malumbu

S'truth I make so many mistakes typing. Spell checks and the like have been a Godsend and helped improve my spelling and grammar no end. Yet I am prone to silly typos, as I see when I reread some of my posts. I explain this as I can touch type and much of what I post is a brain dump. The simple answer is not to send things immediately as I have learned (or learnt?) with e-mails. Do I have a syndrome? Am I special? I could Google this but hopefully will get some interesting views. In old school days if I was writing by hand I would not make the same mistakes as typing. And I immediately spot it when others make basic mistakes/typos I did try a hand written letter in the recent past and found it so hard.... (not intended to be Briticism of those with dyslexia)

Thank you for some informative posts ladies and gents. It can be difficult to read between the lines of my (and many other) posts which range from cheeky, mischievous, rude, but quite often helpful and supportive. There are some excellent perspectives on this thread on the mire that we are in/facing Just to add a few views of my own, what really pees me off is the whole denigration of a sector of our population. Having a fairly modest upbringing it was great that I had an environment where I could be the first in the family to go to university. Dad assumed that I would leave school at 16 and go into a trade. Until a teacher (my word a Pakistani teacher as well) told my father that I had to stay on and do Maths A level. I digress slightly as my father was a product of his time, yet would happily take the advice of an educated immigrant. Yet know people like me are sneered at by some of the popularists (is that a word?) as being the evil intellectual elite. A generation ago I would have been a role model, including working my summers as a mental health nurse or picking vegetables (jobs now seen as being beneath many of those who sneer at me). Hope this comes over as honest and not pompous.

I liked this thread when there was some decent discussion. It has been incredibly informative. Now just seems to be links to tweets and on-line articles ie other people's views. Fine to support arguments but better to know your take, which is often very well framed. No I don't need an answer cella.

Stick to the thread you twits. Is the builder called Kevin? PM if so, Whilst sounds civil, the attitude is rather aggressive so maybe contact the community police. I've found bizzies this side of the tracks very helpful. Maybe also write to Trading Standards (OK old school) asking if the builder is known to them. Rock and a hard place here as TS should be providing more help and taking action against unscrupulous tradespeople, but are so under resourced. Sadly Lewsham didn't even respond to me - I found the TS officers on Linked in but got no response to direct e-mails (which were all very polite). I'm halfway through getting a resolution with Kevin. There may be a point when you want to name and shame - I don't like doing this and in theory this can be defamation. But eventually.... Good luck against the bullies

Sorry i have to disagree. If they called and asked if you had been in an accident yes, fine, Well no, I don't want cold calling but they are asking me not encouraging me, The fact that the phone goes down so quickly, ie when I question them or it looks like I may be giving them some grief it hss to be an organised scam. it is not "have you had an accident", "no", "if you do then come to us". Watchdog years ago reported on claims companies. A bus would crash into a lamppost with 5 people on board. 73 people would put in claims after being contacted by ambulance chasers. Anyway happy to debate further.

I've got the perfect deal - Europe switches to driving on the left - which going back 2000 years was the way, and we stay in the customs union. Then all cars will be British, we will have won and have something to brag about at the Euros in two years time. Two World Wars, one world cup, and driving on the left, doo dah, doo dah No surrender to left hand drives, no surrender......

In 1983 I went for an interview as a medical products rep. The chap posed a question - you've got the trots and take some of our product. It doesn't work. A pharmacist you are trying to sell to asks you how good the product is. What do you say? It's brilliant I say. Integrity young person, integrity. I'd never used that word before but it has stuck with me for 35 years. Trump. Integrity. WTF

I'll tread carefully and try not to offend (waving my white flag/olive branch). The starting point should be where have you got my number (it's unlisted being a work phone). [cue the phone going dead] On chatting with an ex-cop (which was what she recommended) she told me about a friend who entered into the spirit and tried to lead them on before telling them what she thought on con artists trying to trick the vulnerable. She then got abuse and was told that they knew where she lived. Come on down she said. On further reflection, my callers are all well spoken younger women. I'd assumed that they may be innocent but that is me being naive. Anyone can be greedy. And this may well be an overseas scam.

How many? No longer a favourite pub but the Clock House has quite a nice upstairs bar that is cheap to hire - just guarantee a certain level of taking at the bar. Bar Story otherwise.

Practical suggestions. No comments on the demise of society please. There has always been scams, just changing is their delivery and sophistication. They are ringing me on my work phone. I have a work phone so I can take work calls. I'd like them to go home that night and perhaps change their jobs. I'd like the authorities to take action and prosecute. I'd like a world where everyone is nice. But that is capitalism for you. Not helpful RPC or AM. If you haven't got anything to contribute just butt out.

Umhhh, I would judge that as quite well handled by Trump, probably one of his better interviews. Seamlessly moves from Brexit to his own election. And yes immigration was the main reason for Brexit. Generally poorly informed of course. Think there would be greater merit in showing clips of people in the UK sticking up for him (not Farage who also handles this well) but Reece Mogg......

I know shedloads about scams, having worked in consumer protection and good friends with a person who got very involved in countering some big ones in the 00s - clairvoyants, lottery scams, time shares and the like. I am TPS and occasionally get the 'government grant', carrying out a survey, you've won the Canadian lottery scam. I was an early activist getting into the dialogue with the Nigerian safe deposit box scams. I've pretty alert to the mock web sites for DVLA, HMRC the banks etc. This is a topic in its own right, So please try to stick to my question here. The one that really f's me off is the "I understand that you have been involved in an accident'. Geographical numbers, nicely spoken. On my work mobile so hardly something that should be sold on my ambulance chasers.... YOUR ASKING ME TO COMMIT FRAUD. YOU ARE MOST LIKELY BREAKING THE LAW. YOU ARE AN EDUCATED PERSON PLEASE DO SOMETHING THAT HELPS SOCIETY. Grrr. They put the phone down as soon as there is a sniff I may question their ethics. I tried to put one onto speaker phone so that the whole office could join in. Practical suggestions. No comments on the demise of society please. There has always been scams, just changing is their delivery and sophistication.

Chap on Danny Baker show called in to say about moving into a new house, managing to break one neighbour's lawn mower and then wreck the other's on the day he moved in and setting a fence a light. And how laid back everyone was. I've got a comparable story which I will share later. Over to you.

Saw Trump by chance as his cavalcade came up the M11. For once something to thank Michael O'Leary for (yet another late arrival Ryanair). He didn't wave, in fact unlike our monarch I couldn't even see into his car. Lots of armoured vehicles and police outriders though.

Wow, this thread is as underwhelming as the match. So much to talk about. 1. Just come back from France - what a week for news, Trump, Cabinet resignations, seeing both footy matches in a French bar (and such different experiences) and the amazing cave rescue. 2. What appears to be a total over-reaction to the World cup fueled I expect by non-football fans including those posting here. The reality check is that we did not beat any decent team. My memories of 90, 96, 98 and even the disappointment of going out to Brazil is that there was a much greater expectation (and team, and matches). But there again was it the lack of expectation this time that led to the national hype, ie that there wasn't any. We licked our wounds in the aforementioned tournaments, and in the mid to late 90s there was a genuine belief that we would go onto succeed. Great piece on a morning show on BBC on why on earth BBC reporters knowing nowt about footy and with nothing to add were presenting from Russia. And thank heavens I was restricted to five live and Radio 4 in France and didn't hear that sycophant Chris Evans. The 5live phone ins were interesting on the morning after as anyone who dared to do a reality check was lambasted. 3. Brexit. I was worried too that the national hype would affect that. Thought the ideal result was to make the final and be beaten in a good match by Belgium. Neither of course will happen. But I think us snowflakes (what a silly word to use to castigate those with an informed view) were unduly worried. 4. The match. Yes the match. The team were good enough to win this. None of our stars shined (cometh the hour, cometh the man, I was willing you on Jamie) and a fairly average team got their tactics right. 5. The past. Not a patch on that brilliant Owen goal against Argentina. Oh where oh where were the goals from open play. 6. The future. Yes good to have genuine opposition and happy for the boy from Watford (with some genuine lessons on leadership). Bucking a trend when the main reason we suffer is the greed league (aka Premiership) and for what ever reason the failure of grass roots and the academy system to turn out world class footballers. Postscript - I've been more elated by the ashes 05 victory, the whole of the 2012 Games, and the Murray Grand Slams. They will be making a film of the Thai cave rescue, not I expect England's 2018 campaign.

Just teasing of course. Or am I? HOP any day, feels a little less cluttered, good connections, walking distance to the lovely Blythe Hill and Blythe Hill Tavern, still has a back street boozer (the General Napier), bars/restaurants springing up, Brockley Rise changing rapidly. On the down side the Chandos is a bit East Dulwich (even many of you in SE22 use East Dulwich in the pejorative) and not that great for shops. Sainsburys is poxy. Great cycle shop though. Main road can be congested, no cut throughs (and hence good for back street cycling). A feeling of ethnic cleansing as it has become gentrified. There are other threads on gentrification but here is a nice example. The large Christmas houses in Forest Hill. 30 years ago occupied by public servants - school teachers and the like. 15 years ago professionals, doctors, dentists and the like. Now bankers because no body can afford it. Feel like I am being invaded by 'creatives' - those in the creative industries rather than artists who were always around the area. There is a feeling of movements from the West (Clapham and the like) and the East - due to affordability. Gets a bit icky sicky when newbies go on about discovering the area. I discovered it 30 odd years ago, and yet there is a lot of green land, parks, good communications etc, will you just get on and serve me please. The Overground changed everything in a way I could have ever imagined - both in better access to central London but also opening up other areas - docklands, the East End, Farringdon, both for work and pleasure. On the down side outsiders drive in the morning and leave their cars near the station. Not sure where old school SE Londoners go - maybe to the outer boroughs.

to the two planks who were at Devonshire nature reserve, Europe and England are not superior. Not all South American teams grapple with the opposition. Told you this at the time (and that you were better than this - casual racism). But on the way home it dawned on me that 3/4 of the teams that are through to the semis are primarily African. A real Jesse Owens moment.

Don't (buy in East Dulwich), go somewhere cheaper and less pretentious close by.

Rendel. As you know I am a professional tree hugger, Turning your engine off when you are parked is a no brainer. The one that really fs me off is cops sitting their idling on the side of the road. I've given up taking them and others on. There are worse air quality crimes but this one makes no sense.

Not read the theories on why it wasn't the ruskies in detail. Basing my views on a reasonable understanding of the evidence and reports of the OPCW. Perhaps better having a look at the game the Russian authorities are playing. Not exactly a blinder, and main tactic is to ridicule the West and confuse the issue. We are in a half reasonable (well probably a pretty good) democracy with the institutions and processes to challenge our own domestic and international affairs. So why would the UK mislead for political gain? Now it took many years to uncover the truth on rendition and whilst torture is evil you can argue that we were a US lap dog and/or had our own 'operatives' to protect. Not in my view valid, but others could argue the case. I don't see any sign of closeness to American foreign policy as this is no longer evidence based and changes with the whim of the president. So that doesn't appear to be the reason for any sort of cover up/conspiracy in Salisbury. Five people have been seriously ill. A chemical attack on a sovereign state. Compare that with 100s more dying and suffering from chemical attacks in Syria, for their own regime propped up by the might of Russia. And https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-44723087

My word - this is like the Communist Party of Great Britain being apologists for Stalin and then in denial about the purges in the 50s. Concentrate your efforts on who shot JFK and who was behind it. Or mine the deeper vein of rendition.

A mate worked with the British Transport Police and used to go to England away matches to help with the policing. He was dreading the 2008 Champions League Final in Moscow. There had been serious bother the year before when England fans had been attacked around the international game. He was beaming ear to ear after the Chels/Manu match - the authorities couldn't have been any nicer. He went in uniform and said it was hilarious as groups of English supporters would hang around him for protection. Only bother was in the pubs around the Kings Road after the JT penalty miss

And while you speculate about conspiracy theories Russian involvement is leading to more deaths in Syria. The original purpose of my post is what can we as individuals do about the Russian authorities. My boycotting the world cup has gone unnoticed. Well there are advantages of a totalitarian regime. The common people have been ordered not to fight, and respect diversity and even Peter Tatchell. Does amuse me that they have banned single person protests - imagine what that would have been like in the UK with anti-rave laws and the police arresting people body popping whilst listening to their Walkmans. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/peter-tatchell-moscow-arrest-russia-world-cup-2018-lgbt-gay-rights-protest-red-square-a8398691.html

Maybe a counter-petition that it is cruel to keep animals out of their natural environment, perhaps fine for food and working animals, but not for our own entertainment or as baby substitutes, and the harm that selective breeding causes. Discuss. Here's some earlier thoughts from our community https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/01/should-we-stop-keeping-pets-why-more-and-more-ethicists-say-yes

Driving down from the Chilterns North West on the M40 I see two signs. UKIP supports Tommy Robinson. A second, "pray for Tommy Robinson, he exposed the rapist gangs". Flip we are a polarised/divided nation. OK going off on a tangent.