MrBen

A lot of it is. But then so does a lot of lightweight, radio friendly unit-shifting indie rock. The best blues is sublime. The worst is 12 bar drudge. Happy to point you in the right direction. Some vintage Freddie to start with perhaps? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHXKlNP4-Aw

You're bending my words a little there LM. Saying " most people in flats were flush with home equity " would indeed be wrong. Nor did I call anyone who didn't buy then but simply couldn't afford to a coward. But saying there were still a *decent number* who had just enough equity to do something with and wanted to trade up but didn't is true. I doubt anyone in that position would want to look back and admit it now though because that's human nature. Much easier to blame the government, euro crisis, job security etc than your own fear.

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You're kidding right Mr. Ben. In 2009 -- I > wouldn't count any time after that as relevant as > the market in London was already recovering-- But it is relevant because houses were more affordable in 2010 and 2011 than they are now. They were still high and unaffordable to a great many. But relatively they were 20-30% lower in real (actual) values versus the daft prices today. Granted you could probably split 2009 apart from 2010-2012 in' any retrospective analysis because of a number of good reasons. But I'm afraid you're wrong if you think the years quoted didn't pose an opportunity for many who had equity, were on the ladder but chose to batten down the hatches and sit tight.

The Blues is a feeling Jeremy. It's all about the feel. The kind of deep inside your soul feel you get if you've known pain and have to express it. That blues feeling came from the fields, got electrified in Chicago and soaked its way into Soul, Motown and funk. Before it influenced generations of white musicians and music itself for evermore. Will that do?

The Stones have always tipped the hat and acknowledged the blues their act came from. They're named after a Muddy Waters song and many blues standards in the early stuff. They also refused to play on prime time American TV unless they also allowed the great bluesman Howlin' Wolf on before them (who was playing clubs to black audiences at the time). That's respect. Agree The Beatles were way ahead of the Stones in terms progression and developing their sound into weird and wonderful places.

What's with the smilies on R&B ?

Elvis looked the part and had some talent. But his role was primarily to bring black music (blues and R&B) to a white mainstream audience. As a huge blues fan, I first heard Elvis several years after early BB King, Guitar Slim, Big Bill Broonzy and many others and just thought he was a rip off merchant. Yes Beatles were influenced too but they took it on a step further and made it their own, as did the Stones.

There is clearly an underlying commercial motive here. Small artisan units are thriving perfectly well in what's already there even if it is dilapidated. The plans give a nod to more modern up to date spaces for these small indie businesses but the likely rents will quickly price them out - and the larger chains will be soon attracted. This is a kind of gradual "commercial cleansing" that the developers may have in mind as a long term strategy in order to maximise return on their investment. This is ancient thinking and modern social planning needs to adopt newer models to promote good mixed affordable space for creative start ups and the public. See Brixton village for a similar pressures/dynamic when it comes to rents and SME's.

London Mix and Lane Lover - I stand by my post which, if you re-read it, takes into account the first time buyer market effectively collapsing. Only correction is should read "low" LTV's not high re mortgage accessibility. LM - yes those holding flats had their equity effectively reduced but real prices for terraced houses (in terms of transactional actuals) fell also. So I didn't see the "real" gap widen. If you had a flat with say 75-100k equity, that covered up to a 20% deposit on a ?550-600k house. And in 2010/11, 85% and 90% LTV mortgages became freely available again. Lane Lover - "So MrBen, who was selling at the time for these people to trade up? Do tell." Well?.whilst supply was still below norms there were actually more houses on the market in SE22 in 2010 and 2011 than there are right now. They'd get two viewings in a week instead of 15 desperadoes and sealed bids. And sellers were open to offers as a result. I rented a house on Fellbrigg road in 2009. Three doors down, a house requiring full renovation came on at ?450k. Except in April 2009 people were shitting their pants. But the family that bought that house in the teeth of the storm will have made a life changing decision in terms of their future equity. Some might not like it, but 2010-12 was a clear buying opportunity for those who, like Loz, took some risk and effectively doubled up rather than take their chips off the table. And whilst its an uncomfortable truth, fear and uncertainty prevented the majority from doing that. The current market is a mess. There is lots wrong with it that will bring ill winds in years to come. But my point was simply about fear holding back those who could have.

steveo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Are rarely heard these days Very true. Esp in terms of radio airplay. But is it so surprising given we're now almost half a century away from Sergeant Pepper's first release? Scary if I think about that too much. I think they've done their bit for music.

Lots written in past four years about QE, long term swap rates and standard GDP measures. A lot less written about the raw human fear that actually drives market behaviour.

The truth is that or a whole 4 years between 2009-2011 there were good opportunities to buy a house at lower prices and with way less competition. Lots of those complaining now about prices had the money/mortgage op then but didn't buy because (a)they were scared and (b) because nobody else was. Now that all is apparently ok again, its been like watching a pack of sheep. (Am referring to those trading up to a 3/4 bed house, not most first time buyers who were genuinely unable to buy then due to high LTV's and pre Help to Buy).

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tamworth is a hole, I'm afraid. > Like, way to make the guy feel better Jezza.....

???? /MM : Good to see you were both busy watching that. When you could have been having a quick pint as planned. Losers.

Up there with the best "threads massively derailed in just two posts" ever: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1248240

All the mockney b/s,"proper blokes fusilli", middle class adulation aside. His recipes are actually rather good. Second thing, he's one of the strongest businessmen of all his peers. TV shows, shops, supermarket JV's and several restaurant lines globally. Ramsay, Worral-Thompson and many other have all screwed up massively where he hasn't. And he's out-earning all of them.

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's just fine until you reach the extended > noodling analogue synth solo wigout section (a > common JG feature) I'll bet a bit of that goes on in *Bob* towers.

Mick Mac told me I was no longer an ED resident because I'd "moved to the wrong side of Lordship Lane". Thanks Mick.

Well Mick. It had to be the spiced parsnip and apple soup with blue cheese croutons followed by seared duck breast, red cabbage puree and braised lentils. You dig?

I'll even sell it for ?115,000 because all of the proceeds are going to Edinburgh Council to cover care home costs. Otta - congratulations and hope the move goes well. If you stand to inherit part of the house one day, make sure you transfer it into your name 7+ years in advance of your parents leaving. We didnt.

Sigh. Even allowing for some minor flaws and my natural bias, the Scottish system beats England's hands down. Speaking of which I'm currently selling my grandparents ex-council house in Queensferry. End of terrace, 3 beds, nice garden, quiet friendly street and by a park. View of the famous bridges from the back bedroom. All for ?125,000 Londoners.

Titch, I ate there last night and the menu is almost identical to the NYE menu on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dulwichpatch Food wise it was one of the best meals I can say I've ever had locally (?70 for two for two courses, bread, water plus four large drinks). I actually preferred it to ToastED in terms of more conventional portions. Also spotted... another regular forumite in there with one of the best "I didnt realise it doesn't comes with chips" ever. :-) Nice atmosphere and for a Tuesday in early Jan I counted about 30 covers with 12 or so at the bar. I looked out for Foxy peering through the windows but didn't see him. Maxxi - Wing night? I'm in!

My experience has been a massive deterioration in levels of service from local GP practices above in past 4 years or so. Something is wrong. It's been so bad that for the time poor, private GP's are on the up. As I go once a year, I pay ?60 and get seen instantly for up to 45 mins. Sad but what can you do?

Read my post again. I said ?200k combined (?100k each or ?150k + 50k?whatever) not ?100k joint. ?100k between two IS fairly common in these parts and that plus say ?250k equity still doesn't get close to buying you a decent 3 bed terrace in SE22 now given they're ?750k+. Typical incoming couple is now say 30 something pair of accountants/lawyers/Accenture slavebots trading up from a flat in Clapham, carrying forward ?100-?200k equity and on ?150-?200k joint. There's enough of them in London to create the current market. Edit to say Twirly is right.

And what about those people who ask why a bar or restaurant isn't busy in the first week of January?! Anyone in the business knows that January isn't a good month full stop.