Nigello

26° is definitely not cold. Hyperbole weakens a basically sound statement.

This one is real: Lovely Cockney sparrer, Lorraine Chase, alighting from bus (185) just past Superdrug, looking fantastic in eighties garb one afternoon last week

The pool and the centre in general would benefit from a rethink on temperature. It’s very often too warm - water, poolside and entrance area - which means wasted energy, wasted money and more emissions. I agree that cooler pool water is likely uncomfortable but does it really need to be 28°C? I’d say not.

Reduced services, I expect. Some staff won’t have taken part.

If we must have a mayoralty, scrap the boroughs and go for a GLA-redux. Local differences and needs would of course need to be honoured and local councillors would be there still. As for costs, richer areas could subsidise poorer ones in a GLA-wide tax system.

Thanks Yes - but you can control rads individually with no boiler needed, though electric systems with boilers are available. No yearly upkeep either. As for water heated by electricity, they must be much improved on immersion heaters of old?

Please don’t equate the victim’s loss of life with the assumed perpetrators’ loss of liberty, should either of them be found guilty.

Conway has a team there widening the pavement - it’s making permanent the widening that was put in with bollards and perforated kerbs two years back. I think the same will happen at Dunstan’s at Goodrich. The school is recalcitrant when it comes to pedestrian safety, choosing not to use the portable bollards (in the shape of kids) it has bought/been bought by the council on the DYLs and zigzags on the roads it stands on.

Has anyone gone electric for central/underfloor heating and hot water? I know the newer electric rads are much improved on storage heaters etc. but am unsure about hot water provision. Any experiences, good and bad, gratefully received.

I used to hear one - the classic hoot - around Dunstan’s Heights but not for ages.

Speedy response to initial message (Friday) to Norwood Roofing Specialists and job done (full flat roof replacement) in the equivalent of less than two full working days (bit of Tuesday, most of Wednesday, bit of Thursday), including scaffolding being put up and taken down. No fuss or mess, photos of before and after and explanations given about courses of action, etc. Lots of recommendations already that I gladly add to.

I’d argue it’s well worth a multi-national firm with instant brand recognition to at least attempt to do as much as it can to stop its drivers (who choose to work for it) from breaking the law and getting into accidents that could harm both workers and members of the public. Having a non-too-desirable job or being young or male doesn’t mean you’re exempt from traffic laws as you travel on hulking bits of metal at speeds up to 35mph.

I’ve written to HH MP to ask that she take up the original complaint with TW. It’s still icy and dangerous. I did not see anyone on site this morning. If I had I would have asked him to sand all of the frozen leaked water. If anyone passes and does see a TW operative please ask for effective gritting!

A bit of sand was scattered near to the location of the work but nothing a few feet further down nor at the crossing or pavements approaching it, at least when I saw it at about 16:30ish today. That a person deemed responsible to fix this leak (ie. to drive a van and operate machinery on site) didn’t have the wit/courtesy to scatter grit/sand a tiny bit farther away from the leak on a sub-zero day speaks volumes about that individual and the training Thames Water gives (or doesn’t). Please reply with a working email address or helpline if anyone has one so I can complain.

The area on both sides of the road and on the zebra itself is icy and slippery due to escaped water freezing. Grit isn’t doing much. A Thames Water van is present. If you’re there and have any grit to hand please chuck some down.

I’d first of all talk to (not email) the manager of the branch, explaining what you’ve witnessed and what you will do if the drivers carry on breaking the law. At least then they’ll know there’s a problem and need to fix it. You could also send your comments to the regional head, explaining what you’ve said to the local manager.

Whereabouts? Rough area, not specific

Tax the trees! Each vendor should add £1 to each tree sold to be given to the council which would then promise to pick up abandoned trees for the whole of January. If you’ve dumped a tree on the pavement or on the road then you’re really rather selfish.

I’d be less averse if the council told us how much profit was made and where that money would go to.

Did you request collection from the council or just bung it on the road and hope for the best?

I love trees, especially street trees but not Christmas trees left on the pavement because the owners CBA to request a free collection from the council. I’ve seen primary school children having to walk into the road to avoid these fly-tipped trees. Get rid of yours responsibly or don’t buy one if you don’t plan to do so. Ask a neighbour to offer space in their brown bin, for example or take it to a tip - preferably taking a few at a time to extend that spirit of Yuletide togetherness. (I’ve rung the council environment line to tell them about the SE22-wide problem so not just ranting…)

I just saw a (male) blackcap feeding on suet balls in my front garden - a first.

It was dark so maybe I was mistaken.

Workers were putting up a new ramp (or just new fencing on the original ramp) and the door looks new. What’s it going to be, does anyone know?

I pick up cans and bottles regularly just while walking from A to B. I’d prefer it if barbarians didn’t drop litter in the first place and if the council had omnipresent street cleaners and twice the number of litter bins but I’m a realist. If the littered can or bottle looks too grubby I leave it and I wash my hands or use alcohol gel afterwards.