Sue

There is at least one in the lake at Peckham Rye Park. They are quite often to be seen in lakes and ponds. Presumably their owners dump them when they grow too big, or they get sick of them. I suggest you (or somebody) find it some water. I don't have time or I would come and do it. ETA: It is hardly going to stay in the same location, is it. There is a pond at the Horniman where they do pond dipping with kids. It has probably come from there. You could try phoning the Horniman, but it won't last long on the South Circular if you have just left it there :(

You might have better luck posting this in the lounge, or else the business section? Maybe more people might see it than in the family room?

malumbu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes it is not fit for purpose, as described, or > causes injury. Nuff said. Not sure what all the > fuss is about. Anyone want a terrapin? Sold as > seen (no charge) so not covered under consumer > legislation. Malumbu, I hardly think they are going to give me a refund because something has made me feel sick. The issue is that it was misrepresented as being natural when it wasn't, and if I had known that I wouldn't have bought it.

Administrator Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My response was to Robert Poste's Child post, to > clarify the GDPR concern about personal > information. I know. I would like to see the copies of the emails so that I know exactly what has been said. You may not have given Heals information which would identify me at this stage, but as soon as I approach them they will put two and two together, won't they? All I can hope is that the person you have had this correspondence with will not be the same person as I speak to, however who knows what the channels of communication within Heals concerning complaints are.

Administrator Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just to clarify, there was no information given > that wasn't on this thread, in fact is was > "Someone purchased a diffuser that made them feel > ill, would she be entitled to a refund?". That is not the issue at all. I am not expecting a refund because I bought something that made me feel ill. Please can you send me copies of the emails between yourself and Heals concerning this, thank you.

Oh FFS. For example "a bit upset that you had spent that money on yourself on your birthday and were not sure if you would get your money back." I was not "upset". In fact I was more angry at what I saw as misrepresentation of the product. I see no point in continuing this. Yes you have apologised, but unfortunately that does not put my position with the shop back to where it would have been if you hadn't interfered. Cross posted. Unfortunately also I can't see any way in which amends could be made, can you?

Administrator Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Like I said, apologies that I overstepped the > mark. > > You were asking lots of questions, seemed > uncertain about your situation and a bit upset > that you had spent that money on yourself on your > birthday and were not sure if you would get your > money back. > > Like I said, apologies ut I thought I was helping > you by getting a definitive answer to the question > "Do I have any case for getting my money back from > the shop I bought them from?" as you had not > spoken to them after a few weeks of purchase I > thought I would so that you would not have to > worry. > > I've not spoken to the manufacturer. You seem to have read rather a lot into my posts and made several assumptions. The reason I have not yet spoken to the shop is because of the length of time it took me to get some kind of answer from the manufacturer, as I thought I had made clear. But I really cannot see that that has anything whatsoever to do with anybody else!!!

cella Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When I read the post my first thought was why? On > the assumption that you're not related/friends > (even then?) it is a slightly odd thing to do on a > competent woman's behalf surely? Cella, to the best of my knowledge we are neither related nor friends, and I don't know anybody who would dream of doing this on my behalf, let alone without asking.

Administrator Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "Do I have any case for getting my money back from > the shop I bought them from? " > > That question has been answered. > > I did not give them your name. > > I did not have a conversation about > misrepresentation by the manufacturer of products > they are selling, you can do that yourself. > > *steps back* I was asking in a general manner. I am actually quite gobsmacked that anybody would take it upon themselves to approach the shop without asking me first. You said above "I emailed Heals for you." What on earth gave you the right to do that? I had already said in a post above that I was going to go back to the shop. I am quite capable of dealing with these things myself. Regardless of whether or not you gave them my name, there are not going to be two people with an issue about a diffuser they bought recently, are there? As forum admin, or indeed as a forum user, I feel you have well overstepped the mark, however good your intentions, sorry. How dare you interfere in other people's issues like that?

That is an odd thing to do. And I obviously don't have an order number, as I didn't buy it online. I realise you meant well, but I'm not happy about that at all. Did you give them my name? ETA: There is more to this than getting a refund. It is about misrepresentation by the manufacturer of products they are selling. I wanted to have that conversation with them myself.

Are you sure they are not funding it? I haven't been past there lately, but if it isn't presently planted up, could it not be just a change from Summer to Winter bedding, or something similar?

Robert Poste's Child Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > To me, too, Sue (I'm a Lidl fan and out of the > habit of buying luxury stuff). After seeing the > price I felt a bit faint myself! I don't shop in Lidl any more. I still have a cupboard full of stuff like cornichons with honey (or something) which I only bought because it appeared so cheap. I will probably never ever eat it :)) Bit like Ikea, only with food :)) And I totally agree, it was a ridiculous price, but I scrimp and save much of the time and just wanted to have something nice for a change (I also bought a lovely yellow backpack half price in a sale, having fainted at the full price it was everywhere else, including John Lewis!) So feeling ill was somewhat of a downer .....

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Happy (belated) birthday Sue xx Thanks KK, it was a while ago now!

NewWave Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If You only use essential oils usually (I too find > that synthetic scents make me feel almost > nauseous) My advice is to in future go to Niels > Yard (theres a branch in Borough market)I get > essential oils from there and either put them in > one of the diffusers that they sell or on a > lightbulb ring. > Ive never liked the reed thing-Ive never found one > that gives a pure enough aroma I do sometimes buy oils from Neals Yard, usually the Covent Garden branch, but mostly I get them wholesale every few years from Amphora, including lavender oil in bulk. They probably aren't as high quality in some cases, but they are very much cheaper :) I have had one of their electric diffusers for some years, but I find it annoying to have to keep topping up the water (first world problems). Also you can only use them where there is a socket to plug them into, which isn't always convenient. I fairly recently discovered the Body Source diffusers, which I find more aesthetically pleasing, plus they have a timer so you can set them to turn off after a certain time (eg if you are going to sleep). But these also have the same disadvantages as the Neal's Yard ones. However they are cheaper. I have them in different rooms using different oils, eg for working, relaxing, whatever. Having talked to a lovely woman who runs a stall in North Cross Road selling sticks which genuinely do only use essential oils (which I sadly noticed too late), I did a bit of googling and found you can get all the stuff online to make your own. So in future I am going to do that, and add my own oils. I will probably need to experiment a bit :)

Robert Poste's Child Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sue, I just googled: tell me you didn't pay ?50 > for a room diffuser... I was seduced by the attractive packaging and the fact that it was in a very upmarket shop (alright I'll admit it, it was Heal's :)) They had a sale on, but this one wasn't in the sale). It was coming up to my birthday and I had an urge to treat myself to something. Any other time, I probably would have looked and passed by :( ETA: I realise that to many ED residents Heal's probably isn't very upmarket, but it feels like it to me :))

Yeh, well, a privatised Royal Mail has to keep its shareholders happy, doesn't it? I'm surprised anybody is surprised, really.

Yes but as I hadn't actually bought direct from True Grace, I'm not sure that would have the desired effect except to thoroughly piss them off. I have however just been down that route with BT .....

ianr Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I will look up the Sale of Goods Act. > > The Consumer Rights Act 2015 would be more > appropriate. > > I think you're going to have to go to Wiltshire, > to see what the Wardour Chapel really smells of. > https://www.therecollectiononline.com/a-52052112/t > rue-grace/true-grace-manor-scented-reeds-sacristy- > 250ml/ ) :)) Thanks for that link, ianr, I don't even recall seeing those top/middle/base notes on the True Grace website (all of which appear to be essential oils ......)

niall Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > *write them a letter stating that you are the > human man/woman xxxxx from the family xxxxxxxx, > informing them that their implied rights of access > are withdrawn and that you are not driving > but travelling. then ask them if they are acting > under their oath and demand a signature > in wet ink from the magistrate. > > once done, give them a photocopy of the magna > carta and send them on their way. > > > *some of the above advice may not be entirely > relevant let alone factual accurate, but is > gathered from a variety of credible sources, > namely YouTube videos. :)) :)) :))

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In the first instance simply go back to the shop > with the product and explain the situation and > you'll probably find it'll be resolved there and > then. Yes, thanks, that's what I'm going to do. Thanks everybody for your useful advice!

Boddle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Anyone know if there?s any fnal way > of protesting?! Far too late now, I fear. Hardly anybody turned up to a protest which was arranged long ago and publicised on here, apart from Helen Hayes our MP and a few local residents. Some of us also wrote to Royal Mail before the decision had been finalised. Clearly not enough.

Thanks Malumbu. I will look up the Sale of Goods Act. My understanding was that the retailer rather than the manufacturer has to deal with it in the first instance, has that changed? However, I'm not sure a product can be described as faulty just because I felt ill. True Grace sent me this MSDS sheet which says it does not cause irritation. I pointed out that I had no irritation, but that synthetic perfume makes me feel ill. However I have never had any tests or anything to identify exactly what is causing me to feel ill (I just avoid synthetic perfume), and in any case as True Grace won't tell me what's in it, even if I had had it probably wouldn't help. I wouldn't take them to court, too much hassle for a relatively small amount of money (fifty pounds. I can't believe I spent fifty pounds on a few sticks and a small bottle of liquid!) ETA: It wasn't distant selling. I bought it from a store (so that I could smell it before I bought it) so I'm not covered by any law relating to that.

A few weeks back I bought some extraordinarily expensive diffuser sticks, made by True Grace. It was a birthday present to myself. I did (obviously) smell the display sticks before I bought them. On the box, it says "We make careful and natural choices of the finest ingredients to ensure both sustainability and excellence." On a notice by a display (not in the shop I bought them from) it says ".... therapeutic home fragrance products - all made from carefully-selected and sustainable natural ingredients ......" (Bold font is mine) When I started using these sticks, the smell made me feel ill :( I couldn't find a list of the ingredients online anywhere, so I emailed the company, who replied to say "Our products are made with essential oils." I then emailed back to say I use essential oils a lot but that the diffuser was making me feel ill, so did it also have some synthetic scent or non-natural ingredient in it? Surprise surprise I had no reply. I chased a couple of weeks later - still no reply. So I phoned them. They have refused to tell me exactly what is in the diffuser. They sent me a MSDS sheet, which just says that the chemical identity is "Reeds Sacristy." (Sacristy is the name of the particular fragrance.) When I pointed out that this wasn't terribly helpful, they emailed to say ..."the diffusers consist 75-85% of a carrier oil and 15-25% of fragrance, which is made from a mixture of essential oils and synthetic fragrance......the carrier oil is natural and I am assuming this is why my colleague told you that the diffuser was made from essential oils...." (!!!!!) So, to come to the point, are they selling these "natural" products under false pretences? Do I have any case for getting my money back from the shop I bought them from? I go out of my way to avoid synthetic perfume, because just walking through a department store perfume section makes me feel ill :( and there is no way I would have bought these if I had thought they weren't completely natural :( ETA: At the very least, it seems to me that the wording they use is misleading.

Robert Poste's Child Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If that's true I'm not sure whether to blame > Heston Blumenthal or Harry Potter. :)) :)) :))

tortor Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >somehow I appear to be organising much of it. > Yes, unfortunately you may find that this is the problem. We were involved with a street party for a number of years. Initially there was a small group of people sharing the workload, but several of them moved away and in the end there was hardly anybody left. We asked for volunteers, but nobody else stepped forward. People have busy lives. They may be happy to actually come to the party, but less happy to give up their time to organise it. I know there are a number of successful street parties in the area, but I think it does depend on more than one or two people being willing to be involved. You probably know this already, but you will need to liaise with the council in good time re closing the road. I imagine the place you hire the bouncy castle from will advise on insurance. Think carefully about where you site the bouncy castle, so that it is not too far away from all the other things going on, and so that parents can easily keep an eye on their children. Re music, I guess it depends on exactly what you provide, eg a DJ, prerecorded mix etc. We had live local musicians every year, plus a small PA system powered from a house. Be aware that some people in the street may not be happy about the music even though it is only one afternoon in the year. Also people's tastes in music differ. You will need gazebos in case of rain (or hot sun). We produced flyers to put through every door advertising the party, but you will need to give people plenty of notice and then remind them nearer the time. We asked people to bring food, and had a separate gazebo with table to put the food on. You will either need paper plates and disposable cutlery or else ask people to bring their own. You will also have to somehow get people to remove their cars from the street before the party. This is not necessarily easy :) Activities for the kids could include things like face painting and providing chalk to draw on the pavement. This looks like a useful site for further help and ideas: https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/stuff-to-do/organise-big-lunch Good luck! ETA: You may get more response if you post this in the main part of the forum? know that several of the people who used to be involved in "our" street party also post on here, and will probably remember lots which I have forgotten, but may not look at the family sections.