mercuryg

"Was/is there an ancient well up there?" I tried to post a picture of a map I found online that shows an 'Old Hall Well' to the South of Front Street in the mid 19th century, but it didn't work. Can I attach documents on here? Am I stupid?

I have a framed page from one of my school PE reports which read 'Steven has worked hard all year without displaying any particular talent.'

Well done Keith, I hope it works out for you!

On a more serious note before I get to work (yes, Malcolm, I do sometimes.....) a while back I was asked by a younger friend of mine to take a look at his cv as he was getting nowhere. Bear in mind, this cv had been created on one of those courses the Job Centre (or whatever they call it now) sends them on, where a 'professional' tutor guides them through it, checks it, and passes it fit for purpose. Quite frankly, this one (and several others I later looked at as I was concerned at once for these youngsters looking for jobs) was utterly abysmal. It began with a personal statement that opened with the line (sic) 'Ah am an experienced.....' I won't bother to continue. The whole thing was littered with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and so on. Now, I know, I write for a profession, and fully understand that not everybody has the standards I do, but this wasn't about standards, it was about basic, simple errors. I cleaned it up for him in half an hour, correcting the grammar, restructuring sentences so they read better and moving his school qualifications (a handful of GCSE's - the lad was 30) behind his work experience. Whether by coincidence or not, he got a job the next month. If this is the standard of cr*p that these official job centre courses (what on earth are they paying these 'professionals'?) are approving, how can anyone expect to get a job? As I said, I subsequently reviewed a further few cv's; all of them would have been in the bin without a second glance.

I remember once being put in charge, with a colleague, of the task of finding a new office admin assistant. Young girl walks in, great credential, fine cv, pleasant; my colleague took the lead: 'So, Helen, you have a good deal of experience, I think you'd do fine.Now, do you watch Emmerdale, cos I missed it last night.....'

The Rev Savage; can't recall the male name, but it's now Helen, and she is a wine correspondent who often appears on Radio Newcastle.

Interesting stuff; The Monkey is, incidentally, still open, under new management, and doing OK by all accounts.

How do you get a fat girl into bed? Piece of cake! (Sorry, I'll leave town right now)

I agree; the thing is, if used as originally intended, they can be an easy way of getting a small, short term loan for a matter of days; it's when people get into trouble paying it back that things get nasty.

aah I get you, see, I was right!! The concept of payday loans has become much less attractive in the last year as they are now bound by some serious restrictions. Advertising is to be regulated to a great degree - as with the PPI claims handling companies - which makes it harder to attract customers. The list of things that can no longer be stated in advert texts and promotional material for both of these areas is colossal.....

"i can easily get another cock bird" Like the way you neatly avoided a repeat of my puerile joke......

It will happen here soon, too; I used to a lot of work writing promo articles or payday loans companies - it's dried up, the bubble has burst.

Thank you Eggy, although I must confess I was being facetious!

"The link you provide is a solicitor offering genuine mitigation strategies, not a service to evade commercial rates." Of course they're genuine, but they are ways to 'evade commercial rates' - that is, after all, what they achieve! "Believe me the situation is little to do with greedy and stupid landlords asking unrealistic rents, and a lot more to do with a general lack of enterprise." Naturally this is part of the problem; I would suggest that a lack of originality in thinking also comes into play. One small town can only sustain so many hair and beauty salons and tattoo parlours, after all. Then, of course, there's the difficulty in getting start up help; the demise of Go Wansbeck hasn't helped and, as the final client of Wansbeck Works, I can only feel for people looking to make a genuine start in business. "...and I don't think you yourself are in any way anti-business" I'm not sure why anyone would be? Understand, I am talking of my experience with a handful of retail properties in a specific location; I am not expert on rents and rates across the North East, and have no doubt that there are landlords who would be happy to negotiate. I, unfortunately, didn't find them, and my friend's subsequent experience - she eventually did open a business on the Front Street, although not in the field she had originally intended - was not a happy one either. I shall refrain from naming it! As for me, find me well-priced office space in the town and I'll gladly take it.

"Hope you have 2 cocks Brian....." Not sure how that would work?

"to say there is no incentive to respond to negotiation by landlords in general is a very one sided view in my opinion." I couldn't agree more, but the other side of the argument is:why are these properties standing empty? I would venture that it's because those wishing to rent - and I've been involved in more than one instance - are not able to afford the prices asked by the owners, who are similarly not willing to budge. "even a short term license to occupy of 6 weeks has costs associated with it" Indeed, but a lot less than permanent occupancy when rates are suspended once its over.

Where's that then?

"There are several reasons why a landlord wants to see a property occupied," I speak from my own personal experience; I'm not stupid either, and attempted negotiation didn't help.

"The sort of thing you mention is criminal..." On the contrary; it's a perfectly legal loophole. I have been involved in creating website copy for companies that offer services in this area; See here: http://www.bllaw.co.uk/services_for_businesses/commercial_real_estate/news_and_updates/empty_property_rates.aspx - in particular the section on 'short term letting' and note that the void period for industrial units is six months. **I might add that, during the 43 day period, full rates must be paid. For the record, one company I did the work for stores insulation products in the premises.

Malcolm, what's 20 flats between friends?

"plug your cables int Keith's cat" On this note I was once given very valuable advice by a wise man: it is, quite simply, 'never use a cat's arse to hang a tea towel.....'

Well, Fourgee, I am aware of the practice of negotiation! However, my personal involvement in trying to secure that particular shop confirmed what Adam adds- the owner is not interested in negotiating. In fact, when we first showed an interest the rent was £12000p/a. Next time we spoke - days later - it had been hiked to £14000. I'm not the only one who found this; one person wanted to open a coffee shop there, found it overpriced and non-negotiable, and promptly took premises further up the street. There is simply no incentive on the part of private landlords to respond to lower rents. Furthermore, there is the subject of commercial premises rates mitigation; if premises are empty there is a 3 month void period in which rates are non-payable; after this, full rates apply. Once the property has been occupied for 43 days, the cycle starts again. There are companies who offer to use premises for storage or other means - rendering them 'occupied' - for the 43day period, and then move out afterwards. Thus, a great saving on rates on empty properties. I wonder if Mr Johnson is aware of this.....

I'm no longer in the market; I doubt that negotiation would help - we tried, as did others, to no avail. The owner seems in no rush to lease at any price. I would never have told them it was in the prime position when I was looking at it - I'm far more business savvy than that - but the fact remains it is.

Jobs for the boys?

Can I plug my shaver in?