Moos

Peckham Rye is already much more important than ED as a transport link, because of the connections to Blackfriars and Victoria. Makes perfect sense for it to continue so. Obviously, I'm not just saying that because I live in Peckham..

How would he know it's because he's black? The Nobel committee state that the prize was given "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples", which certainly have been hallmarks of his Presidency so far - but agree with previous posters, in that these have yet to have had much material impact. But I read at the weekend that the Nobel committee are now giving prizes as an indication of 'potential' and supporting current efforts, as much as achievement. Still, did you see the shortlist? Morgan Tsvangirai, Sima Samar, civil rights campaigners in China and other countries... Some looked like some very impressive people, who had been doing their thing for many years.

I'm thinking that's what they think in America where everyone has a gun 'for protection' and where dads shoot their toddlers by accident. Oops.

Optimism, hope, the rigidity of the past versus inchoate modern life, a shrug to the reality of lasting love? What could be more suited to a wedding.....? I'd add a winky, but I know you don't like them, and anyway I wasn't really joking.

That's really good news. It's all very well for regulars to be fond of Chener and its scruffy old sign, but at the moment it doesn't look like what it is, which is a mainstream local bookshop. If a smart new sign and a better window display makes people go in there and buy books whom otherwise might have passed by, then all the better for the business.

Rosie, I'm sure you did brilliantly. I did look through the dusty shelves of my memory for something on friendship, and failed utterly. Then I googled it and here you owe me, as the stuff you find on websiteaboutfriendshippoems.org et al is horrendous moonbeam-type stuff, which caused me to lose my lunch. Larkin is a genius - Our almost-instinct almost true: What will survive of us is love - and that's (almost) good enough for me.

Exactly, Muley, aren't people silly. It'd be like people saying I'm a real cow- -oh.

Iain, that's lovely, and you have many more of these moments to come - good luck to all 3 of you!

I think MickMac raised the right question early on in this thread - is it about how it's intended or how it's perceived? Basically, the rule of thumb (in my view) is about how it's perceived. If it becomes generally understood through long useage in a negative way that a term is perceived as racist, then even the most innocent use may cause offence. So if you call your best friend a Paki and he calls you a Sweaty in return and it's OK between the 2 of you, then that's up to your private interaction. But if you use it in general even meaning no offence then you could be causing offence by people who don't know you and your intentions - here, the effect of your statement is to say 'I'm expecting you to take on board my good intentions and good thoughts, even though I'm using a term which I know others have used as part of racist hatred'. I don't think that's reasonable. Of course, the upshot of all this is indeed that people become nervous and sensitive, and some are perceived as over-sensitive. It does become a bit tedious when one cannot use any descriptive term without potentially incurring the wrath of people quick to sniff out prejudice on behalf of groups to which they belong, or on whose behalf they are suspecting prejudice. I think it's a question of lesser evils, and I'll be a bit more sympathetic to the grumbling about PC gone mad (not that I've heard it on the thread, just to be clear) when we don't live in a world of blatant prejudice and disadvantage. Also, this is a great thread and very relevant to concerns of today, and just airing of views and experiences, so thanks for starting it. I'd really like to be engaged in it more, but am frantically busy today, so just will hope I haven't caused any massive offence, and will duck out now.

Oh yes. And Christmas tree ornament earrings, natch. But more seriously, an elegant shade of garnet, yes indeed. I think you would look lovely. Anna and Mathilda can wear orange-red or scarlet. LegalEagle and I can wear ruby red. Belle and buggie (damn them) can wear whatever shade of red they please. There's a red for us all. Possibly even under the bed, if we get really lucky, fnar.

When you come to think of it, it's pretty amazing that there are no late-night curry-house strip joints.

SimonM Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Okay...if you insist, and more in sorrow than > anger, hurts me more than it hurts you etc > etc..."flowerbed" should have been "flower-bed" B) Bugger. Have no dictionary with which to attempt to defend myself, so shall just slink off in shame.

I heard it was on Dovercourt Road, some woman's Audi got its lights knocked out.

Michael Palaeologus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So, after all that. What is the fancy-dress theme > for the December drinks? > > I suggest ........ > > > "Doctors and Nurses". How about 'Sticks and Stones'?

Well, I think my work here is done.

Re: Bleak House, a huge thank-you to BBW and to LegalEagle who respectively lent and passed to me the DVD of the BBC series. Absolutely corking, and pitched perfectly as hugely enjoyable, engaging, brilliantly acted melodrama. Unlike most dramas, the casting was uniformly excellent, even the drippy young Dickens-standard hero and heroine managed to provide some interest. Really recommend it.

I think 'glamming up' would mean putting on a prettier top and some jewellery rather than anything super-expensive - it's still in a pub, isn't it? Not sure I want to go to the drinks if this is the atmosphere that's being generated these days, but then again perhaps I wouldn't be welcome anyway.

I do hope this thread isn't going to degenerate into sordid jokes about nuns.

Pickle, that's so rubbish, poor you. Oh, the rewards of motherhood....

Interesting cross-post with Molly there! :)

Gimme Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Or an even more radical experiment - out of the > blue say excuse me to an ED mum, tell her you are > thinking of buying a Bugaboo and would she > recommend it and see if the hard exterior breaks > out into the light of friendliness. It probably > will. One of the very nice things about having a baby in tow is that total strangers do talk to you, and barriers immediately break down. There's no compliment like having someone tell you how sweet your baby is. Many new mothers feel isolated and struggle to find others to spend time with during the day (if you don't believe me, read some of the family discussion room threads), and would be very happy to make friends, even if only for a few minutes.

Guardian Country File?! I defy you, defy you I say, to find a spelling mistake in that post.* PGC, we Peckhamites need to stick together, now let's get that Quids.

** Actually, sod it, I'm not all that bothered.

Ooh, this is fun, like a surprise birthday party! MickMac, better get here quick before the champagne loses its fizz.

*constructs particularly pointy paper aeroplane and hurls with deadly accuracy to back of room*