Tommy1000

we would heartily recommend Creative Living who have recently finished an extensive refurbishment/extension and garden hard-scaping etc for us. http://www.creativelivingse.co.uk/

Aristide makes a good point - you just both need to comfortable that the chosen surveyor has both of your best interests in mind. We have used Ken Power ([email protected]) who was very good, and pro-active. I can't remember exactly what he charged sorry, but I do remember he was at the more reasonably end of the scale (and about half of what the council's surveyor charged - as the house next door is council-owned).

Now that our project has been completed I thought I should update this thread to say that we're very happy with the finished article. Building works finished in November and snagging in December. Creative Living gave us a competitive quote and when we agreed to go with them we agreed the start date, which was stuck to. We had some unforeseeable cost overruns which were kept appraised of along the way, with efforts being made on their part to keep them as low as possible. The finished extension, downstairs WC, utility room, newly hardscaped garden, decked patio and new fencing is all of a great quality and finish. One particular point to note with respect to the finish is the builder (Ken's) attention to detail - as a result we have a high quality build and excellent looking finish. Their contact details are in my original post.

We are halfway through a large kitchen extension project with Creative Living SE and would thoroughly recommend them. They have helped us with planning, structural and party wall matters. Everything with the actual build has gone very smoothly so far, and also at a very good pace (we are currently slightly ahead of schedule). The team are a pleasure to deal with. Feel free to PM for any further details. Website is http://www.creativelivingse.co.uk/ Contact is Iain on 07469 194915

We've used two different companies over the years and these guys were the best of the two (and have been used for a few different jobs): http://www.checkatrade.com/NmnSoundproofing/

We have used Jon from Mains and Drains before and were very happy. Jon's number is 07771 586759

We used (and were/are very pleased with) www.homesecurityservices.co.uk for a full install of new monitored alarm system.

We bought genuine ones from www.roofblinds.co.uk and I think they were cheaper than buying direct.

In response to Miga, I would disagree that the punishment is 'massive'. I think it could, and should, have been a lot harsher. It is no use comparing it to stamping, for example, because this is the THIRD time Suarez is guilty of this offence. As has been mentioned before, with many of the other acts of violence it can be harder to see definite intent. Not a problem with biting, however. Any talk of 'unprecedented' punishment is besides the point. The crime, and especially a third occurrence, is unprecedented. Frankly, if they're setting a precedent with a four month ban for what he has done for the third time, then I am disappointed that the precedent hasn't been set harshly enough. I would agree that fouls intended to injure etc are just as bad and, provided it be established (to whatever the deemed standard of proof would be) that it was intentional (or, depending on the incident, perhaps even just reckless) the punishments for these should be much more severe. That's a different discussion though to whether or not Suarez's punishment is, on its merits, justified. If not 3, how many times does a player have to bite another player to receive a four month ban? In the Premier League players pick up suspensions of increased length the more yellow cards they accumulate, so there is absolutely precedent in football for escalation of punishment. Many violent conduct offences in football have a degree of ambiguity surrounding them (was the injurious challenge malicious, for example?), but with Suarez there is no grey area. He is fortunate in all instances not to have faced / be facing criminal charges.

Suarez's ban didn't extend to international duty last time presumably because he was banned by the FA/Premier League, the body which had jurisdiction over him given he did it in a league match. Don't think they have power to ban players from international games. This happened on Fifa's watch, who have jurisdiction over all levels of football. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been banned from international duty also, but there seem to be logical (or at least procedural) reasons why he wasn't. The punishment could have been harsher also, given it's the third time he has done it. For screamingly obvious reasons, a repeat offence almost always attracts a harsher punishment than the last time. Looking at it narrowly you could say that Liverpool are collateral damage in all this, however, given that they have witnessed his antics first hand on more than one previous occasion, and inexplicably (and embarrassingly) stood by him, it could be said that another ban was only a matter of time. Brought into sharper focus of course given that they were legally obliged to sell him in the summer and decided not to. I'm not saying it's karmic but I certainly don't think anyone will feel sorry for LFC. And in any case, surely he is ten times more likely to stay at Liverpool now because of this.

Eddie Carey (07802 846097) did ours - a boiler replacement and moving it - and was brilliant. Highly recommended.

We also did this last year, dropping the first floor ceilings by a foot. I think we ended up with something like 2.1 or so in the loft and 2.4 on the first floor. Which in both cases is perfectly good. Try and incorporate as large a velux window/s as possible as it can really take the edge off the impression of a lower ceiling.

Mourinho/Chelsea not winning the league is, at this point, right near the top of my shopping list...

I'm not saying the rule is right, but it should categorically not have been a sending off. The general rule is denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity. More specifically, the rule for this situation (i.e. a handball) is if "the unacceptable and unfair intervention prevented a goal being scored". The ball was not going in so there was no goal-scoring opportunity denied, and no goal prevented. The more interesting question is why the ref gave any decision at all, considering he had already signalled for a goal kick and the linesman wasn't flagging. Arsenal were in enough trouble as it was (2-0 down, or 3-0 as it should have been with a penalty and a yellow card for Chamberlain) without wrongly going down to ten.

If you make the (sensible) assumption that people aren't in the habit of reserving a parking space daily with a wheelie bin just for their car, and are doing for good reason like the one above (or perhaps a heavy delivery or for a skip), then it's certainly inconsiderate. Whether it's the house's 'space' or not is besides the point in this instance, the act of reserving the space with a bin is not selfish (if done for good reason), movnig it is. But I also agree with Seabag's sentiment, the spaces don't belong to anyone but, if reserved on a rare occasion for good reason, then why would people not respect that. On the rare instances one of our neighbours has done that, I've parked giving them as much space as possible because I thought that was the decent thing to do.

icravinho, We completed a near-total house renovation late last year and used them for one of the largest jobs, installing a large first floor bathroom (as there was only a ground floor bathroom to start with). We ended up getting them to do lots of other jobs as well (laying new wooden floor to the ground floor, repair of our staircase, installnig new skirting and other carpentry). They genuinely care about what they're doing. Everything was done properly with no corners cut anywhere, and the finish on the bathroom is excellent. They also helped us out with recommendations for other trades for work we needed completed months before the bathroom (drains re-dug as well as a new boiler and pipework installation) and these were also excellent and some of the best trades we've worked with (on this house or the previous property we renovated). The director we dealt with was Steve Orr and both he, and his man on the ground Michael, were a pleasure to deal with.

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tommy1000 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Indeed, can't believe Pardew's not there! > > Really? Pardew's record is only 3 wins, 1 draw and > 2 losses, even Moyes' record is slightly better > with 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. > Semantics really, as Pellegrini should get it with > 6 wins and a draw. I'd give special mention to > Pullis, 3 wins out of 6 for the then bottom club > is good going... Sorry, I was being sarcastic! Agree with the other suggestions.

Indeed, can't believe Pardew's not there!

Possession is certainly one factor, but it's not sufficient on its own to explain the swing in Man U's favour when it comes to playing at OT, particularly when Webb's been in charge. In the 11/12 season Arsenal didn't get a single penalty given at home, yet posted the highest possession stats in the league - what am I missing in terms of context there? And there were countless penalties not awarded, witnessed live at the ground and confirmed upon re-watching. And to add some balance and so that it's not all about Arsenal, I dislike Liverpool as much as I do Man U, yet I can't deny that they've had a rough time with refs over the last few years - this is what your eyes tell you watching the games and it's subsequently supported by independent review of the referees' performances. In just the same way as it's been clear that Stoke have had a very easy time of it with referees over the last few years also. Context is crucial, you're right. 'Reviewing' games in context is even more damning that the statistics on their own. Recorded fouls stats for example obviously don't show how many fouls were committed and went unpunished. Context is precisely what has made the referee bias at OT even more clear - we've all been watching in context for years and years. This is why - halfway through the season - it's easy to see the contrast (now the SAF has gone) in the way in which games are officiated at OT. Watching games on TV with my Man U supporting friends is quite something; they've been conditioned over the years to expect so much more from referees than anyone else and, now that all of those decisions aren't coming, their perceived sense of injustice is palpable. It's as if they have a lower standard than everyone else as to what constitutes a foul, at least for those 'fouls' suffered by Man U players that is. Have just googled the abbreviation 'ABU' - now there's conspiracy theory for you. In any case, I'm no 'ABU', I'd much rather Man U won the title / trophies than Chelsea or City. Even when you put the spending to one side, there's infinitely more class about Man U as a club than the other two. On Howard Webb: anyone who watches a healthy amount of football knows that Webb has been a friend of Man U for years. I wasn't arguing though that some decisions didn't go againdt you the other day. However, I wasn't surprised by the decisions - the two Man U players in question have given all referees plenty of reason to question the legitimacy of their falls to the ground. As for Webb, he is one of the worst referees in the league, by a distance. He constantly takes no action against offences which are yellow or red cards and frequently ignores plenty of other decisions. One of the biggest myths peddled is that he is a 'top referee'. Depending on your level of interest, watching full matches (as opposed to highlights) or reading impartial reports of refereeing performances will tell you this. His infamous World Cup final performance was merely par for the course. And yes, his performance at Stamford Bridge the other day was fairly typical as well.

That Stretford Enders article is laughable - the comments do a half decent job of highlighting its many flaws. This is a decent article on the subject: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9379989.stm Not about United specifically, but you can see the penalty data there plain and simple. And especially Webb's record at OT. Quite striking the difference in Webb's performance the other day now that SAF has gone, which is undoubtedly the difference. Everyone is aware of SAF's influence over referees and journalists and, now that he's gone, the difference is manifest. For what it's worth I thought Janujaz was fouled and the Young one could have been given as a pen. Can only think that in both cases the players' correctly earned reputations contributed to nothing being given. Welbeck dfinitely dived, minimal contact or not.

Couldn't agree more re Chelsea Otta. The shame of it though is that, until yesterday, I think they were having a bad patch. Referees carried them through their games at the Emirates and against Liverpool. They took 4 points from those two games when I don't think they deserved more than 1, if any at all. The league is wonderfully close this year. Remains to be seen whether Arsenal will choke, however, over the last few seasons we've actually improved in the second half...

We used Home Security Services in Sydenham as they had recommendations on the Which Local website: http://www.homesecurityservices.co.uk/ They were great and more reasonable compared to other quotes we had. They've installed a system for us which you can set while you're in it too.

unlurked will now be the first DirtyBox, the obvious way to raise the stakes in his trolling of Sydenham's inhabitants.

Some gold there, El Pibe. Must a troll always be self-aware? I'm not sure this is but, if it is, then it's to a professional standard: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1220249,page=1

I honestly had to google what 'flaming' meant. In case anyone else shares my ignorance: "?To post an email message intended to insult and provoke. ?To speak incessantly and/or rabidly on some relatively uninteresting subject or with a patently ridiculous attitude." I think you're right; some people just like to shock. And yes, the other kind, safe and empowered in their anonymity hiding behind screens.