bald marauder

sheesh - I'd rather have another poncey coffee shop (or book shop or record shop) than yet one more pointless, tacky gift shop - who buys all these frickin' gifts anyway?!

Recently checked the new EDF posts (though didn't post myself) from Peru. It was a reassuring comfort in a sometimes exasperating trip. BM

Hey Karter, As a dad of a 9 month old daughter, time for drinks is in very short supply! I am very intrigued however, and would be happy to treat you to a breakfast coffee/croissant at a local establishment of your choice.... BM

Hey Karter, I realise you cannot spill the beans just yet - but can you say when you will be able to? I can't wait to see what specific brand of poncyness we are going to get... BM

I have also often wondered who buys all that c**p. I think I (just about) prefer the downbeat fascia of Chener books to any more shops selling pointless trinkets.

I wonder which places in ED embrace and are frequented by both originals and incomers? For example, EDD = predominantly incomers (posh expensive nonsense for people with more money than sense), Iceland = predominantly original (value for money basics with no ?1.50 croissants, luxury organic ice-cream, or home-made quiche). May I boldly suggest that the cheese block is welcomed and embraced by all, along with pretty traditonal on North Cross Road? It would be interesting to plot the places where the two tribes happily rub along side-by-side...

The signs behind the white stuf boards look great - they should leave them up and post their own signs below...

On-platform-shack, now that would be good - actually IMHO AMT coffee (available at lots of stations across London and beyond) makes a really, really good cup. And their chai tea latte pisses over the equivalent from the major chains (if you like that sort of thing, which on occasion I do). Sadly, I think most shacks would take the viw that ED station is not busy enough for long enought to warrant setting up a unit there - I could be wrong though....

what's jerk rock going to be?

House, Camberwell Church Street - how good is the coffee - Monmouth/Apostrophe standard or more like a regular chain?

-- moved topic --

Isn't the point of being a pioneer that you benefit from being seen as a leader, and are actually more successful in the long run?

To be honest, if more than one estate agents on LL ends up moving/closing because of Foxtons, it will be a good thing. There are far too many on LL. Maybe Foxtons will get rid of three of them and do us a favour?

Aah, NIGI! (Now I get it)

Aah, in that case, what's happening with the building with not enough windows opposite the Bishop?

WTF is WFP - I don't think it's a WKA (well known acronymn)

While obviously suffering from many of the problems that generally beset the industry, I have to say that Foxtons were actually more realistic in pricing our last property (we used them when moving from Bethnal Green) than most of their competitors, who overvalued the property just to get it on their books. That's not to take away from the sharp practice that they indulge in, but I do wonder if they are unfairly vilified amongst their peers. Are any of the other chains really that much more honest and transparent?

Went to Jacks at the weekend, very, very dissapointed. Extraordinarily average food, which while not too expensive, did not feel like very good vfm either. Would rather pay a bit more and go to Petitou, which is a million times better. I think Jacks may have been good when it was a 'pioneer' in ED before there were so many other choices, now, it seems to have little to recommend it.

Has anyone got word of what's happening with the site underneath the new appartment block? Please tell me it's not going to be another betting shop! Maybe DM has been doing some campaigning to get S*bucks to open another branch?

It certainly looks like something is happening with the building opposite the Bishop, which is where I believe previous speculation had placed Foxtons...

karter, did I already ask if it's going to be 'apostrophe'? Or, I have another new suggestion, an East Dulwich Deli cafe - BTW has anyone been to their outpost in Harrods? What's it like? I suspect that the opening/running of that may have caused them to take their eye off the ball locally, as I have observed a distinct drop in friendliness and quality of service recently...

Did anyone see the graffiti on the white stuff hoarding today?! Underneath a piece of text that says simply 'white stuff', someone has scrawled....'is hard to swallow'.

Good point about the sunglasses Citizen. So, in the absence of the instant 'attitude' that wearing sunglasses gives you, what's the best way to combine looking cool with looking friendly and non-aloof?

Now, actually DM, I find dads with prams are even less friendly than MWPs! At least there is some kind of unspoken solidarity between the MWPs, but with dads, even when I smile or look generally friendly in a 'we're all in this together and it's tough but it's fun' way (which I do most of the time) - 90% of the time I just get blank stares or people looking the other way. And sadly the MWP solidarity doesn't extend to dads either!!

Sounds like a classic candidate for Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares!