Forum Topics

Greater Manchester / Andy Burnham - right or wrong to oppose T3 ?

BBC News - Covid alert level: London, Essex, York and other areas moving to Tier 2Please read link below that also gives details Greater Manchester.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54551596

Loraine Pemberton ● 2212d89 Comments ● 2201d

RIP Willy - staff member at Gunnersbury Station

I saw a notice in the ticket office window at Gunnersbury Station tonight that Willy, the moustached pipe smoking member of staff who manned the ticket office counter for more than 20 years has sadly passed away.  Willy kept the station going during the dark Silverlink years and was always highly knowledgeable.  I am sure he will be missed by many passengers at Gunnersbury.

Adam ONeill ● 2201d5 Comments ● 2201d

The Trump Show

I wonder if anyone could tell me when the third episode of this series could inform me when the third episode is on tv-? I have watched 2 episodes on iplayer but can't find the third ... Thanx

Helen Bamberger ● 2211d41 Comments ● 2201d

Office room for a small charity?

Hi all,Does anyone know of a small office to rent?  I've got free desk space in Carnaby Street (thanks to SOLT) but I'm going to start Zoom tuition calls every Tues and Thursday 7-9pm during term-time, so a hot desk won't really be suitable.  We're a registered Theatre charity. And I have my own desk if needed! Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks.

Nick Hennegan ● 2202d0 Comments ● 2202d

Trouble with Milk & More

Over the last few months I have been having trouble with Milk & More, the company and definitely not with our lovely milkman who has looked after us for the last 30+ years.Since they took over the dairy, they have done nothing to engender good customer relations and seem intent on antagonising their customer base.  In April/May we all received an aggressive letter which certainly did not apply to me and the milkman confirmed that this was an error, so it was ignored.In June we all received a letter headed 'Service Update - Payment by Cheque' announcing that with effect from 28th June they would no longer accept cheques in payment for monthly bills.  It is either credit/Debit cards or direct debit.In addition they say the usual guff thanking customers for their continued support and that they must safeguard their employees, etc.  and a telephone number is supplied.  That number only allows you to make a payment but I have come to the conclusion that they dont want you to pay that way and would really like you to set up a direct debit.For a number of reasons I did not want to set up a DD not least because we were going through a period where our bank account, cards and O2 accounts were hacked and persistent attempts were made to charge for purchases we had not made and to withdraw funds or to divert regular payments over the ensuing months.  So I went through the process of trying to pay by credit card.  It took several goes and I was able to get a payment through in July.  August and September we were away a lot and the milk bill for the period amounted to around £17.  At the beginning of September I tried again to pay but fell at the point where they said ''now enter only the numbers of your postcode''.  I did just that but failed.  I redialled and tried again and again putting in the full postcode - both numbers and letters and on each occasion I was unable to get to the payment point.At the end of September, having been away for 3 weeks, we received 1 pint of milk and a letter saying I hadn't paid for 15 weeks and to ensure continued service I must pay.  I spent sometime trying to find another way to get in touch with them to explain the situation but failed.  I then realised that the usual deliveries had stopped.  No warning, no note to say please ring us, nothing.  Instead, on a weekly basis I am receiving statements demanding payment.So irritated by their attitude that I wrote a letter to them saying that I would no longer use their service and enclosing a cheque to pay the outstanding amount.  That was on 7th October and yesterday I received another statement date stamped 15th October.  This morning my bank confirms that they have not presented the cheque for payment so now we are in a Mexican standoff.  No communication from them in any form.I tried to speak to the milkman who apologised but told me he had been instructed not to communicate with me.In discussing this with other people, I am aware that there are other customers experiencing similar difficulties and whilst we all feel loyalty to our milkman who has for decades looked after us we don't feel the same about the bean counters at Muller UK & Ireland Group.Someone told me that they cannot refuse my payment but I suspect that they will wait and ultimately serve proceedings for non payment.Anyone else in a similar position?

Elizabeth Ross ● 2204d10 Comments ● 2202d

If you can't wear a mask consider a face shield

Robert Dyas stock a perfectly adequate face shields for less than four pounds.I can wear a mask but bought a shield to see what they are like. Comfortable to wear and easy to breath. All joggers would do well to wear one particularly when they steam down busy pavements.

Adrian Irving ● 2203d17 Comments ● 2202d

Cleaner required

HiLooking for someone to clean my home once a week for about 3 hours.Any recommendations please?Thanks

Jenny Tollady ● 2202d1 Comments ● 2202d

Poll

It all depends on how the question is phrased as to what a poll supports, without knowing the actual question the result is meaningless !

John Southey ● 2204d13 Comments ● 2202d

When does British Summer Time end

At 2am on the last Sunday in October, the clocks 'fall back' by an hour On the 25-10-2020Instead of turning the clocks back an hour, can we turn them back a year and get rid of the virus.

Bernard Allen ● 2205d14 Comments ● 2203d

New Scam

Latest email purports to be from DPD, claiming they were twice unable to deliver a pkg and I needed to either collect it from the depot or pay to rearrange delivery. Looks very realistic, and I nearly fell for it, as I'm expecting a delivery. Closer examination revealed there was no post code for the warehouse and the email address just didn't look right.. Some digging revealed a warning from the Garda in Donegal that it is a phishing scam. Beware!

Mark Gormley ● 2203d1 Comments ● 2203d

Please bring and wear a face mask if coming to shop at the Food Market on Sunday

We continually review and evolve COVID spread, prevention measures, working with the Council.Following further guidance received from the council, we are now asking people to wear a face mask or covering when shopping, unless they have a medical condition that prevents that.Many thanks for your cooperation.

Kathleen Healy ● 2203d0 Comments ● 2203d

British gas

Now it is impossible to talk to anyone at British Gas- after saying ‘ go on line’ they just switch the phone off... sign of the times and some people would just say switch... not always easy when one doesn’t want to do it on line.surely this is completely unacceptable.  Some of us feel nervous at switching and I am sure these big companies are just the same.

Helen Bamberger ● 2204d9 Comments ● 2203d

Flight Path

I live in Ealing but often walk to Chiswick Bridge and back southern towpath out, (complete with head torch)  Hartington Rd SOTG return  on my early Sunday walks starting around 5.a.m.Twice now, the aircraft noise starting round 5.30 a,mbut really ramping up by 6.30 a,m has been very noticeable. With planes making their approach at about3 or 4 minute intervals - this is 6.30 on a Sunday morning and its almost like being at the end of the runway. Quite how people living in Grove Park put up with itand put up with it they must I suppose, is another matter.Winning the Euro Lottery and buying one the houses on Hartington Rd backing onto the river, Eamonn Andrewsformer residence for example, would be many people dream.But maybe not with that racket going on overhead.On another topic was John Osborne listed as a formerChiswick Resident? At the time of "Look Back in Anger"in 1956 he was living on a converted Rhine Barge moored inCubitts Yacht Basin on Hartington Road, then surrounded by trees and caravans, now tidied up as Chiswick Marina.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 2208d11 Comments ● 2203d

TGT SENIOR CITIZEN MARSHAL

I just seen a lady with a big placard warning cars of £120 fine near the bridge and cars are indeed turning around. Good on her

Julian Pavey ● 2208d22 Comments ● 2204d

My letter from Grant Shapps

Sent a note to Grant Shapps, won’t bother with the bulk of his reply, it as it’s largely been covered in the letter he sent to local authority traffic leads. He added a bit though:“The Government has consistently made clear to local authorities the importance of consulting on schemes, whether temporary, permanent or experimental. Engaging with communities – including those in affected neighbouring areas - is key to delivering a scheme that works for all.It is for local authorities to ensure they engage with communities on proposed changes. Although the Government cannot intervene in local democratic decisions, our position remains that if councils fail to demonstrate that their plans are genuine improvements then we will not hesitate to withhold funding.”Whether this means all funding or future funding isn’t clear. Might just be the latter, and that only Chiswick gets blighted by these faux LTNs. In any event, unless they quickly start consulting, funding for the expansion looks doubtful to me, and they won’t have the money to uproot the ANPR cameras scattered about my manor. Or to put back the pedestrian traffic islands.

Russell Pearson ● 2204d1 Comments ● 2204d

Large Back Bazaar Beanbag

I have a great condition large black bazaar beanbag that needs a new home. Collection only. Large but light. Please PM me if interested. Thx

Brendan Crawford ● 2204d0 Comments ● 2204d

Hounslow Councillors look like they are conflicted over cycle schemes?

From twitter and other social media postings it appears that there are is an interesting theme developing with regard to conflicts of interest involving Hounslow Councillors who are also members of the London Cycling Campaign - Hounslow Cycling, which appears to be a lobby group not a Cycling Club.Apparently a number of Hounslow Councillors are members of Hounslow Cycling and the story seems to be that they have been approving schemes to promote cycling, not walking, and in preference to other road users. It will be interesting to see which schemes they have approved.  One would have thought that this creates not only a massive conflict of interest for the Councillors but would substantively undermine the decisions made by the Council.From a previous post this serves to support my view that I was right not to join Hounslow Cycling, it is not representative of cyclists or people who care about every road user. In comparison Chiswick Cycling, I have learnt is non political, it looks great but potentially a bit too fast for me, we do need a Walking and Cycling group that can work alongside Chiswick Cycling.

David Riley ● 2208d8 Comments ● 2204d

Pointless surveys - we need consultation

All these pointless surveys popping up like bollards. They tell us very little, an abstract choice of simply asking people if they want a lower traffic neighbourhood, will likely as not generate a predictable answer. All we know there, is that people prefer less traffic to more. As a concept, LTNs seem great. It’s when we get to the specifics that it matters. Done badly, this can mean blocked roads, displaced traffic, congestion making queues, longer journeys on bus and in a car, taxis unable to take patients to hospital appointments, ambulances and fire engines stuck in traffic, white elephant cycle lanes.It doesn’t have to be like that. I’m sure some LTNs could work well, if properly planned in partnership with the community. That’s why a full consultation is needed. And it’s why the case studies across Europe and beyond say that consultation is essential if you’re going to create one that works in a balanced and agreed way for all road users.

Russell Pearson ● 2205d8 Comments ● 2204d

Hammersmith Bridge Task force consultation 28 Oct

fyi, main players are attending:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hammersmith-bridge-taskforce-public-meeting-tickets-126044234699

Paul Cronshaw ● 2204d0 Comments ● 2204d

.. new J20 virus alert..

As many will remember, provocative name-calling on this forum was widespread a few years back.But that was then and this is now.This place has since grown-up.  As far as I can see everyone involved in that game has long since moved on and integrated into the wider forum family.   A few have long memories, some hold quiet grudges.  Nevertheless, peace has reigned for a long while.Recently, however, a poster who was not around in the old days has kicked off a new outbreak of offensive name-calling.  James Smith-Jones.I'm headlining this as the James20 Virus because he's the main culprit.  Which is fair play, given that he's invented pathetically childish names for so many veteran forumers including Micki, Maggie and Elizabeth – as well as a whole cluster of guys like me.This has previously been just a dull repetitive nuisance from a lousy adolescent  local who the owners of this site should have tranquillized long ago.Except  now it has escalated into something far more sinister, very repetitive and very nasty. (see series of nagging posts on the “Time for 2nd Full Lockdown“ thread).  In which another forumer, Steve Taylor, has joined with James Smith-Jones taking things down to a far lower level.  Go see for yourselves.It basically involves a concentrated attack on my recent forum recommendation of a wonderful Michael Brown fitted wardrobe.  In which this pair of narrow-eyed, obsessive thugs insist means that I somehow believe Covid19 doesn't exist and 911 never happened.    In other words a cheap effort to brand someone by going on and on with the same old story.  Classic gangster tactics.  It'll be the holocaust next.I'd have hoped (for the sake of forum peace quiet and common sense) that  more direct action could have been avoided.  Clearly it can't.   This malicious, distasteful James20 Virus is spreading and if it spreads much further it'll soon be out of control.Sorry about this but it is NOT of my doing..  If you think I'm wrong then say so (obviously).  If you consider this unfair, again say so.  I'll hear you. And I'll take in what you say.   Likewise, if you've spotted the James20 virus and don't want it on this forum – let him know.I can only hope, even at this late stage, that things don't get even uglier.  Maybe common sense will prevail. We shall see..

Stuart Kerr ● 2232d219 Comments ● 2204d