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It's a big shame as it is/was a truly independent, owner-run business. Damiano and his team (especially the long-serving members) have always looked after us impeccably and tirelessly. The breakfasts are great - the poached eggs are perfect every time. The coffee is also fab, with a perfect balance between rocket fuel and smooth/mellow, but it's also taught me that good coffee is only as good as the barista - Amandine always made the best, IMO. I appreciate that it wasn't everyone's cup of tea but it will be a shame to see another independent business go.

Thanks! Happy New Year!

Hi. Does anyone know if One Tree Hill is busy on New Year's Eve? The gap in the trees is quite small, so I guess that the view could be restricted if it's busy). Thanks.

I've just been through Herne Hill station and a team is aiming to beat the current Guinness World Record for the most people taking part in a colours by number painting. They are looking for more adults and children to complete the painting, and anyone who takes part will be registered against the record if it is successful. You can just turn up and colour in a square today until 8pm. There's a bit more info here: http://love.lambeth.gov.uk/herne-hill-mural-win-guinness-world-record/

Seems OK here now too

Ours (Oakhurst Grove) went off at around 12AM last night / this morning. Still nothing, and same error messages. We will wait and see. At least it's widespread as VM seems to deny there's a fault when it's very local.

"assuming the nanny elects to take up the pension" is no longer quite right. If the nanny is earning ?192 per week or more, you must set up the pension and enrol the nanny. The nanny has no choice whether to be enrolled or not, but can then contact the scheme to opt out. If the nanny is earning ?113 - ?192 per week then you must offer them the pension and they can choose whether to join or not. The ?192 is a "trigger." Therefore, if they earned ?150 in week 1, ?200 in week 2 and ?150 in week 3, they would have triggered the enrolment in week 2 and would remain enrolled in week 3 unless they opt out. More info here: http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/employers

Hi If you employ a nanny directly (i.e. not through an agency) and you are the principal employer then you need to set up a pension for the nanny and pay into it. Until April next year, you must pay 1% of the nanny's earnings between a lower and upper limit. Then it's 2% until April 2019 and 3% thereafter. The current limits are ?113 to ?865 a week. For example, if you pay ?200 in a week you would pay 87p (i.e. 1% of ?200 - ?113) into the pension. If you pay ?1,000 in a week, you would pay ?7.52 (i.e. 1% of ?865 - ?113). You would usually pay the contributions across monthly. You also need to deduct contributions from the nanny's pay (or pay them on their behalf if you are feeling generous). 1% until April 2018, then 3% until April 2019 and 5% thereafter. These are all minimum amounts. You and the nanny can pay more if you want. You can simplify things by using an agency (in which case you don't worry about any of this as you aren't the employer) or a payroll agent who will calculate the weekly pay and arrange the deductions. Of course, it adds to the costs. I think you need to pay holidays. Again, if you use an agency, you might find that they absorb that cost and only charge you for the time used. It also relieves you of some of the hassle of being an employer. Please treat this information as a brief idea of what you need to do. There are a lot of other considerations, some exemptions, and important rules about notifying the employee of your intentions re the pension. Hope this helps Nick