Sue

Aren't charity shops in effect for book recycling? Admittedly not free, but if you can afford to, you can buy books there then take them back when you've read them. Recycles the book and helps the charity twice! The Ivy House community owned pub in Stuart Road SE15 has a free library where you can take books to it and borrow from it. As an aside, I have read recently of some nasty people removing all or most of the books from free book banks, and then selling them 😡

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I don't want to start another one either. I'll move the post if admin thinks it should be somewhere else. I'm not looking for sympathy, I know there are lots of people much more ill than I am, I am just hoping for some information. My symptoms apparently aren't Covid (I'm still testing negative after a week, so I'm not wasting any more tests). I'm wondering if anyone on here has had anything similar recently, and if so how long it lasted, because it's very frustrating not feeling well enough to do anything much except lie in bed and read. It's not like a normal cold. It started with a bit of a dry cough for several days, which I didn't take much notice of. Then one afternoon I could hardly stay awake and went to bed around 5pm. Then the next day I couldn't stop sneezing (thought it was hay fever). Then I felt crap, then I got a constantly streaming nose for days, went through boxes of tissues. One night I woke in the middle of the night with a really really sore throat, but (TG) that had mostly gone by the next morning. Then I got a chesty cough, which got quite bad, still got it but it's a bit better. Still got a bit of a runny nose but nothing like as bad. Mild headache on and off, slightly sore eyes. Anyone else? I'm just hoping it's not one of those viruses which lingers on for weeks, because I've got so much to do and no energy to do it. On the plus side, I'm getting through a lot of books and crosswords 🤣

Have you spoken to your "lovely" neighbour about this? Maybe discussed between you if there's anything you can do to reach a mutually acceptable solution? Is there anything you can do from your side to stop your cat going into her garden, or at least not crapping in it? Keep your cat inside for a few weeks so that s/he has to use a litter tray in the house, and gets used to doing that? And offer to buy her one? I wouldn't be happy if I was her, either. It's revolting coming across catshit when you are gardening. I love cats, but I'm frequently chasing them out of the garden because they stalk the birds. Very prickly plants like climbing roses around the boundaries would seem an effective and pretty solution , but that might not be feasible, and they take a while to grow .

Charming

Write to Helen Hayes? Again.

That wasn't my point at all! People have to make a living and make money for the hard work they put in! Restaurants aren't charities!

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2023/sep/07/pet-owners-share-your-experience-of-using-veterinary-services-in-the-uk?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other Hope this link works. I still haven't got the hang of inserting links on here when on my mobile. The text: "Britain’s veterinary sector is being scrutinised by the competition watchdog amid concerns about soaring costs and that pet owners are not getting value for money. We’re interested to hear from pet owners in the UK what their experience of using veterinary services is like. We’d like to hear what kind of vet’s surgery you’re visiting, how you feel about the costs and value for money, and whether you have any concerns."

The Bosh! cookery books are excellent for vegans. Lots of ideas including for ringing the changes on basic recipes, and you can always add eggs, cheese etc to many of them if it's for a vegetarian (vegan cheese is vile imo). There are a few River Cottage (Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall) cookbooks focusing on veg and fruit. Also lots of veggie recipes online if you Google. Stir fries are quick, easy and healthy and you can add seeds etc. So are soups (in cooler weather 🤣), you can add beans or lentils for protein and you can make in large quantities and freeze in appropriate portion sizes for later use. Similarly with things like chickpea stews. Also it is really easy to make hummus if you have a stick blender. Much nicer than most of the shop bought stuff.

Yes but in some of those cases, eg Amazon, prices are often cheaper than elsewhere, not more expensive. Also, you can buy items from smaller companies via Amazon. I'm not saying that's ideal for the smaller companies, but they must get more trade that way, which possibly balances out any costs to them. Tesco and M&S have been around for years. There is also the convenience factor in some cases of home delivery and a much wider choice. I'm not sure you can compare the vet industry. I don't currently have any pets, but judging from posts about vets on here, the issues don't seem to be the same?

It sounds fantastic, but how can she make a profit at those prices, with rent (I presume but may be wrong) and energy and ingredients and goodness knows what else to cover? And (again I presume but may be wrong) she doesn't do both the cooking and front of house herself, so does she have at least one other person to pay?

I use BirdNet, and if it's not 100% sure it's got it right, it tells you! Also, you can feed back to the app if it definitely got it wrong! It does sound unlikely that those birds would be seen round here, but as you say, not entirely impossible.

Thanks.

Sorry to be really dim, but where is the high pollution coming from if we are now in a ULEZ? Is it something to do with weather conditions?

Dulwich Folk Choir meets at The Castle in Crystal Palace Road. I think on a Tuesday but I'm not sure.

Thanks Otto2. I have several boxes of LFTs I got from the library when they were giving them away. I'm still testing negative, but last time I had it I didn't test positive for days after the symptoms started. I'm hoping it's just a very bad cold, but time will tell .... Commiserations to everyone in a similar boat!

I know, but it's only a year ago. Do you have any more recent information? I couldn't find any. I would have thought the general principles were the same?

I've now got symptoms of what could be Covid (presently testing negative) and I just found this: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/239212/covid-19-long-infectious-when-safely-leave/

It wasn't last time I had a tyre replaced! It was the same as KwikFit or more! So it may depend on the tyre. Check both then, obviously!

I have always found the local Kwik Fit on the way to the station ok for tyres.

What is happening to the P13? Is it still running up Whateley Road or if not where is it being diverted? What about the 197, is that affected in the direction towards Croydon?