Twirly

So mainly where the shops are. Thanks for that :)

Which bit of LL please? If it's near the shops, you can't normally do more than 10mph, but if it's further south you can normally go a bit faster, so it would be helpful to know in advance of driving down there.

Everywhere I go in ED, I seem to hear that chirrup of fire alarms with dying batteries. There are at least three around the Oakhurst Grove area. Please folks, if you keep hear an odd beeping or chirruping noise and can't figure out what it is/where it's coming from, have a look at your fire alarm and replace the batteries. You might regret it if you don't.

That is a shame. If it's true they are being forced out, there is a lovely big premises that's recently become empty round the corner opposite Peckham Rye... Would definitely solve the space problem too!

Have you actually read the thread James?! Poorly designed and way too small is the general opinion I believe. It seems to have cost a fortune for very little benefit. The flow of traffic through the new gates is sometimes even worse than through the old door (at peak times), particularly as they insist on having the in/out gates alternately, rather than a section in and a section out - which means that people get in each other's way as they try to change direction. The departure boards are in the wrong place - they should be above the gates so a quick glance up tells you which platform for your train/if it's on time or you've missed it. Off to the side causes even more dithering in front of the gates. Anyone know what is happening to the old entrance? Will it be reopened? I got stuck in the upward flow of people coming off the train I wanted to catch the other day.

I agree with the others who have said that if you want a quieter life, you have to move - however unpleasant that may seem as an option at the moment. Even if you had soundproofing put in, that's not going to stop her peering over the fence or thumping down the stairs, and she isn't going to change her attitude, or do anything to repair the damage already done to your relationship. Although I can see how anti-social her behaviour has been, and how confrontational, she will probably be able to make it all sound quite reasonable should you get the authorities involved. As someone else has said, she can't help how she walks, she might argue that she can't lift the bag that she thumps down the stairs, and that she is perfectly within her rights to have her washing machine on whenever she likes... We cannot make other people change, we can only change how we react to them/remove ourselves from their presence. Have a look at threads on here about other nice areas to live in, that are even becoming more popular than ED, and you might find yourself an even nicer flat with quieter neighbours (and maybe go for the one above your neighbours next time, just in case!). Good luck.

People with their headphones on who are totally unaware of what is going on around them, so can't hear you when you politely say excuse me when trying to get past them as they amble along , and then look affronted when you are left with no choice but to barge past having said excuse me 3 times (the last time bellowing at them). Not sure that one is so irrational, but it really annoys me.

LadyD, what sort of laws would you like to see in place? I agree that driving/cycling behaviour in London in general is bad. I am just not sure that more legislation would actually make much difference as people already flout the laws that are in place. I rarely complete a car journey without seeing someone speeding, shooting through a red light or stopping at the lights in the box for bikes (which I believe is illegal, but certainly contrary to considerate driving) amongst other things. And usually there is some cyclist behaving in a manner not conducive to their longevity (last night it was someone in dark clothing, no lights, after 8pm, on his phone and wobbling around in the middle of the road in Brockley - who then did a right turn with no signal whatsoever). I would say that penalties maybe should be increased (that 6 month sentence for the death quoted above is appalling in the extreme) if that will act as a deterrent. And maybe some of those speed cameras should be turned on more often, although people seem to slow down when they see the white lines on the road and then speed up afterwards. In France, I believe it is illegal to have a sat nav which tells you when there are speed cameras coming up. In this country, wiht the sat nav warnings, it is almost like a game: "who can beat the speed cameras". They are seen as a nuisance, not as a safety mechanism. I also think that people get into bad driving habits (am sure that I've developed a few in the 6 years I've been driving) and aren't always aware of changes to/new legislation. I do think we would see improved driver behaviour on the roads if we all had to retake our tests (even if a slimmed down version) every 10 years. The main problem is people's attitude. Until that changes (and I have no idea how that could be brought about) then the problem will persist, no matter what legislation is in place.

Sorry to hear that, but hope you're OK. I always try to remember to lock my door - hopefully you've reminded us all to do it, always. So sad that we have to though.

JohnL, I quite agree. I don't like driving in central London and generally don't if I can help it (though my new sat nav has a mind of its own and decided to bring me via Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch on Saturday night - thought I was going to have a meltdown!). I actually admire cyclists who navigate that sort of traffic. I don't cycle at the moment, though I am contemplating getting a bike when we move house, as the area we are moving to things are a lot more spread out than in ED.

henryb, how can it be the drivers fault if they are stationary, and in a road position that would be considered normal? (i.e. in a side road - it wouldn't be normal to be stationary on a motorway) If you're stationary and someone cycles/runs/drives into you, what were you supposed to do about it? Pull out into oncoming traffic to avoid someone who is not taking due care? As for design, JohnL, isn't the "system" of our roads designed with the idea that bikes are ridden on roads? As a pedestrian, I would give way to a car in a side road (if I want to go on living that is!) and either wait for it to pull out or go behind it, so if a cyclist is going to insist on using the pavement, then they should do the same. Having said that, if I am a driver, I will generally give way to pedestrians wanting to cross the road in front of me. What is needed is consideration of others by all parties. Sadly that seems to be lacking in our society these days.

Don't forget that August is traditionally a quiet month for properties coming on the market and don't lose hope.

Am not sure this is that rare. Last night I was inching my way out from Tyrell Road onto Barry Road when a cyclist (young male, probably late teens) came speeding along the pavement and shot in front of me. Luckily I was barely moving, but braked sharply anyway and he just carried on his merry way leaving me startled and muttering. He was clearly going too fast to stop and didn't bother to check if there was a car in the road. Had I been slightly further forward but stationary he would have hit me. If he had been in the road he would have been more visible, and any pedestrian on the pavement would probably have stopped or at least been travelling more slowly.

PN33 that was probably shot back in the spring. Sadly for buyers, property prices have increased quite a bit since then (7% in 3 months on my flat) so the prices on that programme are probably out of date already. I definitely think the FH flat they bought was better value for money, the ED place had no storage at all.

Does anyone know any good areas a bit further afield? Thinking of going out of town on Saturday for a day out at a National Trust Place, maybe Sissinghurst. Would love to go blackberrying whilst down there.

Saw it yesterday and agree it's a mess, which it usually isn't. Very sad. Certainly the fountain isn't working, which I assume has lead to the stagnation. Do wish people wouldn't use it as a rubbish bin though...

Definitely pay for the M6 toll road! Not driven to Edinburgh, but do go up to Southport a couple of time a year and avoiding roads around Birmingham is highly recommended.

I suspect that some of this debate is to do with taste. Art that is hung in a gallery you walk past and leave it there, if it's on your street corner you still have to look at it every day even if it's not to your taste. It's rather "in your face". Personally, I like the William Blake mural by Goose Green, but don't like the giant bee (though am interested in IngridB's description of the meaning behind it - I can't say I actually got that at all from it, looked more like multi-tasking/multiple consuming to me). But then you can't please all of the people all of the time. As for how it affects the house price, again, I'd have thought it would depend on whether the buyer likes the piece and wants to keep it, or if it would put other buyers off? Personally, if I was to buy the house with the bee on it, I'd probably want to remove it (but would keep the William Blake mural). I wonder, would the owner of the property be allowed to do that?

The number of people I see speeding, when I'm sedately doing the limit or just under, astounds me. I don't understand why more aren't caught/fined/have points/go on speed awareness courses/get barred. Had to laugh the other day though when I was overtaken at considerable speed (I was doing 20 - the limit) by a car and a van on Lancaster Ave, and then caught up with them at the lights where we all had to wait...

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > HonaloochieB Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > DulwichFox Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > Did not know the Electrical Shop Caf? was > > > Licenced.. ? > > > > > > Foxy. > > > > DF, Twirly said she was GIVEN lots of free > wine, > > so all off the clock, sounds like a nice treat > for > > Twirly and friend by a good host. > > > > Wish I'd gone in there more myself now. > > NO.. Twirly said ' He mentioned that they were > applying for a later licence, possibly till 9. > > That would suggest they were already licenced.. > > and I said. 'Did not know the Electrical Shop Caf? > was Licenced.. ? ' > > Foxy It was well over a year ago, so I might not have got the nuances of the conversation correct in my post. I had the impression that they wanted to stay open later in the evenings to serve food, presumably with a licence. Thinking back, I think that they must've been licenced, as my friend (who's birthday it was) may have had a glass with her lunch, I was supposed to be driving later so didn't, but changed my mind as the rain was torrential that afternoon. The free wine was connected with a private event they were due to have later in the evening I recall.

Why not get an estate agent in to value it and ask their opinion? They will be able to tell you if it's worth it or not.

Just over a year ago I was in there and chatting to a chap who if not the owner was at least the manager (and gave my friend and I lots of free wine!) . He mentioned that they were applying for a later licence, possibly till 9. I guess they didn't get it. It is quite residential, so maybe that's why? Shame it closed though.

I assume they are all permanent, although the festival I think they were associated with only lasted a few days. There are several murals around the place, can't say that most of them do anything for me. http://www.dulwichfestival.co.uk/streetart

Bet it still dribbles...

Well done First Mate. Glad things are being resolved, and thanks for keeping us all informed.