Earl Aelfheah

I'm suspicious of the whole misty eyed 'proper boozer' schtick. As someone who does frequent 'old man pubs', I have to tell you that they're generally not 'full of characters', but more 'half empty with one or two pub bores generally best avoided' and twas always so. I used to drink in the CPT, in the back bar, because I could go there with a couple of mates and chat and get a drink easily and it was relatively cheap. But there was hardly ever more than half a dozen people in there. It had to change. The Great Exhibition is much more busy and has far more 'characters' now.

I am going to have to retire from this discussion. It is turning my hair grey. Dopamine1979 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Otta Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > For me it just flows better doing it as > > 0208,xxx,xxxx. Like a mobile number should be > > 07xxx,xxx,xxx. It throes me off when people do > it > > differently. > > This.

But it makes so much more sense to split an eight digit number into two sets of four and to proceed it with the area code (or not, as really in most instances this should be implicit due to the fact that both parties know you're in London). Otta, please, you're killing me here.

I am now in an irrational rage.

Nope. You have to include the area code when dialing from your mobile. But the area code is 020. And if I where to quote a number to you, I would give it as 020 (pause) 8910 (pause) 1234 and get extremely upset if (as often happens) you made me repeat it by saying "sorry, 0208, then what?" I can't understand why after 14 years, so many people still cannot process a London phone number unless it is expressed in (the entirely erroneous) terms of the area code, plus the first digit of the number. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_telephone_code_misconceptions

Agree The Montpellier is a good pub. Never been to the Montague Arms, will have to give it a go.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Because they have a lot of people wanting to watch > sport and that's how they make most of their > money. Fair enough, but I hate having a TV on in the background all the time. Even though I'm not interested in it, I can't help finding my attention drawn to it.

the-e-dealer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > because of the below 8 is more likely to be outer > and 7 inner London > > 2000 New London-wide code of 020 introduced. Local > numbers lengthened to eight digits be prefixing > with '7' in inner London or '8' in outer London. ... it's true that numbers which were in existence at the time of the change over in 2000 are more likely to follow that pattern, but it still doesn't mean that the first digit of the number forms any part of the area code for any London number.

Otta - you are exactly right, it's a hangover from 0181 / 0171, but it's been 020 for a decade and a half now. It drives me insane that I can't just give people my number without having to express it in erroneous terms. A little thing I know, but it causes me irrational rage. :-)

I liked the Castle, but they've got too many TVs in there now. I don't mind one for those who want to watch the sport, but why have a TV everywhere you look?

http://www.area-codes.org.uk/020-area-code.php "Despite London having had a single area code (020) since the year 2000, many people wrongly think that '0207' numbers are only for central London and that '0208' is for the outer areas. In fact, it is now quite normal for an (020) 8 number to be issued in central London, or an (020) 7 number allocated in the suburbs. Incorrect spacing reinforces misunderstandings and causes people to make incorrect assumptions."

No it's not. 020 is the area code and only needs to be added to the number when calling from outside the area zone (i.e. from outside London). Numbers in London may start with a 7, an 8, or a 3 regardless of where in London they are.

There is always Megabus, if you have a LOT of time.

Sometimes I'll just give the number, i.e. "7890 1234" and it'll blow their mind. "Sorry, 7890, I don't understand.", "It's a London number, add 020 if your dialling from outside London, which I know you aren't". "er, OK, so 0207, then what is it?.." ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

People who insist on London phone numbers being described in terms of the area code + the first digit of the telephone number, before they'll attend to the rest of it. I.e. "my number is 020, 7890, 1234", "sorry, 0207, then?..." 020 is the area code for London. The first digit of your phone number does not form part of the area code.

Great Exhibition is my regular, but that's as much to do with it's proximity to my house as anything. Gowlett is a good pub too.

2/10

People who lock their bike to the same rack as you, in such a way that it's almost impossible to unlock your own bike.

Bravo Louisa

Maybe they are cockney, office-based aliens out shopping for a 'Peckham Rye'? It would also explain why they were flying 'round the houses'.... The probing referenced above a disastrous attempt to buy a shirt.

I had a 99er the other day and for some reason it tasted strongly of Banana.

Wow. I agree with Louisa.

Oh come on, everyone likes a soft whip.

I remember being at school and news of Thatcher having stepped down 'hitting the playground'. People were running around cheering. We were far too young to really understand the politics of the time, but we had the sense that she was a bad woman and that that her departure was significant. This was in Surrey.

We should set up a vigilante group - the Guardianista Angels - to go around confiscating the Mr Whippy from offending vans and replacing it with organic, free range, gelato.