TheCat

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > By all means back Corbyn if you like his policies, > but I see nothing to indicate that he is > fundamentally more honest/decent than other > politicians. > > A few of my friends are very pro-Corbyn... they > seem to be in complete denial about the prospects > of winning an election. They think a couple of > hundred thousand very vocal supporters, plus a few > very worthy/sanctimonious types on social media > equates to widespread support. Agree with this completely, have a number of friends of similar disposition. As I keep telling them...'tweets are not the same as votes, shouting loud is not the same as votes, and joining a political party does not make ones vote any more important than the majority who haven't'

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am going tonight with Mr L. Will report back > tomorrow. Informal dress code? Anyone? > > Louisa. My life has got so exciting of late, that I have genuinely logged on to see what EDF personality, Louisa, thought of MEATLiquor.... Perhaps enjoying a bit of a lie-in after a little too much Meat and a little too much Liquor?

Unfortunately all too common around here. Not sure about further up lordship lane, but in the Townley/woodwarde/beauval/calton quadrangle, the amount of dog mess makes it feel like an obstacle course sometimes. I've confronted a dog owner on one occasion, and got the usual, 'I dont have any bags on me' response. I find the attitude of some of these dog owners absolutely baffling and infuriating.

miga Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > TheCat Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Aristide Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > "There's middle class and middle class" > > > > I'm from Australia, where there really isnt > such > > an identifiable class system to speak of. Sure > > there's rich and poor, but its not so ingrained > > 'where you come from', unless you're talking > about > > geography. > > I also grew up in Australia, and think the idea > that Australia is a "classless" society (not in > the "Kath and Kim" sense, but in the sense of an > absence of entrenched social divisions according > to who your parents are) is one of those national > myths people tell themselves to make themselves > feel a bit better (file next to "mateship", the > "fair go" and being "easygoing"). Australia has > the exact same historical class structures > (exclusive schools, yacht clubs, perfectly > manicured posh, monocultural neighbourhoods) as > England. Miga, I dont wholly disagree. I guess what I'm saying is that your 'class' does not seem to dominate your psyche in Australia as it does here. Or 'Class discussions' (like this one!:)) are not nearly as commonly seen in the public conscience back in Australia. I dont disagree that there are 'elites' and 'boguns' etc; but there is not a national preoccupation with which class one is; Or what people in 'other classes' are doing. Dont get me wrong, I can complain plenty about my fellow Australians and those 'myths' that you mention. For example the 'elitisim' which comes from those that live and work in Australia versus people who have moved overseas. Drives me up the wall to be constantly told in my job 'Ah mate, you're in the UK, you dont understaaaaaand how we do it down here in Straya' Can be summed up like this in my view: Australian in Australia: 'Straya is the BEST COUNTRY in the worrllllllld mate' me: 'Have you ever lived anywhere else' Australian in Australia: 'Nah, dont need to mate! Why would you leave paradise?' me: 'Facepalm'

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't think he was trying to demonize middle > class parents at all. He very clearly says all of > it is basic human nature and I agree. That's why > some of the issues are intractable which is the > real point he's making. > > TheCat Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > "That room rarely opens up because those > > mediocrities are too well-screened by parents > who > > hire private tutors, buy cultural enrichment, > > teach etiquette, set expectations, stand as > > personal examples of success, coach interview > > technique, navigate any bureaucratic maze put > > before them, set up home in nice areas, arrange > > internships via friends and, just to rub in > their > > supremacy, make direct gifts of cash and > assets. > > To fail under these conditions is a kind of > > achievement in itself" > > > > I do understand the point this paragraph is > trying > > to make, but I think sometimes 'middle-class > > parents' are demonised a little harshly. With > the > > exception of a few things in the list above > (e.g. > > private tutors, arranged internships, direct > gifts > > etc..and in the case of the latter two I think > are > > rarer than one might think), many of these > things > > I would say are just 'good parenting' that is > in > > no way reflective of wealth or class. "teach > > etiquette"? "set expectations"? "setting an > > example"?....those evil middle class parents, > how > > dare they teach manners, set boundaries and > rules, > > and encourage their children to succeed...... Hence why I said 'I understand his point', and made a different point

boguns are like chavs. Is 'chav' a class too? and im not saying there's no class snobbery at all. But its not even a patch on how people think about it here.....

Genuine Question..... While there the debate about 'segregation', there appears to be a similar amount of angst about the 11+ as the tool of that segregation. So my question is, would it be more palatable for some if the entrance criteria were changed?, so say, coursework over 2 years (not just one exam), which I believe is how its often done in germany

Aristide Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "There's middle class and middle class" I'm from Australia, where there really isnt such an identifiable class system to speak of. Sure there's rich and poor, but its not so ingrained 'where you come from', unless you're talking about geography. I've been here over 10 years, but I'm always amazed at how much discussion the 'class system' can generate. So apologies if I didnt know which type of middle class is the right type of middle class....:)

agreed. add to that list...pulling across a busy road because you've seen a parking space on the other side. So happy to park the wrong way on a busy road. Then again pulling across the 2 lanes of traffic to continue on your when when you leave... not just annoying, but super dangerous given right hand drive steering and lines of sight....

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > New to London ?! Ha....no...just needed a rant....

"That room rarely opens up because those mediocrities are too well-screened by parents who hire private tutors, buy cultural enrichment, teach etiquette, set expectations, stand as personal examples of success, coach interview technique, navigate any bureaucratic maze put before them, set up home in nice areas, arrange internships via friends and, just to rub in their supremacy, make direct gifts of cash and assets. To fail under these conditions is a kind of achievement in itself" I do understand the point this paragraph is trying to make, but I think sometimes 'middle-class parents' are demonised a little harshly. With the exception of a few things in the list above (e.g. private tutors, arranged internships, direct gifts etc..and in the case of the latter two I think are rarer than one might think), many of these things I would say are just 'good parenting' that is in no way reflective of wealth or class. "teach etiquette"? "set expectations"? "setting an example"?....those evil middle class parents, how dare they teach manners, set boundaries and rules, and encourage their children to succeed......

Parents (sometimes dads, but overwhelmingly mums) who would prefer to cause other people inconvenience so that their own life can be that tiny bit easier while dropping kids off at school.... Case in point this morning. Driving up Turney road into the Dulwich Village junction. Green light ahead. Car in front just stops dead in the middle of the road, while child jumps out of the back. But not done being annoying, instead of zooming off once the kid is clear in an apologetic "sorry I've delayed you" fashion, the women in question then decides she wants to return the other way, and that she will do a 3 point turn and block both lanes of traffic. 'To hell with crossing the junction and turning at a more appropriate spot right? I need to go the other way, so everyone else can just get stuffed' seems to be the attitude

In exchange for this thing you call 'ice', I have also observed people handing over little rectangles of paper with a posh woman's face on one side..... Then the best part is, the supermarket hands back little discs of metals with the same posh woman's face on one side....!

After some advice. A large crack has recently appeared in our bay window, more than the normal bit of plaster cracking once might see, there appears to be some definite and substantial movement in the house, there is s similar crack on the outside too.. We obviously want to get this checked out ASAP. I'm not really sure who to call here. Do I start with my insurance company? and they send someone around. Or is it a Chartered Surveyor? Or a structural Engineer? Any past experience appreciated.

monica Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What a shame, ED has wanted an M&S for years, we > get one and all you do is complain, you guys are > never happy. Its suitable for the area, they stock > up every morning and during the day, I am assuming > they are going to address the stock issues once > they have a better idea of footfall.let them get > on with it and please a lit bit more positivity in > the mean time. An M&S has opened? Oh what a marvelous surprise for us all. Where is it? Its amazing how I haven't heard every little thing about it. I mean surely there would be 9 or 10 pages of largely banal chat about it by now? But no....I will have to check it out once I find out where it is.

M&S East Dulwich live: Day 4. 7:30am. All's quiet out there at the moment, as the battle weary residents of east dulwich brace themselves for M&S's first Saturday....stay tuned to this thread to see who will complain about prices, who thinks its 'over-hyped', and who is 'pleasantly surprised'....

Thanks for making this thread even better Toffee. You've inadvertently just become a key driver of its continuing magnificence....

Sorry to hear your daughter got a fright. The intersection is quite tricky sometimes. I have seen what you describe a number of times. And have been the driver turning right into turney road a number of times. When waiting there to turn right there are 2 issues, one is that you are past any lights, so cant see what they are showing, and 2) people coming north up Dulwich Village and wanting to turn right onto court lane, rarely (if ever) leave a gap when queuing for people to turn right the other way. So the upshot is you get stuck in the middle of the intersection when the traffic is about to come across it the other way, which is also dangerous. I agree the junction needs work, but drivers or pedestrians should check the road before setting out, green signal or not.

Its truly astounding how many pages of discussion, 'analysis' and dissection can go into debating the relative offerings at two shops (co-op and M&S) who already have extensive, long established businesses across the country. I find it hard to believe that there are so many people on here carping on about how they've 'never been to an M&S' and 'Its just like co-op with, fancy packaging'...like they've just discovered One Eyed Willie's treasure.... Perhaps each day for the next few weeks, we should have a new,separate thread each day to make sure we don't miss any key breaking news... M&S East Dulwich Live: Day 3:......9:45am: Scandal strikes as local mum of 3, Debbie, claims the M&S Bananas look a similar yellow to those found elsewhere....

thanks Rich. Appreciate the feedback. Sounds good

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seabag Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > The best Cafe in a Park is the one in Crystal > > Palace, it's owned by people that seem to be > > happy. They make nice food and are nice to you. > > The retro school-dinner canteen place near the > "lake"? The staff are nice, sure... Yeah, I got a lovingly prepared carton of ribena juice there the other day.....

Must say, I enjoyed my Gastropub garlic chicken & herb lattice for dinner last night. I'm sure the ~92% of Dulwich residents who had M&S for dinner last night did likewise. Agree with Jeremy here, the place is designed for basket shops (or buggy/pram shops in ED perhaps)...and that will be their bread and butter... ...well...not just any bread and butter.....

There's an m&s on lordship lane? Someone should have said.....

Considering signing my son up for Rugbytots. It's says open from ages of 2. He's 2.5, can't catch a ball yet, but loves to run. Will he be way out of his depth? How have people found it for the younger kids? Thanks

Or you could not bow to prejudice (on either side of the arguement) and just do the best thing for your child.