IlonaM

What we did was enrich the soil with compost and manure in the holes we were digging to plant in. It cuts time and effort. Also if you mulch with compost, leaf mould and manure on the top the worms will do the work for you and take the mulch etc down through into the clay. Slower but it has worked for us. We did try sharp sand initially, but it was (as malumbu says) a 'massive job' and we jumped at the garden centre advice.

rendelharris Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just joshing, I have three of them in the family > (lawyers not rats). I know you are, we seem to have more priests than lawyers in mine!

rendelharris Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > IlonaM Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > You're never that far from a rat in London. > Years > > ago we used to take the foreign students in > Halls > > to Lincolns Inn Fields and watch masses of them > in > > the evenings. This was before the lawyers got > > together to overhaul the gardens. > > Did the rats leave in disgust at the presence of > so many lawyers? I'm deeply hurt!!! Sadly, I think it was more of a death sentence than voluntary exit.

You're never that far from a rat in London. Years ago we used to take the foreign students in Halls to Lincolns Inn Fields and watch masses of them in the evenings. This was before the lawyers got together to overhaul the gardens.

The Spencer's have auburn hair in their genes, so I've always thought the Hewitt rumour was wrong.

Jules-and-Boo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think the wedding was lovely - and yes - they > looked very happy together :-) Absolutely! I think it was refreshingly delightful. I hadn't expected to watch it, but I popped in to see the dress and stayed for the service. Loved the Bishop Prelate's address - fantastic.

Hi, You may have already thought of this, but just in case: Link Age Southwark (http://linkagesouthwark.org/services/) have volunteer befrienders who may well enjoy a lovely regular walk.

womanofdulwich Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > At the bottom of Sunray there's a garden full of > gnomes. Makes my day when I cycle past.😃 I immediately thought of that garden as well!

You'll find a Peckham Rock in the British Museum later this year! https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/may/16/ian-hislop-picks-banksy-hoax-for-british-museum-dissent-show

Status of EU Citizens in the UK The Home Office has updated its guidance in different languages to EU nationals in the UK. You can access the update here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/status-of-eu-nationals-in-the-uk-what-you-need-to-know?mc_cid=0a2f2171a8&mc_eid=c6ca3ef600 [source: Migrants Rights Network]

Undocumented Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK The Home Office has updated its guidance on what evidence is needed in 'Windrush' cases. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/undocumented-commonwealth-citizens-resident-in-the-uk?mc_cid=0a2f2171a8&mc_eid=c6ca3ef600 Also: Windrush Compensation Scheme The Home Office has issued a call for evidence for individuals, community and voluntary groups to tell them what should be in the Compensation Scheme. A series of five questions have been published to draw together a framework for the scheme. A recent admission by Sajid Javid that up to 63 people may have been deported proves what many feared that the scandal is far wider and has broader implications that originally thought possible. MRN will be responding to the call for evidence, by also drawing attention to the limitations of the process for calls for evidence and the need to ensure that more stakeholders are involved in the discussion. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-launches-windrush-compensation-scheme-call-for-evidence?mc_cid=0a2f2171a8&mc_eid=c6ca3ef600 [source: Migrants Rights Network]

EE mobile reception is very poor and unreliable indoors at Horniman end of Underhill Rd, but relatively ok elsewhere in East Dulwich.

Thank you for your advice, Renata. I will get him to get in touch with them. He is not too far from me (Underhill), but I'm not sure what ward he's in.

Thanks for your advice everyone. I shall pass your advice on.

holloway Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > getting vaguely back on topic; where to spend 19 > may 2018? > Hate to tell you this, but we were thinking about 2019! Although there probably will be a wedding or two then as well ...

This is not a new or novel issue with the Home Office and immigration/asylum cases - as a practitioner in the field and a monitor of the quality of decision-making for UNHCR I spent my career dealing with poor decision-making, incompetence, toxic attitudes and misinformation. The problem is not restricted to Windrush cases, but spreads across Commonwealth cases, EU nationals resident in the UK etc. and that is just looking at issues arising over the last year. The Windrush cases date back years - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/10/its-destroyed-my-life-windrush-victim-recognised-as-legal-citizen-after-13-years. The 'Hostile Environment' created by May as Home Secretary was merely an extension of a well-established culture of disbelief and cynicism prevalent within the UKBA and its forebears. Both the Labour Government and the Tory Government treated immigrants and asylum seekers abysmally. The system is flawed - transparency, a change of deep-seated culture and attitudes, training and oversight would go a long way to making our immigration system fairer and well-run. See further: https://migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2018/04/24/senior-judge-calls-uk-immigration-rules-a-disgrace/?mc_cid=5ef9a58908&mc_eid=c6ca3ef600 The JCWI petition is not an attempt to destabilise the Tory Government; they are doing a great job of doing that themselves with infighting over Brexit. If you disagree with the petition, don't sign it. If you would like something constructive done, please do sign and share it widely.

alice Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > P68 the latter part of yr convoluted 2nd paragraph > is ugly. Get over yourself Alice. Really.

Super news. Glad you're all reunited.

JCWI has started a petition calling for an Independent Commission into the policies and practices of the Home Office, and the ?hostile environment?. Please do sign and share with your networks: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/219003 Petition text: 'An Independent Commission into the Home Office and the "hostile environment" The Windrush Scandal and Amber Rudd?s resignation have shown the chaotic and cruel way the Home Office operates. This crisis was caused by Theresa May?s ?hostile environment? policy. The policy ruins lives, puts people at risk of destitution and removal, and increases the risk of modern slavery. It asks landlords and doctors to act as border guards and there is no evidence that the policy works. Migrants and those who look or sound 'foreign' are at most risk. We can no longer trust that the Home Office can function effectively and fairly. We need an Independent Commission to look into the behaviour of the Home Office and its ?hostile environment?. It is the only way to ensure that all those caught up in Theresa May?s ?hostile environment? are protected.'