MrBen

See you there - after dinner (and some pressure washing). I love The Clockhouse.

I'm guessing there may be one sitting in a garage somewhere that gets used twice a year....and I don't fancy buying one if I can help it!

I got a split between Greens, Lib Dems and UKIP. Green Party had my economic policy of choice and I must have been swayed by the UKIP's pledge to "root out waste and inefficiency in the NHS". Only Labour tick for me was for their immigration policy - much like the Australian system.

Apols ryedalema and stand corrected....I'm just guessing the demographic that has historically harnessed the web most effectively as a campaign tool. I'm guessing more people in their fifties and sixties are more likely to be influenced by TV, newsnight or even traditional campaign tools rather than say Facebook or some funky website...

It would appear that this novel concept in voting for policies is proving a hit with the masses. As the site is now getting thousands of hits and melting down as we speak. I wonder if this is teh first election that could be significantly influenced by a social networking / web tool and a massive under 35 vote , Rage Against the Machine style....

My dad, a divorced, divorce lawyer with some high profile scalps and a long and happy second marriage once said to me: "Marriage is a great institution son, but don't try to intellectualise it. Because on many practical and financial levels it makes no sense whatsoever". Word, Dad. This after I'd asked him why my best mates wife, after badly cheating on him 12 months in, was now entitled to 50% of all his net assets..... I believe that you can give a child a stable upbringing without a bit of paper, spending ?15,000 on one day and an automatic login to the John Lewis website. That said, that's just my rather unromantic view of the process and many good friends of mine would disagree. But we're off topic - this is about the impact of wedding spend in marginal, regional economies in particular- to which I say it must absolutely, have a good and positive effect.

I LOVE Sydney. Can't believe house prices are still going through the roof there though - if you thought we had it bad any Aussie worth his singlet will bang on about "renovating" and 300% increases. I think it all has something to do with copper. And China. Giving them some kind of economic shield....

Nice one. Now I've got the choice, I can't be arsed with that "can you move down a bit!" 07.57 to 08:41 period anymore. And there was nothing more soul destroying to a man than just missing the 07:29. Great that Southern are finally waking up and realising that the higher suit count in ED these days means more city commuters and a need for a spread of times that reflect that. Er....thank you Barry!

I believe one will be issued shortly Mazza. Whilst not a forumite, nor a regular poster, the mysterious Surfbobby will almost certainly announce the date here on this thread, where it is traditional for him to start his post with the legendary refrain "Hello Sports Fans..."

We've had this pipe dream before haven't we Mick? At that time BigPhil suggested it'd have to take 8-10K per week to wash its face and to make the asking price on the lease + refurb costs + start up costs etc a risk worth taking. We went on to discuss what changes we'd want and came up with putting Keef on the management team, a great juke box, the addition of a small kitchen to the rear and a sympathetic refurb that's different from the rest. I'd add to that a simple menu of well made classic bar food (5 choices including a classic burger and a concession of Coop's Elvis Hot Dogs perhaps?) and look at how the back and front spaces can become connected again....controversial but are these old divides between saloon bar and lounge bar really part of the future?. I'd make the beer garden space more intimate and stock the bar with the widest selection of malts in ED and a few choice cold beers and ale on tap to wash the burgers down. It would be a laid back place with good tunes (early Bowie, Tom Petty...and the rest), a reason to go there (juke box, menu, same quiz) and attract the same diverse crowd mix you get in The Gowlett. Any takers?

A better question.... if Deano ran an investment bank, would he employ the 10,872 post Sean MacGabhann? ;-)

BA again.....I'm watching this strike play out with interest. Willie Walsh is taking a much harder line than last time and I think rightly so (although a panel of industrial relations experts disagrees). We're not living in an era of state run airline anymore, fuel prices are jumpy and the short haul sector has changed the industry in the past decade beyond recognition. And today we have the UK's highest paid cabin crew complaining that their non contractual perks are being removed because they've striked. What did they expect? Something will have to give though....and it won't be pretty.

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Help for entrepreneurs seems an oxymoron. Why do you say that PGC? There surely has to be some incentive for taking often significant personal and financial risk to start an enterprise that generates corporation tax, vat, and NI contributions. And, most important in a recession, new jobs no?

And if I hear the words "BBQ summer" ever again...

The Met Office. Totally useless after their BBQ summer and predicting a mild winter, their new focus appears to be telling us what's happening outside which involves looking out the window. And it would seem that they are now being challenged by a small private forecasting team based in Wales that accurately predicted last summer would be crap and winter would be very cold with snow. And these hipsters are now funnily enough predicting a genuine BBQ summer this year....if they are right then the Met office's days are numbered - a public -private partnership on the cards perhaps?

Slinkys

I'm going to ignore my magic shop keeper today and bet from the hip....it can't get any worse :(

Perrier water Phileas Fogg Californian corn chips Channel 4 American Football on a Sunday night Dire Straits All circa 1986

He does indeed. Note the rubbing together of his hands in anticipation of my lousy mug bets. Never trust a man in a fez. Short of a miracle tomorrow I should have saved myself the trouble and taken Mrs Ben to Franklins.

Well done RC - some rock and roll betting there with a hangover and 3 hours kip...no mean feat. Powerstation placing at 33-1 has helped me recover but I'm not holding up much luck for the 4 pm. As a result am now doubling up and following Mick and Red Devil with Atouchbetween e/w.

Pics removed...you get the idea... and to my only bets for today: 13.30 - Jered EW (15's on Betfair) 15.20 - Tidal Bay Win (Cheeky fiver on Powerstation for a place) 16:00 - Aigle D'Or EW I need something today...perhaps I should lay the buck....

Oops - wrong second pic...but I actually like it better that way!

Loch Long right up there! But no cigar...ah well. Here's a snap of the location of the cheekiest Coral in London as accessed by a lift from my office: Then once you find it - here is the glorious site that awaits.... Edited to make this thread prettier again.

Just one bet today from me - ?20 e/w on Loch Long at 25-1. This is propa mug betting too - it's a Scottish thing :-)

Taking, by chance, the back entrance out of our newly refurbed office building today I was thrilled to find something underneath our building. A little, very tucked away Coral bookies in the basement. I then found it has a goods lift in its foyer to my office floor which if you are a tenant you can operate. Brilliant! Appreciate its all about the web for best odds these days but I like filling out a paper slip somewhere seedy and can now get from my desk to this secret gambling underworld in about 1 minute 30 seconds. Clientele is a heady mix of on site builders, tipsy insurance brokers and the odd posh looking barrister who's nipped out to see how the horse he's got a share in is doing. Anyways - I'm also ?40 down having also backed Flat Out in the 13.05 (which ran well at 5th I thought) for a decent price. Tomorrow could be distracting.....