edw

The time to celebrate was in 1990 (or maybe 1997). Celebrating now is just silly. It's understandable enough to rejoice at the death of a former tyrant whom you've just deposed, like Gaddafi...but this is an old woman who left office over twenty years ago. "Take that Maggie, you died of natural causes at a ripe old age, hahahaha!!! Betcha didn't see that coming!"

Those little suitcases on wheels that have become ubiquitous in the last few years - it seems every second commuter is in the habit of dragging one along the pavement/tube tunnel behind them with scant regard to the trip hazard it poses to their fellow citizens. Fair enough if it's a large heavy suitcase, but most of them are so small it would be easier just to carry the wretched things.

I live on a residential street not far from the Co-op and I sort of understand James' concerns. During the daytime (and especially at weekends) our street fills up with parked vehicles and from inside the house you can often hear people slamming car doors and chatting. Nothing wrong with that during the day, but if I were trying to sleep it could get very annoying. Having said that, I am somewhat sceptical that we'd get a comparable number of visitors parking at night if the Co-op extended its opening hours. It's not like all of SE London will start doing their shopping at 2am.

Apparently smoking crack smells like burning plastic.

From a legal point of view I expect it's safer for Sainsbury's to adopt an "all items left at your own risk" attitude. If they do anything that can be interpreted as assuming responsibility for customers' bikes (eg installing cameras) then they I wouldn't be surprised if they risk legal action when crimes occur.

@pugwash: "?5 for a loaf of bread, ?4.50 for a pot of tea" ORLY?

Chucking away your trainers because you stepped in dog poo seems a bit extreme. I would usually clean it off on a patch of grass or something.

Yikes. I was thinking about making an offer on a house on Marmora Rd, but now I don't think I'll bother.

I would be concerned about eating fruit foraged from parks and gardens in urban areas unless the soil has been tested. Toxic heavy metals linger in the soil for decades, and plants absorb these contaminants and make them more concentrated. Don't get me wrong - I think the home-grown movement is a very good thing. But if you're growing your food in poor-quality urban soil, or foraging in urban areas of unknown soil quality, there are very real health risks.

Pee gets darker if left standing over time. Also, it looks darker and more opaque when in a decent-sized bottle than in a narrow stream emerging from your body. That said I wouldn't totally rule out the cooking oil theory. More likely to be someone who does a lot of deep-frying at home than a business, though.

Every year I try to do all my Christmas shopping in East Dulwich. Not out of concern for our local traders, mind, but because I always leave it too late to order presents online and I can't stand the thought of trekking into the middle of town and dealing with the horrendous crowds.

That was further down towards Loughborough Junction though, not right by Brixton station.

There's a museum of musical instruments which is well worth a visit if you're interested in that sort of thing.

The idea of building another platform at Brixton station on the clapham high st to denmark hill line has been repeatedly suggested, and not too long ago it looked like it might happen. Sadly it never did. It seems like such a waste - the line literally runs right by Brixton station already, and a stop there would link nicely with the Tube and Herne Hill lines, plus provide access to Brixton market, shops, bars, etc. Oh well.

Heathrow Express is quickest (but not cheap). From Paddington, take Bakerloo to Baker St and Jubilee to London Bridge, then train to ED. Much better than going via Elephant if you don't mind the train fare, which is slightly higher than the bus.

I saw Paul McGann walking along Lordship Lane and Northcross Road a couple of weeks ago.