mattham

Always sad to see a bookshop go. But to blame its demise on 'ed new folk' shows an almost comical dislike of 'incomers'.

Klaus, I agree, the bike is just about the best invention ever. But I think any activity can be practised with a nod to aesthetics. I'm building a fixie as I think it will improve my handling; I'm also training for a big event next year. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't primarily about the look...hence the vintage frame. Still, I think I'll have it resprayed and decide later about the graphics. Char1ie, pics attached for your viewing pleasure. I'll try to post some when it's finished. But that will take ages.

a post about fixies spurred me to put this up here ??am sure some of the more obsessive cycling fraternity will have a view on this. just acquired a beautiful old colnago frame which I'm going to build up as a fixed/single speed. It's got a few scratches and I'd like to get it resprayed, but that will mean losing the original stickers (which aren't in that great nick). So, should I just have done with it, respray and replace, or preserve the old? Please let me know your feelings on this matter of near national importance.

if we get a steak house could we have a time machine as well to take us back to the 70s? Oh hang on, we wouldn't need one. Best way to do steak is to go to William Rose, select a toothsome cut and cook it yourself. Or, as has been pointed out, Palmerston or Franklins...can never understand though why people pay so much for something so easy to cook. A middle eastern restaurant would definitely get my vote. Or sushi. Or south Indian. Oh yes, and replace Somerfield with Waitrose ??Nero bang on re M&S.

...and doing such a professional job they just taped around the menu board instead of removing it.

I'll do couple of shifts John, so long as you get my Sarabeth and Ambulance Ltd! I'll try and pop in and find out when you're away.

hats off to Natasha for the brutal honesty. I love having kids, but miss all those things you mention too. Ultimately though, freedom is a small (temporary?) price to pay for the rewards children bring. I don't for a second think those without children lead less fulfilling lives, but having kids certainly brings an extra dimension to life. And it makes you realise, perhaps for the first time, how much you were loved as a child.

I got all excited then ? thought you were in the Tour de France. Well, chapeau anyway ??Bon Courage.

I like the old sign though...quite arts and crafts. The problem with pub makeovers is they invariably chuck the good stuff out along with the bad.

ALWAYS on Pellatt Rd outside the Magdala. Drives me insane. Unsafe for drivers; especially unsafe for bikes and buggies

Second that Kels...I like the Mag's pizzas as much as anyone, but if you live within earshot it's nightmare. The wit of the average post-pub conversation is always inversely proportional to the volume it's shouted at. But I don't know whether to be pleased or worried...what will the replacement be like? Without wanting to reignite the wine-bar vs restaurant vs proper pub conundrum, what does everyone want? Something with less sick and broken glass outside wins my vote.

Rampant egotism I'm afraid RosieH. Well, not that bad; I've got a piece in this week and I said I'd send copies to a couple of the people mentioned. And I always like to keep a copy for my cuttings file too.

I mean the one that's about to go out of date...thought I'd get in there before it gets chucked...if you PM me your address or a time/place to meet I can come and pick it up. Much appreciated.

I've been a best man and a groom and it's never as tough as you think. So long as you're genuine you can't go far wrong. Remember, no one wants to see the best man die (except, maybe, some of the crueller stags), so it's a bit like being Bob Monkhouse ? you've got all the canned laughter you want. Just don't go on too long; five minutes or so is enough. That'll fly by and leave them wanting more.

Can I pinch any copies of this week's Time Out before they go into the recycling bin? Purely professional reasons I can assure you! I'll pick up if anyone is willing to let an out of date listings mag go to a perfect stranger.

popped in today for first time. What a nice guy John is; playing some great music too. I can see myself wasting far too much time and money there while I should be working. If anyone needs a record player by the way, I've got a spare. Needs a new stylus, hence the bargain price of ?50.

I think Bellenden Belle sums up the kids issue pretty well...it's a cafe, in a park ? next to a playground and a nursery I think ? what did you expect? I've always found service to be on the bearable side of slowish. Not been for a while though; must go and check out the non-Euro specific server. He sounds hilarious. Complaining about the cheapo brand of soya milk is about the most East Dulwich statement I've heard in ages.

So, assuming that swastikas daubed on walls are bad ? and I think most sane people on here would agree they are ? what's the best course of action? I was going to paint over the one on Fellbrigg Road, but I think it's on someone's house. Would I get any funny looks if I tried to cover it do you think?

I've just posted some tickets in the 'offered' section if that's of any interest to anyone.

Oddly enough giggirl, exactly the same thing happened with me around four years ago. I always said I'd go back as the manager genuinely seemed to care about it. But I haven't. Seems I'm not missing much.

Real Food Daily in LA

Egad! Birdseye, Jah, I stand corrected. Must find a copy of Ya Yas

this is more like it; proper Stones anoraks. My hat's off to you. re: Stray Cat Blues; it's not quite that bad. The girl is 15 years old. No hanging matter, as Mick would say. Not a capital crime. Still, pretty questionable. Let's also not forget that Brown Sugar had a far more direct working title.

keep your fluids up; avoid alcohol. And you can get drugs...a friend mentioned dimox(??) not sure how to spell it. Think it's available over the counter

The line I was thinking of was from Some Girls, and, like you say, I don't believe they really set out to offend; perhaps it was the spirit of the times. But interestingly they edited the line from the performance in Shine a Light...also the one about "who killed the Kennedys" in Sympathy...a reminder, perhaps, of how commercial they've become. But I'm a huge fan and they can do little wrong in my book. Mightyroar, the Imax presentation is suberb, if only for the sound alone (and yes it is the enormous version). Don't know if you found this Jah, whether it was subliminal or the way the sound was mixed, but you can pick out individual guitar parts etc when the camera is on that musician. It's a great way to deconstruct the music. Recommended.