tarafitness

My company will be keeping 2 hives on one of our low roofs from early next year. Those of us interested in helping out have been put on a 10 week course with Brian McCallum from Urban Bees. Having a whale of a time on the course :-) Urban bees are running a one day taster course in Jan, it might be worth you checking it out if you're not already knowledgeable? Here's the link: http://www.urbanbees.co.uk/courses/courses.htm paramount - thanks for the mention of the London Beekeepers Association, might sign up :-) I posted a query on here a few months back asking if there were any Beekeepers in the area, and Chick from the forum very kindly let watch while he carried out a hive inspection. I'd recommend you getting in contact with him if you want any hints and tips, he has the most peaceful bee colony ever! One day I hope to have a garden big enough to home a colony of these fascinating creatures :-)

we had the same problem... our neighbour's cat used to terrorise both our cats, they'd come tearing in through the catflap whenever he went for them. Fortunately (for us and our moggies) the neighbour's cat died strangely it did this in our garden of all place, but it was under the tree underneath which it was born - maybe he thought it a fitting place to die? It wasn't a very old cat so the cause of death was a mystery (though I suspect foxes, or maybe just karma?!). we have two kittens now (8 months old), the boy goes out a lot and has got bashed up once, the girl refuses to use the catflap so is in effect a house cat... our other female cat was quite similar, I think females seem to prefer living indoors (from talking to other cat owners). regarding the bully cat, has it been spayed/neutered or is it just a horrible cat? you could always try hiding by a window and spraying it with a watergun if it goes anywhere near your moggie... or just in your garden? Might help deter it... A friend of mine at work had the same problem with over-grooming after her marriage broke down - the cat seemed to get quite stressed by this! She's fine now though and I'm sure yours will be with time. Must be awful for you though so best of luck Tara

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you think metal theft is a real problem one > proposed solution is to make it illegal for scrap > metal merchants to pay cash. > > If you think that's a good idea then please do > sign this petition: > > https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petit > ions/406 Thanks for posting the link to that petition, have signed it myself and tweeted/posted to facebook so hopefully others will do likewise.

but would they then scan the cat to see if it's microchipped?

This happened to my partner's house in Herne Hill... his and the neighbour's lower roofs were stripped of the lead flashing, very annoying and costly... not great for his tenant who'd just moved in that week - talk about a welcome to the neighbourhood! not quite as heartbreaking as that story the other day on the news about the heartless bastards who stripped the inscriptions off grave markers in a cemetery... that was just disgusting.

Thanks for the suggestions, will update my follow list (though I think I have most anyway, especially the food/pubs etc)! You can follow me too if you like ;-) @TaraFitness Don't forget about the fabulous Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) who's just up the road in Herne Hill.

Ha...ha ha

Yeah, I know what you mean, pretty worrying times :-(

I doubt I'd put anyone if I adopted the Peckham Frown, I'm not the most menacing-looking of people! That being said, I think the fact that I'm tall means I don't get hassled so much as someone smaller and more fragile looking? who knows!

Would just like to point out that Waitrose isn't that expensive... it's possible to spend a lot there, but also a little, depends on which range you're shopping in :-)

Very sorry to hear of your misfortune but thanks for the advice, especially regarding being followed off buses... most people in ED live off the main high streets so it's worth being extra vigilant and I definitely use my phone when I'm on a bus! Not that I have an iPhone, but it'd still probably be nicked, my son got mugged at knifepoint in herne hill for a phone that cost (and looked as if it did!!) ?10 :-(

espowsong Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > An added bonus will be that it might force many of > those irritating little local shops and their > surly shopkeepers out of business so WE won't be > bothered by them anymore either. :-( I wouldn't wish that on any local shop, especially in light of the London Riots that forced many small businesses in London to close. If you don't like a shop, don't shop there, then you won't be bothered by it. Simple!

The co-op's own-brand Truly Irresistible balsamic vinegar is better than any of the other supermarket's own brand top of the range versions and it's about half the price if not less :-) I also agree on the fair traid stuff, the coffee is lovely as is the wine :-)

I completely agree re having a lower priced supermarket and wasn't suggesting either of them go. I must admit I've never been into Iceland as we don't tend to buy much in the way of frozen and/or branded goods, but it looks pretty busy whenever I walk past so it's obviously serving the local neighbourhood well :-) It would be nice if the co-op sorted out their crappy chiller units as I a) don't feel like slipping on water and b) prefer meat that doesn't go off days before it's meant to! In response to your comment "Not everyone in the area has the disposable income necessary to shop for 'quality' groceries on a weekly basis " I also agree, but would like to point out that none of our disposable income goes on 'quality' food. After we've paid the mortgage and other bills, the bulk of what's left (and that isn't much since moving to East Dulwich!!) goes on food. If there's anything left over after that then great but eating well takes precedence over socialising and extravagances and definitely wouldn't be counted as part of any 'disposable' income! As someone with a family and a keen interest in nutrition, food and health who wants to live past 100, I am acutely aware that what I put in my body is going to help/hinder me. So wherever/whenever possible we buy our meat from ethically reared and appropriately fed animals, and our vegetables as local/organic/spray-free as we can. I'd rather pay a bit more knowing that the animal I'm eating had a reasonably happy life with a subsequent stress-free demise, and ate the food it was meant to (i.e. grass not grain-fed cows) and wasn't pumped full of antibiotics to keep it alive and kept in terrifying cramped conditions for all of its artificially accelerated sad sorry life, then transported hundreds of miles to be slaughtered in a totally inhumane fashion... all resulting in meat full of hormones, harmful omega3/6 ratios and flooded with fight-or-flight hormones. If you've not seen Food Inc yet I would highly recommend it, it was quite a revelation . Re vegetables, I don't think we know enough about what genetically modifying crops will do to our state of health (I'd highly recommend reading Dr William Davis' Wheat Belly for an illuminating, thought-provoking and also somewhat disturbing insight into the grain we think of as wheat). We also don't know how much of a negative effect on our endocrine system ingesting powerful pesticides will have. I understand that not everyone can afford to eat like we do, and not everything we buy is 100% organic - it's just not always practical and if you buy pre-packaged foods who knows where the ingredients originated? It gets even more complicated if you eat out! But I do think it's worth spending more on the fundamentals: meat, veg, dairy (if you eat it) and fruit, just to ensure you have a decent base for optimal health. You don't necessarily need a Waitrose or M&S for that, you just need to be a bit more shop-savvy :-)

We'd love to build a Waitrose in ED... and Herne Hill for that matter, the problem is that there is no location suitable unfortunately. Although Waitrose has introduced more convenience-style stores there's still a lot of space needed and most shops just don't offer that. The current sites where the co-op and Iceland are would probably work for a smaller shop but I doubt either of them would be willing to give up their lease which is a shame as I'd dearly love to buy quality Waitrose produce locally (and be able to claim my discount)! If you'd prefer to support local smaller businesses and buy delicious locally-grown organic veg then I'd highly recommend Local Greens (see review here), you can pick up from many locations (eg ED Deli) that are a lot closer to you than Sainsbury's ;-) There's also the lovely greengrocer next to Pretty's caf? on Northcross Rd and SMBS Healthfoods too. For your meat, William Rose Butchers and GG Sparkes (organic mobile butcher at the Saturday Northcross Rd market) are both excellent choices.

Welcome to ED Barry! We don't have a car either but you can get the number P13 bus actually to within the Car Park of ED Sainsbury's! Other buses (40, 468, 185, 176) all stop v close by too. Regarding local businesses... I'd highly recommend Guy Sparkes (GG Sparkes) mobile organic free-range butcher on Northcross Road market on Saturdays... his pork belly and shoulder are just amazing. For locally grown vegetables, please see my review for Local Greens on the local business thread or click here.

Coach Beth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's so terrible that a child can't even cross the > road when they have the green man. A year ago, my > partner was at the crossing near Goose Green > school. The green man appeared. He and our son > (aged 5 at the time) just set foot on the crossing > when my partner caught sight SPEEDING round the > corner (i.e. going towards Lordship Lane) towards > them. He grabbed my son by the coat and pulled > him back. God how awful, such a relief your son wasn't hurt > While I appreciate many people dislike the changes > at this crossing, I personally am VERY relieved > the council did something and that cars are now > forced to slow down at a crossing which is used by > young children every day. Yes, totally, I guess that's a point, though I must confess I never see any children crossing there before/after school as the entrance to Goose Green Primary school isn't even on the main road... everyone seems to cross at the zebra crossing in droves (which can get a little frustrating when you're on a bus hoping to catch your train! haha) > I feel it's much safer > now (although I always totally wait and try to > look the drivers in the eye before crossing - this > probably pisses drivers off who just want me and > my son to cross quickly but tough) it's good practice and who cares if it pisses them off, they're the ones in huge metal potentially-lethal objects! > I have no idea > why this would make people speed up down Grove > Vale - total pointless impatience. And I too have > noticed many drivers jumping those lights near the > station - people seems to speed down that hill > towards the crossing. yes, definitely think it's impatience... that stretch of road after the station is probably quite good to drive up and down at pace! > Couldn't the council take > the lead on a public information/safety campaign > in this area? good idea, perhaps cameras monitoring the lights and clearly lit too with signs to that effect? the thing is though that people will drive like numpties whether we like it or not, my boyfriend drives very safely, has never caused an accident, but got charged ?65 for parking outside the vet's the other day but people who put other people's lives in danger by speeding through pedestrian crossings when not on a green light get away with it.

Penguin68 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The green man was showing so he stepped out into > the road > > Of course it is awful that he should have been in > an accident - and clearly he was in 'the right' - > but I do recall my late mother repeating - when I > had nearly been knocked over on a zebra crossing ' > He was right, dead right, as he walked along, but > he was just as dead as if he'd been dead wrong'. > > Even though as pedestrians we have 'rights' (as we > do as drivers) - looking out for danger - the > idiot who hasn't seen the lights, or the zebra > crossing, or you signalling to turn etc. etc. is > still good advice. > > In the end, your safety is primarily your concern, > assuming that a driver will stop if you are > crossing 'legally' may be an assumption too far - > it is always still worthwhile watching the traffic > and judging whether drivers are going to do what > you expect them to do; indeed what they are > legally obliged to do. > > Which is not to say that your son, in that > incident, hadn't anyway been properly cautious and > observant. Penguin... my son is a teenage boy which means his head is in the clouds pretty much 24/7! I'm sure he wasn't paying as much attention as he should so I'm just glad his young instinctive reflexes kicked in when they did or it could have been a hell of a lot worse! I've told him many many times not to assume that people will stop, even when the traffic lights are red, so I think this has definitely been a lesson for him that hopefully will stay with him for life. I would like to add that I'd bet good money that driver wouldn't have been going as fast as he was had there not been that Godawful road narrowing by Goose Green school... I've seen so many drivers speed up as soon as they get past it, it just seems a really daft thing for the council to do! (on a par with moving the traffic lights outside Denmark Hill station to be *behind* the station so that everyone gets off their bus and plays chicken with the traffic!)

J27 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Tarafitness, so sorry to hear about your son's > accident, and glad he wasn't injured even more > seriously. That leg looks nasty - hope he > recovers soon. Thanks very muchf or your message Vivien, yes he's a lot better today, even went to school without crutches!

My 15 year old son was knocked down on the pedestrian crossing outside East Dulwich station on Monday night at approximately 20:20. The green man was showing so he stepped out into the road only to be almost hit full on by a grey car (sedan-style apparently). Luckily he jumped out of the way in time and was only hit on the left leg and ankle (see pics). My son broke that same ankle earlier this year so as you can imagine he's not particularly pleased by this recent development. Fortunately the bone hasn't been rebroken so he's just got to put up with swelling, bruising and of course quite a bit of pain. If you were the person who hit my son but continued driving off (despite what must have been an audible 'bump') then please be advised that we have filed a report with the police. If you would like to contact me by PM please do so or speak to the officers at East Dulwich Police Station. If you witnessed the incident it would be fantastic if you would also get in touch. There were a kind couple of people who asked my son if he was okay but he was too stunned and numb to take in what had happened hence why he thought he was and also didn't get the car's registration. Any help anyone can offer with this would be gratefully accepted. Best wishes Tara P.S. if you were the older lady who tutted and told my son he should watch where he's going: shame on you.

Fantastic news, really glad to hear :-)

I'm actually salivating whilst browsing the site (despite stuffing down half a Nandos chicken this lunch time!) just discovered that the wild venison sausages are gluten free so there's another tick in the box will be ordering a box from there for the 17th Nov delivery date :-)

TillieTrotter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > http://www.fieldandflower.co.uk/dept/what-we-do_d0 > 126.htm Oh fantastic! I see all their cows are grass-fed and sound like they live idyllic natural lives :-) Thank you so much for sharing the link :-)

oh and I forgot to post this link to a book by a cardiologist called Dr William Davis, the book is 'Wheat Belly' and has only recently been released over here (it's been out in the states a bit longer, much to the dismay of the grain companies haha)

maxxi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I thought soya was the ubiquitous and > 'more-unhealthy-than-people-think' foodstuff that > infested most > readymeals/sauces/desserts/savouries/etc. and that > there was growing evidence that it was far from > the all-round super food meat-avoiders had assumed > it to be. > > The Observer yup, hormone-distrupting unfermented soya is no good and should be avoided at all costs it's a shame as I like the taste and used to drink it daily as I don't drink milk. Now I have the occassional soya chai latte, but that's very rarely. I just drink my coffee black now! and yeah, soya is in a lot of things too, mainly because it's a cheap form of protein. I think it's more of a problem in the states though, as is their overconsumption of maize (corn)... we've not got as much of a high-fructose-corn-syrup problem over here!