Louisa

I'm off to Devon today, the sun is out and it's 21 degrees in Exeter! Good luck with the miserable polluted rain fellow ED folk. Louisa.

Seabag your predictions of a restaurant revolution in Peckham are coming to pass. I don't wish to link in the number of planning applications I've found online over the weekend. There are too many. But yet another national chain is heading to Rye Lane along with two smaller London based restaurant chains. On top of this, yet another big name is moving in down the other end of Rye Lane (with private flats being built above). Louisa.

Yes that is of course a problem Blah, I concede that side of the argument to you of course. But, we surely have to start somewhere, looking at it from a left of centre 'Brexit' point of view. Louisa.

Honestly rahrahrah, do you think Jeremy Corbyn and the far left of the Labour movement are pro-EU? Just because the people at the top of the public campaign for 'out' are former businessmen etc doesn't mean the entire campaign is dominated by them. Most sensible people who want us out of the EU are doing so because we care about the future of this country and by controlling the borders in one way or another we will be able to naturally create a rebalance in the demand/supply chain of the housing/labour market. BUT, only if that is done by the right people. Not only by said business interests you mention. Louisa.

Ps, am I the only who cheered when the 'in' tried to scare everyone by talking about a drop in house prices of upto 20%? Rather than say it's rubbish, I would say let it happen! Maybe we can finally let everyone have a slice of this overpriced pie, especially here in London. I find it horrifying walking up past some of the very smart well looked after houses on Woodwarde RD etc and seeing "Labour for IN" signs in people's windows. The Guardianista London centric tribe of the Labour Party once again dictating to the poor working people what they should do in this referendum, when they're already say nice and comfy thanks very much. Louisa.

What amazes me about the "in" camp, is numerous individuals (supported by comments above) seem to talk up the positives such as free movement of people and consequently the labour market, and at the very same time are moaning about a shortage of supply in the housing market. The working class people you claim this Union has helped, cannot get on the housing ladder and are at their wits end struggling to make ends meat. Their perception is that open borders will exacerbate the already strained housing and infrastructure of this country, and yet the 'in' people consistently tell us how talking about immigration is terrible. These people aren't being racist, they're just scared that their kids won't be able to get jobs or housing when they grow up, and by leaving the EU they assume many of these issues will in time become less problematic for them. Louisa.

malumbu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Kin hell Louisa > > Do you even stop. There are excellent food hygiene > and traceability regulations that stop people > becoming ill and dying. > > It's a balance between allowing freedom of choice > and protecting our population but do you see one > good thing about the EU? > > The reason that most of our food is shite is that > as a nation we prefer to buy uniform unripe or > uninteresting food from the supermarkets at the > lowest cost. Well done German outlets for > bringing in some change. > > Go to many EU countries and food and catering are > much better, something we can learn from. And > regional too. > > Mind you it was no doubt the EU that shut down the > Moor Park Hotel The only good thing I see about the bureaucratic EU is the door that says 'Exit'. Is food hygiene really controlled by the EU? How does a EU wide decision on the cleanliness of a specific business in the UK actually work? Is it even adopted on the ground? More wasted time and money nanny stating the populace from an unelected boardroom in another country no doubt. Louisa.

I found Rick Stein's good value for money. The portions were big, and as foxy points out, better value for money than anywhere around here. I would rather go down there and have a nice day out in the process, and save money on my food at the same time. It's a win-win scenario. Louisa.

I looked into this a few years back beansprout. Your best bet is to look st one of many caravan parks across the country and see what costs they charge for buying one of their vans and keeping it parked up on their land and how often you can use it etc. I looked at a site in Hastings and the gas electricity water etc were all included in the purchase price, so no bills to worry about. However you have to consider the annual cost of renting the plot on top of the initial buying price. For me, it worked out well and I could easily have afforded it, but we decided against for various other reasons. My advice is arrange to meet one of the sales people at one of these parks to talk through options. Louisa.

Well steveo I think it depends who is sporting said under garment. Personally, I wouldn't be seen dead in them, they are far too revealing. Louisa.

You aren't wrong HMB. Pink or a nice off-purple. If it gets chilly in the evening, you can't go wrong with a jogging outfit. Not sure id venture to SB for said items though, I'm more of a TK Maxx kind of girl. Louisa.

midivydale Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Having only read part of this thread (lunch break > nearly up!) and realising that most of you have > prob moved on weeks ago (need to venture to the > lounge more often). > > I just out of interest wonder about the Sweaty > Betty/ Space Nk thing. If one is against Sweaty > Betty as it attracts the coffee drinking, sun > glass, pram pushing whatever else the description > was then how is the targeted demographics any > different for Space NK? Genuine question, please > explain (not that you have to obv Lou, but as a > fellow space nk lover I am genuinely interested). > Having just returned from the Space NK on > Liverpool St this morning, I genuinely wonder how > a shop like that can be described as "serving the > community"? > > That argument seems flawed to me that is all, the > chains of high end somewhat aspiring shops that > are so detrimental to the community and our area, > are indeed ok - if they are make up shops??? Or > because it is a shop that you like? > > I fail to see how Space NK would serve the > community in any other way than Sweaty whats her > name would. I am more than happy to take up your points midivydale. Thanks for responding and bringing this thread back on topic. My concern with Sweaty Betty is that it is appealing to a niche market, as others have pointed out, it's a very lucrative market in colonised neighbourhoods such as ED. The yummies will be queuing up to waste money on outfits for their gym trips and that's upto them, Sweaty Betty are only taking advantage of that business opportunity. But it's not appealing to a wider clientele or demographic. My concern for LL is that the balance of useful shops for everyone against useful shops for a small proportion is the population is becoming unacceptable. Now, on your point about Space NK, yes they are a higher end chain, but a beauty shop will always appeal to a large section of people across a wide socio demographic population. Even if it's just for a treat once in a while. I am of course partially biased as I have a thing for Body Shop, Lush and Space NK. I do however believe, that they would be a great addition to the area as they would give us somewhere to go that's more mainstream to buy gifts and treats for ourselves and friends. It would be well used, and it would bring the community together in a love of all things beauty. Two very different types of chain which will affect LL in different ways. Louisa.

malumbu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Some points > > (3) is this Brexit related as I see Louisa posted? > No doubt the EU outlaws fun It's not Brexit related but you make a good point malumbu. If we remain in the EU butchers will probably go out of business due to endless rules and regs which will prevent them from cutting a piece of sirloin a certain way! The EU may as well outlaw fun, seeing as they have contributed towards outlawing pretty much everything else. Bureaucratic lunatics. Louisa.

People surely don't that do they? How much does a travelodge cost? I'm always seeing people (men mostly), urinating in public places and I think it's about time the council invested in public convenience facilities. We have NONE locally. Louisa.

Just wanted to say thankyou to the organisers of yesterday's open day. I was fascinated from the moment I walked in, all the stalls were very informative and managed to talk to some very interesting people about the history of the place and a few ghost stories I needed clarification about. Going under the chapel into the crypt was a very spooky experience, which gave me a great insight into the past. The choir who sang in the chapel were fantastic too! If you've never been before, please go up and explorer this great space, it's fascinating. Louisa.

Oh I do love a bit of Rick Stein, I actually think he's a very handsome man too. Went to his fish and chip shop in Cornwall some years back now. Pricey but very nice. I'll be watching that Seabag, thanks for sharing. Louisa.

Having the two hairy bikers hosting Saturday Morning Kitchen is food heaven for me, not to forget the fact the great Elaine Paige is today's guest. I have the volume up high! Very happy Saturday for me. Louisa.

I might pop there tomorrow night with him in doors. I love Turkish food. Louisa.

Or Chiswick. Louisa.

All and sundry are most welcome to my humble garden retreat. I have a few bottles in the fridge awaiting my opening act in about 10 minutes from now. As predicted, the sun has come out and I'm in barely any clothing with the shades on. Time to drench myself with warm reys, summer 2016 officially begins in the Louisa household today. *Bob* and rd are always welcome to mine, what they won't divulge on here is that they often come over and help with my garden parties and summer barbecues. Handing out sausage rolls and scotch eggs, often in dicky bows, bordering on the altogether! Louisa.

Well it's definitely warm enough for me to go and sit in the garden with a nice Sauvignon this afternoon. Looks like the sun may make an appearance too. When you've finished slaving away for the day, come and join me *Bob*, I'll save you a glass! Louisa.

I would rather walk the extra half mile and burn off the lamb chops I'm buying from Smith's that I'll be consuming later that evening. Simple as that! just expressing my opinion. Louisa.

A.J Farmers! A true local ED institution worthy of the title 'institution'. Louisa.

*Bob*, Nunhead is packed full of businesses which have been trading for many many decades. I find it interesting how in the 'EDF world opinion bible' (you seem to be co-author btw), the likes of WR, Moxons and various other businesses which have been trading in the local area for roughly a decade give or take a year or two either side, are somehow local institutions? Call me old fashioned, but for me a successful business only becomes an institution if it has managed two or three decades plus of trading. Those are the real winners of said title, they have survived multiple changes and didn't just appear off the back of gentrification. Louisa.

*Bob*, don't think he mentioned WR on this forum in years, many years. Just stating the obvious. They came here at the start of the areas fortunes changing to take full advantage of the new money in the neighborhood. Nothing wrong with that, good business sense. They are packed most days with queues of people, I'm sure they don't miss my custom. But, I vote with my head when it comes to pricing and quality. Don't see why I should fall for the fancy logos and traditional shop front when I know of another local business in Nunhead which has been trading since the 1950's rather successfully. The same goes for the fishmonger. I have had a bad experience in Moxons with the pricing on prawns but you don't see me on here talking about it on a daily basis do you? Louisa.