Twirly

So sorry to hear that, and hope you're OK. Thanks for the warning as well.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No. Big efforts going on to remove railings across > Southwark and London. > > Weird, but instinctively railings seem a good idea > to make things safer but have been shown to make > life more dangerous for all road users. Belief is > railings mean people driving discount the risk of > running over people walking, etc. Higher speeds > driven mean more vehicles collisions. It also > means people walking and cycling have fewer escape > options. > Bit off topic, but maybe that explains the disappearance of the railings on the island at the crossing just opposite London Bridge station then, near the bus stops. I am not 100% certain about this, as standing in the middle of all that traffic does leave one feeling a bit exposed at times. One problem was that too many people tried to fit on the island in the middle of the road - what worries me now is that too many people will fail to fit on and end up falling off and into the road. The removal of the railings on the road edges doesn't bother me in the slightest, just the ones on the traffic island. Anyway, don't want to take the thread off track, but that was interesting information.

H Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I gave up my membership this week, got fed up of > trying to swim there. I too had filled in forms > with my comments and received no response. I just > wish they had some nights where lane swimming > started earlier than 8. I know they need to > balance the needs of everyone but as someone else > has pointed out above there doesn't seem to be > much priority given to people who want to go there > to actually swim rather than float aimlessly. An > 8 o'clock swim just isn't compatabile with having > dinner at a reasonable time if you work and can't > eat before you go. Sad really to give it up, I > love swimming and the pool was nice when it > reopened. Will have to go elsewhere. Totally agree about the timings. I'm not working in an office at the moment so can often go in the mornings at present, but when I worked and got home at 7, I'd have to hang around for an hour (and was hungry) and end up having dinner after 9pm, but would have to be in bed by 11 in order to get up early enough to get to work in the morning, thus not giving myself enough time to digest. And I tried doing the early morning swim too, but even getting there at 6.30 (and sometimes waiting for the doors to open to get in), I only had enough time to swim for 20 minutes before having to get out and get ready to go to work. Am not sure what the answer is, but maybe a couple of nights a week the lane swim could be from 7-9 and the general swim afterwards? Although I don't know how busy the general swim sessions are, or who goes to them.

I was thinking that myself today Only me! And it probably is. Saw a dead bumble bee today.

bugsbgone Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I will say one thing though, why is is that not > many people.. and most especially our esteemed > lady swimmers never take a shower pre swim?..and > before I get bombarded - the showers at the side > of the pool are usually on more than they are > off!! How do you know they're not? I shower in the ladies before I come out. The pool side showers are down the men's end - no way would I traipse all the way up there, I want to get in the water as fast as possible and hide my wobbly bits! The benches were missing in the ladies this morning too, though they were there end of last week. I asked at the desk on the way out and they are going to be replaced. According to one of the other ladies in the changing rooms, the bench opposite the door had been damaged, though why that meant they had to rip the whole lot out, I don't know - other one seemed to be fine previously.

What happened to the reflective armbands that were issued when I was young (admittedly, quite a long time ago now). I remember being thoroughly educated in the Green Cross code etc. as a child, and the reflective armbands were all part of remaining visible.

Agreed, it's lazy. What reply do they expect back other than "fine, how are you?". If they really wanted to know they would call (or email even, it's easier to elaborate on a proper keyboard). I think I'd just reply "fine" and leave it at that - it should get across that you're not happy, whilst not actually giving anything away.

I feel your pain giggirl. I don't mind quick texts sometimes, but agree, if you're making arrangements, just pick up the phone and save your fingers. Although I seem to prefer email to both these days. Probably because I can never remember what's been arranged, and can go back and check my emails when my poor old brain can't cope anymore...

Went for a walk in Peckham Rye Park this afternoon, to make the most of the sunshine. The birds were singing very enthusiastically, there was lots of next building going on, and I actually saw a bumble bee on the blossom on one of the trees.

Undisputedtruth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Twirly Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > Firstly, if you resign with nothing to go to, > you > > will not be able to sign on to claim Job > Seekers > > Allowance for, I think, at least 6 months. So > you > > need to save money before you make the leap, > or, > > bottom line, you may not be able to pay the > > rent/mortgage and end up homeless. > > > > This is complete misinformation. If you're unable > to show good reasons for leaving your last job > then you could either lose up to six months of > contribution based JSA or receive a reduce amount > of income based JSA for up to six months. Leaving > a last job doesn't stop you from signing on. OK, I'm not an expert, and you may be right but you would certainly have quite a lot of hoops to jump through. What would constitute a good reason for leaving a job that would still allow you to claim JSA?

I know how you fee, have had jobs like that myself in the past. Firstly, if you resign with nothing to go to, you will not be able to sign on to claim Job Seekers Allowance for, I think, at least 6 months. So you need to save money before you make the leap, or, bottom line, you may not be able to pay the rent/mortgage and end up homeless. The other problem is that agencies will only try to get you a job based on the experience you currently have, so you are likely to end up with more of the same. Now if it's a particular person rather than the work itself that's the problem, that might not be too bad. But if you want a change of job, you've got more work to do than just finding another job that will be driving you nuts in six months time for the same reasons. There are various books out there (such as "What Colour is my Parachute") and workshops that can help you look at a change of career. As for the depression issues, it may be worth seeing your doctor if it is starting to affect your health, but if you decide to take anti-depressants try to remember that they can help, but they are not the answer. If you can manage without it is best to do so, though if it does get very bad your doctor can sign you off work sick - though of course this won't look great to potential employers. Good luck with sorting this out.

It could have been joy riders/a stolen car?

When I was learning I used to be taken by my instructor to practice my parking in Sainsbury's car park. Also, trying asking the professional instructor where is good to go.

Sorry to hear that Holly - hope you're OK.

Muley Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The snotty-sounding voice of the self service > tills at Sainsburys, the one who orders you, with > barely concealled impatience, to 'place the item > in the bagging area' just after you've placed the > item in the bagging area. Or 'please enter your > PIN number, just after you've entered your PIN > number. Or, best of all, 'please take your items'. > > > Really? You think I should? > > OR DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD WASTE MY OWN TIME > BY COMING INTO RETAIL HELL, PICKING OUT A RANDOM > SELECTION OF ITEMS, LISTEN TO ALL YOUR BANAL > FUCKWITTERY, PAY FOR IT ALL WITH MY OWN MONEY AND > THEN LEAVE WITHOUT BOTHERING TO PICK UP THE STUFF > I'VE JUST PAID FOR > > JUST SOD OFF YOU ARROGANT, SUPERCILIOUS VOICE-OVER > @#$%&! Couldn't agree more! I've given up with them if I've got more than a couple of things to buy (which in Sainsbury's I always do) as they also invariably need to "wait for assistance" for some inexplicable reason. Think it was about 6 times last time I used them to pay for a big shop. It's quicker and easier to wait for a till with a cashier, even when there's a queue - it's better for my blood pressure!

I've had mouse problems at various points over the years, always when my upstairs neighbours have done work in the loft. Initially, I used humane traps and carted the little offenders over to Peckham Rye Park every so often. But at that stage, they were very small (field mice I suspect) and there weren't very many, so that worked for a year or two (they mostly appeared in the cold weather). Then there seemed to be more of them, and they were wise to the trap. Much as I hated it, I had to get some baited traps. I only ever found one dead one - unfortunately I trod on it (luckily in slippers rather than the bare feet I'd normally have had in the morning), luckily MrTwirly was here and, once he realised what my screeching was about, disposed of the corpse. This seemed to clear them out and we were untroubled again for a while. We've had more problems recently though, and this time they've been bigger and more persistent, probably proper house mice. We've tried assorted traps baited with various things which they have steadfastly ignored. The only thing that's worked is poison - Rentokil Rodine, which you can get from Sainsburys. They absolutely love the stuff! The first time we used it, MrTwirly put it in the little trays and placed them strategically where we knew they'd been, then put the box in the cupboard under the sink. They ate the stuff left out, then attacked the box under the sink, shredding it in their eagerness to get to the goodies and scattered it far and wide! So I highly recommend the purchase of a dedicated plastic box to keep it in too. This seemed to clear them out after a week or two, and I assume they went back to their nest to die as we didn't see any corpses. They made a reappearance with the cold weather recently, so we put more poison out and they've gone again - we've just been away for a few days, and there's been no sign of them. We can't block all gaps either, so are stuck with managing the problem. Good luck!

Am afraid that Eat and Two Veg is no longer there (unless they've moved from the top of Marylebone High Street). Such a shame.

I'd recommend The Gate too, particularly for a special birthday. Rasa W1 in Derring St is no longer exclusivley veggie, and for a slightly posher feel the one on Charlotte Street might be better (it used to be fish and veggie, but I haven't been for a while). If you don't need exclusively veggie, then Tas EV near Southwark tube does great food and goes down well with veggies and carnivores alike, plus they will adapt for things like wheat allergies. And although it's probably not special enough for a birthday, Mildreds in Soho does good exclusively veggie food too.

fazer71 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Peckham could do with a major reworking as it > drags down this part of London terribly, maybe > there?s more of an opportunity for a comparison > with Notting Hill there only some of the estates > would need to be leveled first. Funnily enough, a friend of mine says that the vibrancy of Peckham reminds him of Notting Hill in the 60's and 70's, pre-gentrification. For the sake of the communities who call it home, I hope it stays that way!

How infuriating - if he'd kept it, he could have given it straight to the police, even better than fingerprints and you'd have got your stuff back. Of course someone may have found it and handed it in (fingers crossed) but it could be stuck in the system, make sure the police follow up on it in a few days. Is there any way we can get this out onto Twitter? I am on there, but don't think that anyone local would be following me (am very much a newbie), what you need is a local organisation to get the message out, who may have lots of local followers who wouldn't necessarily see it on here. Can anyone help? I know it doesn't help you buntysammy, but the thief must have been pretty desperate (and stupid and selfish too). Will keep my eyes peeled too, and hope your belongings make their way back to you.

Funnily enough, the post I was thinking about was earlier on this thread: Undisputedtruth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > @Louisa > > The proposed channel tunnel rail link in Peckham > led to Rye Lane's decline as Railtrack bought > leases in the surrounding area. So of course the > big retailers moved out. Once the redevelopment > was defeated Railtrack then sold the leases to > smaller retailers as the larger retailers were no > longer interested. > > Furthermore, Surrey Quays shopping opened, adding > further pressures on Rye Lane. Frazer71, I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic in your post or not, but I think Rye Lane is thriving and vibrant, a great contrast to rather gentrified East Dulwich. It may not have high end shops, but it doesn't need them, and where would the local communities shop if it's nature changed? Having the two contrasting areas so close to each other is one of the great things about living in this area, and long may it remain that way.

fazer71 Wrote: > The day Southwark made Rye Lane a Bus only road, > is the day Rye Lane died. > > No quality business would ever consider or want to > invest in a store which would never be able to > attract shoppers from a wide area, if shoppers > can?t drive past and see the stores from their > cars they either won?t know they?re there or won?t > feel comfortable enough to go there. > M&S Waitrose very unlikely on Rye Lane they don?t > aspire to serve bus users they want the 4x4 > driving set. > > Until Southwark allow cars back down Rye Lane > it?ll continue being viewed as a no go (dump) zone > for 99% of the locals who don?t live in Peckham. What a load of tosh! If that was the case, then shopping malls and pedestrianised town centres would soon die a death. It's mostly buses down Oxford Street, and that doesn't seem to have a problem attracting shoppers. I don't remember Peckham in it's hey day, but others on here do, and discussed on another thread somewhere the reasons for it's demise, and it certainly wasn't anything to do with buses.

Check out the legal situation first, and have some evidence that he's in the wrong. Present him with the bike rack solution, and if he prevaricates, then tell him that if he's not willing to do this, then you will have to take it further. If he still objects, then show him printouts from wherever that shows that the exit should be clear. If all else fails, get your landlord involved/check it out with the CAB. Good luck!

We had this problem for a while in our hallway, and it was solved by using one of these wall mounted bike racks to lift one bike up whilst the other rested on the ground underneath. Cost about ?15. If one of these could be installed, then you'd have one bike up on the wall and one on the ground which should give you enough space to get past. Might be the easiest solution.

Related query - I've got a lovely black leather handbag that's got a bit scuffed. It's still structurally sound (amazingly, as it's at least 4 years old and has been heavily used) and is very soft leather (almost as soft as glove leather). But it looks grey rather than black in places. How can I restore the blackness, without using shoe polish as I'm worried that it'll end up on my clothes?