Marmora Man

The Archer's omnibus on a Sunday sitting at kitchen table with coffee and Sunday papers

On related subject - anyone know where to go for wild mushrooms? I assume the woods above Dulwich College are a good bet. Does anyone lead mushroom foraging outings?

Can this really be the case - the new Bond film opens in 14 days time, surely by now it's all edited and finished with copies being run off for distribution?

caberwell oz said: "I'll offer myself and my house once a week to teach people how to cook. I'd actually really enjoy it." this is what I was proposing at the beginning - I would do the same for interested volunteers.

see you all there

I misread "Oliver" as Olivier" and thought you were talking about the cost of tickets at the National Theatre. While not totally relevant the fact that it's possible to queue on the day of an NT performance and buy tickets for just ?10 is absolutely brilliant for two reasons. One - obviously is the great value for money but the other, and to me more important, is that it means that the performance is never sold out months or weeks in advance if you're prepared to get up early to queue with a flask of coffee and a book in the cool outside the NT.

The latest John Le Carre is a return to form in my opinion.

It used to be defined in my circle of climbing friends as a wet Sunday in Wales with no fags. (For background - in the 70's most WElsh counties and partcularly those with mountains were dry on Sundays)

Jamie Oliver And cspencer77 said they would like to help out in spare time Volunteering I watched the Jamie programme on Virgin's "on demand" TV after reading about his ideas and was both appalled and encouraged; appalled by the lack of cooking knowledge and encouraged by Jamie O's enthusiasm. Many of the EDF are interested in food and cooking - that much is obvious from the criticism and praise dished out to various food emporia and restaurants. How many of us are prepared to engage with Jamie Oliver's crusade and teach two people how to cook? I would be happy to do so but in my immediate circle and extended circle of friends and acquaintances I know of no-one that cannot cook. Can anyone put me in touch with someone that I could teach to cook?

Just to get a discussion on dates - propose either 20th or 22nd Oct at the Clockhouse @ 8.00pm?

Can anyone advise me on how to set an "out of office" message on Entourage e-mail on an Apple Mac? Redecorations means shutting down internet access for 5 - 7 days. Thanks

I have about 15 / 20 collected over the summer to swap. I'm away 13 & 14 Oct any other dates are good. Do we go for the same pub or somewhere else?

I'm a Leo and wish this were true - coots are usually called to mind when describing me. In the nature / nurture debate the season in which you were born may have some impact on the nurture part of the equation. Summer babies spend their early months in open air and warmth, winter babies don't - and so on. Apart from that observation I think the whole idea is illogical and foolish - but it's a free world, believe what you will but don't try t persuade me or run the country on the basis of such a belief.

My coffee, toast & marmite was less han ?2.50 which I thought OK. Excellent expresso, two good toasted slice of decent, flavoursome, bread, lashings of butter and a pot of marmite provided.

I want all dog owners to either own non pooing dogs or to clean up after their dogs.

I opposed them when they were put in and still do. They have completely ruined the normal traffic flow on Forest Hill Road - until they arrived I never saw traffic back up from the Dunstan Road junction to the FHT, as is routine nowadays in the morning. There are meant to be temporary with a review due early 2009 I think. The stated purpose is to allow large lorries, working on the reservoir works, to turn out into traffic, tho' I've yet to see such a vehicle.

To really appreciate Color of Money you need to see it back to back with the 60's classic "The Hustler". Then if you watch the Hustler you need to see STeve Mcqueen in The Cincinnatti Kid. Newman was never less than good to watch and often close to great. In Road to Perdition (his last[?] film) he gave an Oscar level performance. When great actors die it changes my view - they are / were part of my firmanent.

Except its not open of an evening - which is a real shame.

As a pedantic mathematician and to illustrate quids point: Year 1: 100 - 20% = 80 Year 2: 80 - 20% = 64 Year 3: 64 - 20% = 51.2 Year 4: 51.2 - 20% = 39.96 Total loss over 4 years at 20% a year decline = 60.04%

Franco Manca Eventually following up on a recommendation by BJL back in May on the Locale thread I tried the Franco Manca pizzeria at Unit 4, Market Row, Brixton Market today. Fantastic and highly recommended. Tastes just like the pizzas I ate in Naples when visiting there regularly between '83 - '86. Far better than I've tasted anywhere in UK. Only 6 choices - basic Margherita (?4.60), Ricotta and cured Pork loin (?4.90), Mushroom, Garlic & Anchovy (?4.80), Tomato, garlic, oregano, olives, anchovy & mozzarella (?5.40), Chorizo & Mozzarella (?5.60) and Tomato, Garlic & Oregano (?3.90). Wine ?1.20 / glass and ?6.80 a bottle! Good glugging rustic wine from Piedmont - matches the gutsy flavours of the pizzas. Excellent expresso to follow. Most ingredients and drinks are organic (if that's you're thing)and sourced from Brindisa (cured meats), Chadwick's Organic butchers (other meats), Wild Caper (Veg) and Monmouth coffee. 2 pizzas, 1 glass wine, 2 lemonades and an expresso = ?15.40. Warning: The queues are long (15 - 20 minute wait for a space) and tables are shared - which only adds to a very cosmopolitan experience. My son and I joined two ladies in their 60's; one Austrian - the other Italian, both long time UK residents who made interesting lunch companions, as they left two younger women joined us - one German the other British. Behind in the queue were two French students, ahead of us in the queue were three Italians. Franco keeps the whole show on the road, juggling tables, customers, staff and fellow Brixton market traders thru' constant chatter and exchanges of insults and jokes. It's only open Mon - Sat at lunchtimes.

People who seem surprised that an Oyster reader is at the top of the escalators in the tube and hen have to search pockets and bags for their card.

Can anyone recommend a good Sunday buffet deal on Lordship Lane tomorrow? Quality of eats is prime requisite - price second!

A Scot's Tale One misty Scottish morning a man is driving through the hills to Inverness. Suddenly out of the mist, a massive red-haired highlander steps into the middle of the road. The man is at least six feet four, has a huge red beard and, despite the wind, mist, and near freezing temperatures, is wearing only his kilt, a tweed shirt and a tam-o''-shanter at a rakish angle. At the roadside there also stands a young woman. She is absolutely beautiful -- slim, shapely, fair complexion, golden hair... heart stopping. The driver stops and stares, and his attention is only distracted from the lovely girl when the red thing opens the car door and drags him from his seat onto the road with a fist resembling a whole raw ham. ''''Right, you Jimmy,'''' he shouts, ''''Ah want you to masturbate!'''' ''''But......'''' stammers the driver. ''''Du it now - or I''ll bluddy kill yu!'''' So the driver turns his back on the girl, drops his trousers and starts to masturbate. Thinking of the girl on the roadside, this doesn''t take him long. ''''Right!'''' snarls the Highlander ''''Du it agin, now!'''' So the driver does it again. ''''Right laddie, du it agin!'''' demands the Highlander. This goes on for nearly two hours. The hapless driver gets cramps in both arms, he has rubbed himself raw, is violently aching, his sight is failing and despite the cold wind, he has collapsed in a sweating, jibbering heap on the ground, unable to stand. ''''Du it again!'''' says the Highlander. ''''I can''t do it any more - you''ll just have to kill me!'''' whimpers the man. The Highlander looks down at the pathetic soul slumped on the roadside and says, ''''All right laddie. NOW, can you give ma daughter a lift to Inverness?''''

Ditto - but I've arranged to be cremated (and specified no religious ceremony) then asked for my ashes to be scattered, with again no ceremony, from a submarine on a Sunday (just to P*** off what's left of the Royal Navy's Submarine Service - or "The Trade" as Kipling referred to it)

------------------------------------------------------- I tend to agree that more has happened and more swiftly than the cynics would have expected - except on my reading it is the councillors that responded - and have pressed the executive to do something. Left to itself almost any bureaucracy will ignore the punters - but will pay attention to the bosses. So my reading is: a. EDF - 9/10 for dawing attention to the problem and hassling councillors. (loses one for Sean's point about sneers) b. Councillors - 6/10 for responding swiftly. Loses four for not having systems to prevent or a least discuss this sort of action. c. Executive - 2/10. Points for responding under pressure but lose 8 for making the mistake in the first place.