Penguin68

I said 'a reflection' not a conduit. Under no normal meaning of the term can 'conscience' be a proper response to the EU issue (I would hope). The EU referendum was bound up with hard-nosed political and economic arguments about whether it was better for the UK to remain or leave the EU. Our MP (and a significant majority of her constituents, amongst whom I include myself), considered the political and economic balance fell on the side of remaining. I would hope that it was those arguments (shared with her constituents) that informed her vote, rather than some wishy-washy morality - and I certainly hope she didn't vote 'no' simply because she had voted no in the referendum (on an 'I won't change my mind because I won't change my mind' principle). She is a representative, certainly, and not a delegate - but 'representing' does have a meaning. MPs who act against the views and wishes of their constituents in very major issues often don't stay MPs long (eh, Mr Goldsmith?)

In this particular issue I hope that she didn't vote (just) her conscience but more importantly as a reflection of her constituents' wills. This was not a conscience issue (like hanging or abortion).

The collectors frequently use a front man who goes ahead pulling bins into the street and consolidating them where possible - to reduce the number of bins tipped and improve efficiency - some are strong enough to lift one bin and tip it into another, other's aren't. The Green and Brown bins normally contain bagged rubbish - so lifting bags out is possible - the Blue bins often don't have bagged rubbish - as the normal rubbish bags aren't themselves recyclable. So with loose rubbish you have to tip the whole bin. The same crews collect the green and blue bins on alternate weeks, so this isn't a matter of crew choice, but of convenience. Also, as has been noted elsewhere, the Blue bins are often pretty full of dry recyclable material, so consolidation is much less likely to be an option.

Bear in mind the 'end of March' story is just that, something which may or may not occur No, there is certainly an end of March, every year - just not clear which year their 'promise' may refer to...

Mine's working (did have a temporary error a few minute ago, but cleared on re-load)

Just out of interest, Post Office Counters (high street main post offices), Post Office Parcels and The Royal Mail (letters, registered post, small parcels) are all separate businesses. And most 'post offices' are actually franchised businesses (sub post-offices) run by small entrepreneurs. Hermes competes with Post Office Parcels. Normally if you are the recipient you will not get to choose the carrier. [There is a confusion as physical post offices (main and sub) act as agents both for The Royal Mail and Post Office Parcels].

It is clear that there have been at least 2 sets of attacks on the forum recently (I am assuming from the same source) - today (19.1.17) the first 5 pages of posts are bogus. This seems to be more serious than simple spamming and looks closer to a denial of service attack - cleverly from groups of new forum IDs. If it is 'bot' driven then your filter to keep these out is failing. If it is not then it may be a specific attack on this forum - attempting to make it unusable - presumably as an attempt to suppress what is being said on here. A part-time admin cannot hope to keep up with a sustained attack, and quite soon looking for 'real' posts by genuine users will become not worthwhile. Is there any commonalty with the ISPs/ 'true' e-mail IDs of the attacker(s)? Amended to add:- Great clear out - let's hope the attack doesn't re-start.

There is a lot of difference between a landscape and a topographical (mapping) painter - the former will paint what makes a good picture, the latter what is there. Although both skills were important in the 19th century (army and navy officers were taught topographical painting as part of necessary military skills before photography could replace these) landscape painting was also a common skill and exercised extensively by (particularly) middle class ladies. Using landscape painting of an area can often give you a good impression of 'the sort' of things that were in the location, but you should not expect exactitude, or map-like accuracy. Buildings in particular could often be 'pretty-fied' or improved to improve the composition (at least in the painter's eye). Trees might be moved, certainly roads would not be slavishly captured.

are as useless as a eunuch in a brothel - actually of considerable use; doesn't mess with the merchandise - hence always used in Seraglio's as a servant of choice.

Sometimes it may be as simple as wearing slippers or soft shoes. Hard shoes/ high heels (and robust walking about) can easily be transmitted down. It is worth checking what 'the noise' is - is it walking, music, talking/ laughing? The easiest solution is rugs/ carpets. These are normally quite sound insulating (and can probably be taken away by you when you go - so are less of a sunk cost). Maybe check what your rooms are above - perhaps no late night dance-athons over someone's bedroom? But people can get readily sensitised to sounds (vide discussions on this forum about airplane, dog and even bird sounds - so what would normally be a solution might not be for your neighbours, if they have become so sensitised. Fingers crossed, eh?

I am afraid, Blanche, that your Southwark Diocese correspondent of 16th February last year is mistaken in his assertion, possibly misled by your group's own confusion between the C of E's rights regarding its own land (via parishes) and that of municipal land. In its own cemeteries it does have rights over tree management (for trees over a certain girth) - but this does not extend to municipal cemeteries. I suspect that since last February the Church's position may have changed regarding its belief about the extent of its rights of granting a faculty in respect of consecrated ground in municipal cemeteries, which are limited to the manner of how existing burials and memorials may be disturbed to facilitate re-use for further burials, and the extent of the land available deemed to be 'consecrated' as a consequence of new roads or paths planned for those areas. The C of E has been generally clear about its (without prejudice) support of re-use as a philosophy of cemetery management.

We believe the Diocese of Southwark has faculty over felling of trees and disturbing graves on consecrated ground. Please see their letter to the LB of Southwark, link below. The only link is to your interpretation of their letter. It is correct that they have the option of granting a faculty as regards the disturbance, removal or mounding over of graves in consecrated grounds in municipal cemeteries, and it is possible that the removal of trees (over which they don't have a faculty) which were growing through graves (as some were following the woeful lack of care in the past) might, as a consequence, be said to have thus disturbed graves, but the removal of trees, in and of itself, is not covered by the need for any faculty. I suspect that the council might argue that the necessary clearances they undertook of scrub growth and (inter alia) Japanese Knotweed (which would not have required any faculty) was not part of any intended remodelling of the consecrated areas to extend their useful life, even though that may have been, for some graves, an unintended consequence. However I do not know whether the new gate and path on the Underhill Road side has extended into the consecrated area - in which case a faculty would have been required. I also suspect that were it not for the ill-informed lobbying (I say ill informed because a past post showed that rules solely regarding parish lands were being prayed-in-aid for municipal cemeteries by the lobbying group) the Diocese might have been able to grant necessary faculties more promptly. Of course the planning etc. rules should be being followed, but involving further imaginary rules makes no sense. Essentially your group is against using the cemeteries as cemeteries (i.e. places where people are buried, rather than were buried) - a point you have every right to make, but it is a debating point with which many (including the Church of England) would disagree.

t the moment, they are awaiting permission from the Diocese of Southwark to cut down up to 60 trees No they are not. They may be waiting for the Diocese to authorise the building of new paths or roads on consecrated ground, or the removal or alteration of burials on consecrated ground, including mounding and the removal or re-location of memorials (again only in consecrated ground). The Church of England's remit regarding municipal cemeteries only covers those areas which are 'consecrated' (and which would previously have been used for what are no longer called pauper's funerals). Most of the cemeteries' plots are not in 'consecrated' ground. The remit of the Church of England extends only to the extent and availability of consecrated land in municipal cemeteries (hence the need for them to agree new paths and roads which would reduce that availability) and to the treatment of those buried there. The remit of the diocese is much wider as regards church (i.e. parish) lands and burial sites, and that does extend to agreeing the felling of trees of a certain dimension. This remit has been regularly confused by this pressure group for the much more limited remit as regards municipal cemeteries. And, once again, the Church of England has always supported the re-use of burial grounds, where that is technically possible, so that burials can continue adjacent to their parishes, for the convenience of their parishioners.

For those living in houses (single or multiple occupancy) it was about 25 (or fewer) years ago that the council first issued wheelie bins - (green in colour) to replace the old style dustbins most people had - then about 10-12 years ago they issued blue plastic boxes for recycling tins and bottles and blue bags for paper and cardboard. They then issued blue wheelie bins for all paper, plastic, glass and tins recycling and finally brown bins (and kitchen caddies) for organic recycling. There have been 3 bins collected for at least the last 3 years (and I suspect slightly longer) - on the same cycle as now - brown every week, with green and blue alternating. [Out of interest the same gang collects the brown every week, with a second gang taking the blue/ green bins alternatively]. Although the collection methods are different I think the same philosophy also operated for collections from large blocks - although 'individual' wheelie bins weren't issued there.

This morning (Tuesday 10th) in Underhill the tree collection seemed very organised and went smoothly. This was our first collection after 12th Night, when I suspect the bulk of trees would have been taken down. So Veolia/ The Council has got this right (for us, at least).

I assumed they must have some way of telling! Silver and gold are very often marked - you need to research the marks. UK silver and gold will always be marked. Most continental gold (and silver often) will have some type of marking, such as 18, 14, 9 which will tell you something about them. Jewellers will also know. A touchstone will tell then quickly whether the item is gold or not, for instance.

All I did was google Scrap metal SE London. Googling scrap (melt) silver prices gets me:- http://www.gold-traders.co.uk/scrap-silver-prices.asp where you can also input gold weights. Remember that you will need to know what carat (purity) your gold and silver are. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=gold+silver+melt+prices&oq=Silver+melt+prices&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0l5.11463j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Don't be too keen to 'knock' bird poo - it may drop from the heavens, but with it comes wild flower etc. seeds, so it is a positive contribution to our environment, unlike other mammalian contributions (I am not going into flying reptile poo benefits).

A quick skim read of December suggests only two felling locations in Dulwich, the remainder seem to be pollarding, tree stump grinding etc. Which would suggest that if there have actually been 'a spate' of mature trees recently (last month) felled this isn't in the schedule of works. Perhaps the OP might see if it is possible to match recently felled trees with this schedule. Emergency work (to deal with newly identified diseased trees) wouldn't necessarily be in this schedule anyway. Removing diseased trees at this time of year (if that is what is happening) may protect uninfected trees more effectively.

A multitude of solutions here:- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=scrap+metal+SE+London&oq=scrap+metal+SE+London&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9632j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#dlnr=1

There is a real problem with a Plane Tree disease (Massaria) which may be being addressed by the council http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/beeh-9sqfb4 - does anyone know what type of tree is being removed? Additionally other sycamores can be effected by anthracnose https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Profile?PID=694. Perhaps any councillor reading this could throw more light on the council's actions here?

What evidence do you have that there is a "cat killer" around who also kills foxes? Try reading the forum. Quite a lot of evidence - for cats and foxes. These may well be either trapped or take poisoned bait. The details are not, I think, made public. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1636757

Jubilee to Canada Water then Overground to Peckham/Denmark Hill (depending what side of town you are) Or to Brockley, Honor Oak & Forest Hill - if you are to the east of E. Dulwich. Forest Hill then gives you the 185/ 176 back into the heart of ED.

but think about all the years of natural resources that went into growing those trees, Natural resources like CO2, which is now trapped in the trees and will be released very slowly as mulch. As long as you don't burn trees then there are significant benefits to using them as CO2 traps if you believe in that sort of thing. They also provide things like an income to foresters and intermediaries, making use of land which is not ideal for other sorts of crop. Apart from relatively poor quality land the resources used are water (which is not lost) and CO2, which is trapped for a time. The price we pay for Christmas Trees is well over the cost of the usable timber grown, so benefits the growers and retailers. You need to think of whole life costs and whole life benefits, across the value chain here. On that basis Christmas trees are very much a good thing. (And our parks get chippings at only process costs, the raw material is otherwise free to them).

Dogs bark for multiple reasons, I recall one nervous one that used to go berserk at a leaf falling, let alone anything like a door bell. Others are very territorial - barking at anything they see encroaching on 'their' space, including birds. Certainly some do bark because they are distressed/ locked out etc. but those aren't the only reasons. [And some do bark if they are lonely, but other than putting them down or giving them away there may be little that can be done about that, if you are working, unless you can afford to pay for someone to look after them when you are out of the house]. Some just seem to like the sound of their own voices... If a neighbour to this dog (who knows it and its family) doesn't think there is a 'cruelty' problem then I suspect that there isn't. The sound will still be annoying, of course, but while keeping dogs is till legal (where there is no cruelty involved) that's just something you may have to live with.