dogfenneldill

It was installed on the Champion Hill Estate - fibre optic straight to the flats. We had Virgin fibre broadband for ages and now we have Community Fibre and Hyperoptic too. Cables running everywhere... but plenty of choice I guess

I've had Community Fibre for about two years now - I think I've only had one blip for a couple of hours one day which they sorted quickly remotely. Otherwise I've just needed the odd router restart, which is standard I think. Overall a pretty solid 150mbps which has seen me through heavy data use for work from home and the usual streaming/gaming. Your experience may vary but they have worked well for me.

Was watching this thread was a while but unsure of posting anything as the debate has not been entirely good-natured (!). The Southwark News letter made a good point in the need for a wide-view of road management in order achieve a real improvement in pollution. Whole-heartedly agree with this. However, not sure about pointing to a few well-connected residents in Champion Hill swaying the council is helpful. Or true? As lowly, unconnected Champion Hill resident I was well-informed (I'm not claiming everyone in ED was, just my own experience) and I think it is well-worth running as a trial. This trial may not stick. It certainly will need to be connected to other new & existing road management trials and transport schemes to get people to stop using cars for short journeys and switch to alternatives. But I think we should let the trial play out a little longer before damning it as a complete failure. I expect that mistakes will be made with schemes such as this, and there will be winners and losers, but something has to be done and it is great to see some action taken. We need to change habits. Lastly, regarding the Southwark News letter, as someone who cycles I doubt that a sign saying no overtaking of cyclists would actually stop people overtaking cyclists along that stretch of road. However, well done for making that trip by bike! Lastly, lastly; I hope that you switch your engine off if you are stuck in traffic or stopped at the lights during an essential journey. Every little helps :)

I had issues with VM on Champion Hill for months - internet choppy and rarely hitting the 100Mbps I paid a few quid extra for (beyond them throttling it back during peak hours as standard). Avoided the pain of cancelling on the phone by cancelling via post giving my thirty days notice - they replied via post within a week to confirm. I was outside of my minimum contract. Went with TalkTalk and getting 50Mbps for ?30 a month, rather than ?57pm with VM. Other service providers are available of course. VM used to be great but crap internet, that ancient Tivo box and price increases while the service declined ... early days with the new provider but so far so much better.

Great news that King's will get a helipad but I'll miss the helicopter landing in Ruskin Park. My son loved it (me too I'll admit). The regular pilot had nice skills and if he was leaving without a patient he'd often do some neat moves during take off; even if they appeared unnecessary to the untrained eye. I hope the choppers still approach the helipad from the park - think of the kids, eh? Er.. and shocking business about the disruption etc etc

I live on the Champion Hill Estate and it is great. Good spot for train stations, shops and schools (Goose Green for my son). Decent space in the flats themselves. Local kids are alright. Definitely worth a look.

Looks a little small to be rat poo; could be young one I guess. I lived in a house in that had loads of rats under the floor boards (sometimes above them) because it was rarely occupied before I moved in. Rats basically had the run of the place. Cat worked a treat but be warned that rats can fight back so your cat better be up to the task. Had a terrier who did his bit a few times as well. I used lots of snap traps - tied down with string in case the rat was still mobile and dragged it off somewhere to die. Normally heard the trap snap and knew I'd got something. Body in bag, few blows to head to make sure the beast was dead (as much as I hated them, didn't want rats to suffer). Find any gaps and fill them in squashed up chicken wire. Use that foam filler first if you want to see for sure where they are breaking through. If you have a big gap, make up some cement. Some people recommend adding broken glass to the mix to avoid the rats digging through. Grim, but they will easily dig their way out (mine did). Above all, make sure you do not have anything to tempt them - not even a crumb. They'll go where the food is.

Yup, thanks AndrewFFF. I park my bike at Sainsbury's a lot whilst spending my hard earned cash there, so this is useful to know. Sainsbury's ought to give a toss as this is not just about bike users but the general security of their car park. Even without cameras, better lighting right outside the main entrance could help deter would-be tea leafs.

Both - fair enough! Hope knee surgery goes well. And I have slightly shorter cycle than you, so I'll keep quiet. I only hear bad things about Fusion and the one time I wandered into Hamlets they had loads of free weights. Worth a look and assume you'd be fine to be park in Sainsbury's?

Run up and down the hill to the Horniman, stop in Peckham Rye for some pull ups and dips on the green machines. Maybe 20 burpees as a treat. Repeat three times a week. Save yourself a packet and you'll be fit as a fiddle :))

Dog Kennel Hill estate is fine, although I prefer Champion Hill estate ('cos its my 'hood). Mention estate outside the context of a country pile and many people turn their noses up... Still, don't lock your bike up outside, it will get nicked. Mine lives in my flat with me but I'm on the first floor. Try tenant's meetings to bring it up and see if other people would back any funding application for sheds.

Bicycle is the best answer - Champion Hill to Old Street takes me about 25 mins. Take it easy and you will merely achieve a healthy glow, no need to cane it and get sweaty. OR go like the hammers (especially over London Bridge, which is always a race). Jump lights south of the river if you must, but up north they tend enforce traffic laws and the cycle cops can be very keen.

*traffic* That'll teach me for using my mobile.

Ta! Apart from a huge hole in the road with some make shift pipes coming out of it, there was little drama in the end. And, as you are no doubt aware, the plucky 484 is still running. To be fair, I imagine the hole would have to get quite a bit bigger to stop taffric on the main road.

Upon returning home from some Christmas Drinks I was faced with scaffolding blocking the road to Champion Hill Estate (Birdsall House, Holderness etc) and indeed scaffolding in front of part of the flats. I assume this is part of the burst pipes issues and resulting subsiding roads. Anybody have any further info? Its all looking a bit dodgy here, in time for the festive season...