MoneySavingExpert.com's Local Ebay Deals Finder

I have decided i needed a second-hand TV to play with and i used the Local Ebay Deals Finder app by www.MoneySavingExpert.com. The results were satisfactory. Easy to use, intuitive, app searches items listed on Ebay as 'Collection Only' and lets you search in your area - 5miles, 10miles, 15miles away etc. Based on the fact that a) you save on costs of transport and

b) most deals have usually less bids on them as the buyers are only limited to people redy to do collextion, rather than the whole of the UK competing and bidding on your auction. Depending on the area you live in that might or moght not be good for you, in my case it seemed perfect.

I have been adding items on my 'Watchlist' which match the criteria of being max. 15miles away and having a keyword search for 'tv'

Here are the, now, expired auctions (one of them i have won ;-)

I am not sure if you have an idea about models and prices but lets say the a cheap second-hand 32" TV of a known brand in a pawn brokers or cash generators shop would be about 100-135 pounds, depending on condition. You can see for yourself some of these tvs on my watch list have 'expired' been sold for a lower price.

Thank you and hope that helps

British autumn leek and potato soup recipe

Start with some pre boiled potatoes and one chopped large leek.

Finally - mix everything in the blender and add some hot water to dillute as you seem best for your taste. I magically managed to fit everything in one go into the blender and add maybe a tea cup of extra hot water to my taste. 

 Voilà

A bug shoutout, at the credits section, to the website www.studentcooking.tv and their Leek and Potato Soup recipe. I highly recommend you giving it a minute of your preparation time here: http://www.studentcooking.tv/recipes/leek-and-potato-soup 

Parking options in London - cheap - smart parking

Parking options in London - cheap - smart parking

Option 1- getting the Picadilly tube line at Southgate station

I would drive down to london so anything with north london and close to the M25 is fine with me.

I have identified one option in parking near the tube stop called Southgate, it is on the Picadilly line, which stops at Southgate tube. Car park address is Leigh Hunt Dr, London, England
It looks like this

Copyright - not mine - direct URL to image https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.630684,-0.126846,3a,75y,135.12h,74.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0hMMx76gbm6MPO7N7ds7Fw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Charges: - Minchenden (High Street)
Places: 100

Up to 1 hr £1.00
1 - 3 hrs - £2.00
3 - 5 hrs - £3.00
Over 5 hrs - £5.00
No Sunday charging

Charging periods:

Mon - Sat
07.30 – 18.30 hrs

Information confirmed at the time writing this 07/07/2015 with http://www.enfield.gov.uk/downloads/file/10735/enfield_car_park_charges

 The car park is located at Leigh Hunt Dr, immediately after leaving High Street, turn left into Leigh Hunt Drive if you are coming from M25 and Southgate station. The car park is 5mins walk to the tube station, you pass by the tube station on the way there and you just have to walk back a bit.
Here is the map:

Copyright - not mine - direct URL to image - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Leigh+Hunt+Dr,+London+N14+6DA/@51.6308667,-0.1275795,19z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x487619109435801f:0x2e4c491893b2678

The car park name is Minchenden

Copyright - not mine - Orignal image is a PDF available here - http://www.enfield.gov.uk/downloads/file/5900/minchenden_car_park_southgate

The car park is also listed at the Parkopedia site: http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/carpark/minchenden/n14/southgate/

From Southgate to central london is 25-30mins ride on one line and it takes you to central london.
Southgate, London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southgate,_London

Option 2 - Weekends only - onstreet parking at the financial heart of London - City of London

Very close to the Monument, London there is plenty of convenient onstreet parking. It is pay and display parking. It is free on Sundays, free at night and free most of Saturdays too.

Pay-and-display hours are:

The whole of the City is covered by a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).
The controlled hours for the CPZ are:

Mondays to Fridays 7am - 7pm
£1.20 for 15 minutes, or part thereof - £4.80 for 1 hour
Maximum stay 4 hours for £19.20

Saturdays 7am - 11am
excluding Bank and Public Holidays. £2.00 flat rate or £1.20 for 15 minutes, or part thereof

 Free outside the above times incl free all Sundays

Verified at the time of compiling this at 07/07/2015 with http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/parking/where-to-park/Pages/Pay-and-display.aspx - http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/parking/where-to-park/Pages/Pay-and-display.aspx

Location:
Dotted across the City of London, I have personally used the ones close to the Monument tube station.

Copyright - not mine - Interactive map available at URL http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/parking/where-to-park/Pages/Pay-and-display-bay-map.aspx

 --- The end

I have visited both option 1 and option 2 and I am writing this to share the experience with anyone else who wishes to travel to London and avoid massive car park charges. Driving and parking in London is affordable when you know little tricks like those I have mentioned above. Have a safe trip and enjoyable time in London!

Bikes

that really needs to go on Tumblr... but I can't remember my password now.

Some bike advers with prices and notes, all in June 2015 on a student learning portal small ads section. Collection only

Aliexpress.com - shopping around for an iPhone

I had this idea of trying to get an iPhone from Aliexpress and see if it is the real thing, it costs much less than in Europe. 

I found this thread interesting:

Re: fake iphone on Aliexpress

Posted 23 Sep 2010 20:18

Ahmed, you have been told over and over again that you can NOT buy origional phones cheap from China, you will only recive copies,
lease stop waisting your monney...........

MbM  

MVP: 18,922 Rank:19

Member Since: Aug,2005

Source: http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/500020566/fake_iphone_on_Aliexpress.htm

Some food for thought!

Also

Re: Re: fake iphone on Aliexpress

Posted 24 Sep 2010 09:35

yes that you can do, but use only paypal on Ebay, remember paypan is not secure uotside Ebay, Please forget all about brand name goods from China and Indonesia 

MbM  

MVP: 18,922 Rank:19

Member Since: Aug,2005

Learning Bulgarian - tips and resources

Some useful website for bulgarian learners and people interested in bulgarian culture (different perspectives) 

The blogger Karoline (Karolinka): 
http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2013/06/06/10-things-i-already-know-that-ill-miss/#comments

The omniglot colletion of audio recordings: 
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/bulgarian.php 

Various economics resources

Various economics resources

Observatory of Economic Complexity (MIT edu)
http://atlas.media.mit.edu/explore/tree_map/hs/import/rus/show/all/2012/

Piera - Bringing together experts from industry and academia to discuss some of the biggest issues facing our economy today.
http://www.pieria.co.uk/

Simon Wren-Lewis Professor of Economics - University of Oxford
http://www.pieria.co.uk/experts/Simon_Wren-Lewis

Manchester - Prof Diane Coyle Professor of Economics - University of Manchester, OBE
Personal Details, Research, Publications, Teaching
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/Diane.coyle/personaldetails

Repec - Daria Taglioni - World Bank, Econimist
https://ideas.repec.org/e/pta176.html