Soane

You could take a look at Fabric World in Croydon. They've been going for years so they must be doing something right. Vanessa Arbuthnott fabrics and Kate Forman are a certain style and not excessively expensive, though they may or may not be what you're looking for. Otherwise you could sign up to the Colefax and Fowler and the Osborne and Little lists to see if they are going to hold their usual annual sales at Battersea Town Hall ( I think that was the usual venue.) Of course, in these pandemic times, they may not be holding these sales any longer... Soane

Just to add that anyone who has a disabled parking Blue Badge should never leave it in their car other than when it is necessary to display it. Instead of leaving it in the glove compartment ready for use, take it with you indoors. Apparently a stolen Blue Badge is worth a lot of money and can be altered and sold on by criminals. Soane

For me, it wasn't so much diet that helped as taking a good look at what was in contact with my skin. I switched to fragrance-free detergents for washing clothes and programmed an extra rinse cycle into my washing machine. Don't use fabric softener, there's no need for that greasiness, which can cause eczema. Watch out for methylisothiazolinone used as a preservative; it's a known skin allergen. It's in ecover laundry gel and their bio-degradable wipes, so you can't just rely on a brand name. Ecover powder and wash tablets don't seem to contain this allergen. Many cosmetics, including moisturisers for the face, may contain methylisothiazolinone, so I now read labels carefully. Obviously avoid shampoos and liquid soaps containig sodium laurel sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate, which are just added to make foam and are known skin irritants. Religiously applying 100% pure shea butter twice a day on my eczema patches on my elbows finally cleared them up after about nine months. They had originally appeared after my skin had reacted to Waitrose cream cleaner and nothing had shifted them for over five years. Good luck and I hope the eczema clears up soon. Soane

I'd just like to add a big Thank You to Barry for all he has done over the past few years to respond to East Dulwich forumites on this thread. Your work is much appreciated.

Check out The Greenwood Guide for accommodation in New Zealand - it's a bit like the Alastair Sawday guides to charming B & Bs and hotels here. Arrowtown is lovely - with good restaurants. The New Zealand foodie magazine Cuisine can be helpful. The rose garden in Christchurch botanical gardens is glorious at that time of year. Take a boat trip out on the Marlborough Sounds on a sunny day; you may be lucky enough to see whales. There are some great B & Bs, some only accessible by boat, along the shores of the Marlborough Sounds. From experience, even in high summer, evening temperatures on South Island can be pretty chilly. It was 30 degrees C during the day in Blenheim and yet you could see your breath steaming at night. Be warned. Christmas and New Year is peak holiday season for New Zealanders as well as overseas visitors as it's their summer holiday too, so get your accommodation sorted out well before you head for any tourist hotspots. Have a lovely honeymoon!

If anyone wants to buy dried lavender flowers in bulk to keep moths away, I suggest buying them at Baldwin & Co Healthfood shop on Walworth Road. Not quite East Dulwich, I know, but it's a lovely shop that's been in Walworth Road since 1844 - and their prices are usually competitive.

I spoke with J Taylor today and he says it's not his, but thank you very much. He'd already been contacted by other friends who read the East Dulwich Forum. Looks like this site is required reading now for all East Dulwichers. Do hope young Mr Joe Taylor gets in touch soon. Thanks Jimmy Mac for being so conscientious.

I know a Mr J Taylor who lives in Dulwich. I have sent him a link to this page so he'll be in touch this weekend if the stuff belongs to him.