chesterpuss81

Hi, we're looking for a nanny to look after our 20 month old son Friday mornings (9-1pm). He attends nursery the rest of the week, but my work hours have recently increased and nursery were unable to extend his hours. Looking for someone to come to the house as we think that would be less unsettling for such a short period than trying to get him used to a new setting etc. We're based in SE23 near Kilmorie School. Hoping it may fit around someone's existing jobs etc. Would be great to hear from anyone interested. He's a very cheeky chappy, very happy and active and would be up for morning trips/playground etc. I'll be working from home most of the time with occasional meetings. Thanks!

Just adding another recommendation for Aria, him and Ken have just re-done our bathroom for us and did a fantastic job. Great to work with, Aria is a fantastic communicator, stopped in to check on everything and provide receipts etc, kept us constantly updated, they went and picked up the tiles for us which was a massive help too. Really fast and Ken was a dream to have in the house, we barely noticed him despite us both working from home at the moment. Fast work, great quality and great to work with. Pictures attached

Another recommendation for Billy @ Hunter Heating. I called on him following all the recs on the forum to sort out a number of issues at our rental flat, including a leak and radiators that needed a bleed. He also carried out our gas safety cert. Really pleased with the work and his expertise, found Billy very friendly and helpful and will definitely call on them again.

Hi All I'd be keen to join this group, due my first on 21st June! Kate - will PM my number to you. Thanks Caroline

thanks, that's a good idea re Thameslink, I'd forgotten about that

Hi All Does anyone know if our season tickets will be accepted on the underground? I'm assuming yes, but it's actually pretty difficult to find out for sure from all the info handed out and on the internet. I normally walk from L.Bridge to Bank where my office is and have an annual rail ticket, so considering getting a train from Denmark Hill to Victoria and then the district/circle to Cannon St, but don't want to be stung for the extra underground fee. Thanks

I've just had these guys too, has made me feel incredibly nervous. If they really are ADT they're being a little irresponsible knocking on doors and asking to come inside to discuss security. Very dodgy, no one should do that. Had the whole trainee spiel, he seemed to lose it after I pointed out the days were in fact getting longer rather than shorter as he had told me and why were they talking about tenant packs when people signing up to anything would likely have to be owners. His superior, who looked about 12 then stepped in, along with another hand shake. Very creepy, I only hope they are who they say they are and are just rubbish at their jobs...

Hi I feel for you, we've always lived below people and regardless of how considerate they are and lovely people you can never truly escape hearing them moving around, slamming doors etc, thundering up and down stairs. I don't think they realise quite how loud it is downstairs, however it does sound like your neighbour goes out of her way to be louder at times just to p!ss you off. It would drive me insane and it isn't fair. Re. what others have said about your leases, I'm presuming that she is either leasehold or if your landlord and her share the freehold they'll have still given themselves leases and a standard resi long lease will, as other have said, have rules about carpeting floors and noise after 11pm. Unfortunately the Environmental Protection Act isn't going to help you out here much, there is a section of that which deals with nuisance, however none of what your neighbour is doing is going to count as a nuisance, it wouldn't be worth your while even looking into it really which I know isn't what you want to hear!

We've had a 'sorry we missed you' card from the post man - funny as I was in when he/she supposedly tried to deliver it, however it has apparently gone to the Brockley Delivery Office rather than the Sylvester Rd one. We live on Melbourne Grove so no idea why it has gone to Brockley and wondered if anyone else had had this before? Before I make the trip over to Brockley I wanted to double check it wasn't a mistake and the postman has just used the wrong card? I've tried phoning but can't get through. So if you have experience of this, would love to know! Thanks

Quick question, just had a guy knock on the door saying he wanted to do an electricity meter inspection on behalf of British Gas, think the company was GSC or similar. No identity card or anything, however I vaguely remember something from these guys in the past, so possibly legit. He was lucky to get me at home, but when I told him it would be a big task for me to unpack everything from under the stairs and I didn't have time he said that it was required by law. I think there is some requirement for meters to be checked for problems or tampering, but just wondered what the implications were if they didn't see it? I asked whether they worked weekends and he said he doesn't personally, so if it wasn't for pure fluke that I'm at home at the moment writing a dissertation, and they don't pre-arrange times with you, how do they ever get to see these meters? I'd need advance warning to clear access to it as need help from my husband to move heavy items. Another thing was that I was a little worried about just letting some random into the house, presume if I had let him in he would have had to produce some ID first? Just thought I'd find out what people knew about this (couldn't find anything on British Gas website about them). Thanks

Hi I had the embarrassing misfortune of slipping over at East Dulwich station last night, just before the steps at the bottom of the slope on the 'trains from London Bridge' side. I wasn't hurt badly, just a bruised and crazed knee and would normally just put it down to my shoes etc but I saw another lady do exactly the same thing as me a few weeks ago in exactly the same spot and wondered if there may be a potential problem. Whilst I'm not hurt, I was worried that if say an elderly person or pregnant person hit the same spot and slipped as I did it could be more serious. I wondered if anyone knew who the best person was to report it to, I've had a look at the Southern website but there's not much info there on things like this. Could just be coincidence and bad luck in the rain, but can't hurt for someone to just check? Thanks

We're missing post too, all stuff that might be thought to contain money, 1 wedding invite (very annoying!!), a birthday card and credit card... think there's been a few packages too that have never arrived, all in the last few months.

Hi, we're also Melbourne/Ashbourne corner and don't have too much trouble, we can usually find a space just round the corner, although it is a luxury to park outside our house most of the time these days. I'd say the biggest problem though is inconsiderate parking, so many times we've watched people park in the middle of a 2-car sized space, and then leave it there for the day or several days, a small call out to the people of ED, if everyone could just give a little consideration to this when they park it may free up a space here of there for some lucky person one day!

Keilo - in response to your post, we found Sky very unhelpful! We got home yesterday afternoon from a week away to find that broadband and phone were dead, we phoned Sky to report the problem who were very rude and patronising in the first instance and then put me through to their technical team who were even more rude. They made us do several tests which included taking the front of the phone socket off the wall to which the guy huffed when I said I needed to go find a screwdriver!! He then proceeded to tell me that there wasn't a problem with the line and that we had to test it with another phone (who keeps a spare phone just in case?) as it was likely to be our faulty equipment, when I protested and said it can't be the faulty phone becasue the internet is down too he proceeded to say that if he booked an engineer who discovered it was our equipment they'd charge us ?100 plus the hourly call out charge. I gave up in the end and decided to look at the EDF via my phone, only to find this thread!! A few hours later the internet lights started blinking again and we were back up and running, no thanks to Sky who didn't have a clue that there was a problem in the area! If all else fails check the EDF!

I would love to see the Melbourne Grove culprit named and shamed, it is getting beyond a joke, the pile this morning was incredible and revolting, I'm sure some unfortunate person will have hit it by the time we get home tonight. It clearly must be someone with a large dog who walks it late at night or early morning. Always either right by the cars, or under the actual dog poo bin. I'd like to thank them for leaving a pile for me to tread in as I loaded the car outside my house for Christmas, that was certainly an unwelcome present! What is wrong with these people that they can't pick it up, it's disgraceful, especially when there is a bin for it right there!

I've just Pm'd Sophie as I think this could be my car, I'm currently stuck at work and am meant to be staying up in town this evening so if anyone is able to confirm the reg number incase Sophie isn't able to respond so I know whether I have to come home and deal with it I'd be very grateful!

Thanks Barry, I'll keep an eye out for it on Thursday

Thanks for this info Barry, I'm going to have to attempt to get into work by bus next week if the strikes do go ahead, but can imagine they're going to be very busy and a nightmare to get on. Do you know if there are any intentions to put rail replacement buses on or if the bus companies are going to make provisions for extra services? (I'm pre-empting a no!) Many thanks

I agree with Sophiesofa, I had a load of decent handbags that I thought would sell well but they didn't so ended up giving them all to charity, whereas a mug that I thought would just go for 99p ended up going for ?50 because it turned out to be something of a collectable item! Definitely have a look at similar items already on there, it should give you some idea as to whether you think yours will go and what price etc.