david_carnell

I grew up in Cheam and went to an all-boys grammar school in Sutton. I now live in SE15. I can give you my opinions on various aspects. Take them with a pinch of salt. I grew up there and lived there for over 20 years which tends to warp views. Cheam is effectively 3 different places - the village, North and South. North is the cheapest, has a big Sainsburys but is a little run down and can feel grotty. The Village is the most vibrant and pretty with a good selection of indy and chain shops, a small Waitrose, good pubs and the beautiful Nonsuch Park. South Cheam has the biggest houses on quiet, wide leafy streets but no real amenities aside from a golf course and is a bit dull for my tastes. I think primary schools will vary according to where you live and ofsted could tell you more than I could. At secondary, LB of Sutton is one of the few that retains the grammar system. If your child is bright enough, or you can afford endless private tutoring to coach them through the test, then they could end up at some of the best state schools in the country (according to league tables). If the experiences of some pupils that I witnessed are still valid then those schools are very much an academic hot houses and children who don't enjoy that world will struggle. They tend to be good at sports too though. For boys, Sutton Grammar is football, Wallington Grammar is rugby. There are some good comprehensives too - Greenshaw was well-regarded when I was choosing a secondary but, thinking about it, that was 20 years ago so a lot may have changed! Sutton itself is a larger retail centre but I have little love for it. If the Daily Mail was a town it would be Sutton. The entire place reeks of intolerance, sexual repression and aspirational interior decor. A festering carbuncle that maintains a large population of unsuccessful middle management commuters, who can be seen of a weekend scurrying around town frantically purchasing home electronics and DIY equipment, desperately trying to anesthetize the gaping hole in their miserable existences with rabid consumption. In terms of safety. Well, Friday and Sat nights in Sutton resemble a cross between the wild west and a Hogarth painting. Otherwise it's pretty much ok I guess. Stuff like car insurance will fall considerably from SE22/SE15 and violent crime is lower although I've always found the suburbs to be more intimidating than inner London. Anyway, if you have any other questions, let me know. My parents still live there, I visit frequently, so might be able to help. If I had the cash, this place was always my dream home: http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/17508943

I suppose none of them are interested in the money? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prizes_for_evidence_of_the_paranormal

Jeremy - that's the issue. Some people don't understand the anecdote vs evidence issue.

Wrong thread, Sue. You're still talking about ghosts.

I thought exactly the same! And lo, he was from Cheltenham. Rumours that Andy Flower continuing in his position had a causal effect are, as yet, unsubstantiated.

I know the previous tenant of the building had massive problems with the landlord so could be related to that.

El Pibe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Robert Macfarlane's The Old Ways. > > Absolutely lovely travel writing, with more than a > dash of psychogeography about it; more accessible > than W G Sebald's The Rings of Saturn, less > infuriating than Iain Sinclair's London Orbital. > > It's a meditation on walking, poetry, metaphysics > and mortality written with such charm that you > don't really think it's about any of those > things. > > I'm actually most reminded of Cormac McCarthy's > novels, though barring the odd grazed knee there's > rather less blood,violence and despair. I had a > quick google to see if anyone else had made the > connection only to find he's a massive fan > himself...good man!! > > Highly, highly recommended. I can second this. I'd also highly recommend his other two works, Mountains of the Mind and Wild Places - both exceptional works. I have a huge man-crush on the chap. Been to see him talk on numerous occassions, got all the books signed (inc. limited edition release of Holloways - only 800 copies printed) etc etc. Often dream about going for a walk with him. Mrs Carnell often expresses her concern. EP - if you want more modern nature writing let me know. My bookshelves creak with it. Melissa Harrison's "Clay" would be a good start - set it Tooting and its environs. Was thinking of trying Sebald - though if you found it tough going I may not bother.

http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=&category=cars&search_location=United+Kingdom&current-distance=&vehicle_make=&vehicle_model=&vehicle_mileage=&seller_type=&vehicle_body_type=&vehicle_fuel_type=&vehicle_age=&vehicle_transmission=&vehicle_engine_size=&min_price=&max_price=1

I think it was for under ?100 but Clarkson got his Volvo for just ?1. They probably won't advertise them since it would cost more than the car is worth but ringing around dealers might be best. They are stuff they've taken in px for newer models. Or ebay/gumtree?

Ah. The memories.

fabfor Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well! Don't know how I managed to miss this thread > on a subject so close to my heart. > All sides of the argument might find this very > interesting: > > > > Enjoy! Fascinating that Sheldrake is still being touted as a creditable source of info. His ideas on morphic resonance are widely discredited and the man counts Deepak Chopra as a fan. With friends like these...

Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But pricing to choose your customer is normal. > Think Mayfair hotel bars and Bond Street shops. > > > There is an economic theory on this that I vaguely > recall from University. > > Help me out someone, something to do with diamonds > and the pricing of attraction. It's known as a "veblen good" where the higher the cost, the more desirable it becomes. This is in opposition to the more common and widely understood "law of demand". Luxury goods drop in demand if their price falls since they are no longer deemed to be exclusive. So diamonds, rolls-royce etc. The Patch isn't quite in that league. Rather, the Patch could be seen as a "positional good" in that it's value is derived from it's desirability rather than a comparison to other goods on the market. It's not that the food is any better than anywhere else, but for some people, paying ?16 for a fry-up will make them feel like they are getting something exclusive. And to an extent they'd be correct in that only a limited number of consumers are willing to pay that. Always wondered when that economics a-level would come in handy.

The OP asked for no snarky comment Jezza! ;-) I'm not passing judgement on any of the investments, merely offering them as possibilities.

What about using it as a deposit for a BTL mortgage on another property? Would the rental returns over low interest mortgage be worthwhile?

Rayburns will even runs on logs if you happen to own a woodland and have a plentiful supply. When the revolution comes etc....

In summer you'll need another oven to do any cooking unless you want a 35 degree kitchen.

Loz - for your AN Other spots I would suggest: Sam Robson opening Gary Ballance at 5 Jos Buttler as the new keeper - he can really biff and put fear in bowlers, something England have almost never had - the Gilcrist factor. Although you only seem to have three bowlers. Stokes can help cover I suppose? Three seamers and Monty enough?

We have had no "on-demand" service for two days now. New Year resolution - dump Richard Branson.

Swann - hero or villain?

And the bollard is down again....

If heading towards Camberwell, cut up through Warwick Gdns rather than Lyndhurst Way. It's nice to see the changing seasons and greenery first thing. And you can keep to the back streets until Camberwell Grove taking you down to the Green and avoiding major traffic.

Two new local craft breweries: http://www.brickbrewery.co.uk/ http://www.clarkshaws.co.uk/

You needed to have read further down for the best line: "Participants were 94 French men. Three did not follow instructions." How they got 91 Frenchmen to rate themselves as anything less than suave, handsome and eloquent is beyond me.

Dopamine1979 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's a tight left turn onto Adys road from > Nutbrook street. > > It used to be easier but now there is a bollard. > > This annoys me. > > Random rant over. It won't be there for long. That bollard is possibly the most knocked-over of any in the land. I've seen it replaced over a dozen times. I think one individual might be responsible but not positive.

It did occur to me that the original idea of buying 76million odd tickets would result in more than just a guarantee of winning the jackpot. You would of course win every other sum of money available too, such as getting 5 numbers and 1 bonus, 4 numbers and 2 bonus balls etc etc right down to the minimum win of three numbers (or whatever it is). So you'd stand to win much more although my maths skills don't allow me to tell you how much more... The logisitical problem is still the barrier though. Buying 76m tickets would be an epic ask since you'd have to fill out forms for every permutation. Although it has been attempted: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/25/us/group-invests-5-million-to-hedge-bets-in-lottery.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm