serif

I bow to your wisdom and your educated guesses benmorg.

serif Wrote:

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> Are you speaking from experience on the refurb

> front benmorg?

no, just an educated guess.

- that's a shame benmorg, I was hoping you would share your contacts - I've done several complete refurbs and ?75k is well below reality.

Are you speaking from experience on the refurb front benmorg?

It runs along the boundary of the gardens of Grove Hill Road and what was once the Lettsom Estate - part of which is now Lettsom Gardens (which Jeremy refers to), the trees at the end of the Grove Hill Road Gardens mark where the boundary would have been.

My experience of Melbourne Grove has been positive - I've found them helpful, thorough and they get back to us when they say they will.

me too.

I don't feel that the planes are any worse here than anywhere else in London, or indeed any of the other European capitals.

That's utter twaddle.

Great idea ed_pete.

I dont think it's any worse here than in Clapham or Battersea. I dont think it's got any worse over here either - it just depends on the weather same as ever. Runway alternation makes a difference - I'd hate to think that policy will change. Either way I am glad I'm not rich enough to live in Chiswick or Richmond though - the planes are properly loud and low there!

ebenezercm,

do you find your route from Malfort to Camberwell New Road easier than going down Camberwell Grove, left at the bottom and across the lights into CNR? I set off from Grove Hill Road and take the route I've just described but I'm always looking for more efficient routes.

Interested to hear your thoughts on this.

I cycle from camberwell to tottenham court road every day. I love it. I used to take the 176 but it got slower and slower and meanwhile I was getting bigger and bigger. My husband cycles out to osterley to work. We both agree, it's the best way to travel around London.

I feel guilty if I slow a bus down and frustrated by women who cycle in high heels - especially when they're wearing an ankle length coat that is open and bellowing in the wind - ooh so dangerous!

I live just up the road from Bellenden on Grove Hill. It's SE5 which is Camberwell and we're on the post code borders for Peckham and East Dulwich. Each of these areas has got its own issues and plenty of up sides too - where in London hasnt?

We moved here from Clapham South which was a fantastic place to live, and when we needed more space our first choice for a new area was Peckham, but when the house we wanted fell through we ended up in Camberwell. We've no regrets - we'd have been happy either way.

As I've said in previous postings, I really like the area we're in. Bellenden Road is a really friendly place to shop and I cant recommend it highly enough.

I checked with Heathrow last year because I became aware of the planes in May but hadnt before. They explained that the flight paths alternated and that it was also dependant on the direction of the winds (as Cuthbert Dibble said). I then became a tad on the side of obsessive and drove husband and neighbour insane with my observations. Anyhoo, after watching the planes, I had to believe what Heathrow said - we get them and then someone else does - seems a pretty fair system all in all. Unlike Richmond where you are consistently deafened - and pay a premimum for the privilege!

We also live on Grove Hill Road and love it! Our neighbours are great and it's really quiet but you're central to all the amenities you could need... Hoopers is lovely and right on the doorstep, plus you've got the benefits of Lordship Lane and Bellenden Road, then over the Rye in Nunhead you've got two good butchers, a grocers, bakers and fishmonger. On Camberwell Church Street there's the Greek delis and bakers, Sainsburys at the top of the road... all within walking distance... the 176 goes straight to Tottenham Court Road from the top of the road.. who could wish for more!

I'm blissfully unaware of any trouble from the estate (even though I cycle through it most days), and I really admire the design and layout - it was a classic in it's day.

Declan, yes, that's where you'll find him. i think he's a great dentist.

I just think that having a local pub that's off the beaten track with owners who are passionate about their trade, canvassed the local neighbours for input, run a clean pub, have great beers and a mix of rugby and football is a great thing and should be supported.

So.. back to Hoopers then, which is found on Ivanhoe Road, SE5. Well, Hoopers, they're having a 'party night' on Friday which will involve a piano and some food (yes, picture if you will). And as it's a lovely local pub, with owners that made the effort to invite every household in the area to offer their opinion on what sort of pub they thought it should be (and they seemed to listen), and because I like their candles in the windows, the new hanging baskets and because my husband likes their beer and I cant really complain about the wine, i just thought I'd mention their party night.

When the Ivanhoe closed down to be refurbished and metamorphasise into Hoopers, we had thought it was closing down for ever and although we're not big 'pub-goers' we were absolutely gutted to hear the rumour that it might become flats. I feel it's really great to have a local and just want to see it succeed.

Jayne

I've just read through this thread and been most amused - all MadWorld wanted was a bit of understanding about the cracker and coleslaw - unless it's Boxing Day and you're watching re-runs on the telly, it doesn't cut it in my book either, and then to be charged - hilarious!

But then what happened.. we end up with the whole exiled-Northern-population-based-in-London outraged (albeit half-heartedly in my case). Cor Blimey Lousia, got to hand it to you, you could cause a fight in an empty room!

hoopers has wifi.

So... what happened? When's the next meeting?

I'd also love to join on tuesday, my Auntie Elsie (Chairperson of one of the WI's up North dont you know), would be so proud. However, as much as I love a good chutney, I have other commitments on Tuesday evenings. It would be great to hear how you get on and when you're meeting next though.