Jacqui5254

The larger St Christopher's Hospice shop with the double fronted windows.

Over the last financial year I think I made at least a dozen visits to the St Christopher's Hospice charity shop in Lordship Lane to take in donations. I make a point of taking decent items, often things that I might otherwise sell, and certainly feel I am making a reasonable contribution to their stock. I have given pictures, mirrors, small furniture, new books, decorative pieces, vintage items, decent clothes, jewellry, new bedlinen, kitchenalia, etc. Items that I know have a value. So, I was shocked to receive my 'annual statement', thanking me for my contribution which, over the last year had raised ....drum roll....?13.81 [net of commission and VAT]. ?13.81!!! I emailed the Head of Retail who had sent my statement, pointing out that I was concerned at this small amount and also highlighting that I was rarely asked for my Gift Aid details [which adds an extra 25% to the donation]. His reply addressed the need for training on the Gift Aid issue but ignored my concern about the amount raised. I know I am not alone questioning where 'all the best stuff goes' from this shop. So, moving on...where is the best place to take charitable donations? thanks.

Hi rendelharris. My point wasn't about not wanting a hanger, it was to do with the best place for it. As you say, there are a lot of cars on the road. There are a lot more cars at school time around Goodrich when people try to park, sometimes dangerously, so placing the hanger two or three streets away would seem sensible to me. Is there a demand for one in that particular location? I don't know. I live in the road next to where this hanger is planned,[and,yes, I often have to park one or two streets away], but no-one has asked if I have a bike, or if I would like space to store it on the street. Also, most of the housing stock aroung here have front gardens so help with in-garden storage would be a good option as you mentioned. All I know is that if we don't question things, even if we are not right, then some faceless council will continue to use public funds willy-nilly and not always to meet the actual needs of our community.

Goodrich Road...where there are already parking challenges due to it being right outside a school, the road being clogged up twice a day already. Where's the sense in that? Two or three streets away would have made more sense...

I always ask for their mobile number for me to send my address to. Haven't had a no-show so far.....

There are quite a few fundraising sites for residents of Grenfell Tower... https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/grenfell Also, the Red Cross attend many disaster areas, this one included, if anyone wants to donate to them. http://www.redcross.org.uk/en/About-us/News/2017/June/Grenfell-Tower-fire

On reflection, I'd give Alleyn Park a miss, edhistory. As womanofdulwich said...'it's on Rosendale Rd'.. doh!

Hi edhistory. It's on Alleyn Park. Jacqui.

I wonder if the 'visitors' are on some sort of bonus scheme...the one who knocked on my door said she had visited twice and was very persistent...

I'm really annoyed with myself as I answered the door a couple of weeks ago to a woman asking if I had completed my census forms as they hadn't received mine. I said I always complete the census and had no memory of a form. She asked me to call a number to request a new form which I duly did. The woman on the other end of the phone sounded a bit surprised. A few days later I sent the forms off, with some trepidation as they contained personal information and were in a well-marked envelope. At no point did anyone say that this was a 'test', that it was a voluntary activity, and also that I was sending the forms AFTER the closing date!! I'm usually quite vigilant but now I feel a fool.

Another great job, another recommendation for Advanced Painters of Dulwich! Brian came today, [sunday], and completely rehung an old sash window, taking it right back, replacing the old sash cords and ensuring all the paintwork and finish was of first class. He is the nicest, most reliable person with the best team and goes out of his way to ensure the job is of the highest standard. So happy, again! http://www.advancedpainters.co.uk/

amlh, I had nothing but first rate service from Atanas. My renovation was done over a year ago and I have had no problems since that I can attribute to his work. In fact, small issues that were NOT of his making, eg poor quality toilet fittings mean that the flush broke and he came back 3 times to fix it, which also included taking out all the boxed-in fittings. I think he takes a lot of pride in his work.

Exceptional service from the team...Daniel and Luke did a fantastic job today! Had badly rattling radiators...changed all the ancient thermostats and emptied the system. Now working perfectly. Aria and his team are everything you would want in a first class service...they visit you promptly, work quickly and efficiently, are very experienced, reasonably priced and are the nicest, most polite people. I would not call anyone else. Jacqui.

...you will also need to provide a voucher for any tradesman, babysitter, cleaner, friend, counsellor,vicar, Uncle Tom Cobley and all who visit your house, never mind all your friends and relatives.

OMG...boiler problems, no water, no heating, Monday morning, every plumber busy. Called A.F.E. Plumbing Services at 10.10 this morning.. They were in the area. Came round 10 mins later. Sorted the boiler. Bled all the radiators. Everything working. 25mins from phone call to leaving the premises with hot water!! 100% recommended, great guys, amazing!

I have had 10 house moves and experienced 10 different renovating teams over recent years and Advanced Painters are head and shoulders above anyone who has ever worked on my property. Brian's hand-picked team are very experienced and highly skilled, super-friendly and very flexible. Their work is superb. Brian, Vicky, Malachi, Glen, Ricky, Clifton and James...I salute you!

Was given some free cosmetic samples which I left on my bedside table. Got up in the dark to use the facilities in the middle of the night. Before getting back into bed reached to put some of the moisturising cream from one of the samples round my dry lips and chin. Fell asleep thinking..'mmmm, that smells like something I recognise'... Woke up the next morning to read 'fake tanning lotion' on the used sample...

I deal with the guilt by cutting images off all cards I like, incl lovely birthday and Christmas cards , punching a hole in them and turning them into gift tags with a bit of raffia ribbon. Sounds 'crafty', which I'm not, but I have a tin full of lovely gift tags for all occasions, saving about 50p each time. Now I don't feel the cards are wasted...result!

Too right! Basic skills. heCat Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm with the OP on this one, its infuriating > crawling down your street to see 'half sized' > spaces everywhere.... > > If having less than a foot either end of your car > sees you worried about being 'hemmed in', then I'd > suggest you need to learn to drive and maneuver > your car a bit better.

Yes, had a few days without post, incl an Amazon delivery that finally arrived yesterday 4 days later than expected. The 'regular as clockwork, same postie' has changed to new faces and an erratic service over the last few weeks or so. Jacqui.

Thanks kiera, I'll take a look at it. These bits of our local history are rare gems!

I love this shop front. It's a rare and beautiful thing to be able to see such intact features of a Victorian shop. Go and take a look at the original roller blind boxes, the Victorian door with a tiny letterbox for when letters were only a few inches in size, the decorative brackets, the original glass. To think that this will be 'made-over', obliterating its history, is tragic. I would buy it if I could and retain all those features, so I hope whoever buys it is sympathetic to its soul.

sorry, no. [Dunstans]

As someone who has lived under the tyranny of a CPZ scheme I would warn.. be careful what you ask for. Sure, a 12-2 limit sounds great but, once the powers-that-be are given the go ahead, then it could be for any length of time as it all has to be paid for and 12-2 doesn't make as much money as a longer time period. New signs need to go up, new bays created, leaflets distributed, road markings changed, permits arranged. Then come extra wardens to police the roads. I lived in St Albans, my house was over half a mile from the station yet we had 8am-8pm CPZ. The worst thing was that there was a warden at the end of our road at 7.59am every single day as that was when the pickings were rich. They were a permanent presence all day, 6 days a week, miserable faces because everyone hated them bearing down on you as you parked, creating anxiety whilst visitors first 'hello' was "am I supposed to have a parking ticket?". Despite regular protests, not one single thing was changed in the timing or location of the CPZ once it was established. So one day you wake up and find that YOUR road is 8am to 6.30pm. You spend half your working day thinking about parking. You have a permit so you feel a sense of entitlement and, about 2 miles from home you start thinking about a space...everyone else is on their way home from work now...willl there be a space? Will someone else get there first? You will spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about parking. What about your cleaning lady? Has she got enough visitor permits? She arranges to clean for 2 hours, runs over a bit, then tells you that she went out to her car and there was a ticket on her car. The babysitter? The person who is dropping by for a cuppa...do you give them a one hour permit then watch the clock or a 5 hour permit just-in-case? They cost more but, hey, so does a fine from a keen parking attendant. Is it cheaper to use up a 5 hour permit on someone who is there for 4 hours or use up 4 individual hour permits as you have more of those left over, except that your neighbour has just knocked on your door saying 'have you got any one hour permits? My mum is coming over and we have only just realise we gave the last one to the boiler man this afternoon and, well y'know it takes 2 days to order new ones, etc etc etc.. So the cost of reducing the number of people who park in 'your' road can be measured in money, time, stress and fines. And you are still parking two streets away!

God, I feel sorry for the FHR reception staff.