Milo

Slightly off topic, but maybe not. I work in an office over by Liverpool st from time-to-time, it's a cool media company and the generally young workforce have an intercom system which plays music in every room from a mac with iTunes. Various people have playlists and a couple of the guys like hardcore hip-hop. So, these guys, who are white, are playing tunes with American rappers singing N-word this and N-word that and I'm gonna shoot you in the face N-word, etc etc. I was thinking the other day, is this racist? I wonder how the British black people who work there feel about it? It's a complex issue, and I disagree with the point made earlier that it's okay to use the word as long as you're black - our friend Chris Rock making a point about its complexity with his 'N-word versus Black folk' routine.

On the historical point LindyLou mentioned earlier, J. Sainsbury was 45 and 70 years old at the outbreak of WWI and WWII respectively, probably not much use to the conscripting British forces at the time. I would also imagine that the Indian servicement who gave their lives did so more from concerned about protecting their fellow countrymen from the marauding Japanese than servicing the interests of a creaking old empire, the shackels of which they threw off a couple of years later.

Maybe I'm being a middle-class effer for saying this. I think the Sainsbury's will drive at least the PO/grocery shop out of business but you have to ask why? Personally I would rather shop in a store with, on one hand, much wider choice, and on the other reasonable prices. I realise that supermarket chains keep prices low by buying in greater bulk and/or pressuring suppliers however those local shops charge a fortune for the same mass produced brands that Sainsbury's sell and with much less quality control over, for example; sell-by dates, store hygiene etc. Are Sainsbury's shareholders any less ethical than the store owners? I don't know. It's a dilema but this is a local version of the supermarket chain, not an out-of-town superstore with all its associated problems. Perhaps I should stop feeding the trolls.

Hilarious comment Jitka H, I ride a motorbike into central London most days and I would put the redlight jumping stats at: Buses: .1% Motorbikes: 1% Cars: .6% Black cabs: .1% Mini cabs: 4% Cyclists: 97%

Just a note on the earlier point that child benefit is getting your own taxes back. That would be true if we each paid tax equivalent to our share (1/60,000,000) of the total child benefit bill. But in reality the total child benefit bill is actually paid from progressive taxation on our incomes. Therefor, although the wealthy middle-classes receive some back, they actually contribute a lot more towards child benefit than the less well-off. Quite rightly so in my opinion, in fact I would argue for the continuation of child benefit for that reason alone!

That's interesting Jim, I've always thought the whole of Landells road was developed at the same time, around 1900, didn't realise some of the buildings are older. Can't answer your Acocks question.

Spoke with the owner of the sub-post office and he said they're going to convert to a pound shop in order to stay in business. Doesn't seem too sensible to me, would have thought upmarket to be a better bet to compete with Sainsbury, but I know nothing of retail.

I've walked up and down my road (Landells) taking photos with my phone on several occasions recently, because I'm doing my house up and I am pinching ideas from the nicer decorated houses. Then again, I don't wear a council jacket whilst doing it!

Hi lordlane I spoke to the foreman a couple of weeks ago and he said the area at the back would be gardens and some parking for the tenants of the flats. I'm surprised to read that deliveries will be made at the back, is that certain? There is only one normal sized door at the back so goods would have to be carried through. Also, did the local authority planning contain permissions for lorry deliveries? Thanks

I once parked my motorbike overnight on a spot with restrictions from 9am. I took longer than I meant to finding my keys and got to the bike at 9:01, finding a warden finishing a ticket. I was so angry with this lurker, I gave him such a earful he typed my reg number wrong. Even though the warden took a photo, I appealed and got off. I thought that to be justice!

Hi, I heard a rumour that the renovation to Big M Motor Spares and the flats above will include a tyre yard out the back (access via Landells Rd). I'm a resident of Landells Road and a couple of years ago (yes the building work has been going on that long!), I asked the buidling site manager what the plans were, he said gardens out back with some car-parking. Anyone know what is really going on there? Thanks.