ianc

It's a pain, and they screwed up my postal vote but wrote to me shortly afterwards stating there had been a mistake (this was late last year). I'd suggest you get all forms sent to the registered address, then scoot them off to her wherever she is, and get her to return to you. Then post back normally. It's a pain, but it's do-able. Had to do this several times with legal docs, and it's often the only way to get all signatures on one piece of paper. But yes, don't get me started on the palava involved in getting registered!

mister_eels Yes, that often fixes it for me too. It's almost like the act of reconnecting is enough to sort it out.

Yes, I opted out of Fon the second I signed up to BT Broadband. Didn't feel it was a good idea.

I've had a few Infinity problems recently, and I've noticed something rather strange that often fixes it. Namely, using the BT Broadband Speed Checker diagnostic: http://diagnostics.bt.com/login/?workflow=Speed Suspiciously, what happens is that it reports speeds far in excess of the chronically slow ones I was experiencing mere minutes before using it. What's better is that those vastly improved speeds often continue after using it. It's as if they're using this internal tool as a prompt to tweak performance at the exchange, or as a way to head off complaints. Just a theory. But try it, and maybe let us know here if you also, rather suspiciously, notice the same results. Can't do any harm! p.s. I'm a software engineer, so this isn't a non-techie's fantasy. Just based on empirical evidence.

As with most "premium" products, it's not just about the product. When people buy, they're buying a "social signal" that they're in a certain clique. It's the same for high-end fashion, which is *slightly* better in quality, but not enough to warrant that price tag. So I say good luck to them. If you can price yourself at that end of the market, and stay in business (longer than the initial first few months of buzz), that's quite an achievement.

I've only ever had to report non-collection of one/other type of bin three times in about 10 years. But, every time the promise was "within the next few days", and every time it actually got collected the NEXT time it would have been collected anyway (i.e. in a fortnight's time by the current schedule for regular waste or recycling). Never managed to get them to actually correct a missed collection before the next scheduled time, nor to explain why it wasn't taken.

Personally, I find intolerance more annoying than "hipsters" ;-) Yes, some folks can wind us up with their ways or appearance, but stereotyping a group is a great way to cause division. We're all in at least a few groups whether we think so or not, and we all wind others up in some way or another; even just by existing. I try to focus on what I like in ED, not what winds me up... there's enough in the latter category to fill a novel.

Twoddle, my BT Infinity was also slow. Spent an hour trying, and failing to do their speed tests and a few others. Eventually got 0.4Mbps out of it (about 1% of the 30-40 promised). Not sure whether it was a coincidence but, when I restarted the Openreach box, then the Home Hub that connects to it, and gave it all 5 minutes to settle down, I'm back at 30-40Mbps download again. Could be suspicious, or could be luck of the draw. Worth trying it a few times though to see if you benefit.

I give the holding area about a month. It currently takes 2-3 members of staff down at platform 15, with one shouting at people to go into the holding area and the others controlling letting folks out the other end (usually at the wrong time, thus crowding the early part of the platform; which is far worse than folks just being spread out on the platform when the train arrives). Can't see them dedicating 3 staff to it long-term, nor anyone voluntarily using it.

Tonight, the platform 15 holding area was a joke. The 18:59 pulled in just after 19:00. They released us from the holding area onto the platform *before* anyone got off the train. Then they allowed us about 1 minute to get along the train. Most had to board the crowded carriages near the barriers, rather than being allowed another minute to get further along. I told the Southern person signalling the train to depart how dangerous it was. Crazy. Just what we need at the end of a tiring day.

> Is there anything in particular that has helped > you get over this fear after the similar incidents > occurred to you? I think my anger at the way their actions made me feel so frightened was what helped me most. As Prunella says, I refuse to change my walking route, enjoyment of the area, or to feel frightened because of these low-life characters. I think how hard I've worked to put money in my own pocket, and I refuse to see others take it from me because they're too lazy to earn it the hard way.

Thanks for the info, and glad to hear you're ok. Thanks also for reporting to the police, as any info may help even slightly to prevent a repeat attempt. I've had similar, twice, in the past few years. I've become fairly sensitive to whether I'm being followed or, as you say, the presence of people aimlessly milling around in quiet places. I guess some would say we shouldn't have to do this, but I think it's rather a fact of life in the city. Doesn't deter me from enjoying living here. But, as an example, I wouldn't take a wandering route home with my laptop bag for precisely this reason; I come home the most direct route, dump it at home, and then pop out to do other errands in the area. The less *stuff* I have on me, the safer I feel.

StraferJack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Communal Hallways were a main bugbear - people who > lived on ground floor don't want to spend a dime > on the main stairs/landing on the other 2 floors Totally agree on that! I was the top flat, of 3, and persuading the other 2 that they were responsible for a third of the costs of not only the communal hallway, but the expensive (and aging) roof too, was torture at times. But I quoted the lease and freehold documents to them, and the clauses on their obligations, and they started to realise *we* were responsible. But I agree, it can be a battle to keep everyone onboard.

I found it useful, in a 3-flat building, even just to have the concept of a shared freehold because otherwise it's hard to suggest to, say, the middle flat that they have a shared obligation to chip in an equal share to repair the roof, or the foundations. Without some form of notional "owner" of the building, people often want to maintain just their own flat, but not common parts or the infrastructure of the building. Just my 2p after being a shared freeholder. It can actually help, rather than hinder good maintenance. But, as worldwiser says, this probably works best after you've collectively bought the freehold :-)

(I used to manage the freehold that we shared between 3 flats in a Victorian building, up until I sold in 2011. So we were both joint freeholders and leaseholders). It is normal for leaseholders to pay the cost of maintaining the building to the freeholder. But what you should expect is a thorough explanation of those costs from the freeholder, so that you can make sure the work has been quoted for fairly and the freeholder isn't hiking up the price. I'd expect to see estimates/quotes from whichever tradesmen did the work. If you are close to exchange, your solicitor should already have asked the freeholder for details of recent and upcoming work, if any is planned, so you can see the potential scale of it. Your survey should also give you an idea of whether anything major needs correcting, such as the roof or re-pointing of brickwork. People often underestimate the need to look after and maintain a building, particularly if it is, say, Victorian. But it needn't be a scary prospect if the freeholder and leaseholders are interested in doing that :-) I think that ground rent sounds fair, and it's normal to have a schedule stating how it increases over time. If you're concerned, your solicitor should also be able to explain the above in more detail, and perhaps let you know if the freeholder stated that any major maintenance work is foreseen in the next few years.

Thanks for the info, folks. I lived on Therapia from 1995-2011, and though I was told the names came from some war or other, I never had any specific info, so this is great to know :-)

I used to live right by that stretch, for 14 years up until 2011, and I can say that having *any* half-decent shops/businesses on that stretch is a huge improvement to how it was in 1997 when I first moved there. Businesses along that stretch seem to struggle to summon up enough trade to stay open. The Turkish shop was the first sign of things changing, and I can't sing its praises enough. They seem to have *everything*, including fruit & veg on a Sunday! Likewise Omrith, albeit now with garish signage, is known for miles around for its great food. I still pop back there from where I live near Lordship Lane, just for the food. The signage is probably a result of them struggling to bring in enough trade though, so don't wish it away... Omrith closing down would be far worse! It's a shame the old chippy closed, though the opening of Sea Masters (?) down the road probably spelled the end of his monopoly on that street, poor chap. Hope the kebab shop can do better! I think any business owner with an idea and the balls to open something on that road should, if planning is required, be given the go-ahead :-)

May I suggest, next time, saying "hello". I know, how radical ;-)

If it's on your land (i.e. not on the street), you can still get the council to collect items (links above) but you may have to prepare things for them (bag anything loose, chop up the To Let signs, etc). If it's on the street, it's a different matter. I used to live in a 3-flat building, with a front garden in which our bins stood. People in other flats didn't understand what the council do/don't collect when left beside bins, so items used to build up behind the bins, on our land. I ended up having to rip up a load of cardboard to get it in the bins, having realised the council wouldn't do that for us. After you've got it sorted (hopefully collectively), see if the other residents know how to keep it that way. If they're anything like my old neighbours, you might need to politely remind them occasionally ;-) Or once you feel brave enough, stick a polite sign in the communal hallway. Often that's enough.

I suspect that delivery to adjacent doors / streets is a large part of the problem, as this has been happening to us (Landcroft Road) on and off for the past few years. I religiously re-deliver, usually one or two doors either side, but sometimes to the same house number in an entirely different street. Problem is, how many other folks re-deliver? Seriously, I can imagine plenty of mail hitting the doormat of people who won't do that. I've known past neighbours just bin it, which is a disgrace. Perhaps delivery accuracy, and whose doormat it hits, are a part of the problem here. I second what "The Minkey" says too. Anything not reported to Sylvester Road isn't helping the situation. If they're inundated with accounts of lost / delayed mail, it will soon improve!

I quite like it. I don't live opposite it, but I live just round the corner so will pass it every day. I appreciate it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I much prefer this one to some of the ones we've had painted elsewhere.

I just passed Haarts window, and there was a spacious-looking 2-bed, modern, nice kitchen, in SE22 for ?1,100/month. I think there will always be a few expensive exceptions, if the landlord can get away with it, but there are cheaper options available in SE22 by the look of it.

I regularly complain to them (email mainly) about the last-minute platform changes. The thing that concerns me about them is that most young/fit folks manage the mad dash to change platform. But those who are older, or travelling with kids, get trampled under foot or just don't feel they'd be able to make it. The last minute changes also encourage folks to linger on/near the stairs, knowing they'll need to use them. Or, worse still, at the top of the stairs in that narrow corridor. I feel that if they stopped the last-minute platform alternations, it would be a much more usable station. Fixing that factor alone would help greatly.

Ask for a card / flyer / other marketing bumpf that someone from a genuine business should no-doubt have on their person. The only time I've had a similar person offering fish, he could provide none of these, nor any sign of fish or a vehicle, and I told him that the only thing smelling fishy was him. He wasn't amused.

Cars definitely losing traction slightly on side-roads. Just witnessed minor scrape between a car and a UPS lorry on Landcroft, due to car sliding into its path. No injuries, and embarrassed faces on both sides. Go slower than you'd expect to need to on the side roads if you're moving your car.