Sadness at changing atmosphere of East Dulwich

[Pugwash]

I suppose I am one of the indigenous people, having lived in various parts of ED the majority of my life ( with the exception of 4 years in Forest Hill)

ED has changed - nothing wrong with that generally, it is certainly more lively. However the community spirit is not as strong. I have been involved in a Residents' Association since around 1979/80 whereas our membership numbers in those days were near the 150 - 200 mark for most of the 1980's, we are lucky to get 50 members now. Even free social events do not attract people. Yet Zumba, kick boxing, dance classes, etc all events that charge a fiver or so an hour or more are over subscribed. It may be that the under 40s want different things.

The local community organisations I belong to put on free events for toddlers and those of a mature age, those who do come along to events, thank us for our time as volunteers ( I still work full time) but we see the same faces.

There are local organisations that need volunteers. St Christopher's Hospice shop frequently has to close early on Sundays due to lack of volunteers, The Fair Trade Centre always welcomes volunteers.

My kids have always done voluntary work - the motto in our house has always been, you cannot take from society unless you have contributed to society. This is not about money but about time and caring, this also makes a good community.

[phobic3000]

Oink oink?

[Earl Aelfheah]

East dulwich was a beautiful world of love and caring until last week when suddenly everyone started screaming 'pig' at me. I blame The Others.... And Clapham generally. That said, I am a 500lb Gloucestershire Old Spot.

[Sophron]

Peppa Pig?

[phobic3000]

Vanstone, are you the bloke that serves up the hog roast on Northcross Road?

[thecaptain]

Born and bred in London, i think London went to the dogs years ago, Dulwich is probably the closest thing to a quintessential English country village feel in London - people cling onto that, and to be honest i dont blame them as most of London is an absolute dump.

[KalamityKel]

Hahahahahahahahahaha oh hahahahahahaha!

[Jeremy]

onthemove123... you are obviously a troll and an idiot. No strangers have ever asked you to look after their baby, don't be stupid.

The way you single out mothers is inherently sexist, you are implying that you believe they should not be in cafes or pubs. Why don't you ask the cafe owners if they'd rather the place was empty during the week? As that is the most likely alternative. (I don't even know where you can get a "pot" of coffee rather than a cup, but if it comes in a pot then I can only assume it is supposed to be shared.)

You seem to resent families... and people who earn enough to live in a reasonable area yet are not rich. You certainly pick strange targets.

You (like the OP) have no real roots in the area, yet complain about newcomers and talk about "locals" and "regulars". It's laughable.

[northlondoner]

I'm wondering if the dumpgate miscreant was at the National Theatre last Saturday afternoon. Someone had taken not one but three dumps on the floor of the male loo.

I beat a very hasty retreat.

[northlondoner]

Oh and back on topic - ED is charming and friendly in its own way. Loved living there ( as a blow in. ) But having blown out (to Peckham) I find the area a bit parochial on the odd trip back.

[Tr?]

At the National Theatre? You mean The Walkabout, right?

[Earl Aelfheah]

Considering that Peckham is all of half a mile away and yet you class ED as a 'trip', your comments suggest no small amount of parochialism themselves.

northlondoner Wrote:

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> Oh and back on topic - ED is charming and friendly

> in its own way. Loved living there ( as a blow

> in. ) But having blown out (to Peckham) I find

> the area a bit parochial on the odd trip back.

[jimbo1964]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> onthemove123... you are obviously a troll and an

> idiot. No strangers have ever asked you to look

> after their baby, don't be stupid.

>

> The way you single out mothers is inherently

> sexist, you are implying that you believe they

> should not be in cafes or pubs. Why don't you ask

> the cafe owners if they'd rather the place was

> empty during the week? As that is the most likely

> alternative. (I don't even know where you can get

> a "pot" of coffee rather than a cup, but if it

> comes in a pot then I can only assume it is

> supposed to be shared.)

>

> You seem to resent families... and people who earn

> enough to live in a reasonable area yet are not

> rich. You certainly pick strange targets.

>

> You (like the OP) have no real roots in the area,

> yet complain about newcomers and talk about

> "locals" and "regulars". It's laughable.

The perfect response to all this twaddle.

[JCED]

I love ED

[miga]

.

[Jeremy]

northlondoner Wrote:

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> But having blown out (to Peckham)

I moved to Peckham last year... freely admit it was because of the cheaper housing, but now I'm here it seems in many ways a more interesting, lively, varied, and convenient place to live. Not that I don't miss things about ED too, luckily am still within walking distance.

[cle]

thecaptain Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Born and bred in London, i think London went to

> the dogs years ago, Dulwich is probably the

> closest thing to a quintessential English country

> village feel in London - people cling onto that,

> and to be honest i dont blame them as most of

> London is an absolute dump.

Not since the 1700s has London had a country village feel.

It's a huge global city, why would a village feel be an aspiration?! People should bugger off to Kent if that's what they want. Ludicrous.

SE has never been better - it's just that SE5 and SE15 are now far more interesting, varied, creative and better connected than SE22.

[JimmyMc1311]

I'll bet you a jug of tap water from the Victoria Inn and a portion of halloumi sticks that it might go longer...

[Earl Aelfheah]

cle Wrote:

> SE has never been better - it's just that SE5 and

> SE15 are now far more interesting, varied,

> creative and better connected than SE22.

That's always been true, although 'interesting and varied' become less of a priority when you get a bit older and have kids, as they tend to come with a certain amount of chaos and unpredictability that children already provide plenty of.

[Millhaven]

phobic3000 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Vanstone, are you the bloke that serves up the hog

> roast on Northcross Road?

LOL

[Otta]

I'm loving the use of the term "indiginous people". I was born in Dulwich, and it used to be great when we could hunt freely and sing our songs around the fires.

Then all you fuckers came in and built your houses and penned us in to reservations in Penge.

[Jeremy]

Back in your box, otta! You'll be wanting tribal sovereignty next!

[Otta]

I'm hoping the state will start sending me food vouchers because I can't be trusted not to drink all my money away.

[Matty Love]

I agree that London is always changing. While I personally do not care for many of the shops, bars and cafes on Lordship Lane I would rather see businesses doing well than the many vacant premises I remember in the past.

[nxjen]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm loving the use of the term "indiginous

> people". I was born in Dulwich, and it used to be

> great when we could hunt freely and sing our songs

> around the fires.

>

> Then all you @#$%& came in and built your houses

> and penned us in to reservations in Penge.

LOL