moopind

I have a leasehold property in Crookes (terraced house) which has an annual ground rent of £2.62 on a 900-year lease from 1898 (so 778 years left on the lease). I wanted to buy the freehold, which appeared to be held by an individual investor living in a different part of the UK. Around 18 months ago, the owner of the freehold asked for the ground rent via a property agency (in Sheffield) as per usual, but sent me a letter saying that the agency would no longer be collecting the ground rent (presumably because it wasn't cost effective for them for a small amount, sending a demand, taking payment to the bank etc.). At that point I wrote back to the owner of the freehold asking if she would make me an offer for buying it out. She replied that she was very elderly and that the property agency had always taken care of her leasehold investments and that she would ask them to get in touch with me, implying it was beyond her capabilities to deal with it. I heard nothing for over a year (and half forgot about it). I have contacted the agency in the past week or so and they said: "Apologies for the delay in replying. We understand that Mrs X is looking to sell the portfolio however it would appear that none of the freehold interests are registered at the Land Registry and the costs for doing this far outweigh the value of the ground rent and we believe that this is the reason why no-one has been approached to manage the freeholds in the meantime. We would anticipate that the likely cost to purchase the freehold would be in the region of approximately £500 plus VAT and approximately £750 plus VAT for the vendor’s legal costs, plus your own legal fees. We trust this is of assistance" (my emphasis) I'm not sure how to interpret this. I feel like this information should put the ball in my own court, as the investment is all but worthless to the freeholder. Does anyone have any advice on how I could secure the freehold in the most cost-effective way? Thanks in advance for any help.

Does anyone know which salon Jade from The Laundry (Arundel Street) went to?

My Alpha HE25 combination boiler keeps losing pressure. I keep topping up using the filling loop but I have to do it practically every time the heating's been on for a while (it's controlled by a Salus it500 internet thermostat). I doubt that I've got a leak in any of the rads, as there's been no water. Occasionally been getting water coming out of the pipe on the exterior wall by the boiler too. Would someone be able to come and fix what's wrong? I'm on Cobden View Road, Crookes S10 1HT.

I live very close to there now. Thanks for the tip - I'll go and see them next week. Thanks everyone else too.

My current GP offers a system whereby you call in the morning and get an appointment on the same day. I have moved to Crookes S10. Is there a GP in this area with the same system? I find it the most convenient system. Thanks for any information.

Saw this and thought of my advert for Nether Edge Grammar School magazines from the 40s and 50s: The Torch Magazine

RCD Electricals came out at short notice and sorted out my lighting problems. Really nice chap who came, too.

It was there as usual this morning.

7pm. Money in the hat, straight to the bands. No tickets. MJ HIBBETT Hibbett's songs will make you laugh and *yet* make you think (though I'm not sure what). Mark John "MJ" Hibbett is an English guitarist singer-songwriter, often compared to Billy Bragg and Richard Digance. With his band The Validators, MJ came to widespread online notice in 2000 with "Hey Hey 16K", an ode to the ZX Spectrum and other home microcomputers of the 1980s. MJ (often with his "Validators") has performed live on Radio One, had a Record Of The Year in Rolling Stone, an Album Of The Day on 6Music, released one of the first ever viral videos, toured the UK and Europe, featured in an Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, and recorded a science fiction rock opera. Or two. MJ's songs have mostly been released on his own record label, Artists Against Success. http://mjhibbett.bandcamp.com/ HOROWITZ Horowitz make brilliant songs. Pete and Ian will bring their largely-melodic fuzzy punk-pop noize to proceedings and layer sweet melodies with great trebly guitar things which make your heart skip a beat. Described as “the sound of the indiepop underground”, Horowitz formed in 2004 as a three-piece bedroom project. Since then they have released a full-length LP, 5 (or is it more now?) singles and numerous compilation tracks, memorably coining the slogan ‘Popkids of the World Unite!’ on the b-side of their first single for Cloudberry Records, 2007’s ‘Tracyanne.’ Practically bleeding DIY ethics, the band have taken their Pavement-meets-Subway Organization brand of noise pop to Germany, Sweden and the U.S, playing some of the finest indiepop clubs and festivals including Cosy Den in Stockholm and the 2010 NYC Popfest. Next stop: University Arms, obviously. http://horowitz.bandcamp.com/a…/frosty-cat-songs-12-vinyl-lp THE THYME MACHINE I love them. My friends love them. My friends' children argue about their lyrics. Frontperson Kriss is more deadpan than an actual deceased pan. They release music on floppy disks (other formats available). They took Indietracks festival veritably "by storm" this summer, but in spite of practically-certain impending superstardom they are going to play, for you, here. The Thyme Machine are a lo-fi indiepop band from Lancaster fronted by a man in a leopard suit called Kriss Foster. They sing about taxidermy, favourite jumpers, seabirds and going for a day out to the Lake District with a zombie. They’ve performed at least one month-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and recently(ish) released a new album ‘Wake Up with The Thyme Machine’. http://www.thethymemachine.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/fancyanindian?fref=ts

steve68b has it right. A postcode search at http://www.helpwithtalking.com/ will find you a therapist with the right credentials. I used to work independently until recently and was a member of ASLTIP, whose website this is. Let me know if you need any more advice.

Agreed about most Sheffield pizza. Not tried Hungry Hound but Portofino on London Road South do proper thin pizza and offer takeaway service. Good, in my experience.

Rising Sun takeaway near Commonside does lovely spring rolls.

Thank you! ---------- Post added 09-01-2013 at 22:35 ---------- Tried this and enjoyed it, but low cloud meant I missed the views this time. Will do again in the spring/summer!

I've walked this route, via Win Hill, before but the bit between Ranmoor and Ladybower was mainly beside the road. What nicer routes are there? Thanks.