Mark

Yes, I think it's the-half arsed temporary Christmas student staff they get in around this time. On a seperate note, putting a sticker on the letterbox saying "No Junk Mail please" has done wonders for my quality of life, haven't seen a takeaway pizza leaflet for ages and the recycled paper bag takes twice as long to fill up. Recommended

Does anyone one know when pre-pay cards will be usable at East Dulwich Station? I did email Southern/South Western Trains a year or two ago and ask but they haven't replied yet. I can imagine the rail company Customer Services Manager "What's one whinging customer going to do if we don't email them back? Nothing. So what if they complain about that? Put it on the pile with the others and blame it on previous under-funding by the government and get sympathy for the fact we're trying our best to cleanup someone else's mess. If they ask again say something about the Olympics and regeneration plans and twenty twelve / fifteen / twenty, that'll shut them up for a few years. Then if they ask about Pre-Pay again phone Bob Crowe and get him to call for a strike on the grounds of continual harassment from the public, we have jobs to do and mouths to feed and we can't do it with all this continual barrage from people who don't understand the red tape we have to go through a private company trying to survives in these troubled times etc etc." I do hope Pre Pay will be an option at East Dulwich station soon.

We tried to book a table for four at the Herne yesterday lunchtime (called about 11 o'clock), but they were booked until 3. Note to self: get up slightly earlier on a Sunday to book lunch or perhaps even get yourself together to do it the day before. Saturday.

Thank you Kate, I'm glad you like the site. It's just a hobby, I have a full-time Web Manager job that pays the bills, unfortunately this forum doesn't. The site came about from the fact that I'm a bit nosey and like to know what's going on, I like to whinge about things that aren't right, wanting to find out more about East Dulwich and the people that live here and, without trying to sound too sickly, I wanted to do something for the community. It's quite a busy site now and I have to do proper, mature things like weekly back-ups in case something goes terribly wrong and all the postings disappear. I also like tinkering with the site and I have to stop myself from adding unnecessary widgets and things that would just clutter it up. Simplicity works here. Advertising, hmmm, there's a question. I am going to start allowing it for the right companies (see here on the help page) but also I want to keep the list of ten or so recommended businesses, local companies that don't pay to be listed but are just recognised as being genuinely good. I hope that answers your question and thanks for using the forum. Mark

Lordship Lane - where would you suggest the No Entry points are nofanofcars? Where would the diverted traffic go? I think it's a brillaint idea although I need persuading that it would work. However with Northcross Road - I'd suggest blocking from Lordship Lane to outside the Blue Mountain so that traffic could still travel from Lacon road across to Ulverscroft Road.

I don't think pedestrianising Lordship Lane is viable however I think Northcross Road should be blocked to traffic on Saturdays. Then we could have loads more stalls, maybe even our own Farmers Market.

Is the photo of your car in situ or just of the number plate? If it's just of the number plate I guess you could ask for the whole picture to see exactly where it is and to check if it is your car

I agree Tim, it's usually a very good, hearty platter and a decent veggie option too. Loads of space and fairly non-smoker friendly although sitting upstairs is like sitting at tressle tables in a village hall I went to the Black Cherry for Sunday lunch last week, they didn't do roast that day but I went for the steak and chips which was damn good and I would recommend it. I've been told that the Bishop do a mighty fine roast, anyone tried it?

Try www.pilateswithzoe.com, she does daytime pilates classes in the East Dulwich Sports Centre

Purely in the name of research we had a take-away from the Mirash last night (by Goose Green) and were pleasantly surprised. When I last went a few years ago it it was just OK, but last night's was very good, the chicken was not too dry and the flavours not too over-powering, could be a contender for my vote but I need to check a few others first. They also they gave us a free 2007 calendar, which was nice.

Helen, there's some pictures on this thread of the old cinema I thought you might be interested in

On one of my random wanders around the t'internet I came across these images of the East Dulwich Cinema, I'd say around the 1950's: http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cavalcade/eastdulwich.jpg http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cavalcade/eastdulwich1.jpg http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cavalcade/eastdulwich2.jpg

Omrith, Forest Hill Road Spice Republic, 499 Lordship Lane added to the list, thanks Steve and Jim

It was part of life later than the fifties! I was at junior school in the 70s/80s (in Bath) and we were given six of the best with the dap or cane if we were out of order. Teacher used to put a chalk cross on the sole of the dap so after he'd punished you, you'd have a chalk cross on the arse of your shorts. It wasn't known as corporal punishment to us, we just knew not to be out of order.

Here's an online search for Southwark planning applications in East Dulwich: click here, click search by Location Address and type in SE22, it takes a while for the results to churn out. It makes interesting reading for what's happening in the area: A mini-cab office at 44 Lordship Lane, a dentists at 2 Lordship lane etc etc (I've better things to do than go through all of them). Can you find anything interesting? Perhaps someone's planning on building a Church of the FSM in your street?

My Grouse of the day is Estate Agent's 'Sold by' or 'Rented by' boards hanging around like a bad smell after the place's been sold/rented. And oddly enough when you take them down they miraculously resurrect themselves even after the property's been off the market for a while. Do they pay the owner to place their advertising board out the front of their property? Do they knock money off their commission in exchange for placing eye catching adverts outside someone's flat? I don't think so. When a property's on the market fair enough but when it's not, that's just bloomin' cheeky. Off my chest, out my mind, the day seems so much more approachable...

There is a 'cinema club' called Dulwich Paradiso - that meets at the Castle pub on Crystal Palace Road. I don't know any more details but if you find some please post them on here

Hi Helen Please find below some photos of the Grove Vale area taken this morning on the way to work, I hope they bring back good memories for you: Goose Green Goose Green Lordship Lane Roundabout regards Mark

How about a huge bronze statue of James Nesbitt astride a rearing up horse on the Goose Green roundabout? Or more radically a signpost that tells people which way is which. And, get this, it could say Denmark Hill & Central London, Peckham & East and Forest Hill & South. Perhaps in a tasteful Victorian style? Maybe even saying welcome to East Dulwich (not Camberwell as previously signposted by the council). Good question Huguenot.

Significant events 2006 18 September The east Dulwich Forum is born 01 November The Forum is mentioned in SE22 Magazine 02 November Busiest day so far 240 unique users and 2,831 page views 15 November The Black Cherry wins the Best Bar in East Dulwich Award 24 November Added a help & faq page, it's down there on the bottom right

I promise it's not me, but it's great isn't it! I can't wait to find out if Max (5) and Freya (3 and a half) love the new house as much as mummy does, even though it has hand rails in the toilet. My favourite quote on the site so far: "I believe the Swedes don't get married or even shave their arm pits! Not very Dulwich." Brilliant!

Just to back up your last point James, there is a blog called Dulwich Mum "who religiously, every month, since the age of sixteen, has had a facial" who has just bought another house in the village and I quote "I wept with joy ? as you do in the current market ? just to find a house in the catchment for the Dulwich Village Infants School ... I simply must have original sash windows" I prefer East Dulwich too, Dulwich Village is nice to visit but I don't really want neigbours who spend all their income on "private education, Baby Boden, Baby Bells and the au pairs gym membership".

Michael My initial reaction to the article was "how dare she say that" but it's her opinion and having gone past the station a few times since reading it, yes I can imagine that to a Hampstead resident, it's typically South East London. There's the building works hoardings that have been there for ages, litter strewn around, massive advertising hoardings, cars parked where ever they want because no-one's going to tell them off, the weather's overcast and no Hamptons estate agents to greet you. We know it's not bad at all, we enjoy living here, we enjoy the good bits and do our bit about the bad bits (although I still haven't heard from the council and am eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Goose Green Consultation which seems to be running late). Anyway, Helen, the Plough is still there, I believe it's name changed for a while although the buses have always said "the Plough" on them which was confusing. I'll try and get some photos of Grove Vale on here over the weekend for you. Mark

Hi Simon May I introduce you to the mighty Lordship Lane Sharks (you may have heard of us). Although we curently have a full 5-a-side squad who play at the Stade de Chav in Catford on Tuesdays, we're attempting getting together for a kick around on the Rye on Saturdays in the winter which you're more than welcome to come along to. Also there's a need every now and then to help out during times of depleted squad numbers on Tuesdays so please send me a Private message message with your details and I'll keep you posted Mark (Shark) http://www.lanesharks.co.uk/images/sharks_crest.jpg

Hi Helen Goose Green is pretty similar I guess to how it used to be although it now has a short green fence dividing it along the diagional path to section off a dog free area in the lower half. And there's about a thousand dog bins along that path. The council are considering what to do with it at the moment, here's a link to this forum's discussion on it. It's still a nice place and has a few little festivals on it in the summer. Swimming Baths are still there although they probably haven't been renovated since you were last there. Some people round here are a bit annoyed with these facilities at the moment because the council have let them lapse but they look like they were good in their heyday. Grove Vale. Posh. Don't go in the same sentance I'm afraid, there's this article from the Times who describe coming out of East Dulwich train station (onto Grove Vale) "you are in southeast London proper ? grey, grotty and peppered with graffiti". It's not as bad as that at all but it isn't posh, that's still Dulwich Village although the article does say that "Pockets of gentrification do, however, exist." And yes, the houses opposite the School are still there, I presume that's where you lived. Which road? Can you shed any light on the old East Dulwich for us? How do you remember Goose Green? thanks Mark