MrBen

Quite different - there's no historical context to using this Scottish term with negative, racist intent. And as a Scot I have no objections. Brown and Darling are hardly a barrel of laughs are they? Of course we're great with money and I actually reckon Brown did a good job as chancellor if not as PM. But then thats because we're all tight fisted aren't we? Or it's just Calvinist prudence. Or WAS pre RBS /HBOS. (Thanks Fred). I agree with what I think you are getting at - that there us an undefinable grey area without clear rules. And we wander into it right here on the EDF as often as in the wider world with many incidents that demonstrate a fair amount of perverse logic and hypocrisy either way. But such is life.

And any bets on the crowd?

> Plus sean's phone is better than mine, well it was > until he discovered iPhones are made from wet > soap. No longer. When I last saw him he'd just cracked the screen. And was totally and utterly distraught. I felt for him.

Kind of similar to *Bob*. I've been offered 1 free ticket for bombastic ragga bum grinders Chaka Demus & Pliers at the Brixton Academy on October 30th. With support from Mr Loverman himself....Shabba! Whilst I have no interest in this apparent 90's ragga revival I'm a total sucker for anything free. Is going to see one of, like, your least favourite bands evuuuuurr - nearly ten years after they broke up - invariably a bad idea?

Sorry - am back in Scotland But some more of this would be good. Almost in it's celtic "wasn't expecting that" shock. Good luck.

Yep - I had a shotgun for clay pigeons at 16 years old. Much like Peckham. But with more rain.

I'm working on it!

Course it does. But I'd personally choose the countryside I grew up in over SE15 any day. Lower crime, pollution, cheaper cost of living, easier to get around, beautiful in many parts... call me daft. Just my own criteria.

Before hastily adding that there are worse: Afghanistan, Somalia, Bangladesh. I've not heard of the same problems in coffee bars / oversized buggies in those countries.

I have to agree with Eater that there are way better places to bring up a kid London though. Like Scotland for example. Or Australia. Or Sweden.

I'm yet to grab my Club magazine and a jam jar. But I'm guessing that having your first little one probably does result in one becoming a little absorbed and understandably so no? And do you not need to go through this major life experience in order to understand? So where this spills into a little selfishness on the mean pavements of SE22 I can personally tolerate it - even when I got politely kicked out the Mag for Friday baby club. I got more important shit to worry about man.

:))

Mic Mac - I have to say I'm impressed - 46 posts from you today starting at 08.30 this morning all the way through to 11.36 tonight (and still going). You'll be giving Keef a run for his money soon - are you in gainful employment and if so, can I have your job please?

....for tonight's Comedy Il Mirto Moment.

True - much sadness in the world is attributed to money and an unhealthy love of the dollar. But to be fair, I do think that's an easier position to to take if, like me, you don't actually have much. I think, on reflection, it's impossible to intellectualise marriage as a concept because it's a largely emotional decision which, on paper, doesn't look entirely rational, i.e this idea that you meet in your 20's or 30's and maintain the same shared interests, goals, personalities, on parallel lines for the next 50 or 60 years. Nice idea to strive for, and I respectfully tip my hat to all those on that journey, but as society changes I can't help thinking there are more realistic, practical ways to commit to each other which might help stop one partner losing their shirt if it doesn't work out.

Interesting comments and a rather diverse range of views too. DaveR - Jointly acquired property - fair enough. But where one partner creates a large amount of assets personally - without any sacrifice or contribution from their partner then I think it is grossly unfair to have to split it equally or even worse in a divorce outcome because of current English marital law. I reckon that giving legal recognition and removing some of the social stigma from the pre-nup (previously associated with people like Michael Douglas which doesn't help) would be useful step forward. And I think that the inclusion of prenups could form part of a wider reform of marital law. Civil partnerships aside, I'm not sure that the institution of marriage has moved with the times - society has changed, church attendance has dived, we're marrying later and living longer. And it's now ok to live together and have kids outside of marriage without the threat that we'll all burn in hell. I think it needs a fresh look and pre-nups seem a sensible part of that in the current day. I respect the argument that " if there is total trust then there's no need for a prenup" but an equally worthy response might be " Well if we are going to stay together for life then you wont mind a prenup then because we'll never have to use it will we?!"

This news last week suggests that pre-nuptial agreements might finally become enforcable in courts in England and Wales as more couples decide to take this route. One reason for this increase is though to be that we're generally marrying later and therefore have more accumulated assets and more complex personal affairs. Scottish law already recognises the pre-nup as do Canada, France, Germany and Italy which have similar versions. Setting aside all romantic notions of marriage, the cold hard facts are that 45% of married couples end in divorce with the basic starting point for dividing assets in England at 50:50. And the homemaker (even without kids) entitled to as much as the main breadwinner. Or to put it another way - if you marry in England you statistically stand a 45% chance of losing 50% of your net assets. Whilst every situation differs and is assessed by the courts independently, that broad principal (and some recent rulings) just seem grossly unfair to me , especially where one partner has accumulated significant assets through years of hard work prior to meeting their partner. And where the wife run's off with the milkman. It's a bet with totally lousy odds. So I'm personally all in favour of the pre-nup becoming a standard sensible part of the UK marriage agreement - it's a contract after all right? Granted - completely unromantic but remove yourself from that and surely it's just plain common sense? What do you all think?

I agree - thats well within the range. If your ground rent is say 250 and buildings insurance (approx 250-270 for a converted flat's share of a 1, 2 or 3 story building, then you are still paying 300 for service so make sure that you get some. They are obliged to show what that Service charge is covering e.g. cleaning costs for communal area, their admin time to sort out the insurance, handling a break in. You can get pretty anal and legally demand receipts etc before you pay it. Also for any work needing done you can get your own quote and they are obliged to use a cheaper one if you can find it - all info and you rights as a leaseholder can be found at www.lease-advice.org Or take my approach and decide life's to short and just pay it if it's reasonable -which your's is. Owning sub prime residential freeholds is a weird business run by even weirder people- I've run through the business model before and yet to see how anyone can make any reasonable money out of it!

Not been checking the forum for a while but finally, amongst the boredom posters, attention seekers and idle banter we have an issue of utmost local importance - the best salt and chilli squid. This classic British chinese dish is often on the takaway menu as a starter and comprises battered squid, rock salt and chopped red chilli often with some diced spring onions for good measure. The best is lightly crisp on the outside with tender (not rubbery) squid within and cooked fresh rather than heated up in the microwave. Rosie - god bless you sister, for I share your affliction and have found an unlikely champion in Cafe Noodle by Franklins. It beats Mr Liu's and Gold Lee hands down BUT ONLY FOR CHILLI SQUID. I actually buy my S&C squid there before going to the mighty Liu's for everything else. Pick n mix chinese. Very important. Let me know what you think.

I saw them at Glasto 2 years ago and they packed out a tent at midday but the rumour doing the rounds was that it wasn't the original Dave but that the new Dave was also called Dave in real life and that the first Dave was deceased. This harks back to pre mobile phone Glastos when it was like being cut off from the outside world for 3 days and rumours that someone famous had died were abundant - mainly Rolf Harris or Jimmy Saville. Anyway I digress - so is it still the original Dave?

The Circus is in town right?

One word. Clowns.

To be honest I don't think they are targeting one part of ED more than another SCSB....I've never understood that particular forum sentiment. Pretty much any street with 2/3 empty houses during the day and high value goods inside, next to a much poorer inner urban area with high unemployment, drug probs etc is an open invitation.

matty Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Am seeing people obviously casing out houses on our street on a regular > basis I can support this. I'm working at home most days now and have had several callers in daytime asking for people who clearly don't stay here before moving down the street. Not middle class paranoia - just blatant casing. The last guy looked like the Notorious BIG with a red baseball cap, phat jeans and a bandanda. Then on Sat morning we watched fascinated as someone broke into a car on our street - phoned Peckham nick as it happened (ED closed which sucks).- but not heard back. There's no fear! Broad daylight, stuck his hand through the window, strolled (yes STROLLED) round to the other side, got in, jump started it and away - all in under 2mins.

Keith Floyd was a total genius, honest, natural and rock and roll and deserves to be "on the front page" in The Lounge. When Keith met Keith is on Channel 4 catch up and is brilliant on a number of levels, not least in reflecting on his legacy (constant mindless celebrity chef drivel by comparison). Strangely prophetic that it was broadcast last night and asks whether he is still alive. A fitting bow at the final curtain. Legend.