Marmora Man

This forum covers a wide range of subjects - but our discussions are, apart from drink nights, virtual. Out there somewhere real groups of people discussing "things" - there must be a few book clubs discussing the latest Martin Amis, Robert Harris offerings. Tried that but couldn't match my taste in books to the group. Are there any other discussion groups - politics (without being part of a political party), sport, military history, wargaming, trainspotting, cooking, flower arranging, beer, - I don't know and am not sure where I might find out.

"They" - by which I mean the local council can also impose a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) without warning. I lived in the Midlands in an area known as the Lickey Hills. I wished to take down two huge (100ft +) Black Pines that were within 5ft of my house, inside my garden - blocking light and gutters, lifting paving, cracking drains and overhanging the roof. The Lickey Hills had approximately 100,000 such trees all around. I arranged for a tree surgeon to cut them down but, as a good citizen, recognising that the work might block the lane on which I lived for half a day I informed the council about the work I was planning for two days hence. OVernight and within 12 hours they had slapped on a TPO and despite many protests and complaints, including the Government Ombudsman agreeing the council had misused heir poweres I was unable to overturn the TPO. Two classic lines from Council Staff: 1. "Well if it does fall over onto your house and son's bedroom you can always rebuild - it would take 30 years for a tree to grow again" 2. "I am a council official - I am not obliged to explain my reasons to you" I like trees - generally would not wish to cut one down but they are renewable - lose one here and plant another over there and all is equal. The recent stories of how the trees damaged / destroyed in the '87 storm have been replaced with new growth is an excellent example.

Has anyone used the "Theyworkforyou.com" website - which details activioties, interests, voting habits and expenses of our local MPs. On the whole neither Tessa Jowell nor Harriet Harman seem to have a high visibility around here - this may be one way of discovering what they're up to. Harriet Harman Tessa Jowell

How much are you spending on the flight and holiday. Check the ?35 taxi fare as a % total cost and make a value judgement. Is 90 minutes of hassle / lifting bags on / off buses, tubes and trains plus waiting in rain, cold, crowds and having to apologise for massive rucsac, bag(s) etc worth the saving when set against a leisurely ride, with someone else driving, from your front door to the terminal door. For me this equation invariably comes out in favour of a taxi for me - doubly so when making the trip from airport back to home and quadruply so if travelling with family.

Richard Thomas did respond to e-mails about the Forest Hill traffic lights.

I thought a nom de plume was a necessity to post. Now I find it's not. I am Ian Robert Whitehouse and I haven't had a drink for 24 hours - so I'm off for a glass of whisky bought this weekend in Scotland - an interesting blend of 3 cask strength Islay malts - 40% Laphroaig, 40% Bowmore and 20% Caol Ila. I may report back later.

My 17 year old son spent the summer lifeguarding at Brockwell Lido. The senior life guard spent much time quietly coaching, encouraging and supporting him in the role where he (my son) had to regularly confront people and tell them to stop doing this, or start doing that. Difficult to handle telling adults what to do - and handling the resultant abuse, when just 17. We discovered later that the senior life guard has a criminal record for murder. He was an excellent person in the role he was in and helped my son develop life skills and confidence. Long answer to short question - but yes I would employ an ex-con, and have done so in an early and previous career.

TillieTrotter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Adrian Lester, the black guy from Hustle, along > with wife and kid just had lunch in the Drum. > Also saw Marc Warren, the blonde spikey haired > fella from the same show, about two weeks ago > outside Somerfield. Adrian Lester is more than "the guy from Hustle". He's a great actor - I saw him as Henry V at the NAtional some years back and the play was just fantastic. The opening scene where the bishops advise Henry V he has a right to do what he wants to do, invade France, was played as a Blairite cabinet meeting - everyone in suits with PAs dashing about with bottles of spring water. Brilliant that Shakespeare could be used to indict Blair's Iraq initiative.

Just some thoughts on the Red Arrows. They are a team of highly trained fast jet pilots flying what are essentially display rather than military aircraft. The displays and extreme flying skills have little military implication and could be likened to the old Field Gun competition of the Royal Tournament days (sadly no more). They can be admired on the basis of skill, daring and sheer exuberance bringing joy to those watching - and not taken as an arrogant display of military might / reflection of an oppressive imperial history. There are very few countries in the world that can claim to have always been the "good guys" - so if the Red Arrows display team flies across your horizon - why not chill and enjoy the show, not seek some post modernist meaning in it.

Declan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sorry............just needed to say it....rugby > match.........hopeless cause I know the feeling - I've been supporting England's cricket for years .... hopeless cause (almost).

Declan Wrote: I suggest bank account holders be implanted with a microchip which can be updated online or remotely, and shops, pubs etc have scanners you just have to wave your hand over to pay for your goods. Not sure about the technology but it would rule out the need for cash points! Then muggers would have to cut your hand / arm off to grab your cash - could be a downside?

Asset Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > MM - exactly, nothing wrong with a tidy mind! Do > you want your undies going pink? Thanks for the qestuion - I don't want to wash my linen in public! Pink wouldn't suit me tho'.

Quaywe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just go to Somerfield's, buy a pack of gum and get > ?50 cashback. The trick in the 70's when I was a student. No cashpoints - if you had forgotten to cash a cheque or run out the only option was to buy something in M & S for ?25.00 then return it in another store and get cash back.

HeidiHi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ahh it is ok, Asset has been posting on my posts > going on about old threads, think I am irking him > off with my threads! I think Asset maybe a "her" and like many women I know - tidy minded! Keeping colours together when washing, jokes together when posting.

Why head for sun? Go for Great Britain - I'm walking some of Hadrian's Wall next week. Forecast is for mostly sunny & dry, if not warm. The walking will keep me warm, get me fitter (lomg way to go, the fresh air blows away cobwebs (and man flu), every evening there's an excuse to sit in a pub, beside a fire, drink pints and talk. Plus it's a very low carbon footprint, if you're into eco stuff.

HeidiHi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Maybe on Monday we can press our noses against Foxton Windows and see if they will invite us in for a coke? (I'll bring the hipflask of whiskey) Please make sure you only use whiskey - I'd hate to hear of a decent Scotch going into a coke.

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > long dead this thread and I don't really want to > restart it, but as Marmora Man commented on a > related thread, and also happens to be an Laughing > Len fan, I happened to be listening to this track > today and thought it appropriate > > Everybody knows that the dice are loaded > Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed > Everybody knows that the war is over > Everybody knows the good guys lost > Everybody knows the fight was fixed > The poor stay poor, the rich get rich > Thats how it goes > Everybody knows Have you been watching the Labour Party Conference then? Even more depressing than Mr C.

Genuine overheard - London circa 1975 "It was criminal, criminal. The judge put him away for three years - just for a bit of burglary. Criminal that's wot I think."

tommy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > M.M - like the name (!) but sounds a little like a > no-go zone > > Reminds me of a newspaper article calling the > Bellenden Rd / Maxted Rd / Oglander Rd area as the > "Golden Goose Triangle"... I'm still refining it - how about Crimean Quadrant - there are four roads; Marmora, Scutari, Therapia and Mundania.

dulmum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Does anyone know of a legal method of stopping > estate agents using your street as a parking space > for their poxy little cars? I doubt it. A car is a car - and if taxed, MOT'd etc is legally allowed to use the roads. Equally allowed to park wherever there is a legal space. In my area cars drive to the Crimean triangle (new name - my own) and park to catch the 63 / 363 into London. As they don't carry stickers I have no idea what company they are from - just as annoying but unattributable. An alternative would be residents parking permits, reducing parking available to "out of psotcoders" - which we do not want. Cost and council bureaucracy - horrible combination.

In Norway there's a place called Hell; I've been to Hell and back.

What about the Slaughters in Gloucestershire - Upper & Lower. One of them was also one of the very few villages without a WWI Memorial bacuse all the soldiers from there returned home alive. There was special name for these villages.

yeknomyeknom Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I would love to drink at Tyres. Please can > someone rich buy the Tyre shop and do as Mr Ben > suggests. Michelin Martinis anyone? Or perhaps a Firestone* - suggested ingredients: Apple Brandy, Vodka and Bourbon - Apple Brandy warmed separately then lit and poured into the Vodka & Bourbon mix - to be downed whilst flames still licking. Not good for beards or eyebrows. * This is pure invention but based on the "Flaming Benny" - Creme de Menthe with flaming brandy poured in - creates a horrible hangover. More ideas anyone?

Brendan Wrote: "Bognor Regis" lol! That's a funny name. Did you just make it up. citizenED Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- No Brendan, it is the quintessential funny English town name - used to much hilarity. Marmora Man Wrote: And there are others - Lower Piddle and Upper Piddle, or a personal favourite (it was the village next door when I was a boy) - Ugley, so we had the Ugley Women's Institute, Ugley Boy Scouts, Ugley Church etc etc. This is almost worth a thread of its own - strange place names

citizenED Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No Brendan, it is the quintessential funny English > town name - used to much hilarity. And there are others - Lower Piddle and Upper Piddle, or a personal favourite (it was the village next door when I was a boy) - Ugley, so we had the Ugley Women's Istitute, Ugley Boy Scouts, Ugley Church etc etc. This is almost worth a thread of its own - strange place names