Jenny I

Can someone tell me, if instead of renewing the garden subscription I buy the garden bags, is collection of those free?

The new Chinese on Lordship Lane, Chi, is really good and the staff are really warm and welcoming. Food is authentic and delicious. I highly recommend! We ate in but they also do takeaway.

Hi there,

can you tell me how much they charge an hour?

thanks

x

Thanks to all the recommendations i also got Andy in for some work. We had an old airing cupboard where the shelves were coming away from the crumbling internal walls. Andy was prompt, made good the shelves and we ended up having to force some extra cash on him because we felt too guilty about how little he was going to charge us. Would definitely recommend him!

Hi Afram,

My daughter is about to go into year 11 and I'm looking for someone to help her with GCSE Spanish. Can you let me know your availability and rate?

thanks

Jenny

Hi,

My daughter will start Year 11 in September and I'm looking for someone with experience to tutor her in Spanish, but I'd like a recommendation if possible.

thanks!

Jenny

I must give a shout out to JKA Damp Proofing & Plastering. Our Victorian house has suffered badly with damp and Jonathan had already sorted out an extensive problem downstairs and this time he has just fixed a damp problem in our bedroom caused by the original Victorian plaster failing.

It meant removing and saving a whole wall of (expensive) floor-to-ceiling fitted wardrobes as well as replastering. Jonathan coordinated with carpenters, a plumber for removing and refixing the radiators and even had a trusted decorator to recommend. The plaster work is really superior and the wardrobes are back in and look as good as new. Jonathan is really knowledgeable, experienced and hardworking.

You can contact him on 07713 187226.

Beware damp proof companies that simply want to sell you a chemical damp proof course!

I can definitely recommend Jon Smith Cleaning. He did our windows - inside and out ? and it's amazing what a difference it makes. I don't think they've ever looked so good ? streak-free and sparkling. I've tried other window cleaners before but they refuse to clean the frames, which is a waste of time because they still look terrible and when it rains the dirt drips onto your clean glass. But Jon did a lovely job - he and his colleague Frank were here a good two hours and did a really thorough job. And really nice blokes to boot.

I've been using the one in the Co-op but the problem is the bin is tiny and doesn't get emptied often enough. On the TV advert you see someone turning up to put one bread wrapper in it, but there is so much of this stuff, even if you try to avoid it, you can collect loads. I slightly have the fear about whether they really do recycle it, but that's another story. So these initiatives are good but they need much bigger/better facilities.

I'm another satisfied customer of Andy's. He came at short notice to sort out a leaky toilet and got the job done quickly and efficiently and was reasonably priced. Such a nice chap too - a total gent. Would highly recommend!

If you're looking to get your bricks cleaned and pointing done, I can definitely recommend London Kent Brick & Stone Cleaning. I got Joe and his team to clean the front of our Victorian house and redo the pointing, as well as restore some of the decorative capitals that had been damaged and paint the window sills. They did a fantastic job cleaning the bricks while retaining their character and did a precision job on the pointing. The front of the house is completely rejuvenated and looks really smart. I found Joe and his team knowledgeable, courteous and tidy and the cost was very reasonable compared to some quotes I got. Highly recommend!

Joe: 07808 537289

I can't recommend JKA Damp Proofing highly enough. We had been plagued by the same damp problem recurring for 15 years and had had it 'fixed' no fewer than four times only for it to reappear 12-18 months later (usually after we had just redecorated). Unlike previous companies, Jonathan left no stone unturned finding all the causes and was able to show us why all previous attempts were doomed to failure as they hadn't correctly identified and treated every issue, just patched things up. As well as the damp work, Jonathan does all the plastering himself and gets in his own carpenters to refit skirting etc. This avoids the problem of builders coming in after the damp work is complete and not following the instructions on the correct plaster mix, or nailing skirting instead of gluing, etc. He is incredibly hard-working and professional and, crucially, Jonathan's work is guaranteed by Triton.

You can reach Jonathan on 07713 187226.

We've just had a new shed and garden side gate built and installed by local business Acadia Home & Gardens. Can't recommend these guys (Patrick, Phillip & Darcy) highly enough ? good workmanship, and so quick and professional. They have in previous years replaced our garden fencing and did a complete remodel and refit on our bathroom. It's because these jobs have stood the test of time and still look great years later that we keep going back to them. Proper skilled trades people. See their website at: Acadia-homes-gardens.co.uk

Unbelievable scene in ESPH gym this morning. One of the customers is wiping down the equipment after using it - you know, like you'd want him to if you were using it next - and the manager tells him off for using too much paper towel. When the customer, a regular, takes issue with this, the manager proceeds to insult him in front of all the other customers, telling him he has 'bad body odour'. Gob-smacking. I'm trying to imagine a scenario where Anthony Joshua or Usain Bolt goes to the gym and gets told off for working too hard and sweating too much! Is ESPH just for posing rather than working out? And does the manager think it's OK to humiliate paying customers? This has seriously put me off.

I'm another fan of Andy of Andyman Services. We had one of those jobs that fall into the 'too small' category (door that was sticking) but Andy came round to see it the next day, got the job done quickly and efficiently, was very professional and great value for money. It's so good when you find a local tradesman you know you can rely on and, above all, trust. I highly recommend him.

Do you have a teenage boy or girl who would like to improve their French? I am looking to place a 17-year-old boy from La Rochelle in a local home for 2 weeks from the end of April. He has a work placement as a sous chef at a restaurant in Marble Arch but has never been to London before and is not especially streetwise, so his parents would like him to stay in a family setting, ideally with teens.

That said, he will be working 2pm-8pm shifts, so he wouldn't be under your feet all the time! His family are friends of my sister, who lives in La Rochelle, so I can vouch for his good character.

If anyone is interested let me know. La Rochelle is a very beautiful part of France, and who knows where this could lead...

You can PM me here or text/call Jen on 07870 518266

Thanks

Hi Greenbeanie,

did you ever get any recommendations via this post? Have you had the work done and are you able to recommend someone (Or otherwise) yourself? I'd be very grateful if you could help as we have a damp problem that has supposedly been tanked once, only to reappear.

Many thanks

Jenny

I've noticed a few properties have had the whole front of their houses professionally acid-washed. They look great - anyone know what sort of cost is involved? And any recommendations?

Thanks

Hi,

when we moved from Brixton to ED nine years ago we used Harradines (SE15) and they were great. Reasonable costs and the two removal men were really helpful, even helping to clear the house we were moving into (it had been rented out and the landlord didn't want the furniture) when the clearance company let us down on the day. They took apart and rebuilt beds and wardrobes - i think this is pretty standard though.

good luck

Jenny

Hi,

Don't know about Runcent Joinery, but can recommend a good carpenter who has done quite a bit of work for me, including some floor-to-ceiling wardrobe doors that other carpenters told me couldn't be done. Lee Jeffries, 07855 222664.

I can highly recommend Dell Merchant, who has done many decorating jobs for me, most recently our new loft conversion. He is really conscientious and highly experienced, which shows in the fantastic finish he achieves. He is hard-working, polite and his rates are very reasonable. His number if you want to ge a quote is 07985 599169.

Hi Lizzi,

We live in an end of terrace in ED and have just had our loft done by Classic Lofts, based on Lordship Lane. We are thrilled with the results. It all went really smoothly and there were no hidden costs or surprises. The tradesmen were all highly skilled, professional and courteous and it was all completed on time. I've since had other, notoriously difficult to impress, carpenters and decorators in (working on other parts of the house) and they had to concede it was a fabulous job. I've had smaller building jobs done that were a hundred times more stressful! All in all we are very happy.

Definitely. It's tricky because I work, but I think what the Government is doing to education is frightening and I support the teachers all the way.

Anyone else think Little Clippers on Northcross Road charges way too much? I took my 5-y-o daughter there and was charged ?15 when she was only in the chair about 5 minutes. It's not like they're doing a wash and blow-dry too. Nice enough cut but I did feel like I'd been mugged. Trouble is, lots of other hairdressers seem reluctant to do children's cuts. Anyone recommend a good, local, reasonably-priced place that's happy to take kids? Or is this how Little Clippers gets away with such high prices?

Got my letter and we have been offered a place at Goose Green, so am v relieved. Not on my chosen list but parents seem to love it and there is a real buzz about it. Frankly, after yesterday am just relieved to be given a school in ED.