mockney piers

Or Kate Moss's wit, Woss's tits, Jade's legs, Nesbitt's ears and Blears' personality. Eeeeeeeeek

I'm surprised the tories didn't just draft in a random local celeb a la the Ealing by-election. Who do you think might just swing the vote their way? David Beckham? Kate Moss? Jonathan Woss? Lily Allen? Jade? James Nesbitt? Hazel Blears?

Great response, looks like we'll be able to get a team together. The enemy has floated a preliminary date of 18th August, how does this sound to people? Obviously ground availability etc notwithstanding also.

I can't remember where I heard this anecdote, possibly during the 60th anniversary D-Day stuff. But an old soldier was saying that when the Luftwaffe came overhead the Brits dove for cover, when the RAF flew over Gerry dove for cover. When the USAAF flew over EVERYONE dove for cover. Plus ?a change...

True words Citizen. It was less the lack of comments, more that republican ivory tower was shocking yet noone deemed the goings on in Iraq shocking. As you say, here I think we more or less expect it. It'd be interesting to see how the reaction would be if it was our own squaddies under the spotlight.

Good news for LL residents http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/17/curry_combats_alzheimers/

Great stuff. Ok, I think Fear should put up a notice in the CPT for signing up, and I'll get on the case with the challenger form the SLP, like he isn't reading this anyway ;) regards dates and venue. If Ive-met-jimmy could sort out belair again that would be marvellous.

of course

I liked this from Beau Bo D'Or. Clearly he has his suspicions about Boris. Boris, A Wolf in Clowns Clothing? http://www.bbdo.co.uk

At a recent wedding, the proprietor of the venue had a basement office full of tin soldiers, remnants from the old tin soldier business he used to have in Elephant & Castle. Apparently a lot of odd people or kids of veterans with wartime memorabilia would pop in with stuff for sale. He showed me some of his special favourites, the bullet from Gettysburg and Mussolini's toilet paper, but my eye couldn't help but stray towards SS lapels, little swastika flags and so forth. I have to say that I did have that cold sweat Falling Down moment. I was most relieved to make it out of there into the light of day.

I don't think so, that would be like saying you like ancient mesopotamian cuisine because you like bread. I think pretty much every culture on earth has some equivalent of black pudding as it's so incredibly rich in protein and nutritious. Squeamishness is a very modern affectation that's come about through a dissociation between animals and the meat product. Did any one see river cafe last night, the looks on people's faces when they killed the chicken? I was just pointing out that, much as I love British pud, Franklins* do a mean one too btw, in Spain they have a vast variety whereas here it's largely homogenous. And don't knock the onion version til you try it, the onions are swat down til they're almost liquid caramel, just as they should be in a decent spanish-omelette. *You see, still juuuust about on topic.

Yeah the Halifax do me quite regularly too. I have same attitude as mark. Halifax end up junk mailing me and it all goes straight in the bin. Such a waste of time and effort all round.

Good idea Joe. Fear, get on the case.

Off home And it doesn't get much better than Miles Davis and John Coltrane - So What

I thought I'd just bump this one a bit as Mr SLP and his cricket team (the Kings Rd CC) are still up for a game against a bunch of East Dulite good for nothings. Anyone still interested? I'd be up for a bit of scuffed knee and bruised pride; if it ever stops raining of course.

sorry, suffered from a moment of despair. Actually it IS depressing reading but as you say JL, hardly surprising. And yeah, I know sean, and appreciated it, but I never let facts get in the way of me ranting ;) but it's still by Johann Hari, and for a liberal to be SOoo whiny that he's actually turned 2 whinging liberals against him, he must REALLY be a PITA. F'nB an I have turned laughing at his column (oerr missus) into a hobby. Ant, there's a great piece in the latest (not tomorrow's though obviously) Private Eye about a spat JH is having with a fellow journo. Only bettered by indy columnist Bruce Andersons ill considered drunken rant at recent function. Well worth a read.

So hang on, I post up a well researched article about how US convoys are responsible for countless civilian deaths, particularly children in a bid not to stop for any reason; that decapitating fathers in front of their children with fifty calibre machine guns at checkpoints doesn't even merit a mention in the company's daily report; that false imprisonment and internment is acknowledged as long as 1 in 10 is probably guilty. I post this up and not a flicker of emotion. Johann Hari reveals that smug rich americans are ignorant and opinionated, while supping cocktails on a cruise, and that's shocking?!?!? I give up.

Don't know if it's their thing but the Globe can be a laugh, perhaps followed by sausage sarnies at borough market [and a pint at the market porter], not exactly a youth club I grant you. Are your sure they don't drink? 17 year old teetotallers in Britain?! weird ;-P

great reference Sean

Boots is even worse than Marks and Sparks as a purveyor of cold, limp flavourless lunchtime fare. If that's really your idea of good food then you're most welcome to it.

It's more than just a figurehead. It may have been slightly hobbled by central government, but it's role regarding policing, planning and transport make a very real day-to-day difference to Londoners, which is after all what this is all about. Here's boris' occasionally entertaining site http://www.boris-johnson.com/ and about as close as I can find for Ken http://www.london.gov.uk/ Personally think it's time for a change, 8 years is about as long as any elected official should remain in power. I didn't mind Ken, though I think Ken was Ken's number one fan. I've a sneaking suspicion Boris is actually quite a shrewd operator. He's not in hock to the car industry the way Norris was (I worked for a while at their official lobby, the SMMT and he was always popping in) so as long as he doesn't have plans to undo bus lanes, congestion charge etc, he'll be getting my vote, if just because despite appearances he isn't as pompous as Ken. I'm no tory, but change as good as a rest, and noone else seems to stand out; heaven forbid we got someone like Blears down the line.

I'll have to check on those dates, but sounds like a great idea. Isn't that the day after Keef's b'day? Could be a sore head or two, shampoo should be just the ticket. Bagsy frisbee. Shall I bring some pitta and guacamole, perhaps some cheese?

Louisa, I finally agree with every word in one your posts. Marvellous :D Mark, totally with you on that. My hearing's pretty bad at pulling apart high frequency stuff, so I end up saying pardon the whole night. SYT - Say Yes Tapestries anyone?

good choice, head to segovia and madrid :D

A blunderbuss of a post there Louisa, hence resorting to fisking. >Are you guys suggesting that British customer service has drastically improved since the 50's in the food industry? Not that I was there in the 50s but i certainly remember the 70s and 80s and I would have to say the entire concept of service industry in this country has transformed, and now accepts that it serves a customer, not the proprieters ego, so yes, vast improvement (even if we've lost some 'character' on the way) > If you venture north of Watford or indeed anywhere outside of London (especially those of you into fancy food) you would be shocked Agreed, it's not uniform and outside the major urban centres can be like going back in time. > Perhaps in certain parts of London you can and should expect high quality cuisine Indeed, I'd like to be able to find it anywhere, but not every outlet has to offer it, I like to think every outlet offers service with a bit of a smile though. > but if you believe that we are on a par with other European countries you are sadly mistaken! Well yes and no. We still don't have the appreciation of food deeply within the culture to ever compete across the board with France, Spain or Italy (among others), however we've come leaps and bounds over the past couple of decades and continue to improve. Sh!t food with sh!t service should be extinct within the next 20; the idea of quality produce and culinary adventure is slowly grindin into the national consciousness.