Ant

*materialises with an Old Fashioned, sits, sips, smiles* *wonders what Keef and DM have been up to on Goose Green*

Thanks all, I ended up staying with Orange in the end. Free new phone (sony ericcson k800i), 400 anytime xnet mins and 1100 texts all for ?20 per month. But if I hadn't threatened to go to 3 I doubt I'd have done as well. Will still consider them when this new contract's up though.

I suppose, technically, I was outside any pub you care to mention. No shades for me either.

*runs for the hills*

*shuffles through, bottle in hand* (bottle of milk, that is; not booze)

*gives bagpuss conspiratorial nod - all is understood*

*staggers in, worn out by a long day entertaining children and guests* *spies a beanbag next to bagpuss and thinks it looks comfy* *flops down and sinks deep into it* *settles back and yawns behind hand* *screws up nose, but is too tired to move to another seat*

Have you ever tried Spice Republic, Keef? I'd be interested to know your opinion on them compared to the Coriander.

*shakes head at self, as took far too long to work it out*

Perhaps I'll give them another try, but if the next time is anything like the last time then I won't be going back again.

I had my first meal from the Coriander the other day, and I have to say I was far from impressed. I had handi lazeez and the mrs had gajor chicken. Hers was so-so, punctuated by the occasional searing-hot chilli. Mine was brown slop devoid of flavour or spice. My chapati was dry and tasted stale, but on the plus side the bombay potato was very nice. Perhaps it was just an off-night, but it was still quite a disappointment.

I'd love to get rid of our tank - takes up far too much space in the bathroom.

Why run out and shout when you can run out and drive away? If you get away in time they can't give you the ticket, as proven in a recent court case.

It took me until Keef's second post to work out what this thread was even about. :/

My brain hurts.

*realises is being noisy in the quiet room* *desists* *looks around, a bit lost for what to do next*

*joins in with crude imitation of a didgeridoo* (Crude as in not very good, rather than crude as in obscene.)

We're getting our garden done before we start in the house in earnest for the simple reason that there's no access to the back garden from the street, so it's all got to go through the house. Might be worth bearing in mind if you're in a similar situation. Now is probably a good time to start thinking about/arranging to have your boiler done, so that you're ready to have the work carried out once the weather is a bit warmer.

WYH, panowie, etc. I thought this might happen eventually.

I say! *adjusts monocle* This sounds like an event not to miss.

I'm thinking of switching from Orange to 3. Can anyone tell me what they're like? Can you speak to a person if you call customer services or do you just get loads of automated menu option nonsense?

You could always do it with couscous or bulgar wheat and change the rosemary for perhaps some cumin, ground coriander... mustard seeds... shift down from southern europeanish to northern africanish. Leave out the tom sauce altogether. Might be a bit dry though... harissa? Hmm...

We have a two-bed terrace in ED. It's lovely, but since the kids arrived it's a bit small for us. We'd love to move to a bigger house in ED, but it's just not possible on our salaries, even though we both have decent jobs and are, by most standards, doing OK. So we have two choices: get a loft conversion or leave ED. I really don't want to leave ED.

Something I've been doing lately. Not special but rather nice, and dead easy. Season some chicken breasts and brush them with olive oil, roast them in the oven along with some peppers, courgette, onions, maybe a couple of cherry tomatoes. (Also brush the veg with olive oil and chuck some rosemary in there.) Then I do a really simple tomato sauce to go with: small bit of oil, half an onion, small clove garlic (crushed), maybe chuck a dried chilli in if you have one, tin-o-toms, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar. Oh, and praps some spuds to go with too... new spuds or summat, or even a baked spud that you can do in the oven at the same time as everything else.

I'll admit to having a soft spot for that Norn Irish waitress in Black Cherry. Does that go some way to restoring the balance, Keith?