johnhinton

I'd tend to agree with Penguin; in any case, I wouldn't assume the mere mention of an item in a manifesto was a cast-iron promise to implement. I think Southwark was wrong to proceed as recklessly as it did, but that won't stop me from voting Labour again (because I wouldn't touch the alternatives with a bargepole).

However, I certainly didn't vote for TFL, which seems to me to be even more heavy-handed and unaccountable, and I loathe the self-serving radio ads.

RB, your link is very interesting (even at this time of the morning) and increases my appreciation of traffic flow engineers. However, I wonder if the decisions made about the traffic restrictions (proposed and actual) have been properly assessed and modelled. Loughborough may be an example of a network link that was far more critical than could have been imagined by an untrained or inexperienced "planner" or an experiment to show a counter example to Braess' paradox.

TG, you wrote >answer me this - London's population is growing fast - what happens when the extra 2 million people buy cars? How impossibly polluted and frustrated are we going to be then? <

The extra people moving into London won't be sheep; they're not going to assume the need to buy huge charabancs to go with their space-limited apartments. You should allow them the same privilege you had when bringing up your children: the right to make informed and sensible decisions that suited you. Not trusting people is why the councils are using these sneaky, incremental changes: if they had said their plan was to make car ownership illegal or prohibitively expensive, they might not be in power now. If London will be as grim as think, there will be fewer people moving here. Pollution isn't the greatest ill facing Londoners - perhaps you feel some guilt for your profligacy in earlier decades, but that is no reason to impose it on others now.

TG, your children have grown up and choose not to drive - mine are still too young to make that choice. What we want, as a family, is to be together (live and travel). Compared with the pollution from buses and lorries (making deliveries and messing about with the roads), the private cars used for maybe an hour or so per day can hardly make a difference to overall pollution levels - although the extra time idling in traffic jams probably does create local "hot" spots. What annoys me is the lack of honest and transparent consultation and the imposition of these agenda-driven imperatives. If canvassed properly, I doubt there would be a majority in favour of many of the hare-brained schemes - which is probably why we have not been properly consulted (and those weasel words about "sustainability" in many manifestoes do not count).

> I read earlier that we've reached a stage with global warming of a 5m predicted ocean rise. We must all change our habits severely to try and mitigate this and from making it worse.

I'm trying to be a near vegetarian, cycling most commutes, 100% renewable electricity. I still need to do much more to reach 90% reduction in CO2 produced to sustain my lifestyle. <

How laudable, and how fortunate you are to be able to make such far-reaching changes to your lifestyle. And what about others who are not in your position? Do they have to be forced to follow your fine example, whatever the cost or inconvenience?

Global warming is far too serious an issue to think that blocking some roads and forcing everyone onto bicycles in a couple of boroughs in London is anything like a solution.

> What active steps are the Foundation schools (and their pressure group Dulwich Safe Routes to School) doing to discourage parents from driving their children to school by car.<

Parents may have to drop their children off by car, on their way to work. That may be one reason to use a car; cycling, walking or public transport may not be the only workable alternatives - and why should one special interest group make decisions for the whole community?

we went to Elvedon in the summer and there was a large baby/toddler water fun area (not really a pool area, but the actual pool was great). Elevedon is relatively flat, which made cycling easier.

I also missed the DHFC team, who did a perfectly fine job. However, the guys up on Herne Hill, by Holmdene Road also did a good job (with quite a few upmarket cars arriving while I was there last week).

Always amuses me that Penge is the Danish word for "money" - surely some connection

To my shame (and apologies to the wonderful Richard Ayoade), I lost all control when I saw him with a baby in a bjorn about to rush into Sainsburys. I shouted out, as though I knew him, "I didn't know you had a baby, congratulations". Felt a complete numpty. Sorry, Mr Ayoade.

I thought the children (small to large) were better behaved this year than last - highly appreciative and courteous. Just lucky I guess, but encouraged me to put on more of a show for next year. Other houses in the village produced smoke machines and spooky costumes before handing out the treats.

Caesi01 and RoLo1,

The CRV is the semi-offroader, the FRV is the six-seater (with three seats in the front). We have a CRV (over 10 years old - absolutely no problems, but two-and-a-half seats in the back with car seats). We also had a fiat multipla (three and three), which was good fun to drive, but not over long distances

john

Hi Simone,

My daughter has special needs and was well looked after at DVIS, then at Cherry Gardens and has now begun settling in at Tuke School (http://www.tukeschool.co.uk/). We saw the head just before the end of last term (she did a home visit, along with my daughter's new form teacher) and we were impressed by their courtesy and commitment. The school is in Southwark and is a new building (opened last year), with terrific facilities. However, the school does cater for children with "severe, profound and complex" learning disabilities and your child may not fall into that category.

All the best

john

Curiously, the AVP Sports website doesn't say who the organisers are. The man who appears to run it (I think his first name is Mike) was very rude and patronising to my wife when she raised some concerns about the level of supervision in the swimming pool - I wonder if he has a problem talking to women. I did have a child who went to Scamps at the Dulwich Prep (which has terrific facilities) and he thoroughly enjoyed it, but dealing with Mike has been very unpleasant and we've decided not to send any of our children there.

still have my fingers crossed for a waitrose...

I've been using Ocado for a couple of years: no problem with short-dated food, and I like the online store and polite/helpful drivers. Have tried tescos and sainsburys in the the past, and not inclined to return. Did try Waitrose just after Christmas - found the website to be a trial and too many items missing from the delivery (I never want substitutions).

The John Lewis group helped Ocado start up and owned a chunk of the equity, most of which was cashed in when Ocado was listed. I understand the Waitrose orders are packed in the local (Beckenham) store, as opposed to the central warehouse used by Ocado - that may be why so many items were not available when the pickers tried to fulfil the order. Still prefer Ocado, but if Waitrose opens a more local branch then I might do more day-to-day shopping there.

There isn't a waitrose on every high street: the point is that there isn't one much closer than beckenham in south-east london. The smaller or independent food shops don't suit all my needs or preferences - or those of many others on this forum. That isn't to say that a waitrose would provide everything I look for: it won't. Nor am I trying to say that shopping in east dulwich should be aimed only at me - only that it doesn't cater to everyone's needs. I don't enjoy shopping in iceland or the coop, sainsburys or tescos or the independent grocers and delis.

How very handy, thanks for the F&M website address; not that it would make up for the lack of a nearby Waitrose (parking at the Brixton M&S is always a trial).

I was burgled a couple of weeks ago, and the police told me there had been a number of burglaries and shed break-ins very recently. Children's bikes seem to have been a target, as well as properties backing onto the Griffin sports club grounds - including a container of bikes at the Velodrome. The burglars come twice: once into the house for my wallet, phones and computer and the next day, into the shed. Another neighbour was burgled during the day, a little over a month ago. I think there's a spate, having had no concerns for five or more years - but I also think these crimes increase during a recession.

The Chelsea Gardens guys have just been on Dulwich Village: they're about to lose their site lease and are selling off the stock at a 70% discount.

With a statement, our daughter went to Dulwich Village CofE Infants School, which we found tremendously supportive. The staff and her classmates learned some Makaton signs to communicate with her, she had a teaching assistant to help her cope with the schoolday, and there were regular support group meetings (coffee, biscuits and information)for parents of children with disabilities. Cannot speak highly enough for the support she (and we) received at DVIS.

In drafting the statement, we found it hard not to be positive about the things our daughter could do, rather than the things she could not manage

john

Our daughter also had grommets at about three, after one eardrum burst. What was most disturbing was that she was such a quiet child who must have been in so much pain - and may have thought that was a normal situation! She couldn't tell us then - she still doesn't speak - and has a number of ongoing health issues that we are trying to manage, but is still so compliant and affectionate.

john

It isn't as far away as you might think, but I would suggest a look at Smyths in Mitcham (Old B&Q Store, Bond Road, Off Western Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 3EB - 0208 6872261 - http://www.smythstoys.com) as a better alternative to toysrus, much nicer staff and just as competitive a range of toys. And I don't have any association with them, other than as a customer.

john

I think the houses on Woodwarde Road are nicer and the road much more pleasant than Court Lane (apart from the court Lane Garden-backing-onto-the-park ones). Would take issue with Dulwichmum about Alleyn Road; we looked and almost completed in one of the non-Victorian houses on Alleyn, but the thought of crossing the south circular proved too much - a lucky escape. We settled in the village instead, which is much more convenient for the local primaries and shops.

Guess I've got a sense of humour failure, but these vans are eyesores (and not as amateur/just trying to make a living as they appear). I wouldn't like a billboard opposite my house or a van parked with a huge sign (as these are). If the vans were parked in the normal course of business, that would be fine - but not parked for weeks. There is little enough road space for parking anyway. Not illegal, but bad manners and a bad example. I wouldn't want my house or walls or fences covered in the kind of graffiti that the vans appear to emulate. (I don't much care for the crackhouse aesthetic anyway, which proves how middle-aged I am).