Pugwash

Lew Evans is an Extra Sheltered Housing Unit and has a team of carers on site Last time I dealt with the SHU - staff covered 24 hour shifts with minimal staff on over night ( this may have changed in the last 2/3 years). I would imagine that staff were having difficulty in getting personal protection equipment - I notice that this article is based on information in the early stages of lockdown where the importance of home carers were not recognised by the government. Each user of care services would have been financially assessed as to the amount they would need to contribute towards their care plan - regardless whether they were in their individual home, SHUs or Extra SHUs.

My neighbour owns his flat - 1st floor in a converted Victoria semi. Ground floor is rented out by Southwark Council. Southwark own freehold. Neighbour has undertaken interior redecoration and minor modifications. The previous owner put up shelves etc without having to go to council. He only went to council to get permission to install an iron staircase outside which could be classed as a fire escape. If you want to do a loft conversion you will need to get permission from Southwark. Previous neighbour paid ?5000 as his share of repainting the house and was very unhappy that paint flaked off within a few months and complained to Council. When new owner purchased flat he repainted the exterior. If Council want to do work or upgrade the property in some way they will expect you as the leaseholder to pay a share. We had both our front and back of house repainted a few months before our old neighbour had his done, and as a home owner we paid ?5000 in total - neighbour was annoyed that he was charged the same amount just for his half of the property.

Train fare from Leeds is between ?80- ?130 . and reduced services. Main problem is taking 2 years of clothing, bedding, books, kitchen equipment, TV, computer and printer - it took the whole of the car boot and seat when she went up to Leeds first of all. I think under normal circumstances, she would be able to stay one extra day but according to the Letting agency with all the new regulations relating to Covid, all properties have to be deep cleaned before new tenants can come in. The new tenants will be moving in on 1st July and since it is a house for 8 people- alot of rooms to be cleaned. She does not know the current tenants of the new property which is a flat for 4 people. A flat mate previously tried to go home by train but was stopped at Leeds station and informed that since she was not an essential worker she could not travel.

With reference to my previous message - one of the parent governors of Goodrich was at the Healthy Streets meeting at Christ Church and he was attending on behalf of the school. Both Maggie Browning and Jon Hartley were at the meeting.

As far as I recall from the Healthy Streets meeting held earlier in the year (or was it late last year?)at Christ Church, the barrier would only be in operation at the beginning and end of school day. Check with Cllrs Browning and Hartley.

Most of the other students in her shared house would have returned to their family home in various parts of the north - she is the only one who lives in the south east .She does not have a car and it would be difficult to crash anywhere with all the contents of her room. She had already asked Landlord if they could move out at 10 am on 1st July so that they can go straight away to new accommodation but this was refused. If they are not out in time, she stands to lose several hundred of pounds in deposit ( I believe it is around ?500) which she needs to cover new accommodation's rent. It would appear that for students in their 2nd year plus the accommodation is from 1st July - 30th June and it is rare to find a property with a Sept - June tenancy. I will get daughter to check out AirBnB in the area and also check the nearest motorway services.

Grand daughter at Leeds University has to leave her current accommodation on 30th June. She had requested a day's extension as the student property she was moving into for her final year could not be accessed until 1st July. She and her house mate have been told they have to leave by 10 am on 30th as due to Covid regulations, their property has to be deep cleaned. She has approached the university asking whether it was possible to stay in halls for 1- 2 nights as she would be homeless. University people have refused to help and student union have not come up with suggestions. Her mother is driving up from Bromley to collect her things (bedding/crockery/utensils/clothes etc) as initially granddaughter was going to get a mini cab to transport stuff to new flat 10 minutes drive away. My daughter is hoping that by the end of the month - some hotels/travel lodge/premier inns would be open so that 3 of them could stay somewhere over night. She has contacted friends in the Yorkshire area but they are unable to help. Does anyone know whether the motorway services on M6 near Leeds are open as at the last resort the 3 of them would have to sleep in the car but would need access to toilets. Grand daughter needs to remain in Leeds for a short time and will not return to Bromley until later. Her mother is an NHS worker, but has tested negative for C19 and did not really want to have the 5 hour drive upto Leeds. There was an article in one of the papers recently about students who are reliant on part time jobs to pay for their accommodation and living expenses, who do not have family/friends or an out of term time address/accommodation. Granddaughter's housemate does not have a family and stays in student accommodation all year round which she pays from part time term time and holiday work. Since March she has not worked and all savings have now gone - is she eligible for universal credit?

We have been at the Gardens for many years. Originally our end of Barry Road was in catchment area, but now Barry Road (Rye end)is in. Never had a GP home visit so there has been no problems re being outside catchment area now. Have seen all the GPs in the practice and cannot find fault with them. Both practice nurses (Liz and Jo) are also brilliant.

My son in law is registered to 306 Lordship lane and is very happy with the practice. Dr Choudrey - female GP.

I had a Disabled Person Freedom Bus Pass for around 15/20 years which at the age of 60 was converted to the Older Person's card. I worked until I was 66 but was an essential car user, but used Pass if I had to go to visit places where parking was impossible i.e. Walworth Road/Camberwell/Peckham areas. I use the car at least once a week mainly for supermarket shop. If I shop in LL or Rye lane - I use Freedom Pass.

I have great difficulty in finding a Utility Bill issued within 3 months in my name as most of them appear in hubby's name. He is a non driver. Many of our bills only issued 6 monthly and others are via email. Will they accept a bank statement instead of a utility?

A friend in Croydon rang hubby yesterday to thank him for the voucher he received in post. Hubby confused as had not sent anything in the card. Transpired that this was a voucher sent in 2019 for friend's birthday which had failed to arrive. Envelope was intact and correctly addressed - must have been in the sorting office (Peckham or Croydon) all this time.

I would only use my Freedom Pass to attend early hospital appointments - I have 2 coming up in August. Since the driver does not take cash, I object to getting an Oyster card for visits I may only make about 6/7 times a year. When does free travel for the under 18s start?

Having grown up in ED from the 1950s- NX Road had a small market during the week - only about 4 or 5 stalls - fruit and veg, haberdashery. fish stall on Fridays - cannot remember the others. It was considered a cheap place to get fruit and veg - as shops were much dearer.

Hewitts farm near Orpington?

Many students are still stuck in their term time homes as they either cannot travel or their family are self isolating. These students may be taking advantage of the good weather to have BBQs. Our grandchild is in a house of 5 students in Leeds and cannot return home as her mother is a NHS key worker who has Covid patients in her ward.

If you do wear a mask- have a thought for members of the deaf community who rely on lip reading for communication. Many deaf people have some hearing but also use lip reading. It is very difficult to understand some one if you cannot see lip movement - please have patience if you are asked to repeat something or your 'conversation' appears to be ignored.

Went to Sainsbury's DKH yesterday around 3 pm. Queue down to nursery but within 15 mins was able to get into store. Able to purchase everything on my list.

My 16 year old grandson refuses to go out of the house and meets up with friends on line. He will not even go out in the garden for a few minutes. His parents are buying him a set of weights as he misses going to the gym

It is all very well to give times i.e 7- 8 am for NHS/Care Staff but in reality as anyone who has worked a a carer is that 7 am - 10 am is the busiest time for them. I had carers in January following an operation and when hubby spoke to St. Christopher's Care Agency - he was informed that they would have difficulty getting to me early morning due to demand. I had 10.45 - 11.45 am care slot for assistance with personal care. As a carer of a person with variable mental health needs, I rarely am able to get out of the house before midday as my cared for person is not always willing to get up and showered in the morning and needed prompting to wash and eat. A family friend who is parti9ally sighted and prone to fits, does not use a white stick, went to his usual shop in Lewisham and queued, and was informed by the cashier that he should have gone straight to the front of the queue. I do not wish to do on line shopping as my priority is getting out of the house for a break and my once a week shop is something that I enjoy.

We have used Gary in the pass and we going to contact him again to replace a bathroom extractor fan which is linked to the light- but lock down came about. More worried about him getting supplies - so will wait a while before contacting him again. We open the bathroom window instead for a while.

I complained to our Dulwich Hill ward councillor as well as reporting to Southwark on line, a dangerous spot where a wheelchair almost tippled over. With thanks to Cllr Maggie Browning- for getting this work done quickly.

last time I was in LL near M & S, there were several joggers running through the area which was crowded. I have nothing against joggers as my hubby was one for many years (had to give up as it wore out his knees and hips) but I do not think it appropriate for them to be running in a shopping area i.e. from Townley Road to East Dulwich Station and should stick to the side streets.

Barry Road near Plough last week - loads of discarded latex gloves - cream and blue and masks. Hubby picked them up by our house and in our garden with pick up stick and binned them