Forum Topics

Planes arriving Heathrow

Many planes landing at Heathrow are full of cargo. A relative flew to Beijing (as crew member). No stopover in Beijing special dispensation to do immediate turnaround. It was a BA passenger plane but the hold and cabin were filled with PPE 

Sean Wales ● 2374d5 Comments ● 2372d

Mobile Covid 19 testing

Hounslow will be hosting a Mobile Testing Unit for Coronavirus testing at Grasshoppers' Rugby Club, Osterley, on Thursday 7th May and Friday 8th May. Mobile Testing Units are an essential part of the national testing programme as they offer pedestrian appointments as well as drive-through appointments. You must book an appointment before attending the Mobile Testing Unit. Testing site location:Grasshoppers Rugby ClubSyon LnOsterleyIsleworth TW7 5PN * Testing criteria: The priority is testing patients to inform their clinical diagnosis. They are also testing: ·        all essential workers including NHS and social care workers with symptoms (within 5 days of symptoms)·        anyone over 65 with symptoms  (within 5 days of symptoms)·        anyone with symptoms whose work cannot be done from home (for example, construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers)  (within 5 days of symptoms)·        anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus and lives with any of those identified above  (within 5 days of symptoms) Additionally, they are testing: ·        social care workers in care homes (with or without symptoms) ·        NHS workers without symptoms according to NHS England guidelines Appointments may be prioritised for frontline staff. Book an appointmentAppointments are open for both Thursday and Friday now via the gov.uk link:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested Anyone who shows up without an appointment will not be tested. The testing centre will be operating between 10.30-15.30. Alternative testing provisionPlease note that if an appointment is not available at the Grasshoppers’ site then the same testing criteria apply for bookings at the Twickenham testing site , and they operate 7 days a week. They do however only offer drive-in appointments. There are also home testing kits available, bookable via the same self-service portal on the gov.uk website. Questions or problems If anyone has any problems booking via the portal please contact the National Coronavirus Testing Helpline on 0300 303 2713 If you have any questions about eligibility or the importance of testing, please email HOUCCG.communications@nhs.net Kind regards Hounslow CCG Communications TeamWebsite: www.hounslowccg.nhs.ukTwitter: @HounslowCCG

Iris Hill ● 2373d0 Comments ● 2373d

Bright silver 5 point star in the north.

Did anyone else see this star tonight?   A friend from near the New Forest on the River Avon reported at 9.40pm "I took the dog out and there ahead of me was a huge bright star which just looked like the picture of the star of Bethleham on Christmas cards with 5 distinct points and bright silver. The sky is very clear tonight and that was the only star I could see. I stared at it for 5 minutes or so enthralled as it was so large. If you are still up see if you can see it – it is to the north."   I'm rather hemmed in with tall trees so couldn't see much sky.   Anyone see this huge star and know what it could be?

Jennifer Selig ● 2374d4 Comments ● 2373d

Parcels to the USA

I sent a small package over two weeks ago to San Francisco and it hasn’t arrived. Wondered if anyone knew whether parcels were being stopped  and only letters (or nothing!) getting through?

Elizabeth Jane Daley ● 2382d4 Comments ● 2373d

Test target achieved

Great job a big thank you to everyone involved in making this happen,

Jayne Thorburn ● 2378d166 Comments ● 2373d

MOVE MOVE MOVE

To the full-on runner (not leisurely jogger!) who blasted out of Park Road at the intersection with Staveley Road about an hour ago, shouting MOVE MOVE MOVE at me as I walked along the pavement at normal pace, pausing briefly to decide whether you were going to run straight ahead or turn the corner towards me, please get a reality check and some manners on who needed to make a quick (and preferably quiet) move move move around whom! We are all trying to do our best to navigate around one another with politeness and courtesy. You do not have a right to shout at others when you are the human equivalent of the vehicles that are speeding down emptier roads at the moment! Very happy that you are out exercising in your preferred way but....really! I have previously had to cross the routes of both the Rome and Washington DC marathons and no runner was as dramatic or demanding as you in their requests for non-runners to give way...just some feedback I hope you'll consider for your run tomorrow!!!

Tamara Mehta ● 2376d37 Comments ● 2373d

£5 phone cards..

Anyone know who is locally selling the £5 phone cards to use when telephoning overseas..My shop on Bedford Corner's shut for the duration.Thanks (hopefully)..

Stuart Kerr ● 2373d5 Comments ● 2373d

Grove Park Farm history...

News from our Australian correspondent who originated the Cato thread...Jennifer asks this morning about her grandma Emily Archbold (nee Brown) who (some might recall) married Sydney Archbold who lived with the Cato family and worked for a time in the shop...Anyway Emily Brown aged 13 is now found in the 1911 census staying in the cottage of Grove Park Farm  (AKA Smith's Farm) with farm foreman Joseph Holmes and wife (her uncle and aunt).  Flip the page on the census and you find the Smith family living in the 13 room farmhouse.Jen asks about Grove Park Farm.  Should anyone have any stories to tell do please tell:-Anyway in 1911 Emily's future husband, our orphan Sydney was living about a mile away in Devonshire Road.   They used to meet up at their local Baptist Church.  A teenage romance that developed into a lifetime love story..So Jen also asks about Baptist church's in Chiswick.  What's the history?  I know about Annandale Road Church but nothing further.  Would they have been meeting in Annandale Road (closer to him)  OR would he have walked to a Baptist church closer to the farm where his younger girlfriend was living..?

Stuart Kerr ● 2373d2 Comments ● 2373d

Cleaner required West Chiswick

I am posting on behalf of the daughter(lives outside of London) of elderly neighbours. They need a cleaner once a week. It's a big house but they mainly occupy the ground floor so will not involve cleaning the whole house. Must be reliable as their existing one was unreliable. Before I get posts on social distancing etc. details to be agreed with daughter. House is short walk from Gunnersbury tube station. Thanks for any recommendations as not sure if cleaners are still working. Feel free to message me directly

Marek Mika ● 2373d0 Comments ● 2373d

Age discrimination?

Baroness Altman has conjectured that people over 70 would not agree with complying with a requirement to self-isolate if the limitations on younger persons were lifted. The argument being oldies are more vulnerable and consequently more likely to self-harm and infect others.To the "older" population of this site, what say you?

Jeffrey Cope ● 2376d42 Comments ● 2373d

London Bus Drivers and TfL

I have just read the front page article on how London bus drivers are faring under TfL. It looks to be a well researched and balanced piece of journalism.At its core is the lack of management and investment by TfL in the bus service.Yet, and yet, TfL are prepared to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on building segregated cycle lanes for the (very) few.Talk about getting priorities wrong; so Khan and his side-kick Norman can grandstand to the vocal cycling lobby.TfL have long appeared to be an organisation that is not fit for purpose. Sadly there does not appear to be any saving light in the short to medium term.Will the re-commencement of construction on CS9 be one of the early return to work activities to the detriment of the bus service which moves so many Londoners.I wouldn't bet on it.

David Millar ● 2392d39 Comments ● 2373d

The Bike Projects needs your old, unwanted bicycles. Pop-up drop off in W4

Hi Everyone,This is my first time posting! This is a callout for old, unloved and abandoned bikes needed for a one-off collection for a London refugee charity (www.thebikeproject.co.uk).The Bike Project does an amazing job collecting bikes that have been abandoned or are no longer needed. Their team fixes them up to donate to refugees to be able to get safely and cheaply around London (most asylum seekers are prohibited from working and live on £5.75 per day). At the minute it is also offering free online repairs and support to NHS workers.If you’ve been using lockdown to do a spring clean, or to clear out your garage or garden, use your daily exercise to bring a bike (in any condition), save it from languishing, and give to a good cause.Drop off Information:Chiswick Village Estate Office, W4 3DFWednesday 13th May, 4pm-6pmDrop your bike by the Estate Office.I’ll be there coordinating from a safe distance.The bikes are due to be collected later that evening by van and taken to their Deptford workshop.Thanks!Ed

Edward Hulme ● 2374d7 Comments ● 2373d

Strand on the Green PO

FYI - after much deliberation, review of medical advice and consultation with the Post Office, my mum's post office will still be shut temporarily.My mum sends her apologies for the inconvenience and thanks all for their patience. Whilst she's keen to open again as soon as, I'm afraid the risks are still too great at the moment, especially with her lung condition and uncertainty with other post offices in the area.I'll provide another update when I know more.

Milan Joshi ● 2375d7 Comments ● 2374d

Seal sighted on the Thames

We were out for a walk yesterday (Monday 4th) along the Thames and spotted a seal frolicking in the river upstream of Brentford.  Unfortunately, I only managed to get a photo of his/her nose.  I imagine that with the near elimination of river traffic, there must be increasing numbers of such sightings - but we still found it exciting!

Andrzej Kowalski ● 2374d8 Comments ● 2374d

Soft toys wanted for chairty event

Soft toys in good condition wanted for our annual fund raising event in May on behalf of H.A.N.D.S. Twickenham Neighbourhood charity. Many of you were kind enough to donate soft toys previous years so once again I am asking for your help.  All the money raised goes to help people who are mainly elderly or housebound.  The chairty is small and self funding and is run totally by volunteers. Please reply if you have any unwanted soft toys in good condition and I will be happy to collect them. Many thanks.

Sheila Wright ● 2438d1 Comments ● 2374d

Oldest shop currently on Chiswick High Road?

On the back of the local history discussions on here, we were wondering what the oldest shop still trading on Chiswick High Road (pre-lockdown of course) could be. If I had to hazard a guess I would suggest Billings and Edmonds, the school uniform supplier, but I'm sure people on here will have better ideas...

Birna Helgadottir ● 2381d48 Comments ● 2374d

Local charity shops

When they reopen, do any of them take costume jewellery?Thanks in advance.

Ken Munn ● 2374d1 Comments ● 2374d

Found car keys

I found a set of car keys belonging to a Mercedes vehicle on the road behind Cygnet rowing house near Barnes Bridge. I gave them to a local patrol police man who said he would book them in at Hounslow. I hope the owner is reunited with them!

Michelle Lepherd ● 2374d0 Comments ● 2374d

Wi-Fi and DVD installation

Can anyone recommend someone that will get my DVD to work and perhaps at the same time try to improve my Wi-Fi. All modern equipment. I appreciate that it may have to wait for a Virus-whileThanks

Patrick O Connor ● 2374d3 Comments ● 2374d

Petition urging folk to ignore CLICKBAIT petitions posted by...

... a childish attention-seeking brat seeking to exploit legitimate passions shared by a few in search of extremely cheap forum approbation...it stinks..

Stuart Kerr ● 2378d43 Comments ● 2374d