tllm2

Does anyone know where you can buy slimline Espag window handles? - Really need some handles that are less proud from the window itself than the universal one. (I appreciate that getting flush handles isn't possible, was thinking that there must be less chunky ones out there somewhere).

Fab' - thanks for the help. I've tried the google seach for the oversized pendant shades, but the vast majority have the open bottoms .... will try again with 'drum shade .......'.

http://www.next.co.uk/x481050s17#412018x48 Have a question for all you interior designers out there. Am looking for a really large ceiling light shade similar to this one in the link above - as I'm looking for one that doesn't leave the light bulb in view/exposed. Is there a particular name for these things? - lamp shades, but with a base. Also any idea of possible sources? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Fab' - thanks for all your help. We're going in and out of Newark and Le Guardia (its complicated ...........), do you think the shuttle option for those are the best bet?

Thanks for all the advice - I think we're going to go for the Beekman Tower option, on the basis of a combination of whats still available, rates, locations and the fact that with the kids the idea of kitchenette type facilities appeals. Will let you know how we get on ....... One last question - whats the best way to do the airport transfers? so we stand the best chance of naively not getting ripped off.

Would be really grateful for an recommendations anyone might have for family/child friendly hotels in New York - the ideal would be something really centrally located (on Manhattan) for all the typical sight seeing stuff, at a reasonable price ..........

Although not ED - this place is great and not too far away. A real aladdins cave of stuff and the ladies there are a great source of advice too. http://www.cakecraftshop.co.uk/shop/html_templates/cake/findus.htm

Have had a really good night at the Quiz and then bar games at the All Bar One (Perry Vale), just by Forest Hill Station. A real good mix of people and questions.

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/431/pest_control/482/rats_and_mice_in_the_neighbourhood This may help ........

But can you not just refuse places in other schools and hold out for the one you want? Does anyone know on what basis the waiting lists are kept - is it primarily by distance?

My child currently goes to a very good, highly sought after, with an ofsted outstanding rating, local primary school, which we used to live on the door step of. However, we've now moved house and that school is a good 20 minute drive away. We'd now much prefer our child go to the primary school closest to us now (again which we are on the door step of, is over-subscribed, but actually does less well when it comes to Ofsted) and have duly applied for a place. We've today been told that we're on the waiting list for the new school, and that we'll be notified when/if a suitable place comes up. The crunch comes later in the letter, where it is explained that children not currently attending (any) school, will be given priority for places as they come up. My dilemma is therefore do I try and play the system, take my child out of the very good school they attend now, making them 'place-less', potentially leave them without a place at all for a spell and stay that way until a place at our desired school comes up, which seems a ridiculous and irresponsible (for my child's sake) thing to do. or, continue to commute my child to the current school and try and wait patiently until a place at the new school comes up, not knowing whether we will always to pipped to the post by kids, who either intentially or not, don't have a school place at all. Anyone been in this position ........ any advice would be very welcome.

Anyone have any good ideas on where I can pick up (literally) 2 helium cyclinder/balloon kits locally, without paying totally over the top for them. Don't have access to transport at the moment to go very far afield ...................

Thank you for the suggestions, but have just sent a lovely afternoon in the sun here. http://www.thewiremill.co.uk/Our_Pub_location.html Fab' location and scenary, very tranquil.

Visiting relatives have just announced that their ideal activity for today would be short(ish) drive out to a pretty country pub for lunch ....... only trouble is that I don't have any bright ideas ... If anyone knows of any 'pretty country pubs' that might fit the bill .. I'd be very grateful.

Am just catching up on a few days posting and thought this OP was just a late April Fools ........ worringly not it seems .........

Each to their own and all that ..........

I'm sure I don't need to reiterate just how disappointed (putting it politely) we were with our visit ....... my leisure time is far too important to me to spend it in such a place ........... poor form or not. Once bitten, twice shy and all that .. Do you really think that a free return visit would be a true indicator of typical food, service, etc..... I think not.

Have PM'd you - but not for a return visit I must add.

Do elaborate - 'fine' in what respect ..... Only felt the need to post about it, as it fell short on just about every aspect it could. Am certainly not condemning it, I'm sure it must have its loyal customers, but having not visited for years, was sorely disappointed...... rose coloured glasses and all that ............

Huguenot thinks the landlord posts on here - hopefully he/she will see this ........... to be fair it seems like a good few of the problems are simply ones that could be solved with a decent manager/manageress in place.

It wasn't busy at all - maybe half a dozen tables filled ............. so that wasn't an excuse. Like Minkey I remember it fondly from a good few years ago, I should have left it at that.

Felt the need to report back on our experience of lunch today at the Sun and Doves, which was pretty grim to say the least. Should start by saying I've not been there for a good few years, but had good memories of afternoons spent in their courtyard garden, so thought I'd got back for a long overdue visit. Booked a table for our group a week in advance for today, but having arrived, stood around while the waiter moved 3 tables together and laid them to accommodate us. Once everyone was seated, we all perrused the menu which has maybe 4/5 starters, perhaps 6/7 mains and 3 puds. Very much liked the child sized portions being available and our order included a child's portion of the pasta and meatballs. A few minutes later the waiter came back to say that the pasta and meatballs weren't available, so asked for a small/child's portion of plain burger and chips instead. Again the waiter came back to say that there's no child sized burger available, so we had to choose again or go with the adult portion..... the adult portion was the easiest option. So, the food turns up - well at least one adult burger and chips does - and the rest of us sit in anticipation and nothing else in forthcoming. We insist that the one person served eat while the food is hot and eventually the other meals turn up, when the first one to arrive was all but finished. I can't vouch for others food, but I had the salmon fishcakes and calling them bland is being generous ............ if there was any fish in them at all I certainly couldn't taste it. After the main meal - paid a visit to the bathroom. Avoid that like the plague too. I can only vouch for the ladies, but the surroundings are fairly grotty and a lack of any paper towells (of anykind), made me turn tail and cross my legs. Next up was dessert - bearing in mind there are only 3 options available. Having ordered, the waiter returned again to let us know that one of those was off too. Complained to the manageress who really couldn't have cared less - with the only excuse forthcoming being that the cleaner was at fault for the state of the bathroom ........... So when the bill came, which included that the desserts they didn't have and some chips that never did arrive, had it changed, but paid no service at all - which I must admit I feel rather guilty about now, for the sake of what appeared to be the lone, harrassed waiter. So in summary terrible service, terrible food, grotty place ................... am not surprised that the awards they have date back to the 90s', it certainly isn't very deserving of any now .............. we won't be going back.

We did - our 1st choice .... really not to gloat, but just to say that some people have been served well by the process.

Has any one actually got that website to work?

We used Apropos and whilst happy with the product ......... a word of warning, be very clear from the start about the interface between your builder and door suppliers/fitters .......... http://www.apropos-conservatories.com/ We came unstuck and at one point neither builder nor Apropos considered themselves responsible for the fit ...... and for example whether it was even water tight ...............