Marmora Man

This is not an ethical dilemma - it's called parenthood

Tarot, As a matter of fact: 1. The Conservative defence cuts hadn't been made, merely announced, priot to the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Isles. 2. Had the cuts been implemented it would have been impossible to create and defend the Task Force 3. There was never a permanent nuclear submarine defending the Falkland Isles - tho' post the invasion several took part in the subsequent conflict and, occassionally, nuclear submarines may carry out a covert patrol of the area (or not - who can tell where a nuclear submarine is?)

My 18 year old son was visiting his girlfriend in Liverpool - driving my wife's car for which he is insured. He was caught in a police speed trap (radar gun). He was driving over the limit, accepts this, has paid his fine and taken the points on his licence. So far, so foolish but not an untypical teenage driver story. However, having been stopped instead of the situation being discussed at the roadside he was asked to sit in the back of the police car - and effectively locked in. He was then asked for ID, which he did not have on him. The police gave him two options - to be handcuffed and taken to the police station or to have his photo taken then and there in the car by one of the policemen with his Blackberry. He opted for the Blackberry photo and went to the police station the next day with his driving licence. I'm not totally happy with the police behaviour -I have always opposed compulsory ID cards and similar overreaching state authority - but I am slightly unsure of my ground and would appreciate advice before I consider a complaint. Thanks MM Questions: 1. Having stopped a speeding driver do the police have the right to lock the alleged offender in the back of the police car? 2. Not having ID is not an offence as far as I'm aware - so why the option of being taken handcuffed to the police stationb or having a photo taken? Were the police trying to scare him - do they have this authority? 3. Having taken a photo - what could the police do with it? The only biometric photo that might be around would be a passport photo but, as yet, my son's passport is just an ordinary non biometric one. Are the police allowed to interrogate their own, or other authorities, photographic databases to identify someone that has committed a speeding (civil) offense?

I follow the Sean McG approach nowadays. In early days forum was a neighbourhood asset and giving away items to forum users was easy in the knowledge the goods would be used and appreciated - has changed these days. I still lend and give, but a little more circumspectly.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've heard it all now! From Waitrose replacing > Iceland, to a new branch of the Savoy opening up! > When will the people around here realise this is a > skanky part of south-east London which does not > have the infrastructure or repuation to accomodate > some of the bigger more prestigeous brands that > other parts of London can easily attract. We never > will have an M&S or Waitrose, house prices have > hit there limit and you arnt sitting on a > goldmine! Here's an idea my fellow ED posh > co-posters, go and earn 60k plus and move north of > the river or further out towards an SW postcode! > Simples! > > Louisa. I can attest to the demand for decent short term accommodation. Since occasionally letting out our ex granny flat to friends, family and now friends of friends we have seen requests increase - almost all takers are parents / friends of those living in small"ish" ED flats with insufficient room to accommodate overnight guests. If Church Street Hotel can make a go of it in Camberwell then a similar, quirky / boutique, hotel could make a go of it here. As to ED being a "skanky" part of SE London Louisa you clearly need to get out more. It's not Hampstead or West Ken but it's a hell of a lot better than many parts of London I've lived in and has lots a green space along with decent shops, museums and galleries close by + decent transport links to central London - 10 mins by train to London Bridge or 25 mins by bus to Westminster beats many places on N. London tube lines. Off the top of my head let's say Turnpike Lane, Hackney, Essex Road, City Road, Leyton and others. (All north of the river).

I have been known to offer a self catering apartment to those parents of 20 / 30 somethings with no room in their own flat. So if this is a problem for you - contact me.

If the council website is to be believed the cuts are circa 11.5% in 2010/11 and a further circa 7.5% in 2011/12. Given the nature of local government bureaucracy and some of the high increases in government grants to Southwark over recent years it is a racing certainty that at least some of those savings are capable of being found in the back room operations or projects of marginal value - reducing the annual reduction in frontline costs of essential services to low single figure percentages. I am not arguing that cuts are necessarily a "good thing" or that it won't be hard - but hyperbolic statements about 30% cuts aren't helpful. What would be helpful is to have a coherent alternatives proposed and not simply opposition. "We did not cause the financial crisis and we don't want to pay for it" is a nice, factually incorrect, slogan but not a policy. Sure the banks were bailed out - but it is almost another racing certainty that the government will sell of its shares in UK banks at a minimal net loss or even a gain over the next 5 years. The entire country wallowed in increased government spending and easy money from 1999 through to 2008 - the reckoning had to come at some stage and it did. The price has been and is reduced government spending across the board to reflect a reduced tax take and the growing cost of government debt.

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What you CAN say: > > Cameron pledged in April not to raise VAT Cameron didn't "pledge" - he gave the usual canny politician's answer when pressed to make an impossible commitment and said "We have absolutely no plans to raise VAT. Our first budget is all about recognising we need to get spending under control rather than putting up tax". He went on to say that he expected to inherit a real financial mess and that his preferred method of tackling this was by cutting gov't spending. That is very different from a pledge not to raise VAT as you will recognise - and, as I see you as someone with a sophisticated understanding of politics, I'm sure you didn't fully believe Cameron way back in April and took his remarks with a large dose of salt. Re-writing recent political history is becoming something of a growth activity - with the Millibrand forgetting his own party's plans for cutting spending and raising taxes. Remember Darling was planning a VAT increase to 19% - an implicit acknowledgement that a government of any political persuasion would be raising VAT and that it's not a Tory plot to attack the poor.

Over the course of the last year the integral granny flat in my house which no longer has a granny to occupy it has been used occasionally by friends, family and EDF relatives for short stay B&B. Apart from the latter category payment has mostly been in bottles of wine or a meal out. We are considering turning this into a small business and would appreciate feedback / advice - hence posting in Lounge. Questions: 1. As the flat (2 bedrooms [1 double, 1 single], kitchen, bathroom and living room [with pull out sofa bed]. Cable TV, WiFi, radio, washing machine) is an integral part of the house - albeit with separate entrance, are there any regulations I need to be aware of? I don't want to go around fitting fire doors in what is, essentially, part of a family home. Smoke alarms are fitted. I seem to remember legislation about letting room(s) in a house? 2. Is there a demand for a 2 bedroom short term B&B apartment in East Dulwich? Recent EDF related stays have involved relatives visiting people where the East Dulwich flat is too small to accommodate visitors. We've seen Australian grandparents visiting new grandchild, Italian aunts visiting new nephew and a Chester based Mum & Dad visiting daughter to collect cats for Christmas. I envisage stays of between 2 day weekend and 7 days. 3. In rental terms thinking of ?60 a night for 2 people, with a ?20 supplement for additional guests. Price would include a welcome pack of milk, juice, cereal, bread & jam + tea and coffee. Is this about right or too expensive / too cheap? 4. What would be allowable expenses against tax? Cleaning, laundry ?? Advice welcome. Thanks Marmora Man

Just to add to debate / confusion it is reported that the "third" species may have intermingled with Neandertal and Homo Sapiens so that some modern "humans" carry some genes from these extinct species. This seems to be not improbable.

P68: It's easy - you clear a lane about two shovels wide and throw the snow / ice to the wall / garden side of the path so as not to block the gutters. It's not necessary to clear every iota of snow away - just aim to make a safe, ice free pathway.

DiD Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi James, > > Any way Southwark council can put leaflets in > people's houses asking them to clear the pavement > in front of their own houses? they do that in > Canada. In fact, its law. I wouldn't expect the > council to do it given how stretched they are, > especially on side streets(though reduced price > snow shovels would be rather good). The problem > is that if people even leave a thin layer, and > then it melts a bit, it turns to ice. Not safe for > pedestrians, especially old people and kids. But > if its cleared fairly promptly, all is fine. How > can Southwark help to encourage this community > spirit? (sorry, don't mean to sound all big > society....). Hey what's wrong with the Big Society concept? Regardless of politics, clearing pathways is exactly the kind of thing it should be achieving.

Pathway cleared last night for my corner of Marmora & Scutari and junction gritted this morning also as grit lorries do not visit the side streets. Almost got involved in "Grit Wars" tho' when picking up a wheelbarrow worth of grit to spread on the road at Marmora / Scutari junction to ensure cars don't slide & skid into the many parked cars close to the junction. The nearest pile of grit (TY to Southwark for doing this) had been exhausted so I went a bit further which turned out to be, just, in Lewisham, where I was challenged for "stealing" Lewisham grit to use in Southwark!!

2 wickets down already! I was hoping to end today with Cook & Strauss still at the wicket and 75 - 100 on the board. THere's still some batting to go but doesn't look too good - would be a good bet tho'.

OOOPS! Too early in my confidence - but England's still in the game.

What a great start to the 3rd Test. Went a little flat as the tail wagged a bit but 230 odd behind with all wickets standing and Cook seemingly in form bodes well.

Thanks Ratty & Mockney.

OK - following EDF advice I have splurged on a Sonos music system for the house. It's not set up yet - we're waiting for that 25/12 moment. However, in preparation, the next step is to get online with Spotify. As I understand it this is a gigantic virtual juke box where I can play almost any track in the world for free (except for monthly subscriptions). Is anyone a Spotify expert - if so can they point me at a handy "how to do it" guide - or, for a bottle of wine, be prepared to give me a short teach in on how to get the best out of it - by building library / playlists etc. Also, as a plea from Mrs MM - to get all Beatles tracks. From an interested, but technically challenged, music streaming newbie. Thanks

Adding to Hugenot's post above - the link between payor and provider is the major change, providing much need competition and allowing those that wish to provide quality to do so, secure in the knowledge that the costs will be recovered. There is, and always will be, a different level of teaching between Oxbridge and similar universities and the University of the South Circular - there should be a matching differential in price.

ON subject of chestnuts - last weekend Mrs MM & I were in Rome (much warmer than ED). The roast chestnut sellers there seem to belong to a guild, all their stalls are small works of art, with beautiful mounds of carefully split and cooked chestnuts, while the brazier & stall are decorated with ribbons, baubles and large fake chestnuts. Today, finishing Xmas shopping in Oxford St, the London chestnut sellers were not up to the same standard. PS: Was also told that the black / white smoke used to signal progress when electing a new Pope was produced using a chestnut roasting brazier and temporary chimney set up in a corner of the Sistine Chapel - could this be true?

So instead of being in debt to a bank - for a known sum + interest, for a known period and with an agreed set of criteria that mean nothing is paid until your earnings are at the median UK earnings level (pegged to inflation) and that after 30 years any outstanding debt is written off, you would prefer that all graduates pay an extra unknown % of their entire lifetime earnings to the Government - the first is a contract, the latter is a very bad deal.

For slightly obscure independent films Babette's Feast takes a lot of beating. Kept me salivating on a long patrol once where I watched it maybe a dozen times in as many weeks.

Warne's been out of 1st class cricket for 3 years. He wouldn't have the same skill or fitness. The publicity's good and I'm sure he's having fun teasing the media & England but he'll not play for Oz again. Why would the most successful Aussie spin bowler want to risk his reputation by playing at sub par himself and risking his reputation with the current, losing, side?

For years I have used a stovetop Moka expresso maker. Good in its way and it delivers a mighty caffiene kick but .... it isn't proper expresso and always lacks that delicious crema that separates good coffee from fantastic expresso. Wondering about buying a standalone "proper" expresso machine that might even include a steamer for Mrs MM's cappuccino's and latte's. What's best out there? Gaggia or something else. I don't think I want a George Clooney Nespresso system.

Does anyone have any experience of this music system? A Wireless sound system that allows a full iTune library to be played wherever there's a Sonos unit - it also connects (without use of computer) to internet to acess Spotify, and similar streaming services, and most worldwide digital radio stations. It all sounds technically clever and fun. It's a possible joint Xmas present for the household - but not being quite at the forefront of IT / music technology I would welcome views from those with more knowledge / experience, and suggestions of alternative (cheaper??) systems.