Marmora Man

The Campari ads of the 70's & 80's were rather good. Luton Airport!

28 Days Later - filmed in Scutari and Mundania Roads. The sequel 28 weeks later has my house just visible for 0.7 seconds.

I don't buy into the eco arguments about climate change but I'm against a Third runway because of noise / congestion - the same reasons I helped (as a youngster) my parents oppose the opening of Stansted as a third London Airport. Heathrow is a logistical nightmare, very scruffy & cramped in comparison to other airports built on greenfield sites up to 40Km outside of major cities (I'm thinking Dubai, Kuala Lumpur etc). I support Boris Johnson's support for a Thames Estuary airport with high speed links to LOndon and elsewhere.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Out of interest, can someone give us an idea what > a nurse does get paid (obviously this will vary). > > People, me included, are always going on about > poorly paid nurses, but I have just realised I > don't actually know what they get paid. Starting rates are about ?24K on qualification and can rise to in excess of ?50K $60 at the Matron / Senior Ward Sister / Clinical Specialist level. I have heard of a couple on more than ?100K - bvut they've sold their souls to the devbil and gone into administration / management Given an average salary of, I believe, ?27K that's not too bad - tho' the stresses of the job can be appalling - not the patients but the burdensome bureaucracy that gets in the way of treating the patients.

1. Open a new file in your computer. 2. Name it "Gordon Brown". 3. Send it to the Recycle Bin. 4. Empty the Recycle Bin. 5. Your PC will ask you: 'Do you really want to get rid of "Gordon Brown?" 6. Firmly Click 'Yes.' 7. Feel better? GOOD! ----- It's already worked with "Blunkett"! Tomorrow we'll do "Alistair Darling".

Re-entering the EDF fray I'd say that, on the whole, British people like to "whinge" but complaining face to face / one on one is something only a few are prepared to tackle. I have no complaints whatsoever about WR - always receiving courteous, friendly service no matter whether I'm buying 1/2 lb of mince or a whole fillet of beef. I was a regular at Libretto on Wood Lane but welcomed WR opening and have been a regular there ever since. I'm recognised and as I usually like to discuss what I'm going to cook, seek their opinion and chat to others in the queue this may colour my views and reception there.

pablogrande Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > After reading the post here I visited Libretto's > last week and bought what was probably the finest > steak I have ever tasted, I highly recommend him. > I want to drop by there later today but can't find > out what time he shuts on a Saturday, tried > phoneing but no answer anyone know? Shuts at lunchtime Saturday. Hours tend to be a little erratic anyway - he has a laid back attitude to his shop and timekeeping in my experience. However, agree the steaks there are good.

Rationalist, atheist, humanist - a good basis for life. I applaud the campaign, what is of interest is that the original aim was to raise just ?5,000 but there was such strong support that the target was exceeded 25 fold very quickly.

Advice requested. Do I need a new WiFi router - I'm still using one fitted in 2004 by NTL to support 1 desktop Apple Mac. It now supports that plus two Microsoft laptops and one Apple laptop. When all are in use life is awfully slow and there is a tendency for the system to freeze / crash. I have max download rate (20MB I think) so it may be a bandwidth issue for the WiFi itself - but not being a techy I'm not at all sure. What options do I have - apart from slaughtering first & second born sons who live, semi permantly on MSN / Facebook etc?

Agree - all hail small bookshops - but restricting the target readership to children reduces the potential purchasers. Segmenting the ED book buying market seems illogical. Upgrading and creating more space in Cheners to widen the selection and include more childrens books might make for one decent bookshop that would take the market.

I've still not made a curry club meeting but did manage to visit Babur over Yuletide. The food was excellent - service very friendly, tho' a little slow (particularly the drinks). Popadoms & dips were crisp and slightly (interestingly) different. Starters of grilled, spiced quail and grilled, spiced venison cutlets were superb. Mains of braised Lamb Shank and Rabbit were equally good. Sides were perfect too. A little more expensive than the run of the mill curry house - but then the menu avoids the standard curry house staples in favour of interestingly "curried" dishes using fish and game. Recommended.

Don't you mean it was all over so quickly I ahd no time to feel / think about it?

I'm thru' the "wedding phase" of life [roughly 25 - 40] and not, yet, at the next stage of attending weddings of children and friend's children. However, for re-marriages and late marriages I have successfully (?? - at least they seemed pleased) bought a pack of 4 champagne splits (1/4 bottles) + 2 glasses + a monopoly game. Monopoly for when they can't think of anything better to do - and the champagne for when they can. Avoid - plates, toasters and anything from the Wedding List.

Follow up - having walked around Greenwich Park before watching "Australia" at the Greenwich Picture House drinks at the Trafalgar Tavern also failed the Whisky Mac test. I may have to start a campaign to bring back dusty bottles of Stones Ginger wine to be stored at the back of every pub's cocktail shelf. BTW - "Australia" is OK. Ignore the reviews it's sweeping, over the top, smalchy and very Baz Lurman but lots of fun in a kind of sub "Gone with the Wind" fashion. It probably bears as much relation to the history of Australia as GWTW did to the US Civil War but still a fun 3 hours at the cinema.

Following a brisk walk around Dulwich Park we retired to the Dog for a Christmas drink before returning home for presents, more drink, more food and old movies. The place was mobbed with families, children and dogs - great atmosphere but ....... On ordering a "Whisky Mac" for Mrs MM I was asked by the barmaid - "what is that?". Once it was explained she disappeared and returned, obviously not having understood, with a Whisky, Ice, Lemon and Ginger Ale - not the classic winter warmer of one part whisky, one part Ginger Wine. A pub that sets itself up as part of Victorian London heritage - with real ales etc should be able to produce ginger wine and know what a Whisky Mac is surely?

Moos - thanks for the offer but have discovered that annaj's grooty end Oxford St shops have v. cheap top hats & bowlers for sale.

Thanks for all the advice - particularly annaj. Oxford St has provided Mandarin Jacket. I'm going as a "Morris Man" - can anyone lend me a top hat?? The bells, ribbons, white shirt & trousers I can do my self. Plus hankies & a stick. And No - I won't post a picture!

I was brought up as a Quaker. One venerable elderly grey haired lady of the Society always used to greet such doorsteppers with the phrase "Oh how interesting - come in and have a cup of tea, I'm sure you'd like to hear all about my views" - word got around quite quickly that she was prepared to counter convert (religious equivalent of MAD?) and JW calls ceased.

Ladygooner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why don't you start off a new thread and tell us > about your travels? Did you get to Syria and > Jordan? I went but only got as far as Damascus. Great trip - great memories.

I have been away for a few weeks and, on my return, find the EDF less enticing than before. It seems to have moved rapidly through its life cycle - from a brawling, screaming brat interested in everything and charming everyone, then there was a brief period of maturity but now it has become an old and rather grey gossipy old lady. At first it was intriguing to learn about the world thru' the eyes of the EDF, exchange views on new openings, ideas and opportunities. Then in its heyday there were interesting debates on politics, beer, food, chain stores v independents with strong views promoted and defended - usually, but not always, with balance and politeness. Now, it seems to me we, as a community, have become a little jaded. I don't find the new threads enticing enough to contribute - even the US election and the current recession don't seem to have sparked any real debate. Where is the fire and passion that once there was?

candj Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > MM- > Have you tried somewhere in Chinatown for the > Cheongsam or Qipao ? I believe they have a few > stores that sell cheesy ones which would be fun > for a fancy dress party. They probably also sell > Mandarin collar jackets as well. > Good luck! Sounds good - will check today.

PGC - thanks for the idea but you haven't seen my legs. Allowing them out in public topped off by baggy 1920's sports shorts would be, just, short of criminal and likely to scare the horses.

Have been invited to Fancy Dress "do" on New Year's Eve. Normally I'd run a mile from such an event but the hosts are old friends so we'll go and must be dressed up! Theme is Olympics from China to Britain. Question: Can any advise on where I might find a John Bull outfit (all web searches turn up are references to 1950 printing sets [which I remember enjoying at the time]) and a Cheong Sam (? sp) or Mandarin Collar jacket for my wife. I'm searching London's theatre land shops tomorrow but any advice received gratefully.

iPoddle - the tangle iPod headphones are always in when you want to use them

microbite Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Have to say am Taurean and quite a lot of the > traits associated with my sign are actually true > where I am concerned, if I'm being honest, but not > all of them, > > Taurus Strength Keywords: > - Dependable > - Persistent > - Loyal > - Patient > - Generous > > Taurus Weakness Keywords: > - Stubborn > - Laziness > - Possessive > - Self-indulging > > > Taurus in a Nutshell: > Taurus is the one who has immense perseverance, > even when others have given up, the Taurus rages > on. Solid and persistent, just like the bull, > which is Taurus' well suited symbol. Taurus's have > a well known reputation for being stubborn, which > is not necessarily a bad thing. The stubborn > streak can cause Taurus to butt heads and conflict > with other strong character types. Taurus are not > fond of change. They like the familiar and routine > comfort of life. Taurus is easy going and not one > to pick a fight but should some poor souls attempt > to provoke Taurus, the wrath will be known, for > they have a temper underneath the calm surface. > Taurus are very responsive to their surroundings. > They like decorations, color, anything that > appeals to all the senses. Taurus like possessions > and the Taurus home is nicely decorated with lots > of things. Taurus are down to earth, they do not > like gaudy, flashy or over the top things. They > prefer comfortable and creative settings and > objects. Taurus likes security, in every aspect of > their lives from home, to love, to career. Taurus > can be secretive, opinionated and stingy. Taurus > tend to be self-indulgent and lazy, Taurus are > master procrastinators of the astrology zodiac! > They do however have a strong, persistent drive > that comes to life when they chose, and no one > would ever know that they are lazy. The secret to > this is that their laziness is pushed aside when > it comes to themselves They go on a bit as well