paul*

An interesting site is flightradar24. You can see exactly what is passing over ED and how close. You can also do a timed replay of flights and speed it up. I looked at this recently when considering a move to SW London as the noise there is just insane. You could look up at the belly of a jet literally every 90 seconds or so. Today the flights are going into Heathrow in the reverse direction, as the poster above comments. Today has light winds from the east. 'Easterly operations' account for 30% of the year, Heathrow says (though it feels like less). City airport can be an influence, I haven't checked their routes but would agree with the knowledgeable comments above. However, the volume of flights from City is far lower compared to others. What you are probably experiencing is Heathrow, which may be surprising given it feels quite far from us. I often find the aircraft noise in Denmark Hill noticeable and annoying when in the garden. I was surprised to learn years ago it's the Heathrow landing path (rather than Gatwick) and at that point some of the various landing paths / spirals have converged, meaning many planes. Nobody would plan Heathrow like that now, you'd hope. If you want cheering up zoom out on the flightradar24 map and see how many planes are over Europe or the world at any point. It is incredible. There really is no hope for the planet...

My friend had this done about 18 months ago. One bed new build. Painting walls and ceiling. No 'woodwork' ie doors or skirting. The total cost was £1200 including materials. Took two people just short of three days, I think. I don't know the name of the contractor and can't find out, sorry. I don't know if DIY is an option at all for you (probably not since you're asking about a decorator), but rollering walls in good condition is not that difficult and you can get good results. Materials costs for the job above would've been about £150 at the most. Hope all that helps.

Try McHow and also Peter Bennison. Both are good but my recent experience was a bit better with McHow.

Try Homecert. I used them after two bad recommendations for electricians on this forum. Homecert sorted it.

great tip, thank you, hadn't heard of them til now

Hi I am interested in getting a self-storage unit in SE London and wonder if there are any recommendations, particularly on the most cost-effective options. Flexible on location but Camberwell / Peckham or slightly further out are good. Less keen on heading towards Bermondsey area, where there are some. Thanks

Hi, yes sorry if it's unclear. It's to extend the lease with the freeholder. This is not a rented flat. It would be to 125 years. Thanks.

Grateful for any recommendations on renewing a lease, other than Meaby & Co.

Although I haven't used them them as I didn't start the project, HomeCert were very good to deal with when getting quotes. Very professional and the price was good. I would contact them again and certainly use them over some of the really substandard sparkies recommended elsewhere on this forum.

Hi I am looking to renew the lease on a flat. If you have experience of this, do I definitely need a solicitor and could you recommend one? Thanks Paul

Hi I am looking to renew the lease on a flat. If you have experience of this, do I definitely need a solicitor and could you recommend one? Thanks Paul

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I'd find that library a bit distracting and don't remember the seating being that great. But then again, I haven't written a best-seller (yet!). In an interview elsewhere she says: "I spent the months in Dulwich Library. It was one of the hottest summers on record. I stuck to the plastic seats, and ate lunch in the garden shade, swatting at wasps. In the afternoons, school students filed in, flirted across the tables, pretended to work."

The Gym in Peckham, near the entrance to the cinema. Is cheap and has a good freeweights area, though sometimes it's busy of course. I think they've offers on as many people are cancelling their membership at the moment, which is understandable.

If it helps, I was quoted around ?120 to ?150 to reattach an existing standard TV aerial, that you will need for Freeview. So you'd need to add in the cost of the aerial. Not sure how much they are but maybe ?50? Can't recommend either of the outfits I got quotes from as I have yet to do this work. Not many companies do this work now. I was surprised at the cost, it's basically a ten minute job drilling a few holes on a roof. I paid ?70 for the aerial, bracket and full install a decade ago... If you're still interested then PM me and I can try and find their details.

Thanks for this, I will drop him a line.

First and final bump for this. Anyone? Thanks.

Abergavenny is very nice, with some good walking in the hills around it. Monmouth also an option.

Hi Am looking for a registered electrician to change a fuse board. Can you recommend anyone and what work did they do for you? They need to be registered with a competent person scheme operator like NICEIC or ELECSA. Note that many of the electricians recommended on this forum are not. Hope you can help Cheers Paul

I have commuted to the City regularly on a 150cc motorbike and then a 500cc for about ten years. I sold the motorbike last year as it was just outside the ULEZ rules cutoff, otherwise I'd have kept it. I chose not to get another bike, which was a big decision. Lots of good advice above. I'd add. Parking - sounds like this hasn't really been explored. Public bays are always full around me in the City. For this reason alone I wouldn't rely on them. I had underground carparks at all my workplaces, if I didn't I wouldn't have commuted by bike. It's that simple. Security - scooters are very stealable. I wonder if you're parking it on the road at home whether good locks are enough. Weather - you'll need kit for cold and rain. It's more cost and it might be a hassle to store at work. All that said, it was a fast and reliable way to get to work and often enjoyable. Now that I'm back on buses and trains, which are relentlessly disappointing, I do miss the bike. Then again, factor in the many idiots on the road, including pedestrians, clueless/aggressive cyclists, drivers etc and I am quite glad not to be part of it. The pollution is also very in your face. I'd agree 50cc isn't enough. 125cc or 150cc is fine. If you're interested in a helmet, gloves, jacket etc at a very cheap rate then let me know via DM. Cheers

To pick up your point about commuting, I often get the train into London Bridge either just before or after 9am, and it is a world away from trying it at 8am. It's so much nicer and saner. Bear in mind that the buses from Myatts Field will seem a lot quicker than those coming over from ED. I guess it's another 15 minutes or so between them. Also the options through ED are way slimmer than Camberwell. Yes you can change bus but frankly who can be ar5ed some days. ;-) I'd echo the points about affordability above and the trade-off with distance to central London. That said, there's no doubt that ED is a nicer area than some of the alternatives pitched above. Which leaves you with a house size vs area trade-off.

I note what you say about the swim, but if you can do without it or go separately, perhaps on one of those free of charge days on Friday / weekend (I think), then I can't fault The Gym at Peckham. It's an absolute bargain price, spacious, with some good classes and staff (all personal trainers too), and it's never absurdly busy. I've been a member of many gyms, including some in the City. I was a member of Peckham Pulse for a few years and it wasn't great. It was dirty, the weights area was sparse, and there was a bad vibe about it. I went in the changing room once and almost every locker door had been kicked / ripped off. That must have taken some doing. This was a few years ago so maybe it's improved. I hear the ED centre is good (my colleague goes). The pool at Camberwell was dirty last time I went, visibly so. As a poster above says, Peckham, ED and the other Southwark gaffs are part of the same chain.

It's a nice and welcome place but it's not all that amazing and nothing on the average Kingsland Rd spot (though that's not Peckham, I know). As for prices, ?6 for a small bowl of 'Om' fried rice? Hmm. Having said that, I had a good night there and the draught beer was well priced. It's worth a look and it's good to have the option. I'd go back, anyway. Cheers

Hi Wondered if you had found anyone. I've a minor (I hope) roof repair needed, probably the flashing, and people simply aren't interested in a job of that size. Nice work if you can get it! Cheers Paul

I went last weekend for lunch on a Saturday. It was completely empty at first but filled up a little. Ordered a range of meze and a lahmacun. Good food, good prices, pleasant service. The decor is very kitsch and glitzy, which is of course amusing. Not somewhere I'd take to 'impress' but it's fun. Need to return to try the grilled meats properly...

Yeah, good point Jeremy. I guess it's that they're going tapas sizes and so if it's a big group you have to order the whole menu, almost.