Pugwash

Thanks for all your replies - I first got a passport in 1982 when I married, I actually went to the passport office with all my papers etc and said I wanted to continue to use my own surname (hubby has a non English name which everyone gets wrong). I was informed that the law at the time was that a married woman had to use her husband's name but I could have known also as .... to cover my original name. My surname is not the surname I was born with so my birth certificate does not count. I only have one old building society account with my married name on as my parents/parents in law and other relatives refused to use any other surname but my married name and that was the only way I could bank cheques. I do not use my married name for any other purpose. Hubby has mislaid the original marriage certificate so I have to apply for a certified copy. The original phone call from bank asked me my postal code and then started asking questions where I had used my visa card. The person had a very strong accent and was difficult to hear, and when I started asking questions, they would not answer, hence my request for everything in writing. As I stated before, I hold an LPA for my father who is demented and have to deal with all his finances via, Barclays and Nat West. Nat West there were no problems proving my ID, Barclays got a bit muddled up and put the wrong name on the system initially. I intend to photocopy all my documents again, and send with a letter directly to the Manager of Lordship Lane HSBC outlining the situation and ask them to sort things out. I even have the name of the customer service lady who saw me. I think from the accent of the lady I spoke with on the phone, this is a call centre in India and they probably do not have access to very recent documents. The fact that she stated I needed to have 2 passports one in each name suggests to me that they do not know what the system here is. Have spoken to work colleagues who do not use their husband's names and found that they did not tell the Passport Office when they married and just carried on using their original name. I have to renew my passport next year and may opt for using my 'single' name. The system must have changed since 1982 and I had not been aware of this. I will get the certified copy of my marriage certificate first so I have more ID. Thanks for all your help/suggestions. I had to resort to using the complaints procedure with Barclays when they closed down my father's account and put several thousands of pounds into a general account. The complaints officer was brilliant, but it took her several weeks to sort out as she said herself it was the people working in the other sections who were putting up barriers and refusing to cooperate with her. She did get me ?50 compensation as it took me 6 months in total to get Dad's money back.

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from someone saying they were from HSBC and wanted to know if I had used my visa card recently. Explained that I would not talk over phone and that they should write to me. They did and it transpired that there was a fraudulent transaction involving the visa card on the joint account I hold with my husband. Advised to cut up said card and that a new card had been ordered, but in meantime I needed to go to HSBC with my id documents for security purposes. This I did on Thursday 28th Nov. Spent over an hour in the bank, waiting for customer service lady and showing my documents. I had our joint account statement which had arrived the day before showing the illegal transaction, my passport and a driving licence (old type). I had to explain that I do not use my married name and that although my passport says YYY there is an entry on the last page which says that the holder is also known as XXX. I pointed this out to customer services lady who obviously had not come across this at all. I explained that I was a professional person and all my qualifications etc were in the name XXX, that she could see from my own personal account that I was paid under name XXX. I had to explain that I wanted to retain my original name when I married but that the Passport Office had declared that any married woman had to have her married surname on the passport but any other names I used professionally could listed on the last page. The lady was not convinced, I explained that many actors have an equity name which is different from their 'real name' and get paid under their equity name. She saw the point I was making. Was told that when I received my new visa card I just needed to activate over the phone and everything would be fine. When I got home, post had delivered my new card. tried to activate it over phone and was told there was a security block on it. Explained that I had left HSBC less than an hour ago and taken in all my documents. They did not believe me and said there was nothing on the system. On Sat. got a letter from HSBC asking me to contact them re illegal transaction. Today did so, again they said there was a security block. Went through all the rigmarole of what happened last Thursday. Was told that since I could not produce photo evidence i.e. passport of my name XXX, there were still security issues. Asked how I was expected to have a passport in 2 names YYY and XXX. That in all the time I have had a joint account with my husband ( over 32 years) I have never had all this fuss. All I have in a photo ID in the name of XXX was my bus pass and security pass for work. I have taken out ISAs, loans etc over the years and my passport and proof of address have always been taken without bother. They are not worried about my personal account also in the name of XXX, just my joint account, as I could not prove my ID and that they could not talk to me any more over the phone as I did not have security pass for telephone banking. Explained I did not want telephone banking or on line banking, I just wanted to activate my visa card and sort out who/when/where someone had used my visa card for an unauthorised transaction. Was told to go back to the branch with all my ID again and ask them to reset my security!!!!! Has anyone else had similar experience with HSBC or other banks? I hold a Lasting Power of Attorney for my father in the name XXX and deal with Nat West and Barclays and had no problem with them. Is there anyone in the banking world who can explain what the hell is going on. I do not have sufficient leave to take another half day off to go to the bank again. Is this a case for the banking ombudsman ?

I may be wrong but at one time the practice manager was a relative of the Gupta's? not sure if that has been the case for last few months etc.

From what I understand from friend that they did 'standard tests' and when they came back negative and her symptoms remained ( we are talking over a number of weeks) she had to plead with them to send her to Kings for more intensive tests. It was Kings who found the cancer

I heard that the Guptas are now millionaires and are only interested in making more money hence their seemingly lack of interests in their patients. They wanted a pharmacy so to that they could market (allegedly) their own pharmaceutical goods (allegedly) and get a profit. They were directors (allegedly) of a company which was based in Beddington Lane near IKEA in Croydon. A friend of mine developed cancer and she had a terrible time trying to get the GPs to take her symptoms seriously and refer her to hospital where she was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of cancer

Rumour has it that Val Shawcross is standing

An active older woman whose kids have grown up but would welcome a little extra money doing something they enjoyed.

I know someone who purchased a 3 bed flat on the Kingswood estate, when the estate was refurbished, the cost to owner occupiers was ?33,000 - they could not pay it so have a legal charge put on it by Southwark Council. Any prospective buyer is going to see that entry on the land registry and have 2 nd thoughts as to whether the same thing will happen to them

Stolen car? rushing away from an accident?

You can foster children whilst you are working but are more likely to get the older children. I used to work as a 'link' between foster parents and social services and the foster parents I can saw it as a vocation and an extension of their parenting skills

We had a 9 year old when we got married but could not afford a honeymoon and a family holiday. We all went to a holiday camp in Suffolk!

James, I too try to avoid the Whateley/LL junction due to poor visibility. It is probably ok if you are in a high vehicle and can see over the top of the railings. If you add a couple of people waiting to cross at the lights. this also obscures the on coming traffic

In response to AnotherPaul's comment I have been a cyclist and a moped rider as well as a car driver. I used to cycle from Barry Road right down to Westminster Bridge (County Hall). Like a previous comment, I had wing mirrors on both side of the bike, this had 2 advantages - it gave me extra width - cars gave me a little more room as did not want my mirrors scratching their paintwork. It also gave me some indication of what was happening behind me so if anyone was indicating, I would see them in the mirrors. With the poor light even around 4 pm on a cloudy day, I have to put my car lights on and it is much easier to see reflective clothing. I have had a couple of near misses where in a poorly lit street, I have had to swerve to avoid cyclists in dark clothing, on dark bikes with no lights who seem to appear out of the shadows. My husband has cycled all his life and his worse moment was someone getting out of the drivers seat of their car without checking the road was free, the car door was opened suddenly as he passed by and was knocked into the main road. Apart from bruises and grazes he did not have any injuries. He had a go at the motorist and demanded an apology, when this was not forthcoming, he took down the motorists registration plate and stated that he was going to notify the police. He reported this to the police, and was informed that the police traced the man and gave him a written caution.

I hope you reported this to police. Hubby is a cyclist so I am very wary when I see other cyclists around. Unfortunately, there are still idiots not wearing reflective clothing and have really dim lights back and front. There are also those who think they have to ignore traffic light and just go across when they feel like it. did you get a description of the car i.e. colour, make, which road did they turn left into, chances are that this is a regular route for them and police may have an opportunity to catch them. Likely that their car may have been scratched by your bike.

Halfway houses are also used for people who are waiting to be rehoused. My stepdaughter when she and her partner were expecting their first child, their private landlord gave them notice to quit their bedsit, so the local council put them up in a Halfway House until the baby was born when they got a one bedroomed council flat.

This is a Southwark Council building which holds the Fred Francis Day centre and also the Southwark Alarm Scheme operators. A new larger day centre is to be built in Peckham (Cator Street) with a view for longer opening hours and specialist dementia unit(s).

My husband is a Catholic and I have no religion but if pushed would say I am a Humanist. Our youngest daughter was christened as Catholic and attended St. Anthony's RC School. She did not feel comfortable going to church regularly and we gave her the choice of going to a RC secondary school or a state school. The nearest RC secondary (Sacred Heart) had a poor educational record in those days and therefore the next nearest schools were Streatham Common or Croydon. In the end she went to Sydenham Girls. Religion was something discussed in our home but as we had a wide circle of friends from different cultures -different aspects of religion were included. RE in schools is about teaching tolerance to those who have other or no faiths and sets about dispelling myths and prejudices.

The maternity wards were in the main building and were there until mid - late 70s

If I remember correctly our daughter' christening 25 years ago was a cheap affair. Donation/fee to Father John at St Thomas More, a new dress for our daughter who was about 18 months at that time, then everyone back to the house for food and drink -for about 15 guests plus kids - less than ?50. My church wedding in 1982 with 40 guests, caterers. hall hire and clothing cost less than ?600.

I think I did a little bit of emotional blackmail myself saying that the money he spent was part of our retirement savings and why was I working past retirement age to keep his daughter in fags and booze. He has got a bit tougher now - last time she asked for money he said I will give your ?20 and that's all ( before it was in the hundreds)

My husband is BP and his daughter by his first marriage is also although she refuses to be 'officially diagnosed' and seek treatment. I found that my husband had given her over ?5000 in 6 months because she was not able to manage her benefits and look after the children. He also was worried that she may turn against him if he did not help and was also worried about the children (3 under 16).I had spoken to him about getting a lasting Power of Attorney and having an official 'maximum amount ' which he could send her through the bank. He thought this a good idea as he was conscious that when he is very 'high' he does spend money unwisely. We did not get around to doing a LPA as most of hubby's friends told him in no uncertain terms that he was a fool being blackmailed by his own child. The 16 year old grandson also told his Granddad not to send money to his Mum as she was wasting it on drink and cigarettes and always telling people what a soft touch her Dad was. Fortunately she is going through a stable period at the moment and the requests have stopped.

Do you have good friends who have spare beds for kips. My daughter used to come and sleep at my house, whilst I babysat her children for a few hours.

My friend was a lab technician in a 'H' school outside Southwark. H took over the school over a year ago, most of the original staff resigned within a year. My friend hung in for some time but decided that it was time for her to retire after spending nearly 20 years there as she did not like the way they treated staff and did not respect the individual teaching styles of very experienced and good teachers. The teachers they have now are very much clones

Went pass today - signs up but as usual no workmen

I was doing 20 mph in this area yesterday and a Pratt decided to overtake me about 40 mph - I was going extra slowly as a bus was about to pull out - this did not deter the pratt. I later caught up with him at Dulwich Library in fact I was right behind him so his speed did not make any difference.