I live in a small 1870s Victorian mid terrace cottage and the cupboard with the mains electric/gas etc is just inside front wall.  I removed all the old ivy from the front of the house as I want it re-painted inc lots of roots and trunks.

1. Under the ivy is 2 thick electric cables in brown although painted over going from my meter inside up to the eaves somewhere. The cable clips have mostly deteriorated. Are these OK just to be left and painted over again?

2. Also there is a newish lookig green cable about 5mm thick which appears to go from a socket on the inside (sited about 300mm above floor level) through the wall and down into the earth below? Is this an earth wire? and if so is it ok now exposed like this? When I bought th ehouse 12 years ago it wasnt earthed and I remember having to have an electrician to do some work.

Also found some exposed gas pipes from fire to gas meter box outside - anyone know if these are ok?