Sue

jimmah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My pond is full of small bugs, shrimplike things xxxxxx Yes, my tub has been in previous years, that's why I'm a bit concerned. I've just acquired an old butler sink, maybe I will use that as my pond instead and put fresh water in it :( But then water from the tap isn't good either because of the chlorine, oh dear :(

DaveR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Because there are > so many houses that have suffered subsidence in > the past there are plenty of insurers who will > take on the business, but you are unlikely to be > able to find them from comparison sites, so you > need to do old fashioned ringing around. xxxxxx Yeh that's what I had been doing. Anyway, I'm quite happy having almost halved what I was paying, without having had to pay for an up-to-date survey. A sign-off from 2001 would not cut any ice with any underwriter, I suspect. It certainly didn't impress any of the people I talked to earlier in the week. I've kept full records of all the technical reports etc - but it was thirteen years ago :)

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We had a subs claim just a few years back with the > same insurer.. Xxxxxxxxx So how come you are able to get quotes from other insurers to be able to say you are leaving? Most places won't touch anywhere with past subsidence claim with a bargepole so far as I can see :( Sorry for odd formatting am on phone!

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > These places are just like everywhere else. If you > don't ask, you don't get. xxxxxx My case was somewhat different. They knew I couldn't get insurance elsewhere because of the history of "subsidence", albeit from 13 years ago. So they had me over a barrel and didn't in the least have to reduce my premium. In fact I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been increased, and I would have had no option but to pay it ....... Or else be uninsured, which frankly would not be a great plan :)

Amazing good news! I realise I am the only one interested :)) but hey I have to share .... After several long conversations yesterday and today with my existing insurer (the person concerned was extremely helpful and went well beyond the call of duty), and apparently a referral to the Chief Executive, I have been issued with a new policy as "new business" with the present underwriter, with better cover, and for ?446 instead of ?732 :) Which normally I wouldn't have been eligible for because of what they are now saying was a "subsidence" claim in 2001. So polite persistence pays off, I guess. Having kept a note of the conversation I had with them last year, and the person's name, helped I think. So I have saved nearly ?300 a year. Hooray! Must resist the temptation to rush out and buy something :))

henryb Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I can take a while. You should have midge larva at > least. Does it have oxygenator plants in it? xxxxxx Yes, I get them from The Goldfish Bowl in Oxford when I'm in Oxford. Can't remember what kind they were, but they were OK for outdoor ponds. But I did also have a solar-powered fountain to help with oxygenation. Sadly late last Summer something (I presume a fox) dragged the floating bit out of the tub, together with the pump, if memory serves, and ate a huge chunk of the floating foam pad! So I think it's probably (bad word meaning ruined). I may be able to get a replacement pad, but I think the pump gets wrecked if it's out of water :( ETA: It's the second one I've had, so I'm not too keen to spend money on another one. The first one, something also removed the pump during the Winter, and unfortunately I didn't notice until Spring.

louisemurray you're a star. I will PM you! I'm slightly worried there might be something wrong with the water in my tub, as although it's not stagnant there doesn't seem to be anything at all living in it at the moment, ie no little pond creatures that I can see. Is that normal for this time of year? I wouldn't have thought so. I have had builders next door who have showered sawdust all over the garden, and I wonder if anything could have got into my tub? The mirror thread person has PMed me to tell me that I am a busybody with too much time on my hands. This for politely suggesting that the purchaser of a garden mirror should site it carefully to avoid stunning or killing birds. Charming. ETA: Oh, I see she's called me a "stalker" (???) and a busybody on her thread, as well.

oops posted in error sorry

Laddy Muck Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You are right re. mirrors, Sue...sadly the little > birdies tend to fly into glass too - so I try not > to clean my windows during the breeding season. > > Anyway, "my" newts are bonking like mad > again...rabbits appear celibate by comparison! :)) xxxxxxx I've heard if you put stickers on glass windows it deters the birds. Especially if they're in the shape of a bird of prey silhouette! Good news about "your" newts. My tub has had no frog visits this Spring :( So no spawn, and no tadpoles :(

Somebody is selling a garden mirror on here. I posted (politely) advice from the RSPB about the dangers of garden mirrors to birds - who obviously don't realise they are mirrors and fly into them - and my post has been removed. Great. ETA: Just noticed that in fact the original thread with my posts on is still there, but the seller has started a new one. So apologies to admin for my thinking that it was admin who didn't care about birds, and bad thoughts about the mirror seller :(

http://www.ifood.tv/network/fox_meat

uncleglen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes- it is not good when they send their kids to > your school for a couple of weeks and then clear > off. The ones I have experienced are put in > classes according to their age and are below the > reading age and deficient in Maths and become > disruptive since they/their parents do not care > about their education- and they have a detrimental > effect on the other students- but equal opps and > all that bleeding heart liberal bs.... xxxxxx Oh, how very charming. I'd rather be a "bleeding heart liberal", as you put it, than be like you :(

Underhill Road or East Dulwich Road???

Oh well, it seems like I am stuck with my present insurer - unless I want to pay for an up-to-date structural engineer's report to say there is no further ongoing movement. But on the bright side it seems that my present premium is reasonable, so not worth the hassle or expense of getting a report, I think. Thanks to everybody who offered advice!

Thanks so much for this, I had no idea you could have acoustic glazing put in old sash windows, I shall contact them immediately!!

ljohnson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > hi,I saw them too, absolutely disgusting xxxxx Why do you find them disgusting? Rats are very intelligent animals and it's not like these ones are living in your home!

I tried to attract goldfinches with nigella (niger) seed for ages, and in the end gave up. Maybe I'll try again! Not going to encourage dandelions and thistles in my tiny garden, I'm afraid, though may plant some nigella flowers :)

Oddono's - We recently had ice creams at Marine Ices at Chalk Farm, and it made me realise how lucky we are to have Oddono's in ED - much much nicer ice cream, quite a bit cheaper if memory serves, and much better service :) And totally agree with Treeview re ToastEd's salted chocolate tart, if that was the one with the raspberries too - probably the most yummy thing I've eaten this year so far :) Oh, and let's not forget to say Positive and Nice things about Foxy for starting this thread :))

JDR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- they have a new > system where you sit and wait. xxxxxxx When I was younger, that was the "old" system, and having an appointments system was supposed to mean less of a wait ...... With this "new" system, what are they going to do if they get so many people turning up at the same time that the wait could turn into hours? And will there be some sort of cut-off time, otherwise the doctors could be working 24/7?! I can see there are pros and cons of both systems - for example there will no longer be "missed appointments" with all the waste of time that entails - but oh dear, there seems to be no ideal solution, does there?

I thought they were sixties/seventies trousers, somewhat akin to loon pants :))

titch juicy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > being anti-fashion is so fashionable xxxxx I love fashion as an art form, but not blindly following it :)

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've never followed a fashion trend, I'll be cool > when regular boot cut jeans and t-shirts are the > in thing. That's basically all I wear. If I'm > "dressing up" it'll be the same jeans with one of > my 2 short sleeved shirts. xxxxxx My clothes are on-trend about once every fifteen years :))

You can save photos on Snapfish, too. I don't think you actually have to buy anything from them. Not sure how the amount of free storage compares to Flickr, though. Or you could store them all on one or more external hard drives or memory sticks? Depends whether you trust they will be safe online in the future, I suppose.

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Where do flat caps come into this? > > Or don't they? > > We started giving pubs a flat cap rating, but have > noticed fewer around lately (caps not pubs :) ) xxxxxxx So - are the flat cap wearers a separate species? Or are the caps the hipsters' Winter plumage, now moulted for the Summer? Or are flat caps too now irretrievably uncool and all gone to charity shops?

If you google London stock bricks you will find loads of suppliers of reclaimed bricks :) I just did because I thought London stock bricks also came in red, but seems I was wrong and that only the yellow ones are known as London stock bricks.