Minitoots

thanks all for the very useful advice so far!

I'm having a big clear-out and have taken a van-load of stuff to local charity shops but I've also got lots of nearly new clothes/vintage clothing/ books/kids toys/paintings etc etc that I'd like to get a bit of money for. I've never used e-bay because I always thought it would be too much effort for the rewards but would be interested to know if anyone has had much success and if so, any advice/ tips?

Has anyone been to the pop-up bar on top of a multi storey car park in Peckham yet?What's it like? I saw it on tv on the local news this morning - looks like there are great views from the top....

If you are buying anything in Londis on Lordship Lane which has a 'special offer/discount' advertised, check to see that you are not charged the full price at the till. I've had at least 5 incidents when I've been overcharged at the till and the special offer e.g. 2 for the price of one has not been recognised. It's not the cashiers fault, they just scan the items in but they have told us that 'it's always happening'!It often happens on the alcohol products and I've just nearly been charged an extra ?2 on teabags. It's happened to friends of mine too.

Holiday cottage in Cornwall. 2nd - 9th May 2009. 2 en-suite double bedrooms plus sofa bed. Sleeps 6-7. ?550 for the week. Fully equipped kitchen. Terrace with table and chairs. Wonderful views over the grounds of the Carvynick holiday village. Indoor swimming pool + toddler pool, jacuzzi, gym, badminton, table tennis, 5 hole par 3 golf course on site. Near the village of Summercourt. Newquay 6 miles, Truro 10 miles, the Eden Project 14 miles. Wonderful local scenery. This is privately owned by my parents who are unable to use it over the bank holiday and so wish to let it. For more information please send me a private message.

Christmas behind the bars - Gregory Isaacs

Further to my first message re: also eating oysters at a restaurant on Lordship lane earlier that week prior, I have just had a PM from someone else who got food poisoning from oysters and ate them at the same place as me! So maybe I answered the message from Susanna in haste - it seemed such a coincidence... Anyone else had suspected food poisoning from oysters in February? I'll watch this space!

On Feb 18th we visited the EDT and had a meal (I had falafel and pitta bread and 2 glasses of white wine)and later that night I collapsed (out cold for over 5 minutes, twice!) and was violently ill and ended being rushed to hospital and up on a drip for most of the night at Kings. The doctor was unable to confirm whether it was actually food poisoning (and if so,from what)or a severe stomach bug. I'd also eaten oysters at another Lordship Lane restaurant 2 days before and we'd assumed I'd got it from that, as it CAN take up to 48 hrs for symptoms to appear. My partner was ok but had different food.. I'd be very interested to hear if anyone else has had similar experiences either at the EDT or from eating oysters anywhere in SE22. I've eaten at the EDT before and it has been fine but this is a strange coincidence...

Thanks for the warning!

I've always been really impressed with Kings on all my visits, from very thorough treatment and regular subsequent monitoring for a malignant melanoma a few years ago through to treatment for severe food poisoning last Wednesday! As patients come from all over the country for treatment there, it can't be all bad!

My neighbour found 2 bikes hidden in his front garden in SE22 last Saturday and got the police to pick them up. If anyone has had a bike nicked recently, please contact the Peckham police station with all details of make, colour etc and date stolen (Please do NOT contact me - I have no further details and will not be replying to any posts on this but wanted to let people out there know as my neighbour does not use the forum.) as far as I can see, the details for the police station are:- Peckham Police Station, 177 Peckham High Street, Peckham, London SE15 5SL. Phone : 020 8721 2728

There is a massive snow 'teddy bear' - at least 8 feet high (and that's in it's seated position!!) on the junction of Upland Road and Friern Road - if you haven't already seen it, it's well worth a detour. What a shame that someone knocked the igloo on Goose green down last night or early this morning....

Each time I've been in the shop the owner has been extremely rude - he has a very sarcastic manner (and that was when I was actually trying to BUY something!!) So much so (or do I mean 'sew much sew'??) that I've stopped going in there which is a pity because in my line of work I could have given him a lot of business. I mentioned this to him the last time I ever went in there and suddenly his attitude changed a bit - too late! If anyone knows other stockists who sell the same sort of bold printed furnishing fabrics as him, let me know. If you just want basic fabrics or haberdashery at much much cheaper prices, go to the little fabric shop on the east side of Peckham Rye station on Blenheim Grove SE15. It has totally different stock to the LL shop (no designer fabrics or funky prints unless by default) but is absolutley stuffed with fabrics, sequinned braids, cheap zips, buttons etc. The owners are friendly but laid back - don't go if you are in a rush, but it's a real experience and worth a visit.

I have somehow managed to lose my turquoise i-pod nano somewhere in East Dulwich. It was in a small black beaded fabric purse. I last saw it over 3 weeks ago. Reward to anyone who finds it, thanks! Minitoots.

We looked at 16 different secondary schools in SE London and Kent when our son was finishing primary school. He did not get a place at any of our state secondary choices due to the catchment areas etc, so we had the choice of either paying ??? to move into the required catchment area or spending about the same amount of money on an independent school. We ended up sending him to St Dunstan's college (in sunny Catford) and he's really happy there. It's quite relaxed, and v friendly. We also like the school (apart from paying the fees!) and although the location isn't great it's easy to get to by 185 bus or train. There are a lot of children there now from state primaries in SE22, SE15 and SE5 who used to go to Dog Kennel Hill, Goodrich, Dul Hamlet St. John's + St Clement's etc. Lots of the other parents we've met whose kids go to SDC are similar to us - they didn't get their state school choices and are scaping together to try and pay the fees.