ed_pete

A post for the more finanically concerned... Have just had my annual buildings insurance renewal quote. Now at ?828 you might think I live in a palace but no, just a 4-bed victorian semi. I should disclose that I made a claim on my insurance 8 years ago as a street tree had roots growing under the foundations that was causing some largish cracks. Anyway that was all sorted but ever since I've never been able to get insurance with anyone else and now they're really stinging me. Given that East Dulwich has a large number houses similar to mine, all built on clay, I wondered if anyone else had had a similar experience and knew of a cheaper source of insurance. TIA

Lounge beckons...

Yeah Foxtons - much discussed - follow this thread

Apart from those already mentioned, there are two large allotments up near the golf club. One's called the Grange and is on the slope opposite the club entrance, the other beyond the club and scout hut is called the Gun Site. Both have pretty long waiting lists I beleive. There are also some at Rosendale Road, the entrance is near the school. Not sure what the waiting list is there. I have a plot at the Grove allotments which are next to the tennis club opposite the Harvester. I'm not sure how long the waiting list is at present, less then 12 months I think, but if you pop along on a Sunday morning can ask for Theresa (she runs the Committee) she'll be able to tell you. If you can't find her pop a note in the postbox on the outside of the shed with your phone number and she'll no doubt give you a call.

Thanks for that - ignoring "extras", I'm opting for ?13 a month, just over ?3 a week. Should be enough to keep her in the odd magazine and Cafe Nero smoothie (will have to lecture on supporting local shops etc), which is about all she seems to spend money on.

Sensitive topic in our house at the moment. What do people think is an appropriate amount of pocket money for an 11 year old ?

I live off ED Grove near the hospital and our postal service is poor. Packages I've expected have never arrived (could be back up the delivery chain) but my main complaint is the lateness, most days our post doesn't arrive until after midday. I can remember seeing people opening their post on the train on the way to work - where do they live ???

How about using the money to, I hesitate to use the next word, Makeover, the banks leading up to the Station platforms at East Dulwich Station. They're a complete state but I'm sure some talented young garden designer could come up with something simple and sustainable and hopefully vandal proof. Even the materials are close at hand what with the Garden Centre and Builder Centre next door. If someone could persuade Southern (or whoever runs the line these days) to cough up a matching amount then that ought to do it! Heck I'd even volunteer to give a few hours of my time to help clear it up if it would help. Failing that, how about a paddling pool at Goose Green, a la the one near the triangle in C*****m.

Apart from the cynics amongst us I believe most people think recycling to be more sustainable way of living. Reading this thread I get the impression that a lot of people think Southwark Council could perform better in respect of waste collection and recycling services. Personally I'm generally pretty happy with their service, OK the odd missed collection, lost bag etc etc but overall not bad. I'd encourage those that are disaffected to use another forum - Southwark Recycling Discussion Forum -to vent their spleen, or contact their Councillor, or email [email protected] - doing it here's not change anything though if it makes you feel better to get it off your chest then fine. Southwark's target for recycling for 2007/8 is a paltry 20%. Although they may get fined - which presumably means we Council Tax payers get fined - if they don't meet these targets, I doubt they'll get rewarded if they vastly exceed them. Therefore I suspect the strategy is to do the minimum to just scrape over the line.

Plastic bottles and plastic containers (the type mainly used by supermarkets for packaging food) can be put in your blue box. Check the Southwark page referred to by Tea Girl, extra boxes/bags can be ordered there.

Used to be one called Shepards @ 39 Marmora Road. Web site link from above page is dead but could be worth a call.

JAGS is very nice but pricey at ?396 a year - I'm not aware of any Swimming Only memberships. Beckenham is excellent and a great example of what local authority pools/gyms could be. The Pulse has reopened and is looking quite good at the moment as the changing rooms, showers and toilets have all been refurbished. How long it'll remain in this state is anyone's guess though as I doubt that it'll be given the resources to keep it looking this way. There's been other threads about local gyms/pools and apparently the ED leisure centre is going to get a ?5m makeover - search for "East Dulwich Pool (Fusion Gym)" in this forum.

That's valuable real estate that is. The council should grant planning permission for a Tescos/Starbucks on the ground floor and some duplex apartments above then top it off with a mobile phone mast. Alright, alright.... I prefer the sculpture idea but think we should be looking to encourage up and coming artists rather than resorting to Mr Gormley, who, let's face it, is probably outside of the councils budget. Perhaps he could be approached to be on a judging panel of likely contenders ?

According to the newsagents a couple of doors down, the old florists on EDG isn't going to be a shop but a kind of showroom to demonstrate shop fittings - shame. As for the toyshop idea I think it would do extremely well - sure business is highly seasonal but there's enough money in the area nowadays to thrive. In my fantasy life I'd often considered opening a top shop on LL based on the one of Beckenham High Street. Surely you've all got nostalgic memories of slightly dusty toyshops stacked full to the ceilings with toys and games and friendly chap behind the glass topped counter full of model trains... Anyway money aside my other half said I'm too miserable to own a toyshop and it would probably go bust within tweleve months.