poppet27

Are any reliable cleaners available tonight (5th Jan) to do a house clean? We have been let down and due to injury, can?t clean ourselves at the moment. It would be a standard clean of a small 3 bed house: clean bathroom, kitchen, hoover and dust, empty bins, change bedding of one room. Two bedrooms aren?t used. Please let me know via private message if you are or know an experienced, reliable cleaner with references. 6pm onward tonight would be great. Thank you

Peter B is very, very good but not che cheapest. We used Julian giles. We paid about ?1,100 for the Worcester boiler itself and about the same for it fitting and moving - but everybody?s prices are subject to change,of course.

Hi, Would anyone be okay to share what price you paid for a new Victorian style tiled path at the front? Quite a few terraces in East Dulwich have had this done so really keen to know what we should be budgeting, (and how not to get ripped off!)

We had a bad experience with another carpenter called Jon Dalton. We had to contact Trading Standards - a truly vicious experience. Obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I'm only sharing a personal experience. Always good to thoroughly check reviews of carpenters though.

We've been sensationally let down by a carpenter I found on a Check A Trade. He was angry and abusive. As such, we are looking for someone else to take on the job which is already spec'd. Is there anyone reliable and not costing a fortune out there? It's for alcove open shelving plus shaker cupboards at both sides of our fireplace. Measurements and 3D plans were already made so we won't mess anyone around! We'd also like mdf fitted wardrobes in the upstairs alcove.

Hi We are thinking of a painter decorator to come do our hallway, landing and stairs. It's already primed but don't think we can cut in ourselves on the stairs as obviously it's high up. Trouble is, the quotes I've had differ wildly. It's a small house. It makes me suspicious that decorators are plucking figures out of the air in the assumption that everyone in ED has forgotten what value things are. Can you help - how much did you pay for decorating of a similar space?

Hi Busy couple looking for an awesome cleaner for our house, around 2 hours per week. We've had a few 'OK' cleaners. But I want someone that can do the job better than I can, who thinks of all the extras and leaves our house like a show home. We're not untidy, or dirty. But we are short on time. Can you help us with - Stripping the bed and making it up with clean sheets and plumped pillows. - Dusting and hoovering in all the nooks and crannies. - Cleaning the kitchen (work surfaces, mopping, emptying the dishwasher, tiny bits of washing up) and taking the rubbish out to the wheelie bin. - Cleaning the bathroom including Viakal on the taps. - Tidying up our living room, such as putting magazines to one side, putting cushions back in place, hoovering sofa, ensuring decorative items are back in place on shelves. Occasionally cleaning the floor with wood floor cleaner. - Dust, hoover and tidy master bedroom; folding a few clothes or putting things like jewellery or hairbrushes back in their places. We are near Honor Oak Park. As we're hoping this will be a regular service, I'd love actual references and recommendations from people. I don't want someone who's just going to do a basic clean as we could do that ourselves. Hope there's someone out there who will make us smile with the little extras. We can provide all cleaning products and we'll pay a fair wage. Gosh, this post makes us sound like messy, lazy toddlers but you know how it is. Your house just gets.. lived in! Thanks A & T

Totally not the same thing, but if you wanted to DIY we have a new and unused tube of Peelaway 7 which I'm looking to sell. You smear it on (it has the consistency of ice cream), cover it with polythene sheeting and 24 hours later, it comes away quite easily, along with layers of paint.

Jut get a good builder! You absolutely do not need a damp surveyor. Massive waste of money.

Superb, thanks. Yes, the John Lewis Croft collection in particular is really nice but absolutely out of budget

What's the best way to save and (avoid costly traps) when carpeting a flat? Any tips and tricks welcome. I'm surprised how much the local carpet shop has charged for Cloud9 underlay, grippers and fit. Even when carpet was about ?22msq. It's 2 reception rooms, plus landing and corner stairs, so totalling about 55m sq. We were looking at an 80/20 wool to poly in a twist. Do you have to negotiate hard? Do we buy underlay off eBay? Something else? Thanks.

I agree with Carbinara

Used to live in Brighton and tbh it's very busy, littered and over crowded so I didn't notice the difference THAT much when moving to London. If I was reading between lines, it sounds from Tor post that you're not as keen, deep down. I always say: doubt means don't.

Well that settles it then. To Battersea we go! Thanks

My message seems to have disappeared but I was just going to ask if sonic plug in devices are harmful or annoying to cats, if we adopt one sooner rather than later. The flat has no skirting boards at the moment and gaps in the ceiling/ wall join where rotten cornicing was removed. In this room we have been keeping food to snack on * face palm * Poison worries me a bit. We have toddlers around..

We're renovating a flat and just saw two mice scuttle through the makeshift kitchen. How do we quickly and effectively get rid of them? Should we borrow someone's cat?! Don't really want to bait them. Is there another method? high frequency plug ins? Ergh, worried all our food including baby food is contaminated :(

You'll need a builder and a qualified struck engineer.Can really recommend Mark Elsebach of ME Home Improvments as your builder. Cannot recommend our structural engineer though..if you want his name, PM

This isn't our cat, but we have done the same thing. It was on the advice of our vet, so no, not stupid at all. Our cat got overweight, then ill as someone was continually luring him and and tempting him with food. As a pet owner, there's nothing nice about having to pay ?500 in vet bills and medicine because he's eaten something meant for humans. Letting the neighbours know not to feed is the only preventive thing. Fully support Toby's owners

This is terrible Andrew, I'm so sorry this happened to you. You must have been terrified. I don't agree at all with Kid Kruger. You've done the right thing letting the community know, and it's up to us to spread the safety word. You/we could drop in to your local councillor or MP's surgery too.

I'm still caught between wondering if this is an April Fool's or just quite a misguided idea. Flying Pig; as Dover said, you have great food, a single-minded idea, good beers, friendly staff, a pretty good interior and great location. Most importantly, know your audience. This is East Dulwich, not the East End. ED is a mix of affluent families, original London residents and creative couples with no kids. It's hardly a fit for the type of things people are attuned to in the area, and I would think you're going to put a helluva lot of high-value customers off. I'm talking from the point of view of marketing, not as a resident. It's as off as Greggs selling champagne, or buying an Audi and putting a pink fluffy dice in it. Bums on seats for sport shows doesn't equate to higher profits. Better to be a really, really good restaurant that takes pride in its food and atmosphere than attempt to pull in a completely new type of audience. That way, you'll get higher frequencies and people spending more per visit.

In fact, if anyone can recommend someone else I'd be grateful Looks like we have to start again.

Can you get my lady garden into shape?

Arthur, let us know how you get on. I've had a few companies based in SW London not get back to me.

I'm sorry to say we've had a frustratingly bad experience with a local Structural Engineer. I don't want to post details as it's not really fair, but if you're in the market for hiring someone and want an opinion, feel free to DM. Not interested in reputation bashing, merely want others to know the experience we had.

Is this a joke? No words could put me off more than SKY SPORTS. Some people wanted good food a good atmosphere - sports on the TV take it into Benidorm bar territory. So disappointed. Guess I won't be visiting anymore.