Twitter and online security

Somebody on Twitter reported that they got burgled after telling Twitter they were away.

It's an obvious security risk if the house is empty. And if you've left a frail granny alone she could be scared by prowlers and call the police and save you from burgled but give herself a nasty turn.

Maybe the Twittery Twitters would have got burgled anyway because they give out security information like that to everybody they meet, shout it to neighbours on the doorstep, tell the postman, the milk delivery man, the friends and eavesdroppers at the pub, leave a notice on their door. Nobody needs to know the exact dates of your trip.

If you are investigating a country for a forthcoming holiday, you don't have to say I'm going there tomorrow, you could say, I'm trying to decide whether winter or summer is best for a trip, to advise a friend who might go there one year. You don't have to say I got home (giving your location) - if you have two homes. Remember the saying, even the walls have ears.

So, what's the solution?

When away, give your phone to trusted neighbours so they answer.

If your trip's long, scatter valuables in locked boxes or suitcases amongst relatives. Not left lying in their hall, but somewhere safe. Hidden. Locked. Disguised.

Get 2-3 trusted relatives to house-sit. If it's granny and children make sure able-bodied neighbours watch the property checking sitters are safe.

My area's Neighbourhood Watch has pensioners walking dogs.

If you forget and twitter your travels, mention your house-sitters.

Once when I was away I had 11 people in my house - including my parents, my son, three of his friends (all martial arts experts staying over) and neighbours making tea for everybody. My trusted gardener painted the fence. I phoned each person twice a day checking who was there. They were all keeping an eye on each other.

We also do house-swap with families and get the neighbours to pop in and help them. Everybody loves it. The neighbours make new friends. The visitors feel really looked after. The family don't miss us. They are too busy telling the newcomers how to operate the heating and the appliances.

Twitter non-location items such as favourite books and records.

Even living at home don't twitter forthcoming movements like 'just off to the shops'. Nobody except your mother or children wants to know that you've been shopping or made yourself a cup of coffee. I certainly don't want to know that a dozen people have been shopping or made coffee. Even a world class celebrity.

Nor do I need to know about my own family. (Unless they are overdosing on coffee or drink. ) Your close family only want to know you went shopping or drank coffee if it affects them with an implied message - such 'as don't come home yet', or 'come home now'. If so, you are better texting individuals.

If paranoid or careful, check criminal records of twitter twins.

Be 'friends' only with identifiable people showing face photos. If you are in contact with faceless people, you should not reveal any details about yourself and your movements.

Save overseas reports; put them online the week after you get back. As a travel writer I have always done this because when travelling I'm usually too busy to check facts and only reorganize and edit after I get home.

FIRE PICTURES

More Fire Pictures

Copyright Angela Lansbury

FIRE!

Fire At No 13, Hillview Road, Hatch End

Flames shot up from trees in a garden in Hatch End on Wednesday April 1st late afternoon. Neighbours rushed to the scene. 

I saw the fire as a small flame beyond the garages, seen above them, therefore at least eight foot high. 

I saw people running from No 11 to No 13. Nobody had phones in their hands. So, in case they had all rushed to help before phoning, or everybody assumed that somebody else had phoned, I dialled 999.

I alerted the Fire Brigade to the fire at No 13 Hillview Road. I was relieved to hear them say they were already on their way, having been alerted to a fire at No 11. 

The flame suddenly shot up twice as wide and higher. In retrospect I realize that it must have been one of the taller trees catching fire and flames shooting up from it.

I dashed over to shout to people to get out of the house.

Smoke billowed as high as the houses. The fire engine arrived and officers entered Number eleven. With amazing speed, seconds later, I saw the hoses on the ground in front of the house and smoke diminishing at the back. Fire officers also entered number eleven to douse the fire from the other side. 

I took a quick instant snap of fire woman Helen Demayer (with her permission). But I did not question her and delay her as the fire people were still busy spraying water on the smouldering trees. 

Neighbours stayed with a shocked person at No 13 until other members of the family who were away shopping could get home. One of the neighbours offered to make tea. What a good thought.

A day later it was evident several trees had been burned. A member of the fire crew had confirmed my impression, that a few seconds later the fire could have caught the house.

The cause of the fire cannot be stated - at least not by me. At first a passer-by in the street thought that the fire started at number eleven. It was in the garden. So the most likely cause was a bonfire.  But was it? No. Next day, other said they thought the cause was a flame weed-killer. This has not been confirmed.

How can you prevent garden fires happening to you? What causes fires in summer? Cigarettes? Barbecues? Avoid barbecues on just the day when it's fine weather? Only hold barbecues on drizzly days! Some hot countries ban both fires and barbecues on hot days.  The sign on the side of the fire engine said that free smoke alarms are available.

Neighbours calling at number 13 had thought the fire had started spontaneously. We stood around wondering. Residents want to be sure it won't happen again. Somebody said it could have been anything, such as a piece of glass catching or reflecting the light. It was one of the hottest days of the year. 

It may be April 1st but it was no joke to have fire destroying trees and frightening the family. A superstitious person might say the people at No 13 were unlucky. But I would say they were lucky. Only the trees were damaged. The quick action of the fire brigade prevented the fire spreading to houses and nobody was hurt. Fire brigades must get called to worse fires at houses which are not number 13. However, I shall remember that on April 1st I saw flames at number 13.

Statistics:

12,000 people are killed or injured in UK house fires each year. Risk factors inside houses include candles, deep fat fryers and woks, electric blankets (we had a fire start suddenly when somebody was in the bed), TVs and electrical devices left on stand-by overnight or unattended in the daytime. Smoke alarms should be installed on each level of a building and tested regularly.

For a smoke alarm contact:

Fire Brigade Safe and Sound 08000 28 44 28.

Useful websites: www.london-fire.gov.uk

www.firekills.gov..uk

The London  site includes information including giving a questionnaire on your home's firerisk assessment, offers of fire safety checks, and email contact details.

For more information or permission to print copyright photos, contact freelance writer and photo-journalist Angela Lansbury. 

annalondon8@gmail.com

First published in blogger.com under AngelaLansburyAuthorDiary

WORDS & PICTURES COPYRIGHT ANGELA LANSBURY 2009

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Tip sheet 1 Spelling, cooking, emails

2009 Tip Sheet 1

Organizing your life

Work

Spelling -

It is good to use a spell checker. It looks good if you can spell. You wouldn't believe the spelling on the internet. A profile just popped up on a site with the word 'beginer'. The writer is obviously a beginner at checking work.

Social -

Cooking dinner for special occasions

A friend broke a dessert he was making. A fruit flan with white chocolate and creme anglaise. It made a dreadful mess.

How did he break it? Carrying it? Or lifting it out? 

I bought a flan dish whose design is the latest thing, a kind of heat-proof imitation rubber. The idea is that you can extract food easily without needing to grease the dish nor line it with rice paper. 

However, it is so soft and flexible you cannot carry it with liquids in it. You have to place it on a tray and slide it off. The instructions should warm you.

Social Emails -

On the internet, when speaking to strangers in chat rooms and on dating sites, you use a nickname to disguise your identity especially if you are going to be using a laptop for teaching children and it is seen by others and backed up by the family. Your name is your PR. It can be used to repel or attract.

Credentials of the author

I write factual articles and books. I am a good researcher. Former encyclopaedia writer. I now do business websites.

Contact annalondon8 (gmail)

Hatch End Accident Closes Road - car roof cut off

Hatch End's high street, the Uxbridge Road, was closed at both ends from before noon until about 3pm on Friday March 27th 2009 because of a two vehicle accident. This had taken place at the pedestrian crossing about 10 am, according to a worker in a hairdressing shop alongside.

Local author and blogger Angela Lansbury took photos of the car in the roadway with its roof cut off, and the car roof lying on the pavement. The roof had been cut off to release the passenger of the front car. 

Several police vehicles and police were at the scene. Traffic was stopped at both ends of the shopping area for several hours and diverted. 

The two damaged vehicles remained in place with yellow marks on the road and wheels during the lunch hour. Parts of the car and personal possessions lay in the road.

Pedestrians were able to cross intermittently. But later they were asked to wait whilst a police car did a skid test to check the road condition on the day of the accident. 

The car roof was placed back on the car which was driven off by a transporter. Debris was swept up although some remained. The road re-opened early afternoon.  

file:///Users/angelasharot/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/2009/27%20Mar%202009/DSC04298.JPG

For more information or permission to print contact:

annalondon8 @ g mail dot com

Tel: 020 8 428 96 38.

Photo(s) and report by author and freelance journalist/photographer Angela Lansbury

copyright Angela Lansbury