great aunts and grandmother for weekends as Mum knew I would be fed by them. I had the added disadvantage of being disabled and everyone in those days assummed if you had a physical disability you automatically had a severe learning disability. I have never turned to violence, never blamed my lack of employment on my disability, in fact when the Civil Service some months later offered me a clerical assistants job (2 GCE qualification) I had great satisfaction in telling them to 'stuff it' in polite terms. My background and disability made me want to suceed even more - to show all those people who said I would only have a dead end job that despite my background/disability I could and would have a better life. I became a single mother for 2-3 years following a relationship where my partner spent most of his money in the pub, but married a few years later to a man who has a life long disability and was frequently unemployed. Both of our girls had the normal teenage 'rebellions' - they had their freedoms but always knew they could only go so far with us. Both went to University and worked during their studies and holidays. Eldest daughter now has 2 children 12 and 7, she and her partner are easy going but hot on discipline and the kids respond to this. They have very little money as have a mortgage and they put by what they can to purchase goods for the house. Coming from a one parent family and having poor housing does not give you the right to riot/loot or engage in violence, this is an excuse trotted out for every anti social act. I do detest women who say 'my daughter is my best friend' get real - you are the parent and should act like one setting boundaries etc. I have a theory that todays young are the products of the Thatcher generation where individual wealth was seen as the pinnacle of your success, where the 20+ generation of 1979 onwards strove to have more than their friends/neighbours always wanting the latest and most expensive trends. I met such people in that era who wanted to show their' love' of their children by buying all that the child asked for, the latest computor/trainer. That gimme gimme generation have to a certain extent made the materialist young people we have seen on our streets recently - those who think society owes them a certain standard of living, but they are not prepared to work for it. Many young people do not have a job and not for the lack of trying - these youngsters have turned to voluntary work, to fill their days, to get experience and for enjoyment. Many eventually find employment through their voluntary work as they show committment and maturity. How do we mend this society? there is no clear answer - parents must be parents not mates and set boundaries and standards for their kids, schools to realise that not everyone is good at exams and expand their vocational courses. There are many more decent, honest youngsters out there than 'bad uns'and they are equally disgusted at their peers. More family centred activities in the community are required catering from tots to teens and those in their dotage. I do not know the answer.

I did hear that to get a mortgage on a lease less than 99 years was quite hard - or has this now changed

Dr. Cliffe at the Gardens Surgery is well up on Mental Health Issues and has been very helpful with a family member who is bipolar

They have resited the traffic lights to just before Windsor Walk (coming from ED) and traffic coming from Grove lane into Windsor Walk can now only turn right into the main road, previously could do right and left

My neighbour thought she heard gunshots - I was walking home from Friern Road when noticed loads of police cars, intially thought it was a 3 car pile up but being nosey walked down to the traffic lights and noticed no damage on the cars. A female was getting out of the last car - I assumed she was still an innocent driver who got caught up. Police stopping traffic coming down Barry Road. Most traffic coming up from the Rye are doing 3 point turns and going back down again

There are already double yellow lines in parts of Barry Road. I came home from work a couple of years ago to find double yellow lines outside my house. I have a drive so not directly affected but when my kids come and visit they have to park 10 minutes walk away. My mother had a Blue Badge and when she was driven by one of the grandchildren, they had to ring ahead to warn me that they were approaching the house, I would go out get Mum in her wheelchair and bring her into the house whilst the kids parked. Traffic wardens patrol Barry Road on Sundays as well as early evenings. They were not receptive if you had to park on the yellow lines to get a disabled person in or out of a car. The main threat to the visability at Barry Road junctions is the extended pavements.

Hubby used to work in a Post Room off a firm - Special delivery letters had to be out by a specific time way ahead of the other franked post collected by PO

Would point out the discrepancy to your employers and leave them to sort it out. Once worked in an office where I did some of the accounts, was called in by my immediate boss and the team manager. My boss had discovered some mistakes in other accounts going back some years. The three of us had to stay behind and look at a dozen or so account books and check all the receipts. We found that some receipts had been photocopied and duplicated by the woman who dealt with the minor accounts. She was arrested and when police checked her flat they found thousands of pounds of clothing still in their original bags with receipts - she had stolen around ?15k over a period of 3/4 years. My 2 superiors had to face an internal investigation and were hauled over the coals for not spot checking all receipts against accounts. They were held responsible for the loss as failed to do a detailed audit. I was later asked to act as head of department whilst my senior took 6 months leave - I was petrified that I could easily make a mistake and always double checked every transaction. When my boss returned from leave our team manager advised that I had been dealing with a million pound budget, he had not told me before I acted up as he knew that it would terrify me, He stated that since I dealt with over 18 different accounts from Petty cash to wages I would not have the time to add up every single bank reconcilation to come to an overall budget for the team. Needless to say - I have never taken another job which involves accounts.

Most sub post offices in London and elsewhere close for lunch. When this post office was over the road by the Plough Homecraft - it had one person only serving and had half day closing on Thursdays plus 1 hour every day. The same for the post office which was in CP Rd.

My office is based near Maudsley and the last few times I have been called out to clients, I have to come back via this junction. The first time it took 30 minutes from the Old Father Redcap junction ( is it Planet Hollywood now?) to DeCrespigney Park in the car. The 2nd time was about the same. On Tuesday having been out to the Bricklayers Arms area I decided to come back to the office via Peckham back streets and Dog Kennel Hill. Took me 2 miles extra but at least I was moving all the time and saved myself 15 minutes stuck in traffic

This was orginally a hostel for those coming from abroad, a builder friend many years ago was asked by the landlord to inspect the rooms. He found they were very small and poorly converted. The landlord was expecting that 2 - 3 people could live in what was a single room. The landlord, who owns several properties in ED around Upland and Hindmans Road area is now elderly and disabled - so that is why I imagine it is up for sale. Years ago it was a shop and an 'importers business'

For the 2nd time in a year I have an ants nest in between kitchen and shower room wall.They have eaten in the past year, the back of my kitchen unit and through a batten of a stud wall, a door frame, the back door and some plaster. They are now back again and I have called in the builders - it looks as though the whole of the partition wall will now have to be demolished and a brick wall built and all the door frames renewed. A cost of a few thousand I imagine as all the tiles of the shower room will have to come down. Does anyone know whether I could claim some of the costs of rebuilding from my buildings insurance?

Daughter with both her pregnancies had a craving for rubber and carried a hot water bottle around to sniff. Her OH got a bit worried when he found her sniffing the spare tyre in the boot. Son in law tells story of when older brother (1st child) was born in Belfast, his mother wheeled the pram over a mile away to the nearest shops and returned home. It was not until his grandmother (later) asked where her grandchild was that mum realised she had parked the pram outside the shop and forgotten him. Ran back to the shop to find son fast asleep where she had left him. This was during 'the troubles'