mikeb

This map shows Charlton House, along with Homestall Farm and other buildings in what is now the park. It's Ordnance Survey 1871, surveyed in 1863 and taken from here http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/southwark/assets/maps/east-dulwich/1891

We went to Lykia World near Oludeniz in Turkey last year (with 2 and 4 yr old) and loved it so much that we're going back this year - a top quality place. First time we've ever gone on holiday to same place. I've just bought a sensible car as well - am I getting old?

Call me a cynic, but I am unsurprised that Alleyn's released an 'independent' report that supported their application. If a group of concerned local residents asked another respected lighting consultant to prepare an alternative 'independent' report, then I would also be unsurprised when that one concluded there could indeed be a problem. It's why you don't rely on a survey prepared by the seller of a property - you commission your own. Also known as 'opinion shopping'. Are there any lighting professionals on the EDF who could comment? The technicalities of the report itself were somewhat beyond me...

I'd like to give another thumbs up for Ian Smith at Meaby. Pragmatic, responsive, organised and calm. Good value. I've used online / factory conveyancers before and it's a false economy. In my experience, by the time you've finally agreed on a house, and are looking to close a deal quickly before anyone backs out, having someone familiar with the houses, agents, surveyors, council is very helpful. If only the legal advisers in my office were so commercial. and big up also for Roberts & Denny for packing / removals.

Still quiet 6 months on. Did anyone ever hear anything about her?

A new chapter in Foxton's history - from City AM this morning: Estate agent Foxtons was taken over by its lenders yesterday, after its private equity owner agreed to a refinancing deal that saw its stake in the firm massively diluted. BC Partners bought the chain that was synonymous with the London property boom for around ?360m in 2007 from founder Jon Hunt, who offloaded the business at the top of the market. But yesterday the private equity house handed lenders led by Bank of America and Mizuho a majority stake in the business. BC Partners will retain the largest minority stake and has pumped less than ?50m of new equity into the estate agents. Under the deal, Foxton's debt has been cut from ?300m to ?120m. Most of the debt was from ?260m of bank loans to fund BC Partners' buyout.

A station as busy as Peckham Rye should have more than one ticket machine. The manager is being a bit blinkered when he says "the permit to travel machine is only for when we have closure" - from the perspective of a potential paying customer, I would expect the permit to travel machine could be turned on when there are severe delays e.g. when the machine isn't working. Most passengers are traveling to Victoria, London Bridge or Blackfriars where there are barriers anyway. Alterantively, the newsagent on Bellenden Rd sells travelcards and rarely has a long queue.

Just seen this thread: the difference between the value of the equity and the value of the properties could be existing debt within the portfolio.

I don't think there's much to choose between cat, dog or even fox poo (although carnivore poo is generally more unpleasant than herbivore poo, and probably more poisonous). However, of these, only dog poo is prevalent on Goose Green: just try playing football or watching your toddler run around and fall over. Just an idea, but given dog 'walkers' are mostly of necessity creatures of habit, usually visiting daily, could it potentially be quite quick to change the situation? e.g. intensive enforcement over a month or so of the requirement to clean-up or face an on-the-spot fine.

Worth trying a delivery from New Dewaniam - I've been enjoying this place for over ten years now.

Think it's worth just celebrating the relative peace of the last few days. Easterly winds forecast to continue over the weekend.

Muz-champ (with a clear "P")?

Has anyone ever had bespoke shoes made by Merrifields?

I've had an uptick in these little buggers. It was exactly this time last year that they were around as well, none from about July to April. Are they seasonal? Alternatively, does anyone know if they also live outside? Might also explain why everyone is getting them now.

Just thought I'd throw my oar in here. I'm struggling to see how there are properties available "below market value" when presumably "market value" is derived from the prices at which properties are selling. The relevant question is "where is the market going to go in the next few years?" This time frame is relevant since it's the minimum justifiable time between buying and selling, given the eye-popping cost of stamp duty. Certainly if you believe RICS, the govt or the BoE then it seems like we're in for a rough ride in the next year or so, with little prospect of inflation renewing when prices eventually stop falling: banks and building societies are just not going to lend again like they were last year. Also, property derivatives markets are also betting on a fall - see below. Clearly, this is just a market view, but at least some people are backing this view with cash. ============================================= LONDON, May 6 2008 (Reuters) - The average cost of a British house is expected to sink by 14 percent over the next year and prices could take a decade to return to 2007 highs, property derivative brokers said on Tuesday. Average prices are expected to drop by ?26,000 in the next 12 months, having already fallen by 5 percent since the market peaked in August, derivatives prices showed. Dealers said Britain's residential property derivatives market was also now projecting an 18 percent drop over two years in the non-seasonally adjusted Halifax house price index (HPI).

A couple of years ago, there were also two ponies in the same patch. After about a month, a poster went up claiming the council had evicted them. I thought they belonged to the semi-permanent houses next door. I thought it was a shame at the time since that bit of wasteland isn't used for anything else and lots of children enjoying seeing them. The piece opposite is also empty and overgrown. Having said that, I'm not sure I would support large parts of the park being enclosed.

Thanks. After some digging around, it seems the guy on North Cross Rd has retired. Nearest place is in West Norwood apparently.

Does anyone has any idea how much it should cost to have an automatic gearbox reconditioned / replaced? Audi A4 if it makes any difference. ta

I think we've been through all this before in other threads but, as I understood it, prior to the ELL extension Phase 2 opening there will be a reduction in Peckham Rye services to London Bridge. And I don't think Phase 2 has budgetary approval yet.

I've seen ?390m as well, from Reuters. Total acquisition debt package was ?260m According to the Telegraph today, Countrywide estate agents (Bairstow Eve, John D Wood, Mann Group) seems to be having some difficulties. Its financing structure is broadly similar to Foxtons, although probably has even fewer restrictions. So if the article is right, this could suggest that Foxtons could also be facing problems sooner rather than later.

Alan Dale 7 Jan Camberwell Grove ?1.25m - according to Wooster Stock website, this is no longer under offer ...

Very impressed by Cuthbert Dibble's weather forecasting skills - this week has been blissfully quiet. Anyone know if global warming will result in predominantly easterly winds?

Is it just me or have the planes in the past few days been really noisy?

Mockney Piers - I've got a flight leaving City airport at 7.15am next Monday and will probably want to get there about 6.30. How long do you reckon it will take to get there by taxi? (personally, I struggle to open my eyes at that time of the morning let alone blink them!)

This year, we're spending Christmas in London for the first time. Just wondered if anyone had any recommendations of festive things to do in London. We have a baby so we're looking for daytime activities - clubbing is probably out! MikeB