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Post by EspadaIII on May 24, 2021 10:02:04 GMT
Two weeks ago, with my son having been rejected from many of the gradute schemes of the larger surveying firms, we were worried that he might have to return home and work in the family business to qualify. Not something he or I really wanted for a whole load a reasons.
Anyway a week ago he had an offer from the government Valuation Office Agency but based in Croydon (he wants to live in Hendon) and an offer from a fim I know a little whose main office is Leytonstone. He is mulling them over and is having a detailed chat with the private firm tomorrow.
But at least it shows that vocational qualifications will eventually get you a job - and Espadrille and I can sleep knowing that he will soon be off the payroll (or at least making a smaller dent in the family finances).
Thoughts from our southern based drinkers? I don't know the day to day workings of the VOA in terms of site visits etc, but he will almost certianly need a car for the other job. How does that square with ULEZ?
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WDB
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Post by WDB on May 24, 2021 11:02:15 GMT
Thoughts from our southern based drinkers? Drinkers? Worth a read of the ULEZ regs, which can be condensed to: from 24 October, to drive within the North Circular-South Circular ring will require one of a post-2005 petrol engine, a post-2015 diesel, something in a Clean Vehicle category such as an EV or a £12.50 daily charge. Leytonstone is within the extended ULEZ, Croydon is not, but driving to either from Hendon (which is just outside) without passing through it will be a challenge. The employer may also make some stipulations about what their people travel in, and an ancient Punto with panels in multiple colours may not make the cut.☺️ |
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Post by Humph on May 24, 2021 11:11:32 GMT
Sounds like another question to which the answer might be Aygo. Or similar. Cheap to buy and run, good in city traffic etc. Reliable and so on. Easy to park. All that.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on May 24, 2021 11:18:25 GMT
I’m seeing Aygos everywhere these days, but I did notice a lot of them in London yesterday, even in swanky Kensington and Chelsea. It does seem as good a fit for that kind of use as anything without batteries.
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Post by Humph on May 24, 2021 11:22:10 GMT
I think they are fulfilling the role left vacant by the original Mini. It was briefly taken up by the Mk1 Panda but the Aygo and its derivatives seem to be the ubiquitous small, do anything, affordable car now.
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Post by Humph on May 24, 2021 11:48:53 GMT
Wouldn't fancy commuting from Hendon to Croydon by car, but Leytonstone might be more doable.
Neither journey on a twice daily basis would be especially attractive though.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on May 24, 2021 14:10:00 GMT
Hendon to Croydon as a newbie with a fixed 8, 8:30, 9 o'clock start will be the stuff of nightmares. There is always a bump somewhere that will stuff the journey up.
20 years ago I used to do Streatham to Acton. 35 minutes in the morning leaving at 6:30. 1:15 to 1:30 in the evening or longer if things went really wrong.
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Post by EspadaIII on May 24, 2021 16:28:36 GMT
Hendon to Croydon we assume would be done using Overground. If a car is needed then it would be a day of multiple visits rather than attending the office. Knowing the way the VOA work, they have property referencers who do the bulk of the visits, leaving the professional staff to deal with the valuation work from a desk.
Hendon to Leytonstone would be along the North Circular and then diving inside. Tube or similar takes 70 minutes. Car takes 45 at worst according to google.
Judging from ULEZ stuff we will need to change his car. I think I would prefer him to have something a little larger than an Aygo and I know of a Fiesta coming up for sale in December when its owner emigrates.
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Post by dixinormus on May 24, 2021 21:10:49 GMT
Take Hendon out of the equation and appraise each job on its merit?
Why live in Hendon? Accommodation costs might be lower in Croydon, away from London. And he could have any car he likes because he’s nowhere near the ULEZ zone.
This issue has plagued me all my working life. Do I live closer to my work, or find a job closer to where I (wish to) live...
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WDB
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Post by WDB on May 24, 2021 21:46:04 GMT
Accommodation costs might be lower in Croydon, away from London. And he could have any car he likes because he’s nowhere near the ULEZ zone. Closer than you might think. (The east-west yellow line on the map is the South Circular.)  I suspect living in Croydon would present plenty of opportunities to wander inside the ULEZ - and frustration if prevented by the wrong choice of car. |
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Post by EspadaIII on May 25, 2021 5:35:48 GMT
Hendon, Golders Green, Edgware. We're Jewish... we live in self imposed ghettos for one main reason. We do not use transport of any description on Saturdays or festivals. We walk. So if we want to socialise or go to the synagogue, we walk. Therefore we live within walking distance of each other.
My son would no more live in Croydon than Timbuktu. The centre of twenty something Jewish life in the UK is Hendon. That's where his friends live or will be living and most likely his, as yet unknown, wife.
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Post by dixinormus on May 25, 2021 8:12:39 GMT
Can’t blame you lot for exhaust pollution on Saturdays then can we?! 😂
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Post by EspadaIII on May 25, 2021 12:41:12 GMT
Yeah but I'm sure we make up for it on other days... The number of people near me who drive about 1/2 mile during the rest of the week is appalling. If its raining I get it, but on a perfectly reasonable day - just walk!
One of my neighbours attends a synagogue nearer to us than my synagogue. He drives, I walk. Usually I walk past his synagogue before he's got there due to traffic.
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Post by dixinormus on May 25, 2021 19:53:55 GMT
No offence intended by the way 😄.
But, to cross reference the ULEZ thread, we all drive too much, as illustrated in your anecdotal evidence. I have to post a letter this morning; the post office is a mile away. I am not going to wake up the car from its 3-week slumber in the garage, I will walk or cycle. Less stressful, and healthy exercise.
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Post by Humph on May 25, 2021 20:34:50 GMT
I always walk or cycle when possible, always have, partly, well, mostly actually, because under normal circumstances, I find I spend quite enough time sitting on my bum in a car. I just prefer to untangle these old bones a bit when possible by moving them. I think it might stem a bit from having spent my childhood in a busy city where self propulsion is more normal.
Only time I'll take the car on a short journey is if I need to deliver or collect something bulky like supermarket shopping, or maybe take something to the tip. If I'm just popping into town to the bank or post office or something, it's a ten minute ride or a twenty minute walk across the park. By the time I've driven in and found somewhere to park there's no useful time saving over taking the bike. And it saves a quid for parking. 😉
Whether it's superstition or good practice I'm not sure, but I've always taken the view that if the engine isn't likely to warm through to its normal operating temperature on a journey, then it's probably a journey I should try to make without using an engine.
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