panda boy

> Anyway?. what goes around comes around One can only hope...

We've had a spotted woodpecker on our nut feeder for the past 8 months. 1st arrived when it was quite young and keeps coming back for more. (And this may not count but also spotted a kingfisher in P Rye park last year. Saw it on 3 occasions. Nothing yet this year though...)

A Franklins bacon sarnie with a bloody mary should get you fighting fit...

Hmmm, not sure i understand your point Kel. I'd parked in a marked parking bay, 1/2 on the pavement as indicated. People park their cars in these bays all the time and i've been unaware of any major collision problems. (Though thats part of my reason for posting this, to see if others have suffered the same experiences.) And the fact i've noticed the way the lorries are being driven has been made all the more acute after my car was wrecked, and a sense of curiosity about what could have done such damage and driven away. I'm sure anyone owning a car in london is, like me, used to the normal bumps and scrapes that appear over time, but to find the such damage was, i think, a bit out of the ordinary. I could be completely wrong about the lorries, a smart car could have done it...

Long story short... My car was parked on Honor Oak Park for a few hours, returned to car to find a mashed drivers side and the front bumper torn off, (and placed carefully on the pavement next to the car!?) No note left and no witnesses (typical) and the car is now a write off. Certainly didn't fill me with the joys of spring... My suspicions lie with the large dumper trucks that have been tearing up and down the road that seem to originate from the now demolished school, (soon to be a new 'boys academy'?) on Peckham Rye. It's only an educated guess with absolutely no evidence to back it up, (yet) but judging from the type of damage to my car, and the fact that had anything smaller been involved, it would have sustained quite a bit of damage itself, i would think that a large truck of that size would barely have felt the impact. There's nothing i can do about it apart from mourn the passing of my trusty vehicle, (stings all the more after spending 400 quid on keeping it going,) so this is basically a moan, and a warning to all about parking anywhere near where those lorries operate. I'm quite sure some of the drivers are careful and considerate, but some are quite clearing bloody dangerous, irresponsible and deserve being nicked for the way they drive around. Has anyone else noticed the way these lorries tear about, or is my view slightly skewed due to my recent experience? Moan and warning over...

> Use some of those chillies to mix in with the > seed! That will teach the squirrels a lesson! Hmmm, I have thought of this Jeremy but i'm not trying to discourage the birds. Not sure what they'd make of extra hot chillies?

Dried extra hot red chillies (organic obviously!!) scattered around the boundaries worked for me. It stops dogs, cats and foxes using front and back gardens as a toilet... (Currently trying to stop squirrels from thieving the bird feeders... Any (sensible) ideas greatly appreciated.)

So sorry to keep you up Ratty, you have a nice kip...

Where is East Dulwich? Disappearing up it's own backside if the amount of specialist baby shops and estate agents that have opened recently are anything to go by. Anyway its not going to be called East Dulwich for much longer, there are plans on the table that mean the area is due to be renamed Far East Clapham very soon.....

AllforNun, so cynical...!

"Governments and local councils have flouted the rules and Law since time began, are we able to kick them out of office ?" Yes, it's called voting.

Right then. This is my 1st post on this thread, (although i have been reading it with interest for some time now.) Shut NERO down now. If it has abused planning rules, and continues to abuse the rules of it's occupancy then it has to go, (albeit temporarily.) The company must be made to take responsibility for flouting the rules and the best way is through their income. I have no problem with a coffee shop on the high street. Just the manner and attitude in which it has established itself. At the end of the day it is a form of corporate arrogance, which on a very basic level, is just plain rude. And as for foxtons, thats for another thread...

I saw a black cat yesterday just round the corner of Ryedale / Underhill Road. Didn't have a collar, seemed to be the right age and was certainly cheeky and vocal. (I've only just read your post so i didn't notice any white hairs...) If i see him again i'll give you a call. Alan

I live in London but work all over the country. Sometime i get public transport where possible but couldn't do my job without a car. And before you say it, i'm not only transporting myself but also kit and tools, sometimes too much to carry. There, justified mine too... (I am going for a bike license soon though so i am trying to reduce congestion and emissions etc...!)

Well not wanting to start another 'all estate agents are angels of saten' topic, i've just managed to avoid dealing with the whole lot of them and dealt direct to a landlord to rent my new flat. Unfortunately the agents have the lions share of choice, but the constant bending of the truth and economy with the facts led to me becoming very cynical about them. (I'm actually being rather measured in my opinion of estate agents right now...) There are plenty of ways to get direct access to landlords / property sellers without having to deal with 'middlemen' who will happily take their cut without baring any responsibility. ('Gumtree' is a good website to start with...) The ones have dealt with in the past have been friendly enough, after all we're all human and it's not as though they're arms dealers or anything, but in my experience many of them have been sadly lacking in terms of professionally dealing with, what is after all an important transaction. Quite frankly they're all much of a muchness really... It depends on what approach you want to take; deal with a intermediary, or do some extra research and deal direct to the person you're actually doing the deal with... Just my humble etc...

I blame foxtons. Weren't they the first with their stupidly painted and badly driven minis zipping around like mosquitos? Other estate agents must think that having their own fleet of badly driven ugly cars as a measure of success... Rant etc...

Had all 4 of mine taken a while ago too. They were a bit tatty but obviously someone wanted them. Even now every time i see a similar car with the same trims i wonder if they were from my car. Thieving so and so's....

Sorry if i'm posting this in the wrong forum but i thought more people read the general forum. (And this is more of a plea than a post...!) Last Monday, (3rd September) i rather foolishly misplaced my wallet. I had it when i got out of my car, then the short walk to my house it had vanished. (Obviously very frustrating as it contained cards, id's, driving license etc...) Location was Underhill road, near the bus stop just round the corner from Goodrich Road. This is a long shot but worth a try... Many thanks. (And just to keep this forum related i've been to 'Si Mangia' many times since it's opened and can recommend it. Very nice staff, good food and value, (although the menu is a touch limited,) and great ice cream...)

Leave the foxes be. If anything, trap them and release them further afield. Yes they're not the cute fluufy darlings as depicted in kids books, but they also don't deserve to be exterminated just for existing. The program that was mentioned was interesting viewing indeed. Especially the idiot who kept chickens without proper protection for them. Personally i think he deserved shooting... (The extermination guy on the program was a hoot though. He had a screw or two loose in his head, especially with his story of a fox who once attacked a baby in it's bed once...? Like when? 1832?)

Personally i think SMBS deserves a mention. Always helpful. Also William Rose, Franklins and the new fish shop all deserve recognition. And not forgetting the guys in Nicolas. Never been recommended a bad bottle of wine from them...

Funny you should mention that Townleygreen. When i was at college, (a while ago now,) i made a short film called 'your last 3 minutes', about exactly that subject. I went around the streets of York with a camera and interviewed people about what they'd do. (Then cut the footage to a soundtrack etc etc...) OK a tad morbid but i recieved some interesting responses...

A car park is a good idea, but where...? And the guy that sells CD's on Northcross road doesn't have a shop. He sells CD's at s few markets, but no shop. Despite his stall not having a massive range, it does have a great selection of good music. And it seems a suggestion of M+S crept in earlier in the thread. To this i'd say a big fat NO!

Karter, Damn right about the cocktails. They used to be great, not so now... Same with the Black Cherry. When they opened the cocktail waiter was pretty good, mixing 'off menu' drinks with ease. (try getting a proper White Russian in most of London!)

I'll certainly give them a try then. Ta for the recommendation... Should i mention to them that you put in the good word? PB

Glad you agree Nikster. OJ is good, but depending on your plans for the day, a bloody mary with a double shot goes down really well...!