TiN

I know that I haven't really been active lately, so please don't flame me too much for posting this! I need to raise a little cash, so I'm selling my phone. I got it back in December on a Vodafone contract, and even though it's used, it's in very good condition. I had the original screen film on until just recently, so there aren't any scratches etc... It's unlocked - with a code direct from Vodafone, as opposed to some dodgy shop...and I have tested it with an Orange sim. I have the original box, cables etc, and it is preloaded with Spiderman 3 (I've also got Borat and a couple of episodes of Friends on there, but I delete that if you don't want it). No pics at the moment because none of my cameras work (except for the N95 one, go figure), but it's an N95...and it's black. Available for collection within London, or posted anywhere at the price of postage. I've been watching Ebay, and they seem to be ending for around £300, give or take...so I want £265 ono. PM me if you're interested. I'll stick it on Ebay if I don't get any interest by the end of the week. Thanks for reading!

Gumtree is a good place to start in gathering interest...there are also quite a few "flatshare"-type websites out there, but I've yet to find one that looks good... As for "reliable" tenants - that's what the screening process is for! Where abouts are you? Good luck buddy.

...without paying? Basically, I highly believe that my car was towed illegally. I went off to get a parking permit this morning (just moved to London - nice welcome!), and when I returned to the car, it was gone! Now, the street that I was on had enforced permit/meter parking from 8.30am to 6.30pm, and according to the website, they can't do anything until 15 minutes have elapsed from the "legal" time, i.e. 8.45am in this case. I returned to the car at about 8.42am (I was watching the clock all the time, though mainly because I didn't want to be late for work), and it was nowhere to be seen! Even if I had returned at, say 8.45, surely they'd take a few minutes to get the car all loaded up? I sure as hell am not paying the penalty notice, because I'm not accepting it, but is there any chance that I can also not pay the release fee for the pound? Or does anyone fancy accompanying me tonight? ;-) (Zedrush, I'm looking at you... ;-)) Cheers! Tin

Wow, that bike looks huuuuge! I love the RSV-Rs though...

On the track, touching down with your knee is there to give you confidence really, as it's used to gauge your lean angle, and how far you've got to go before low-siding...on the road, it's just for showing off You'd be surprised how upright you can be to slide your knee...it's all about positioning on the bike. Rossi & co often have reinforced elbows on their leathers, because they often drag them down too!

(Probably old, but it was new to me!) Nelson Mandela is sitting at home one day, when there’s a knock at the door. Standing in Nelsons doorway is a small Japanese man, dressed in a white coat and holding a clipboard. “Good morning Sirâ€

Shame about the lame steel-framed CBR I'll leave my Chinese lady friend at home...with the dishes.

You'll never in a million years keep up with a z in a pair of trainers But he will if he brings his bike, he will be looking at us in his rear view mirror as little speckle dots I wish...haven't had a bike for a while now...just keep the pic for sentimental reasons... I'll be racing you lot on the DLR/Tube...

Do I have to have/drive a car? If not, may I come?

Ah, sorry, misunderstood mate. Out of interest - you buying in London?

Really? i was under the impression i need one as its the same as every development you purchase. Well, yeah, you *will* need to have a solicitor at some point, but not necessarily for helping you get the property in the first place. You'll need to get yourself registered with the local housing register(s) first though, and try to make yourself as down-trodden as possible, cos otherwise you'll be at the bottom of the list. Maybe borrow a kid when you visit the council office to register...

Not really answering your query mate - but why are you specifically needing a solicitor to get a shared ownership apartment? We were *this* close to getting a shared-ownership apartment in Bristol last year, but didn't bother going ahead with it cos the plots were crap. Unless you're trying to do something "special"?

The thing is, Rossi is always up there, and always has been the guy to beat - even with the races that he failed to score in, Rossi is still second. In the past, there was Biaggi, then Gibernau, then Hayden, and then Melandri and Pedrosa are supposed to be future threats, but what they had in potential and guile, then lacked in consistency, which is what makes Rossi the complete package. Stoner has always been reputed as a fast rider, but in the past, was prone to falling off - maybe he's actually mastered it now, or maybe he's just having a lucky year, only time will tell...but this is definately his year, and it would be unfair to use the machinery argument to take it away from him - we don't see Capirossi lying in second...

Well, just got a response from the HR of the company. It's not really much clearer, but they ideally want at least a confirmation of the dates of employment from the employer. Just a thought - would it be ok/appropriate to go to the ex-boss now, and get a letter-headed and signed statement to confirm the basics of the period of employment? And then provide this with the signed contract (and write something to explain)?

Jon - she had been there a total of around 12 months, but she wasn't properly full-time until June/July. We don't really have the extra energy of malice to take it further than we did, but yeah, after a bit of digging around about employment law etc, I basically wrote a "nice" letter that outlined how the dimissal procedure she followed was inappropriate, blah blah, and if she attempts to withold the owed salary (she convenient presented the dimissal right at the end of the calendar month - i.e. when the pay is due), then we would have no alternative but to seek further advice. One "joke" of an excuse that was on the list of "reasons for dismissal" - using the staff discount to help a friend purchase a gift - in itself, I would understand that the original sentiment of a staff discount could be interpreted in different ways, but there was never any clarification on contravening circumstances to this "benefit", and it was a one-off occurance anyway! But the real kicker - when she realised that she couldn't BS her way out of paying etc, and noticed that her "reasons" were as petty as she was, she couldn't resist taking a parting shot - and said that the "abuse" of the staff discount could constitute as theft! Hmm, I never even thought of that! Good plan, but probably won't help much on this occasion, cos the deadline for getting all of the contracts etc returned is less than a week away. But it might be worth doing anyway, even if just for a larf.

Thanks again the replies. I fully understand the "honesty is the best policy" idea, and have absolutely no intention of stating any untruths. What we've decided to do is suggest preferred references (from previous employers), as those jobs were more tied into the new job anyway. As I said, most of the resentment is due to way that it all happened - the points on the "dimissal" record were largely petty and even untrue, and threatened to withold payment due to some totally unrelated action - and the person who can do such a thing cannot possibly be trusted with providing a reference, especially when someone's future career is at stake! But it was a crappy job, and a crappy little business, run by a stereotypical lady. We got our justice in terms of her admitting that the dismissal may have been unjust, but she's the type of person who would say things under her breath, and you KNOW what she's actually thinking. Cheers,

Yes the first 4 care... And looking forward to the revamp Jon. Give me a shout if/when you need help

Thanks, Well, 'tis for the missus, who has been offered the job, and has been sent the contract etc to look through and fill in. Basically, the her last boss kinda pre-meditated the dismissal, and made up some blurb about "dismissal due to misconduct" (though not of the "gross" variety). We managed to argue it because the points were either petty or invalid, and she blatantly knew that she didn't have a leg to stand on, because she came back with 2 months wages and the P45. I haven't looked at the literature that has come through the post yet, but apparently they don't actually ask for references, but there is something about employment history...can they get around not specifically asking for references like this? Cheers,

Not for me (yet...), but just wondering if it is "possible" to not include the most recent employer as a reference? It's a graduate job, so hopefully they're only after character references anyway... On the flip side - can they go off and get references without "approval"? No contact details were provided when the application was made, but obviously you can just search for the company by name and address... Cheers!

Yeah, gutted that I didn't go for Sibierski...or even Jenas...I went for Scholes instead, but then realised that I had him setup as a sub! Oh well... I wasn't so sure on Stevie G producing the good this weekend, as he's injured an' all that...so gave the armband (and faith) to Tevez instead...

Install Windows.

Maybe he can't find the "Any" key?

Lame. Stupid Ronaldo But my Man City boys did me proud at the back. Looks like a couple of runaway leaders in the league

Condolances Tim. Thoughts go out to those he left behind, but from the sounds of it, he's led quite a life, and I imagine that he's gone to a better place now.

Well, it looks like Tevez is starting against Pompey, so fingers crossed for a debut hattrick.