candj

dulwichdreadlocks Wrote: Why not invest your money in a plasma TV and get all of your kids into reasonable comprehensives? DD, I hope this response is a joke, as well. Why would someone spare their cash and invest in a plasma screen for the children? Such a weird thing to suggest to someone, in my opinion. Best, -C

Sorry, just trying to be nice, difficult for some I see. Stranger things have happened so I wouldn't put it past anyone to actually consider this.

Mick, Completely agree with previous posters as being all or nothing. You will create such issues between your children and besides, it's nice to have them all at the same school. Agree with charliecharlie that you can then splurge on extracurricular activities like music, dance, drama, football and also buy that baby grand piano so they can practice and/or build a football pitch in garden for your son. Hope this isn't a wind-up?! :) Best, -C

Agreed Mick Mac, San Gimignano has the most medieval towers of all the Tuscan hill towns (eleven total I think). Very crowded but well worth the visit. And whilst in Tuscany or Umbria, must try wild boar (either as a ragu or in sausage format), called chinghiale... absolutely divine. I can also recommend visiting Fiesole a small village in the hills outside of Florence. They have a lovely restaurant called I'Polpa and an amazing Eutruscian amphitheatre.

Are you talking to me Mikecg? No, I'm not Scottish.

You can keep your goldschlager BBW, it's poison for sure!

You are infamous! I remember that thread on the WDF well before I was even posting. Welcome back Lindylou!

Agreed that Umbria is just as beautiful as Tuscany if not more so because it's a bit unspoiled. August is not only high season, it's the hottest season and the month most Italians are on holiday themselves, meaning sometimes restaurants can be closed for the whole month. We've been renting villas from Tuscanynow.com and they are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but can perhaps negotiate in this economic climate. They are an English company so you pay in ?? rather than Euros. Have a lovely time. Best, -C

I think the low key visit, as you put it, was sort of like they were 'chums' and Gordy can visit anytime he wants to. Obama's style appears to be more casual than most politicians, part of the 'I'm just an ordinary man like you' charm, I guess. And did he actually return the bust to Britain or just give it back to Bush? It was a gift to Bush and perhaps he wanted it back in Texas where he can sit with a big book of famous people and properly identify the figure that's baffled him for the last 8 years. We'll have to wait and see with Russia, but the fact that the US is even talking to Iran, discussing nuclear nonproliferation with Russia, sending $900m to help rebuild Gaza and closing Gitmo, can't be a bad start to his presidency. I remain hopeful. Best, -C

Hi Spark, The gold leaf actually sort of melts in your mouth and is certainly not like the tin foil variety! I would think that canape you described looked beautiful with its little belt of gold! Best, -C

Oh for the love of God. ;-)

Oh I get it, former intern gets canned for customer service skills. Try Ralon, I hear they are hiring.

Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed or are you always this charming? Edited to add, best of luck Dream Machine.

He's slightly irritating, agreed.

I have to ask, what is all that hairy stuff in the photograph? It says it's good with pinot noir, dry white wine or brut champagne.. I suggest copious amounts of all three!

what a surprise.

but tasty at 3 am no doubt.

hmm, there's a thought... I suppose that everything I've ever eaten it on was chocolate and hence tasted good.

Asset, gold leaf is delicious, especially on chocolate!

Huguenot, I don't like drunken prawns because I find it a bit unnerving, but think they taste delicious. I once had lobster tail cut from a live, moving lobster in Japan (I didn't know they served it this way). Not for the sensitive! And apparently, pink birds nest is quite a delicacy as it's tainted with the birds own blood which occasionally happens. ! Edited to add, I very recently ate dog food accidentally whilst drinking champagne at a friend's house.... silly man, kept his dog nibbles in a beautiful Georgian silver bowl for his little runty chihuahua on the kitchen counter!

Duck tongues - China duck bill (you have to put the whole thing in your mouth and spit out the bones) - China chicken gizzards - China mystery meat (to this day still don't know what it was) - China clover (like the Irish stuff) - China shark fin stir fried with chrysanthemums - China horse, frog legs and snails - France, where else? warthog, kudu - S. Africa, delicious especially kudu carpaccio Birds nest - Hong Kong oh yes, and 1000 year old eggs, pickled in lye, how absolutely fantastic they are!

That article was almost unbearable to read. I suppose they tried to argue that the girl was physically too small to have twins and thus her life was in danger, but it didn't work. It's incredibly sad, really and amazing how unyielding and inflexible religion can be sometimes.

Hi Steve, Can't comment on garden wall politics, but can recommend the following trees for being planted close to a wall/house as the roots are rather shallow and/or small. They can even be planted in urns provided you water them regularly. Magnolia - all varieties are beautiful and bloom in late winter/early spring. They can be very bushy which would be good for screening things you don't want to see. Chinese dogwood - can grow to be quite tall but with lovely green-white blossoms and dense thick leaves. Japanese Acers - we have the dwarf varieties and they stay small, but I think the other varieties can get huge as they are maples and I wouldn't recommend the larger variety being planted close to walls or foundations. Bamboo- probably the best for screening out peering neighbours and noise, we have black and gold and it makes an absolutely lovely backdrop for any garden. And they stay green year round so you don't have to worry about a sudden loss of your privacy (unlike the above trees). You do have to be careful to contain them as being a rhizome they spread like mad and they can pop up under neighbouring walls. The best is the noise it makes when the wind rustles through it, you almost can't hear the airplanes! Additionally, you can always try climbing plants for the wall. Something like wisteria can be trained to spread across the top of the wall and can add a bit more to the canopy in addition to the trees. These all live in our very tiny, cramped garden, but they work wonders for giving us privacy without causing our homeowners insurance to flip because of subsidence! Good luck! Best, -C

Dear Bathsheba, What a terrible experience and when you feel up to it, most definitely report this to the medical council. This is a thread on depression which was posted a while back with some good suggestions on where to look for help for yourself and as you can see, you are not alone. Take good care, Best, -C

Good poem, Brum. Can't imagine why it wasn't published... but now at last you know people are reading it! Best, -C