Lowlander

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lowlander Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I drove up North recently and it took almost > two > > hours to get from ED to the start of the M1 on > > both occasions outside of rush hour (10.00 on a > > Friday and 1900 on a Thursday). > > > > That was going through > > Camberwell/Oval/Vauxhall/Park Lane/Edgeware > Road. > > > > That usually takes between 45 mins and an hour. > > That was probably because the start of the M4 is > still closed, causing loads of chaos. > > > > > I'm avoiding travel as much as possible > although > > will be on the pushbike where necessary. > > > > Will they really fine cyclists who go in the > > Olympics lanes? > > Oh, I so hope so. Ooh, someone who'll be using the lanes officially on the ED forum! Having checked, cyclists won't be fined...

I drove up North recently and it took almost two hours to get from ED to the start of the M1 on both occasions outside of rush hour (10.00 on a Friday and 1900 on a Thursday). That was going through Camberwell/Oval/Vauxhall/Park Lane/Edgeware Road. That usually takes between 45 mins and an hour. I'm avoiding travel as much as possible although will be on the pushbike where necessary. Will they really fine cyclists who go in the Olympics lanes?

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > But also very sad for the man offering the lift if > it was genuine. > > What a reflection on our modern society that we > have to assume, and teach our children to assume, > that apparently kind strangers can't be trusted. > > I think on balance the schools who texted parents > played it right though. Though perhaps "attempted > abduction" was a bit strongly worded. 'Modern' society? How old are you!? My grandparents (who were born in the 1890s) warned me of not talking to strangers!

Anyone experiencing low water pressure? Top of Lordship Lane/Upland Road...

Avoid Sundays if possible. Otherwise Saturdays anytime before 12ish. Straight down the south circ and then the A3, I do it once a week or so and avoid these times by experience! If quiet then is quick. As above do not go via Tooting...awful stop start traffic...

My 13 year old car costs ?440 for third party insurance, down from ?480 last year. I did spend an hour going through all the comparison websites here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/compare-cheap-car-insurance to get that. I would just like to pay for plain third party, and take the risk on fire and theft, but the insurance companies charge you more for that...and sometimes full comp can be cheaper... Yes, it is mostly down to whiplash and fraud. Insurance companies also have very small profit margins these days after years of competition so need to compensate for that.

What is the difference in the price of bread/milk between Iceland and the Co-Op?

We burn Homfire smokeless coal in our open fire through the winter, approved for smoke free areas You can buy it from any petrol station in the cold months or online from coal merchants Regular coal and logs are widely available (again petrol stations) although clearly marked "not for use in smoke free areas". I suspect a lot gets burnt after dark.

You are allowed, but if it's causing a serious problem then the council can do something about it. If it's a one off then by the time the council come round the fire will probably be finished. I wouldn't bother in such a case.

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why do people look down their noses at ready meal > eaters? > > What is so superior about the wasting all that > time cutting, peeling, cooking and creating piles > of washing up? > > Fine if cooking floats your boat, but it hardly > makes you superior. I'm refuting the argument that it's quicker to pick up a ready meal every day rather than cook from scratch. I fully appreciate that a lot of people don't enjoy cooking. There are many things I don't enjoy!

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Gidget Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > It's for people who don't cook and have > > lots of disposable income. > > Yeah, but so what? Some people aren't interesting > in cooking, some people don't have the time to > cook every night. It's not a crime. I'd rather > spend ?4 on something OK-ish from M&S than ?1.50 > on something utterly revolting from Iceland. Sorry, but there's no time saving. I could knock up a spag bol in 15 minutes which is quicker than detouring to a shop, selecting, queuing then heating in the microwave when I got home. Even when I worked 12 hour days in a tiny flat with a two hob cooker I still found time to do this. Of course if you're not interested in cooking then you wouldn't know this. Anyway, back to the thread; M&S do some cracking reductions on food if you time it right, so could end up cheaper than Iceland...

Pickle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think everywhere around here is good for kids > (and Mums) - I guess part and parcel of bringing > up kids in a big city is the fact they'll come > into contact with a few nutters along the way. > > Welcome to the area and don't let one bad > experience put you off. You should try bringing up kids in the countryside! Full of crazies, armed with axes and (legal) shotguns to boot.

I had seven (seven) letters arrive the other week from a local surgery addressed to various people who've lived at my address in the past. I returned them all to sender as addressee not known. If this was part of that excercise then good. As long as they get a reasonable amount of time to respond (28 days) and preferably a reminder in case the first letter is lost in the post.

Also good is www.traintimes.org.uk which uses the National Rail info but in a tidier format and without the adverts...

Which terminal? Heathrow Express starts an 0510 and takes 15 mins to T1-3 and longer to T4 and 5 so would get you to T1-3 for 0525 or T4 / T5 for roughly 0535. Is about ?18 each way so you may find it's cheaper just to get a cab the whole way! Worth getting a quote. Otherwise you're looking at getting a few buses (176 to Trafalger Sq then 23 to Paddington? Would take a fair while!)

And get an exemption from council tax if you won't be living there for more than a month due to the works. Most decent builders will be able to take care of the planning side for you. It can be quite complex and onerous (brickwork pointing and windows are covered). I have friends have done similar work and if you just wanting to knock down some false walls put up in the 70s/80s you should be ok. If you need to remove period features you'll be expected to restore them to "as was". This is why getting someone with experience helps as the councils often get confused themselves. Unless you have a lot of time to do the plans yourself. Kudos for doing the reverse of what many others are doing!

I'm happy with Vodafone (and previously T-Mob/Orange) at the top of Lordship Lane. You can find transmitter info here: http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search As others have said, ED is fairly hilly and built up; with most transmitters on top of the hills this affects reception.

What is the story with the one on Lordship Lane anyway? There is one officer I see regularly pounding a beat round about it. I take it there's a problem with the facade crumbling hence the railings?

About 1600 yesterday afternoon top of Upland Road, very brief not enough to reset any clocks.

Which platform? ::o

I have been getting the the 0729 from ED to London Bridge since early January and I can't remember any cancellations. It's been delayed by 2-3 minutes once or twice. I always get a seat in the last two carriages. Coming home is a bit different, I finish at different times, so if a train is about to leave there's no chance of a seat and I sometimes let it go and get on the next one (10 minute or so wait). This is around 1730-1800. Overall it's luxury compared to some other commuiter services, although the early start helps - later there's far less chance of a seat. This post is not tempting fate and my morning commute will continue as normal.

A poll! We need a poll. Either way I vote for Fortum and Mason. Or at least coffee place where I can buy freshly roasted beans.

Actually the old routemasters were fairly future-proof and modular, this was proven when they fitted new engines to them sometime last decade (2000-2010 IIRC). Ironically this made them fully compliant with the latest emissions standards and more fuel efficient - around 5mpg - than their successors. They easily had another decade in them when they were withdrawn.

So is there a poll we can link to? Or a consensus without me (apologies for laziness) having to wade through 29 pages? Personally I think we have more than enough supermarkets although I'd be willing to sacrifice Sainos for a Waitrose.

I lived in Battersea some time ago where the postal service was atrocious - loads of "whilst you were out" cards and disappearing post. One special delivery item containing ?150 worth train tickets disappeared so well that they couldn't even find the barcode on the receipt. In the end I filed a claim via the small claims court and they paid out (after a few phonecalls to chase). Delivery is a bit variable here in ED but it's a lot better than other areas!