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A big thankyou to Pete and Alison (Cherry Trees) for putting on a superb bonfire night evening. The fire was impressive as were the guys (all female I noted). The firework display had a professional feel and lasted longer than … Continue reading
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Thanks to everyone who helped out on Saturday by planting the tress, shrubs and climbers along the fence at the top of the road. I’m sure everyone will enjoy the fruits of your labour in the spring when they all … Continue reading
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On the 31st of October the road took on a spooky form; lit by frightening pumpkins and haunted by mini sized ghosts, witches, ghouls and a butler all with a particular love of chocolate.
Recently there has been a problem with a blocked sewer drain which runs behind the cottages at the bottom of the road.
So the big question is who has the responsibility to pay to to get it cleared?
Well, the law is quite clear on this matter; if the blockage is within a drainpipe which serves your home exclusively and is on your land then you are liable. You must have blocked it so you must pay.
If however the blockage is in a bit of communal pipe which channels sewage from a number of homes then Thames Water are liable – even if the bit of pipe is on your land! This was the case in our recent blockage behind the cottages.
This has always been the case if your house was built before 1937 (e.g. all the cottages) and has recently been extended to include all homes regardless of when they were built (all the houses on the other side of the road).
So what happens if there is an emergency and your garden has the raw sewage equivelent of ‘old faithful’ erupting every few minutes? Well Thames Water tell me that they have an obligation so sort out such emergencies within 6 hours! Not bad eh?
So what happens if you don’t know where the blockage is? Well Thames Water will come out and fix it and if it was a communal drain then there will be no charge and if they find the blockage in your exclusive drain then they’ll charge you £100, and so they should as you would have caused the blockage you filthy animal.
Of course prevention is better than cure so do no flush any wipes, nappies, sanitary towels or any similar items down the toilet. Oils and fats should also no be put down the drains. These are all the things which cause blockages. This is especially the case for the drainage that serves the cottages as it is victorian and not built to cope with these modern products.
For a really good explanation of the drainage liability rules watch these 2 short videos:
Remember if or when the great blockage returns phone Thames Water on 0845 9200 800 (24 hour telephone line)
Hi ladies, the next meeting will be on Tuesday 22 November, at my home – Alison will kindly provide the refreshments though! We will be discussing Smut: Two Unseemly Stories, by Alan Bennett. There’s only 4 weeks until that meeting so I hope it’s not too challenging to find and read it in the timeframe (it’s very short)!
The meeting in December will be on 6th and will focus on A Christmas Carol – I have library copies for Tania / Georgina / Clare if you would like them?
See you all soon, M x
“The Shielding of Mrs Forbes” – Graham Forbes is a disappointment to his mother who thinks that if he must have a wife, he should have done better. And her own husband would be better if she were mourning him than living with him.
“The Greening of Mrs Donaldson” – Mrs Donaldson is a conventional middle-class woman beached on the shores of widowhood after a marriage that had been much like many others: happy to begin with, then satisfactory and finally dull. But when she decides to take in two lodgers passions that she never knew existed are aroused, and her mundane life becomes much more stimulating…
Ladies
A lively meeting last month – thank you Liz for hosting – but we missed you Tanya and Clare!
This month we will be discussing ‘One Day’ by David Nichols As if you need reminding the meeting will be on Tuesday 18th October at Nicola Mac’s (and hopefully getting the nosy-girls tour!)
We have additionally set the next 2 meeting dates … November’s meeting will be on 22nd … December’s meeting will be on 6th . So that will be 4 weeks between October and November’s meeting. This book choice is tba and will by necessity be shorter. Then we only have 2 weeks between November and December’s meeting. We thought we would paint the town red for December’s meeting and hold it at the Miners’ Arms!!! That nights discussion will be on a Christmas Carol, which is very short so easily readable in the timeframe (hopefully!) and I already have copies from the library for anyone that needs one.
One Day …’I can imagine you at forty,’ she said, a hint of malice in her voice. ‘I can picture it right now.’ He smiled without opening his eyes. ‘Go on then.’ 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY.
Thanks Jim but I don’t think it’s that kind of a slap 😉
The next meeting date has been set and will be Tuesday 6th September at Liz’s, 7.45pm.
Please bring your ideas for new books so that we can update the reading list … we want to keep it fresh and not keep looking at the same old titles. M xXx
Congratulations to Nicola and Stephen on their new arrival. Eveline Constance Little was born on Tuesday weighing in at a not so Little 8lb 15oz. We all look forward to meeting her.
Pounsley Road 