Louisa

Rats are the responsibility of local councils if they are found present in a private residence. Before you do anything though, you need to make sure you know the difference between a mouse and a rat (i'm not trying to patronise you here). Many years ago I had an issue with what I believed at the time were rats, and I informed the council and it turned out they were in fact house mice (which when fully grown can be fairly big in size). The council will charge you if they disocver on investigation that the infestation is not rats. Therefore, I would suggest contacting any reputable pest control agency (Rentokil an example), and they will send out a surveyor to investigate visible dropping and other signs of infestation. Louisa.

It makes perfect sense for DH station to be improved for access to one of the busiest hospitals in London. I'm pretty sure access to all the major hospitals north of the river from local train and underground stations would never have taken this long to sort out. Maybe a small M&S simply food will open up there too hehe ;-) Louisa.

Whether you like it or not, Bull type breeds are the number one culprit involved in attacks on humans and other dogs, not just the high profile ones you see in the press from time to time, but as reported to the authorities. I believe this is because this breed type is often wrongly handled, and unlike other breeds has the potential to be more powerful with it's aggression because that is what they were originally bred to do! Of course it is often irresponsible owners who have allowed this to happen, and they are being allowed to own an animal which is extremely dangerous if not taken care of in the correct manner. Not all owners can be tarnished with this brush, but it seems that they are more often than not attracted to bull breeds because of their strength! Licence all powerful bull type breeds and we wont have any issues in future! it's simple. Louisa.

I am torn on this subject. My Labrador was savaged by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier type breed a few years back, totally unprovoked. I would never personally own a breed which has such a volatile personality, and as Jeremy rightly points out, was originally bred for fighting purposes (however cuddly and nice an individual dog may be). I think the owner and/or breeder of this type of dog should be made fully aware of the potential consequences of owning such a dog, and a licence should be issued for a breed which like any dog can become vicious and attack, but because of its build and jaw structure, could lead to appaling injuries. Louisa.

Cant believe that this newsagent is closing, one of the last of the old school shops! I just hope we get something useful in it's place, and not some organic scarf shop. Louisa.

I personally believe East Dulwich has hit it's ceiling, and would have done so regardless of the credit crunch. The only reason prices are remaining stable is because of demand/supply, just basic economics really. The lack of tube, poor transport links relative to other inner London areas and a high street still lacking many major retailers (primarily down to lack of space) will mean that this area will now remain stable for the foreseeable future. Louisa.

I have lots of plants in the front of my house and they are often cut and or vandalised by passers by (drunks, kids etc). I have personally considered setting up a 24/hr webcam from upstairs so I can monitor the front garden area to catch any would be culprits. Not sure if this would work or perhaps just deter any would be criminal activity of any kind? Louisa.

I have my own opinions on the way Peckham has been transformed from a respectable working class neighbourhood to a post-modern poorly planned and neglected inner city area in the second half of the 20th century onwards. I personally would love to be able to say come to Peckham, you'll be safe, but I have had so many bad experiences in the area in recent years that I would not personally recommend the North Peckham area to any new person moving in - just my opinion! Louisa.

Peckham common was not the area surrounding the then Homestall Farm (Peckham Rye Park), it was the common land to the north of Peckham Village (running parallel with Hill Stree). Louisa.

silverfox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If they both sold the same weight of > package, eg 1.81 kg, then Iceland's peas @ 10 > grams for a penny work out over 28p more > expensive. silverfox, IF is the key word in the above sentence. Sainsbury's offer a more substantial quantity in this example, but it is still 52p more expensive, some people may prefer to spend ?1 rather than having to fork out the extra 52p for more of the same product! The point is, Sainsbury's cheapest example of the above product was still more expensive than the same item at Iceland, regardless of quantity! Louisa.

myless Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Warning: New poster here. Hope I don't get bullyed > out of the playground! > > I joined EDF as I thought it seemed a great idea - > opened this post with interest(as when I got > married at Dulwich College all our guests had to > stay in Greenwic) but have been a bit shocked by > the venom of Louisa's responses. > > Can I ask THE OTHER members if this is normal? I > don't really want to feed into a forum if many of > the other members have this nasty, bullying > quality. And I certainly don't want to wait 4 > years until my opinion is considered valid. > > I assumed the point of a forum like this would be > to celebrate and make better the area in which we > live, but am shocked that someone with such > negative opinions would even bother feeding into a > community forum. > > So, should I stay or should I go? And if you see > me getting bullied by the likes of Louisa will you > stick up for me? Welcome to the forum myless. I'm sorry you find me expressing my opinions as a "nasty, bullying quality" - perhaps if you found the time to comment on the topic at hand in this thread we would be able to reach some agreement on some things? Just a small side note, if you have an issue with my opinions feel free to discuss them with me via the private message facility at the top of the page, other members have found it useful in the past. Happy communicating! Louisa.

silverfox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Louisa, on the example you gave Sainsbury's is > cheaper. Maybe Iceland isn't necessarily the > friend of the poor you'd like to think. > I already made the point that they will be cheaper on some items, and more expensive on others. Anyhow, Iceland were cheaper on the above example, Sainsbury's offered more per kg, both very different things. If I am a poorer person I may not drive lets say, so getting a bus to Sainsbury's or taxi would increase my costs either way. By my reckoning a quid is cheaper by 52p :-S Louisa.

zeban Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Oh dear lord I'm not saying change it. Besides, a > lot of poor people don't even have the internet to > compare prices online! But you previously used the argument that you choose not to shop at Iceland because you find them more expensive on certain items compared to other supermarkets, but previous to that you said you shop everywhere else because they all offer bargains on certain items. I could price comparison on a number of supermarket websites and I could come back with certain items cheaper at Iceland and others more expensive. My point was that Iceland is specifically targetted at the frozen food shopper and has not in any way dented the local nature of the retail mix in East Dulwich one jot! So why do you choose not to shop there? Louisa.

zeban Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Iceland- not because I'm a 'snob' but because I > don't think it's value for money- eg. buy a pack > of peas there for their famous pound and find it > in Sains for 87p. I have just looked on the website for both Sainsbury's and Iceland and I fail to see much of a difference. Sainsbury's cheapest option on frozen peas appear to be the 'Basic British Garden Peas' range at ?1.52 per unit (1.81kg) Iceland's appear to offer their own brand 'Freshly Frozen Garden Peas' range at ?1 per unit (1kg) My argument was that Iceland is a smaller scale, predominantly frozen food based supermarket which sells at reasonable prices and is within convenient walking distance for everyone (unlike Sainsbury's). I am not saying Waitrose do not give decent offer's, but across the board I highly doubt they would be as cheap or as specifically targetted as Iceland, which in turn would put them in direct competition with the much treasured 'local shop' - something that so many people on here talk so highly of! Iceland and it's predecessor Bejam have been in this area for 25 years or more, they have never been in direct competition with local independent retailers and clearly fill a gap in the market for many people, why should we change that? Louisa.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why do people even like M&S so much? Fine, they're > great for grabbing a sandwich and a fruit salad > for lunch, but they dont sell any ingredients for > preparing a meal, just ready meals, which frankly > puts it below iceland in terms of usefulness. Hear, Hear Keef! Iceland source their food from just as reputable farms as the other higher market brands, they just happen to sell them in less flashy surroundings and at more affordable prices, fundamentally the food is the same! It is incredibly useful to a large number of families in the area who cannot afford to pay over the odds for things, and most importantly for me at least, they are very convenient with decent extended opening hours. If some of these people on here had their way, the lowest earners would be forced to travel far and wide for value and convenience just to suit the snobbish attitudes of some supposedly liberal minded organic carrot eaters who secretly dont mind giving to charity but turn their noses up at having to look at poor people in the area they live in because it in some way 'lower's the tone'. That is the REAL agenda behind wanting Waitrose, M&S et al to replace Iceland! Louisa.

AlexC Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Please do not feed the troll :) Sorry who are you? Ive been posting on this forum for 4 years nearly, go and do something constructive like deleting your account from here. Louisa.

Pearson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > That aside, you appear to be forgetting about > Walworth road M&S?! > Or do you consider that such an exclusive part of > south London as > to have the infrastructure and reputation to > accommodate such a > 'prestigeous' brand as M&S :-S First off, the only reason M&S have kept this branch open is because it is one of the 'break even' places which has not been given the chop yet. This branch has not even had the refit so many of the better served branches of the store have had , I know this because I know someone who works at M&S head office! Anyhow, Walworth road has a bigger retail space and a better infrastructure (as I already pointed out) > > The Victoria pub seems to think there is a market > for a 'hotel' (of some sorts) > The whole chain seems to be capitalizing on the > 'up-market' aesthetic, and it > appears to be serving them well, so far. I would hardly describe a small chain of pubs who offer rooms for overnight stays as 'hotels' per se. If anything, it is no different to the previous incarnation of 'The Wishing Well' - basically a B&B!! > Why is it so ludicrous for someone to simply ask > our opinions on the viability of another > potential opportunity such as that described by > the OP?? I dont recall saying it was ludicrous, I was just making the point that this area does not have the adequate transport links or retail space to accomodate! > And finally Louisa, whilst East Dulwich may not be > Chelsea. > I would hardly describe it as 'Skanky'??? I'm glad you have a different opinion to myself, isnt it great having different opinions? Still trying to work out what your point was :-S Louisa.

Best veg - Morrisons Peckham Horticultural jobs - Peckham Rye and Goose Green could do with a decent gardener, enquire at the council. Swimming pool - the one here is rubbish, you're better off going to Ladywell Baths near Lewisham! Art gallery - you're onto a winner with this one, England's oldest purpose built picture gallery is in Dulwich Village (not really ED but close) A few tips, dont wander too far into Peckham after dark, crime hotspot. Avoid arrogant yummy mummy's bombing it down Lordship Lane arrogantly forcing everyone to walk in the road. Other than that you should be fine (unless you were hoping for a Waitrose or M&S simply food anytime soon!) Good luck! :)) Louisa.

I think it's about time Harrods branched out. I'm sure theyre well aware of the gentrification that has occured around here, and of the interest shown in the area by the likes of Zara, Mango, and even high end shopping boutiques like Prada, Gucci and Versace! Dont worry my friends, it wont be long until they set up shop, I hear they are so keen to open up around here they might even take over the police station and go into partnership with Westfield and build the biggest shopping centre in the world! :-S Get real people! lol Louisa.

Why not bag it up and sell it as a local ED 'delicacy'? I hear a lot of the yummies around here are partial to spending a fortune on mindless crap, why not add something else to the list? :)) Louisa.

I've heard it all now! From Waitrose replacing Iceland, to a new branch of the Savoy opening up! When will the people around here realise this is a skanky part of south-east London which does not have the infrastructure or repuation to accomodate some of the bigger more prestigeous brands that other parts of London can easily attract. We never will have an M&S or Waitrose, house prices have hit there limit and you arnt sitting on a goldmine! Here's an idea my fellow ED posh co-posters, go and earn 60k plus and move north of the river or further out towards an SW postcode! Simples! Louisa.

Just a big thankyou to the gentleman outside Londis this morning who helped me with my shopping, I do apologise I forgot your name, but I hope you read this! Louisa.

The snobbery associated with the dislike of Iceland is comical. I'd like to remind the Claphamite brigade that there is an Iceland store in Clapham, so even when heaven and earth merge and you guys finally find yourselves in a position to be able to afford to live in such a 'snazzy' neighbourhood.. unfortunately you wont be able to escape your old foe. Louisa.

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Louisa, please try to cut-down on your continual > overuse of the exclamation mark. > > It makes you look like a retard. That's rich coming from someone who has two stars either side of his name :-S Louisa.

I reckon one too many passing female admirers have seen Jah Lush without his dash of firm hold hairspray one evening and it's resulted in a bit of 'hide the head in a rose bush' syndrome! Louisa.