Sue

TE44 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sue, if they researched it, I'm assuming you > think > It was worth more, you may not have been able > To afford it. ?25 for a secondhand jumper is not > cheap. No of course I would not have been able to afford it, that's why it was a bargain :) It's a really beautiful handmade Zandra Rhodes jacket - a work of art. I've only ever worn it once (for my sister's sixtieth do) because I'm afraid of spilling something on it. It wasn't from Give and Take, though. I assume they'd have had a bit more nous and priced it a lot higher, though I have no idea what it's worth - I've never seen anything like it before. I bought it because it was beautiful, not because I needed a jacket. Please don't start on me as well (I don't mean you, TE44) - the only other designer item I have is a very beautiful Ossie Clark dress from a sale in the early seventies. I still wear it. But if I had more money I would so buy designer clothes. Not because they're expensive or to show off. But because in my opinion (depending on the designer) they are art. Or perhaps people shouldn't spend their own hard-earned money on art either? ETA: I agree it's offensive in the extreme to tell people what they should and should not be spending their money on.

Sazzle30 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- many people won't buy second hand > clothing ( or the new phrase Pre-loved ) as there > is a perceived stigma attached. Which is a shame > as you ca get some amazing things second hand Indeed. I got a fantastic handmade Zandra Rhodes jacket for ?25 from a charity shop. But I feel whoever priced it should maybe have done a bit of research ......

nxjen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Brixton and Eltham M&S stores are probably > survivors from the times when M&S sold only > clothes and were not seen as particularly middle > class. The Brixton store was definitely there in the sixties, and possibly the fifties as well. My (rather snobby) grandmother viewed M&S as very downmarket, even though some of the royal family were reputed to buy their underwear there (not from the Brixton branch, I presume :)) )

M_Cara Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just had my own experience of rude customer > service: last winter Merryfields reheeled a pair > of boots and completely resoled my husband's > brogues - and neither repair was cheap. This year, > after taking in one of the same boots that needed > a new zip, he quoted ?40 due to it being a tan > colour and said it would take a long time to > complete the job. he suggested it might not be > worth the cost, which I could use to buy a new > pair of boots. I decided to leave the boot with > him to repair as they are my favourite, but having > a chance to think about it overnight, I realised > that it wasn't a good use of my ?40. The next day > I came past to say I'd taken his advice and > changed my mind. He said the boot was now with his > supplier who was colour matching the zip and it > would be over a week till it would be back in the > shop. 10 days later I go to collect the boot and > was obviously taking too long for his liking find > the job ticket. He told me I had 'wasted enough of > his time already'. I won't be wasting any more of > his time in future either! Timpsons it will be. It sounds like he had gone to quite a lot of trouble over your boots. It was hardly his fault you changed your mind after asking him to repair them, nor that you went to collect them without having the job ticket to hand, surely. I'm pretty sure Timpsons wouldn't have been able either to colour match the zip nor to replace it.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > There are far too many food outlets in East > Dulwich / Lordship Lane. and a few more clothes > shops would > be appreciated to give The White Stuff a run for > its money. (similar Stuff to River Island but > twice the price.) > Off the top of my head, there's Sugar and Mrs Robinson. Celestial and ED (in North Cross Road) also sell clothes. There's a clothes shop on the corner of Melbourne Grove (I think - up towards the station, anyway). Plus there's a shoe shop in Lordship Lane and another one in North Cross Road. I don't think that's bad in and around a relatively small local high street. If you want the chains you can go into town.

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Looks like the site is going to become something > called "question air". This, then?? http://www.question-air.com/

numbers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Let me guess...cider? :)) :))

Blah Blah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- If there's a tag on the > wiring and a serial number, maybe a google search > might find the answer? Good idea, I'll have a look.

Laddy Muck. Just step away ..... you can do it :))

:)) :)) :)) Yes, I have spent many (un)happy hours before gigs attempting to untangle the fairy lights. However carefully they're taken down and put away, they're always in a bloody mess when you come to put them up again. At least The Ivy House now have their own lovely lights permanently up ......

No, I didn't think I could look at the light itself and tell. I thought there might be some info on the label round the wire or on the transformer which might be relevant.

Thanks all, I think it's safest just to buy new ones. And I have to get the electrician back anyway for something else so will deffo ask about the socket. Never occurred to me at the time :( Thanks for all the advice (apart from Jeremy's :)) )

Thanks Blah Blah but some lights do specifically say they are for indoor use only, so I'd have thought there must be a reason for that?

ed_pete Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I guess it depends on how much you value the > lights. If you use them outside and they blow > then the worst that could happen is that the > circuit breaker that your outside socket is > connected to will trip. > Having said that if you have one of those outside > sockets that had a lid that has to remain open > when something is plugged in then I think that you > would need to replace this anyway as obviously it > wouldn't be safe if it rained. If you did change > it then you could put in an external socket that > can be closed with a plug in it and incorporates > an RCD so that only the socket would trip rather > than the whole ring. Thanks, the socket was only installed in March this year but I haven't closely examined it, maybe I should have a better look to see exactly how it works :(

Does anybody know if there's any way of telling (without the original packaging etc) whether a string of fairy lights is suitable for use outside? I know some of mine are and some aren't, but sadly I don't know which ones :( They've been shunted around in the past eg used for gigs, and got all mixed up :( Also, I have an outside socket which I haven't used yet - can this be used in the rain? It has a cover on which obviously would have to be lifted when lights were plugged into it ..... I've only ever used solar lights outside before, but the wires got chewed up by foxes - ah. Just seen a flaw in my plan to have electric lights outside ..... don't want to be responsible for killing a fox .....

rabbitears Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > He was in hospital for six days after being > arrested? Blimey. Was he injured before, during or > after arrest? If he'd raped somebody three times, I hope it was all three. And I'm not a vindictive person. Usually. ETA: Bastard.

You were right then, Fox, so sorry but I can't help. Doesn't that kind of window film mean that you can no longer see out of the window? You can get translucent blinds which let quite a lot of light into the house, and you can see out, but people can't see in, at least during the day ..... depends why you want to cover the windows, I guess :)

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I understood Ruffers as needing window film. The > stuff that covers the window to make it opaque > (frosted effect) > so you cannot see in. ? > Perhaps Ruffers could clarify then, as given the time of year both Horsebox and I assumed he meant this: http://www.stormguard.co.uk/products/Others/m/GLAZINGFILM.htm

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Wish it was still > a pub.. and The Grove of course. My two nearest > pubs and both of them have closed down. You clearly weren't giving them enough custom, Jah Lush :)

I used it last year for the first time. Can't remember the brand, sorry, but it was a reputable make. Effective to keep out draughts, but if the tape isn't properly fixed all the way round, it soon messes it all up. Plus, I found the tape had stuck too fast in places, and now have adhesive marks all round my window frames. It also looks horrid from the outside if it isn't completely taut everywhere. :(

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sorry Sue, I overstepped the mark. Apology accepted. There's a pottery competition on t'telly tonight, if you don't like baking :))

peckhamside Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > James, can you shed any light on why the works > need to be carried out at night (at presumably > more expense) to 'save disruption to traffic' when > the road is due to be closed anyway, why not work > in the day? The road is still open during the day, isn't it? Or have I read it wrong?

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well good luck to 'em. > Beats X-factor, strictly come blah blah, and the > cake baking bollox. Hey! Leave the cake baking out of this! :))

hellosailor Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I believe this came up in a thread here years ago > but when I was about 5 or 6 my mum made me dress > up for a party as a poacher, complete with my soft > toy bunnies stripped of their clothes and strung > upside down with garden twine from a pole. > It wasn't even Halloween, just a regular kids > birthday party. Everyone else went as a princess. I don't usually come into the family bit, but glad I did, that made me laugh so much (though also I really felt for you) :)

I use that launderette as well for big items like duvets. Was able to fit two king size duvets into their largest machine !!! Did not tumble dry there, however, took them home and hung them over the stairwell to dry :)