Nigello

The pond at Goodrich School on Dunstans Road has been refilled and revamped. It looks good, if a little bit bloomy from algae (I think). I hope it will attract frogs, toads and even newts.

That is good news. I hope that when it reopens more work will be able to be done on the station and on Khan's. When is the revamp actually meant to take (have taken?) place?

I didn't hear a thing, though I did last year, so that is a success. Having that section of the park sectioned off for a weekend would be ok, but it is not a weekend - it is at least a week. Money is needed for services and people like music, all I ask is that optimum results be achieved for those who go to the concert, those who use the park and those who live nearby. (There will likely be some overlap so it is not a zero-sum game.) It needn't be an exercise is umbrage and antagonism. The panelling was tagged almost within a day of its being put up, which was ugly and, well, expected. It doesn't mean though that it should be accepted. Turn the volume down just ten or fifteen percent and it is likely that the music will sound better and people living nearby will be more accepting. Let the council be explicit in how much money it raises and where it actually goes, publish that on forums like this and in the local press.

I downsized from a blue bin to a box and it was not emptied for three weeks, despite three phone calls to complain. The woman on the line the third time said lots of people were calling in with complaints.

Toper

Goer

A cycle shelter is being fitted to a section of Goodrich Road. Great, except that this section will be taken up very shortly to be repaved, thereby meaning the shelter will have to be taken off and put back again (because two of the feet are screwed into the kerb). I told the installers that I had just been talking to the gaffer at Conway, just 200 yards away, who had told me about this section being repaved soon and that it would be useful to talk to him to see when exactly when the repaving would be done with a view to postponing fitting the shelter. The installer didn't make any promises which is fair enough as he is there to do his job, but the shelter is now being fitted and will be uprooted and re-installed within months (or not re-installed at all). It's disturbing that the people in charge of pavements haven't noticed this discrepancy and that money will now be wasted (if, as I suspect, the installing company will not re-install free). I did ring the local councillor but I had to leave a message. If I have got this wrong and the powers that be indeed do know, then it still seems a waste.

I get one or two jays in my garden, eating peanuts or mealworms off the back wall. I've yet to see a woodpecker of any kind though I hear them, as I do an owl near to Goodrich/Dunstans junction.

Bulb installed mine via a private contractor. It failed to work and the Bulb person on the phone said it was testing problems. I'd have preferred to wait till there were none but my keenness went against me. It seems that they haven't got the training up to spec, at least in my case, because what Bulb said (about one aspect of the fitting) did not tally at all with the engineer's view. Good idea, bad execution (but anything to stop people wasting fuel is a good idea).

It's very unlikely an ICE vehicle owner will think of the under-powered E-car owner when wanting to park, especially in London. That is why I think it is ultimately a waste of time and money which is galling as I support better infrastructure for E-vehicles.

I have seen a couple of these but - and this is a big but - any car at any time can park next to it. What is the point of having a charging point (!) if it is unlikely that you can get to it because a petrol/diesel is legally and fairly parked there already? I know that fencing off a space would mean that it could be empty for a long period of time but then again, unless it is cordoned off for an electric car only, what is the point of its being a car charger and not just a normal lamp post. Greenwashing?

I'm sorry to hear about these thefts. If not already, please report via 101. It may help police build up a profile.

I've seen a new tree on Goose Green (Adys Road end), at the corner of Goodrich and Upland and outside the shops on LL (Saucy to Lush (RIP)). I don't know what kind they are as the labels are not on them, unfortunately. Plane on GG and fruit elsewhere? If anyone knows and knows of any others let us know!

The pond at Goodrich School (outside the separate three-storey house on the school site, Dunstans Road) has been drained. I hope it gets refilled and restocked with plants because it's helpful for local biodiversity. Does anyone know whether it's likely to happen?

I saw the LL benches being used today, one by a middle-aged man and another by a young man and woman. I agree with Louisa that more of these and other such micro-pleasures should be thought of and implemented.

Idling is rampant. So many firms (BT, Thames Water, various delivery companies and so many more independents) have drivers who just don't switch off their engines. I sometimes ask them to turn off but it's less and less that I do as I have rudeness and scorn. Parents around schools seem to be particularly bad at not realising they're threatening their own kids' health. What to do?

I saw one today on LL. More to come? Hope not....

Good on those who are making a difference, including the youngsters. I think, though, it goes much more than recycling, putting your compostable stuff in the brown bin, reusing supermarket carrier bags and the like. Real change means not buying in the first place, not driving and not - dare I say it- having as many children as you would want (rather than need). I *agree totally* that doing one's bit day to day (turning off the internet overnight or turning down the thermostat, etc. etc.) is important and necessary but over consumption and falling back on the excuse of convenience or "having earnt it" (the car, the holiday, the new phone, etc. etc) really needs to be tackled.

I think four-five storey blocks, like tenement blocks in Glasgow and those you can see in part of London (like Battersea) and in many cities abroad (Rome, Barcelona, Paris) are a good use of space. I agree that such density is not good for all parts of Zone 2 but in small pockets it could help the housing situation (as long as the rooms are big enough and well insulated).

Bring back trolley buses!

Sabre

A Southwark parking officer told me they are all taxed so can stay, which is fair enough.

I agree that we are poorly served by public transport. The only thing to do is to lobby our local MP and GLA representatives with examples of what has got worse. In the meantime, to avoid frustration as much as possible, we just have to get up earlier/walk more/be more cooperative on the buses and trains we do have (yes, that means you, Mr Don't Want To Walk Up The Stairs/Down The Train and Mrs I Like To Hug The Exit and Ms My Bag Needs A Seat More Than Any Paying Passenger).

I think it is a mistle but cannot be sure because it was about 40' up and I only had an RSPB guide to look at later.

I understand what you mean about different people being bothered by different planes. The smaller, quieter ones that go to City (Embraers and some turboprops, etc.) do not disturb me at all, even if they are frequent. The horrible whines and "gear changes" from the large jets in the early morning really grate; there's something about the sound that is unpleasant. I don't think they will change in the short term, however.