malumbu

I'll tell you an anecdote. You can make your own mind up. A few years ago I was planning to pay several hundred pounds on a lounge carpet. I duly went into LL Carpets to get a quote. There were two sales people and a few other customers. One was putting in a large order. I hung on for ten minutes or so listening in to the sales conversation, clearly there was a big deal going on. The other salesperson finished with his customer and went out back. Customers came and went, after receiving no attention from the sales staff. I waited for either the lucrative order to finish, or the other salesperson to return. After twenty mintues I politely enquired whether I would be served. "Can't you see that I am serving someone" in a dismissive tone. Then a knowing look and quiet word to the rich customer, "that told him didn't it!" Result = I spent my money at another carpet shop. I'd expect better service at a pub "who's next, sorry we are busy, I'll get to you soon" Just briefly to compare with Hamptons International in the mid 90s when there was still a house recession going on. "Hello I'm interested in buying a flat in the Dulwich triangle" Certainly sir, fill in your details on this form (no one looked on line then!). No contact from Hamptons International, presumably because I arrived snotty on a bike, before they were trendy. I have meant to write to LLC years ago. It is a bit churlish to do this on line. But who cares.

Good result by Chelsea to run West Brom so close. Hopefully they can build on this narrow defeat. And Palace won. And QPR lost (in spectacular style). So a good day for football.

I Am a Clown - David Cassidy

I make my own. Some kidney or black beans, coconut cream, fresh chilli. Yum The Forest Hill Road supermarket sells various tins of beans that you can substitute for my simple menu. You can also add some plaintain or mango to add an extra dimension.

I've happily cycled round both Victoria Station and London Bridge when drunk 15 or 20 years ago. Lovely surface, but a touch of water on and splat you are on the floor. Passengers rush to your attention and all rather embarassing. So who hasn't done daft things when pissed. Didn't deserve to die for it though.

I thought I'd done pretty well to be still in one piece. And I've also happily admitted a few of the time (a monority) that I was at fault. OK I admit that if I hadn't been cycling down Red Post Hill in 1998 I would not have been hit by the Merc that has hammered over from Herne Hill Road, and tried to overtake me when there was no space. Silly me. It reminds me of a friend that had a crash in Turkey once. The argument from the other side was that if she had not been visiting the accident would not have happened. The local police chief agreed. So yes, you are correct, if I had never been born none of the above would have happened. Now back to my near misses with bikes. Once dodging traffic outside Syd Station. I swore back at the cyclist as he was hammering through stationary traffic with idiots like myself crossing the road. The more interesting one was when a moutain bike clipped me near to St James Park, again when I was dodging the traffic. I apologised, and he said no worries mate. I am thinking why is he not threatening to beat me up like I would do in the same place. Lastly I was cylcing on a quiet road parallel to Walworth road, and clocked a mother and her three kids. I got eye contact, as you do, but she then allowed the kids to run across me in a fan. I yanked the brakes on, went 90 degrees into that air as the front wheel locked, and then fell on one of the kids (who was uninjured I hasten to add). Whilst rather angry it must have looked rather comical.

Should I get exciting that Fusion Leisure appear to have a corpoarte policy about not anouncing the two mins silence? I've tried raising this with the Corporately but only have a web based system for electronic contact that simply wants to enlist me as a member and send me spam. I've e-mailed Croydon Council (I was at Thornton Heath) and understand that they run Forest Hill, East Dulwich and no doubt many other centres around here on behalf of the boroughs. I could debate poppies, silences etc - this is a personal choice. But at least remind people should they wish to observe this. A simple go for it vs get a life response will do.

Crass had a great/horrid graphic on their album, Stations of the Crass? with Thatch eating sausages eminating from Reagan's backside. Hard hitting or purile? Trying to bring the conversation back to our beloved ex-leader

I said that I would not post any cheap comment, but suggesting that the Mail (or Mail on line) is aimed at those under 45 amused me. You can't get in to my local newsagents for Grauniad's on a Saturday. I recently popped into a Sainsburys near to Woking and found about ten times more Mails than any other daily on sale. So for the first time in my life I bought (the only copy on display) of the Morning Star. I confused the sales staff by asking them to order more in future.

Crass could have done well in advertising female depilatory products. Quote from the Radio 3 World Stage at Womad in 2010 from a well dressed festival goer - well the music was fine but I didn't enjoy the politics. Clearly in the wrong place.

Paranoid, the Dickies

I wont snigger, or post offensive responses. For the sake of balance please leave this thread for the hard line, or closet, Mail readers. And that is the Daily Mail not its offshoot free papers.

According to the Daily Mail 30% of motorists are uninsured (OMG did I ever think I'd say according to the DM?). Clearly that is selective Bollocks. The real figure is well over a million but up to 10% apparently in London. Cars kill people. So why this nonsense about cyclists and insurance?

No

It's true, they played their final gig in the beginning of November. I just found out and I am distraught. But one glimmer of light, you can pre-order Chumbuwumba's ode to the Iron Lady www.chumba.com/thatchep.php and on a lighter note: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrn2sTFBtc

What really bothers me is that pedestrians neither have to have insurance, pavement tax, or pass any sort of walking proficiency test. They rarely bother to follow the highway code, stop suddenly without indication, no signal mirror manhoover. And they cross roads without looking and run red lights. I'd have compulsory indicators and stop lights and indicators. Right I started this thread so I will finish it. Miles cycled in London = about 40,000 Hit and run by a Merc and left for dead (Red Post Hill) = once Knocked off by a hired white van (Sydenham) = Once Near misses with a taxi = twice With a bus = three times (and once with ?500 compensation, and this without any impact so I ask my dear readers did Thames buses have anything to hide) Near misses with blue light vehicles - three Road rage (where people threatened to kill me after I had asked them politely to give me more space) = three times Witness to a crazy woman on the Brixton Road try to take out a cyclist = once At fault for near misses with vehicles - a couple of times, and profuse apologies Near misses with bike, mostly recently - three times Near misses with pedestrains on phone, i pod, texting, numerous times Times I have almost got hit by a bike twice, only once my fault and rather embarrasing So scientifically, vehicles most dangerous, followed by pedestrians, and a close thing between me and other cyclists. That's definitive. I'll leave it with an anacdote. Spot a younger rather studious looking cyclist giving a car a very polite lecture on the Old Kent Road. So I think, why can't I be more reasonable to other road users (a bit of nudge theory here). Next junction the driver, who has stopped at this point, runs out into the road and shouts I'll have you you cant, I'll kick your fackin head it, and on and on for about five minutes at the very reasonable cyclist. I'll be waiting for you you cant. etc etc. I rest my case

Couldn't find anything on the site so apologies if this has already been discussed: Facts are plain: Most drivers and cyclists are resonable and decent* Most cyclists in London are aware of the risks and cycle accordingly 15 time more dangerous cycling in the countryside - Yikes (think this is in part as city drivers are more aware) But better cycling infrastucture please And cycling proficency And driver training (both tests, and the initiatives where HGV drivers for example have goes on bikes, and similarly cyclists have a look see in a HGV cab) *Apart from post office vans racing themselves back to depot at 6.30 and all young driving instructors when on their own as they are so angry having such a s... job and young people in sporty coupes with loud music, at least you hear them coming. Please post to throrougly agree with my wise words.

Ian Dury - Ban the bomb (obscure reference as it gives you things to do in the three minute warning of a nuclear attack - I suppose I'll get the EDF internet police onto me now for causing trouble) Boil an egg, have a cuddle, cut your toe-nails, make the bed By the time this record's finished, everybody will be... Wrap yourself in silver paper put a sandbag on your head Crawl inside your fall-out shelter underneath your garden shed Boil an egg, have a cuddle, cut your toe-nails, make the bed By the time this record's finished, everybody will be dead

Pollyfilla is shit. Funnily enough you mix polyfiller, say 30/70. with plaster, and it is the bees knees. It suddenly is the best of both worlds, extending the curing time of the plaster, letting you fill deeper cracks without cracking or sinking, you can make quite a 'stiff' mix, and keeps the quality of plaster in trowling on (rather than the bloody tramlines you get with pollyfilla on its own - too many examples of botched DIY). Get it right first time with a decent float, trowl or other suitable tool, wetting down as necessary to smoooth out, as it is a b'stard to rub down, But only for mending plaster, not wood or anything else that flexes. The non branded stuff is just as good. The quick setting pollyfilla in a tube is also great in doning fine repairs. Trouble is it dries in the tube too easily.

I visted Iceland once, not the country as I made out but three days in Deeside at thier HQ. Whilst I can't ever recall shopping there and hate the brash colours, they are one of the few chains who are intenet on keeping the high street going. They had the mum's gone to Iceland campaign then (mid 90s) as opposed to say mum and dad have got in their Volvo and driven to Waitrose at Beckeham (or now, gone on line, with ). The advertising is a bit naff, but they know their target audience (a minority who don;t necessarily drive). They were also quite a progressive company, even if this may not readily come across. Will you lot now get back into your box.

Wot no views? Are they good yes or no?

What? Me???

1980s, government hated football, and maybe half of society did similar. It was at a low point. Rubbish stadiums, with rubbish stewarding (and in this case the police) Terracing is great, but put barriers in the front, back and side (fences and exits that don't open), and with overcrowding..... Malumbu went to a similar situation at SOTV Park once (Aston) in 1979. The police/stewards opened the gates and moved us to the less crowded corner terracing. Result was no crush, and a 0-0 draw. Pleased that the truth is out. Sad that we lost terracing (but not the rubbish stadiums). Funny thing is Anfield is worse as an all seater than it was before the terracing went - and I have stood on the Kop.

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG Statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act is that you have the opportunity to inspect the item. (problem is how long is appropriate). Which is effectively whay when you buy mail order they have a returns policy. From the Act itself: F33. . . Unless otherwise agreed, when the seller tenders delivery of goods to the buyer, he is bound on request to afford the buyer a reasonable opportunity of examining the goods for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are in conformity with the contract [ie is it what you expected, size, colour etc] Secondly: (see for eg /www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/sale-of-goods/understanding-the-sale-of-goods-act/your-rights/ When you buy goods you enter into a contract with the seller of those goods. Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 goods must be: 'as described', 'of satisfactory quality', and 'fit for purpose' ? this means both their everyday purpose, and also any specific purpose that you agreed with the seller (for example, if you specifically asked for a printer that would be compatible with your computer). Sadly sales people seem to know sweet FA about the SOGA, as do people on this forum. Better to ask if people have had good experience of a shop, not what to do when there is a problem. Apart from Malumbu who was a Consumer Protection professional. Go to OFT, or your Trading Standards Authority or Which for advice. This is half reasonable www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent/factsheets/FS1NEW%20nov07%20goods.pdf Then if the poorly trained counter staff don't help then ask to see the manager. Then contact the "Home Authority" (the Trading Standards Department)in the local authority area where the head office is. Contact the company, make a formal complaint, ask to see their dispute resolution procedure. If this failes sue the bustards. Worth spending the money at the Small Claims Court just for the hassle that it gives them. PM Malumbu and he will help you with the forms. The more people that do something about this the better for us all. Alternatively just shop at Waitrose, John Lewis, and move into the store and live there.

Coldplay at the Olympic Stadium last Saturday Stone Roses, Heaton Park George Micheal, also Olympic Stadium