cate

I don't think what happened many years ago is relevant to now. Many years ago Councils offered discounts of 50 - 60% depending on how long you had been in the property now and they don't do that any more.

I thought it was more usual to sell them to existing tenants, not to someone who doesn't even live in it. If they do that they usually go to auction. It would certainly be worth owning the freehold. Have you lived there long and had to deal with the council as regards to repairs to the outside yet?

Good idea Penguin, but I doubt Southwark would do that if implemented!

How terrible for you and thanks for posting this. I am quite vigilant about locking doors generally while driving, day or night but don't necessarily do it immediately I get in the car and before driving off. Did the police say whether or not they had heard of this before?

That would come under Environmental Health - so call Southwark and report it. Could have been really dangerous obviously but not sure how it rates against finding part of a mouse.

If you are invited somewhere you don't want to be then just say you are having a quiet Christmas at home. It's your prerogative. I don't understand why you would have certain relatives at your Christmas dinner if you haven't invited them. Christmas in general is fraught with anxieties and is completely overrated in my opinion. I used to like to work on Christmas day as I got paid a boat load of overtime and didn't have to worry about what I was going to do. It was always a good atmosphere as well.

Call First Direct and ask them. They should be able to help. I pay money in to them through the HSBC branches. 0113 2345678

Curmudgeon is right. At the very least this should be in the Family section. It's not a General ED issue.

Wonder how many people have a spare green bin. I certainly don't. But the idea is a good one.

Say that Christmas is cancelled for this year in your family. Or go and do some voluntary work and then you can truthfully say you are busy.

To those who want to convert their green bins to blue ones; what will you put your non-recyclable stuff in?

;-) yep

I bought mine at Waitrose, so expected a lot. Not flaky enough. It was the steak one. Filling was good, but out of proportion to crust.

I like spiders and always put them outside if they are bothering me. If not then they can stay in the house.

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Me too, I think Pieminister ones are my favourite. Too much dry crust in my opinion.

emc Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > cate Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > You should ask Adrian Chiles's ex wife. > > > I could ask Adrian himself.... You could, couldn't you! You could ask them about each other! I do know that he used to fancy Natalie Imbruglia. So to go from Natalie to Jane Garvey......

James, Thanks for reply. What happens after the 17th December I wonder? Perhaps they are planning on 3 monthly drops? I did see the stuff about newspapers. But what if you don't have any newspapers at home?

Sean, Is it a flat in a house? I would get your solicitor to get quotes from the council as to the cost of the work. Then either ask the seller to set money aside to pay for/agree to pay for it or knock the price off the flat. Also ask for copies of all works/costings that have been done as far back as you can. How long has the seller owned the flat? The council will expect leaseholders to pay a proportion of any repairs. If you a just a tenant then you don't have to pay. Sadly the quotes that the council use don't always reflect the final price. And if you live in something with a high propertion of renters instead of leaseholders your bills will be usually higher as in a block of flats.

You should ask Adrian Chiles's ex wife.

Do you think the police would be interested? Really?? Maybe after your identity has been cloned......

I've also heard of them doing this after motorway accidents to the damaged car.

Dried lentils, esp. red as they cook quickly. Dried beans and tinned ones for a quick meal. Tins of tuna. Strings of onions and shallots. Tins of custard. Fresh or frozen crumpets. Cheese to melt on top of crumpets. Cholula hot sauce. Chiptotle Tabasco sauce. Slices of bread, frozen which I defrost to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Tins of peas to make peas and shells. Shell shaped pasta.

I have heard of this scandalous practice. I would complain to your local councillor and MP, as well as the local paper.

Where is the best place to put a fat ball so squirrels or foxes don't get it?

That's really what I meant Concita, but didn't expand very much! I am thinking they are looking for any personal details they can use to do whatever they do to commit fraud. I shred or burn everything. As for the people using other people's bins for their rubbish, maybe this is a consequence of the trialling fortnightly bin collections. I notice that my neighbours with nappies have their bins full way before the pick up date.