evildrwallace

Hi SEnewbie, I've ridden around London for around 30 years, including commuting to the city, West End, Wembley and lately Maida Vale, as well as a stint as a courier and I've ridden everything from litre sports bikes to my current 125 scooter. I would echo most of the advice you've already had, including that a 125 is plenty for commuting - anything bigger is a total waste and a scooter is much better for keeping the rain off than a motorbike. My current Piaggio has bigger wheels than a standard scooter and is noticeably more stable. Having said all that, I'm pushing 60 and am a skinny runt but I still find it very nearly as quick and much more pleasant commuting by pushbike. It's nearly 10 miles to my current job and takes about 5 minutes longer by bicycle than on my scooter - and I don't run red lights... Of course cycling is not for everyone but neither is motorcycling and, if you feel like giving it a go it's cheaper, greener, healthier, possibly quicker and less hassle than any form of transport bar walking. Whatever you decide good luck and I hope it works out for you.

I would echo all the recommendations here. Steve's team have just finished refurbishing 15 windows in our house and we are very happy with both the end result and the way the work was done, from initial quote to final clear up. The guys are all very professional, friendly and courteous and did all they could to make the job as stress free as possible, cleaning up every evening and letting us know day to day what was going on. Many thanks and a five star recommendation.

Steve's excellent team have just refurbished 15 of our sash windows and we are delighted with the work. Echoing what everyone else has said, Luke and the others were always courteous, communicative, and happy to work around our daily lives. The house was left tidy and secure every evening and all the windows now look wonderful and work perfectly. Highly recommended!

I'd have to agree with the OP Goldilocks on this one. We actually installed a woodburner some years ago as we have quite a bit of wood from coppicing a large tree in our garden and pruning a couple of others - this meant we rarely had to buy wood at all. But this winter we have pretty much decided not to use the stove any longer as it really can't be justified given the pollution we now know it causes.

I haven't driven an XC60 but I often use a Golf which has a similar automatic handbrake and I have to say it works brilliantly, including on steep hills - you just have to learn to trust it. I am not a fan of a lot of new gadgetry in modern cars but I would have to say that this is something that I would be pleased to have in any car I owned.

Thanks all - I'll plant what i can and give the rest away.

Mick - given that i am from potato land i already feel like a cultural outcast having put the question! PS - In case anyone is wondering what the answer to the original question is.......according to the supplier they can't be stored for next year.

Hi all I am growing some potatoes this year but am anticipating having seed left over. Does anyone know if it's possible to store it (in a way that stops it sprouting this year) for use next year?

Well I'd like to make a fuss but I can't make Tuesday's meeting, unfortunately. I'm not surprised the first meeting was poorly attended as I have not seen any mention of it anywhere until I chanced to read the above post. I'm afraid I am heartily sick of aircraft noise but don't feel that the rewards from being active in campaigning against it are likely to justify the cost/time, etc. However, I am very grateful to those that do campaign about it (I did march against the Heathrow extension...) and I would be very grateful if anyone who does go to Tuesday's meeting would cast my proxy vote against any mealy mouthed political flim flam about the necessity of ever expanding airport capacity etc. etc.

Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > StraferJack Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Has to be Treacle jr. > > Wha dat Tam ? I'd say you're a sig fudder!

Why don't you just ask them?!

haruki Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Easiest to hardest (ish): > > Puy lentil chilli > http://underthewarminglamp.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/ > vegetarian-chili-with-puy-lentils.html > Aubergine parmigiana > http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-reci > pes/aubergine-parmigiana-melanzane-alla-parmigiana > > Mushroom / goats cheese Tartlet > http://www.womanandhome.com/recipes/293585/mushroo > m-goat-s-cheese-and-tarragon-tartlets > Paneer / roast veg tikka + dhal > http://redchillycurry.com/tandoori-paneer-tikkapan > eer-tikka-kababs/ > Beer-battered halloumi with minted peas, homemade > wedges > http://www.peachtreesandbumblebees.com/2011/10/03/ > beer-battered-halloumi/ > > If anyone wants a challenge I'll post a recipe > from Terre a Terre, best veggie restaurant in the > world (maybe). The parmigiana and the tartlet are only vegetarian if the parmesan is omitted. https://www.vegsoc.org/saycheese#.Uv3qNSg6E20 Let us know what you cook, Quids.

I hadn't seen this thread so I posted the below on a new thread this morning: For the last few days I've been hearing what I can only assume is an owl around the gardens at the back of our house in Upland Rd. Mostly at night but sometimes quite early evening. We heard a tawny owl quite often last year but this sounds different - three short barks, quite doglike, repeated at 30 sec or so intervals. At first I thought it was a fox but the call is always the same and moves too quickly for a fox. I will try to record it over the next couple of days.

For the last few days I've been hearing what I can only assume is an owl around the gardens at the back of our house. Mostly at night but sometimes quite early evening. We heard a tawny owl quite often last year but this sounds different - three short barks, quite doglike, repeated at 30 sec or so intervals. At first I thought it was a fox but the call is always the same and moves too quickly for a fox. I will try to record it over the next couple of days. Has anyone else heard this and, if so, can you identify it?

James, If parking enforcement has to be funded through fines then it should be abolished immediately. If enforcement is working correctly it should not make any money, as nobody would be parking illegally. Any service that must fail in order to survive is an anachronism and should be rethought. I don't drive and would happily see all private cars banned from the streets of London, but I still cannot see the sense in designing a system that relies on fines to exist - this is not a balancing act, it is just counter-productive and stupid.