NewWave

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Other places recently pronounced 'dead' also > include New York, Berlin, Sydney, Paris, Madrid, > Melbourne and so on. > > Two millennia of continuous capital civic > evolution and I just happen to be born at the when > they all die. Just my luck. I'M sorry but speaking as someone who spent time in the late '70's and 80's in New york, It IS DEAD. Ok, street crime is down, once no-go areas like Alphabet City ( I had a friend lived on Avenue A in the 80's when visiting you'd stay over rather than risk the junkies on the doorstep and the shootings at night) are now gentrified full of hip bars and resturants. But Gone are the interesting places CBGBS, Mars Bar, Yaffa Cafe, Chelsea Hotel is being turned into an overpriced soulless 'boutique hotel'. Gone are the quirky independent stores in the East Village, Ditto SoHO..now home to the likes of TopShop and H&M I could go on and on. Berlin is now going the same way. The very people and shops that made an area interesting and dare I say it 'Cool" are being priced out And in their place come psudo hipster bare brick oh so ironic 'we only play vinyl' hangouts. I'm a city girl, always have been-I love the diversity, the edge the creative buzz of cities. But soon I fear everywhere will be the same.

vito Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Cassel Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > What's wrong with variety - I've lived in ED > for > > 25 years and the small newsagent I buy my paper > > from (he also sells milk) is still there after > all > > these years. It's not as though Sweaty Betty > are > > opening a department store - it's a small > outlet. > > I love their clothes and the price reflects > the > > quality of their products which are more > durable > > than buying something cheaper which doesn't > wash > > well or keep its shape and I disagree they're > > bland. So I'll be shopping in there when my > > budget allows but I'll also go and buy a doner > > kebab if I fancy one. Just as I'll continue > > shopping in the Co-op as opposed to M&S - it's > all > > down to choice. > > As far as They will leave us a choice Cassel.. I > work in west london Portobello rd since 2005, Use > to be eclectic and vibrant full of original shops > and new ideas. I remember before (less than 10 yrs > ago not some 50 yrs ago) stall owners at the local > market use to work hard and were very busy. The > best of them, the ones with the best ideas, use to > work hard for a few yrs hoping to get a chance to > open a shop on portobello rd (see for instance > punky fish which i don t like for design etc but > is a perfect example). > Now often in my short lunch break i talk to them > as few yrs ago. Before they were telling me about > their hopes to get this shop or the other shop and > make a step forward in business but also in life; > now they tell me (at the best) they are applying > to work at the till of some well known supermarket > chain or they dream to get a job as security > person on some mobile phone company shop.. > I remember the rd as it was 5 to 7 yrs ago and it > was an unique place all over the world, attracting > visitors, locals and tourists in here. I remember > I use to have the hot dog guy phone number as it > was taking me ages to walk one single block to get > some lunch as the street was crowded and business > had people queing all the times. > At present road is empty on any due day...i don t > need to call the guy anymore for my hot dog as it > takes me 20sec to walk to him now in a road that > looks like any airport in any city...from vodafone > to starbucks, burgers chains, coffe chains ..you > name it..it looks like walking in heathrow airport > but....with nearly no people at all > The hot dog man and his son are doing best they > can for the son to get a job in tesco or sainsbury > in a street and in a world that doesn t pay back > if you have ideas but pays back only if you have > money and can pay the 150K per year for a 40 sq mt > shop in compare to the 30K it was costing 5 yrs > ago.. > I don t see the choice there anymore.... but still > if i had a son i would be happy to listen to his > business ideas and support him best I can rather > than having a son that sadly hopes to get into > some chain supermarket as....it is the only > choice... > The choice we have is now as for instance in > portobello rd once a supermarket decided to pay > 100k per year on a 30 sq meter (that use to cost > 20K 5 yrs ago) there is not way back. rightly so > all the commercial landlords now expect that rent > and chains keeps coming in, in a road that was the > centre of europe over the week ends and now is sad > and empty.. > As you can imagine I don t care much about > portobello rd but i care my son will have a choice > in life... > Nothing personal against Mrs Sweaty Betty in > person...a part from the very ugly name..:)) Well Said! Iwas born in Ladbroke grove in the 60's and lived in the area until 5 years ago when finances caused me to move here. Portobello road used to be brilliant, full of independent shops, local characters, dreamers artists, hustlers. It was my 'hood and I loved its run-down but optimistic energy. but slowly things changed-a row of antique arcades became All Saints, the Butchers left and was replaced by a gift shop And now?....Now I can't stand the place its like Carnaby St or Camden, loads of shops selling tourist tat and cheap shoes, 'Jack Wills' 'Lush Cosmetics' There is nothing there that holds any magic. The cool Pubs have gone, the characters are dying off or having to move out. My mother was born on Westbourne Park Road in the 1930s when it was terribly poor and run down. But at least it had a community and soul. Now there is neither. Its another sign of the homogonisation of our city. London is dead..its time we realised that.

Back to the original theme of the thread I think Sweaty Betty is a complete waste of time. if I want work out gear I go to Decathlon In Surrey Quays/Canada water. Great choice and really good value for pretty decent quality stuff. I think its pointless spending a bomb on things you will sweat in and that need constant washing.

I heard that Siouxsie Sioux has moved to Dulwich...As a saddo fangirl I live in hope of spotting her!

There are quite strong sentences for those involved with knife crime. But do you think the local bobby would be posting here if there was enough police to do the job? The government cuts are taking effect. Also we are reminded of the sad and continuing local violence.

I have lived here 6 years and never ever felt any desire to venture in. In fact it must be the only cafe on LL that I haven't been in It looked a bit dingy and grubby TBH

They must be better than Fusion...I'm appalled at how they can let brand new buildings and resources paid for by our council tax deterioate so badly due to mis-management. It saddens me.

Is it possible to extend the leaflets and leave them on the board at sainsburys Forest Hill and the local pools?

Ive never known shower gel in any of the fusion gyms..in fact in any council gym.

As someone who is considering getting a membership at ED pools does anyone have any idea how this would impact? I live in Forest Hill where the pool is also run by fusion (as are all Lewisham pools) but the pool is so filthy and centre generally so dirty and badly run I've started to attend the East Dulwich pools-which believe me-are like a Luxury health club by comparison (picture used nappies and urine in changing cubicle, and toilets poolside so filthy that you retch as you use them-a Favela smells better..I kid you not!..and in fact they are so smelly that the stink reaches the pool) Part of my reasoning in joining is also that at least then I could try other fusion gyms and pools for free as at present I spend ?8.50 every visit to ED and I've been aiming for twice a week minimum. Would the new contract therefore mean that I would be limited to using pools in Southwark? Any idea? And finally-if you think this centre is bad go to Forest Hill and you'll realise what bad really looks and smells like!

Yes I like SMBS always have a nice chat with the guy behind the counter, they have really good selection of things for a small shop. AND I too adore Cherner books they've actually recommended books to me that have ended up my favourites.

Roullier White, brilliant staff knowledgable and friendly...get all my perfumes from there. Lilas for well priced beautiful jewellery and again fantastic friendly and knowledgable staff. In fact my other half buys all my gifts from those two shops. Also Moxons superb fish, lovely friendly helpful staff.

macutd Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I would just like to say that it is fantastic to > have somewhere I can take my 11 year old boy to > enjoy an afternoon out. That is local, affordable, > family friendly and where i meet and chat with > others in my community. > Good old DHFC don't knock it. There arn't many (if > any) places like it in London. hear hear !

Mr Barber, I would hardly call my post 'bullying' thaking the p**s perhaps? But bullying? No.

I'm sorry but does Barbers post insinuate that anything which may create noise and stop a child getting 12 hours sleep must be curtailed? A curfew on cars driving down any streets that may have children living in the houses, no aeroplanes after 6.30pm no sirens, no doorbells on multiple occupancy homes, etc etc etc... This is a city, noise happens its part of living... We are NOT talking about outdoor rave parties that carry on till the early hours 5 nights a week. We are talking about occasional background noise coming from a much loved Local football club. Its pathetic...Like people moving next to infants schools and then complaining about the sound of children playing. Let the little darlings sleep in earmuffs on match nights. I grew up near Marble Arch, ambulances would go by the house en-route to St Marys hospital,We'd hear the sound of the outdoor Hyde Park concerts, but y'know what? If my sleep was disturbed by this as a nipper I'm sure I drifted back to sleep soon enough, and I went on to achieve a degree so I'm sure it didn't do me too much harm.

I used to live around the corner from Stamford Bridge. On match days depending on the weather conditions you could hear the music played in the ground and the babble of commentary.as well as the roar of the crowd. it is to my mind something you put up with if you live near a football ground. And anyway, its only at most a couple of times a week and always ends at a decent hour for evening games. TBH being under a flightpath and having yuppie neighbours who had loud weekend dinner parties bothered me a lot more than the noise the football club generated...FACT

Thank-you for posting this, Its a lovely idea.

Yes, I get the number 12 when theres a tube strike, but I live near the Horniman and the 12 stops at Dulwich library. Its a bit of a walk after a day at work unless I change buses.

Brilliant match!, Other half took me to my first match at the Hamlets last year, and I loved it! Now I wear the scarf and really enjoy going to support them. I was REALLY impressed with the guy who wears the number 11 shirt (sorry-dont know players names). He just gave it his all, running rings around the oposistion. As I said-I'm a latecomer to this football lark but I'm proud to have such a great local team

I wish it still went to Oxford Circus then I could ride to and from work on it.

Thank-you Louisa!

I pay ?1500 a year for the privillage of standing for 40mins each way on overcrowded trains. It sucks

It was in the Daily Mail...I never believe anything in the Daily Mail.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > AM I say 'second home' in a descriptive sense, not > literal. It's a spiritualist church! > > Louisa. I really rate spiritualist churches, When I was diagnosed with a serious illness some years ago and literally didn't know where to turn I felt drawn to the spiritualist Church in Notting hill (where I was living at the time) and the wonderful women there gave me spiritual healing. Whether you believe in it or nor it gave me tremendous comfort and it was so wonderful to feel so cared about and welcomed by complete strangers. I'd be interested in getting the details of the Eltham spiritualist church. Is it our nearest? And how does one get there?

I think this is Par for the course these days I'm afraid. I'm with a practise in Sydenham (no one else would have us..even though ours isn't the nearest or the one most my neighbours are at) and I can't get through on the phone, sometimes it takes 31 calls and two days calling only to finally get through and be told there are no appointments for at least two weeks etc, My repeat perscription (which I can't be without and can't stop suddenly) is always not being sent on time to Boots so they end up giving me emergency meds. Its a joke I can't afford private but I have no faith in my GP whatsover.