Fitzgeraldo

If this post said 'Dead donkey at Fox Alley' it would be more intriguing.

Installed roof panels with battery approximately one year ago. As such low rates available for any excess power generated when fed back into grid, I looked to store this power by diverting excess into heating water via immersion heater. There is a device that can do this called an 'iBooster'. However, I was advised against installation. This device is only suitable (so I understand) when no battery storage is involved. Alternative scheme is to fit timer to immersion heater and activate during hours of maximum power generation (data can be gathered from monitor that came with the installation). This approach may be a bit fiddly, certainly if one is not around during the day to override timer. Perhaps best to accept derisory rate for excess generation from your electricity supplier.

Try using your brain ianr - speak to pharmacy or practice nurse first - they will advise. If no reassurance go to GP or specialist

With much better standards of education, most of us know that a dermatologist looks after skin and likewise we understand the function of a gynaecologist. Can we not be relied on to select the specialist that we require rather than wait to see a GP and then wait for a referral? The triage role currently fulfilled by GPs could surely be mostly handled by practice nurses or indeed pharmacists. Then GPs could employ their skills to the full in diagnosing and treating more complex problems rather than prescribing aspirin and contraceptives. Is getting a GP (requiring up to 10 years training at the taxpayer?s expense) to reassure worried mum that the ?spot? on little Jonny?s nose is not terminal, the best use of their time? Today, the lengthy training that Pharmacists undergo seems almost completely irrelevant as they appear to merely dispense pre-packaged drugs and function as government subsidised retailers. Pharmacists play a much more important role in healthcare in other countries such as Ireland or France where they do the job that currently occupies much of a GP?s time. Isn?t it time for a radical rethink of the way patient care is managed and give we laymen some credit for possessing a little intelligence? Queues for consultations would be much reduced and the skills of healthcare professionals like pharmacists and nurses (as well as doctors) could be much better utilised.

Why not shed a few tears for all the birds and animals that he murdered over the course of his life?

Instead of weedy gestures involving waving candles why not stay indoors and instead give (say) ?10 to support bursaries for nurses training. Benevolent gestures butter no parsnips and neither will they help provide vital care when the next epidemic arrives.

Is car reg yours or that of miscreants? If miscreants then advise local cops. These crimes are reaching epidemic proportions locally (see Missy eliot 27 January and several other posts). Police seem to unable to do much about these crimes. It is vital that any dodgy behaviour around parked vehicles is reported to police - a note for those that ignore this type of activity - your car will probably be next.

My car had catalytic converter stolen last friday (see entry under another heading). Called police who opened case and then had email to inform me 'Case closed' the next day.Tried to contact local police but they apparently don't exist. Surely someone within local law enforcement must be able to clamp down on this epidemic of petty car crime. Cost of replacing converter just more than excess on insurance so not worth claiming. Consequently me much out of pocket and considerably inconvenienced.

Another car crime Last evening at around 7.00 pm my wife heard a loud noise outside. Looking through the window she saw 3 men around our car. I ran out and challenged them (perhaps rather stupidly as I am no longer in the first flush of youth) and a man in a mask (white, aged around 35) said that he was affixing a clamp because my car was untaxed. A slim man emerged from under my vehicle and another stood the other side. Knowing that my car was taxed I shouted at my wife to call the police whereupon the 3 men rushed away (carrying my catalytic converter) into nearby Marsden road and tore off in a small dark car at high speed, almost knocking a Deliveroo bloke off his bike. They used (I believe) a small jack with a drill to screw it up and an angle grinder to cut off the exhaust pipe. The angle grinder I assume made the noise that alerted my wife. The whole procedure cannot have taken more than a few minutes. The sheer audacity of doing this at 7.00 pm outside our house in a fairly busy, well-lit street amazes me. Several people must have seen them. The police did not put in an appearance but in fairness the perpetrators had long gone. I'm posting this to alert other local residents to be vigilant and to enquire as to there were any witnesses. If so, have a word with the local police.

Is it not possible that approval by MRSA was rushed/pressurised by UK government in order to gain early approval and thus score points and gain popularity (that might go some way towards negating the appalling indecisiveness they have shown over the last year)? If anything untoward does emerge (such as long term side effects)in the future, perhaps we will not be quite so gung-ho.

My elderly car broken into about a week ago on Ondine Road. Contents of glove box, spare bulbs, car manuals, etc. strewn all over the floor. Nothing of value taken as nothing of value left in the car. However interestingly, although I was sure that I had locked it, there were no signs of forced entry. With elderly vehicles of little value, it may be best to ensure cars are empty of anything of value and then to leave unlocked as cost of repairs to damaged access points may be expensive. However this may not be such a good idea in the light of the lack of public toilets in the area

Two vanloads of cops along with squadcar in Ondine Road with overhead chopper last night. Police with riot shields running about. Any information?

If I take my car to drive out of London (say to Kent) for a walk, does this contravene the regulations? And will Mr. Plod stop me and ask as to my reason for travelling? Will 'Number Plate Recognition' alert police to my journey?

Do you use speedchecker and if so, what results do you get? Mine: Download; 22.8, Upload; 9.3. For Virgin this seems rather slow. Also recently intermittant loss of signal.

Speed check shows: Download: 22.8 Upload: 6.4 Is there a local issue or should I call for engineer?

Having just suffered extreme disappointment following the ingestion of an eagerly anticipated (and thoroughly unsatisfactory) breakfast I am seeking the advice of local epicureans as to sourcing the best breakfast sausage. My own experience reveals that most local supermarkets provide tasteless, textureless offerings that exude brown unpleasant liquids. ?Flock and Herd?: too much nutmeg, William Rose: rather bland. All I want is a standard breakfast sausage that has texture, flavour and browns up nicely whether grilled or fried; might just benefit from addition of a soupcon of English mustard. Any advice much appreciated.

Perhaps impression made by large lady wearing fishnet tights sitting on unset cement. Romantic activity with builder may have contributed.

Within minutes of walking into the garden this morning I became the focus of a cloud of small black flies. I was just about to rush indoors when I caught a whiff of something unpleasant. Examination of left shoe revealed large deposit of Dulwich foxshit. So, guess there is some truth in previous postings. However, no green, shiny flies - or large horseflies - so where did they go?

I have been extremely irritated by a recent dramatic increase in the population of flies in my small back-garden. In particular, I have noted large numbers of shiny, iridescent green flies. I have also observed several horseflies. As I do not keep horses, I have wondered as to the reason for this phenomenon. Have other members of the Forum noticed a similar increase in the numbers of these insects? Is there evidence of release by malicious fly-breeders? Could it be part of a maverick ?Rewilding? project? (Perhaps providing food for birds and other insectivores). Tobacco smoke and alcohol vapour (slowly escaping from a glass) together seem to have little deterrent effect. Do members have suggestions for keeping these unwanted pests at bay?

Does centre test for active disease, presence of virus or presence of antibodies?

It is undoubtedly the ?Thought Police?. They have been active throughout the local area for some time now. They have been instrumental in transmitting Covid 19 via 5G masts and recently forced us to vote for Brexit and Boris Johnson. I say ?Resist. Continue to support your local publicans?.

I spent almost 2 hours yesterday (all to no avail) in a futile attempt to pay for a permit. After being resident in the same house in the PW zone for 36 years there was (apparently)no record of council tax demands sent to my home (or of me paying by direct payments for all those years). I was eventually was offered a single month permit on condition I sent a scan of my Council Tax payment demand. I was a little surprised that they had no record of this. I attempted to contact Southwark by 'Phone - a thankless task. The organisation of this scheme appears to be beyond belief in its complete uselessness. I do believe in employing people in order to support the economy but there really are limits when it comes to using people with little semblance of intelligence, willingness to help or application of effort (or ability to plan or test schemes before their implementation). Old expressions like: 'piss-ups in breweries' come readily to mind but I somehow doubt that the organisers of this scheme are even up to that. Southwark Council - Get a grip!

I was wondering whether trained predators, ferrets perhaps or similar creatures might be dispatched to the tree-tops in the hope that they might disturb the nesting birds, eat their eggs/young (along with possibly the nesting parents-to-be themselves) and thus solve the problem?

Although attractive to watch, these birds are exceptionally noisy. I have just noticed two pairs ?billing and cooing? in tall fir trees located in neighbouring gardens. I suspect that this behaviour will be followed by nesting in these trees. The prospect of every visit to my garden during spring and summer being spoiled by a cacophony of screeching does not appeal. I understand that these birds are classified as non-native species and as such: ?vermin?. On whom does the responsibility to remove such vermin (or their nests) rest? I?d be most grateful for any advice on how to protect my sanity during the forthcoming months.

Does their licence include permission to block the whole pavement outside the EDT for about month so that no pedestrian can get by without risking life and limb by walking in the road?