citizenED

Small is beautiful. Lots of Educational research points to the benefit of smaller schools - less impersonal, less anonymous. The teachers get to know the kids and vice versa. Alas current educational policy go by the mantra of BIG is beautiful. Agree with Jan t, Big Dad and Keef on this page of the thread. There is a need for a school in the area. But lets get some perspective on the matter. citizen

Never really had a problen with Caffe Nero being filthy and I go there quite a lot. Sure, at busy times it can get chaotic. It annoys me when they do not put on enough staff at their busiest time. How difficult can it be to get the duty rota right? Saturday morning = busy with lots of kids = extra barrista! Eureka! Also bugs me when punters leave their table in a state. Exactly how difficult can it be to stack cups and saucers, wipe the table with a tissue and put wrappers in the bin? citizen

Thanks for the picture of the Grove Tavern, Louisa. The Grove gets a bit of negative press here on the Forum. I've been there several times for meals and sometimes its just the right place. Went there once with a large family group, consisting of lots of kids, a very wide age range, people of different culinary tastes, some out-of-towners. Some of the group turned up after we'd ordered and some left before the end. The meal was made by the rather patient waitress who coped admirably with people ordering at different times, people changing orders and the general chaos. She was brilliant. Can't imagine too many other establishnments coping so well. From what I see the place is very popular. It's not my favourite place but it certainly has it's role in ED. Does every pub in ED have to be gentrified? citizen

Or on their mobile phones...

It's the sky above East Dulwich citizen

*thanks chums* *luxuriates in soothing bath* *realises that Twister is a devilish wolf in sheeps clothing* *looks forward to long period of recuperation*

*glugs 13th shot* *feels spaced out in a fuggy kind of way* *Why is my shoulder virtually dislocated and how the hell is my head in somebody's armpit?* *not exactly the best way to get an accurate Chav reading* *anyone able (or willing) to unravel me?*

Chav wrote "I'm going to start selling some tasteful white T-shirts with Burberry print writing on declaring 'Proud to Be Chav' and 'Chav Power' for a tenner a pop. Any takers?" Do it at the next twee little fair on Goose Green. Set up between the WI cakes stall and the Gumboots nursery craft stall. Make sure you are opposite the "I love SE22 " cloth bag stall. Top kudos! citizen

*spins dial* *left hand to peach schnapps* *glug*

*White Stripes, high spirits, please, MP* *Leave cleaning brushes for later* *lines up shots glasses, gathers every flaver of Schnapps in the house* *sets up mega game of Twister*

Dear Spadetownboy, I agree, making assumptions about people's class on minimal information is a bit of a minefield. As a rule I try to avoid any assmptions because making sweeping generalisations on any issue is a surefire way to skew the debate. But I am sure you accept it is blooming tricky to avoid entirely. You even make an assumptionin your post. In my defence I was only speculating on the class of the kids in the respective parks in order to stimulate what i think is an important debate considering the recent report saying that most parents would not let their kids play out alone until they were at least 14. And furthermore I was hoping to project the sense that the parents of The Firemans' kids had a more realistic perspective than the Dulwich park ones, whatever class they were. citizen

James, I qualified my own observation regarding race by a comment about class. citizen

James, read my first post again re. race and class. cheers citizen

*drat! the camberwell massif have found the Quiet Room secret stash of cocktails* *obviously thought they were Molotovs* *tut, tut, rookie drinkers!* *spoilt my newly painted wall* *and you disturbed Mockney, too*

Down at the Dulwich park playground you commonly get as many adults as children. Little sprogs are accompanied by parents, grandparents, au pairs, nannies and assorted friends. Although this is seemingly right there is also something a little unnerving about it. Why so many minders? Walk to the Fireman's Alley entrance to the park and there is another little play area, just beyond the gate. I regularly see little nippers playing in there with no adult supervision. It brings joy to my heart, that in our over-suspicious world, some parents are trusting enough, of their offspring and of other adults, to allow this. It must be said that by my observation the kids in the Fireman's play area are largley black whereas the ones in the park are a mix. Perhaps this tells us something about middle class and working class values. To Lilly123, I imagine that scenes like the one you observed outside Tescos, (people momentarily leaving their little ones unchecked) happen all the time, every day, and that the chances of a kiddie being snatched is, statistically speaking, 0%. So don't fret so. Next time you witness it, do the right thing, keep your careful eye on the child and then watch as the parents return. That's your job done as a responsible parent and citizen. citizen

Christmas lights are not allowed to be so called. They are Festive Lights. Come on you guys, get with the PC programme. We should not say ...man, as in postman, fireman, policeman. We should use the word bod instead. Its non-gender specific and will promote equality. We get postbods, policebods and we take our complaints to the ombudsbod! citizen

*Gets out large tin of "Autumn Russet" emulsion* *paints wall* *pulls up some chairs* *cracks open some tinnies* *beckons Sean and Mockney* *fancy watching paint dry, guys?*

Sat morning - on Lordship Lane with my little boy, casual shopping and a coffee in Caffe Nero. Sat afternnon - Dulwich Park with my little boy, playground and a tea in the Pavilion Cafe Sat evening - dinner at home, evening in, working! Sun morning - friends round for coffee, then Dulwich Park playground with little boy Sun afternoon - shopping at Sainsbo's with the little one Sun evening - Sunday Dinner at home, then watched The Inside Man, which, to top off a pretty perfect weekend, was awful. Had to laugh. citizen

macroban, I heard the same on the "grapevine". the owner confirmed it when i was in there recently - the idea, if i understood him rightly, was to have a pie'n'mash restaurant through the back. citizen

Badger, according to my friend with the plot on the LL/Cox's Walk allottments there is a very long waiting list and even then things can be done on a nod and a wink - ie its who you know. My mate said he'd have a word. When he gets back to me I'll post again. citizen

*pulls up chair* *opens huge carton of Popcorn* *settles back to enjoy DM and MP argue it out* *love a good Courtroom Drama*

dear Badger, There are some on the right hand side of Lordship Lane as you go south towards Forest Hill. They are squeezed in between LL and Cox's Walk. The entrance is between that new development called High Wood and the TA place. Got a friend who has a plot there. will ask him about the site and get back to you. citizen

Good on you Forumites, stamp out those horrible Americanisms, malapropisms and general slovenly use of English. signed, Lynn Truss

Dad, East Ham. Mum, Ilford. Me, straight out of overspill. citizen

The Forum is quiet today Is everyone out making hay Or are they working hard Avoiding Dulwich Beer Yards To the Forumites total dismay (sorry, Nero for Poetic licence) Tempt anyone wi this?: There was new bug in my garden