intexasatthe moment

Killaqueen - thank you for your posts ,your research and for your interest . I'm not up to this level of debate ,but I'm very glad that you are . Not everyone is so sanguine about receiving cold calls for money - yes I know ( because I've read it ) that this letter didn't directly ask for money . But my mother wasn't interested in foresenically analysing it - she got the message ,it was about "King's College Hospital Charity ". And she certainly didn't appreciate the fine distinction that the letter was from the Chief Executive rather than the Fund raising department . She's recently had two stays in Kings ,they were both deeply unpleasant ,some of the treatment she received fell short of what I am sure are Kings high standards and has had knock on effects on her health since she left hospital . She was concerned to get this letter , wondered why she was sent it , and was anxious about where and how they got her address .She's elderly ,ill and brought up in different times . I suspect that she is not alone . People who use on line forums may be less anxious than other demographics ( if that's the right term) about their details being used and more sanguine about perceived levels of privacy .

What Mickmac and Peckham Rose said .

Thanks PR ,have PM'd you .

Well gosh, it's not unreasonable that KCH thinks that those most likely to support them are those that have made recent use of their services!! - slightly galling though that lack of joined up thinking /failure to treat patient holistically saw this particular user of their services readmitted weeks after discharge . And I think it's innappropriate to use medical records in this way .

For me it's nothing to do with Kings asking for charitable funds , I can cope with that . It's the link ( and there does seem to be one ) with being a recent inpatient and beiong contacted regarding a non medical issue . I was with my mother when she was admitted and she wasn't asked to sign any forms - and she wouldn't have known what she was signing or agreeing to unless someone had patiently gone through each question with her . And even then ,bearing in mind her physical and mental state ,I don't think she'd have known she was agreeing to Kings contacting her re fundraising . My mother is a very private person and very wary of giving her details out to people . She is unnerved by what she perceives as a " Big Brother " society ,monitoring her movements . This is just another thing to upset and worry her . My concern is with where and how Kings obtained contact details and how they selected addresses for this mailshot .

A small point - I didn't keep the letter ,was trying to make light of it and reassure mother ,but ... from memory the wording struck me as odd ( and I now think a kind of sneaky get out in case criticisms of " cold calling " raised ) something about only wanting to update people who were interested and a request for a returned form to indicate interest . Will be interested in reply from Kings fund raising dept .

As Ladymuck said they have, after all, used data from patients' medical records to send them unsolicited mailings in pursuit of charitable donations. My 90 year old mum ( recent patient ,and sorry to say did not receive very good treatment ) also got one . She was distinctly upset by it and felt vulnerable that information about her recent in patient status was being used for non medical purposes .

Although the incredibly helpful staff - sat and taught an internet virgin - made up for the price .

I can't imagine that the young ,slim ,well spoken guy asking for money on train from Peckham Rye was Andrew - but just in case I've emailed his father . Anyone come across the chap I saw - train to London Bridge - very well spoken ,dirty clothes ,addressing carriage in general ,not individuals ?

No advice - I've recently cut out the corner of my living room carpet and binned it because of similar problem . So lots of sympathy ,but... wanted to say - what a gorgeous cat !

Regarding intake for Harris Academies - they operate a banding system for applicants .Personally I find this complicated to understand ,but do notice that the bands are based on national achievment levels rather than those of the entry group . So ,if oversubscribed ,some room for cherry picking I think . But I do think the league tables and number achieving 5 A- C GCSE grades is a very misleading measure . Many schools enter candidates for exams which are not GCSEs but are counted as equivalent . This extract from the minutes of a Governing Body mtg a couple of years ago at the Academy at Peckham gives a flavour. The small group of year 11 students following the new, level 2 qualification entitled ?The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness? have been making good progress and nearly all are expected to pass. This course, which is portfolio based, equates to two GCSE grades and is certificated by ASDAN. A number of year 11 students who are being targeted to improve their chances of examination success were entered for the Adult on-line numeracy and literacy examinations. Each test lasts an hour and if the student passes both, they are awarded a GCSE at grade B. I'm not arguing that schools shouldn't offer a range of qualifications ,just that I think it's misleading when the league tables and the overall GCSE pass rate for the school don't show that some of those GCSEs are other exams .

James - thank you very much ,very helpful . Have emailed my details to you .

James - query about Street Leaders and mini graffiti kits ( as described on Southwark website ) . Not your ward ,in Peckham ,any idea how I could access a Street Leader ,or a mini graffiti kit ? Just want to deal with a tag on elderly mum's house . Would like to do myself . No luck phoning Southwark .

No ! ( although it's white and quite dense ,so I guess it could be used to cover them up ).

Another vote for Disprol here .

Umm - dry the sand out by directing hot air from hairdryer ? Might also heat up and expand metal ,breaking vacuum type seal that wet sand must have created ?

Nero ,I thought Southwark were responsible for this revamp . I read about the plans in the SLP - had seen no local notices etc - and phoned for details about the " consultation " that was being held . I also asked in library at Peckham if they had details ,which they didn't . When I finally got through to the people responsible for the consultation they had no idea where the nearest library was and seemed to have zero local knowledge . They said local houses had received info ,but I know several people living in Elm Grove and the parts of Bellenden and Highshore that close to Rye Lane ,and none of then knew anything about it . But I know James Barber and Barry Mason both thought plans were good . I thought it was just me who didn't .

Nero - I've given up wondering when it will all be finished . They've started on the junction outside Primark now so suspect that will have to be completed before it's all up and running . My concern is about how the bike contraflow will function .

works to roadway between Smiths and Boots nearly complete. Road width just big enough for a bus ,what I assume is the bike lane running next to it . No curb or any clear demarcation between bike lane and pavement . Bike lane looks like a single bike lane to me ,I've got visions of bike heading north ,overtaking bus by entering bus lane and collision either with bike heading south or an unsuspecting pedestrian. I know that this scheme has been approved by biking "officials " but it looks as though it fulfills all my 90 year old ,sight impaired ,mum's fears . What am I missing ?

Every time I go into Pretty Traditional there are different staff serving . I wonder about the high turnover .

thanks east

Martin - just what I was wondering ! ( think the shop is Pretty Traditional )

You might try asking Kingsdale if there are any other children in similar position ,coming from same area . My sons school did this when he started .

gina - what were the great summer activities you would have loved to have been doing at that age ,if you'd lived here then ? Learning to drive - good idea . Ah yes ,the lure of electronics !

Just wondering - any luck finding temp work ? What sort of work ? Leisure activities ? Especially if 17 year old lacks local social group/friends . Think desperation will be setting in at my house .