
Applespider
Member-
Posts
1,180 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by Applespider
-
Other top tip is to head off to TK Maxx and pick up some basic ski gear there from last season. By far the cheapest way to outfit the kids at least. Invest in more decent base layers and fewer top layers. And Austria is fun. I was in Saalbach last year which had lots of good skiing for different abilities. Off to Folgarida next year.
-
My iPhone 4 battery is fine. I used various apps on it to and from work this morning, occasionally at work and at lunchtime and it's still at 59% after last being charged this morning. Admittedly, I tend to leave wifi turned off unless I know I'm in a spot with it but it was still getting data etc. It does have a unified mailbox although you can choose to go separately and mine, at least, is set up to respond from whichever mail account the original mail came from. Incidentally, it will let you view Excel documents but not edit. To be honest, I wouldn't get it if it's just for perceived kudos since I don't think there really are any now that it's becoming more ubiquitous. Take a look at those at work's ones - see what apps you might find useful and if there's anything else you fancy, and then make a call (sorry!)
-
I have an iPhone, love the smart stuff and have never had a problem with it as a phone (aside perhaps from the voice control part but that could be accent based). I'm not convinced about Windows 7 phone just yet - I think it's a few more software updates away from being there. The lack of cut and paste drove me batty on the iPhone when it first came out. 3 years later and a new phone OS not having it is bad along with the lack of multitasking since the Windows apps apparently don't sleep as the iPhones did. The reviews for the new N8 are generally glowing about hardware and dire about Symbian. The new HTC Desire HD does look like a lovely bit of kit from the reviews. A guy in the office is getting one next week and I'm looking forward to having a play with it. Another pal has the SE Xperia which didn't look bad either. I'd stick to Android or iPhone if I were you. If you can get to a store and try playing with both (although Desire HD isn't out til next week I don't think), you should get what's right for you.
-
Proposed cycle superhighway to run down Lordship Lane
Applespider replied to benmorg's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
I don't have objections to being tested on road safety (I've done my Bikeability - the current equivalent of the old cycling proficiency test) although would having a regular driving license supercede that requirement? I'm insured so no problem there. I obey the traffic laws and if someone could come up with a practical way of licensing/registering etc that wouldn't cost more to implement that money it might save, I wouldn't object. I'm not in favour of adding more bureaucracy in general. But where do you draw the line? Should horses be licensed since, in theory, they could cause as much confusion as a bike does (and leave more debris around) and use the road? How about mobility scooters? Would it only be if the bike was used on the road? What about mountain bikes used off-road or track bikes? Or kids' bikes? Would the license be applied to the rider or to the bike? How would that work with Boris bikes? Questions, questions... While I'm not denying that cycles can cause damage and harm, it's most definitely not to the same extent as motor vehicles - and if you look at the statistics for injury caused by cyclists (as opposed to to cyclists), I don't think the cost/benefit of registering/licensing cyclists would hold up. -
burglaries in Forest Hill/East Dulwich areas
Applespider replied to concita's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
And if you live in a flat, the communal door may be the weakest link. Don't just depend on a Yale=type lock that pulls closed. Get one that you actually have to lock (even if it does open without a key from the inside for fire safety reasons) and encourage people to use it (easier if not too many sharing entrance). Two mortice locks with a full metal sunk faceplates so the bolt isn't just in the wood of the frame but inside the housing of the lock when it's closed is a good idea too. I have a neighbour who had one of the ATM alarms that call the police but after a few false alarms, that privilege was suspended. I have one that texts me and a more local keyholder. It tells me which sensor set it off. If it was just an internal one, I'd suspect that something in the flat may have tipped over and it's a false alarm. If I got a door one followed by a motion one, I'd be on the phone to the police while running out of the door of wherever I happened to be! -
Oh I know it's unlikely but if there's an evacuation on the runway itself, it's possible that it might help. Those who have already planned emergency situations are more likely to escape rather than those who are trying to figure it out on the fly. I'm also one of those people who check where the nearest fire escape is on the way to the hotel room which was useful one night when the alarm went off at 3am... I used to know someone who was an aircrash investigator; he did say that it was useful if people kept some form of ID actually on them in case of accidents rather than having everything in their carry on which generally ended up elsewhere in that 3 mile radius.
-
SteveT, I'm sorry you feel that way but don't speak for all non-dog owners. I'm one and have never felt the need to walk around any park with a cudgel. There's an irony in your post where you ask why the majority are controlled by the minority... I suspect most dog-owners feel the same. Why should the majority of well behaved dogs and owners be penalised by the actions of a few who would probably ignore any restrictions in any case?
-
I'm not a firefighter nor am I married to one, going out with one or have any material interest in this so possibly not the best qualified to try to summarise but I'll try from what I've gleaned from various sources. The firefighters want to keep their current working terms and conditions; pay isn't an issue in this strike. The firefighters are arguing that their current shift pattern works well so why change it? The 9 hour day shift allows for both firefighting during the day and additional community support when not firefighting. The 15 hour night shift generally works since there's less community support in those hours so unless it's a very busy night there's time to rest which offsets the additional hours. They are going on strike because the fire brigade have threatened to sack all of them and force them to sign new contracts with the revised t&c if they want to carry on being ff. The revised t&c call for them to work 12 hour day shifts and 12 hour night shifts. The FF fear is partly that this makes dayshifts tougher since it's already a very full shift. But it's also because the 12 hour night shift increases the likelihood that certain stations will become unmanned at night and covered from a more central fire station. The FF argument on this is that this risks lives and property since every second counts in a fire. The brigade have offered a compromise position of 11 hour day shifts, 13 hour night shifts (although, to my eyes, that seems close enough to 12/12 that it's pointless) The Fire Brigade view is that 12/12 shifts will allow more advanced training for firefighters on day shifts and shouldn't compromise safety. The FF view on training is that most advanced training requires a course anyhow rather than ad-hoc on the job that may be interrupted for a 'shout' so there's no real benefit there. They are not looking to change the other aspects of the shift pattern, weekly hours worked etc so on the surface it's not about costs. I can't find any other reasons mentioned officially for wanting to make this change. The Brigade's press officers seem to be more interested in blackening the firefighters than explaining WHY they're doing this. The example of taking fire engines out of service for fear of 'sabotage' is one of these despite there being no evidence of it. Below the surface, and admittedly perhaps therefore a red herring, is the Brigade's relationship with a private company who, incidentally, will be providing cover during the strikes. There is apparently a fear that the recruitment ramp up by this company suggests that at some point, the fire brigade would like to outsource some firefighting duties (perhaps outlying areas/night duties) to this company and therefore reduce the level of public firefighters. There is a belief that the current 'shift pattern' dispute is more about breaking the FBU to facilitate changes of the outsourcing kind going forward than for any proven benefit in doing so. Where strikes are demanding extra money for no extra work, reinstatement of troublemakers or minor perks, I don't believe in strikes. If this strike was purely about say getting a bed rather than a reclining chair for the night shift, then I wouldn't give it the time of day. But where costs/hours/pay are all staying the same, threatening people with being sacked and forcing them to sign new contracts doesn't feel particularly fair. Yes, it happens in private companies too but that doesn't make it necessarily right. I'm still not a big fan of strikes but people do have the right to withhold labour. The FBU don't appear to come from the Bob Crow school of unions so I'm slightly more likely to believe that if they truly feel that a strike is the only way to indicate strength of feeling. Of course, should my flat go on fire on 23 October, I may entirely change my viewpoint.
-
Is the reason that you don't want the 9-hour increasing to 12-hour because you can currently sleep during part of the 15-hour night shift (although you are effectively on call) but you wouldn't be able to do so on a 12 hour day shift since there are more alternate tasks to be done in daytime? So a daytime 12 hour shift would potentially be more draining than a 15-hour one? I haven't done shift work recently but did recently go out with someone who worked 4 x 12 hour days day and night and it really mucked up his body clock and energy levels. That was an office job; I'd hate to think how he'd be if he'd had to put on breathing apparatus and run up and down ladders. In general, I don't support strike action (i.e. the recent Tube strikes and BA strikes left me fully in support of management) but this one does feel different. I also heard that the private company who are the planned 'cover' for the strike have been in talks for some time with the Fire Brigade about outsourcing some work to them. It makes me wonder if there's a longer term plan to reduce some of the night Fire Brigade service by shutting some stations at night (which by all accounts this change would facilitate) and use the private company to cover 'busy' periods. We've been through the local station closures with the police already. Using private companies for public safety seems to be going back to the days where you had your insurance through a fire company and if your house burned, if you weren't covered, they stood by and watched. I understand that's not likely but it still seems a step backwards. The Brigade 'mothballing' engines for fear of sabotage is ridiculous. Why would the firefighters put their own and colleagues lives at danger since no-one knows when they'd be called out and if there would be time to rectify sabotage? Besides, if sabotage was proven (and I'm sure there's CCTV in key areas), that would be a sackable offence. That really does suggest that there's another agenda here.
-
Hmmm...how far would you go if alone, if with a loved one or with strangers... If I knew there was no other option, I might consider cutting my arm off but being an optimistic type usually, I think I'd probably hope that someone did come along to my godforsaken spot and wait until I was too weak to actually survive cutting off my arm and die anyhow... Plane-wise - I do count the seats to the emergency exit and if in a window seat with people who don't look like good survival candidates in the aisle rows, I have amused myself by figuring out the best route over the top of the seats to avoid being stuck behind them. :-$
-
Puzzled, I wouldn't take it personally. Think of almost any topic and you'll probably find a 'lobby' for each side on EDF or other forums (cyclists, dogs, kids in restaurants, kids on transport, late licenses). There's a statistic used in customer services that for every 10 negative comments you get just one positive - I suspect it's a similar posting ratio online with many of these controversial subject. The majority probably just live and let live.
-
There are a few - and the upside down cycles are sometimes the only signs to indicate it. There's one in Brixton that only got signs to indicate it was now 2-way for cyclists several months after the fact. If the street is wide enough and is quiet enough, it works pretty well - particularly if the cyclist keeps their eyes peeled. However, why they did it on Melford Road is a mystery. It's officially 2-way for cyclists where it joins Lordship Lane but since it's not a particularly wide road, usually has parked cars on either side, it really would be a kamikaze cyclists who risks going down it. So far as cycle-bashing goes, there are bad drivers, cyclists and pedestrians most likely in equal proportions. The problem is that bad drivers/cyclists/pedestrians are far more visible than 'good' ones. One idiot streaking through a red light (in a bike or a car) is far more obvious than the 90% who are sitting waiting at the red light. I would slightly dispute that cyclists don't cause harm to anyone but themselves. I agree in terms of cars and other vehicles but pedestrians are just as vulnerable at the cyclists so we should be careful in those 1-way streets because they're often not aware that traffic could come from an unexpected direction and don't check when crossing. My most painful cycle injury came falling off while trying to avoid a drunk pedestrian who meandered into the cycle lane.
-
When are kids going trick-or-treating?
Applespider replied to SJDproofreading's topic in The Family Room Discussion
The Yanks imported it from us to start with. In Scotland (and Ireland I believe), it was traditional to go 'guising' on Halloween - dressing up and going around the houses. Although I seem to recall having to tell a joke or something in order to get given anything as opposed to threatening to egg someone... I suspect the US migrants took the tradition with them and it morphed into Trick or Treat. When it's done in good humour, it's fun. If it gets to the point where things are damaged or take longer than a minute or so to clean up, it's gone too far. -
There's a helicopter going round too...
-
Huguenot - presumably you have 40 miles uphill before you can enjoy that lovely descent... :-S
-
Sounds lovely... However, most legit new members don't make a random recommendation as their first post; that's more the area of those being paid to promote links. But I'll reserve judgement until we see how long you hang around for and what else you contribute that's more local in flavour.
-
What don't you like Liz? There may be tricks or tips to get round them?
-
I'll second Cranium if you've got a good group around. And I do like Boggle and Trivial Pursuit too - get an edition with a good board and then you can always top up questions if need to later. The other option might be to buy yourself a set of poker chips and cards - lets friends play without having to have cash at stake.
-
Not many people appear to know this but Parmesan isn't vegetarian.
Applespider replied to wee quinnie's topic in The Lounge
I have a strict vegetarian friend (well, it's the only thing she's strict about ;-) ) so I did know this since I was making a risotto for her one night. I did find a good hard crumbly cheese that was similar in flavour (not quite as rich) by asking at the cheese shop near South Kensington (since it was near work). Unfortunately I can't recall what it was called :-$ -
Not that I'm condoning it or would want to be sprayed by it, but urine is pretty much sterile when it comes out of the body. It's only as it degrades that it smells etc. People used to save their pee to make ammonia to clean animal skins etc. It's the number twos that have more potential for nasties...
-
Perhaps you can send Tom Ford's PR company a link to this thread and all those who are saying 'ooh, must go and check it out' and see if you'll get some freebies... I had been using Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown (both people I like) but might check Tom out next time I see it.
-
Is the 484 the worst bus service in London ?
Applespider replied to Lee Scoresby's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Oh I don't know... I saw a triple tandem this morning going over Vauxhall Bridge - mother with a 6 and 8 year old all pedalling hard. Can you get quadruple ones... although not sure how'd you'd manage bends... How about a route through Dulwich Park? I do see quite a few parents and relatively small kids out on bikes on the school run these days... -
how long in a cab from ED to Heathrow T5?
Applespider replied to pilsbury's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
And if you are in T5, then you need to have scanned your boarding pass at security 35 minutes before the flight leaves or it will automatically bump you with nothing the staff can do to get you back on the flight so in that case better safe than sorry! -
Is the 484 the worst bus service in London ?
Applespider replied to Lee Scoresby's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
skidmarks Wrote: > This coming it is called Ibus. Countdown is being > phased out > > Here > http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes > /11560.aspx Great news - thank you for sharing! -
Is the 484 the worst bus service in London ?
Applespider replied to Lee Scoresby's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
I can understand them not forking out to add the countdown timers to every bus stop in London in the current climate, useful though it would be. But since the information is already out there driving the existing Countdown stops, couldn't they put it online in some format so that you could at least check it on your phone from the bus stop - or your computer before you leave the house? Make it an iPhone app and I'd even pay for it...
East Dulwich Forum
Established in 2006, we are an online community discussion forum for people who live, work in and visit SE22.