Asset

I live right next to Alleyns and JAGS and pretty close to the Charter with probably a combined population of about 2500 kids, if not more. Yes there is the 'mum scum' as we like to call them in our house, ramming their 4x4's up and down the street, parking atrociously (gives us something to laugh at) but it's only for about 15 mins twice a day and apart from that I have absolutely no complaints, no problems with the kids, litter, anything really. I think a new non-fee paying school in ED is pretty desperately needed. It does look like it will be lacking in outside space from the picture but the Charter doesn't have much either. I agree that it is NIMBYism in action.

I'm coming in

I had a woman like that, with very short hair and slender build, knock on my door over a year ago saying that she lived down the road and her electricity meter had run out and could she have a tenner to recharge her key, she was going to give me proof of address and everything, talking about having a six month old baby (she'd seen my pram). I knew she was lying when she said she didn't know my neighbour (he knows everyone in the street). She knocked on his door and he sent her away wth a flea in her ear and told me she'd tried it on with him some time before and he'd fallen for it. I wonder if she's the same one with the locksmith story?

nothing wrong with not wanting children Sean, too many of the little blighters around anyway.

to behave like a twit talk loads of shit and end up flat on my arse sorry for hogging that one, can't help it when the muse calls you know

apology accepted although it could have referred to that too>:D

better than fag butts, starbucks paper cups and beer cans.

I agree with you. I've got friends who are like that with their kids, I have to bite my tongue. Do you think it is just a 'middle class' issue? We need to define 'middle class'.

Mark - you quoted me earlier about saying 'no thanks I don't give to charity'. My comment was in response to Madworld74's advice re. fobbing them off by saying you give to several already. My point was about feeling uncomfortable saying such a thing if it is not true. If you don't give to charity and for whatever reason don't want to, then maybe truth is the best policy. Personally I try not to get too worked up about these people, it's easy to walk past them and if you spend all your time getting worked up about such things you're heading for a heart attack. They're just doing a job. Some in a not so good way, others are fine.

*thinks: Citizen will regret not cleaning those brushes* *wonders how many flavours of schnapps there are* *alcohol & Twister, could be dangerous*

I too, who am probably 'middle class' although definitely not well off as am a student and a 'creative' partner, 2 kids blah blah blah, cannot bear the over protective mollycoddling attitude of most parents in the park BUT I don't think it is a class/race/money/whatever issue. It is just the way we are with our kids these days in general as I have witnessed the same sort of cringemaking behaviour from all types of people. The sort of people who take their kids to the park when it's been raining and tell them not to splash in puddles in case they get dirty! I have seen it myself, kids in the park in their best clothes being told not to go on the grass, kids being constantly told to be careful on the roundabout etc. It drives me mad and I sometimes feel embarrased to be associated with them. CWALD - it's all very well talking about the kids in the estate but as I made the point earlier, most of the kids in the park are too young to go there alone and need to be taken - and what is so wrong with two parents taking their child to the park? I sometimes go with my partner and I sometimes go alone, I don't see that as over protecting my child I see it as doing something as a family. When I'm in the kiddy park with my almost three year old I do my utmost to let her do her own thing and sit on a bench having a rest watching from afar. I don't care if she gets dirty, she'll wash. My ten year old now goes out to play on his own with his mates of an evening - out of my sight but with a boundary of a few streets. It is worrying when you let them go like that but it has to be done, I'm not sure I would have done it much younger though unfortunately for him. Not really got a point here, just rambling on. I am getting bored with this constant working/middle class thing on this forum though, it's generalising and that is always a dangerous thing.

OMG!

Citizen - most of the kiddies in the Dulwich park play area are too young to be going to the park unaccompanied presumably why they have carers wth them, the other bit is near the houses isn't it? I don't think it's a 'class thing' merely proximity to the play zone.

one that's carefree and happy?

I actually do support two charities regularly so feel quite happy about telling them that, however I would not if it wasn't true. Why do you feel the need to lie? Why not say 'no thanks I don't give to charity'. In re. Gordon Brown and tax - you do know that the UK has one of the lowest income tax rates in Europe don't you? Germany, France and Italy are all above 40% I believe. However we do have high excise rates - stealth tax.

Alan - Feral is spelled with one R. Or is it not PC to point out someone's failing in the spelling dept? All other spelling and punctuation exemplary by the way.

learning about things Romanesco (scraping barrel)

but did pc not come about in order to stop people slagging off people in wheelchairs, making jokes about race or religion etc. Is it not the case that pc can equate to consideration for others. In which case it is a good thing, however I do agree that it is an overused term and is somehow seen as derogatory

they knew not what it meant

It was me being a wimp.

not in the huff are you TT? New One: There once was a chav down at Tesco

Jonboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Not sure about the middle class status really. > Shopping in a Tesco Express? > Spelling and punctuation bit off too. Another sure fire indicator. (BTW before anyone kicks off my tongue is my cheek.)

got you - I remember that now.

oh yes, I remember, don't get the reference though.

Cats in general are solitary creatures and are quite happy being 'only cats'. I've ended up with three of the damn things, two of which hate each other and are always fighting (mother & daughter incidentally). Sean is correct, there's no way of telling how he'll react. He may turn into a monster and try to kill it for invading his territory or he may love it or he may not be interested one way or the other.