IlonaM

Signed and shared.

I saw them gritting one side of Underhill between Melford & the South Circular. Not sure if they gritted both pavements or not.

Well done Dillan. What a super idea to help.

A very good article in today's Guardian regarding potential underpayments of state pension to women who reached state-pension age before 6 April 2016, who fall under the older-style pension system, which enabled women with a reduced national insurance contributions record to claim a proportion of their husband?s state pension: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/feb/06/woman-state-pension-underpaid See also a free tool to check eligibility: https://www.lcp.uk.com/is-your-state-pension-being-underpaid/ From Guardian article: 'Are you able to claim? You may be due a payout and increased state pension if you fall into the following scenarios: You are a married woman who reached state pension age before April 2016 with a state pension that is less than 60% of your husband?s basic state pension (currently ?80.45, based on the 2020-21 ?134.25 a week). You are a married woman whose husband turned 65 before 17 March 2008 but you did not realise you should get an increase in state pension, and so never claimed. You are a widow whose pension was not increased when your husband died (you can potentially receive a full basic state pension, plus a percentage of your late husband?s additional state pension). You are a widow and may have been underpaid while your husband was alive or you did not receive an increase when your husband died, based on his contributions. You are a woman over 80 in receipt of a basic pension of less than ?80.45. Whatever your marital status, check your entitlement. You may be entitled to a non-contributory state pension that is not currently based on your national insurance contributions record. You are a divorced woman ? particularly if you divorced post retirement ? who is receiving a small pension and may benefit from your ex-husband?s NICs record. You can raise a claim if you believe you may have been underpaid. You can check if you are owed any state pension by contacting the Pension Service, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, on 0800 731 0469. It has a team working on claims for state pension underpayments. Advertisement How far you can backdate claims depends on whether your husband reached 65 before 17 March 2008, in which case you can backdate 12 months. However, if he reached the state pension age after this date, when the uplift should have been automatic, you are eligible to claim the full amount you have been underpaid back to when your husband retired.'

BBC Radio 4's You & Yours programme has just highlighted Covid vaccination invitation scams by email in particular, but also can be by text/phone. Here is a link to an earlier BBC report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55811161 'The NHS has warned people to be vigilant about fake invitations to have the coronavirus vaccination, sent by scammers. The scam email includes a link to "register" for the vaccine, but no registration for the real vaccination is required. The fake site also asks for bank details either to verify identification or to make a payment. The NHS says it would never ask for bank details, and the vaccine is free. ...'

Yes, please. Place add me to the draw.

Shelter Legal England has this advice: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/coronavirus#title-4 'Restrictions, repairs and moving home Can my landlord delay repairs? Landlords have the same responsibilities for repairs during coronavirus but there may be delays in getting work done. Government guidance says that unless you're self isolating the following can still take place in all areas: any repairs including non urgent work planned maintenance and inspections Landlords and contractors must follow public health guidance about working safely in people's homes and social distancing. Annual gas safety checks remain an important legal requirement. Gas Safe Register has more coronavirus guidance. Can I refuse access if I'm worried? Your landlord must give you notice of any visits. They shouldn't just turn up. If you're self isolating, no one should come into your home unless it's to fix a serious problem that puts you at direct risk of harm. Government guidance says that landlords should respect that some tenants will want to be cautious. If you don't want people in your home, you could ask for any non urgent work to be postponed. For example, if: minor repairs could wait you're at higher risk from coronavirus Find out more about access to your home and when you can refuse.' You can contact Shelter for advice online/by phone: https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/captain-tom-moore-obituary-war-veteran-raised-money-nhs-b1796107.html

Excellent!!

That sounds like a brilliant idea. I hope you find some volunteers soon.

The Noise Team (Southwark) has told me this evening that, although they cannot enter a complainant's home to witness noise from inside (due to lockdown), they will attend incidents if appropriate to see if they can witness the noise from outside the offending property. In any event, they are logging complaints of noise nuisance, providing a reference number, and an enforcement officer will call you back to discuss further.

Also, there are now the standard one-hour slots and new saver slots (4 hour slot which is clarified to a one hour slot on morning of delivery) available.

Here is an image of the text from the Hackney SNT printed in today's Standard (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-arrest-warrant-interpol-b1782723.html)

SpringTime Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Almost certainly a grey wagtail. Nice looking > bird, good spot. Think males and females look > similar but that's probably a female? Yes, I was leaning towards possible female. The yellow is quite muted. LOts of tail wagging going on!

Just had what I think was a Grey wagtail in my garden enjoying the bird bath (Horniman end of Underhill) - never spotted one before. Very pretty. [http://voice.gardenbird.co.uk/all-about-the-grey-wagtail/]

The expert on the Today programme this morning said it will be low above the horizon - she suggested 2 finger widths (like whisky measure!). They will be visible over the next couple of weeks, slowly distancing from each other in the next few days or so.

Breaking news: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tier-4-rules-london-covid-christmas-lockdown-b390412.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tier-4-rules-london-covid-christmas-lockdown-b390412.html

https ://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tier-4-rules-london-covid-christmas-lockdown-b390412.html Excerpt from article: 'The Tier 4 rules which come into effect on Sunday will include: * A ?stay at home? message in law, apart from limited exemptions such as work, education, healthcare, childcare and exercise. * People will be advised not to enter Tier 4 areas and Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home. * Christmas bubbles are axed so households will not be allowed to mix, apart from for support bubbles. * Non-essential shops will have to close, effectively from close of business on Saturday, as will indoor leisure such as gyms, indoor entertainment including cinemas, bowling alleys and casinos, and the personal care sector including hairdressers and nailbars. * Household mixing will be limited to one person being able to meet with one other person in a public space outside, with exemptions for support bubbles and for childcare bubbles and for children whose parents have separated. * For the clinically extremely vulnerable, people who have been shielding in the past, the guidance from November will be reimposed which broadly says that these inidividuals should not to go to work, limit time outside the home and take exercise outside at less busy time. * People currently not at home in Tier 4 will be able to travel back. * People will not be able to travel abroad on holiday. * Outdoor sport will be able to continue and there will be no restrictions on exercise.' The Government website hasn't been updated yet : https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

John Le Carre https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/14/john-le-carre-obituary South Bank Centre has a video of part of 'An evening with George Smiley' from 2017 at: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/blog/videos/john-le-carre-evening-george-smiley?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CultureFix19%2F12%2F20&utm_content=version_A

Campaign from Crowdfunder, raising money for foodbanks across the country. You can donate money to three national organisations, or find an organisation local to you and give it a few quid. Organisations can also request inclusion in the campaign. Full details here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/foodbanks

Dame Barbara Windsor https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/11/barbara-windsor-star-of-eastenders-and-carry-on-films-dies-at-83

Are there any local charity raffles?

How about documenting the local charities helping the elderly, refugees and others? I can put you in touch with a local refugee organisation that has been feeding their clients throughout lockdown - not promising anything, but you might be able to help each other.