Alec John Moore

Speaking of food. Just noticed Meat N Meat in the shopping centre at E&C. It sells meat, apparently.

It would be odd if The Guardian didn't refer to Austerity Britain in its lead article. I haven't read or viewed all of the material on their website but it seems they are trying to explore the comlexity of the situation. What is worrying, if not surprising, it would seem to me, is that consumption of high fat and carb-based foods has risen, apparently as a result of the squeeze on income and time. We all know that convenience is a key factor in deciding how and what we eat. It shouldn't be surprising that poorer people behave in that way. I'm thinking of the comments in respone to the articles on the Guardian website here but I get a real sense that it is for poor people to adjust to their worsening circumstances by carving out the time to shop sensibly and make wholesome meals for themselves and their families.

Yes, a lot of our attitudes to food are complex and inexplicable in the eyes of some, as this thread has shown.

Well, it seems that people under pressure of rising food prices, less money and time outside of work will respond by buying cheap processed food, whether we like it or not. I took part in the Live below the line campaign earlier this year where I fed myself for ?1 a day for 5 days so I know it is possible to live on inexpensive food. I wouldn't recommend it and I found it took a lot of my time thinking, planning and cooking. I also quite quickly became a little obsessive about my "rations" and my diet was not as nutritious as it normally is. I agree with the many comments on the Guardian website that we can eat well if we shop around and choose our ingredients carefully, learn about nutritional balance and get the kids into the kitchen to help with the whole enjoyable process. However, the reality is clearly a challenge for many families and I can identify with that, reflecting on my own circumstances. I wonder if the spirit of WW2 will be invoked by the government to meet the nutritional challenge of poor diets brought about by a combination of rising prices, reduced benefits and people's resistance to learn to look after themselves and their children.

Interesting reading the comments in response to The Guardian article. This puts it well for me: "Lots of people queuing up to tell us how they make lovely pot roasts that last for days. Good for you! Kind of misses the point that the poor are poor in cash terms, but also poor in terms of time (often working more than one job or unsocial hours) and poor in their level of education and understanding of why foods like processed coated chicken or prepared pizzas can be bad in excess - even though they're marketed as perfectly respectable things to serve your family. But most comments on here will ignore peoples' work and lives, and instead simply assume that they're all slobs. And then tell us how they can do a lovely pot roast for three quid that lasts all week." Regardless of your view on The Guardian's journalistic quality, it would be good to read some thoughts on food affordability.

I like Michelle Hanson's writing but then I like what Lynne Truss says in Eats, shoots and leaves. For a more balanced diet in terms of content have a look at The Guradian's lead article today: Britain in nutrition recession as food prices rise and incomes shrinkFamilies filling up on high-fat processed foods as 900,000 fewer in two years manage 'five-a-day' fruit and vegetables http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/18/breadline-britain-nutritional-recession-austerity?intcmp=122 Foie gras is an extreme example of food production and to focus on that distracts us from the broader issues that affect more people - and animals - and which are fundamentally important for the world to be able to feed itself sustainably.

Annoyed that I missed it. I was half expecting a text/email reminder I suppose. Did they mention the work they are doing on the constitution for the forum? I seem to remember they cited that as the reason for not meeting the month before.

I remember Wicker and Gear on the Walworth Road from many years ago. I seem to remember a take away in Nottingham that sold donor kebabs and then there was the hairdresser named Atmosp'Hair or similar.

Your signature was quite apposite in that last post, DJKQ.

Some cycling campaigners think the focus should shift away from demanding safety for cyclists specifically, to call for safer cities and towns for all. Clearly that represents a broader approach but if successful would mean a reduction in car use through specific measures to achieve that and an increase in public transport, walking and, of course, cycling. The benefits are expected to be healthier living environments for everyone.

Charities, like Wateraid, will employ door-to-door fundraisers who are bona fide and will have their well rehearsed spiel and identification. They will be adults paid about ?7.00 an hour for this thankless work. If kids are genuinely fundraising then they are likely to be trying to pay for a special trip to a foreign country with the school orchestra or whatever. They are likely to be targetting friends and social networks so calling on strangers like this is next to begging, in my view.

Picked this up this morning on twitter and thought it might be of interest to the followers of this thread but then again: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/02/totnes-costa-coffee Maybe it's a moot point but the questions raised by the article seem to be whether diversity, in the form of high street retailers in this instance, enhances community and a sense of place. But then again. Alec @AlecLeggat

Hadn't noticed that amongst the references to oil, money and power but I only watched the trailer. Maybe some consideration of the geopolitical nature of food insecurity will emerge from the discussion. We all have limited choice but some have more knowledge and an interest in taking action.

I had a look at the Best before trailer and I don't see the simplistic single issue stuff that H refers to. Maybe he's looking at something else. I don't get the poverty tourism comment either but I do remember stories about mums pushing their preferred food for their kids through the school fence when Jamie Oliver was trying to improve the nutritional value of school dinners. Still, you'll find prejudice wherever you look if you look hard enough. Personally, I'm really interested in food - you may recall my thread earlier this year about Live Below the Line - and I hope to go to the screening tonight. I'm really impressed by the growing concern there is about the way our food is produced and distributed. But I'm also interested in the widening interest in food and its cultural, social, environmental and ethical dimensions as well as the nutritional and economic.

I remember Mairi's Wedding and Cielito Lindo from primary school - world music in a 1960's Scottish classrom no less.

@Ukjoncollins you could try http://www.localgreens.org.uk/ for your veg. Alec

Hi How about a community orchard or urban permaculture? Lots of support for the former and the latter could provide access to more people than if the land was sub divided into allotments. Would love to see allotments, too, by the way. Alec

We have convinced ourselves that it's more convenient to do a weekend shop at Sainsbo's and top up locally during the week. However, I am trying to change that a bit by buying some stuff on the way home from work. I stop off at Camberwell to get the kids from after school club having first checked out the wonderful fish counter at Morrison's in Butterfly Walk. Got a very nice piece of monkfish tail there last week. Alec

Luxury, I used to dream of riding on a bus, sitting at the front and pretending to be the driver. I was 8 at the time and living on Colonsay.

It's in Southwark's travel plan to lobby tfl to get the Boris Bikes scheme extended to other parts of the borough. I raised it with James Barber on this forum and he didn't seem to hold out much hope. It would really suit me to be able to hop on a Boris Bike at Camberwell Green after I'd dropped the kids off at school and cycle to the Elephant. So convenient, so cheap, so fit, so what is the problem? Alec

This recent Guardian article by Suzanne Moore prompted 14 pages of comments online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/29/school-uniform-kids-soulless-conformists?commentpage=2#start-of-comments While it talks about secondary school unifrom of blazer and tie it does raise interesting issues around conformity, control and self expression. I know this thread isn't about that but since our kids' primary school in Camberwell had floated the idea of school uniform in the past I wonder what Heber parents think about the benefits or otherwise compulsory school uniform brings for children's behaviour and learning, what sanctions does or is the school allowed to apply and how does it affect children's ability to "express themselves"? Alec

Hi James Their school is in Camberwell - we kept them there when we moved to ED so as not to disrupt their education. Thinking about getting a push scooter so that I can keep up with them on theirs, make it easier to get on the bus with them and then scoot off to the office after I have dropped them at school. Would prefer to be able to cycle though.

Dear James I'm really feeling the benefit of commuting to work on my bike this summer. I'm able to cycle to work since I don't have to do the school drop off. When the kids go back to school in a couple of weeks that won't be so easy. However, if the Boris bikes network was to spread southwards towards Camberwell and East Dulwich that would really improve my ptoential for cycling to work more often, keeping fit and relieving pressure on public transport, slightly. The current plans for expansion of the Barclay's Cycle Hire scheme do not include more docking stations in Southwark. I see that Southwark's transport plan includes lobbying Transport for London on expanding the scheme to include more of Southwark. Can you update me on any progress on this and is there anything that East Dulwich cycling commuters can do to help? Best wishes Alec

I've been trying to note the fruit bearing trees that have been planted along the northern part of the Surrey Canal Path in Peckham. From memory there are plenty of rowan but also damson and crab apple. The newly/recently planted trees will probably take a while before they bear fruit and they are getting a bit smothered by weeds. They seem to be part of a scheme. Will try to find out more. I just like the idea that foraging is being officially encouraged.

Hi Our rhubarb is doing well this year but I'm not finding the time to eat it. Anyone interested in a swap? Alec