LucyCrayon

I never thought I'd recommend an estate agent but Jade Clements and Martin Speed at Acorn did such a great job, I thought this is really worth recommending. I had a lot of hassle selling my flat with buyers pulling out, another estate agent not pulling their weight and the solicitors (all of them in the final chain) being a total disaster! Had it not been for Jade and Martin, I don't think I would have completed by now. They have been worth every penny, working really well as a team (so if one person is out, the other knows exactly what is going on) and chasing the disastrous solicitors right from the start until the very end. I felt completely supported (having had to do the whole thing by myself wasn't easy) and I really appreciated their level of professionalism - they were very polite at all times. I went with another agent before that and they became very rude as soon as I had signed up with them... not really what you need on top of everything else. So it's 5*s for Jade and Martin at Acorn on Lordship Lane from me!

I would like to recommend a car garage I just received absolutely incredible service from. I recently bought a car - I had not been a car owner for nearly 20 years and was seriously out of practice with regards to regular maintenance etc. I searched the internet for short courses in basic car mechanics for women and came across a charity called SMarRT garage services. They have a garage in West Norwood (although they do not teach there at the moment) - Unit 9, The Windsor Centre, Windsor Grove, West Norwood, SE27 9NT. Tel. 020 8761 2269. They provided excellent, non-patronizing advice and seem very honest (not making things up and charging for things that did not need doing). I am quite amazed that a garage like this exists and thought they really do deserve a recommendation, so here it is. (I am not affiliated with them in any way or with the charity!).

I'm in the process of teaching myself play Poker (online, limit Texas Hold 'em) and would like to start playing with 'real' people soon. Is there a regular group in East Dulwich? I couldn't see any recent postings. As I'm very new to the game ideally I'd like a few practice sessions first (no money) just to get clear on rules and how it all works playing live.... Is anyone up for it/interested in training me up/any patient groups out there? Cheers.