Righty

Thanks all - yes it was the railway bridge near the Turnham estate area which crosses into Honor Oak. Apparently there is CCTV there but the police said that it comes out very grainy even in daylight so probably not much use. I did a drive around with the police in the usual estate areas but nothing came of it. The police were fantastic however, - very quick and supportive. Apparently something similar happened in Ladywell fields recently so really just a shout out for people to be on their guard in areas like that - it happened very quickly and was very opportunistic.

Hi all, I know not ed specific but at about 6.30pm tonight I was barged off my bike just past the brockley footbridge over the railway and despite clinging for my life on the bike (whilst trying to avoid being punched in the face) I lost my grip on the bike (unfortunately I had road bike type shoes on and was paranoid about falling over) and my assailant was off. Please be on the lookout - did a drive around with the police. The assailant was a black lad roughly 16 yr old, slim with sparkly earrings in both ears. He had a smaller white mate with him. It is interesting that they went for me when no other cyclists were around - which makes me think someone was looking out further below the hill. Thanks to the pedestrian who ran over - I completely forgot your name but you held your nerve in calling the police promptly - for which I am very grateful.

Hi all, Sorry to put a fresh post on a very popular topic - but looking for feedback on South London Lofts and Classic Lofts. Any comments (good and bad) gratefully received - as it is such a big outlay!! Many thanks in advance! Righty

Yes - definitely issues... I wouldnt use him for anything complicated. Again, have details if required.

I really really would not recommend Kevin of Y and J builders. Pm me for more details.

I am afraid we totally would not recommend Kevin/y and j builders. We followed up on a number of the recommendations before engaging him and our experience was completely contrary to the above. Welcome to pm me for more details. Thanks.

Richard did some work for us today - really pleased, very punctual and good quality work - helped us out of a bit of a bind from our previous builders (will report separately) who stuffed up a bathroom job.

What are the chances, do people think, of it going beyond Lewisham? I found that difficult to gauge from the report... I agree though, that the funding for this will be pegged to development - suggesting the Old Kent Road route.

I think we're getting beyond the Calais issue now. However, the death of those brothers was absolutely tragic - but their parents' decision to shove them on an inflatable boat across a major shipping lane was lunacy. They took a very unfortunate risk with the lives of their children.

Beej - the Dublin Convention/Treaty is the one that most European states readily signed up to. Germany also has a much less population density than the UK. I fundamentally agree that we should take in genuine refugees - but the reality, which you are ignoring, seems to be that this is economic migration (I refer you back to the fact that most of migrants at Calais will have already travelled through several European countries to get there). If their plight was truly desperate - they would avail themselves of the relevant protection asap. It is highly curious that they do not do so.

I can't say that I understand what is going on - but I understood that refugees had to apply for asylum in the first country they land in. Surely the fact that they are at Calais (desperately trying to get into the UK rather than applying for asylum in, say, Italy or France) suggests that they are economic migrants rather than genuine refugees?

miga Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Cyclemonkey Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > It does sound a little petulant I am afraid. > At > > your age most people in London are still > renting > > and haven't managed to buy their first place > let > > alone their second. > > It can be hard to come to terms with the idea of > moving to a neighbourhood you wouldn't have even > contemplated. I know this is probably awfully > shallow, but for a lot of (most?) people, the kind > of area they live can feel like a reflection on > who they are - isn't this why different clusters > of people (ethnicity, class, sexual preference, > age etc.) form in different areas of London? It > takes some re-training of neurological pathways to > accept that ultimately a house is "a machine for > living in". And on these boring, practical grounds > somewhere like Catford ticks the boxes (Kings X, > green space, even somewhere to go out and eat), > but it requires a big shift in thinking if you've > got a sizable budget and are used to living in ED. We are shortly to move to the Blythe Hill area of Catford from Nunhead - personally I can't wait! really good transport, parks (though Peckham Rye will be missed) and schools and, of course, more space for the money!

Alice, Thanks for your very thoughtful and considered post. No I don't think all kids look the same. Some look like the type that you might want to steer clear of - especially if you're not a bloke (for all the reasons that the original poster has made clear re their conduct and language). I think it would actually be very useful to know what they looked like - hence my question. Totally up to Dadof4 though.

Dad of 4 - what did they look like? I go to Dulwich park quite a lot so will keep my eyes open.

All of which is fine - I just wished they enforced the speed limits so that those who actually adhere to the rules don't feel like idiots for doing so. Is there any plan to enforce this? Without any enforcement (and by that I mean cameras in random/mobile locations) then I fear there is little benefit as those who consistently flout the rules won't ever be caught out (and it is those drivers who clearly pose the greater risk to everyone on the roads).

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations or experience of groups in the area that might teach little ones cricket? We have a 3 year old who seems to be gifted at catching, hitting (he has been able to play swingball since 1.5) and catching - but most importantly he enjoys playing cricket with us in the garden and we think he might enjoy taking this further withh a group Have contacted dulwich cricket club but any ideas gratefully received! Thanks in advance.

Crumbs... Errr. Moderator???

Operation Big Wing Day, does sound a bit silly though. Sounds like it's just, 'talking to the parents of some badly behaved kids' - or 'doing the job of a community policeman' Which actually is desperately needed these days.

If you can get a picture of them texting at the wheel and the number plate then I don't think you need much more, evidentially, for the police to take it up. Appreciate that's a minority but if you can get one idiot off of the road then it has to be worth the effort.

or do as many cyclists do - some sort of camera taking hard evidence which you can then feed through to the police... Ultimately Southwark isn't going to do anything about it.

I think it's a great idea to turn the whole of Southwark into a 20mph zone as hopefully it'll reduce accidents and make it safer for cycling. However, I'm finding it really stressful at the moment because it's not always clear. For example, what is the speed limit on Forest Hill Road outside the boys Harris East Dulwich school? Unless they are enforced with hidden cameras or police doing speed checks you'll always have some nutter diving up your bum trying to overtake in daft places. Please sort it out Southwark!!!

I was told that the decision re catchment would be made around the Summer of 2015 so you have good time to figure out your other options ready for the 2015/2016 applications process. I don't think the new site is to be an infant school.

Hi Henryb - the blurb seemed to suggest catchment up to Inverton road (assuming admissions measured from the existing Ivydale site). So despite living in Hichisson Road (not very far from the new site at all!) we'd be in real difficulty by the sounds of things!

I went along - it was a really helpful set-up, and good to chat through some of the issues (and look at the proposed building!). I hadn't realised that being towards the Cheltenham road end of Nunhead my eldest stands (if admissions for the new site run from existing Ivydale) basically no hope of getting in. That would be a rather perverse scenario given that, by far, it's our nearest primary school. If that applies to anyone else, there is a form to fill in to voice your concerns!

Nunhead for me... does that count?