MrBen

First time at Twickenham on Saturday and found the atmosphere electric. As a Scot I'll say that the experience topped the last few times I've been to Murrayfield (and that was when we were winning). The celtic nations for various historic reasons don't love england but kiwis and the French feel similar. I saw three Frenchmen in kilts which was a nice touch

On the spectrum of sporting rivalry though, it has to be the most polite major international team sport in existence. No real segregation and beers flowing inside throughout.

I think England will take it.

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There are a few really lovely loft extensions

> which have gone-up of late - sympathetically

> styled in the manner of oversized temporary

> worksite portacabins.

>

> So my vote goes to them - well done.

Seconded. It's not actually that hard to design a sympathetic loft conversion that almost looks like it's part of the original design but 20-35k paid to a bunch of half ar$ed cowboys doesn't lend itself to aesthetic wants.

You're not a proper man unless you've shovelled shit a few times in your life.

giggirl Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is anyone waiting with interest for Dave Grohl's

> new documentary, Sound City? He pulled together a

> load of legendary musicians to play at Sundance a

> couple of weeks ago and they're coming to London

> for a surprise gig next week. Tickets are on sale

> at 10am this morning.

>

> On sale here

>

> http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F004A4BF90BA4

> E3?artistid=1820220&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

>

> and here

>

> http://www.gigsandtours.com/event/sound-city-playe

> rs/the-forum/695826

>

> Last gig here

>

> http://www.nme.com/news/foo-fighters/68495

Thanks Gig Girl. Managed to get some just in time. See you there?

Big one on the bridges in Edinburgh too. Full range of Doctor Martin's, Airwalk skate shoes and baggy Acid House Tee's. Tie-dyed stuff, big checked lumberjack jackets, German army shirts and Converse. It wasn't actually the cheapest in town but it's one-stop-shop appeal meant that six of you could go in and come out as the Village People in about 5 minutes.

RosieH Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Oh, MrBen, with a name like that, I would have

> thought you'd be well into diverse fashions.

>

> Get thee into the cupboard and come yourself out a

> cowboy / astronaut / frolicsome wench.

I'll do the last one of those if you meet me in Peckham Aldi in your rollers in some furry man made PJ's with penguins all over them and your sheepskin ugg-a-likes.

....in their pyjamas.

What gives?

Twice recently in East Dulwich, several times in Camberwell. Often a few at the top end of Lordship and almost always female....is this a new fashion?

Great....but what does it say to you?

Is it:

- people are raping the world

- bankers are raping the world....but we could be saved by ketchup love if only they knew where to look

- just a fat bloke cutting up some beef

Or none of the above.

I would think there is an advantage to keeping meat cool. Unless you have a penchant for hot meat?

Whilst it's been underwhelming to some, I had an amazing med rare burger in The Draft House the other night. Not a Meat Easy type but almost better in it's own charcoal grilled and nicely bunned way.

I reckon Hitler probably did the effort:reward ratio on an invasion and rightly figured it was worth focussing elsewhere, so Swiss military capability and Alpine terrain would surely be part of that analysis.

So you're probably all correct to some extent...

Cool story bro'.

They're really proud of their national produce. The inflight Swiss Air magazine has full page ads extolling 100 things to do with Gruyere cheese, whilst a handout of a mini Swiss chocolate bar is standard practice. They're also really into cakes and will ALWAYS sit down for a full hot meal at lunchtime. "Sandwiches at the desk are for the Dutch" was one of the stranger things I was told!

After the Scots, the celtics, the french then the arrogant English last of course

Yeah good soup. But so it should be for ?12. I admit to being surprised by the prices. I knew it wasn't cheap but my last expense was a cab ride to Zurich airport which was about the same as from the plough pub to say, Camberwell green, and it was ?23.

Salary wise they must all earn more to compensate as I can't se how they'd function otherwise? The Swiss Franc is apparently now propped up by the German Euro in some kind of sovereign swap that I couldn't understand when they explained it.

woodrot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have always found they react warmly to a gift of

> Nazi gold

I might skip that one today Woody. But joking aside, what's the truth/history on that?

...Or not to laugh. Their non verbal cues are from a different rulebook.

There was three of them Steveo...I just want to know when its permissable to laugh?

...any tips?

We've just won our first ever Swiss customer and they've flown us out to Zurich. Great wee place, lots of oxygen in the air here, sumptious meal and ten quid bowls of vegetable soup. Great hospitality but it's hard to read them. Deadly serious before cracking an unexpected gag and expecting instant jovialty. Before getting grim again just as quick. I felt like Renne in Allo Allo.

Anyone with experience got any tips?

> Any hidden gems?

>

> Please share your local knowledge.

>

> Thanks

There used to be, but Camberwell is now the place with some surprising finds and often cheaper and better. East Dulwich is now expensive because it's filling up with people with money and that usually = bland offerings from established operators. That said my East Dulwich pick for value is the lunch special at Si Mangia. Salad or garlic bread plus a very decent pasta or pizza for ?5.95 Add some house white and it's about ?8.50

Motorbird, I think with that length you'll be shaded from late afternoon onwards... even at the end of the garden. But check with the neighbours?

Basically, the longer your garden the less it actually matters.

Sunlight in east facing gardens depends on surrounding buildings, fence height etc e.g. how far the next building is from the foot of your garden and how tall that building is. Clearly you'll get more sun in the morning (vs west facing) , about the same amount midday and shadow earlier in the evening. If your east facing garden slopes up, away from the house you'll get more as your reducing the height at which the rooftop of your house casts shadow.

On Fellbrigg we had a 60 ft east facing garden onto Ulverscroft Rd houses (which had smaller 30 ft back yards) and got good sun until 7pm ish in June/July. You also get some shade which is important for most plants.

South facing gardens are probably best for max sunlight, west facing for evening sunlight which is also good for summertime BBQ's ......

And the worst actor (about the only one mind) is Badgers mate. The other skinny dealer bloke. You can almost see him holding an invisible script.

It's 1997 and you've decided to open an online supermarket in Norway. Check out the clean lines on this sucker...

http://arngren.net/