Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

silvercar

vivatifosi wrote: »

Regarding the question as to things people can do as a job change..

There's something that I need that is very hard to get and may appeal to silver (on the other hand you may think my idea is as interesting as watching paint dry, so apologies).

Since the mid 90s, a number of largely freehold housing estates have been built across the UK. Because they own their own land (prior to this it was mostly adopted by the council) they have resident's management companies (RMCs). I am a director of one such RMC, and have yet to come across a managing agent (MA) that specialises in this market. It is hugely frustrating, because you end up with a MA who specialises in block management. Block management (flats) is a very different beast and the rules are different. I would love to be able to go to a specialist MA say "here's our estate, get on with it" and just pay a monthly charge.

Not for me. A friend lives on one of these roads. They have just replaced the small square of grass with astroturf and cancelled the gardeners contract and halved their bills.

zagubov

michaels wrote: »

WE were talking about US gun control a few days ago and I came across this today (apologies about the size of the image) :eek:

http://www.martingrandjean.ch/united-states-guns-and-wars/

That's revealing. In one course on my masters degree the US tendency to lethal violence was a big topic. they're not the most violent place in the world but they're the worst in the developed world.

I've read claims that one of the benefits of living in stable developed countries is the low death rate. Per capita we murder fewer people than in stone age societies, even factoring in the fact we've had global wars where we've atom-bombed cities.

The US is a place that just hasn't caught up with the rest of us.

chewmylegoff

kabayiri wrote: »

Can any NPs recommend MSE aligned tourist options when visiting NYC?

We are off in a few weeks, and I am sure we will have to compromise on what we see, timewise.

I've done the Empire State before. Does anyone have any experience of the Rockerfeller, for example?

I've been up the Rockefeller - I seem to remember that you get an excellent view....of the Empire State building.

Nikkster

kabayiri wrote: »

I do enjoy walking tours so thanks for that

I've noticed that some sites charge $30 per person for this tour though. That all adds up when there are 4 of us.

Is there any advantage over the free tour?

I didn't even know you could pay! Don't!! Its a disused train line that was converted into a walkway. Just take your time and take it in . There are plenty of places to stop and pause. I'm sure you could research online what to look out for if required. You're welcome to send me 4x $30 if you like

Edit: http://www.thehighline.org/visit

Ooh... just thought. Central Park is good for walking round too for free.

SingleSue

Me and youngest went out tonight to a restaurant we had never visited before, had a lovely meal, lots of discussion and debate apart from when I was eating desert (youngest didn't have any, his main meal was huge!).

We had paid and was just leaving when a bloke on the table next to us decided to lambast me for youngest going on his phone during the course of the meal. Yes, he had gone on his phone, for about all of 5 mins (if that) but even then, he was still talking to me about daily events news, so not exactly being unsociable.

Apparently, youngest is unemployable, wouldn't be employed by that man, is unintelligent because he goes on Facebook (he answered a study question from a college colleague on there, the rest of the time it was current affairs or the stock market, very brief glances followed by discussion) and that he needs to take part in intelligent conversation (which he had been doing, all blooming night).

It has completely ruined youngest's day, he feels judged and is now unable to settle himself to do his college work as he is so unsettled by it all.

Where on earth do people get off on expressing their opinions on others when it has absolutely nothing to do with them and is not impacting them in any way, shape or form, it's hard enough getting youngest to go out socially and things like this really have a negative impact on him.

zagubov

Nikkster wrote: »

I didn't even know you could pay! Don't!! Its a disused train line that was converted into a walkway. Just take your time and take it in . There are plenty of places to stop and pause. I'm sure you could research online what to look out for if required. You're welcome to send me 4x $30 if you like

Edit: http://www.thehighline.org/visit

Ooh... just thought. Central Park is good for walking round too for free.

There's a sticky on NY travel on the wider forum, might be useful to have a browse. Been to NY once (except for changing planes. Took a train from New England, really boring journey asnd as we arrived the driver announced we were entering Grand Central Station and ladies should watch thier handbags and purses. Went to battery park, empire state building.

SingleSue wrote: »

Me and youngest went out tonight to a restaurant we had never visited before, had a lovely meal, lots of discussion and debate apart from when I was eating desert (youngest didn't have any, his main meal was huge!).

We had paid and was just leaving when a bloke on the table next to us decided to lambast me for youngest going on his phone during the course of the meal. Yes, he had gone on his phone, for about all of 5 mins (if that) but even then, he was still talking to me about daily events news, so not exactly being unsociable.

Apparently, youngest is unemployable, wouldn't be employed by that man, is unintelligent because he goes on Facebook (he answered a study question from a college colleague on there, the rest of the time it was current affairs or the stock market, very brief glances followed by discussion) and that he needs to take part in intelligent conversation (which he had been doing, all blooming night).

It has completely ruined youngest's day, he feels judged and is now unable to settle himself to do his college work as he is so unsettled by it all.

Where on earth do people get off on expressing their opinions on others when it has absolutely nothing to do with them and is not impacting them in any way, shape or form, it's hard enough getting youngest to go out socially and things like this really have a negative impact on him.

That's appalling, Sue. This guy sounds like a total jerk. I hope you can reassure DS and get him to put this behind him.

silvercar

SingleSue wrote: »

Me and youngest went out tonight to a restaurant we had never visited before, had a lovely meal, lots of discussion and debate apart from when I was eating desert (youngest didn't have any, his main meal was huge!).

We had paid and was just leaving when a bloke on the table next to us decided to lambast me for youngest going on his phone during the course of the meal. Yes, he had gone on his phone, for about all of 5 mins (if that) but even then, he was still talking to me about daily events news, so not exactly being unsociable.

Apparently, youngest is unemployable, wouldn't be employed by that man, is unintelligent because he goes on Facebook (he answered a study question from a college colleague on there, the rest of the time it was current affairs or the stock market, very brief glances followed by discussion) and that he needs to take part in intelligent conversation (which he had been doing, all blooming night).

It has completely ruined youngest's day, he feels judged and is now unable to settle himself to do his college work as he is so unsettled by it all.

Where on earth do people get off on expressing their opinions on others when it has absolutely nothing to do with them and is not impacting them in any way, shape or form, it's hard enough getting youngest to go out socially and things like this really have a negative impact on him.

So this proves to your son that your ex isn't the only idiot in the world. Did you have a chance to reply to the guy? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I would have loved it if you had told the guy that he needs to improve his chat up lines.

GDB2222

Do some restaurants have a no phones policy?

Doozergirl

kabayiri wrote: »

This sort of stuff would have been the preserve of luxury motors only a decade ago.

We can all argue whether these things are really useful, but widespread adoption of things like parking sensors eventually moves these high-spec things from the "options" column to standard fit.

I think I can top it though. There is a button in the central console of my car which lights up a solitary red LED when pressed. *Nooo idea* what it does apart from that ! . Nothing seems to have fallen off when it's pressed, which is surely a good sign?

I think every car should be fitted with a pointless knob/switch/button .... keep us on our toes

I have 'disco lights'. I can flick a switch and turn four tiny lights positioned around the car to a colour of the rainbow.

When I bought this car, the kids checked it had this feature, as the old one did.

michaels

This is getting stupid, I have just switched energy tariff again, second time in a month and third time this year, keeping same supplier but rolling on to their latest 1 year fix so no switching fee payable, saving about 60 quid each time.