BrandNewGuy

Hmmm, call me a tinfoil-hatted conspiracy theorist if you wish, but I've noticed that the morning traffic on EDG has been backing up more than usual this week. I walk along EDG between 7.50 and 8.10 and it's noticeable that the westbound queue from the EDG/Townley Rd lights stretches at least as far as the parade of shops opposite the hospital site, which is not normal. This is first full working week after the Easter break and after the small white traffic monitors were put up at the lights. Now only a paranoid would suggest that the lights are being tinkered with so that when the big changes come in, the increase in queuing (which the council admits will happen) doesn't look so bad and so the new scheme will pass one of its 'tests'. Am I just being paranoid?

Yes, that's a dunnock. They're usually quite shy of humans, but this time of year the males in particular are out singing (it's a very pretty song) and being visible.

No, that was a water main leak from last weekend. Water gushing down the road. It had clearly been happening for quite a while until I walked past and reported it to Thames Water. I was surprised that no-one else had bothered to report it...

The high-profile city centre 'regeneration' is dull and unoriginal, but there's a lot of good stuff happening in the arts and creative industries. Places like the Custard Factory and the Eastside regeneration have attracted lots of small businesses in design, textiles, music, visual arts and more. Cheap rents, lots of space, a supportive council and all those things places like Shoreditch and Peckham used to have before the money moved in. Brum's art gallery is excellent and well worth a visit ? as is the jewellery quarter, Aston Hall and a number of other fine civic buildings. Brummies have got used to others doing the city down ever since Jane Austen's Mrs Elton said: "One has no great hopes of Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound."

On Twitter, they're saying it's opening fully on the 23rd.

It's only the difference between an hour and a half and two hours. Not worth the price difference IMO, but then I think HS2 is daft as well...

If you don't mind taking half an hour longer, the trains from Marylebone are much cheaper than those from Euston ? try London Midland. Less hassly station to leave from too. And as has been said, all three stations in Brum are very central. I normally go Marylebone to Moor St. Never paid more than ?15 return.

Be nice to have some listings: https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/East_Dulwich_Picturehouse/Whats_On

Plato also believed in slavery and rule by an elite of philosopher kings. I'm choosing not to follow his political beliefs.

Doesn't sound too glamorous, but you can have a great day out jumping on a train to Gravesend, seeing the town, including the Pocahontas memorial and the huge new Sikh temple, then jumping on a ferry for a 10-minute trip across the river to Tilbury. It's then five minutes walk to Tilbury Fort, a really impressive English Heritage-run Napoleonic era fort with lots of space to explore. The back to Gravesend for a pint/bite to eat and a train home.

Crank's nut roast - my Christmas dinner of choice for the last [mumble munble] years.

Wow, I had no idea it had gone veggie. Looks good. Been there many times and back in the 80s had the honour of standing next to Jeffrey Bernard in the urinals. He was staggeringly pissed.

Yes indeed - lots of people used to get caught out on the buses if they knew the station was Zone 2.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > healey Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > The gentrification of Brixton and ED are > exactly > > the same thing. London is a growing city and > there > > is high demand for Zone 2 living. > > > Except ED is Zone 3. No, it's Zone 2.

And the rest of the food world has changed in the last thirty years ? not just a veggie offering or two in pubs, but also the full range of ethnic restaurants. My favourite vegetarian meals in London have been at non-vegetarian restaurants. Looking forward to Loubet's Grain Store Unleashed opening at the Zetters Hotel next week: http://www.grainstoreunleashed.com/

If you don't want the fine, keep out of the bus lane. I can't see how it can be more simple. As a bus user (and car driver), I'm all for measures to keep selfish idiots out of bus lanes.

Loved Crank's and Food For Thought. More locally, I really liked Heathers in Deptford too. Proper old skool veggie and brilliant with it.

Many thanks to all for a great night out, even if the head's a bit sore this morning. Lots of fun and we'll definitely be doing it again. And I still reckon Tandoori Nights isn't as good as it thinks it is.

I smiled when I saw the 'Yuppies Out' graffiti a few months ago in Brixton. Just shows you the age and attitude of those objecting to gentrification, as no-one apart from an 80s post-punk class warrior would use such a phrase. And I wonder what the locals thought when the post-punk class warriors moved in in the first place...

Ah, OK. Thanks.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi BNG, > The Community Fund and CGS revenue fund have been > merged to for mthe Neighbourhood Fund. It's down > to ward councillors whether they spend it all in > one go or hodl some back for future applications. > > For East Dulwich ward we've held some back. > hope that answers your question? But aren't applications dealt with Borough-wide according to deadlines? The previous round of applications had a closing date a couple of months ago. I'm wondering when the next round opens and closes. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200047/grants_and_funding/392/neighbourhoods_fund_2015

James, I posted this on another thread so you might not have seen it: can you confirm that CGS has been rolled into the new Neighbourhoods Fund? I get the impression from Southwark's website that this funding round is now annual rather than twice-yearly, but I haven't been able to find out for sure. Any help gratefully appreciated.

And just to confirm, me and Mrs BNG too.

Hello James, please can you confirm that CGS has been rolled into the new Neighbourhoods Fund? I get the impression from Southwark's website that this is now annual rather than twice-yearly, but I haven't been able to find out. Any help gratefully appreciated.

Yes, he's lived in East Dulwich for a few years. And just landed himself a role in the next Stephen Poliakoff BBC drama: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/31/stephen-poliakoff-bbc-drama-close-to-the-enemy