IlonaM

If you had worked in the field or followed the news you would know the direct impact of the 'hostile environment' on migrants and asylum seekers - not just in respect of the Windrush scandal, but going back years and affecting people from many countries and backgrounds. I suggest Loz that you do a little more research before thinking that this report has arisen from 'jumping on the bandwagon'. For those who are interested, there will be a 'Support "Windrush Generation" amnesty debate' demonstration on 30th April organised by Stand Up to Racism. Fpr those who avoid Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/186644592137225/) the details are as follows: 'Date & time: 30 April at 16:00?19:00 Location: Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3, United Kingdom Details We will gather to support the mass petition that has triggered a debate. We support the call for an amnesty for the "Windrush generation" who were invited to the UK as British citizens. We call on the government to stop all deportations, make sure there are no problems with documentation and establish an amnesty for those who came here as minors.'

Something which might be of interest to both the Windrush Generation and their supporters and also others concerned by the 'Hostile Environment' - Human rights groups publish ?how-to? guide to resist the ?Hostile Environment?: http://www.righttoremain.org.uk/blog/how-to-guide-resist-hostile-environment/

Having worked in the field both under the Tories and Labour, I would say that their policies and treatment of migrants and asylum seekers is not that different. There was always a culture of disbelief and cynicism at UKBA and its predecessor. A culture which is also prevalent at the DWP.

JCWI have prepared a briefing on their blog in the last few days: http://www.jcwi.org.uk/windrush-deportations-hostile-environment 'JCWI was once again in the news all week, as we led the fight to stop the illegal deportation of members from the so-called Windrush generation. Our action along with The Guardian Newspaper and C4 News in highlighting the issue in the media, together with The Runnymede Trust, iMix and members of the Caribbean diplomatic community, those affected, celebrities and members of the Caribbean diaspora here in the UK came together last week to say enough is enough and demand the UK Government act quickly to resolve the problem. Petition Thousands of people who arrived in the UK as children in the first wave of Commonwealth immigration face are being threatened with deportation.These are people who have lived and worked in the UK for decades but many are now being told they are here illegally. A new petition on the government's website calling on the Home Office to grant them an amnesty has attracted more than 100,000 signatures. You can sign it here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/216539 Rights Stripped Away The problem arose from the fact that under the 1971 Immigration Act, all Commonwealth citizens already living in the UK were given indefinite leave to remain - but the right to free movement between Commonwealth nations was ended from that date onwards. However, the Home Office did not keep a record of those granted leave to remain or issue any paperwork confirming it, meaning it is difficult for the individuals to now prove they are in the UK legally. The Migration Observatory at Oxford University estimates there are 500,000 people resident in the UK who were born in a Commonwealth country and arrived before 1971. "This is a slap in the face for the Windrush generation," said Patrick Vernon, who started the petition, a reference to the Empire Windrush, which brought workers from the West Indies to Britain in 1948. People who had "worked hard, paid their taxes, raised children and see Britain as their home" were being "threatened and harassed" by the Home Office in what he described as "an historic injustice". It was particularly ironic, he added, because 2018 was the 70th anniversary of the Empire Windrush's arrival at Tilbury docks, in Essex.Labour MP David Lammy, who is backing the campaign, tweeted: "We invited people as citizens, Home Office treating them like criminals." Hostile Environment Gary Younge meanwhile reported on how this was all part of a toxic system and being caused by Theresa May?s creation of the Hostile Environment on immigration in 2012 which has made it increasingly difficult for immigrants to access health care, housing, education and access and you can read his fascinating Op Ed here. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/13/commonwealth-citizens-harassment-british-immigration-policy Meanwhile, our Chief Executive pointed out that on a daily basis here at JCWI we were coming across cases of Australian, Nigerian, Canadian and South African, Indian and Pakistan-born citizens facing the same problem. But it was "not as likely you will be asked to demonstrate your immigration status" by landlords or officials if you were "white and of European origin", JCWI chief executive, Satbir Singh, told BBC News. JCWI is calling for Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1971 to be given the same status as EU citizens living in the UK, who will face a much lower burden of proof of residence than the Commonwealth citizens after Brexit. The final details have yet to be confirmed but EU citizens may be able to produce things like school registration paperwork or library cards to prove residence, something that would not be accepted from Commonwealth citizens and the fight isn?t finished yet. Over the next week or so we hope to report again. Meanwhile, please do read this outstanding summation by the issues by Amelia Gentleman who has reported on the story for The Guardian from the beginning: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/12/caribbean-nations-demand-solution-to-illegal-immigrants-anomaly'

How about a school - something for the props box for the school play?

Thanks for your advice JohnL and Blah Blah. I shall have a look into Nippon gel as well. Thanks to all for your very helpful suggestions.

That's an interesting option as well Intexasatthemoment. Thank you. Sue - I'm not looking forward to flying ant season at all! - had an awful time with them last year. Had to call out pest control. Hopefully I'll be better prepared this year, although this early lot caught me unprepared.

Thanks beansprout. I have some about. I'll check how compatible it is with cats!!!

Thanks apbremer. I'm a little wary of using poison because of the cat. Unfortunately they are coming out in the hall this year, so hard to prevent the cat from walking past on the way to the kitchen.

Just been researching peppermint oil & cats - apparently there's research that it is dangerous for cats, so will be substituting basil from now on. Basil is a well-known ant repellant apparently - thanks for the heads up Lilou.

Hi Curlylocks, Thank you for your advice - very helpful. I shall have a look tomorrow, although given the location of the nest last year (below the floor in the airing cupboard) I have a feeling they are under the floorboards. They are coming in just near the cat's favourite place to sleep so am trying to move her tonight. She is not amused. Still, the mice aren't visiting with a resident huntress!

Oh, you are a one ...

Not yet. Should it be fresh basil leaves or basil oil? Sounds interesting.

I woke up this morning to find an ant infestation. We're barely into Spring! When I had early ants in May last year (after June in 2016) I resorted to the exterminator to spray the bathroom and filled up entry points. Of course, they have found a new way in, this time into the hall outside the kitchen. I have put down peppermint oil as a deterrent whilst I am waiting for ant traps and am planning to fill the gaps in the lino around old gas pipes. In the meantime, has anyone got any ideas please. Unfortunately I am a ground floor, garden flat, probably with a space under the house (Victorian) where they thrive.

Depends on what the issue is as to whether you would be suing or applying for judicial review. Is the issue to do with the photograph you posted on another thread of the state of your neighbour's garden? That is likely to come under the law regarding nuisance and if you have exhausted the reporting and complaints procedures with the Council, a lawyer would suggest the best course of action if the council has failed to act. If you have access to free legal advice through home insurance, union membership etc. you could get some initial advice through that telephone service. Lawworks may also be able to assist: https://www.lawworks.org.uk/legal-advice-individuals A complaint to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (https://www.lgo.org.uk/) may also be an alternative to taking legal action.

Haven't noticed it myself, but if someone is targeting EU stars on strangers' cars it would be treated a criminal damage.

I have referred clients to Glazer Delmar for family/DV in the past.Fisher Meredith always had a good reputation for family law - just found out they have recently been incorporated into Bishop & Sewell. You can also look at the Law Society Find a solicitor search tool (http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/) and Chambers & Partners for reputation of the top/higher-ranking firms/individual lawyers (peer-reccomended) (https://www.chambersandpartners.com/11814/27/editorial/1/1 ).

tasha1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > as there is very little in Brighton and Hove > themselves. Lots of green spaces in Hove & Brighton, both in (Hove Park, the Copse, Hove Rec, the esplanades along the seafront, Brighton Steine, Preston Park etc. etc.) and just outside a bus ride away (Devil's Dyke, the South Downs, villages & countryside a plenty).

I was brought up in Hove - best of both seaside (well, pebble beaches until low tide!) and easy access to the countryside. Hove is quieter than Brighton, but very pleasant. Not too far away to come to visit London. Lots of young families and good schools. I enjoyed growing up down there.

I have had intermittent problems with EE home broadband over the last couple of days - sometimes resolved by turning the router off and on, sometimes not. I reported it online. Currently OK here (Underhill Rd).

I posted a similar discussion some time ago: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1826416,1826516#msg-1826516 Some helpful ideas and advice. Googling the problem demonstrated the difficulty of trying to remedy it - smoke not only comes through gaps, but also through electricity/pipe pathways, electrical sockets etc. I developed a resistant cough after my neighbours moved back and the smoke became an issue. I bought an air purifier which I turned on as needed. The cough has calmed down massively since their recent move!

Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers used to borrow laptops from an IT charity (for training etc.). I was wondering whether that charity might be able to use the printer or advise you about a worthy cause. Maybe SDCAS could put you in touch with them. SDCAS contact details: Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, Copleston Centre, Copleston Road, London SE15 4AN Tel: 020 7732 0505 Email: [email protected] Main office is staffed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and is based at the Copleston Centre.

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you search on that site for an SE22 address it > says "If you do not retune, you may not be able to > view these channels"... and it lists some HD > channels which would imply that IlonaM's tv aerial > engineer was wrong, i.e. you can continue get HD > channels on Freeview. Here's hoping that he was wrong!!!

Thanks Sue. A tv aerial engineer also told me recently that, due to a change of frequencies for HD channels, Freeview will lose access to HD channels.