bald marauder

up for an early morning swim CF?

Appraisals, wow! It's nearly 10 years since I had a 'proper' job - I've just been putting my CV together (in case our nascent sustainability consultancy doesn't take off) - and I can tell you it's a very weird experience. I don't even know what people put in CV's these days or how long they are supposed to be! As for appraisals, well, I hope I don't have to find out - I still have distant memories of the shambolic, inneffective process I last endured. DM, you always give such inspiring, warm and specific feedback (when it's deserved) on this forum, I bet you would make a very good 'appraiser' - and you must be a lovely mum too :) (BTW hope you didn't object to my comment about your witty repartie on my other post yesterday...it was mostly meant toungue in cheek!) Well, I've just changed a 'poopy diaper' (as they say in groundhog day, one of my all time favourite films) and entertained our 4 month old daughter for an hour and a half while her mum gets an extra bit of kip - she deserves it! And our daughter tired herself out anyway so I've just put her down in her cot for a little early morning nap (don't know why she was up earlier than usual this morning...) So folks, have a good weekend, may see some of you in the queue at William Rose or Moxons later I guess? BM

If it's a really good, authentic Vietnamese I think it will do very well (to be honest even it's average it will probably do OK - but would be much better if it's the real deal - Paris generally does Vietnamese food much better than London does...)

crazy fish

and in between writing pieces for the Guardian, spymum? I don't know how you fit it all in! Well done BTW! :)

As an industry person (even if not an official spokesperson), which clothing company (both in ED and generally - I'm wary of getting moved to the Lounge!)do you think has the most ethical supply chain?

I'm a dad with a pram, and having moved to ED pre-baby (so I've also experienced the other side of the fence), I think it's reasonable to expect that people tolerate children around ED in the daytime. Believe it or not (and if you're child-free you probably haven't even thought about it) there are not playgroups on every corner, especially for very young babies. And the ones that do exist I'm sure cost a lot more than the price of a cappuccino and pain au chocolat. I AM amazed though, at how even pubs and bars (Green & Blue deli, EDT on Tues & Sun) have become over-run with kids - but that, for better or worse is the nature of the area. There must still be some traditional pubs and cafes where you can escape if you want to avoid children. Personally, I even make a point of vacating the premises at the first sign of crying, so at least I'm not guilty of any aural invasions. But if you don't like kids/buggies/parenting paraphernalia then (as I've said on another post) ED is probably not the ideal spot for you. Move, deal with it, choose your spots carefully - basically get a life eff ess ess, and let other people get on with theirs - after all, you were a baby once too (and don't seem to have progresssed much beyond your initial selfishness).

Interesting - seems like the EDF is a useful tool for stress release!

...that allows them to while away a few minutes (or longer!) perusing and posting on the EDF - while surely some of us are supposed to be working? I will own up first, today I am 'working from home', with sadly more emphasis on the latter than the former. Is everyone else doing it at work while looking over their shoulder? Or doing a job that doesn't entail working in the daytime? How do you get away with it? (with a National Lottery style emphasis on YOU...)

OK, I guess I don't look hard enough into the shadows...will keep my eyes open next time!

Just like to point out that amongst the ED newbies 'with money', there must be plenty like myself who are relatively new (18 months) but don't have any more money than 'locals'. We regularly go down to Primark in Peckham - and while I know they've probably got even more ethical issue than H&M - ?5.99 for a men's v-neck jumper is hard to beat...)

Tajima Tei is indeed good, an old favourite in fact, but I think Pham has the edge...

I just saw a woman selling the big issue outside Somerfield, wearing some religious headgear (not the full veil), who unless she is a master of disguise doesn't look like she's even heard of the term skaghead/baghead - and thinks white and brown are terms applied mainly to rice, bread and sugar. We should be careful not to taint people's reputations by casting unfounded and ambiguous aspersions. DM, before you get in with your own ambiguous, toungue in cheek little witty riposte, I'd like to point out that I'm not some hair shirt-wearing, apologist - I just think sometimes compassion and mockery make uneasy bedfellows. OK, down off my high horse now, and realise that this thread wasn't intended to be so 'heavy'

Itsu's OK, not awesome. I think Matsuri Holborn, although not by any means cheap, is one of the best value Japanese restaurants in London. The service is good, all chefs and staff seem Japanese, food quality is really very good (for this country) and the interior is clean, modern and simple (without trying to be trendy). The sushi is great, and they have pretty much the only really nice uni(sea urchin) of any Japanese restaurant I've been to (apart from maybe Ubon, but I've only been once and don't think I tried the uni there). OK, I know I might sound a bit 'up my own arse' about the finer points of raw fish, but Mrs Marauder is Japanese and I've been to Japan about 10 times so I reckon my taste buds are pretty good on this stuff. Anyway, even with the recent Times article documenting the arrival of city cash buyers in ED (see other thread on EDF) I think Matsuri is too high end to survive in ED - I for one couldn't afford to go regularly. Then again, if Franklins can survive...I guess it depends how many people REALLY like sushi?

* gentle lapping at a small puddle in the corner...

Have to admit, I always thought there was something, well, fishy about 'fish'...

Haha! Spot on Vickster, I love the crunchy tuna rolls too - and especially the fact that they're not even listed on the menu! ;)

Ah - is that corner of Upland Road/Crystal Palace Road? It looks nice - never been in though...

Probably. I think it's nigh on impossible to discern the 'deserving' from the 'undeserving' (and from a truly compassionate persepctive I'm not sure that such a person really exists). Of course, no-one should feel obliged to give money if they don't want to/can't afford to, but doesn't it ever cross your mind that "there but for the grace of god..."?

What's the CPT?

Hope some budding restaurateurs (is that how you spell it?) are listening! I know there are 'Japanese places in Catford and over Crystal Palace way - but having tried them both they are well below standard on the food and well above on the prices. Not a good experience and not good value for money. If you're going to do Japanese food really well, you need to have (at least one) real Japanese chef. (Sorry all you Chinese people doing Japanese food - you're lovely, but the food sucks.) I think Pham Sushi on Whitecross Street, Clerkenwell is a great example of a 'neighbourhood' Japanese restaurant, great food, down to earth decor but smart enough (not trying to be trendy) and reasonably affordable mid-market prices (circa ?18 per head for starters, mains and desert with green tea and water - though if you choose your dishes you can eat well for less). Bring it on!

Petitou never lets you down!

hmm, should we order some hair shirts so that we can show our solidarity with the plight of those less well-off than ourselves? Personally, I wouldn't want to live in Clapham (even if I could afford it) - or anywhere else for that matter. I like East Dulwich for it's relatively local, independent feel - and because it's not (again relatively) completely up its own arse in the way that much of Clapham is. I also like (shock, horror) the fact that it's next to Peckham, where within a few minutes walk you can find a culturally different (and I mean that in a good way) experience. I think it's important to keep a diverse range of shops, eg Somerfield (and possibly Iceland, though focusing on frozen food doesn't seem particluarly healthy in one of the most obese countries in the world). I don't think that social inclusivity means we either have to totally sacrifice any 'nice' ie read 'expensive' things - nor do I think it means that scruffy, run down shops should be celebrated. Do you think it makes poor people happy to look at or shop in a depressing environment? I doubt it very much.

Hey Mockney, Have you tried ripping in uncompressed format - apple lossless (or FLAC on PC's) for example? It sounds one hell of a lot better than MP3....

Following on from the forum threads about 'what ED is listening to' (surely this thread should be lounged?) I'm interested in who uses the internet to get their sounds? I use it quite a lot (often all day at work, and sometimes in the evenings at home) and apart from when I'm driving never now use 'normal' radio. Favourite channels at the moment: Bossa Nova breakfast, Sky Classical, Folk Alley and especially Radio David Byrne. Check out his current playlist (http://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/) which changes every month, and there's even some arcade fire on it at the moment (which i seem to remember being mentioned on the other - soon to be lounged? - thread). Anyone else use internet radio? What's your favourite?