Peapodd

Does anyone know a firm that provides breakdown cover for older appliances? We used to use Domestic & General who were good, but just called them and they don't provide cover for appliances over 8 yrs old. Nor do Warranty Direct. If anyone knows of an alternative and could let me know I'd be very grateful. Ideally it would cover appliances straightaway as I have a couple of issues that need sorting out. Failing that, contact details for a good dishwasher repair person would be great? Thanks!

It certainly is Tavit - it's on Hicks Street. Looks like they used the inside of it too - they do great breakfasts!

I posted this on a separate thread about the 4th June elections, but it seems it might be of use/interest here too: If you're not sure how your views tally with those of the 'main' parties who are standing, try this new tool from Unlocking Democracy: Vote Match. The tool is incredibly simple: give your opinion on 30 statements, mark which ones you consider to be particularly important or unimportant, and the website calculates where you stand in relation to the parties based on their own responses to the same statements. It's totally transparent - the website doesn't just give you a match, it explains how the calculation was made. No obligation of course to vote for the party it indicates on the day! Have a go at: http://www.votematch.co.uk/europe/ Other info which may be of interest: The current 6 MEPs for Yorkshire & the Humber: http://tinyurl.com/pxwawl You can see the parties standing if you download the ‘Statement of Parties Nominated’ Word doc from this page: http://tinyurl.com/ogxlgb EUDebate 2009 Web portal where you can debate the European elections: http://www.eudebate2009.eu/eng/europ...ions-2009.html Want to know about elections generally? See: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/what_can_i_vote_for.aspx Political Compass Not sure where your political leanings lie in general? Try the Political Compass: http://www.politicalcompass.org/index

If you're not sure how your views tally with those of the 'main' parties who are standing, try this new tool from Unlocking Democracy: Vote Match. The tool is incredibly simple: give your opinion on 30 statements, mark which ones you consider to be particularly important or unimportant, and the website calculates where you stand in relation to the parties based on their own responses to the same statements. It's totally transparent - the website doesn't just give you a match, it explains how the calculation was made. No obligation of course to vote for the party it indicates on the day - may depend on the candidate! Have a go at: http://www.votematch.co.uk/europe/ Other info which may be of interest: The current 6 MEPs for Yorkshire & the Humber: http://tinyurl.com/pxwawl You can see the parties standing if you download the ‘Statement of Parties Nominated’ Word doc from this page: http://tinyurl.com/ogxlgb EUDebate 2009 Web portal where you can debate the European elections: http://www.eudebate2009.eu/eng/european-elections-2009.html Want to know about elections generally? See: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/what_can_i_vote_for.aspx Political Compass Not sure where your political leanings lie in general? Try the Political Compass: http://www.politicalcompass.org/index

I have had a variety of help through different strands of the BiG project and overall I do think the project started off with good aims and has done a lot of good for many people who otherwise wouldn't have accessed this kind of help or been encouraged to set up. Unfortunately whether it's of much help to you or not will depend on whom you get as your Neighbourhood Enterprise Champion (NEC) - be aware there is little consistency on what they offer and how proactive they are. I was 'lucky' enough to get my website funded. However it's been a farce from start to ...oh yes, it's not yet finished. First SENTA were going to fund it, but the advisor didn't spend any of his funding on any of his clients in time so the money got taken back. BiG agreed to take it over (this was when they still had funds to spend on clients). There was a HUGE time lag where they didn't pay the developers though they have now been paid months ago but I am still waiting for them to finish my site. The whole scenario has taken more than a year and it doesn't matter what I do, the developers seem to have given up. On 11th March 2009 my images were to have been uploaded to the site; that didn't happen so I have been chasing them - latest that the site would be finished by 'close of play Wednesday 13th May' - yesterday. Today? Still not done. Over the past months, I've complained in writing, over the phone, face-to-face, tried to be nice, tried getting angry, gone back to BiG to complain but all to no avail. Given that I can't withhold payment as they've had the money and that BiG doesn't refer clients to them anymore (mostly because BiG doesn't have funds to pay for this now), I don't have the leverage of getting BiG on their back either. So what do I do? Also a word of warning - unless things have changed, BiG only help people who are pre-start and then once you have started trading they pass you over to a 'Post-start adviser' at SENTA. They aren't entirely clear on all the help they could give you as a pre-start so you may miss out on something that could have helped you with if they'd made it known to you so keep asking what they can do for you before you start trading. In response to my enquiries about why various help had never been made available in the pre-start stage, I was told by someone (senior enough in BiG to know better) that while they couldn't offer me that help now I'd started trading, if I wanted to dissolve my business and start it again under a different name then there would be nothing to stop me doing that and then claiming the help I should have been given first time round' I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It clearly showed a complete lack of understanding of business and of how inefficient and poorly managed the NECs were at that time that the scheme was so process driven. Anyway, I have to say that through the scheme I have been introduced to certain individuals who have really helped me, but I am relieved now that I am past the stage of needing to jump through the BiG/SENTA hoops and can get on with running my business. I still refer people I know to investigate the BiG scheme but to bear in mind that it's a system that has to be played and unless you get one of the good NECs, don't expect them to champion your business as I feel the scheme has become more about ticking boxes than real interest in each client.

A few months ago, my niece from Brussels had it but my sister-in-law sent her over anyway to stay with my parents saying it was only scarletina (the milder form). 10 days later my mum caught it. One of the key signs is that if the face is very red as my mum's was, the area round the lips stays white. The doctors also thought it was some kind of other virus until I told my mum form research on reputable internet sites about this white ring round the mouth and sure enough on return to the doctor they confirmed it was scarlet fever.

Personally I don't understand the point of seat covers. They just seem like a waste of money and part of the wedding industry which is unnecessary. The only time they look any good is when the first people walk into the room. After that people are sitting on them so they can't be seen and often hang their jacket/coat over the back - so what's the point? Obviously there will be those who disagree, but my opinion is I would save the cost and not bother with them.

The tram has a snowplough that can be fitted to the front and its own salt reservoir which dribbles salt in front of the wheels. Why can't buses have the same thing? That would help keep them running. How about running a competition for the university engineering students to come up with designs for the bus attachments. Couple that with winter tyres which could be fitted to the buses when snow is forecast (and stored the rest of the year) and things would be a lot smoother.

Thanks for the reply, that was helpful. I'd still be interested to hear other people's views too.

I am curious about what the difference is between a personal account with an online stationery company and a business account? Is it just that the business account separates out the VAT on prices, or are there 'advantages' like being able to buy in bulk etc? I want to get the best value for buying office stationery - I currently work from home so don't need to buy a lot at any one time - therefore the bulk buy is not really an incentive to me as I'd have nowhere to store it all! As a secondary question, which suppliers would you recommend for office stationery - by which I mean files, printing paper, labels, pens etc? I have had a look at some of the big names like Staples, Niceday, Office World etc but would like to know who others use, especially if they have found them to be good in terms of value and prompt delivery. It would be nice to use a local business if possible. The key thing for me is to be able to order stationery supplies online and get next day delivery. Thanks for any advice you've got.

You can check out the Event Sheffield website to see what's on - http://www.eventsheffield.co.uk/

That's the old Ball Street bridge as seen from the Neepsend (Lion Works) end, looking back down Ball St towards Green lane. If you stand back and look towards the back of the picture you'll see the sign of the Ball Inn (now the Milestone). I love that photo. Not sure what date it is. The photos of the aftermath of the 1864 Great Sheffield Flood show a similar bridge at the same location twisted and mangled - but when they replaced that I don't know if it was with a similar pedestrian one as shown in the Milestone photo or the road bridge which we have now. If anyone knows that it would help date the photo.

Kelham Island / Neepsend Photography Competition for the Kelham Island Community Alliance (KICA) 2009 Calendar How do you see Kelham Island / Neepsend? How would you like others to see it? Enter a photograph of the area into KICA's competition and it could end up on the 2009 calendar to help raise funds for this community group! • Send your photograph (min 5MB resolution) along with your name and contact details to [email protected] by the 8th of October or • Bring a 5” by 7” print with your name and contact details on the reverse to the 13th of October KICA meeting (see http://brooklynandcornish.myfastforum.org/about679.html for details and location of the meeting) • Come to the KICA meeting on the 13th of October to be involved in the judging. • See the calendar on sale at the Kelham Island Victorian Christmas market in December GOOD LUCK!!

Look on the Event Sheffield website for ideas: http://www.eventsheffield.co.uk/

The event Sheffield website might give you ideas: http://www.eventsheffield.co.uk/ There's Farrar's FunFair in Hillsborough Park or the Steel City Ghost Tour round the centre of town which is meant to be good. Both give you an opportunity to cling onto each other....!

Thanks for the info.

erm, by definition, volunteers don't get paid....

FIll in and return the form on the Council website: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/elections/register More info on the Electoral Register is on their pages at: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/elections/register/the-electoral-register

There are at least 2 herons in the Kelham weir area. B*****d crows keep dive bombing the herons though and chasing them away, sometime pusuing them in flight as well. It's not as though they even compete for the same food source - bullies.

Just to say I have heard from the River Stewards that there should be some major clearing of the river around Kelham weir in July by the Environment Agency - they have already done a lot of work on the goit behind the Fat Cat which was badly clogged. We just have to try and ensure that the coping stone which building contractors knocked off Ball St bridge gets rescued from the river first so it can be replaced rather than destroyed by the dredgers! The EA have managed to chop down A LOT of trees around Kelham weir - in my opinion (though I'm no expert) they have gone a bit far. There were some that needed trimming but they have gone for the 'chop them off at the knees' approach, whilst leaving the one washed onto the weir (which is now happily sprouting so goodness knows what the roots are doing to the stones of the weir...) and another dead one which they marked with a yellow 'X' months ago. But perhaps there is method in the madness?!

The residents, Ambassadors, and River Stewards amongst others (about 30 people in total) did a great job clearing a lot of brash and litter (2 skipfuls) from the area above and below Ball St bridge in March of this year (the clean-up was advertised on SF). It is now the responsibility of the Environment Agency to clear the bigger debris which requires machinery to lift/dredge it away. We are hoping that they will attend our next Kelham Island Community Alliance (KICA) meeting next Monday 9th June. Details of KICA and the meetings can be found on the Kelham Island/Neepsend web forum - see http://brooklynandcornish.myfastforum.org/forum9.php We would love anyone with an interest in the area to get involved - residents are of course particularly welcome. We have just elected our first full committee at the AGM last month and hope that with more people willing to help that making the river and its environment in this area can be kept high on the agenda, along with various other aims KICA has for the area. If you wish to be on the email list for the group, please email [email protected] requesting to be added.

As part of the Walk Sheffield 10 day walking 'festival' I noticed the following - details from the Event Sheffield website. You can download the whole walking booklet from here: http://www.thepeoplesmovement.co.uk/downloads/walking_festival_booklet.pdf 2nd June 2008 Hillsborough Park Start Time: 1:30pm End Time: 2:30pm A 1½ mile walk for parents or carers with babies in a pram or pushchair. Meet at the Park Ranger base downstairs in the Pavillion. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. There will be time for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat after the walk.

Have a look through the pdf version of the booklet (as above): http://www.thepeoplesmovement.co.uk/downloads/walking_festival_booklet.pdf It can be a bit slow to load up, but be patient and it should get there eventually.

I haven't found any other thread advertising this but apologies for cross-posting if I've missed it. I have seen a booklet advertising this 'festival' which starts tomorrow (Friday 30th May), so thought others might be interested to know about it. I don't have any further details myself so please contact Activity Sheffield below if you want to know more. General blurb from Event Sheffield: "Walk Sheffield 30th May 2008 to 8th June 2008 Various Locations The Walk Sheffield Festival, 10 days of walking to explore Sheffield, is organised by Sheffield's Walking Forum and will be launched by the Lord Mayor from the Sheffield Town Hall on the 30th of May at 9.45am. The launch will include a 30 minute, gentle, City centre walk entitled "Sheffield's Walking Heritage". The event programme includes a variety of walks including: Sheffield Country walks, Sheffield Round walks and a number of health walks. There really is something for all abilities and this is a fantastic opportunity to discover that our City is blessed with some wonderful places to walk. A copy of the festival programme is available from http://www.thepeoplesmovement.co.uk/downloads/walking_festival_booklet.pdf or by calling Activity Sheffield on 0114 273 4266." You can also find information at: http://www.thepeoplesmovement.co.uk/news_walking_festival.php?PHPSESSID=865e21e73b78104c6c5e4ca7bc391e39 and on Event Sheffield - obviously by searching for 'Walk Sheffield': http://www.eventsheffield.co.uk/

These were Chinese fire lanterns, set off from the wedding I was at held at Norton House Country Club. The heat from the flame gets them up high enough to pick up air currents that are higher up even when it seems there is no wind at ground level. The time you saw them and the formation of one then several then one last one were exactly as they got let off, so mystery solved! No little green men this time.