Penguin68

When I was young, children were often left outside shops in prams (you couldn't get the old big Silver Cross prams into shops) - indeed children were also left outside pubs (with a packet of crisps and a lemonade if they were lucky). Some dogs do have abandonment issues (as do some children!), but many are perfectly relaxed about being left tied up outside somewhere for short times (and far better that than being left in a car in the sun). It is a sad commentary on our society that we blame victims for the actions of criminals - as if criminality was the expected norm in our lives. By doing so we validate criminal actions (by treating them as normal and expected).

I had one a few years ago - and last week I saw a refuse tipper cart making a collection in our road (Underhill) on a non-bin day - so I assume that was one as well.

Our school told us the owner is retiring and has decided to close the business. That (retirement) is a very common reason for such a business to close - often additionally because it is no longer a viable business model for selling on as a going concern. In this case many multiples now sell school uniform clothing - many schools either no longer have uniforms, or choose clothing which is readily obtainable. 'Posher' schools often do deals with more upmarket establishments. Often schools will themselves sell badges etc. which can be used to customise off-the-shelf blazers etc. Other types of uniform (for instance for e.g. domestic or waiting staff) are far less common. Selling on the property or the lease may offer a far better return (and be easier) than selling on the business.

I know of at least one person (a friend) who was attacked in error - a case of mistaken identity - someone else entirely was the intended victim of the attack, my friend was just dressed similarly - the intended victim had previously (and very recently) injured the attacker. Makes it no better for the actual victim of course, but a mistaken attack may be (slightly) less worrying than a completely random one.

I would suggest PM-ing either Renata Hamvas or James Barber (I think it's more likely in Renata's patch) - both have proven excellent in pursuing constituents' interests (and, whatever your politics, deserve huge praise for doing so and for keeping this forum informed, which neither are obliged to do).

Can I suggest you either (a) offer an e-mail address to which people can respond or (and better) (b) set up a survey - e.g. on Survey Monkey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/ - that way the responses can be organised and calibrated. Although people could PM you on this site, that is both slightly clunky and uses up storage which might be better deployed. (And, good ideas, by the way)

On the other hand cats do poo in my garden, whereas local dogs choose the public street. Where I am not plunging my hands to plant things.

I find it (slightly) amusing that the post immediately adjacent to this (as I write) is one bemoaning the fact that cat owners must keep their cats in at night (because of the cat killer) rather than letting them out to defecate across ED. The poo problem is particularly mentioned, by the way, and is not my hyperbole. Dog faeces bad (yes, they are) but cat faeces OK, then?

I agree - 'virtue signalling' seems to be a lazy pejorative which actually means standing up for something you believe is right. If that's the case, it's something we should all be doing. I think 'virtue signalling' is more about those who think that clicking on something to 'like' it, or 'signing' a petition is sufficient to demonstrate that they are on the side of the angels - unlike us anonymous posters Helen Hayes very visibly voted against her party for a principle which presumably she believes in and which matches the views of a majority of her electorate. She isn't virtue signalling here - though most of us of course are. She runs a real risk for her views - that isn't virtue signalling. 'Virtue signaling' was derived to describe those who make risk-free gestures to show virtue. Rather than putting something, at least, on the line for their beliefs. Ms Diane 'inopportune migraine' Abbott on the other hand avoided risk not to support the Bill but to keep her position in the party.

There is no 'flood risk' regarding Camberwell Old Cemetery (on a hill with no water courses) - there is a run-off risk associated with the scrub clearance (and its position on a hill) at times of very high rainfall - which should be mitigated by the new planting coming to more maturity. Locally within the cemetery there has always been a problem of pooling - which is a combination of a clay undersoil and the effect of digging graves. There has been a general problem in SE London of a rising water table (as far less ground water is drawn off for industrial use) - this is not Camberwell Old Cemetery specific, nor, in particular, is it a result of scrub clearance. The work in the cemetery is still very much in progress (held up, I would suggest, at least in part by the actions of these activists) - so we cannot yet see the planned end-result of the new planting etc which will certainly mitigate the effects of excess water. Certainly I would like to see more work done on managing water pooling and run-off in the cemetery - but that work would require, for instance, the installation of land drains etc. which is being held up by the protesters and the church failing to give the authority they will eventually give for activity within the consecrated areas - you cannot run effective drainage schemes in only part of the cemetery for instance.

We moved to ED 28 years ago - in those days LL was quite run down, with at least 2 shops selling second hand prams etc. And house prices were 'realistic'. I would agree that it is in the last 15-20 years that the range and type of shop etc. has become gentrified and high(er) end. Like so many areas of London is has been on a roller coaster - currently either still coming up or possibly peaking. The varied quality (and size) of houses bears testimony to that. The fact that it is surrounded by, and embedded with, green spaces suggests that it at least started high.

At least Hayes, Harman and Hoey had the courage to vote - and didn't suddenly get struck down by a mystery migraine. Labour politicians were between a rock and a hard place here. The majority (probably) of labour voters in England (and Wales) voted to go, but in certain constituencies a strong majority to stay. Do you follow the whole country or your constituents? Do you decide that a freely exercised vote should be ignored because you don't like it? At least we know what these MPs were prepared to do. We may, or may not, agree with it, but their heads were over the parapet on this one.

I should have said that the 63 service is said to terminate at Honor Oak, but it doesn't, it terminates in Forest Hill Road opposite (almost) Camberwell Old Cemetery. The 363, its companion service, continues up Woodvale.

The 363 goes right down Peckham Rye and Forest Hill Road, and then up Woodvale half of which is in Southwark and East Dulwich (if not that electoral ward) - this is definitely 'East Dulwich' (i.e SE22, inter alia). It's not just all about Lordship Lane, you know. Actually I don't think it ever enters Honor Oak, turning right from Forest Hill Road into Woodvale.

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.