nmh

Sounded like they were posties coming from elsewhere - to blitz the Xmas backlog. Apparently ED posties all got ?5k bonus to move to Peckham. I asked if the closure of Silvester Road caused the problem but was told it was the ED posties attitude. They?ve been taking huge amounts of sick leave and refusing to clear each other?s backlogs. That?s why the mail isn?t coming through. Sounds like a truly demotivated and dysfunctional workforce. The managers are aware of the situation but are completely ineffectual. It?s almost impossible (and very expensive) to dismiss posties - bar for theft and deserting your mail.

I went into the Peckham collection branch today and a team are coming to clear the backlog next week - but then the problem will return. Apparently it?s stemming from very poor management and a rift between ED postie culture (lots of sick leave, poorly motivated and begrudging of the move to Peckham) and Peckham posties. Managers not managing properly, post left in the frames, workers not clearing others workers backlogs - sounds grim in there.

I?ve currently got the bike on a vertical hanging thing in the front room - I?ve actually got a nicer (non commuting)bike on the bottom part of this. I?ve managed to negotiate keeping the more expensive bike in the front room! The hallway isn?t an option because it?s very narrow indeed and there?s no room out the back of the house. I was actually thinking of a folding bike but they?re not cheap (even second hand) and you have to take them everywhere with you I.e theatres, pubs, restaurants etc. I?ve never seen a folding bike locked up outside in central London. Presumably because the owners carry them everywhere. But I?d find that a major inconvenience.

I?ve always stored my bike in the front room of the house but owing to a new arrival (baby) and storage limitations my other half is ?strongly advising? I store my bike in the small front porch/garden space. The same front space that almost all ED terraced houses have. I?ve been using the same bike for 20 years and can pretty much guarantee that however I store the bike outdoors - it?ll be stolen. Has anyone managed this successfully or am I just being negative? I know about very strong d - locks, ground anchors, sturdy Asguard like sheds etc. but they all get broken into. I spoke to an Asguard shed owner yesterday and he said thieves levered the roof off and didn?t have to break the (very sturdy) padlock! Bike hangers seem like an open buffet for bike thieves. And clearly get cleared out regularly. Also - if my bike?s only worth say ?300, why spend up to ?400 on a shed? Plus all the extras. My current thinking is a ground anchor in the front garden concrete, 2 x d -locks round the frame, a visible outdoor security camera and the bike stored under an open lean to (to protect from the worst of the elements). My thinking re this is that thieves can see what they?ll be having to go to the bother of stealing (a not very expensive bike). So they?ll have to weigh up 10 mins of angle grinding under the gaze of CCTV in the front porch for the sake of a ?300 bike. Just wondering if anyone has deployed a system that seems to be holding up without a theft.

Update - phew. I went into Sainsbury's and met the new 'customer experience manager' who said she'd sort out the fine for me. She's just started at the post and could not have been more helpful. So it looks like I won't be getting charged after all. Thanks for the input and advice everyone.

I?ve just received a parking charge notice (PCN) for apparently exceeding a 2 hour parking stay in the Sainsbury?s car park. My total stay was 2 hours 23 minutes because I have a young toddler who had a meltdown and needed a change and this was combined with a large family shop in which I couldn?t find much of what I needed. Not to mention I had to queue for about 40 minutes! Has anyone had any success appealing the ?42 charge? I think it?s unreasonable and clearly a way for a private company (Horizon Parking) to generate revenue.

Anyone see anything suspicious or disturb anyone in the 24hrs between 1100 yesterday and today? On Whateley Road. Sash window has been jemmied open.

If anyone's going to be in the Derby area soon and coming back to ED, I wonder if you could collect something for me. Just a small wooden stool and I'm very happy to pay cash for the errand.