BeksLP

I am dog-sitting for a week or so over Easter. The dog is a staffie, technically 'bluue' is the colour but sort of looks light brownish. With heels on, I'm about 5'9/10 and I have dark hair. However, I do pick up the dog poo, don't swear at or hit the dog. But, just in case you see me at a distance and assume I'm the other one, thought I'd better point it out so don't get prepared for an argument straight off! You'd soon realise anyway - the dog I'm looking after has a tendency to roll on his back and wait for someone to tickle his tummy or, in other cases when small dogs freak him out, he has been known to physically jump into the arms of whoever is looking after him for safety...

I wouldn't expect an explanation or even a reason - I moved into a new flat 6 months ago. Thames Water came round to rad the meter only to discover that there isn't a meter. Since then they have sent 4 more people round to read a non-existant meter, have failed to turn up on at least two occasions when an engineer was supposed to be coming round to fit a meter, eventually sent an engineer round who confirmed that I didn't have a meter and they need to do preparatory works, have then had more calls asking for a meter reading but none to try to arrange to fit a meter. Then today, someone came round asking if I had just moved in as they had no record of anyone living at the property, hadn't had any contact with anyone at the property and didn't have any details for the address. I would think it was funny if it wasn't for the likelihood of getting a huge bill when they eventually do sort themselves out. Perhaps they could bring bills down if they actually got round to charging people properly. Rant over, for now...

Agree on the not scaremongering or living life in a paranoid state but just to update everyone that the same thing happened to me on the No.12 last week. Kid came up from behind and snatched my ipad out of my hands (yes, I know, using it on the bus not the brightest idea, but you don't anticipate someone timing the move for when the bus gets to their stop!) Possibly the same person, I think he just saw an opportunity and took it. Apart from being a bit shaken I'm fine so feel pretty lucky as it could have been much worse. I think just be aware of your surroundings when you're on phones/ipads/ipods etc.

Be careful on the No.12 bus as well, I was mugged on that the other week at about 6:15pm on a Friday evening so when the bus was pretty packed. Helpfully the cctv wasn't working. As muggings go it was pretty mild to be fair - physically unscathed and he dropped my bag so just got my ipad which I stupidly had on display. Apparently it's not the first time it's happened, I think it was a kid taking an opportunity rather than hanging around in wait so less sinister. I don't think any area is particularly less safe than it was, these things happen and it's unpleasant but unfortunately they do.