zeban

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/27/upstairs-downstairs-period-drama Think this is quite interesting and a viewpoint I agree with.

Why don't you give away the appliances you don't want Tarot instead of leaving them to take up cupboard space. Donate them to people who might want them.

Daizie and Narnia I absolutely agree. And yayyyyy I'm spending today alone and loving it. In fact the perfect christmas I'd say :)-D

Yes but isn't that the point womanofdulwich. Why say fine if you're not? You don't have to have an argument. What are you afraid of by being honest? Women need to be more honest with themselves and their partners. Your husband isn't going to probe you if you say you're fine, even if he's thinking you're probably not. And if he does it will only end up making the problem bigger than it already is. You have to take responsibility too for communicating or not communicating. I always write, it takes away the anger and allows you to say what you really feel in a reflective manner. Even if you live together it doesn't matter. As long as find a way of communicating with your partner.

Can I just say it's not the worst thing in the world being a single parent. And though hard it is not impossible at any rate. My Mum did it with 5 children. I know no one is perfect but I do think it's important to figure out what you expect from eachother as soon as possible and not be afraid of communicating with eachother if it's not working. Otherwise you just end up feeling frustrated and resentful. I know everyone will feel that at some points in their relationships but some of the problems posted here seem quite big.

I don't know anyone who gets a bonus apart from people who work in finance! ?2000 ljs! Perhaps I need a career change!

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Huguenot have you been drinking eggnog or > something?... you're rather likeable today :) (not > that you aren't usually just more so right now of > course!) Asolutely agree. Am beginning to really like you Huguenot, Merry Xmas!

Supergirl!

felt-tip is your poor wife still putting up with your crap?

Neither Tarot nor Sedgewick offered their help on the thread about doing shopping trips/helping clear snow for the vulnerable. I see hypocritical preachy Christians

That's very shocking Mac. If a business doesn't want to provide plastic bags then they should offer an alternative free of charge. But perhaps they did? I'm not saying cloth bags should be offered free given that they are expensive, but running a business is also about customer service so they should be able to find a balance between upholding the principles they believe in and looking after their customers- not at all mutually exclusive in my eyes. To call people lazy is just bad practice, whether aimed at an individual or just a general response. Businesses really need to keep their personal feelings to themselves. I also reuse plastic bags for all kinds of things so do not see them as particularly wasteful.I take my own bags when I know I'm going shopping but if it's on the offchance that I decide to buy something on a whim and find myself needing a plastic bag I certainly wouldn't appreciate some kind of diatribe aimed at me.

I've just joined Southwark Circle. My CRB check will take a bit of time but once it's come through I'm in!

YES CharlieCharlie I completely agree with you. I feel exactly the same as your friend. I was also given the spiel of amazing deal. At 18 I didn't even understand the concept of interest and neither did my friends. I didn't have to pay fees but I had to take out the maximum loan for living costs which was ?12,000. It's now gone up ?5000 in interest since I graduated! Seriously wish I'd known this beforehand. Given that salaries haven't risen in line with inflation I think it's awful. I'm not sure when I'll be able to pay that back.

Dickensmen wrote: there are no more opportunities in the work place than in the 50s and 60s and probably less. So we are giving people this higher education to serve in a bar, or work in a shop. I have no axe to grind with either job but you certainly don't need a degree to do them. I absolutely agree Dickensmen. Just because more people go today it doesn't mean that degrees mean less, it just means more people have access to higher education which is a good thing. Employers should invest more in graduates by offering training opportunties rather than asking graduates to do 'work experience' which is expected to be done for free. How can people but the wealthy afford to do this, especially if you have to pay rent. I've seen many very bright graduates stuck in low paid basic positions which don't ask anything from them-they're not challenging, and don't develop them.

Absolutely Rosie.

My sister's birthday is the 27th and mine on the 30th. I thought that was bad enough! definitely don't give him joint presents that's for sure! Maybe for now try to stick out the two days in a row celebrations and when he's old enough ask him when/how he would like to celebrate.

Bloody hell I've never agreed with Huguenot more! HELP!::o

Well I'm glad you've elaborated, and I agree with most of what you've said. I'm sure it is true that 'We could do so much more with the amount we do collect if we spent it more wisely' although I would say this could be a whole different debate as I'm sure we've all got different opinions on where we'd rather taxes were/weren't spent. I wouldn't want to the person who actually has to make these decisions. In regards to Philip Green I was using him as an example for all major tax avoiders so I certainly wasn't 'persecuting one man.' I didn't know Philip Green did so much for charity- thank you for letting me know. But I'm still against the existence of tax havens and such loopholes in the law.

Mic Mac I'm a Labour voter, and I agree. I just think it's a shame that they didn't go far enough because I doubt the current government will do much!

Loz- I'm a 'she', god knows why you presumed I was male. And Tog in sox I don't think your 'connected' question is connected at all. In fact I'd see it as a typically pathetic response to this debate. It's not an either/or situation. If you want to use this as a way of lashing out at the welfare state then the government are already doing that so there's really no need. I also hope you are talking about benefit fraud rather than people legitimately claiming job seekers allowance because they're hardly the same thing. Apart from anything else, what sort of crazy person needs 1.2 billion? what would have been his tax liability without his monaco stunt-he'd still be insanely rich. It's just utterly obscene greed. Fair tax collection is the price for a civilised society and it's utterly scandalous that Labour didn't implement change when they could have.

Please remove- just saw there is already a post above for restaurant recommendations.

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More tax than they need to? Errr no it's the tax they should be paying. And we're not talking a few quid here. I wish I'd been born in Scandinavia- I'd be happy to pay more tax if it means I work less hours, get better services, free education, and a more equal and happier society.

Louisiana - thank you for bringing sanity to this debate.

Not yet :'( Any ideas how we could get started? I've got a cupboard so could store a shovel or two at The Gardens. Got very icy around here- I fell over! Apparently the snow will be back soon according to weather forecasts.