MrBen

Queuing in the local branch of my bank recently I was amazed at the number of pensioners in front of me taking out four figure sums in an envelope. Muggings outside banks even in broad daylight aren't massively uncommon and its a chunk to lose that goes beyond what most personal insurance will cover. You're right that it's not much space. But it's too much for the jeans pocket. And I don't have KK's "presence" so I always ended up stuffing it down my Calvins and hoped for the best.

I'd love to know if anyone else has done more than 25k in cash from a local bank though. "Would you like an envelope for that?" "Yes please" "Ok. ..er well mind how you go"

Especially for Mick who well knows it's called the shadow economy. I've found the original piece I was thinking of... http://moneyweek.com/merryns-blog/how-to-get-rid-of-britains-shadow-economy-23000/ Of course as Bob says just because you pay in cash doesn't mean anyone's avoiding tax...I've seen teams of Polish builders all get paid in fifties as well as get their PAYEE slips listing correct deductions.

Actually HMRC have long since been wise to the cash economy around builders in particular. There is now a specific onus on the customer to ensure they take precautions to ensure they are not participating in joint fraud. That's the boring bit....far more fun is walking out of a branch on Lordship Lane with 25k in your jeans and hoping you won't get rolled.

*coughs* Sorry, I've got something in my throat.

Heineken is the definitive beer of the euro traveller. Whether you're stuck at Schipol, on the Eurostar or watching Scotland in Bari it's always on tap. Tbh I'm indifferent to most lagers and can't get overly excited about super hoppy craft beers either. I much prefer short strong drinks these days without the gas. A Negroni or a Manhattan in a tumbler with some ice. And then for afters whisky of pretty much any description. Call me a ponce but that's just how it is.

Is that Otta in that pic with the trumpet and the beard?

EE reception has got much worse over the last few years due to their crappy version of 4G and mast consolidation post T Mobile merger. I'm near you and tried out sims for 3, O2 and Vodafone. And Vodafone won hands down. It has been life changing....no more standing outside on a box to call a mate.

I want to see Panorama get stuck into this modern failing of our time.... It's probably the most visible deterioration of public services I've seen in my lifetime. I've been going private for two years now but it shouldnt have to be the case...

For me it was when Cliff Richard decided to sing at Wimbledon and everyone did this weird clap along with their strawberries and cream. For some reason, even the thought of it now makes me want to put my arm in a blender.

Nice story.

RD - you may have a point if depth below joists to ground is short. I had a lot of subspace to play with - approx 75cm depth between bottom of my ground floor joists and hardcore at the foundation level. So a lot of ventilation in that cavity. And room for the rockwool to work. Our floors are a lot warmer in that room versus another gf room that didnt have it done (which is always 0.5 -1C cooler).

Two excellent answers from Tradesman. Both are my understanding also having just done it (chicken wire and rock wool on joists of suspended ground ground floor. Def makes room warmer.

Next up he'll be threatening to "box my ears you cheeky young scamp" and shaking a fist.

*Bob* Wrote: ---------------------------------------------------The very act of putting pen to paper on such a subject is game over,Grandad. Writing about someone writing about it also. Quids = grandad

uncleglen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Carling with a dash of lime juice Oooo look at you.

Nice to get some different perspectives on this thread. It's easy to do the post-rational justification thing so it's good to hear some honesty what people genuinely miss (or don't). And even 2 hours out in stockbroker belt many are still tied to London for work reasons. If we go, it will be out,out (copyright M.Flanagan)...most likely to another country altogether. Not sure I could spend the rest of my life morris dancing or at the Toby Carvery. :-)

For a rare lifetime transaction of this size I would go structural too. But my experience is that most will simply trundle out a standard format with some paragraphs to customise it. Many also skip inspecting the roof or sub floor for health and safety or access reasons....so you have to ask specifically if you want these inspected properly. Good ones will pick things up you didn't notice...stuff that you could use in negotiations if you wanted to. The main things to look out for at survey are the state of the roof, any water/flood damage from leaking pipes, roof or boiler, dry and wet rot and general signs of movement / subsidence (e.g. uneven floors, window frames, cracks greater than 5mm etc. Also general state of the windows and the boiler as replacing both is always an expense. Good luck.

Ah yes. Trouble was every year someone nicked some of it....which provided endless hours of pub gossip and speculation as to the culprit.

Is it true they had strippers on at the Mag back in the 1980's.

Would Ye old Boozer tell you to fuck off upon entering? Just asking!

Ok then,not an age thing just naive. There are plenty older business owners who get it.

Oh I don't know. The Greek place and 24 hour Digital Photos? Who knows. But given this is one of the best read community forums in the UK, with 5000 odd registered users locally it struck me as odd and a little naive. The New Rules for any retail opening expect you to have a well presented presence on the web and to embrace and ENGAGE with customers across the main social media channels. It won't go away. Hiding away and thinking you're special or that it's still 1987 doesn't work anymore. Unless you're an old school commoditised business like a launderette, a newsagents or a key cutting shop. Those who ignore these basics tend to be grumpy business owners over a certain age, naive or just plain arrogant and think they're above it. They are not.

Like the Herne Tavern and Cafe G threads in the main section it perhaps shouldn't be in the Lounge. But this isn't exactly a review thread. It's an odd tale about how a bunch of guys bigged themselves up with talk of TV crews at celebrity openings and space age vegetables growing on the roof. Who actively chose not to engage on this forum because, and I quote from a former manager here, "the EDF is dangerous and vicious and has already been responsible for the closure of two businesses on the lane". Who selectively edited their Facebook page to remove negative comments rather than engage and address them head on. And who then all fell out.... leaving a rudderless ship, several "appalling" one star reviews on Trip Advisor, empty tables, a kitchen that opens erratically and bizarre rudeness/borderline hostility to potential new customers upon entering the premises. There's nothing cryptic here....I was simply one of those customers on the receiving end....despite my previous loyalty, support and spend. It seems that some of the staff have "problems" and need to sort themselves out. And after the inevitable closing of the doors I just hope someone manages to make something of what could still be a decent anchor site at the south end of the lane. The cinema will help. Best of luck to whoever that is.

Ed Pete - a side option for you would be to book a table (request south or West facing if you can) at the champagne bar at the top of Tower 42. Long thought of as naff 1980s kitsch, it now has the best view of all the new skyscrapers that have since risen around it. This includes the Cheesgrater, part of the gherkin, heron tower and south to the shard itself. I actually think you get a better perspective than being up the shard at the highest point. And plenty eating options around there in city or Shoreditch farringdon for after.