Sue

I made an insurance claim last July (2018) re subsidence (my bay). Due to a series of errors, bad decisions and lack of communication by the various people/organisations concerned, the remedial work which was supposed to have been finished before Christmas is still not completed. Since the claim was made, I have been left to chase everything up myself and try to make sense of different information given me by different "professionals" , or in some cases by the same "professional" at different times. I have not had the use of my through living room (all boarded up, including between the two halves of the room, and with no front windows) or front bedroom (where all my living room contents are now stored) since February. All this has had an impact on my mental and physical health, plus I have had to cancel arrangements made for a (very) significant birthday. The only place I can sit (apart from a very small office) is my kitchen. Otherwise I have to go to bed. I have been quite ill during this time, and have not even been able to lie on a sofa. A formal complaint was made to the insurance company at the beginning of March, followed shortly after by a detailed summary and outline of events. As a result of this, what had already been done (which was in a half completed state) has now all had to be taken down again and rebuilt. Following various emails, the insurance company sent me their "final decision" in May in a letter which made it clear that they had not understood some of the issues. They also sent me a cheque for a derisory amount of compensation which I have already told them I am not accepting. I think they are hoping I will just give up. I sent them an email correcting some of what they had said and saying I would be sending a fuller response, but due to intermittent ill health I haven't yet done that. They have told me that if I am not happy I can "make another complaint" !!!!!! They have also told me I can take my complaint to the Financial Ombudsman. Somebody told me yesterday that I should involve a solicitor, and that the insurance company would have to pay their fee, but that sounds unlikely to me. Can anybody advise me on my best way forward? I have obviously not cashed their cheque. Oh, and after my complaint had been submitted, they upped my annual insurance premium by 40% .....

Did you see my recommendation for Don Simpson on your other thread?

I don't know what it is, but it isn't rocket.

I use a fantastic local mobile mechanic. He's efficient, knowledgeable, very reasonably priced and absolutely honest and trustworthy. Don Simpson - 07484 663 639 ETA: Say Sue with the ancient Micra recommended him :) ETA: Obviously he may not be able to answer if he's stuck beneath a car, but if you leave a message on his home number 020 8299 7387 he will always get back to you when he gets home. I've been using him for years. He was originally recommended to me by my sister in law when she lived in East Dulwich.

theron Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Engevita Yeast Flakes have been our saviour since > going vegan. They're cheesy in flavour and high in > Vitamin B12 - great in homemade pesto's and mac & > cheese! Yes, I've recently discovered these! I got them in Health Matters. The How Not To Die cookbook has lots of recipes using them!

Jennys Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > https://www.allure.com/story/where-to-donate-makeu > p-beauty-products-used-unused?utm_source=onsite-sh > are&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm > _brand=allure > I don?t know if this information about > toiletries is still current. Thanks Jennys, most of the places in that link are in the States? I'll check out the one in London. The page is headed January 2019, so the info should hopefully be still current.

Here's a map of Kew Gardens showing the gates in relation to what's in the gardens :) https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/map

gumshoe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > katanita Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Tofoo say you don't need to press theirs, and > it > > does seem to be quite firm without it. What I'd > > really love to find is a plastic free source of > > tofu though, so if anyone finds one, please > share! > > > Yeah, Tofoo is already quite firm - I can never > seem to find it in the shops though! The Co-op on Lordship Lane had it today. Also M&S had what they call super firm tofu with their Plant Kitchen range. I bought both of them to try :)

Thanks Angelina

From ED, 40 or 176 to the Elephant, then a 35 or 133 to London Bridge. Not ideal, but the 40 now goes to Clerkenwell via Blackfriars. Or you could walk along the South Bank from Blackfriars to London Bridge.

Here's some interesting hedgehog info, just arrived in my inbox ten minutes ago! Includes how to make a hedgehog highway through your garden fence or wall! http://email-ptes.org/interface/external_view_email.php?AY912013405081560394934436163711

Pugwash Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Christ Church have a box for donations to a food > bank - they do not operate a food bank. > I think the nearest is PECAN in Peckham Pugwash, do you know whether there are restrictions on what donations are accepted by Christ Church/the Pecan food bank? I have a number of unopened food items as a result of changing my diet, but I don't want to take them to a food bank if they aren't going to be used by those in need. They include canned fish, canned fruit in syrup, stock cubes, hot chocolate, golden syrup, Lea & Perrins sauce. I've also got some hair products (mousse etc) which I no longer use - do food banks take things like that as well?

:(

Thanks!

Not being funny but I still can't see a menu on the website: https://saucyrestaurants.com/ Is it the same as it was when they opened before, does anybody know, or has it changed?

Hope it went OK Dulwich Fox and you will soon be in good health again.

JohnL Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BBC balanced. > > Calls for it to be shut down come from all sides > regularly :) Yep :))

A couple of days ago a massive keyboard suddenly appeared unbidden on my (Android) mobile. It appears to be connected with Google/Gmail, as it has the Google icon on the top left, but it comes up whenever I'm typing on here, Facebook etc. I have been into settings but can't see any way to change it back to what it was. I can move it around so it doesn't cover up what I'm trying to type, but it still covers a large part of the screen and is very annoying. Can anybody help?

dovestail Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Am having difficulty posting in the for sale > section and wondered if I would experience a > similar difficulty in this part of the forum. Sometimes it's because you've used a word that is banned. Try different wording?

cella Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- I'm left unsure though what > the red lines are as it feels like some exchanges > on the EDF continue unabated and others, if enough > protesters seemingly complain privately to Admin, > are deleted. I agree. I have no idea either. It seems inconsistent.

katanita Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Organic Village and SMBS Foods on Lordship Lane > both sell fresh turmeric root Thanks that's useful. Also thanks Cella. Now, white miso paste. Never even heard of it. I have some other miso. Where can I get white miso? It seems to be in a lot of the How Not To Die recipes.

I think we would all agree that admin has a difficult and thankless task, and I'm sure we are all grateful for hisl starting and continuing this forum, which is a great asset to our local community in all kinds of ways. However in any online discussion, just as in real life, conversations meander. Many things are not good in this country and the world at present. I do feel concern that letting what many people would consider iffy statements pass by because to pick up on them is considered to take the thread off topic is -not sure of the right word here- unfortunate? As regards not knowing people off the forum, that is generally going to be the case. There are a lot of people in East Dulwich! Therefore we can only go by what they write on here. You can click on anybody's name and see their past posts, except any which have been deleted by admin.

Passiflora Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I tried to go plant based/vegan for 9 months after > family members had been but my iron levels went a > bit haywire. I have been taking Ferroglobin for some time, but I stopped after reading that excess iron was bad. I am having frequent blood tests at the moment so hopefully anything amiss would be picked up.

Anyone know where I can get fresh turmeric locally (ish)?

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Time to make Sloe Gin again soon, that?s plant > based :)) :)) :)) Yep! So's cassis!