Damon Baird

Might have to give this a go too! However I'm near New Cross Gate. Anyone have any recommendations closer?

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But at least most people coming from overseas will > benefit from the weak pound. Unless you're coming from a country that has the euro! The Mc'D is huge, but wasn't open. The fish and chips looked tasty though, I was just a bit tight to spend ?8.50 to find out how tasty!

Well done all those involved! It was amazing. I hope you're right Loz about it looking as good or better on tv, I did see how many stadium cameras were zooming about. If it does look as good or better then its brillant that the experience will be shared by everyone watching... but being there certainly was fantastic! I'll be obeying the hashtag (this post doesn't go against it does it?) and I think most people will as most people that were there are connected to the event in some way. I should've taken my camera though! I read the no cameras rule on the invite only to find out that I was one of the very few people that actually respected the rule!

Flicking through my Ipod the other day and was listening to Massive Attack's "Collected" album... Got stuck on "Live With Me" which has been on loop for three days now! Underrated video too.

... just been to the technical rehersal.... FANTASTIC! They mentioned a few times about #keepthesecret (or something along those lines) so I will. All I wll say is it was a brillant experience. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the show well thought out. Music was great and the amount of people involved was amazing... But... Eat before you get there... queues for snack were looonnngg and chips and haddock (you can't have chips on their own!?) cost ?8.50!... crisps were ?1.50! beer was ?4.30 and a jacket potato ?6.... Getting back onto the tube @ Stratford took ages (getting held in crowds around Westfield) so be prepared for that. All well worth it though but not sure if it will come across as amazing on tv as it was as actually being present. Well done organisers (of the show) loved it....! If you have tickets to the opening ceremony... enjoy!

ratty Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes, changed light timings for the Olympics. > Started last Thursday morning I believe! At least there's a reason. Still annoying though! I don't see the reason for needing to cause a jam before Greenwich?! It makes no sense to me. Maybe they're trying to make people go another way. or Possibly to give security services more time to intervene a car before arrival to Greenwich???

Over the last week the traffic going from Queens Road and New Cross Road towards Greenwich has been terrible (and really slow). It hasn't been just during rush hour either but throughout most the day. It took me 45 minutes the other day to drive from Queens Road (by the station) to Greenwich High Street and that was at 1100. None of the roads are closed along the A2 (that I know of). Does anyone know why this has happened? Have they changed the timing of the lights somewhere or something?

I'm quite involved in the transport system and planning of the Olympics (although I don't want to give too much away about how), so have a very good understanding of what is to come. LB will be an absolute nightmare. The link Transportguy put up is as accurate as can be calculated and predicted. LB will be subject throughout the games to their one way queuing system, both in and out of the station. The test event that took place is exactly how the station is set to run. There has been no scaremongering on behalf of the transport providers, it will be busy. Also the starting time of the events is generally 0900. Tickets state get there 2/3 hours before (depending on the event). Factor in travelling time and that means that public transport will start to be busy from 0530 - 0630 in the morning. Add in all the side events going on like London Live, plus all the business trying to capitlise by doing events of their own. Late night and extended shopping.... it will be a tough load of weeks getting around town. Expect queuing to get into most zone 1 stations, which is pretty much guaranteed for the main ones, expect delays on trains/LUL from cramped trains (and the people blocking the doors causing more problems then people realise) and expect your journey times to double. Personally I'll be cycling everywhere I can. Its far easier to change routes and get out of traffic that way. Fine for my 10 mile round trip, but might not be an option for someone doing a 10 mile one way trip... Good luck all! try not to get stressed its only for 2 weeks... the paralympics should be quite as bad.

Absolutely horrid news and my thoughts go out to the girl. I hope she has a good support unit and strong family. This happens too much and too often, makes me sick. It mortifying that people do things like this and almost a bad that they some times get away it. I can't stand to see blokes leering and shouting at women (bet they'd be pi$$ed if it was their sister, mum or girlfriend being letched over) because you can see so many woman feel uncomfortable and sometimes scared. I'd go absolutely psycho if I saw something like this happening and batter the person. kr1st3l Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- i thnk ill carry a > fork in my handbag frm nw on!!! anyone comes nr me > il stickm in d eye........ Be careful how you word yourself if you did use a fork in self defence. I'm not encouraging assault in any way but, if you intentionally carry a fork for defence and knowingly use it, it's classed as assualt with a weapon. If you happen to have the fork in your bag, as say your young child must have put it in there (or whatever reason), you got jumped and your hand was in your bag and just grabbed the fork as it was the first thing your hand felt; then that's legal. I spent 3 years working closely with CPS (Criminal Protection.. sorry I mean Crime Procescution Service) in a previous job. It's dishearting to see the amount of regular people who don't mean harm to anyone get prosecuted while the mugger/burgler gets off completely free.

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Didn't see Kaosan - where abouts was it (I'm > readin Brixton Village as that covered area under > the railway lines) ? Apologises, early morning post before. The place is called Kaosarn. Its the Coldharbour Lane side of the market on the corner. Lots of treats in that market place but it can be a little daunting to some. SO crowded and cramped.

Spot the doodle is good. Basic reading and the doodles are different (gets them to think a little). Addictive as an adult though! I also like "Slice It". Good for esitmating area size.

Ultimately it is down to the employers discretion. They have a duty of care but strongly weighed by whats "reasonably practicable" to run a business. It depends on what your boss and the company is like. I think you'd have to consider it a negotiation rather than a request. Give them reasons that you working the way you suggest would help them as well, or at least not impact them. Whether its the experience you have or how doing the hours you need help them with workloads etc. Have a thing or two in your back pocket too and don't flat out say "I can't" but counter proposal and stress you're willing to work as closely to how they ask as you can possibly manage. I've had to make decisions on flexible working before and it is hard to do as most people have a honest reason, but at the end of the day; it's primarily a business and you have to consider that. Try to think the other way round, as if it was your company and it will help you come up with the best solution that you can offer them. Some bosses (as I say it depends on what yours are like) aren't self rightous snakes but have to make a decision weighing everything up. It's a hard choice and there's only so much flexiblity you can offer, no matter how cold hearted and horrid you feel after. Lastly, there have been times when an employer just changes thing to suit them. They go to court and then its found as discrimination or constructive dismissal. This tends to happen when the company were not at a loss (or would only suffer a minor loss comparatively) by accomadating the request, or there was no real justifiable requirement for change in the first place. I have experience with flexible work etc but also have a HR dept and a designated People Manager Advisor, so my knowledge is pretty good but not legally specfic and have an expert to ask the questions to.

A bit late now and not an ingredients stall! However there's a realy nice place to eat called Kaosan in the village. It has lovely spicey thai food and is pretty good value. Well worth a try. Lots going on in Brixton yesterday I heard it was mobbed. NBA players down in the basketball show by the Ritzy?

Undisputedtruth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The picture above > shows the 19th century stunning brickwork at > Queens Road Peckham station. In the last > fortnight, Southwark have granted permission to > have this architecture removed from the station > despite Peckham Society and a number of local > residents objecting to it. It's a shame they could reopen that archway and incoperate it into the new station. My like what happened with LUL when they refurbished the East London Line.... Until London Overground "Modernised" it all. Sadly its probably a conformity thing and sod the architectural history.

I used to work at Baker Street. Personally I'd do the train to LB (actually quite reliable) and then the Jub to Baker Street (my old route). Only you'll need to walk (only 8-10 minutes) or 5 minutes on the bus or switch to the Bakerloo line (depends where in Marylebone you actually need to get to). Good luck in your new job!