Nigello

I'm glad people are speaking openly on this topic. I'd like it if a shop-owner would join in as well. Anyone...anyone....?

It is not incorrect: I have seen - and challenged - PCN's ignoring the illegal parking. It's been going on for years, nothing happens concretely, hence my reference to "inertia". If it was not designed to be a shopping mile, then any rethink would do well to take this into account. That would be progress, QED. Loud music is played often near to the bus-stop opposite (diagonally) the railway station. It's very loud and off-putting to anyone who doesn't want to have their ears hurt. Refuse sacks are put out after the collections have taken place; such wayward depositing encourages littering. These things happen: it is not my imagination. I take exception to the sanctification of the shop-owners. Yes, they provide services, but they also exist primarily to make a profit. Not all of them are as keen as they ought to be on clearing up after themselves. To pretend that the "Rye Lane shopping experience" is anything approaching optimal is delusional.

"They are an example to the rest of us." Oh, PT, stop being so pompous! It IS smelly and dirty in parts, but not everywhere. It IS down-at-heel in parts, but not all over. I see vibrancy but I also see squalor and inertia, and I hope that a balanced view is one that prevails so that the "shopping experience" can be better. I shop there but don't jump out of bed, beaming from ear to ear, knowing that my trip down the Lane will be one of untrammelled joy. I can see where it can be easily improve (see my post ^) but don't feel confident that such measures will be implemented. People are allowed to say the truth without it being code for UKIP-light feelings!

I am in favour of improvements but only when they're done in sympathy with the daily grind. To start it when there was a hard-hitting Tube strike was stupid; to let it drag on by not having them work late or overnight is unhelpful.

No, but neither should they expect that these business be patronised - in the pejorative sense of the word - by people who turn a blind eye to bad practice. Let's not pretend that the illegal parking, the littering, the loud music is OK to ignore lest those pointing these out be labelled "insensitive" or even worse. The Lane is a good place to shop but it's also - it seems - a bad place to manage.

If you argue for diversity in general, then surely diversity of retail should be your concern as well, by which I mean i would like to see more types of business there. Rye Lane is a dump, in parts, but pretty good in others. I dislike immensely the fact that parking illegally seems to be tolerated, even though it snarls up traffic badly and makes the place appear an effortful place to shop. It doesn't take a committee or bags of cash to make decent improvements quickly. Stop the illegal parking, get the business es to tidy up after themselves, prohibit the playing of music at ear-splitting decibel levels, and clean up the tagging that is left to attract more of the same on shop fronts and already the place would be more pleasant. That could all be done in a day or two, but - and this is the distressing bit - it is very unlikely to happen because councils and even self-help based bodies tend to the sclerotic.

For a real treat try the restaurant at the Museum of Scotland. You get good food, good service and a great view. There's a set menu (at least at lunchtime but maybe as pre-theatre too) as well as a la carte. If the weather is anything approaching nice, you can take yourself and your drink outside to a terrace. Also, ask them to show you the way to the roof garden, which is separate from the restaurant, for great views. The caff in the museum, and the museum itself of course, are well worth a visit. Cocktails at Missoni, a newish hotel, are good (if mainly for the venue and the nattily-kilted door staff). Sl?inte mhath!

Why shouldn't children and mums be potential thieves? Lowlife celebrates its diversity! It's bad that it happened; perhaps your post will encourage others to be ever vigilant.

Of course you should! Also, tell us where in the area you are. Get a couple of dead locks: one's not really enough to deter them.

It was much-vaunted as an upgraded replacement for a popular, common-sensical Routemaster. It cost a packet to design and make, yet its main selling point is being regularly negated for spurious reasons. (The old bus managed very well with a bit of wind and rain and the non-mollycoddled old-school Londoner was trusted with making decisions about when to get on and off.) That, to me, is a waste of money, but perhaps you have it to burn (and like being kept all safe and nice by risk-obsessed bureaucrats).

H and S - that old chestnut - why should the doors be shut if it was always going to be a worry that there might be a danger. It's such a waste of money - our money. They look good and are pretty nice inside but why not just provide us with newer buses of the traditional design (like the 176, 40 etc) and save a fair bit of dosh?

The 148 is now running the new buses. Its route ends at Camberwell Green, so it won't be coming to SE22, but still. On the topic, does anyone else see that a fair number of these new buses have their back doors shut, thereby negating their raison d'?tre? It bugs me that the money spent (a lot) on this new bus is being wasted somewhat this way.

amy lam? ‏@amylame 11h Excited to announce I'm standing for @UKLabour Parliamentary selection in Dulwich & West Norwood http://www.amylame.com #DaWN

Can litter accumulate in such a short space of time, or has the council not been as thorough as you, fl0wer? Perhaps the council was not aware of all the grot-spots. As for people's attitudes to their surroundings, the best you can do is hope for the best, do it yourself and try to spread the word via forums like this.

James, if you have the influence, could you ask those responsible to clear up the mess that's collecting around the station? There is leaf mulch and litter, most of which would due attractive to vermin. Tagging's started on the side doors too. Thanks.

The council notice board at the No 40 bus stop on Eynella Road has been pushed over. It's also been tagged.

Nope, it was much darker and of a uniform colour and with a very coppery breast. Hmmmm?..

I don't think it was a waxwing. This one had dark brown plumage with a copper/rusty breast and no tuft on the head. It was darker than the image you posted.

Just seen a coffee-coloured bird with a copper breast, about the size and shape of a think turtle dove. It was in a tree in my neighbour's garden. Any ideas what it was?

Evil...I go to work very early and heard something very similar, or at least something I could not quite place, two days ago. It was like a loud knocking but way to forceful for a woodpecker, spaced half-a-minute apart. I live opposite Goodrich School, near to Dunstan's Road.

Buses often drive through red lights. When it happens and I am on one, I tell the driver, who look aghast that anyone should tell them off. Not sure what the remedy is. Best just to wait for the green man and then wait a bit more.

Call the council (7525 2000 for enviro services) and explain, and offer to send photos. I'd also contact James Barber, the councillor, as he will have more ideas as to what the legal issues are. Don't be afraid of talking to them, explaining why you feel put out and what options are open to you. Offer to help or to point him in the direction of help but say it has to be tackled and continually kept clean. Scare them with stories of rats and foxes if you must, but I don't really think that's the best option. You're in the right and they're being unreasonable.

I have to agree with the people who say "grin and bear it", not because they are being insensitive but because what they say makes sense. The more you agonise over it, the more it will bother you. Try to acknowledge its presence, say you yourself "this is not pleasant" but then don't go to the next step: getting hot under the collar. Use earplugs at night, perhaps try white-noise machines etc. Resistance is futile - and self-destructive in this case. Ommmm!

It'd be great to ask the manager to get their people to speak clearly and slowly. So much fuss and stress could be saved through the use of good diction. Accents don't bother me, but unclear, indistinct voices do! (I cannot go myself as I am work.)

Glad to know I am within reasonable interpretation of the law. = Glad to know that I can continue with my anti-social and solipsistic behaviour whilst pretending I'm the not the kind of person to cause an accident because, well, you know, I'm not that like that?.. Just get off and walk. Do the right thing! It'll add a few minutes to your journey and could well save you an accident, however minor.