downsouth

'Apparently' they believe she (the mum) killed Madeleine by accident. Dad is still being questioned but not yet classified as a suspect.

Wish I had an allotment - i've been told I have 4 more years to go!

Just popped in quickly with son in tow, it looks very nice indeed and may pay it a visit at some point tomorrow for tea and scones!

I haven't had my beer...

There once were some folks in The City whose boni* left them sitting pretty They'd buy a few hice shove tenants in like mice and they'd admire their next eggs sitting pretty

Sean - for once I am very much in agreement with you.

I actually went to Rye Hotel yesterday which was excellent. Good food - large portions and great selection of real ale. I did think it was a bit pricey though. I'm in two minds about beautiful thing as I wanted to stay closer to LL, and as per another topic, I'm trying to do my bit by not using the motor so often which is what I'd have to do to get from WN to ED. Sean - indeed! Of the ones mentioned do any do a really good sea food/vegetarian option? I've been to sea cow and despite being a fan it is perhaps a bit too relaxed! Been to liquorice a few times but for some reason it never feels cosy/welcoming.

I have optimism in human ingenuity. Not necessarily in human nature!

I don't doubt that it is of their own making. Low inflation and interest rates make for huge risk taking. If you've seen all the privaty equity activity has come to a shuddering halt as so it should. They were living in a fiary tale world where you could borrow so much money against a takeover and load the target prior to selling it on at a huge profit. That is simply not 'fair', another link to a topic, and flies in the face of cautious and rigourous analysis. Back to the point, those who have really screwed up (perhaps the bank with a Griffin and suitor to a large Dutch bank) may yet fall on the swords but not in the EU, USA or Asia. Anyhow, only time will tell.

But by the time that happens I'd hazard some will have left this solar system to 'colonise' a new part of space. Infinity is what you make of it. I share your view that the earth's resources are finite but then in terms of layers we've only scratched 1-2% of the surface. The amount of heat and minerals etc... much deeperi in the crust and core will - barring armageddon, natural or otherwise - probably keep the human race going for a while yet.

It has to be infinite otherwise how do we now have a middle class and how is China getting rich? Surely the brakes would have gone on?

It's her birthday and would like something nice but nothing fancy. So relaxed surroundings. Good fish or veg menu. She is a big fan of LL so thought we might stroll across the village and enjoy the delights. If I could fit a comedy show or play in as well that would be good. I know the South London Theatre (West Norowood) http://www.southlondontheatre.co.uk have beautiful thing on at the momement but doubt it will be a barrel of laughs.

@ Asset - controversial for me then!

But I am saying that I'd rather there were financial insentives for them to own either a stake or all of their own home. The two are not mutually exclusive. Without sounding as though I have the hand of history on my shoulder, there is a third way. @ Sean - If you understand the financial mechanics of the markets this was in no way a handout but an extension of credit on punitive terms. To see handouts look to the ECB (European Central Bank) and the US Fed Reserve. Considering all our pensions are at stake I would also be self interested that the BoE stepped in as it should.

Sean depsite my typos and incomplete sentences (forums are a cruel exposition) I'll will soldier on... What I was saying was that you seek to redistrubute wealth no other reason other than it is 'fair' (as nebuoluos a concept if ever there were one). It is far fairer that people were self -relaint and only those in need were assisted. I don't think giving money to the deserving and not so deserving helps anyone else. Speaking from experience of those close to me, it breeds dependency and before you know it, it's too late. Neither will you be less likely to be mugged. What you will get is those who work being less likely to work hard and seeing the point at which the lines of the benefit of working and not working cross ever lower. It is simply unproductive. The equality issue should be about equal access to education because that is where social mobility arises.

I don't follow? Do as opposed to...?

How about being more controversial - just don't buy the products or read all you news online and only buy refillable liquids etc...

What has that got to do with enabling those least able to access their housing market to gain a toe hold? We are at the stage of the cycle where this will happen. There will inevitably be those whose homes will be reposessed but that is life. I would rather that than the council continued to drip feed and play nanny to millions of low wage earners.

Yes. I am a colleaue were talking about it at lunch. Species come and go over the eons and as far as we can tell normaly as a result of some change in the climate. I concede that human intervention has contributed to this but is it to the extent we're told? Should we not look at how best to manage this change instead of trying to reverse the climate which god alone knows how fraught that might be.

I don't think that's what anyone's saying. Your are advocating something that has no basis in anything. You can't simply take from others so that you can feel good about yourself. What is it you are seeking to achieve and is that the best way to do it?

Can you provide some further detail, when?

It's not a system to be played as you frame it. Often times many of these chldren would be wise to follow non-traditonal routes i.e. skilled manual work, entrpreneurship as there is as you say a finite number of good jobs. Certainly beats creating more 'non-jobs'.

Now then, now then! MW is simply expressing an opnion. Each to their own.

The take it down to Peckham Dump

I'm not talking about motivations but results. I was far too young to be interested in the detail back then but now I can see how it has helped many people to generate wealth hitherto unimaginable and also for them to take an interest/pride in their communities. Not everything is black and white.