Alec John Moore

We feed them to our chickens.

Most technological developments result in some form of hybrid state with old and new technologies being used together or interchangably. I've go into reading on a reguilar basis again in the last 12 months. I like using the Kindle but I also bought a "coffee table" type book the other day that just wouldn't have worked even if it had been available on Kindle. Anyway, it wasn't Southwark's libraries that spurred me into reading again but a book club I found on EDF. I would like to be able to borrow the books I read but to be honest it is more convenient to download them to the Kindle or buy them (second hand usually) on the interweb.

This isn't veg, yet, but seeds. I was reading the gardening column in the Guardian magazine last Saturday and read that now is a good time to be planting Florence Fennel seeds. The recommended supplier is The Real Seed Catalogue: http://www.realseeds.co.uk/ This is also a chance to help save old varieties from extinction, threatened by EU legislation. Vegetables outside the official list cannot be sold to the public but by purchasing from The Real Seed catalogue you can legally buy, sow and grow old varieties, enrich your diet and contribute to biodiversity. So, my fennel seeds arrived today along with some other autumn/winter harvesting types including carrot and radish. However, there are far too many for my little veg plot. If anyone would like to swap or just try some then get in touch. Choose from the following: 'Colossale' Fennel 'Feast' White Stem Spring/Salad Onion 'Wiener Runder Kohlschwarzer' Winter Radish 'Giant Red' Carrot God I love the Guardian. Alec

Seven Samurai Great story weaving many themes around the samurai code and class difference in medieval Japan. Honour, duty, male bravado, heroism, bravery, stunning, and believable, martial arts skill and amazing battle scenes. Tragedy, love interest, humour. I must watch it again.

A family trip to the women's footie semi final at wembley for us.

We are really pleased with our loft conversion. My wife uses it ss an office and it is really spacious. We didn't need to have the staircase boarded and the unexpected bonus is the way it opens up the top of the house with a skylight which floods the space with light. We lost loft storage space but now we have more convenient cupboards under the eaves. I would go for it if you budget can withstand it.

Just picked up on this news that police are "making progress on bogus clothing collectors". http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/citypolice/# Interestingly this links to a couple of threads on EDF: "In recent months it has emerged how charity shops are being badly hit as bags of clothes donated to them are being removed from the pavement before the legitimate collectors arrive. In other cases fraudsters provide collection bags that appear to be from legitimate charities but take the donations to sell abroad. " Alec

Hmm, doesn't look like they will have much of a track record to back up a reputaion for helping people in need. It's easy to be cynical about this but most charities will also be registered as companies limited by guarantee and they often use "for-profit" companies to run commercial services. If an organisation is operating as a charity then it will be regulated by the Charity Commission and will be required to make public information about its finances and its actitivies.

Hi, your posting prompted me to actually look at the stats http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/datatable.php?ward=00begr&borough=md&period=year for Peckham Rye ward. Overall crime is down. Some crimes are up and some are down. I've been living in ED for 5 years with my family and we feel happy and safe. Doesn't mean we don't take sensible precautions but we are not unduly worried about our safety. Alec

Hi bawdy-nan I know it appears condescending but I think it's an understandable response to very moving stories depicting a serious problem. The way the programme makers used the statistics that provide the official context for the programme was very effective in my view but if we'd only been presented with the stats then I doubt if we'd be having this discussion in quite the same way. I've worked in the voluntary sector for a number of years now and I often wonder why people don't use their voices to express outrage at a situation and campaign for changes to policy. I know that many do but there are many who feel that giving something to help is the only or best way for them. I watched the programme this morning again on iplayer with my kids who are similar ages to those children in Bradford and Leicester. At least it made them think a bit about their own situation.

This looks like useful info http://www.ecoscope.co.uk/ecology/pdf/weed-series-giant-hogweed.pdf

I watched this last night on iplayer and found it really moving and thougth provoking. I work in international development and I recognise the stigma attached to poverty that the children in Leicester and Bradford articulated so well from seeing and talking to children in Malawi. What struck me most was the way the children in the TV programme were so wise beyond their years and quite stoic about their situation. Not quite resigned or defeated nor angry but understanding of the limitations that poverty puts on their lives and their futures. I thought that was the greatest indictment of policies that allow families to get into that situation - that the children can't be fulfilled in their lives. My children need to watch that programme. I've also been thinking about what we can do about it. I am sure there are voluntary organisations in Bradford and Leicester which could help those families featured in the TV programme but I know that the stigma associated with poverty can prevent people from taking advantage of hand outs. It was interesting to see the dad in Leicester using the interweb to look for a job. I wonder if ebay or something similar could be used to enable people in his situation to buy 2nd hand school uniforms so that his son didn't experience the humiliation of having to wear his sister's blouse to school and wear ankle flapping trousers. The challenge would be to ensure that the school clothes our children have grown out of go to the those most in need.

We've been debited ?72 which I think must be for the BMX at Greenwich or women's football at Wembelee. For us its more about taking part in the occasion as a family.

Hi carter We've been talking about this in the Green and Blue Book Club on the forum. A couple of us went to Roxy Bar and screen in Borough High Street which was good. We've been talking about how we could recreate the atmosphere and environment for viewing and discussing films that we enjoy while discussing books at Grren and Blue. It would be great if there was a Roxy type venue in ED but we have had to venture further afield. There is also Whirled Art in Loughborough Junciton but haven't got round to checking that out yet. Alec

You could try streetbank.com as well as EDF. It links you to people near where you live who have things to give and share. It's still in fairly early stages of development but it seems to work very well when it reaches a critical mass of neighbourly members in a specific geographical area. I've had one or two good exchanges on it.

Heard the Irish pundit Fintin O'Toole on the radio this morning and recalled that he is popularly known as Tintin O'Foole in Ireland.

Truss is a marmite writer and broadcaster - you either love her or hate her. See above. I can see what people don't like about Eats shoots and leaves but I found it amusing and informative.

A late entrant can join only hurriedly now many other opportunists rush expectantly.

I can't recall, is the mere d'Asterix called Matrix?

mrs scoop, my son came back from school that day and, as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink, told us about the visit and how he had shaken hands with the prime minister. Quick as a flash our babysitter asked, "Is that why you are washing your hands then?" Made me laugh.

Hi ClareC, sorry to be pedantic but what method did you use to complain? In the interests of sharing approaches that might work it could be useful to know if your approach differed from others. I see that it is possible to make a complaint online using the tfl website.

It is worth complaining to the bus company. They will take it seriously and reply to you with how they have dealt with your complaint. I've done it twice over the last few years and it is gratifying to know that my complaint is being heard. The last time was when a driver chastised me as I got on the bus with my two younger children aged 4 and 7. I was carrying their book bags, lunch bags, scooters and my own bag. My 4 year old very helpfully put his hand out to stop the bus. Apparently this was wrong and I was told off. I queried his statement since I was confident my child was safe and I didn't think it his responsibility to tell me how to look after my kids. I then proceeded to take down the details of the bus - route number, bus stop, time of incident etc and I think I also clocked his PSV licence. I used my Blackberry since I didn't have a pen and paper to hand. I then went online when I got home and completed a form. A little later I got a response from the company. If there is a driver who is persistently behaving in a way that intimidates passengers through language or behaviour then this can be revealed through persistent complaints on the part of passengers and hopefully it will be stopped. I know it needs presence of mind to get the details down but the benefit is that you don't need to engage with the individual, just report him to his managers. Good luck

I don't want to sound patronising but well done, dully, for tackling the stallholder. It's tough for most of us to challenge an action or behaviour that we find offensive as individuals and for our own reasons that are clearly shared by some but perhaps not all on this forum. I suspect that if I'd seen the doll then I would have been surprised and a bit shocked. Had my children seen it and asked about it then I would have attempted to explain that some people find that kind of figure offensive. A typical middle class ED approach I suppose but I wouldn't try to counter your offense at the doll by trotting out a history of the doll and the original intention of the producers. You are the one who feels offended and you have the right to share that view without the villification of your neighbours. It's not easy trying to engage with EDF on anything even slightly contentious.

Hi katie1997, do you mean the reverse of my statement? i.e that English people in Scotland get pissed of by the Alba-centric perspective of Highlanders? This doesn't surprise me. In Ireland they would be known as "blow-ins". It's one of the reasons I love living in London. Being the son of a cockney mother and having produced 3 Londoner children I now consider myself to be a Londoner, despite being Scottish by birth. I feel that "London" would welcome me as such. I also think that this is why Scottish independence is unnecessary. I don't deny that racial memory is long but it is also selective. I remember hearing a Highlander on TV once identifying with the history of the oppression of the native North Americans when being asked about the Highland clearances.

She's in the shadow cabinet so I think she's not allowed to sign the EDM. That's what Harriet Harman stated in her response to my letter asking her to sign it.