tomskip

We gave Virgin notice that we were leaving after 19 years and soon afterwards got a phone call offering us an upgrade to 100 meg (whatever that means) a new router and ?10 per month off our bill. So we'll see if that brings an improvement.

Yes, think Renata has just slipped up there.

Thanks very much for those tips, although others would be welcomed. For now, BT looks favourite. Don't work from home all the time and have a friendly neighbour who doesn't mind being hacked occasionally, but I would prefer it to just work when I want it to. This has not been the case with Virgin once too often. Cables loosened by the vacuum cleaner says it all really!

After years of rubbish service, last night's utter shambles with Virgin broadband, which meant I couldn't meet a deadline, has finally pushed me over the edge. I've just given them notice that I'm off, so I'd appreciate any thoughts on who is the best alternative provider for SE22? I know there's a much more detailed thread about Virgin on the forum, but that is operating at a level of expertise I will never reach! Word from anybody who is generally happy with their service in our area would be very welcome. Thanks

Oh hi, thanks all. I had forgotten I'd posted this question! Hotel still not booked, needless to say, so your replies are much appreciated.

I see. I don't know what an increase to 360 represents and I wonder how that will affect non-sibling places in 2 - 5 years time? It always has bothered me that this state school on our doorstep could keep their class sizes so small whilst turning away hundreds who have applied.

What does "Kingsdale have also expanded their PAN for September 2016" mean (from the letter quoted by Renata at 5.42pm above) ?

Sorry to hear about that horrible experience missse22. Am always fascinated by people walking and hunched over their phones. Are they really that busy I wonder? I seem to be able to manage that stuff whilst stationery. Perhaps I'm just socially inadequate that I have no interactions with other folk that can't wait for a few moments!

Thanks uncleglen.

Uncleglen - where did you get those stats and how could one find the stats for Southwark? Thanks (apols if I've missed it somewhere on the thread)

We're looking for a hotel rather than a hostel. Our children are older, so it doesn't necessarily have to be "child friendly" but we do quite like our home comforts. So I suppose we are looking at mid to upper price range, would prefer not to be on a noisy thoroughfare or with crowds of stag/hen do groups. Any and all recommendations warmly welcomed, thank you!

Yes, I agree, a very neat and concise article by Jay Rayner - well worth a read if you are interested in the story. Is it really so awful to hope that your local parade of shops doesn't become an identikit replica of every other godforsaken High Street in the country?

Sidmouth is a really nice seaside town in Devon. Lots to do in the town itself, sandy beach but plenty of rockpools, old fashioned pleasure gardens, pitch & put, cinema, lovely park with a river running through it, indoor swimming pool for when the weather misbehaves. There is a bus station right in the middle of town, with connections to other towns along the coast. I am sure you would have a lovely time there.

Yes, Emmaus in West Norwood, was going to say the same thing. But do check that the sofa has the fire safety label still attached, otherwise they cannot take it.

What makes you think the police fail to recognise that this is often how psychopathic murderers begin Take Note?

Why will they need special buses?

Yes, not wanting the potential adverse affect on house prices - reckon you have a point. How terribly SE22. I've been married to a hack for 22 years and he seems a decent sort.

I bloody love the BBC and hope it can survive. But then I happily put myself in a lefty luvvie prosecco-swigging socialist knitting my own organic bedsocks bracket. I also think most jobbing journalists do a reasonable job. What is the hostility to Gudrun all about? Do we want to pretend that these statistics are all a figment of someone's imagination with no acknowledgement of the truly horrible experience it is to be burgled? I see one EDF user's 10 year old has hacked their account: "go away Gudrun, we don't want you publicising a bad image of our area."

What is the point of posting that list?

Stood in a queue at Denmark Hill for more than 10 minutes recently to use the one ticket machine (yes I did time it). Nearly missed my train.

I'm not sure a petition is what you need. If they are council tenants then you need to complain to the council again, with dates, times, details, evidence. And ask your neighbours to do the same. Sorry you are going through this MadeofBerries - anti social neighbours can completely blight an otherwise peaceful existence.

Where even is this cafe? Never heard of it.

There is an enormous hardly-used car park up at Crystal Palace sports centre. It is the coach park and overspill for day to day parking and is usually empty unless there is a major event on. When you get to the mini roundabout at the entrance to the sports centre, take the first left (not the second left which has a gate and ticket hut on it), the car park is not far up on the right.

Greetings, the card shop. And of course Farmers.

I don't really know why but I find those figures intriguing. SE15 is 410th? Why does the cost of car/house insurance leap up in that post code then? Or perhaps it doesn't these days.