fatcats

I've been a cyclist and driven a scooter, haven't driven a car as yet. Motorcycle training is great for safety, having said that so is the cycle training that Southwark and other councils used to offer free of charge to residents. When I did it it was 2 x two-hour free sessions and it was invaluable. We went through everything like lane dominance, making eye contact with drivers, life saver checks, I'd recommend it to anyone. Someone made a really good point on another thread about a fatal accident - it was that 90% of accidents can be avoided by the person whose fault it isn't. So I think it's perfectly reasonable to point out that cyclists could avoid accidents by wearing high viz gear, no implication of fault at all. Even if a driver just gets distracted - in which case the driver would be at fault - that high viz gear can be enough to jolt someone's awareness back to where it should be. ETA: free cycle training still available in Southwark: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200123/cycling/446/

Is it me or do Arsenal just look a bit clueless in front of goal?

I've been told that scooters are less likely to be stolen if you use a cover. However, someone has taken a shine to the covers I buy for my scooter and keeps stealing them. I suppose I should be grateful that they're only stealing the cover and leaving my scooter alone, but the most recent cover only lasted 1 week before it was stolen again. Can anyone recommend a cover that's a bit harder for someone to tea leaf? Thanks in advance

This rang a bell, so I did a search and it seems it may have been going on for a while: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,962061,962061#msg-962061

Red devil Since you seem pretty knowledgeable about these things, please can I pick your brains about refurbished period radiators? I've seen some online that look really nice, and cheaper than brand new. But I have no idea whether buying radiators like these is a good idea or not. Any advice would be brilliant! Cheers

Will check them out, thanks again red devil.

Thanks red devil. Will have a look at all of those suggested. Re: the radiators, yes think we're hoping for cast iron column radiators. I know what you mean about ?250 not being a lot, meant it more in terms of our empty wallets really, and the fact we have to multiply it by 4. Of all the things to spend money on when doing up a house, skirting boards and radiators has got to be among the least gratifying! Thanks a lot for your suggestions, much appreciated.

Hi there As per the title really, need to buy new radiators and skirting boards. Skirting boards need to be quite wide, the type they have in Travis Perkins is ?11 per metre before any discounts which seems quite high to me. I think they were the solid wood ones. Any ideas would be great. Radiators, again any good ideas for this would be great. We need four and the ones we were looking at online were about ?250 each which is again quite high. Would be really grateful for any ideas. Cheers

first mate, have you tried messaging rspcalondonsoutheast?

Well done first mate, for caring and being so tenacious. The dog is lucky it managed to attract the attention of someone as caring as you.

Do you know which neighbours own the offending cat(s)? If so you could politely request that they invest in a litter tray for it. We bought a supersoaker to stop a neighbourhood cat from terrorising one of ours. I can't guarantee its effectiveness but I think you would find it quite satisfying to get a direct hit. I've heard that lion poo is quite effective. I think you can get it in garden centres. Although how you know that is 100% genuine lion poo is anyone's guess. Other than that my nan always used orange peel and put in the flowerbeds etc.

Thanks for that. Shocking. The Tragus Group now claims to pay service in addition to minimum wage (same statement as on the Strada website), so maybe they were shamed into changing their policy.

I was really shocked by the comments about Strada so had a quick google to check it out. According to their website, tips are paid in addition to minimum wage. No idea how to check if this is true. http://www.strada.co.uk/service-charge

Monument Valley in Arizona and two National parks in Utah - Arches and Zion - I remember as some of the highlights from doing a Seattle to LA road trip that went via Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. We went to a lake in Utah which I think was lake Powell, that was pretty awesome as well.

tomskip Wrote: > > I think the poor thing is just going to have to > suffer and die. Feel upset! At least you know you tried.

Did you try the Beckenham one? Just thought they might venture out as they are only down the road.

Try this thread http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1101596,1116512#msg-1116512 i remember the OP of this thread had a similar issue, and she tried the RSPCA but found them to be unhelpful. I think the consensus was that there were a couple of small, local charities that were far more helpful. Here's some relevant posts from the thread: meduza Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What a sad situation, i wish i had seen this > post....Putting your feelings aside, you should > keep the RSPCA informed of any changes or not, to > the situation.You are their eyes and ears. Also > there is a small charity in Beckenham called the > wildlife lodge.They are a small charity so please > use your judgement well.If they cant help they > will most certainly know someone that can. > www.thewildlifelodge.co.uk Also try: Willowildlfe.co.uk and The National Fox Welfare Society Good luck I hope you find someone to help in time

Thanks you all for your input, it's very much appreciated and some great advice! Thanks again.

Hithere Hoping for any advice from anyone that has had an extension built. We are looking at building a second storey over an existing single storey extension. We would need to extend our mortgage in order to do this and get need planning permission. I believe we would also need our builders to do a test dig to check that the foundations of the existing extension could support a second storey. We're not really sure what of what order to do things in, we are thinking that trying to arrange finance first might be the best thing to do, however, I was hoping for advice for anyone that might have done something similar to their house? Thanks in advance

Can't believe how insensitive some people are. The OP has just lost a beloved pet, for God's sake, could debates not be left for another thread? OP, I'm really sorry for your loss.

JohnL Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > direct.gov.uk has that lane marking (and a road > sign) > and the following comment > > "Where there is a break in a bus lane at a > junction, > other traffic may use the left-hand lane for > turning > left only > > http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_ > digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasse > t/dg_191924.pdf > > > fatcats Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > BrandNewGuy Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > A quick check on Google Streetview shows it's > > not > > > marked a bus lane at or just before that > point > > - > > > it's marked with large left-turn arrows. > Buses > > can > > > carry straight on at that point but for all > > other > > > road users it's a left-turning lane. > > > > The lane is red tarmac all the way up to the > cycle > > box, which I think - and again I could be > > completely wrong - is used to mark a bus lane. > > There isn't a blue sign directly there but > there > > is one a bit further back. > > > > Where is the sign that says all other road > users > > must turn left - apart from buses? Where is the > > sign that draws a distinction at this point > > between buses and the other vehicles that are > > allowed to use this particular bus lane, > including > > cyclists, cabs and motorcyclists? I realise > that > > there are directional arrows, but surely this > is > > to let cars know they allowed move over to the > > left, not to tell the vehicles using the bus > lane > > that it has suddenly become left-hand turn only > > and they must move over. I would interpret that to mean that traffic that is not usually permitted to travel in that lane can enter it only to turn left. In this particular bus lane cyclists, motorcyclists and cabs would already be travelling in that lane. I think this link is how I would have interpreted the situation at this particular junction: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/redroutes/963.aspx

BrandNewGuy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A quick check on Google Streetview shows it's not > marked a bus lane at or just before that point - > it's marked with large left-turn arrows. Buses can > carry straight on at that point but for all other > road users it's a left-turning lane. The lane is red tarmac all the way up to the cycle box, which I think - and again I could be completely wrong - is used to mark a bus lane. There isn't a blue sign directly there but there is one a bit further back. Where is the sign that says all other road users must turn left - apart from buses? Where is the sign that draws a distinction at this point between buses and the other vehicles that are allowed to use this particular bus lane, including cyclists, cabs and motorcyclists? I realise that there are directional arrows, but surely this is to let cars know they allowed move over to the left, not to tell the vehicles using the bus lane that it has suddenly become left-hand turn only and they must move over.

BrandNewGuy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The left-hand lane is a clearly marked for a > hundred yards or so as a left-turning lane for all > traffic. The right-hand lane is straight on. > Terrible tragedy. For buses as well? As the bus lane continues immediately after the traffic lights, as far as I can see, and the road surface right up to the traffic lights appears to be red, which I think means it is still very much a bus lane, even if it is also a left-hand turn for car drivers (I could be completely wrong on all counts, I'm only a learner). There are directional arrows leading up the traffic lights, but does this mean that all traffic - including buses and other vehicles that use the bus lane - has to turn left? And do buses tend to change lane if they carry straight on or do they stay over on the left hand side? I suppose it would just be good to clarify, as it may not be as simple as all motorcyclists always trying to undertake people. All I can see on Tfl website is this: Motorcycles in bus lanes "Motorcycles can use bus lanes as part of a trial - make sure you look out for them, when turning out of or into a side road".

Is there a bus lane at this bit of road? If so was the motorcyclist in the bus lane and the lorry in the car lane? Just seems so odd that you would try and undertake a large vehicle that is clearly trying to turn left.

Do you mean how much should the structural engineer cost? As in how much will it cost to draw up the plans and do the calculations? We paid about ?650 I think. We had two chimney breasts removed and a load bearing wall. The structural engineer didn't visit the property he seemed to work in conjunction with someone else that came to measure up and do the calculations regarding the steels etc. All worked out fine but I don't know if this is the best way of doing it. Removing the load bearing wall cost between ?1500 and ?2k I think just in building costs. Then you have to factor in a few hundred quid for building control if you're going to do it the way the council says you're supposed to. The council will send a surveyor out to make sure the job has been done properly. Often a builder will recommend a structural engineer as they will have worked with that person before and so it makes it easier if any queries arise over the plans. That's what we were told anyway. I'd probably get a builder round first to quote for the job and see if he can recommend the engineer.