malumbu

In the good old days beyong the normal festive stuff (booze, reheated Turkey, family and telly) there was only one thing that you did on Boxing day - go to a local sporting event (normally football). Now what does half the nation do - they go to Westfield. So with no trains and limited tube West London is grid locked. Buses are no alternative as they are stuck in the traffic, worsened as those heading to and from Westfields are blocking junctions. [whinging about the tube strike is on another thread] So before I write to Boris (no trains on Boxing Day) DfT (ditto) LB Hammersmith and Fulham (for allowing the nonsense that is Westfield on a Boxing day) And the PM - for zero joined up thinking; it would be good to hear from others. Was Westfield Stratford as bad? Bayswater? Croydon/Bromley/Lewisham?? To look on the bright side Arry will hopefully be stuck in the traffic on his way back to Sandbanks.

Arry is unhappy. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Third Division ground, third Division support, sadly not a third division team but Championship and hopefully bankcruptcy. Ha ha ha and more ha ha ha's

I agonised between a KF, Chrome book and various tablets. I always go to the one star reviews on Amazon that put me off buying any new technology! Check it out on KF and there is an excellent one star review warts and all, but essentially tells you it is spoiled by the rubish restrictive software, and how to wipe it and load up better stuff (after which the reviewer thinks it is improved no end). Suggest all KF owners check this out and improve their gizmo. And searching for the review I of course cannot find it (1, 2 or 3 star reviews)

Interesting article on BBC website yesterday (can't find the link) about how not to write round robins: "Don?t go on about how successful your children have been? ?Don?t go on about what a brilliantly successful year you have had? ?Don?t go on about the brilliant holiday you had this year? We get two each year, one wants me to throw-up. Knowing the family well their life is far from perfect, but you wouldn't believe it from the letter. The other tells of the years worth of disasters, and odd goings on, which is welcome and amusing. There are of course books and blogs on this sort of thing. Be interesting to hear your stories, and views for and against.

I get too many annoying spam e-mails - not cold calling, but just organisations I buy from. I am sure that I can unsuscribe but I always think that I may miss a bargain. Most remain unread, but I occasionally catch the title. One such today amused me greatly from Amazon local South East London Deals. 56% off museum of London. Well that would be fun. ?199 Man united hospitality, well rest assured that Amazon also don't know their geography of the British Isles. Merry Christmas to my lost friends in SE22 and cam awn you reds.

Too many ignorant comments to deal with here, but I'll try... Go back a 100 years and manual workers were treated appallingly. The trade union movement transformed society. And if you look back to the press at the time there was often popular support not the rabid stuff you see in the Mail and the Sun. Too much of what we think now is blinkered based on the 'union bashing' of Thatcher and 'the grim 70s'. Even Thatcher preferred to have a negotiated settlement. If you'd swapped Thatcher and Scargil you would have still had the same entrenched battle. Trade unions are not an evil empire, they are a membership organisation primarily negotiating pay and conditions. I would rather be part of an organisation negotiating on my behalf, than outside. Like government, you get the trade union leadership you deserve. If you don't like it, join, get involved and change things. Bob Crow is an awkward so and so, but plays the media well (villain and hero) and has more levers than most. Aslef are of course more moderate. The unions campaigned against privitisation of the rail network, and lost. Result more money paid now to the train operating companies and wider subsidies, than during the days of state ownership. A license to print money hence Virgin just wouldn't let it go (West Coast main line). Really dunno what the 'you are a lazy lot' comment is. I recall the Aussies having a go at Brits for striking in the past when in truth (or struth) there were more strikes over there. And of course our European friends are far more millitant. Worklessness and the benefits trap is of course a separate thing - please discuss on a new thread. You lose a lot of dosh, particularly on boxing day, for striking, so it should be quite a tough decision. And finally why is public transport, irrespective of LU strikes, so bad on boxing day? I am going to have to drive yet again to a festive match. Informed comment please - whether you agree or disagree with me.

It was OK, cheap, slightly disappointing. Check out the India Club on the Strand:www.strand-continental.co.uk/Restaurant_%26_Bar.html Or Goviandas: www.iskcon-london.org Or just do Tooting, or www.iskcon-london.org 3/4 of Indians are vegetarians - many of which are strict (ie non veg = eggs) 99% of British 'Indian' restaurants are Bangladeshi, with food modified over the last 50 years for local tastes, and very much meat. So there is no such thing as the authentic Indian, and of course in the sub continent food varies from state to state in any case. There are also good places in West Croydon eg www.chennaidosa.com And one or two on Drummond Street. www.shaheebhelpoori.com Thnk you have to go off Brick Lane to find somewhere special. PS how do I insert websites as hyperlinks please?

OK so it is condensation rather than damp. The house would have been originally designed to 'breathe' through sub floor ventilation and literally through the walls (lime mortar). Over the years modern internal and external 'renovations' may have stopped some of this. Similarly sub floor ventilation may have been impeded. The classic is of course to open a window. But then that lets the cold in. Simply a cold glass surface meets warm humid air, and you get condensation. You can fit slimfit double glazed units if you have the time and inclination, to the existing 'sash's' as the rebate should hopefully be big enough to take the wider 10mm units. DIYable but not that easy. www.slimliteglass.co.uk/slimlite-double-glazing.html Alternatively forced or natural circulation by cutting a circular hole in the window/s. You can use an electric fan that will activate on high humidity.

Daughter has been giving me grief for over 12 months now. Can anyone tell me why a 15 year old needs an i-phone? And why her dad should pay for it? And if so, seeing as I am as tight as a proverbial, the best deal And what is wrong with an i-phone 3 and/or a refurbed model? (or Samsung, HTC etc) Although I was a very early adopter of mobile phones I feel like I am now in the dark ages. She has an answer for everything. Sensible comments pretty please

Am I the onlyone interested in cheating players? Somebody please have an opinion. Thank Heavens for the Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2245753/Santi-Cazorla-wont-apologise-West-Brom-dive.html Shame that Reid didn't make contact with him behind the ref's back at a later stage.

Early report below which has attracted no interest! But first, re: I told a cyclist to get some lights and he/she told me to fack off and mind my own business I told a mother not to park on the double yellows/pavement outside a primary school and she told me to fack off and mind my own business. Not all mothers are like that Not all cyclist are like that - although I confess to at times embarassing myself. Back to said docu: Well I stayed in especially to watch tonight's BBC1 documentary. One of last Saturday's broadsheets said that the Germans have one word for 'an annoying person' where we have about a 100. To use profanities as an example the f and s word can be used in a dozen ways from likable rogue, annoying but right, to evil and twisted. The German word translates as "needs a punch in the face". And the one German word was 100% appropriate for the 24 year old cyclist who featured for about 20 minutes. But this was supposed to be sensationalist programme so they had to get an arse in. The rest was reasonably balanced and a bit emotional at times. Just when I was saying you need some cyclist on cyclist action, up some popped. And then that it was short of pedestrain walking across cyclist (and ditto when cyclist runs over innocent pedestrain) up a couple of clips pop. Lots of stuff to make me think that it was a good thing not to provoke motorist's for fear of road rage (or have an escape plan if you do). I got involved in three what should have been minor scirmishes in the 90s, pre helmet-cam and at a time when there were far less bikes on the road, yet came close to being punched, run over, stabbed or what-ever (a "sorry mate' would have been fine from the motorist). The other thing is never never never try to cut through an arctic that is, or may, turn left, as that is "Good night Vienna". It is a shame that that the BBC did not show both the campaign to get cyclists to see what it is like from a cab of a HGV, and ditto HGV drivers going out on a bike. TFL/GLA are doing a lot. And irrespective of my moral high ground that I am a perfect cyclist, even I am tempering some of my behaviour; in part influenced by the good behaviour of most cyclists no matter the generalisms. {back to the new me}

Crofton Leisure Centre Harris Girls' school (Peckham Rye) for a start

I've searched the site, plenty of discussion on football focus but no separate thread by the looks of things. Dive of the week clearly goes to Santi Cazorla, not a player on my radar but impressive how he threw himself with no contact. Surely this must have been practiced. It's not a modern thing, there are plenty of veterens and retired players, Francis Lee of Man C was always a famous one. Consistent diver of course is Suarez, that decision is too easy, although not helped as 95% of the football population hate the guy. There is much difference between looking for a penalty, "oh he left his leg out", to zero contact. Or is there? There could also be a prize for rubbish goalkeeper dive, Boaz Myhill managed a double. What awards should there be? I'd happily award the cheating scumbags from the Emirites (being in Sarf London I am sure that I can say this, dear Millwall, Palace and Charlton fans) -3 points doubled. Not that there is any bias in this thread. No no no. And interestingly the Arse lowered their prices yesterday, and ten quid cheaper than that dump Loftus Road.

www.saynoto0870.com sadly cannot cover every 0845 number etc, and relies on us to share good information. First thing I turn to though. Also worth seeing if there is a number to 'use when you are abroad' as that will be a standard landline. But then my GPs on Forest Hill road went 0845 on us, justified that apparently they can now provide better services. And some social network sites, one of my faves being beer in the evening, sell out(ie get taken over due to the large readership, and then sell out - it gives the pub numbers as 0845 when the all have normal landlines. So much for progress, and back to life was so much better then thread. Ho ho.

Well I stayed in especially to watch tonight's BBC1 documentary. One of last Saturday's broadsheets said that the Germans have one word for 'an annoying person' where we have about a 100. To use profanities as an example the f and s word can be used in a dozen ways from likable rogue, annoying but right, to evil and twisted. The German word translates as "needs a punch in the face". And the one German word was 100% appropriate for the 24 year old cyclist who featured for about 20 minutes. But this was supposed to be sensationalist programme so they had to get an arse in. The rest was reasonably balanced and a bit emotional at times. Just when I was saying you need some cyclist on cyclist action, up some popped. And then that it was short of pedestrain walking across cyclist (and ditto when cyclist runs over innocent pedestrain) up a couple of clips pop. Lots of stuff to make me think that it was a good thing not to provoke motorist's for fear of road rage (or have an escape plan if you do). I got involved in three what should have been minor scirmishes in the 90s, pre helmet-cam and at a time when there were far less bikes on the road, yet came close to being punched, run over, stabbed or what-ever (a "sorry mate' would have been fine from the motorist). The other thing is never never never try to cut through an arctic that is, or may, turn left, as that is "Good night Vienna". It is a shame that that the BBC did not show both the campaign to get cyclists to see what it is like from a cab of a HGV, and ditto HGV drivers going out on a bike. TFL/GLA are doing a lot. And irrespective of my moral high ground that I am a perfect cyclist, even I am tempering some of my behaviour; in part influenced by the good behaviour of most cyclists no matter the generalisms.

Disappointed, I was expecting a Theophilus P. Wildebeest thread (for younger viewers think that silly 15 inch character they are using to promote digital radio, on TV). This is not a snide comment, just slighly absurd and throwaway.

I keeo putting things down and then forgetting where I put them And forgetting names And peeing people off on this chat room with my fantastic self-depricating wit. The latter is of course a talent and nowt to do with middle age. And no focus hence too long spent on this site when I have other things to do.

Thanks for your stories ladies and gents. Apart from Ms Curtan, miaowww. I'd be interested to hear of non-typing pool stuff - the one about telephone dictating I'd forgotten all about! Now there were faxes that if you left out in the sun would fade. Security being a paper pass with no picture of you, or before that just being recognised by the doorman (it always was a man). Carpet and coal allowances (that really does predate me) Not using Christian names for your seniors, and having to book meetings with them (if you could get through their secretary, who would do her (and yes it was always a her) best to prevent this happening as she would guard the bosses diary with her life Hard toilet paper (urggh) Brown water in one place I worked (supposedly from a well) Bakelite telephones, already thirty years out of date Not being allowed post-it pads as we might nick them It was most exciting when we could do our own photocopying on paper that was, well, the same as normal paper rather than shiny. Back to Terry Scott it was of course an urban myth that we photocopied our backsides or other private areas. A mate and I once photocopied the side of our faces which showed every blackhead and pore. We filed them in the secure safe. I am sure that they are now in the national archives. Finally something that stopped in the 90s, coming home from the office stinking of fags. And something that stopped in the naughties coming back from lunch, occasionally, stinking of beer (although the fags from the pub hid the smell of alcohol). Happy days. Well sometimes

Just to point out that I didn't really get a shag, but I was using this to illustrate a point before the internet police come knocking on my door.

This was a cheeky promotional the typing correction fluid company gave to typing pools 30 to 40 years ago. Tryping pools were a sort of old school word processor/PC. I want to refer to this in a talk I am going about the changing office. Sadly the only hit in Google was to a social networking site discussing 'models' in a Milton Keynes brothel. There is an intersting parallel to the Sarf London song that Palace and AFC Wimbledon sing about the 'local ladies'. Anyway miles of track here. Anyone got brief anecdotes about office life in the mid 70s to say mid 90s. No sexist stuff as that is no use for my audience and they were dark days then.

What is this bro' nonsense, and thanks for no thanks you rude thing. I got a shag last time I shared an AST as a thank you. Not fussy when when you get to my time of life.

They are shite. I bought loads of them when they were on special offer. I now pay a premium for the old style with the new style halogen. But they are only a 30% reduction. What is the point of not being able to read, cook, sew, DIY or even see someone near to you. Emperor's new clothes I say. It would be far better if we just turned the bally lights off when we are not in the room. Being high on the hill I can look out over central London and see so many lights all all night.

East Dulwich was rough as fack when I moved into SE London. I used to enjoy the EDC (aka South of the River - you must be joking? - the cabbies' saying when refusing a client) before the EDT got too poncy and made upstairs into a restaurant. Downstairs in the EDT used to be a place to avoid and had a particularly menacing feel after football. Lordship Lane was also known as Hardship Lane. Ahh the good old days!

This all seems to have gone off track a bit. There is a documentary on Weds on BBC1 which is already being described as oversensationalising the supposed war between cyclists and cars. The trailers do seem a bit too close to life.

Oh you don't seem to be on the directory. When you are PM me