malumbu

What do the Spanish do? Friend of mine lived in Munich and she had to dress up as a fr?ulein and try to sell home made cakes in the street. He donned a false moustache, lederhosen, long socks and a Bavarian hat (not sure what he had to sell in the street). I thought what an unusual hen/stag do. Not sure why the two of them didn't like it!

Not sure what your issue is with cyclists, and the stickers, DL. A nice 'careful blind spot' or 'take care' is great for a nudged remnider. Stay back is stoopid. I want to change it to fight back (rather than the stay cool as others want). Got a lot of time for many in local and national government but the TfL stickers were designed by someone in the wrong job. Some companies push it even further, is it Addison Lee who have some postitive stuff on bikes? National Express also do a nice bike sticker. Who needs to collect Eddie Stobart trucks when you can do much better with bike warning stickers. Been in a truck cab twice with the Met Police/TfL which is illuminating making me even more careful. Getting a bit bored of all the transport stuff on this site so need to find another activity like cleaning the house, sorting out my paperwork etc.

Had my fair share of speeding fines, all in the 80s when there was more police with speed guns as opposed to gatsos where you know where the traps are. Varied from - you must be kidding, it's a dual carriageway with no houses (40 in a 30 area) to "its a fair cop guv". Since then through a mixture of growing up and a little luck (when gatsos didn't necessarily have film in them) nil points (in a dodgy continental accent). First time I got caught I moaned to an uncle, who replied that for the sake of a few minutes time saved I got myself a relatively large fine. I expected him to say "bloody authorities" (He obviously was not a Daily Mail reader). That really stuck with me (that he wasn't on my side, rather than didn't read the Mail). I've been flashed in France a few times - where there is no recipricol arrangemet with the UK so can't enforce, but each time its a reminder, and there is virtually no tolerence on their cameras. Now drivng in France I see most being within a couple of percent of the limit, and that with lower traffic density mean much less congestion on the dual carriageways. And I can just put it in cruise control and relax. My one recent speeding fine was in a hire car in Austria. The Tyrolian authorites were so sweet to deal with, let me post cash (80 euros I think) rather than an expensive bank transfer and thanked me by e-mail. It was almost a pleasure being done out there. Anyway I'm rambling. My point was I overheard a bloke in Bromley saying he'd been caught at 85+ on the A2 (70mph) and was being threatened with a couple of thousand pound fine or go on a speed awareness course. The cock was bragging that he was going to fight it. What a nob. Like I have done grow up and see speed limits as a social good.

Well to wheel (carbon from electicity generation to end use) and embedded carbon (the energy used to make the vehicle, raw materials etc) are important factors. This lot and others advise on the big picture: www.theccc.org.uk They will know far more than me! There is not enough juice in the national grid to power up a national fleet of electric vehicles, no doubt this will come. Interestingly with a push to microgeneration (small electricity production) electric cars could be a way of storing excess electricty which could then be put back into the grid at times of demand. Pollution from batteries and other exotic components is an issue, and one would hope is being addressed. Point about keeping a 'dirtier' vehicle vs energy to make a new car is a good one. Many of us don't need to own a car but do so out of habit, convenience etc. The sharing economy is interesting, either through car clubs, owing a vehicle with mates/family, or simply hiring (hire company or peer to peer). Maybe it will catch on.

It is an offence to remove safety systems/technology. There are companies that also remove the particulate filter (that traps the 'lethal' particles of pollution. That is similarly an offence. I hope SE22 will report such transgessions to the old bill or VCA. Here's a nice video about nice clean cars

Not sure what you are on about. It's like when I look at football fan websites talking about football, and somebody has to give their views on Brexit. Returning to the subject, and sticking up for my Labour council (who I frequently have problems with, and are far from perfect). The development next to Forest Hill Station was turned down as the lefty loony London (borought of) Lewisham (see I'm now at it) wanted three bedroom family apartments rather than the one or two bedroom places. The developers left it as a shell and got the decision overturned on appeal. So there are one/two bedroom apartments next to a station that could be sold off plan to Asia and elsewhere. Let's now see what you have written about the Lefty Loony GLA/Mayor on the ULEZ thread.

I just think it's sad that the place will be a great big high rise. Good that Sainsburys got in first I don't expect that the pub will reopen. (Agree with all the sentiment above).

I worked in a pub in Aston close to SOTV in the 80s. Being Cadbury's area (Quakers) the licensing laws were particularly tight. We'd have old boys queuing to get in at 11.45 desparate to get away from the family on A Sunday. Not wishing to stereotype but they tended to be named Mick, Paddy.... There are views that too tight a drinking window actually causes more problems - in New Zealand it was down to one hour at one point, and blokes would down several, being served rapidly from a hose and then go home and beat the wife up. So Scotland relaxed the hours years ago and it wsa a great shock when I was up there and had a drink straight after work in the 80s, or people would go out for a beer after 10 when English pubs were staring to close. My only bad experience was at the Bricklayers a number of years ago in Sydenham. A coppers pub but also my regular at the time. They wouldn't serve me at 10.55 once even though I checked my watch against Big Ben they insisted it was 11. A pub in Garston in Liverpool would allow us to buy multiple rounds just before closing time and then nurse them for the next two hours. I woke once in the toilet about 1pm with a shock, fortunately to find people still drinking.

Struth. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased over the last two hundered or so years post industrial revolution. Apart from Nigel Lawson and Donald Trump most are in agreement that this is contributing to climate change. And even Trump will sort of have to agree. Some of the pessimists already consider we have passed a point of no return. Climaate change could cause global economic strife. Some poor souls could be underwater. We'll see more and more films of polar bears in difficulty as the ice fields shrink. It is right that most of the world is trying to do something about it. So the UK brought in some incentives to try to get the masses to reduce carbon emissions from their cars. I think I am safe to quote from the Guardian on this one: www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/oct/30/economy.uk Now we are having a mass "told you so", and "you knew you were poisoning us" So let's have a look at what Drayson said: We did get it wrong. We now have a much better understanding than we did just a few years ago of what are the health effects of the products of diesel cars and they are literally killing people so it?s clear that in retrospect that was the wrong policy Fair enough. We have a better understanding now. If we had known that then we probably would have done things differently. Evidence and knowledge improves. Nitrogen dioxide was considered an irritant, in the last few years there is now more persuasive evidence that some die earlier. That is clearly a bad thing. So you can blame government for not being on the front foot in providing better health advice (if you have a good look Public Health England have been pretty active for some time on this). You can blame the manufacturers for not doing more - well they do the least they need to do to meet regulatory/financial controls. That is capitalism for you. Perhaps if there was a greater demand/USP for cleaner diesels they may have made them. You can blame the European Union for not getting the regulations right. You can blame the Grauniad who still review cars without even giving the fuel type. Or perhaps we can do something about it. Drive less. Buy cleaner cars. Lighter and less powerful cars. Drive more efficiently. Share rides. Think about your whole lifestyle. Influence others. Write to the Prime Minister. I try to. Can't you?

Wasn't having a go at an idividual rather making points that (a) citizens have an important role (b) poor driving standards, in particular London. Must see whether this evidence is in the public domain. Anyway you are having a separate ding dong about this so I'll butt out. And on reflection governments should have done more to manage demand/congestion through introducing road user charging. Unholy alliences of greens and economists agreed a long time ago this made sense in that you get charged for your road usage rather than fixed excise duty. None of the last three governments would take this on as too scared. It will come. And another pop at government, this time London, for not having a progressive Low Emission Zone, rather than fixing the standards five years plus ago (and being frightened of those heavy polluting things called black cabs, well at least the owners.

If some of you insist that you have the right to abuse speed limits to save time I have the same right to run unecessary red lights when cycling.

The harm from fine particles of pollution has been known for donkeys years eg the expert report from 2009 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comeap-long-term-exposure-to-air-pollution-effect-on-mortality. The masses just chose to ignore it and continue driving, inefficiently, unnecessary, with oversized and over-powered vehicles, with occupancy levels going down, leaving engines running unnecessarily and worse turning off some of the anti-pollution measures, ordering from Amazon to their work place worsening congestion, and driving their kids to school. This will not apply to all on this site but many in the capital and even worse in other parts of the country. So take a good look at yourselves before blaming others. 20mph reduces fatal accidents. Research shows that London is the worst for obeying this, just drive gently rather than accelerate and brake. Save fuel, reduce maintenance, stress on the driver and occupants, reduced congestion and safer roads. What on earth is not to like? I've ended my love affair with the car and was a petrol head in a future life. You can too. This campaign was from almost seven years ago from TfL - did any of you take any notice? https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2012/september/londoners-encouraged-to-make-a-small-switch-to-curb-engine-emissions Yes I do know shed loads about this subject. And my views are relatively moderate compared to many of the campaigners. I just think that we as consumers have a big role to play. Question. What is wrong with government. Typical answer. They tell us what to do. Question. What should we do about xy or z problem. Typical answer. Oh Government should regulate or ban it. Ironically air quality has improved greatly since the war, cleaner and less industry, no sulphur in fuel, no lead in fuel, Clean Air Acts, and cars are cleaner (apart from the increase in nitrogen oxides from diesel vehicles). PS please show me the proof that govenment actively promoted diesel vehicles? I'd love to see the Cabinet papers. There was a small tax incentive, which was aimed at reducing carbon not promoting diesel. We bought them as they were reliable, incredibly efficient, great low end torque, better resale value etc. If you want to have a pop at government then there should have been better info to buyers of the pros and cons - long motorway journeys diesel, around town petrol (and alternative fuels) Fiat produce probably the best city car - the 500, but even with this USP they had to diversify the range to bring in diesel variants and larger models. Dave's goverment didn't like telling us what was good for us. TM will just do the popular thing to win votes and not disenfranchise the motorists. I'll put money on that. Oh and they should limit the road building programme - but again this is a vote winner

Ordinary working families, ordinary working families. Aghhh what we need is stable leadership. What we need is stable leadership. Aghhhh. Why wasn't she showing such leadership when we needed one to remain in the EU. Aghhhh. Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Rendel - I was being smug not you - another failed attempt at being self deprecating I am afraid! (and doing a sense check on my posting). Nothing wrong with reminding the world how good cycling is. At the end of the day car sadly is still king but that discussion should be for a separate thread. PS funnily enough I noted that the embankment cycle lane is also being used by lunch time joggers.

No S... Sherlock! Cardiovascular benefits also outweigh health impacts of air pollution for a number of hours. Not so clever if you are cycling all day cycle couriers.... It's great being smug.

Bit lost here. Not sure why rocks are being thrown at Farron. I'm perfectly comfortable with same sex relationships but it's taken a long time to totally get to this point (always tolerent I hasten to add since my late teens). I've moved with (and generally ahead) of society. But society is not there yet. Yet we are in a world where no major footballer is comfortable coming out. I expect that there is greater homophobia in the Tory office (hardly traditional values) and similarly their backers in the black and red top media. Faith flag and country and all that stuff. Have some dirt on one senior, who reminds me of Alan B'stard. The world is bad enough without having to look for dirt on people who are generally pushing the right way.

But what really worries me is where the streets have no name, the streets have no name It makes me want to hide, or take shelter

Depends how you define safe. They are quite often damaged and can be slippy when wet or frozen. Doggy doo is also unpleasant and can cause slips and disease. Occasionally things fall out of aircraft or you can be atacked by wild animals. Garden Walls have been known to collapse. Also sink holes. Generally I feel safe.

Because we have domesticated them and most of the attributes that we like are associated with puppies. Therefore unlike Wolves, who quietly creep up on their prey, dogs bark with puppy like excitement. There's some truth behind that.

Wow. Good stuff. There was me thinking that the Clash penned this. I've pompously been happily correcting people for years on many a cover version so now the other way round. By complete fluke I just found out that you can get the embed code by right clicking on the Youtube vid Here's one that always cheers me up

Well the title may be going South but it's official, the best places to watch football are the Midlands and North. Don't take my word for it https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-matchday-experience-all-92-english-league-stadiums?page=0%2C9 (disclaimer, this is a mild bit of banter, not an insult, although I'll still probably get a kicking)

He's a silly sausage. That's not an attempt to make light on a serious issue. But what has really peed me off is the opportunism from the PM. Well how about an apology for the Tories who thought Hitler a good thing in the 1930s? I'm not sure of the authenticity of this article https://gwydionwilliams.com/44-fascism-and-world-war-2/how-the-tory-party-aided-hitlers-rise/

Lived in an Irish area during the 'troubles' and where there were provo pubs where there were collections for 'the cause' and when I moved here there was still an attitude as expressed in the first Stiff Little Fingers album "Paddy spud thick, thinks with his dick" - or words to that effect. Never want to return to these days. We've moved on. Some good posts.

Dunno what the fuss is about. The fine sounded pretty lenient. It was your/my choice to have kids. The cost of hols outside term time was part of the equation. There are always cheap options - the Sun offers them (and this is not a disparaging comment) The bigger picture is phasing/spreading out hols to reduce demand but there again those without kids would miss out on cheaper hols. Alternatively pay for your education and have your hols in early July before the state schools break up

Not sure why I lumped Uber in with this thread, probably because I was thinking of Airbnb, and they share the same business model in not owning the vehicles/properties they trade. Not sure why there is a resistance to share - I've always bummed things of others and expect others to do similar. If we give a little financial incentive then why not? Had some hippy friends who did the 'Lets' system for trading time eg I cook for you and you do my financial records. 'Big Society' had some great proposals including building on 'time banks'. One example is whilst you are young and fit you bank community activities and get that time returned when you are older, a sort of pension. BS was mocked and quietly dropped. I should have referred to the lift sharing schemes - we car pooled when I first worked and before I ditched the car for a bike. It was perfectly natural yet now there is much disdain for sharing space. And finally I thought economics meant the efficient use of resources. Sharing must b e part of this