Robert Poste's Child

Thanks for the tip, will have a look.

Crime

My insurance annual premium has gone up massively. When I asked they said it's due to the government increasing tax on insurance (think they said 10% the last two years) and because they gave me a ?15 discount last year after I complained about the hike they tried to make then. Basically it's gone up 60% on last year and 85% on when I took it out two years ago, so even taking increased tax into account there seems to be a 20% increase. There have been no claims or changes to the policy. Is anyone else finding insurance has gone up like this and can it really be accounted for by changes in tax as they said, or are they just pulling a fast one?

Dressing

Not the primary meaning and perhaps confusing given many of your post focus on the legal position. However, have it your own way - going to stop posting as the discussion isn't going anywhere.

Resistance (ouch)

DulwichLondoner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This kind of behaviour is, IMHO, criminal > > Does anyone disagree? Not criminal because not a crime...

Everything

Order

Bit disingenuous - making it an offence to cross a road other than at traffic lights is a lot more than 'a modicum of discipline'. It almost sounds like you think pedestrians should have to wait for you rather than the other way round - rather an odd point of view if you choose to live in a large city, surely. I don't find 20mph limits at all unreasonable, particularly in residential streets as in my view they help to calm down the aggressive, selfish kind of driver who refuses to show consideration for anyone if it means dropping below third gear (obviously not all drivers are like that). The point, surely, is that we ALL - drivers, cyclists and pedestrians (not forgetting that some of us are in all three of those groups) - need to remember to read the whole road. Maybe everyone should take the driving theory test at 17 regardless of whether they want to learn to drive. A few months ago a policeman told me he thought driver training should include cycle safety training, which sounded sensible.

DulwichLondoner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Regardless of why or where it is illegal, don't > you think it would make sense to > 1) fine those who cross when it's red? > 2) fine those who cross in the middle of the road > when a crossing is available within a reasonable > distance? No, I don't! Nanny-state petty rules designed mainly to allow drivers a sense of having a greater right to the road. And with police funding under such pressure, where do you plan to take resources away to run this?

Given you're in Newcastle, perhaps you could add something about why you're focusing on London and why you're targeting this area? It would be useful to know who's funding the study as well and whether the data will be treated anonymously.

DulwichLondoner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The fact that jaywalking is not illegal actually > worries me as a parent, because, growing up, my > child will see lots and lots of example of people > dangerously crossing when they shouldn't. I certainly don't disagree that a lot of people take unnecessary risks crossing the road (in the course of cycling around ED on various errands today at least three people stepped out in front of me without looking) but it sounds as though you think laws on jaywalking are purely to protect pedestrians from themselves; a nice idea but somewhat naive. In the US, at least, they came about mainly through lobbying from the emerging car industry. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26073797

I mentioned it to her so that part's OK; didn't want the poor woman to find herself or one of her customers getting it on their hands or clothes.

She looked like a fairly typical Dulwich mother so presumably the kind of person who would claim to value manners and responsible behaviour. Think that was part of what annoyed me! Dangers of sterotyping perhaps.

Peckhampam, I feel for you, I really do. Unfortunately it sounds like the parents are the real problem - the kids are just copying them, as they do, and either the parents don't realise how their behaviour might affect other people or they don't care. Are there any neighbours on the other side or close by you could have a word with? If you're not the only one having a problem you could combine forces perhaps. Otherwise it's triple glazing, earplugs and headphones. On the bright side, it's better than if they were late teens or twenties - the blessing of young kids is the screeching generally stops by early evening. Best of luck.

Interesting. I did the all-in-one method which would probably have less of a problem with waiting than some other types. Stakeholders (cakeholders?) include two under-tens so they'll definitely tell me if it's not very nice.

(With apologies to those who find threads like this irritating.) You're obviously local so I hope you read this. Earlier this afternoon you let your dog (a cockapoo perhaps? Light coloured) cock its leg over some flowers for sale next to AJ Farmer's. The flower seller didn't see you as she was reading something and you didn't tell her, apologise or offer to pay for what she now can't sell. You obviously saw and you looked around to see if anyone else noticed before walking quickly away to meet what looked like your husband and children. Pretty disgusting all round.

And a fat lip (see above). It took an extra 20 mins in the end. Practice version looking plausible so as I have to transport it tomorrow I'm going to freeze this one, add the filling in the morning and let the defrosting process keep it cool for me.

Thanks. Think I'll try one big one and keep an eye on it.

Got smacked in the mouth swimming. Not a good omen, I feel.

Thanks. Off for a swim now to work off the cake fear.

Thanks, rendel, that sounds sensible, although I'm wondering if the other half of the mix will go flat while it's waiting for it's turn. What do you think? Maybe best to have a practice run.

I've doubled the basic 4x4 sponge recipe to use an 8in/20cm tin instead of 7in, plus I'm only using one tin (because that's all I've got) and planning to split the sponge later. Does anyone know how much longer you need to allow in the oven (5-10 mins?) and if you need to lower the temperature? Having googled I'm none the wiser but I bet someone here will know. Thanks in advance. Life would be so much easier if I could follow a recipe or any other set of instructions without having to change it.

Were they blow(-in) flies?