*Bob*

I'm not sure how a shop can 'look snobbish' from the outside. Surely you can only find that out by actually going in? - unless overpriced = snobbish, simply as a matter of course. Yes, it is expensive in there, but even if you buy your ham in wafer-thin form from Iceland, I'm sure most people would agree it's a good-looking shop-front?

I've never had cause to raise an eyebrow at the service in there, though I haven't been in on Saturdays, during 'rush hour'. It's a nice shop because it *is* piled high with stuff, but it's true that if you put up a display that can be reached by the public you should make allowances for it being knocked over by accident. Especially in an area so heavily populated by people with young children. Why people insist on wheeling their prams in there when it's busy, I don't know. It's not as as you can't keep an eye on them - there's an eight 12-foot pane of glass in front of the shop.

Perhaps turn the concrete house into a retirement home? That way we could keep all the miserable old gits well clear of all those 'annoying young couples', constantly irritating everyone with their unreasonable desire to find somewhere to live.

Ha Ha.. I've just seen a face in the crowd who I recognise.

Perhaps, in future, if anyone decides to make any lighthearted comment - in jest - on the forum, they should always follow it up with " - JOKE!!!!" so that those of limited intelligence (and any Americans who might be reading) might not be unduly mislead.

It's never really Clapham until you've just had to sidestep the third fight in the street/pub.. and it's only 10pm on a Friday.

... and so are the Bugaboos..

Let us know the name of your neigbours street.. it sounds like a fine place for us all to park-up for the weekend. The cheeky mare.

Now that's what we need in ED.. a decent Kebaberie. One that serves something other than that 'can of dog food on a revolving stick' business.

My old local in Tooting used to put out home-cooked nuggets, potatoes and onion rings out for free on a Sunday as well. They were revolting. Fortunately, it serves decent food now (like The Herne).

Mockney.. Yes, if you go to Spain (or Italy, for that matter), tasty, simple, good-quality food is given out (for free, or at little cost) as an accompaniment (and and encouragement) to drink. GREAT. However, here in London, we are mostly talking about restaurants - not bars doing honest nibbles on the side `- such as all the ones mentioned above. And in the majority of these places, by the time you've paid for enough small plates to eat your fill, you're often spending ?25 each on food alone. And for ?25 each, you can eat at some fantastic restaurants London, thus making yer basic meatballs in tomato sauce and garlic prawns seem somewhat less good value.

I've been for many a Tapas in London (it always seems like such a good idea at the time) and have generally ended-up disappointed.. I think the only one I've been too which I genuinely thought was a of a 'good restaurant standard' (as opposed to munchable cafe-standard stuff) was the one by Borough Market (Brindisi..? Is that the name?). MOAN MOAN MOAN (sorry)

Perhaps M&S could renovate the concrete house? Then everyone would be happy.. SORTED.

Ha Ha ha!! Yes.. come on everyone.. let's plough the old Clapham furrow again.. It's been a while now since the last slanging match.

When we bought here, we were initally looking "as near to LL and the station as possible" (on the basis that anything more than a 5 minute walk to the station or shops would be nothing short of a disaster). But we ended-up in the Henslowe vicinity and can recommend it. Being closer to Peckham Rye (but still an easy walk to ED) gives you better transport options. The Rye itself is great, with the Clockhouse and The Herne babyfest-eaterie there too. Parking isn't the nightmare it can be in other parts of ED and the streets are quieter, getting less through traffic. And although it's a (slightly) longer walk to LL, it is a much nicer way of getting there - North Cross Road is a nice street to walk down, even if the stuff for sale is a bit yawnworthy. So I think you get all the good stuff of LL with some extra benefits on top.

I suggest a masonic-style handshake

Seeing as 'Mum' is currently on zero percent, I'd day it has a long way to go before becoming anywhere near statistically valid.

I imagine many will 'turn up'.. the question is: who will announce themselves, and who will remain incognito ?

Yer all nothing but a load of dirty shanters.

Does 'artist' include the full remit of namby-pamby airy-fairy wishy-washy so-called professions? (eg writer, musician, poet etc)

MadWorld74 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >..I have > to tell you 'resting' means nothing to an actor. > It is used by people who think it's a funny little > line to come up with..... Yep.. (s)he's resting alright.

bawdy-nan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Interesting to hear about the scary shop next to > William Rose. I've always wondered about it. On > the day WR opened its doors I queued with the > rest, chanting "we want meat", under our breath. I > was alarmed and intrigued to see a bony hand > extending from the low lying letterbox of the > dusty, black mystery shop. I'm sure it used to > have a sign - Marie something or other .... > > Assuming I wasn't suffering blood-lust induced > hallucinations that bony hand must have belonged > to the current resident. I've never seen it again > or seen anyone leave or enter the building .... I've seen a lady 'of advanced years' exiting through the doorway of the mysterious black shop. So, either she is the gatekeeper and guardian to a mystical far-away land, access via a portal on Lordship Lane.. or she lives in the flat upstairs.

Is chimney-sweeping still a viable occupation for young teens? Or a factory job which entails cleaning dangerously fast-moving machine parts? If it wasn't for those bloody EU laws..

Shambles, I was commenting on "Living With Teenagers" not on you and yours. I have plenty of experience of teenagers (have been one) and I expect mine to be no different. Despite being constantly told that TEENAGERS TODAY ARE DIFFERENT! all I see is the same old stuff as I remember (sulks, booze, moods, drugs, lying, disobedience, shouting etc etc I'm sure I don't need to go on) But if I ever reach the point of my young teenage children happily telling myself and their Mother to "F*** Off" as often as they please with impunity (a la 'L.W.Teens'), then I shall know something has gone seriously wrong.

Hmmm. Call me only-fashioned, but I don't see the teenagers in "Living With Teenagers" as something to 'be prepared for': they're more something that can be avoided with better parenting.