Ms Macbeth

I feel extremely sorry for parents who have difficulties securing child support from the other parent like squashie 28. I also have sympathy in most cases for parents denied access to their children. I have the most sympathy for the children affected by warring parents! Of course relationships break down, is this the fault of the kids - why make them suffer? The CSA has made loads of errors - accepted. So why do we have them - because we need something to make people take financial responsibility for their own children! If everyone was honest and unselfish about supporting the children they have created, the CSA would not be necessary.

I watch it rather than X factor. I always wished I could do ballroom dancing - I think Darren Gough is doing brilliantly for a lad from Barnsley!

We moved to Sheffield 6 months ago - I have to commend Winkworths in Hillsborough - they were really helpful, listened to what we wanted, gave good advice, and kept us well informed about properties that met our criteria. The house we bought was priced realistically, so only people who wanted to buy in the price bracket would submit offers. No complaints about their service at all. All the staff I dealt with were keen to help, and had good knowledge of the area and the market at the time.

Here's a case study from http://www.olderhomelessness.org.uk This man did not have the understanding of our benefits system that would have enabled him to sort out his rent. Thank goodness a homeless worker got involved before he ended up on the street. None of this was his choice, it was a situation resulting from disability, the complexity of the benefit system, and possibly having no support network (family/friends).

Cloudy Bay - you are describing a realistic scenario. Another one - you're a 19 year old male or female, single with no children, living with mum. Mum gets new fella, you're in the way and have to leave. You think, I'm entitled to help as I'm homeless - you may be, but you won't have any more right to a council property than anyone else (apart from if you've built up waiting time on the list) because you are not vulnerable. YOu may be working, but not earning much, you'll need a bond for private rented - can you raise the cash? Local authorities do have a duty to rehouse people who are classed as vulnerable - and lots of people, children, elderly, disabled, youngsters who've lived in care are some of the categories that qualify. Over 18, no health problems and no children - sorry, find your own home. Lots of people who are officially homeless don't live on the streets, they may stay with friends or family, but have no security. It may be a few nights, or a few weeks. A lot of people who actually are roofless, ie on the streets find it very difficult to settle into the kind of routine it needs to maintain a home and need intensive support often for long periods. This isn't always available, and if they have psychiatric problems or learning difficulties often get into difficulties and leave or are evicted, and become homeless again. I used to think homeless people + empty properties = a match. Its far more complicated than that.

I hope you're not too shaken up. Having someone on your property for whatever reason is unsettling, but for them to have returned and assaulted you is really rotten.

I'm quite aware of this, but if I was leaving everything familiar, and I had family in another country, odds are I'd head there? I've also worked in an organisation involved with housing asylum seekers, and many of them left their countries for quite sensible reasons, ie fear of persecution, torture etc. Of course there are some who are playing the system, we'd be incredibly naive to think otherwise.

I stopped smoking 10 years ago after one hypnotherapy session and have never felt the need to have another cigarette. I had smoked for over 30 years, about 20 a day. I know it doesn't work for everyone.

Perhaps the UK is the first place their plane landed? Or perhaps they already have family here?

I wouldn't have minded if I was chucking them, but I was going to have the washing machine refitted. Also, the cooker was ok, and I was having it moved to my daughters house. However, I've got an old fridge, so once my new one is working ok, I'll try leaving it out - will save the price of removal - thanks for the tip!

I'm having a new kitchen fitted. Due to lack of space in the house, the old cooker and washing machine had been put outside in the back garden. My daughter was having them, and trying to get someone to move them for her. Too late! Between 7pm last night, and 8am this morning, they disappeared!! Its worrying that possibly only a neighbour would know they were there as they were not visible from the front - high gate etc. If the person who took them reads this - if you come back in a couple of days, there will be a fridge as well! Oh, and you forgot the sink.........

The decision to knock down properties isn't made a few weeks before it happens. Major changes have to be agreed by the council - there is usually community consultation as well. So think back 5 years, when private houses were reasonably affordable. People could get a council property in some parts of Sheffield (and other areas in S Yorks) really quickly - but often they didn't want the ones available. There were loads standing empty, so decisions were made to demolish some of them. Unfortunately, during the last few years, house prices have climbed quickly, so there is more demand for rented accommodation. The government is also encouraging councils to regenerate areas by building mixed tenure homes - some for sale, some for private rent some for rent by housing associations. So its unlikely that there will ever be any new estates of council housing built.

Hope this explanation is helpful Ken. Sheffield council adopted the 'Choice Based Lettings' system, used by various other local authorities some time ago. Letting of council properties via this system is now carried out by Sheffield Homes (Arms Length Management Organisation) on behalf of the council. Basically it means that when a vacant property is ready to be let, it is advertised (on the web, in the Property Shop and local housing offices and in free newspapers) and people who are interested can register a bid. The advert usually says if it is for a priority case, or if not, the length of waiting time likely to be needed. In theory, only people who want to live in the house/flat etc will bid, and the person with either the greatest need or longest waiting time will be successful. People still have to register (put their names down) and they accumulate waiting time. People who have priority (most in need), for health reasons, demolition of their homes, or homeless priority etc are given preference in lots of cases. Perhaps someone could post a link to the Sheffield Property Shop website on this thread as I've not worked out how to do it. There's lots of info on it.

I think its acceptable to go out for necessities, and also if you're off for a while to go for a walk etc as you get better. Like previous posters have said, depends on whats wrong. Don't think its a good idea to be off sick and go out to pubs and clubs at night though!

Sounds like you've done as much as you can - not sure what other advice could be offered at this stage. Perhaps when you get an outcome from your complaint (the one via David Blunkett) you'll let us know what happens with your mum?

If your mum has been given notice to leave from her landlord, she needs to take advice about becoming homeless. The council have a department at Howden House called 'Housing Aid' who can offer advice about her rights. There are also Citizens' Advice Bureaux who can support her. You should get in touch with Sheffield Homes, either the Property Shop or your mum's local housing office - and get them to check if your mum would be eligible for the property. There are rules about what you can get, for instance a person living alone wouldn't get a 3 bedroomed house. (You can get the contact details from the council website, can't insert link, sorry) Then ask them to give you a clear explanation about what happened to her bid and why she was unsuccessful.

I like the clear, fresh days and the colour of the leaves. I don't like the days that are grey and damp and the clocks going back.

What a brilliant thread! Congrats to Lord C for starting it off.

I smoked 20-30 a day for over 30 years. Stopped 10 years ago after one visit to a hypnotherapist. Had no withdrawal symptoms and never craved another cig. I really hate the smell of stale smoke now (what did my house smell like!) Good luck to anyone trying to give up - one of the best things I've done, for health, social and financial reasons.

At school in the 50's - gristly meat, watery mashed potatoes, greens that had lost the will to live! It may have been pretty decent stuff to start with, but something often got lost in the cooking. Cheese flan was ok though, even though we had that with mash - never chips. Some good puds though - chocolate or pink custard, yummy! We also got free school milk - frozen in winter, and warm in summer, yuk!

I agree SH, I went to an Asian wedding earlier this year, people had a good time, and made me welcome. I was the only white person there, and I realised then what it must be like to be in the minority. I work with people from various ethnic backgrounds, and get on with some better than others, thats down to personalities, not colour or nationality! Can anyone explain why they dislike, or even hate someone else purely because their skin colour is different?

Hillsborough PO, in the Co-op, £4.

I loved the Mary Poppins books, and lots of Enid Blyton - anyone remember Mallory Towers?

LOL :hihi:

I agree Roger. Money and income is only one part of class. The way people speak, behave, their interests etc all play a big part as the quote below from Captain Scarlet's post points out. Although there is a greater accumulation of wealth, hence better education and more expensive housing in the south of the city, I still think to generalise as Miss W does is worrying. She must have lived a very sheltered life!