peterstorm1985

Benmorg: From Southern website "The high volume of passengers who use our trains during the peak times means that we cannot accommodate ordinary cycles on Southern services at these times. This means on trains travelling towards either London or Brighton and due to arrive between 07:00 and 10:00 and trains leaving either London or Brighton between 16:00 and 19:00." So if you leave after 1900 hours then you're OK.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Smokers argue quote:- If you don't like the smoke > then you simply don't go there. > Smokers argue? Actually it was me that gave you this quotation and I don't smoke. I would have thought you would have guessed that from the rest of my post which was a suggestion for banning smoking in the truly public areas which include the pavements of Lordship Lane. There is no legal requirement for a pub to have a garden so just think of it as the publican's private space that he lets a few of his mates use while they are purchasing alcohol in the Pub in which members of the public are invited to engage in a commercial contract with him. (Despite the name Pubs are not truly public places as the publican is entitled to refuse entry to anyone he fancies.)

Annette Curtain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > > Why should someone have the right to smoke in a > busy public space? > I don't think they should but I wouldn't include a pub garden as a public space. It's a commercial enterprise that you can choose whether to go into or not. If you don't like the smoke then you simply don't go there. I do though think it would be good to make the pavements of Lordship Lane a no smoking area. Perhaps we could apply for one of those Cleaner Greener Safer Programme grants. It would certainly seem to fit the criteria.

Fried Green Tomatoes. Just slice, (dry on kitchen towel), season, dip in egg then flour or cornmeal and fry. Yum.

Penguin68 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Has anyone else noted a recent plethora of garden > sparrows? This year we did have a mob of sparrows (not any more), last year only a pair. But the year before we had a mob. I think it depends upon the success of hatching and the food supply. But it also may have a lot to do with how good the local cats are at catching birds. There's a new kitty in our street and I've found two dead bodies in the garden already and no more sparrows on the bird feeder.

monica Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > unfortunately Hospital stipulates only Physic garden, no bees allowed. > Is there going to a fine mesh all around the garden to keep them out?

Richardbach, the door to door sellers have been discussed so many times that some of the reasons for the forumites' concerns are no longer written simply because they've been typed too many times already. It isn't a matter of slagging off young people trying to do jobs that will help them to 'learn the ropes'. Far from it, many of us have a genuine concern that these young people are being conned themselves and the lessons they learn from this 'job' will do them no good for any future employment. The manner in which many of them introduce themselves, and attempt to sell their wares, indicates that they've had no training whatsoever. Attempting to sell shoddy goods door to door holds no valuable lessons for anyone.

benmorg Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > indiej25 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Hello all, > > > > My property has been underpinned as a result of > > subsidence, I have rang around loads of > insurers > > and although I already have building insurance > > they won't cover me for contents due to the > fact > > the front of my building has been underpinned. > > > > What companies to do you know that will provide > > contents insurance for this problem? > > > > Thanks in advance! > > > > Indie > > That's bizarre. What has contents insurance go to > do with subsidence? Are you sure they aren't > confusing contents and buildings insurance? I'm sure Indie isn't getting confused; it's just the problem of standardised scripts/screens in call centres. We have separate buildings and contents insurance (for a very different reason) and I'm often exasperated by having to discuss the type of roof on my house when I'm trying to get contents insurance only. Try Hiscox

After 0830 a train from ED shouldn't be packed - unless there's been an earlier cancellation but it's a long walk from LB to Fenchurch street (and you'll have trouble getting onto a bus with anything more than a handbag for that bit of the journey just before 9). The pavements are narrow and uneven in places and full of aggressive business people at all times of day so not a good walk with children. The 40 from ED is a good bet - it gets you as close as possible and picking it up close to the ends of its route means you shouldn't have trouble getting on, although if you really do mean a pram not pushchair then you may have a problem - I caught the 40 into town at around that time a few weeks back and a wheelchair user got on at E&C. I don't know if he was a regular.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Rats are the responsibility of local councils if > they are found present in a private residence. > Are you sure? Do you have a link to anything official to confirm this. I understood that most councils offered a service (that you pay for) but have never seen anything to indicate that they have a responsibility (other than to their own tenants if it was within the tenancy agreement).

james84 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I dont think you would even need to bother with > this, you just have to walk down any of these > streets before 7.45, and after 6pm on any weekday > to see the differnce is available spaces, > Similarly on the weekends when people are at home > there is avery rarely a problem. It's interesting that you give a morning time as late as 0745 and evening as early as 6. This very much suggests that it is local businesses, not commuters, that are the problem. (I'm not sure the weekend numbers are so relevant as second homes/parent visits may reduce the numbers)

Just out of interest, how much would any of those keen on controlled parking be prepared to pay? And how close to their house would they expect to be able to park for that sum? There seem to be quite a few quoting instances of not being to extract toddlers/shopping directly outside their house but controlled parking won't sort that out. You may end up paying ?100 + for the privilege of parking a few streets away, just as you do at present. The poor commuters get blamed but the number of houses converted into flats (not to mention infill developments) in the last decade or so may mean there are more residents' cars than spaces already. Controlled parking always means a reduction in usable spaces so the situation could easily be worse not better, and you'll have had to pay for it.

There is a lot of talk about what is 'fair' or 'reasonable' and of who is to blame for the situation that we are now in, but that wasn't my point. I'm much more concerned that all of today's arguments will be meaningless to the typical thirty something tax payer in, say, twenty years time, when he or she looks about them and sees how many are living off how few. Unless there is a dramatic increase in the pension age then the number of workers funding the benefit and care system with be ludicrously small compared to those who will be reliant. Pensions are just a small part, although it is worth noting that a lot of private pensions will fall so short that the state will have to help. Advances in medicine mean we live much longer but that additional time is gained at a cost to the NHS. Someone has to pay for that. Tomorrow's graduates will be paying off horrendous student loans and there must come a point when the numbers are too great. When that time is reached I'm not sure any of the then taxpayers will care too much about those waiving bits of paper that say they agreed a pension deal in 2011.

I'm afraid I have to admit to not having read the Hutton report, only edited highlights, but I thought it was a review of public sector employees pensions only, not a review of all pension payments made by the state (ie the state pension), or of the adequacy of private pensions in the longer term. Rather than focus on one group of future pensioners I am concerned about the reality of a society where a large group are in retirement for almost as long as they are in work, thereby creating a disproportionately heavy burden (whether real or simply perceived) for those who are paying tax.

The events of the last few days have led me to wonder whether we should trust our children to continue with a model that pays today's state benefits from current taxation. We're all living longer, but with dwindling pensions, so there will be ever more of us demanding a retirement on the state. That, combined with medical advances and the consequent demands on the NHS, mean the taxpayers of tomorrow are going to see a very high percentage of their earnings being snatched at source. Is there a chance that one day they'll say 'enough is enough' and refuse to cough up.

georgegarrett Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Are they moving on to ED next ? that would be good > its a bit Ivor Heath at the moment, Iceland, Cars > for sale on the pavements and a Gambling arcade. > North cross road is nice though. Gambling arcade? Where exactly?

bels123 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > As a Melbourne Grove resident I find it hard to > understand why people are so against controlled > parking. > I'm not an expert on controlled parking, but I > don't see why true residents should have to pay > for, surely the enthusiastic parking wardens would > generate enough income to cover administration > costs? I'll eat my hat (and any other accessories you care to suggest) if Southwark introduced controlled parking without a charge to the residents.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown Marmora Man. I was beginning to wonder if I should have some sympathy for the teachers. I wouldn't choose teaching as a career - although standard issue tasers might help - but there are plenty of other jobs in difficult environments, with much less chance of satisfaction (I'm told it only takes one kid who finally 'gets' it). I'm sorry for those who think the rug's been pulled out from under them but there are a lot of us who've been sat on the cold stone floor for some time.

You were extremely generous. I've just filled out the form and I can't see what the point of it was. The level and type of questioning is unlikely to result in any informed decision making.

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sounds odd to me, surely young foxes don't > normally die of natural causes? Actually they do. The garden next to us was unkempt for years and regularly used by families of foxes. We had had occasional dead foxes but when the garden next door was cleared by property developers they found a surprising number of cub skeletons.

dulwichbloke Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks. Just out of interest, what is your speed > at the moment on the Speedtest program? > > My Talk Talk is at 168Kbps and my streaming does > not 'stick' - there is no streaming! If this is a download speed, then you can't call it broadband. When we were with TalkTalk we got around 3Mbps. Now with BT it's never less than 4.5, more usually 5.0Mbps, on their cheapest service and with really old telephone cable coming into the house (so lots of potential losses). It's worth noting that we're on the Dulwich exchange as I think it's one of the slowest in the area.

National rail Always better to refer to the National rail site for info on trains. Buses tomorrow

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I use BT.OpenWorld Not the cheapest but very > reliable and competent Engineers available to > speak > to if something does go wrong. Ditto. We moved from TalkTalk because they were so **** awful. BT have been like a breath of fresh air. No marketing crap every few days (someone at TalkTalk had me on speed dial trying to 'upgrade' me to a business package), and no go slows. It just works.

There are some tanking membranes that can be repaired after installation, thereby allowing retro fitting of waterproof fixings but otherwise it's not a route to go down, and if you've got a guarantee I'd stay well clear of that idea. If the shelves/cupboard are to be in an alcove then the best bet would be simply to get someone to install friction fitted cupboards (too tight to simply lift in and out) ie custom built into the alcove but without any fixings back into the wall.

I think the OP's reference to 'not too far from the station' may be highly significant to the prices seen. I live less than a ten minute walk from the station (but far enough not to hear train noise) and a couple of recent house sales in our street have beaten the 2007 highs (the sale prices were approx 5% less than asking). There will always be a premium for convenience, and those who've been pushed out of more central areas will put a higher value on that. There are far more 3 than 4 bed houses near the station, and if you add the 'good garden' to the requirements, it's a small pool of properties. If you're prepared to walk a bit further you'll find the prices are more reasonable.