JaneB

Walking my dog yesterday I was surprised to see a number of people collecting holly and other winter foliage. I doubt there are many branches with berries left in the woods. I’m all for foraging in general but it’s a relatively small space that has been transformed by the work of volunteers. Would such actions be allowed in parks? I doubt it.

Not an elk but a bell! And We?ve now found out that Nest only give you 2 hours of recording unless you pay an additional ?40 a year...which we?ve now done but of course too late. Oh well, first world problems I suppose!!

Yes, good idea. We have a Nest door elk so I?m hoping we might be able to retrieve the pics

Having had plants, pots and a tree stolen from my front garden since we just moved in a couple of months ago I naively thought a Christmas wreath would be ok to hang on the front door. But now that?s gone too. Clearly we are easy pickings but it?s getting rather depressing to think that there are people out there doing such a thing. Has this happened to anyone else?

Just a quick recommendation for Nick and his team who have carried out all the hard landscaping in our garden in preparation for planting. He was very quick to respond to my initial request to install a fence around the whole perimeter and then the team levelled the garden, dug in compost throughout and laid a considerable amount of paving. It looks super and the team did a great job Nick: 07459 276 538 [email protected] www.nickfencing.co.uk

We recently moved to Oglander Road and clearly spent far too much on our front garden! Two pots were stolen within a fortnight of moving in, 4 shrubs a week or so ago and to top it all a tree today. I've now moved the other 2 trees to the back of the house but my denuded flower bed still offers some opportunity for theft. Rumour has it that the culprit is known and not deterred by cameras. It's rotten for everyone that the street view can never be improved and really depressing that we can do nothing to stop it. I don't suppose anyone saw someone struggling to remove an ornamental tree from a raised flowerbed this morning, we think between 10 and 11?

Thank you everybody for your advice; BT phoned us today and it looks as if they have now got access to the site as they want to install the line which is brilliant news.

No, we haven?t been allocated anything as nobody knows when the exchange will be accessible.

I am not surprised that travellers are using the site as a dump as it looked totally derelict anyway. It?s my view that BT has failed in its duty to manage the site properly. It also seems to me that there must be a work around solution to the problem so exchange services could be offered via another route?

Has anybody else met the problem of BT refusing to go onto the ED telephone exchange site while it?s accommodating travellers? Apparently the majority of providers also use this exchange so we are stumped as to how we get internet access in our new home and would be very grateful indeed for suggestions as to which provider will be able to help us. Thanks Jane

I need a birthday cake big enough for 16 people, children and adults, by 4pm tomorrow, Saturday! Can anyone recommend a local solution? Am too busy to make one so looking for something that looks and tastes good!

I used a company called Shutterly Fabulous, based in Brighton. I found them extremely helpful and would recommend highly. http://www.shutterlyfabulous.com/?gclid=CLKnxu-01LUCFaLHtAodUk8AeQ Jane

I recommend Diet Chef as I find most of the meals appetising...but if you are hoping to eat the same meals as the rest of your family then it's not for you.

Thank you so much for your really thoughtful reply. I think the community centre is a great idea. My thinking is that a Sunday event (monthly sounds great) with carers means there will be a real mix of people. To be honest when it's just my parents and me I soon get bored and run out of conversation but I personally would enjoy chatting to other people's parents. A social group that families can attend with their elderly relatives would have all sorts of hidden benefits I'm sure. I would be very happy to work with you to get it off the ground if we get some more interested. How about posting your idea in the What's on section or I'm happy to?

I've started a thread in the family section on care for the elderly, getting one reply. As the other threads are all about breastfeeding and Santa I wonder if it's the right place? Any suggestions administrator?

Thank you for your comments and I appreciate your response. What you say definitely makes sense. I'm afraid none of us are churchgoers which is a pity in as much as I know about the fantastic work that church communities do to support the elderly. Growing old is difficult for a lot of people and I understand your friends' parents' attitudes but I sort of hoped we may be able to have a go at setting up something that feels a bit more like what old people might like.

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. I am aware of Southwark Carers but they don't actually offer what I am looking for. Having been a mum in the area I am struck by the wealth of opportunities for young families to meet and get together for mutual support, the conversations on The Forum being a prime example. The same thing doesn't exist for elderly people and their carers yet our needs are similar...but we are expected to rely purely on The Council or the voluntary sector for support. The notion of our community offering opportunities to each other doesn't seem to exist in this context and yet it's a situation that we are all going to have to face at some point, either as a son or daughter of an older person or indeed as an older person who is finding daily living increasingly difficult. Lots of people seem to have read this post but yours is the only reply so still thinking this is in the wrong section of The Forum! And yet this is a key family issue!!!!

Just to confirm, I'm not looking for families with chidren but families like mine i.e. elderly parent(s) and son/daughter/carer...still a family but not one with children...perhaps I've posted on the wrong thread but couldn't work out which one might be better!

I'm just throwing the idea out to see if there are any takers (although The Family Room Discussion seems to focus on caring for the young rather than the elderly). I work full time but see my aged parents every Sunday when we either go out to eat or they come to my place for a meal. My father is very frail, deaf and has problems walking and my mum has altzheimers. However, they are still lively and interesting people who can enjoy themselves. I just wondered whether there are any other families out there who might like to get together with us for a meal in a pub or restaurant or any other type of outing that you can suggest. Activities for the elderly seem to take place during the week when I'm not around and I'm sure that, if you are dealing with similar needs to my parents, you are well aware of the slightly sniffy attitude older people can take towards organised fun or attending anything that's full of old people! My dream scenario would be a fortnightly Sunday lunch or supper with a fun group of carers/supporters who understand the need to be near toilets(!) and can enjoy themselves together with their parent(s). I know that any form of caring can be hard work and stressful and it would be good to share...and I don't think we are very good as a community at addressing this area of need. The Forum is awash with ideas to support young families but there is very little in terms of helping and supporting elderly people and their carers although it stands to reason there must be loads like me out there. I know that there are all sorts of brilliant organisations(Dulwich Helpline is superb for example) that offer support but not so much at weekends. And I sort of feel that we could do more to add a little bit of fun and joy into looking after elderly relatives. As I said...just putting it out there...

To respond to Annabel, the manager/owner was on the premises, refused to speak to us and when approached threatened my friend. I therefore think it fair enough to go straight to the forum, I can honestly say I have never experienced threatening service before. In contrast, The Great Exhibition was fantastic when we complained about a meal that one of our group had several months ago, showed enormous interest in the problem, recognised and agreed with our comments and immediately offered to take said item off the bill. It's pure coincidence that I have also had the need to complain at The Great Exhibition as well...you probably won't believe me when I say that I can't remember making another complaint!! And Gidget, we both ordered guinea fowl that was tough and dry, that came on a bed of mashed potato that was so dry that it stuck to the roof of your mouth...a bizarre combination. Hands up, I've been an addict of masterchef so perhaps had unrealistic expectations...But to reiterate, my reason for the forum post is how our polite and mild mannered complaint was treated.

Had an appalling meal there last night and our complaint resulted in the manageress threatening us with the police! She then telephoned 999 and brought the phone to our table!!! At no time were we rude, we just explained that the food was dreadful and we thought they should charge us for just one portion. At no time did we refuse to pay. Initially they offered a free pudding each (that didn't attract) and then 10% off. They weren't apologetic or interested in the problems with the food, more aggressive and dismissive of our complaint. What prompts me to put this post on the forum is the attitude of the manageress who I think was under some pressure from a very unpleasant owner. It was claimed he wasn't available but as we left (after paying)he came out of the kitchen. My friend tried to discuss the situation with him and was threatened and told to get out! It claims to be a gastropub and certainly is a pleasant environment (grotty toilets though) but the cooking is amateur at best, not reflected in the prices. I accept that any restaurant can have a bad day but I am dumbfounded by the attitude to a complaint.

Totally agree with all the comments, am now a dedicated customer! Sharon is brilliant at what she does.

Just to conclude the thread, went on A40/M40, out via Earls Court/shepherds Bush and the traffic was free flowing there and back. No congestion charge either, thanks to all who commented (on and off the forum) and hope I haven't made anyone else panic over what turned out to be an easy journey. Jane

Thanks all, am encouraged to give it a go although slightly confused as to which route to go for! Any other suggestions?? Jane

Any forum people out there know if the closure of the flyover makes it just too painful to go from ED to Oxford by car? I had planned to take my elderly parents there for lunch on Thursday to visit a close friend but am feeling very nervous about setting off if we are going to have to sit in queues for hours to access the M40. Going by train isn't really an alternative given my parents' health issues, as indeed sitting in traffic for hours could be a step too far. Be really grateful for any advice from more experienced travellers out west. Thanks Jane