linzkg

Separating dogs during a dog fight: 1. find a stick (a glove would be useful too, just in case) 2. the stick needs to be inserted into the dogs mouth, behind it's teeth so to speak, horizontally from left to right/right to left (if i can explain it that way) simple! this makes the dog release it's grip immediately - there are nerves that affect the "lock jaw" effect that these types of dogs have - I don't know of any other way to actually get them to "unlock" their jaws .. obviously the bum theory may and could work too ;-) and i am speaking from experience .. unfortunately. my family used to breed staffies and bull terriers .. not in this country however, where i come from they are sort after breeds and certainly do not have the reputation as they do here .. which is very sad .. i have photos of me getting horse back rides on my bullie when i was 3 years old and running around playing with the staffies etc .. i grew up with them around and it's so sad as these breeds have a beautiful soft and subdued natue .. but i am totally embarrassed to admit to loving these breeds here as people do frown at you .. again, sad. anyhoo, good luck with the stick separating theory - here's hoping no one ever has to use it!!!

perfect - thanks so much!

did anyone remembering seeing a home garden show recently (late last year) where the team doing the garden up chose dead tree roots to put in the garden - the roots stuck up inwards and this was in order to create an eco-enviornment .. the client's kids were into bugs and creepy crawlys .. I can't remember the actual show but I've told my "green finger" uncle about it and he'd like to know more .. thanks,

ha! how fitting .. we were just there this weekend and you're quite right - the service is shocking and it's very sad. the new staff just can't be bothered and walk away before you've even completed your order .. not how it used to be in the old days .. tut tut

my posts too - they are awful!! we've now got an offical complaint raised through our bank as they're STILL taking money for a service that we never had!!

you're quite right - just googled for more info - that's fab!

anyone lost 3 green parrot looking like birds?? they are flying around our back garden but are not wild looking birds they seem to be parrots / budgie looking like birds .. unless of coz we're heading for a tropical climate in the middle of London!!

the art deco .. vintage type fair .. at St Barnadas .. this weekend isn't there?

i definitely think it's about time a village for singletons was created .. that would be fab .. i'm desperate to off load all my single mates (girlfirends) .. actually that sounded wrong and i meant it in the nicest way as they are fab girls and would bring happiness to any man, and not change them, just enhance them (my partner falls for that everytime - i love it!) and then there's the hockey boys .. my partner trains the local teams .. and they're just as desperate for some companionship .. so i gather them all together and we're now one big happy family .. but unfortunately they misread the script - no one got it on!! life's just not that simple is it - i never did like match making .. now i know i'm useless at it too. but anyway, there are loads of single people in Dulwich and a good vibe all round so just chill and enjoy it - you'l be suprised

Just the heading to this threat is annoying in itself: "own money" .. I had, and still have my own money thank you very much darling - so get back in your box one that one! But i will say that i'm expecting my first sprog and I will soon have to eat my words as I agree that I'm always dodging prams in Dulwich and it can get a little annoying as you're always having ot watch your step. I've been in Dulwich for years and there's definitely been a change in my opinion (as small and insignaficant as it may be!) the prams have definitely doubled, if not tripled .. but then again it has changed the whole neighbourhood with all these new faces .. so it's not so bad.

thank you Moos - yes please don't take it personally or that i was offending you at all - having a meal out is supposed to be relaxing .. but now everytime anyone goes for dinner you'll have me on your mind .. now won't that be special ;-)

cdonline - unless you're that waitress i'm afraid .. then you may see things differently. There has been so much media coverage recently about this service charge issue and as much as people petitioned against it the restaurants have been allowed to do what they want with it. i have personally been in that position and i can't tell you how much money i have lost after so much hard work on my part - and yes maybe i should have been cheeky and told my customers that i don't get the tip .. but i'm not cheeky and i don't want to assume. but i agree with you - it doesn't make me want to support them anymore (we're so spoilt for choice so it actually helps me narrow my decisions down haha. i'm not having a go at you personally as i know a lot of people that feel the same way you do and i can see where you're coming from. the bottom line is that most customers assume the service charge is for the waitresses / chefs and that was the way it was intended .. i find it wrong that restaurants can be so nasty and not action that - it's plain wrong. i'm glad to see everyone else's comments and response to this - thank you - i feel normal. so moral of the story: check with the waitress where the money goes - into their back pockets or straight back into the restaurant ratty - hmmm .. are we allowed to .. Goose Green mean anything to you .. blue lights maybe ..? (out of the 12.5% service charge only 1% is handed out amongst the waitering staff and kitchen staff - that's shocking! and then the manager had the cheek to question the staff member that was looking after us as they're not allowed to tell us that they don't get the service charge actually, he wasn't happy that we'd asked to have it taken off - as if she'd told on so she did ask us not to say anything to him .. so now they're threatening their staff .. that's a nice way to do business!!)

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I get really annoyed at restaurants adding service charge to bills now a days. We were at a local restaurant on Saturday night and I asked the waitress if she got the service charge .. to which she said no (1% is split amongst the waitresses and the chefs .. so the other 11.5% goes straight to the restaurant - like they don't make enough money already that they feel they must now take the waitress tips too) I asked her to remove it - her face lit up, she was delighted and said thanks so much. The manager gave us the correction and asked what was wrong with the service .. I said the service charge should be going to her - not you! He glared at me and shook his head. The waitress got her tip in cash and we were all happy. I used to work in restaurants for years as a youngster and it used to break my heart when a customer would mumble "is there service, oh yes there is, so I don't need to add more" because I wasn't going to force the issue and make a big deal out of it. Does everyone know how this works and does everyone remove the service charge? Am I missing the point of service charge and am I the only one who gets worked up by it?

i do a lot of traveling and train from FH to EC and then onto Gatwick is definitely the best option. trains are also frequent through FH - every 10 - 12 mins. Gatwick express is just more money. cab can be cheaper if there are a few of you as it's about ?35. but the drive is shocking - mainly through suburbs so it's stop start with buses and traffic lights - not to mention the road works. you might as well drive to heathrow - even cabs are the same cost! as they're actually pretty much the same distance too.

agreed - fab evening .. pity it was freezing though ;-)

a conversation we find ourselves having time and time again. Though EDT isn't too bad - they've got a screen in the front of the bar and now got a second big screen in the back - and manage to show 2 different channels. EDT isn't good for kids though i wouldn't think ..

we were watching the olympics this morning and the all important announcement came out about the ladies martial arts issue .. and along came a plane! .. thankfully he waffled on for a bit so we didn't miss much.. and sure enough ANOTHER plane came along .. so we missed the all important part - the decision! he must have spoken all of a couple of minutes - and 2 planes came over head - i was very put out!

I'm really upset that no-one's second Black and Blue restaurant :-(

ok since we've moved away from Dulwich - anyone been to Black and Blue at Borough Market - definitely worth a visit!! Food is fab (fresh from the market i'm told) and the serve is excellent too. The garlic prawns are definitely some of the best I've come across. They can definitely cook their meat well. The sauces are gorgeous. There's a good selection on the wine list - there's even a fab South African "blush" rose. and no i'm not connected to the owners in any way .. just excited about food i guess ;-)

Thank you Loz - i was also wondering that .. i didn't want to jump in just in case you all knew something i didn't. Franklins is simply divine in my opinion. My favourite. On the pricey side but still worth it. It's a small menu but it changes every so often so choices vary. What about Le Chardon? I've only ever been once but remember it to have really good food - very rich, but very good.

everyone's entitled to their own opinions - yes, and it's unfortunate that this is what we've become - suspicious of many things. but for those that have had that unfortunate experience of being the little kid at the mercy of an adult - caution is everything!! so for those who have been offended by mothers, and like, questioning a man photographing young children when he should be playing bingo lets replace "paranoia" with "caution". are we allowed to be cautious??