MrBen

Ted Max outs the Wolf (on holiday from the STF) in less than 4 minutes. Genius.

Cars. And especially fast or fancy cars. They cant be driven properly in the UK, cost stupid amounts and don't really help anyone do they? When I was a kid in the 80's I wanted to own a porsche one day. Now I really couldn't give a toss. Edited to add: They also make you look like a total knobhead.

Just moved to DMC after Melbourne Grove replaced most of their real Doctors with "nurse practitioners". The kind of cost cutting to boost practice profits that is masked on a glossy brochure as "Making your practice more efficient for you". I voted with my feet and DMC is a million times better. If Dr Gupta is behind the operation of what is an above average practice, he should be thanked and deserves to share in the fair rewards for doing so no?

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The most boring set of words in the world are.. > > "I had this really weird dream last night" ...I > just switch off. It hasn't happened, it's not real > and it's tedious beyond belief. Keep your dreams > to yourself please people (or you jungian > therapist is welcome to this shit too). With apologies to 2008 Quids, last night I dreamt I was on top of the roof of an SE22 terrace talking to David Bowie about what type of Redland roof tiles to buy. The Thin White Duke was on top form and after advising me on underlay, told me to got to a roofing shop on Peckham Hill Street before asking me "is a 185 better than a 176?". I woke up, disturbed and in a cold sweat but strangely pleased that I had met the great man.

Think fringes of up and coming Bellenden Road. Barber jackets. Plaid shirts. Beards.

Huguenot is about spot on there I think. There is still no clear cut legal mechanism by which either companies or private individuals can protect their reputation online in the same manner provided for traditional media. Throw in global reach, multiple jurisdictions and it gets messier still. So, If I were running a community forum on a low budget, neutrality and taking personal disputes off line would also be my policy of choice.

Does the East include Lincolnshire? My mum lives up there now because it was the cheapest place she could afford to buy a small house. Boston is an eye opener - 30% Polish population, illegal vodka stills and some serious poverty and malnourishment. Mainly agricultural, still mostly with lots of manual labour (cabbage picking for ?3 per hour anyone?). There's no real "spine" of infrastructure either - you're a good 1.5 hrs EAST of the East Coast line, or a decent Motorway. Or any decent shops. Skegness, once sooo bracing, is now a beyond faded decrepit seaside resort that looks like the set of a real life zombie movie. You can still get a huge fry up for under ?3. And its all very flat. They should really make the whole county into a giant wind farm and be done with it.

To quote from the great Freddie Mercury: "To avoid complications, She never kept the same address, In conversation, She spoke just like a baroness"

Annette Curtain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > As for Marylebone which you have a particular soft > spot for, don't you find that a little trapped > too. I mean by the time you walk from one end to > the other you feel a bit 'nice-ed out' I do have a soft spot for it but more for unexpected foresight and vision in their management. The High Street has one of the most diverse mixes in Zone 1 and its where some small independents still thrive due to support from the De Walden estate. But walk off the side streets to avoid getting "nice" fatigue. Some Marylebone gems: - Daunt's Books - The Golden Hind - The Eagle (small, old school boozer, go Tuesdays) - Le Relais de Venise - Cafe Caldesi :)-D

I hadn't finished with "A" yet. Dear Annette. I need A curtain and spotted the attached bold, vintage print at my hotel on a dirty weekend in Dorset. amny ideas what this print is and where I can buy it? I figure you must know about curtains and be in the business. Thanks, Benny Boy

Funny...but I actually feel quite awful for Sue. I'm almost tempted to launch: MR BEN'S DIY RESCUE

*rubs knees* Vic Reeves style

I knocked down a stud wall in my kitchen last night and found an old copy of the London Evening News in the plaster. The following advert can be found in the classifieds section of the March 12th 1974 edition and it is reproduced without alteration below: LIKE TRAVELLING? "Girl Friday" to assist Executive. Must be willing to travel extensively throughout Europe. Good typing ability. Must be versatile, aged 20-30 and attractive with pleasant personality. Send telephone number with resume to: Box 7110

Whatever it will be, I'm afraid it's likely to be very bland indeed. Unless.....they drop the rates enough to allow a quality, imaginative, independent retailer a chance. They seem to have a very conservative leasing policy based on ensuring a secure income to the Dulwich Estate (a registered charity). I don't think the two concepts are incompatible however. See De Walden's development policy in Marylebone for a shining example. Yes, Dulwich village has a fraction of the units by comparison and a different financial objective, but the same principles can apply. In the village it could be so much better.... but hey ho, let's not rock the boat.... I hope I'm wrong.

Touch?!

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Ooh, I love it when people refer to musicians by > their surname! It makes you sound like such an > expert... in a Patrick Bateman meets Harry Enfield > sort of way. Radio 2 album review tonight with Jo Whiley and EDF fave Snow Patrol's new disc got 2/5. They read out a few listeners incensed comments/texts, several of which included genuine references to "The Patrol". As in "The Patrol got soul".

Experimented again on Saturday, used aged ribeye, dry, hot grill pan, little oil on meat only, 10 mins resting in a low oven after. Sensational. But best achievement was some improvised chips without a Deep Fat fryer. Some new Maris pipers cut into 2cm cubes, par boil for 10 mins, drain and let the steam off then into a frying pan with about 200ml of hot sunflower oil. Fry til brown. Drain with slotted spoon and kitchen paper. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Serve with rib eye and some asparagus. Dijon on the side. Damn.

A "Sean MacGabhann" (RIP etc) restaurant has opened in the West End, and one with solid East Dulwich credentials. And yes, before you ask, a multi story car park is involved. Check it out kids : Meat Liquor

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well... you got some serious answers at the > beginning, before the thread went down the > inevitable route of pointless bickering. I did. And I thank PK, Parkdrive, ??'s and Jah for their good steer. " By straight answer, I meant from *Bob*. I was just curious, but it's impossible to get to the man "behind the cardigan".

I was never going to get a straight answer was I?

What stuff are you into *Bob*? I'm keen to know what keeps a man (possibly jaded by "the business") grooving away in his retro '50's Swedish armchair. Apart from Jazz and The Smiths of course.

StraferJack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Judging by the posts so far there isn?t a lot more > to be said > > Must Listen = 2 or 3 albums > Some good protest songs > Lots of gloopy ballads > > The conversation hasn?t expanded much beyond that > in several days Were you talking about The Smiths?!

In the City right now, it's getting dark and helicopters are drowning out the conversation in our office. They'll be getting cold and tired now so expect proceedings to kick off shortly.....whether its a few windows smashed or a full scale plastic bullet extravaganza remains to be seen.

Atticus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The papers etc. are still incredibly bitter that > our world cup bid was overwhelmingly rejected. > Let's Fifa bash. The papers, generally, reflect a greater public opinion. As a Scot, I couldn't give a monkeys about England's badly managed World Cup bid. I just detest the old boys club corruption on a scale that makes your average African dictator look honest.

Actually I hate FIFA's way of life. But that's irrelevant here.