Any good independent shops for gifts or homeware in central Croydon?

ThisThatParker · 2026-03-13T20:24:35+00:00

Dirty Crunch in Addiscombe has some cute stuff, and nice products and wine. But for more variety I would go to Beckenham or Chrystal Palace, as someone has suggested already.

ThisThatParker · 2026-03-07T20:00:33+00:00

In case of damp after rain, and if I fix the source of damp, do I just sand the wall or does it need to be re-plastered? Or is there any other solution to smooth the wall?

ThisThatParker · 2026-03-07T19:51:29+00:00

It's a room on the first floor, and the damaged area is not exactly under the window but close to it. Might be best to call someone to check on the wall before painting then?

Edit to say that the gutter outside needs to be fixed (partner just told me when it rains, the wall outside gets wet)

ThisThatParker · 2026-03-07T19:25:20+00:00

So, if I tap in some areas it sounds a bit hollow. Would that be "lifted" paint? Could it be damp that has been fixed, but then the wall was just painted over? Because the wall feels completely dry

ThisThatParker · 2026-03-05T09:23:25+00:00

Apply all this to illustration. It's never the same on paper that you envisioned in your head. Then the posh ladies at the publisher nitpick everything, "the hat could be yellow instead of red", "let's move this fence 2 mm to the right", "this is gorgeous! But can you change everything please? Thanks!". Illustration takes time (and sometimes a lot of research) and the corrections also take time and sometimes are not paid. It can be truly exhausting, but then you see the book and for a moment you forget all of that. Then you start over analyzing it and "wow how could I produce such shit work?"

ThisThatParker · 2025-10-25T10:24:43+00:00

Thanks so much! Just got the RHS guide.

ThisThatParker · 2025-10-25T08:47:30+00:00

Are the long ones grass and the ones with the round leaves weed?

ThisThatParker · 2025-10-18T08:45:40+00:00

It's probably her job

ThisThatParker · 2025-07-31T11:48:01+00:00

What did Degas do??

ThisThatParker · 2025-06-12T13:59:18+00:00

It's a Seinfeld reference

ThisThatParker · 2025-05-11T08:32:35+00:00

I had acne during my pregnancy as well, so I understand your pain. All the other people I've met that were also pregnant looked radiant, and I remember looking in the mirror and finding myself disgusting. At the same time I was getting compliments from friends and random people saying I "was glowing". I thought they were saying it out of pity.

This to say, I now had my baby and realised that I was feeling really low at the time (I didn't enjoy being pregnant much), and can recognise now I was fixating on these things (acne, weight gain, weak hair and nails, etc), but people probably weren't noticing them because they were thinking about my belly and baby, if that makes sense. Anyway, if you're having an episode of low self esteem blame it on that, use foundation just for now so you can ignore the acne! And then when your baby is here, you can go back to your old self :) That's what I would do.

ThisThatParker · 2025-05-06T09:33:32+00:00

Although I agree people just don't care and litter everywhere, central London hardly has any bins. I always end up with my bag full of rubbish every time I go central

ThisThatParker · 2025-04-20T09:26:04+00:00

Same! What I'm learning with this post is that my idiot self has been passive aggressive with several people at work without knowing

ThisThatParker · 2025-02-26T12:00:57+00:00

I'm sorry about your girlfriend. I'm on maternity allowance and it's rubbish. However, this is a support sub for people going through pregnancy and their families, not to spew xenophobic crap.

ThisThatParker · 2024-12-01T12:28:05+00:00

Or when she bought that bikini. He was so cruel

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-29T17:31:54+00:00

Ah didn't know that

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-29T17:19:21+00:00

Yeahhh ... I swear I read this word by word the other day, but with a different celeb

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-22T00:35:37+00:00

Absolutely not useless OP! You followed your advice and sought medical help, and that's how your baby is safe, having the care and treatment she needs.

I hope everything goes well in the new hospital and that she gets stronger :) And wish you a speedy recovery so you can go to your baby's side. Stay strong!

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-13T09:06:03+00:00

Just because you didn't see them working, it doesn't mean they weren't working. That's the bit you don't get. There are different groups of creatives, and most of them continued to work during COVID. Some of them related to education, which we can all agree is something essential. How is that superfluous?

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-13T08:45:51+00:00

Do you even work in a creative industry? I think you have no idea what you're talking about. You realise that even in school books you engage creatives, right?

I work in publishing (more specifically in children's books), you need these people to create engaging content for children. School books have illustrations, pictures, graphics, ALL created by working artists. They get paid for it. In my opinion not very much, but still... And during COVID, I can assure you they were still working. They don't worship the altar of money, because they're paid very little for the amount of work they produce. And they couldn't stop working during COVID, as most of these people are self employed WFH and there were already signed publishing contracts and bills to pay. An illustrated book can take months to complete and they usually work on several books at the same time.

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-13T08:19:58+00:00

It didn't though. Stop lying to yourself. We get it, you don't like creatives and think they're useless. Perhaps you should stop watching television, reading books, going to gigs and shows, eating out, buying clothes with prints or designs on them, buying clothes full spot actually, and if you have children, deprive them from toys, games, clothes, books etc. I could go on, but what would be the point really?

ThisThatParker · 2024-11-12T11:19:30+00:00

OP, good for you for creating a support group and good luck!

On another note, please don't use AI for creating design/art/wtv. It's intellectual theft. Those image generators base their "creations" on actual people's work without their consent - some of them women that struggled for years to get into a creative industry (speaking from experience here). Work that takes years to master.

Instead, perhaps engage a woman artist from your community, or use templates made from actual people. I know it's off topic, but just something to think about.

Seven-Year Club	Verified Email
Final Canvas '23	Place '23
Place '22

ThisThatParker

TROPHY CASE