Exactly. Supermarkets hoover enough money out of the local economy without taking away the checkout jobs too. I use little local independent shops wherever I can, but it's not always easy.

If anybody ever finds themselves in possession of a 306 that needs the heater matrix changing, I thoroughly recommend not bothering. In fact if you're ever asked to even help change one, I'd recommend contracting rabies as a preferable alternative in order to avoid doing it.

Jc seems to have disapeared (jonathan clewer..

Gone on FB not been on here ages

I noticed his FB was deactivated, wondered what was afoot, but won't speculate in public, I'd only be guessing.

He was on here the other day, but I've noticed he's not been as active here as he used to be. Hope he's ok.

Three times this week I've been up at 4am to drive into London and do a days site work maintaining the historic street lighting products I would normally be in a nice little workshop making. Despite being about 60 miles away my journey home last night took three hours. All I have been doing is painting lamp posts and straightening up any of our lanterns that have been clobbered or vandalised. I have some conclusions which I've been able to draw about some aspects of this work. London is the most awful, filthy, revolting place I have ever visited. Driving to London or on London is a complete nightmare and nobody there has the first idea about courtesy or skill when in a car. Every day we have been there somebody has hit our van whilst parked and just fucked off, even if we have been in plain view. London is the most awful, filthy and revolting place I have ever visited. Everybody is Camden is an attention seeking nutcase. Everybody in Hampstead is paying too much to live where they do. I would share more thoughts on London but it's half past 4am here and I need to leave in a minute. Don't. Ever. Visit. London. And NEVER EVER volunteer to do a bit of site work up there.

Still playing on dog piss too?

Couldn't agree more about Camden. A very high proportion of fuelled up unstable types.

I lived in London for a couple of years. Just before I moved down there, I was warned by an older friend who'd already lived in the Smoke that it was "Ego City". And he was right. A place powered by rampant egotism is always going to be pretty, err, weird.

As a youngster though, I did enjoy the energy of the place. I really appreciated the variety of clubs and pubs and independent cinemas showing bizarre movies, and the opportunity to meet nice young women who were open-minded and up for fun. Experienced lots of very friendly people... but some very nasty street behaviour too.

My conclusion: can be great when you're young, free and single. As you get older I'd imagine it really helps if you're rich and well-connected - so you can exist in a bubble with like-minded people and keep yourself amused by spending money and buying a house in Cornwall or Norfolk to drive to every weekend. If not, forget it!

had been on a Bizzazza ( extremely posh mosaic product from Italy) course in B'ham during one of our breaks i was chatting to a couple of Hoorays that had set up a comercial development company ( posh shop fitters- but none of the hard work to deadlines that is normally demanded) we talked about going rates for work. At the time i was charging £130 a day for labour, they couldnt believe it that was their daily expenses for lunch congestion charge and parking they offered me £300 a day plus expenses and accomodation to do a 3 story install in a Middle eastern jewellers on Posh Shopping Street.
turned it down i could drive in to Edinburgh work for the day drive home and either take the dog for a walk in the hills or go surfing in the evening, that and the fact my boys were in exam years and i was bringing them up alone.

I quite like going to Lahndahn for a weekend tho the last time ended up in a "cocktail bar" where 2 Vodka tonics,1 G&T and a mojito came to £33 i was so mad i walked out and kicked some reproduction antique street lighting