David

I live on Matham Grove. On Tuesday I had two rings at my door, a few hours apart. In both cases, by the time I opened the door (I work at the top of the house) there was no one there. I'm not naturally suspicious but it felt kind of wrong. Today the postman rang my bell - there was a package that wouldn't fit through the letterbox - but I can't say I saw anyone behind him.

Hi Anna, Do you have a start date for this yet? Our boy is just three, and I'd be keen for him to try something like this.

OK, well this dialogue seems to be heading nowhere, so perhaps we should just move on. I've posted twice trying to get a view of what our MP thinks of the suggestions made by several people on this thread, which Tessa's original post in this thread ignores (however much I re-read it). Doesn't look like I'm going to find out. Shame, but consider me successfully stonewalled.

TJMP Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > David, > The bullet-pointed comments are verbatim advice > from the police which Tessa was simply passing > on. > Tessa Jowell (Office) So, no listening, no engagement with constituents, just one-way uncritical message broadcasting. Come on, we want an MP, not a parrot. Please engage brain and backbone, and show some leadership. Seriously, I'm really pleased that our MP is participating in this form, even if through the intermediary of her office. But please participate sincerely. People have made serious and hopefully constructive suggestions here about how to head off further unrest. What does our MP think of them? Please don't use the forum as a place to cock a leg, spray someone else's wee, and then disappear again. That's disrespectful.

TJMP Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ? Onlookers should go home as they are hampering > the police operations Tessa, Thanks for your message. Not sure if the excerpt above is a direct response to wateracre's suggestion that responsible, peaceful citizens seek to have a presence on the streets (every citizen's right) in an attempt to deter outbreaks of violence before they gather momentum. If so, I think your choice of the word "onlookers" is a poor one. Would you agree that the community has a role to play in "a peaceful show of resilience" as Recently Moved posted here? The evidence of recent evenings is that the police are overstretched, and only get to flashpoints, if at all, when it's too late for them to have an effect. I know there are supposed to be 16,000 police in London tonight, compared with 6,000 last night, but may there also be more rioters? I hope your message is not a crude "leave it to the professionals, stay home and shut up (unless you've got some snitching to do)". If that's the kind of society we've got to look forward to, then ennui and unrest will only grow. David, Matham Grove SE22

I was wondering the same as wateracre. Apparently this kind of thing was successful in Dalston last night http://twitpic.com/635ffl

I just got the shiny leaflet in the post this morning. I opened it and assumed it was a parody from a local lobby group moaning about the ridiculous things councils waste their time on... then I registered the logo and legit website address, and, as it dawned on me that it was genuine, my heart sank. How much is Southwark spending to consult us all on window dressing, while they make decisions about (extending the metaphor) knocking down the walls and converting hospitals to munitions factories behind closed doors? I think we should commission a situationist theatre ensemble to a bit of durational live art on the roundabout 24/7. Get some hoodies on Modern Apprenticeships and New Deal to perform it. Back in the '70s they did shows with revolving stages -- this could be one with a revolving audience.

Anyone need a scorer? I used to be a dab hand, and wouldn't mind trying out occasionally again.

snowboarder, it doesn't work with Safari on my mac, but does work with Firefox - not sure about Internet Explorer