Angelina

sounds more like a challenge than a request!

has he not been paying toward supporting his children over the years?

I agree, Joe. losing the character of a place is a cost of gentrification. Just look at Brixton - an entire culture has all but disappeared. And while it may be good as it is, that's subjective.

your opinion or fact?? It may well be that a business makes a living but is priced out of an area by increased rents - which are due to poshing-up an area. Or it may be that rents are the same but takings are down for the reasons you say (and/or......) Gentrification tends to be a cleansing of an area making it slightly sterile. The local businesses can't afford it, chains move in, rents/ houses go through the roof (which pleases owners) but the other side of it is reality - people without/ thefts / crimes etc. I've just seen a 3 bed flat for rent for over ?2,400 a month. This is Peckham ffs.

While it's not a direct answer, perhaps you could help build his confidence in the first instance. Could he get a job in a bar/ caf? and get used to working with / talking to the public? Or volunteering in a charity shop for the same purpose (Oxfam in HH are looking for volunteers). Confidence plays a big part - as does self belief. And it may help to remember that exposure to uncomfortable situations (e.g. talking to new people, presenting to an audience) can make things easier over time. Being introverted is nothing that needs changing. And don't look at each conversation with a girl as overly important - if it's loaded with intention of getting a girlfriend, girls will pick up on this and likely run a mile - this is a challenge for many young people. Also, many people are nervous when they meet someone - it's about learning to deal with that and going ahead anyway.

slate

I'm surprised the mortgage company haven't picked up on the house being structurally unsafe. Is it actually unsafe, or just not supported for a conversion?

The Untouchables.

yes - something like that would do. surely we should have the technology by now.

structurally sound and compliant with building regs are the not the same. no one can tell you how much you should seek as a reduction. It depends on what the original price included (if it alluded to building compliance or 'as is').

I think the point is being missed. The police have ended up facing charges for chases that ended in fatalities and this is as much for their own protection. Police chasing inexperienced riders is just, frankly dangerous on many levels.

Don't forget that Uber are high-loss making, which is a model based on gaining a monopoly by undercutting all competition. Obviously, it's not sustainable, so this phase of super cheap travel would not have lasted anyway.

good on the bank.

what a spiteful theft. it's obviously something you actually need. Makes it a little bit harder to think about. Very sorry you have had to deal with this.

You've obviously never been to Brixton, which has been subject to poshing-up over the recent years. It changes the basic nature of the place - changes the people, the activities, the types of business, drives people out. Basically loses the soul of the place, which is what made it attractive in the first place.

All corporations engaging in this activity should be penalized

This is the actual comment......it's even worse! "The artist, originally from Nottingham, went on to claim the workmen in the picture were not the ?large group of guys? she had meant to capture in the image". So, she took a photo of the wrong people and didn't mean to say it. You couldn't make it up. That's not humility, or damage limitation. It's denial.

no, that's called 'Damage Limitation', not humility. Humility is a value that would prevent such comments in the first place.

hi - sorry, no I've never heard of family being a reason for exemptions. You could apply, of course.

The best thing we can all do is make ourselves known to - and talk to - our neighbours and instill a sense of community. Especially if you live next to someone old and vulnerable. This is thoroughly disgusting behaviour and my nan has also been exposed to the type that prey on the vulnerable. Her 'friend' from bingo would walk her home and items started going missing, she would borrow items never to return them - money, dvd players etc etc. even stealing expensive ornaments and rearranging the others to cover any gaps. My mum called the police but my nan was too upset that this had even happened to allow them to follow up. a few stern - I know what's going on - words later and that woman has kept her distance but still hovers. it makes me sick. We now have caring watchful neighbours keeping an eye on my nearly 100year nan, when she's out and about - who she talks to etc. and reporting back if anything is amiss. We are very lucky - and thankful - in that respect.

brilliant :-)

I think we should be able to rate threads - so people know which ones are - a waste of time. - very entertaining - informative and helpful - other (to be made up later, as required) etc....

no! that's Forum gold

There is a school's admission drop in at the Peckham library on Wednesdays. All you can do is approach the schools you are interested in and see if there are any vacancies. Get on waiting lists. Southwark will place your daughter somewhere. I presume she's currently not in school? You need to notify Southwark.

what qualifies her to be labeled an artist?