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Bits and Bobs 50
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Author:  Malc [ Fri Jul 06, 2018 14:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I think the biggest one of those I've had, is when I was child. We lived in a block of flats in London, and had gone to Scotland for 2 weeks in the summer holiday, we spent the first week with my Grandpa in Greenock, and then were travelling up to Fort William for another week up there. On the way there, we stopped off at some random pretty location we'd noticed on the way (I can't remember where it was), there were about half a dozen cars parked up, and getting in to one of them was a family that lived 3 doors down from us on the same floor of the flats I lived in. They were ending their holiday and were driving back from Inverness and heading back to London and had also stopped for a break to look at whatever it was my parents thought was worth looking at (I think a ruined castle or some such). Neither family knew the other was in Scotland, and neither had any plans to stop there before they pulled over.

Author:  KovacsC [ Fri Jul 06, 2018 16:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I saw Craster once in London at a random tube station

Author:  Pundabaya [ Fri Jul 06, 2018 17:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Warhead wrote:

Most of my friends have shit taste in music, so not likely.

Author:  Warhead [ Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Oddly enough, there have been two occasions when I’ve met people I know, unexpectedly.

The first was when Mrs.W and i were on our honeymoon on the Isle of Man (we were really skint in those days, so nowhere exotic for us). We were staying in Douglas, but went on a sight seeing tour one evening and stopped for a stroll at Port Erin. It was like a ghost town, the Main Street was devoid of people except one lady in the distance, walking toward us. When we got closer, I recognised that it was my team leader from my office. She was also on leave and had family in the town.

The second was when I was working on an Open Learning Development job, and I used to travel to each of our eight area offices dotted around the north west, once per month, to bang the drum for OL. The furthest north was Workington , in Cumbria, and I used to stay overnight at my aunt’s gaff in Grasmere in the way up there. On one occasion I stopped at Cockermouth, on my way to Workington, to buy a sarny for lunch, and as I was looking for a butty shop I ran into a old friend of mine I’d known from my Manchester hippy days, who I’d lost touch with after he went to live in a crofter’s cottage on a Scottish Island. Unlike today, with Facebook, email, etc. it was easy to lose track of people unless they wrote to you, or phoned occasionally. I hadn’t seen or heard of this guy for maybe 20 years, and here he was in Cockermouth, teaching at a local college. The chances if us meeting must have been minuscule, and we have kept in touch ever since, and he now lives back in Manchester, about a mile from me.

Author:  JBR [ Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I was in Langkawi a month ago, an island off NW Malaysia. It's hot there, so I sat about, delaying going for lunch. Eventually I decided that now was a good time and wandered out. Decided to turn right down the main street rather than left, on a whim, and on the opposite side of the road, walking along, so a few minutes either way and I would have missed him, is a bloke I know. My brain ran its recognition routine, which took a moment, so I had time to think "someone from the hostel".

Nope, a bloke I used to work with in London, sat opposite for the best part of the 10 years I was there. He was there for just a couple of days, scoping it out as a potential retirement spot.

The sheer luck of it was somewhat spoiled by my bumping into him twice more over the next 24 hours, showing we were in a small town, but still.

Author:  TheVision [ Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I bumped into a female colleague in Aberystwyth once.

I was away with my Ill fated girl friend at the time and I think we'd had an argument so I was walking alone by the pier. Because of how low I was feeling and how shitty the situation was, the colleague was the most beautiful lady I'd ever set eyes on.

We had a quick chat, exchanged pleasantries and went our separate ways.

She didn't look the same when we returned to work the next week. Oh well.. Easy come, easy go.

Author:  TheVision [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 0:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I went to the safari park today and took about 4 pictures. This was one of them... I think it's quite good!

Author:  Mr Russell [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 6:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

TheVision wrote:
I went to the safari park today and took about 4 pictures. This was one of them... I think it's quite good!

I think we’ve also met him!!

Author:  TheVision [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

That's brilliant!

Author:  Jem [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

If you heard me say "what else could go wrong? ha ha ha" re: the house over the weekend, the answer came swift. And it is "lots".

Author:  GazChap [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Specifically, in the region of six thousand lots.

Author:  Cras [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Yikes, what have you found?

Author:  Jem [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

The whole central heating system needs to be replaced - new radiators, new pipework, new boiler.

Author:  Cras [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Ouch :(

Author:  Jem [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

The guy said it's the worst system he's seen in 45 years of doing the job.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

awwwww fuck, I'm so sorry

Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Is there no chance of challenging the estate agent as a possible mis-selling? Not fit for purpose and all that?

Author:  KovacsC [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

oh bollocks

Author:  Kris [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

DavPaz wrote:
Is there no chance of challenging the estate agent as a possible mis-selling? Not fit for purpose and all that?


Unfortunately when buying a house in England you have no ground to recourse with issues like this. "Caveat Emptor" and whatnot.

Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Balls.

Author:  Jem [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

DavPaz wrote:
Is there no chance of challenging the estate agent as a possible mis-selling? Not fit for purpose and all that?


Probably not. It's our own fault for not having a big in depth survey basically.

Author:  Satsuma [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Kris wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Is there no chance of challenging the estate agent as a possible mis-selling? Not fit for purpose and all that?


Unfortunately when buying a house in England you have no ground to recourse with issues like this. "Caveat Emptor" and whatnot.


Hmmm, not convinced there can never be any recourse.

I’d suggest you look at the surveyors report(s) and see if they’ve done their job properly, whether the sols have done their job properly and so on.

Author:  Kris [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 11:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Satsuma wrote:
Kris wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Is there no chance of challenging the estate agent as a possible mis-selling? Not fit for purpose and all that?


Unfortunately when buying a house in England you have no ground to recourse with issues like this. "Caveat Emptor" and whatnot.


Hmmm, not convinced there can never be any recourse.

I’d suggest you look at the surveyors report(s) and see if they’ve done their job properly, whether the sols have done their job properly and so on.


I will concede to your superior knowledge on the matter, however, in my experience once you've exchanged contracts the seller was off the hook.

The person conducting the survey etc. would be responsible for any issues (as they deemed it was fit etc).

Author:  GazChap [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 13:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

We (stupidly) didn't have a survey done, but tbh the full extent of this has only arisen because our gas man ripped up floorboards to look at pipework etc. so I'm not convinced even the most in depth of surveys would have picked that up.

Author:  myp [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 14:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

GazChap wrote:
We (stupidly) didn't have a survey done, but tbh the full extent of this has only arisen because our gas man ripped up floorboards to look at pipework etc. so I'm not convinced even the most in depth of surveys would have picked that up.

Structural survey would've picked it up, but you wouldn't have had one of those done unless the homebuyer report flagged up a load of issues. And if it did you probably would've decided to walk away.

Author:  Jem [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 14:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Lonewolves wrote:
GazChap wrote:
We (stupidly) didn't have a survey done, but tbh the full extent of this has only arisen because our gas man ripped up floorboards to look at pipework etc. so I'm not convinced even the most in depth of surveys would have picked that up.

Structural survey would've picked it up, but you wouldn't have had one of those done unless the homebuyer report flagged up a load of issues. And if it did you probably would've decided to walk away.


Oh well, irrelevant now really as we were stupid and didn't and here we are. :'(

You left your toothpaste here btw. I've been meaning to message you for a week. :DD

Author:  myp [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 14:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Jem wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
GazChap wrote:
We (stupidly) didn't have a survey done, but tbh the full extent of this has only arisen because our gas man ripped up floorboards to look at pipework etc. so I'm not convinced even the most in depth of surveys would have picked that up.

Structural survey would've picked it up, but you wouldn't have had one of those done unless the homebuyer report flagged up a load of issues. And if it did you probably would've decided to walk away.
You left your toothpaste here btw. I've been meaning to message you for a week. :DD

I wondered where that went! My teeth are a bit minging now tbf.

(It's ok we had a spare)

Author:  BikNorton [ Mon Jul 09, 2018 22:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Lonewolves wrote:
GazChap wrote:
We (stupidly) didn't have a survey done, but tbh the full extent of this has only arisen because our gas man ripped up floorboards to look at pipework etc. so I'm not convinced even the most in depth of surveys would have picked that up.

Structural survey would've picked it up, but you wouldn't have had one of those done unless the homebuyer report flagged up a load of issues. And if it did you probably would've decided to walk away.

Our structural survey was bloody useless. Could really do with the £1200 to spend on any one of the multitude of things it didn't find.

Author:  GazChap [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 9:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Can't you get some sort of financial recourse from the surveyor, Bik? I thought that was (part of) the point of them?

Author:  Malc [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 9:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50


Author:  Trooper [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

GazChap wrote:
Can't you get some sort of financial recourse from the surveyor, Bik? I thought that was (part of) the point of them?


I expect the report will be filled with all sorts of caveats.

Author:  myp [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Trooper wrote:
GazChap wrote:
Can't you get some sort of financial recourse from the surveyor, Bik? I thought that was (part of) the point of them?


I expect the report will be filled with all sorts of caveats.

The homebuyer usually is (couldn't find any damp in the floors, but didn't have the floorboards up so can't confirm), but the structural should be much more in-depth.

Author:  Trooper [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I've never even seen a structural report I don't think, to the google-a-tron!

Author:  TheVision [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

A friend of ours moved into their house and the previous owner, before she moved out, had cut a load of the cables that ran through the house making it a potential death trap. Luckily my friends cousin (who is an electrician) found out and made everything safe but the previous owner had done a right number on it.

She'd also left bags of rubbish all around the house including, what we suspect, were animal remains.

My friend looked into it but ultimately there was nothing she could do and just had to clear it all up herself. I'm not sure how much she looked into it but there you go.

According to the neighbours, the lady who lived there was a right nasty piece of work. Amongst other things, she'd made her young child stand in the garden in his underwear in the freezing cold as some sort of punishment.

Author:  Cras [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

HIPs were such a bloody good idea :(

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Cras wrote:
HIPs were such a bloody good idea :(

Yes.

In California (a housing market I now have a lot of second-hand information about, courtesy of friends and colleagues) all surveys are done by the seller before the house is listed. When you show up to the open house, there's an information pack that will include a detailed survey (with the name of the surveying company attached -- you can, of course, verify it's genuine.)

You also don't have purchasing chains. You typically list your house for sale after already buying your new place. Finance for owning two places at once is covered by a short-term bridging loan. Also: all offers are binding -- and accompanied by a hefty deposit -- so gazumping/undering and sales falling through due to general shitness are far rarer. Finally: buyers have realtors, who do all the work of searching the local market for you, so you don't have to register your details with a dozen local estate agents. Buyer's realtor's fees are paid by the sellers. Finally: no stamp duty (but you might have to pay capital gains tax on your primary residence instead.)

On the other hand, prices are insane even by London standards.

Author:  BikNorton [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 20:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Trooper wrote:
GazChap wrote:
Can't you get some sort of financial recourse from the surveyor, Bik? I thought that was (part of) the point of them?


I expect the report will be filled with all sorts of caveats.

Yeah, you don't get a whole heap of definite.

Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 21:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

I was in London today for the RAF 100 flypast which was a great spectacle.
The atmosphere was superb, and there were rounds of applause for the BBMF, the Typhoons and the Red Arrows.
Sadly it was a bit dark for great photos.

Author:  Cras [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 21:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Not that sadly. This is the first day London hasn't been a wasteland hellscape in weeks.

Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Tue Jul 10, 2018 21:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Cras wrote:
Not that sadly. This is the first day London hasn't been a wasteland hellscape in weeks.


A fair point. It's been toasty enough in the Midlands without having to deal with millions of other people and the tube.

Author:  MaliA [ Wed Jul 11, 2018 11:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Charles 2nd seems to have been an absolute hoot of a man. After the goings in a Worcester he was on the run trying to get back abroad, and had to dress up in disguises, play roles, and spend the night in a tree. He loved it. Later, on being presented with Colonel Blood, an Irishman who was caught in the act of stealing the crown jewels (quite the caper, by accounts), he liked it all so much he gave him land worth £500 a year and pardon.

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

MaliA wrote:
Charles 2nd seems to have been an absolute hoot of a man. After the goings in a Worcester he was on the run trying to get back abroad, and had to dress up in disguises, play roles, and spend the night in a tree. He loved it. Later, on being presented with Colonel Blood, an Irishman who was caught in the act of stealing the crown jewels (quite the caper, by accounts), he liked it all so much he gave him land worth £500 a year and pardon.


He gets the best 'Horrible Histories' song too.

Author:  Squirt [ Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Kern wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Charles 2nd seems to have been an absolute hoot of a man. After the goings in a Worcester he was on the run trying to get back abroad, and had to dress up in disguises, play roles, and spend the night in a tree. He loved it. Later, on being presented with Colonel Blood, an Irishman who was caught in the act of stealing the crown jewels (quite the caper, by accounts), he liked it all so much he gave him land worth £500 a year and pardon.


He gets the best 'Horrible Histories' song too.


:this:

I'd try to find a giphy from that song, but there is zero chance it would give me an appropriate one.

Author:  Findus Fop [ Wed Jul 11, 2018 13:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Squirt wrote:
Kern wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Charles 2nd seems to have been an absolute hoot of a man. After the goings in a Worcester he was on the run trying to get back abroad, and had to dress up in disguises, play roles, and spend the night in a tree. He loved it. Later, on being presented with Colonel Blood, an Irishman who was caught in the act of stealing the crown jewels (quite the caper, by accounts), he liked it all so much he gave him land worth £500 a year and pardon.


He gets the best 'Horrible Histories' song too.


:this:

I'd try to find a giphy from that song, but there is zero chance it would give me an appropriate one.


Giphy "squirt's horrible histories":
https://media3.giphy.com/media/LA9su3PnWWCtO/giphy-loop.mp4

Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 11, 2018 13:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Nailed it.

Author:  KovacsC [ Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

mangled apricot hellbeast... what a great insult

Author:  Grim... [ Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

"Overwhelmingly".

Author:  Bamba [ Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Grim... wrote:
"Overwhelmingly".


62% to 38% is pretty overwhelming no?

Author:  Kern [ Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

52% is overwhelming.

Author:  Grim... [ Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits and Bobs 50

Overwhelming means "very great or very large".
I'm not sure 62% cuts it.

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