Domitianus

But a leader in what? A leader in opening shops on Northcross Road? I am pointing out simply that this was probably a necessity, not an attempt to open up grand new vistas.

Thanks Amelie.

I am always amused by the tendency of people to hallucinate some sort of selfless 'pioneering spirit' in those who 'open up' a new shopping area and 'make it what it is today'. I am sure that BM was set up as a business venture with the intention of making money and that the owner was not exactly a visionary who said "I will sacrifice my finances, health, happiness and entire lifetime - struggle by on a pittance - content in the knowledge that those who come after me will benefit from my selfless trailblazing." Of course, I could be wrong.

I would be fascinated to find out how these hedge fund managers manage to pay only 15% tax bearing in mind the base rate is significantly higher than that.

Has anyone else been caught out by the closure of this launderette? It is the one in the row of shops including the chippie, hairdresser and kebab shop. I left a bag of laundry in for a service wash as usual, wasn't able to get back for it for a bit over a week or so (a normal occurence) and found the place closed with a notice in the window saying thanks for your custom, we have retired. I am assuming my bag of laundry is still inside. There were a couple of notes pushed through the letter-box with phone numbers on them and requests that the note-writer be contacted to be able to reclaim his/her laundry - so it seems I am not alone. Does anyone have any further experience or knowledge about this unsatisfactory state of affairs?

I have heard great things but I always found him a bit pushy! Chortle-chortle!

Most of these charity muggers are actually employed by private companies who offer fund-raising services to the charities who employ them. The amount that I recall going to the 'chugging' company in the first year was around 85% - not quite 100% but still very high. If you are approached by a charity mugger they are obliged to commence the conversation with a "solicitation statement" along the lines of "I am paid by a company which is employed to fundraise by the charity I am representing". If they fail to do this they are in breach of either the law or a voluntary code (can't remember which). Simply say to them "You seem to have forgotten your solicitation statement." Bottom line is that charities nowadays are forced to operate as businesses. Their paid staff (which includes most of the Head Office staff I am sure) are paid salaries (very healthy ones I am sure). They pay professional accountants, lawyers, designers, printers, PR firms etc, so it is no surprise that they also pay professional fundraisers. Obviously, how much a potential contributor feels this impacts on the charity ethos is a matter for each individual's own conscience. I know this stuff as I was a Territory Manager for a 'chugging' firm in a previous life. It was unethical as hell and, after running into financial trouble, issued its first wave of staff redundancies (without statutarily required employee consultation) only two weeks or so after they won Investors In People accreditation (Now, IOP really is a load of s**te!)

My cod and chips with a cup of tea costs ?8-50. I cannot comment on other prices,except to say that the cod is one of the less-expensive fish.

Forwarded to me this morning by City contact: Irish housebuilding may decline this year for the first time in almost two decades, the Irish Examiner reported, citing Davis Langdon PKS, a property consultant. The drop may amount to as much as 13 percent, the newspaper said. Irish developers may build as few as 75,000 houses as demand eases, the Examiner said. Irish house prices, which have quadrupled in the past decade, fell in April for a second month and homebuilding declined the most in more than five years. Evidence of the emerging "global correction" of house-prices predicted by ABN Amro?

A "beech" party? Would that involve celebration of the ancient wisdom of the beech tree? On a more serious note, I thought the idea, mentioned elsewhere on this forum, of putting some chess/picnic tables in the park was excellent. It would bring a little bit of Central Park and a touch of intellectual exercise to ED which certainly wouldn't go amiss.

You would not be allowed to. There is already a pitchfork shop in the vicinity and, as we all now know, it is not permissible to have more than one of an sort of shop in ED. There is also a shop that sells flaming torches by the way.

I believe it also does tin whistles and a variety of metronomes. It is, indeed, on Uplands Road.

I am sure that fellow users of this forum will be as shocked, horrified, disgusted, mortified and downright T'd-off as I was to hear that I have discovered a new music shop has opened in ED. This means that there are now TWO music shops in ED, a catastrophic state of affairs that will lead to devestation of the local economy, destruction of variety amongst local businesses and, quite possibly, a spiralling downturn in house prices!!! Indeed, it is fair to say that, for many, life may never be the same again. I feel it is incumbent upon all responsible citizens and inhabitants of ED to assemble at the stroke of midnight in an unruly mob, armed with pitchforks and flaming torches, to advance upon the offending musical emporium with the intention of forcing the propretor to desist from trading forthwith. Are you with me?????

Good point about the Sam. Once you had located someone called Sam you could give him a missile to shoot down the helicopter!

I am touched by the concern being shown for the well-being of the injured trees and lamp-post. Good to see that our compassion is being extended to flora and inanimate objects. I was told that a tree-surgeon was also spotted rushing to the scene - sap all over the place apparently!

Don't know if anyone saw recent comment from economist at ABN Amro (large investment bank for those of you not amongst the initiated). ABN commented in April that UK house prices are 50% over-valued. Economist there recently added the comment "Rising real estate rates could result in greater economic volatility. I believe this leaves housing markets vulnerable to a correction on a global scale." Referring to the commonly cited view that shortages of new homes in UK will continue to fuel house-price increases he observed that these opinions have "as much credibility as Britney Spears' latest comeback." Not encouraging news! I have commented before on this site that, in the opinion of informed individuals I know, the UK housing market is not an appealing asset class for investment. Every new piece of news or opinion that comes along seems to reflect this. As already observed in this thread there is always the phenomenon of 'bull-market geniuses' - those who invest in a bull market (such as property over the last number of years) when value of everything is going up and then think that the profits they make as a result of a favourable market are testament to their investment genius. The result? These investors keep attempting to replicate the same 'get rich quick' magic and don't realise that the market can turn against them. When it does they are f***ed! The only public figure I have seen recently who has been optimistic about continued rise in property prices is Grant Bovey (husband of Anthea Turner and property speculator himself). Not someone I personally would view as an economic guru! Just a word to the wise that nothing can keep going up for ever - not even house prices.

Ralon also do those spike things for quick filing of stuff. I remember trying to buy one there and they only had the straight spikes which I always felt were an accident waiting to happen. I said that I wanted one of the ones with a curved end as I thought they were a little safer. The middle-aged Asian chap with glasses and the cut-glass accent proceeded to explain to me that the straight ones that he stocked were the ones that were currently fashionable and that they could double as an improvised weapon should someone break into your house. He then proceeded to demonstrate how one could fend off an intruder, in a manner that reminded me of Errol Flynn in an old swashbuckler. I was speechless! I would like to think it was all tongue-in-cheek but I'm rather afraid he was quite serious.

I think the fish at TSC is generally very good (must admit I usually just plump for the cod). I had one very ropey piece of cod there a few weeks back and actually complained about it - couldn't even finish it. They were fine about it and didn't charge me and seemed concerned. In terms of sustainable fishing - they used to have a card there showing the various types of fish served and indicating the sustainable manner in which it was sourced. Added benefit - the waitresses are generally pretty tasty.

I would welcome a range of cards designed to communicate various good wishes to goldfish and other aquatic dwellers. I have dificulty in finding ways to communicate my profound feelings to my little fishy chums. Anyone know of a good local stockist?

I agree with the deep concern about having more than one of any type of outlet in East Dulwich. Consequently, I think we should all lobby to close down all the local pubs except one (a vote could perhaps be taken as to which one can be permitted to remain open), all the local Indian restaurants but one (again a vote to be arranged), all kebab shops but one, all newsagents but one, all coffee outlets but one, all florists but one, all off-licences but one, all dry-cleaners but one, all Chinese restaurants but one, all banks and building societies but one (after all, everyone can shift their accounts to the one allowed to remain open), all chemists but one (if we include the one opposite Dulwich Library, we have FIVE in the area - way too many!!!! How many deoderants, paracetamol, sanitary towels and prescription medicines do people need???), all the shops selling over-priced s**te but one, etc, etc. In addition we should lobby to prevent Somerfield selling fish, meat, alcohol, toiletries and just about everything else, as they are almost certainly in competition with some other business on Lordship Lane. Let's also try to close down eith Dulwich Life or SE22, adter all, why should we have two local free magazines?? What's that, you say? There is demand for more than one pub? Demand for more than one Indian restaurant? Well, perhaps there will be sufficient demand for more than one card shop. If not, then the newcomer is unlikely to get much commercial traction. I just don't understand this griping about new businesses that compete with existing incumbents. No-one has the right to metaphorically assign themselves an exclusive territory to run a certain type of business just because they were in the area first. A key feature of a free market economy is that people have the right to establish businesses and compete against others, as long as it is done in a lawful manner. If it was not for that principle none of the incumbent traders who object to the newcomers would have been entitled to set up their own business in the first place. It is funny how quickly people who establish their businesses amidst a flurry of capitalist, entrepreneurial spirit suddenly become completely protectionist once they have a foothold in the local economy. It would seem that

DM, We have all twigged by now that you have an AU PAIR!

Well, well, well! I wonder what happened to my last two postings on this thread. They seem to have vanished.

Oh touchy!

I think Karter owns a launderette and does service washes in between posting on EDF.

May I suggest a number of images that would more accurately reflect East Dulwich: 1. A gaggle of lobotomised, Stepford Wife-like, pregnant women pushing prams containing their existing, unruly progeny and wearing an expression of drugged-out ecstasy on their faces as if there is nothing as rewarding in the world as the smell of a soiled nappy 2. A row of shops selling completely useless, over-priced s**te 3. A representative image of unimaginative, self-congratulatory, insular, middle-class smugness 4. A row of estate agencies servicing those who believe that there is nothing as important in the world as getting on the 'property ladder.' Any thoughts for other images that could supplement those?