bald marauder

Love the principle - unfortunately struggling at the moment to stay fiscally viable never mind fortunate!

Dear Administrator, I'm sure that some stats will help your case/proposition to potential local sponsors...

I like the cheese lady with her van too - did you know she also does deliveries in ED on Fridays if you can't get up to North Cross Road? I beleive you can phone in your order and she will drop it off...

I heard that white stuff were having some problems agreeing the terms of the lease. They had been planning to open by end of March - though that must look pretty unlikely now. It would be nicer to have an independent boutique selling a selection of different brands - but I guess it's difficult to please everyone even with this approach. Ed's on North Cross Road for example has a small selection of menswear, but nothing that quite appeals to me. Does anyone buy stuff from there? I don't even know what I would want from a local boutique really, so much men's clothing is disappointing/expensive or both. But it would be nice to have more choice than we've currently got...

Can anyone else comment on the eggs benedict at Black Cherry - if they're good I'm going to try them, it's my absolute favourite breakfast and a bit too fussy to make at home (never been good at sauces...)

GBB = Gourmet Burger Bar (or is it GBK = Gourmet Burger Kitchen? I've tried to block the experience from my memory!)

OK, in response to the 'let's not get too depressing' postings, here's another positive suggestion. Why not construct a 'fantasy LL' - everyone gets the chance to say what they love about LL, what they would dump, and what new things they'd like to see arrive. I'll start: LOVE (are caps permissible in this context?!) I love EDD (though it is an expensive treat, but their hams, cheeses and brownies are great); also love the cheese shop (though it's really hard to make them smile isn't it? or is it just me?) and william rose and moxons. Actually quite happy with cafe nero, but obviosuly not if it's illegally flaunted planning laws. Franklins seems over-priced and variable in its quality, but I guess that it's useful to have one 'posh modern' restaurant on LL. Love Sea Cow, that is mine and Mrs Marauders' favourite and most frequented eaterie. Bishop seems a nice boozer (love their Weimaraner) and Palmerston is OK, but somehow not quite right (food a bit too fussy/pretentious maybe). HATE Hate GBB (over-priced and not at all great), hate the dodgy looking amusement arcade, and there are some dodgy looking fast food places that I wouldn't miss either. Also not that keen on the bakery (looks really unhealthy and unapetising) and there are far too many estate agents. NEW Wouldn't it be great if there was a nice, buggy friendly, independent(ish) cafe where you could hang out for ages, eating or not as took your fancy - I would vote for a Monmouth Coffee. Also would love to see a Japanese restaurant (Chopsticks - which I realise is Chinese anyway - is very disapointing) - though moxons do regularly have sushi quality tuna and sashimi, which means you can DIY at home. A record shop and a better presented bookshop would also be most welcome. And a nice bakery too. What's your fantasy?

So, it looks like the anti-cycling on the pavement crew are heading for victory... In the spirit of fair and reciprocal policy making - what should happen to pedestrians who walk out in the road without looking in front of cyclists - causing a danger to themselves and other road users? Should we introduce fines? Should we only allow people to cross the road at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings as happens in some other countries? It's not currently against the law in this country - but it is very dangerous - and it happens a lot, particularly in central London. (In fact, several years ago in Bristol I ended up unconscious in casualty because someone walked out right in front of me without looking while I was going, completely legally and carefully, down a hill.) Lots of people do things they shouldn't, the question is a) to what degree is it genuinely a problem, b) is it a problem every time or only in certain circumstances and c) what should be done about it?

Even better - though for some reason I remembered it being a ?5m budget to include other projects but ?2m going to ED leisure centre...maybe ?5m just seemed to good to be true! Would love to know when it's going to be ready, it should achieve a nice balance between improved local facilities without a socially divisive 'posh gymn' opening in the area.

Anyone know when they're starting the ?2m refurb?

Well posted blinder999. I think, as Paul Boateng has instructed, that discretion is the key to this issue (both on the part of the police and cyclists themselves). As a pedestrian, car driver, motorbike rider, cyclist and a pushchair-pushing father, I have an affinity with everyone's point of view - and I think with consideration and empathy, the majority of people can get along fine. The odd, responsible cyclist on the pavement at a busy/dangerous junction is (metaphoriacally and literally) not going to kill anyone.

No - otherwise the nickname really would be very weird!

Hey old timer, if you've actually cycled anywhere in London recently, you might understand why sometimes cyclists use the pavement - not that I unreservedly condone it, and certainly not on a busy shopping street... Cycling on the pavement seems to work quite well in other parts of the world, Austria & Japan for example

Haha! It's a nickname that was given to me by some colleagues when I was younger and more spirited - I don't think on the basis of anything scary, just stupid things like doing one-armed press-ups on the studio floor.... (actually this sounds pretty scary/stupid, but it was harmless fun, honest - and I'm actually not at all macho, quite the opposite in fact). Anyway, these days the only exercise I get is hugging and dancing with my 3 month old baby daughter (who I think has inherited some of my marauding genes - oh dear!) Apologies in any case shambles, for my inappropriate personal nickname... :)

I (possibly like many others) am a creature of contradictions. I hate chains and the chain mentality (especially US ones) but I have been known to go to Starbucks when it is the most viable option (eg before/after shopping at Sainsburys with my baby daughter). I think what CN have done is really out of order, but I personally don't have a huge problem with them per se, and am actually quite pleased that if ED is going to have a coffee chain then CN is probably the best of a bad bunch. I actually suggested to the EDD guys before CN opened that they should have taken the space for an EDD cafe, but they felt they wouldn't have been able to make it pay for itself. If landlords continue charging prohibitive rents for local businesses, then in the next 10 years LL will change for the worse. But we can all vote with our feet and wallets, so just don't go the places you don't like - I went once to Gourmet Burger (a smallish chain) and thought it was over-priced s**t, I will never go back, and prefer to support the Herne, which does lovely burgers (though the fries could be slightly fatter) and great chicken liver pate too. In any case, Petitou on Choumert road p****s all over BM and CN - AND they serve cakes from the much-mentioned 'let them eat cake'. (The crumpets with chives and marmite are also fantastic, as are the chocolate and banana milkshakes). Or do other forum users not make it down to scary Peckhaam very often ;)

Hmm, 'bell-ends' doesn't sound like a very neighbourly expression to me... I wonder how the lovely people of ED would react to being termed East Dullards? As a proud Peckham resident from the Bellenden area (and at the same time a fan of what ED/LL has to offer) I feel it would be nice if everyone can enjoy happy, friendly nicknames - no?

Well, I think Blue Mountain gets an unduly hard time on this forum. Admittedly I was surprised by the amount on my bill for two sandwiches and coffees last time I went, but while it's a little on the cosy side, the staff have always been very friendly and accommodating on my visits. (And I believe some of their cakes are now provided by the nice woman from the cake/veg shop on bellenden road.) As for starbucks, I guess that coffee is a very personal taste, but I think theirs sucks (bland, no real flavour/subtlety and over-milky) - nero coffee is much, much nicer - though of course the best coffee comes from Monmouth Coffee (now it would be nice to have one of their shops on LL)...

I had heard that Askes specifically didn't take its input from the immediate catchment area, but used much broader criteria to get what it considers to be the right mix of children. I know someone on Copleston Road (Bellenden area) who got their two children into Askes, so that would seem to bear it out too.