Applespider

Dropped kerbs have always been a little bizarre in Southwark. Our neighbours (both sides of the road) have dropped kerbs (old ones) that come out at speed bumps. Our (4 flats) application for a dropped kerb (about a decade ago) was rejected by Southwark - despite taking 3 cars off the road because it was too close to the speed bumps. Our across the road neighbours (in Lewisham) were allowed one in exactly the same place. The fact that you're not supposed to park on/near bumps anyhow - and in theory, having a driveway there would be less likely make people park near them (as they do currently). In the real world, poor parking (bumps/crossings/white or yellow lines/pavement) doesn't get policed in most residential streets unless you live near shops/stations.

Leave half a bottle of cider open in the room where they are. They are attracted to it, fall in and drown in the cider. I am sure it is just as cruel as flypaper but I like to think they are dying happier.

Yodelling. I can listen to a pipe band longer than I can a yodeller. However, I suspect I'd find both equally irritating if there was a learner within any vicinity of me... then again, any musical instrument can be excruciating to the ears in close proximity (i.e. the poor piano being abused in the flat below even now)

Excellent post, rahrahrah. Your point on average speed is a good one. So many times drivers rev up and accelerate past only to stop at the next 'chicane' because of oncoming traffic (blocking my way because I could get through at the same time) or because there are lights up ahead which are on red. I don't mind so much when they do it with lots of space but when it feels close, it's really frustrating. You do wonder whether they'd do it if the person on the bike was one of their family rather than a faceless 'cyclist'. Although I will add a plea to my fellow cyclists to remember to shoulder check before you signal (some could do with remembering that too) and move out. There are times when I watch people in front of me blithely move out without so much as a glance behind them. I appreciate that sometimes road conditions (e.g. a bumpy downhill) mean the priority is generally braking rather than signalling but good drivers will interpret that shoulder check as an initial warning that you may move out.

fazer71 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Looking at > http://www.flightradar24.com/51.46,-0.17/13#./12?& > _suid=141276998360509226923015083177 > > Today is quiet westerly landing have resumed and > they are flying over the Thames so ED almost ZERO > noise > As I said last night, today (until 3pm) they are using 27R and its approach is a km or so north of 27L - so, yes, it will appear as if it's more along the Thames. They are using 27L tonight... and the planes are flying directly overhead bits of ED as its approach corridor is further south than 27R. There's really no mystery here. In days gone by, you must have inadvertently timed your visits to Dulwich Park with them using 9R/L or 27R. Now you're unfortunately synched with when they're using 27L and so you are noticing more planes.

How different people perceive noise is entirely up to them. But fazer, aside from you believing it to be the case, do you have any evidence to suggest it changed in Dec 2012? I've lived in the same property for over a decade and there were flights flying directly overhead sometimes then - and now. Besides, final approaches (which is what you are seeing the start of) are determined by the runways and given they've not moved, I doubt the approaches have appreciably either. What I think you are seeing is the difference in which runway that Heathrow is using. The approach to 27L can vary by over a km from the one to 27R - slightly more if pilots are at the periphery of the corridors. 27R is further north than the approach to 27L. Heathrow switches its runways overnight and then again at 3pm to try to even out the noise nuisance (mostly for those living a heck of a lot closer). If it's particularly busy they'll use both between 6am and 7am. They even publish the runways so you could try to figure out if it's at certain times (or certain runways) bother you most. For example, this week, they're using 09R overnight (which means you shouldn't hear much as that's coming in over the west), they're using 27R from 6am to 3pm and then 27L from 3pm until around midnight. One other tidbit that I found out recently is that they also charge airlines for bringing in noisier planes i.e. a little like VED, the more pollution (noise-wise in this case), the higher the charge. It can be more than 4x the price of a quieter plane.

I suppose technically that the damage to your house is a civil injury rather than a criminal one unless there was intent but you'd still expect the police to show some interest. I'd argue that anyone driving so recklessly as to structurally damage a property must be committing the offence of dangerous driving... or at the very least, driving without care and attention which are criminal. I'm really sorry for you though since it must have been a massive shock. My only suggestions are to see whether there are any all night garages or shops nearby that might have CCTV. And to see if there are any bodywork shops in the area - while it's likely to have been nicked and abandoned, there's a small chance that it belonged to the driver and he's taken it in for repair somewhere?

Or just have a couple of drinks and then ride home assuming you've got lights with you? Then at least you've got the bike for the morning. If you can find a beer that's not too high ABV-wise (the Kernel's table beer works for me) and/or intersperse with a soft drink or two, you'll probably be fine to ride home - particularly if it's later and the traffic is less heavy.

Particularly frustrating since SE London had one of the higher rates of cycling in the last census results. Oh well... at least there's only limited time under Boris left? Sorry - can't think of anything more positive! I assume that it's a done deal and there's noone to petition to change minds?

Lots of other things that have already been mentioned. The beautiful gloss on a chestnut when it first comes out of its casing. And when you're out on a boat and catch sight of a pod of wild dolphins, that raises a smile even on the seasick.

I'm in two minds on whether I'll use all of the segregated routes all the time as if it's too congested on them, I'd rather go along the road. However, I can see that for those who don't cycle regularly and are nervous, they're a great idea. I'd probably have used them for my first few weeks of cycle commuting. A shout out to the great cycle training that Southwark Council offers though - it's a brilliant way to improve confidence on the roads until these come in. I do have concerns that they'll be maintained well (cleaned/swept of debris and that they'll be gritted in the winter - not cyclists put their bikes away in October!) and that having cyclists off the roads, will make drivers less used to dealing with them (i.e. giving appropriate space when passing). London drivers are much more cyclist-aware. than those in other parts of the country. As cosmonaut says, the Vauxhall bit is still open but not for much longer so get any thoughts in fast. Lastly, in terms of green light phasing, I did ask this at the public consultation meeting for the Vauxhall one since there's a stretch at the south end of the bridge that has quite a few lights. The spokesperson there did say that the lights would be phased so that cyclists could have a green wave as they went across that section - partly since they accept that space could be tight and there won't be room to have a bottleneck if each one goes red.

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Pato... how would you describe yourself in a > lonely hearts ad? ;-) And not just the 'employed' and 'young at heart' (which makes you sound 60+) nonsense. That's unlikely to be the only reason that someone would agree to meet up and chat with you. What do you enjoy doing? What are your best characteristics? What kind of traits do you find attractive - or unattractive? Sell yourself on more than just your employment and marital status...

I've got a few suggestions for how you might meet other single people - if you're also talking friends, I'm assuming you're happy to meet single men and women as well as girls. But most groups of people that actually stay in touch have something else in common other than just marital status, age or location. So, pato, what things do you enjoy doing? What makes you tick? I know more couples who met through work or via work colleagues than in local bars or restaurants these days - so any clubs or groups there that you could join in on?

Two options... ...check his travel insurance who will usually have a ?x per day allowance that he can go spend, keep receipts and then claim back. Although some will want a call beforehand - and most will want something from the airline confirming the delay. ... second the airline, at the point they told him it had been left in Germany, should have given him some guidelines on arrival time and what he could spend. Usually you get a form from them to fill out with the receipts and send back to them.

Last time I heard a bang that was so loud, a nearby house had lost its chimney to a direct lightning strike. Fingers crossed that nothing was too damaged this time and that all are safe. ?????, made me chuckle too

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >I simply don't like marketing > where it looks like you're getting a fab deal - as > advertised, for example, in se22 encouraging you > to sign up in a manner that looks like it is > something particularly exclusive, not mentioning > fees until you go to that particular part of the > website (it's a bog standard membership nothing > special) - I'd say that right now, it's better than a bog-standard membership. The standard Picturehouse membership is 12 months for your ?40 at Brixton or Clapham etc. If you buy an ED one (even now that the first 1000 have gone and you miss out on the artwork), you can use your membership card for reduced prices at the other PH cinemas now and you'll get 15 months membership from when it opens. So you're getting 18 months for the price of 12 if you're happy to go to other venues which is a pretty good deal.

mako Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > To try and get something of value out of these 7 > pages. Where locally would be a good place to > start teaching a 9 year old to ride on the road? > (in the day with a hi vis etc obviously) I'd head for Dulwich Park initially and get your child used to positioning him/herself a couple of feet out from the edge of the carriage way and maintaining that position. You can get them to practice looking over their shoulder and signalling there. Going one way around the triangles at the gates while signalling at each turn and then going the other way around. Then you can progress to the road that goes to the main gates. You can practice where to ride if there are parked cars (i.e. a door length's out). There will be a few cars at a very low speed. There are a few roads around Dulwich Village that are fairly quiet and quite flat which is useful to start with. Burbage Road tends to be fairly quiet. Has a cross junction with Turney Road that's still quiet easy to negotiate (particularly at the moment where part of Turney Rd is closed off so there's less traffic). You could go all way down to Half Moon Lane, turn left and then left again onto Stradella Road and back up again. Good luck!

My sister bought me a gin tasting at the Ginstitute in Notting Hill. It's at top end of your budget but it is a great informational (well lubricated) night out and you leave with two bottles of gin - one of which is made on the night to your tastes. If she has a local beauty spa, then vouchers for a massage are often appreciated. Treats that you'd never splurge on usually.

I remember the same thing with both water and gas emergency works in my road last year. The workers said that their intial priority is to make it safe but then that sometimes the investigation work is easier to do overnight when there is less fluctuation of demand so they can trace things more easily. Hope you sleep better tonight though!

I'm riding the London 100 too - and had decided just to (wo)man up and ride over there in the morning. I do have a friend who lives in Greenwich but then I figured that I'd rather have a good night's sleep and do the extra 10 miles. My start time is 0730 but need to be there between 0630 and 0700 roughly. Let me know if you do decide to get a cab since I'd be up for sharing one.

apod Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Last night "intruder" was lucky as > got caught and set free, hopefully its not going > to find its way back. I'm sure that I once read somewhere reliable that you have to release mice 2 miles from where you caught them otherwise they can find their way back. I remember thinking that it seemed a heck of a long way particularly in a city.

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is this not part of the general road improvements > planned along that stretch of road which is meant > to be for cycle safety or something? Quite a few roads have been narrowed in the name of cycle safety. As a cyclist, I'm less than convinced. My experience is that drivers go faster along the wider sections to make up for the slower parts... and if there's a cyclist already approaching or in the narrowed bit, well, that just gets them some extra points for a close shave. Or at least that's how it feels in Railton Road (admittedly Herne Hill/Brixton rather than ED)

Think it is still closed. There's a temporary sign on the way up the hill that has a T (dead end) in the lane that usually turns right up it.

Depending on the state of the bikes (or if any have usable parts), there's a charity that refurbishes them and sends them to Africa for kids to use going to school or women and healthworkers to travel between villages. http://www.re-cycle.org/ There are a few drop off points in London

The Brockley market is good especially if you're a foodie. There's a brewery and a cheesemaker in Brockley too. If you plan on taking the train in rush hour, be aware that the trains can be very very busy by the time they get to Brockley and you may be trying to squeeze into a carriage.