Nice people thread part 7 - a thread in its prime

CKhalvashi

vivatifosi wrote: »

Dacorum is indeed a really bad council. Not only did they risk the borough's reserves in a dodgy Icelandic bank account; they knocked down the main concert venue but didn't build a replacement, leaving people without much to do; then when development funding came up to improve new town centres a few years back they didn't realise and were the only one that didn't apply, losing out on a couple of million in funding.

When I lived in Hemel Old Town, they would send their bin men round at 5.30am so I took them to the ombudsman after they said it wasn't true and that they were coming at 7am. I won. They didn't change and carried on waking me up (this was up to three times a week). The ombudsman doubled the award. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Thank goodness I've moved since.

We get the binmen round at about 7am on a Wednesday, which you may think is fine.

The issue here is that Weds is our only morning off together, and at the moment, I'm spending most of it in bed.

But such is life!

Generali

vivatifosi wrote: »

When I lived in Hemel Old Town, they would send their bin men round at 5.30am so I took them to the ombudsman after they said it wasn't true and that they were coming at 7am. I won. They didn't change and carried on waking me up (this was up to three times a week). The ombudsman doubled the award. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Thank goodness I've moved since.

Never live in Paris then Viva. 5.30am would be a late finish for Parisian binmen!

What a glorious day. 25C, sunny, not too humid. I took Mrs Generali and the Generalissimos to Caves Beach this afternoon:



It's about 90mins north of Generali Towers. We shared the beach with 2 wind surfers and a dozen kite surfers. It was utterly wonderful. They're selling land parcels there for less than $300,000 for almost 1/2 an acre. That's seriously tempting.

vivatifosi

Generali wrote: »

Never live in Paris then Viva. 5.30am would be a late finish for Parisian binmen!

The thing that got them in hot water was not that they were doing it, but that they were saying they weren't doing it but were. Then continuing to do it when they were told to stop. This suggests an organisation that is a law unto itself. Dacorum is a strange council and certainly not one you'd go out of your way to call well run.

ETA: that place looks beautiful. Weekend retreat? Where are the local services? Are Ant and Dec on a platform up the tree in the forest behind? Oh, so many questions...

Generali

vivatifosi wrote: »

The thing that got them in hot water was not that they were doing it, but that they were saying they weren't doing it but were. Then continuing to do it when they were told to stop. This suggests an organisation that is a law unto itself. Dacorum is a strange council and certainly not one you'd go out of your way to call well run.

ETA: that place looks beautiful. Weekend retreat? Where are the local services? Are Ant and Dec on a platform up the tree in the forest behind? Oh, so many questions...

The water you can see in the background is Lake Macquarie. The town of Caves Beach is small but there are moderate places very close by (e.g. Swansea), large places within 20 mins drive (e.g. Budgewoi and The Entrance), the 3rd largest city in Aus 30 mins away (Newcastle) and Australia's largest city 90mins away (Sydney).

It's an area I don't know well but I think might be very worth investing. They've already had their price crash in 2008-9.

chewmylegoff

vivatifosi wrote: »

I scan Google news for news about Hertfordshire. I read this story, which if the scheme takes off, will be absolutely bonkers:
http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/business/local-business/extension-tax-to-help-plug-council-cash-gap-1-4539414

Essentially one of the local councils want to charge a development tax for new buildings of up to £250 per sq m.

If you look at these figures
http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/costs/how-much-project-cost-one
That's about 1/3rd of the total build cost for an average finish project. Seems like madness to me.

I'd really like to hear Doozer's view on this. Hopefully it won't take off because only Russian oligarchs and the landed gentry will be able to afford to build houses around here.

Sounds like a response to central government planning policy - local government trying to retain control of the decision by selectively taxing developments they don't want to happen to make them economically unviable.

vivatifosi

chewmylegoff wrote: »

Sounds like a response to central government planning policy - local government trying to retain control of the decision by selectively taxing developments they don't want to happen to make them economically unviable.

I think you could be right. It's bizarre though given that they are both being run by the same team. You'd think they'd actually speak to each other.

zagubov

sss555s wrote: »

Get your posh posts in while the going is good! :rotfl:

As soon as I've finished my platypus and panda panini I'll try to think of something posh to post.

vivatifosi wrote: »

The thing that got them in hot water was not that they were doing it, but that they were saying they weren't doing it but were. Then continuing to do it when they were told to stop. This suggests an organisation that is a law unto itself. Dacorum is a strange council and certainly not one you'd go out of your way to call well run.

Maybe it needs to copy this strange town. Not my ideal solution though!

misskool

best get in before PN returns

http://www.habitat.co.uk/twiggy-coat-stand///fcp-product/25278
was thinking of having this for the bedroom, I know it's a bit steep but it would solve us having clothes being draped everywhere. We don't wash everything after one wear so sometimes have a few things lying around that can be worn again...

opinions?

sss555s

misskool wrote: »

opinions?

To me you come accross as too practicle to consider buying that.

If you have your whole [STRIKE]house[/STRIKE] property sorted the way you desire and you've a bit extra cash to spluge on some fancy finishing items then it could be considered.

The reson it's posh is because it is £140 but looks £30.


I'm way too offending today

vivatifosi

sss555s wrote: »

The reson it's posh is because it is £140 but looks £30.


I'm way too offending today

Sorry misskool, that's what I thought too. Like a craft project in school where someone takes one of the high wooden stools from the science labs and then tries to build a tree out of dowel rods from the top of it. Still, whoever did it finished it nicely, and should get an A for the project.

ETA: I've been and had a look and prefer this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dwell-Tree-coat-stand-walnut/dp/B0053X8VQ4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_15