Michael Palaeologus

The CPT thing - there is no excuse for boring design and no balconies. I live in Altima Court. Sod off.

A Canterbury Tale Lawrence of Arabia Blues Brothers Withnail and I The Longest Day Apocalypse Now LOTR Ronin The Alamo Blade Runner Spinal Tap (geddit?)

There was something about this on Radio 4 a few days ago. Chip and Pin IS working, but only in countries where it has been introduced. So, the fraudsters have to transfer magnetic strip and pin details to countries where chips are still not used and use these to gain access to your money. It looks like the big hold-out is the USA (surprise) as their banking systems arent very integrated and rolling out chip technology across the whole country would be complicated and expensive. As the rest of the world catch up with chip and pin, the USA will be the last option for the fraudsters.

Done it - of course to show TRUE commitment to The Brothers Jonas the banner should have been painted on the side of the house :))

What about Muchamp(e) (? has it got an "e" on the end? cant remember, I am in Sunderland - pronounced "Soonderlandyabuggerman") Road. Is that "Mewcham", "Moocham", "Meecham"? Is the "P" silent? What?

"Starship Troopers" - an overlooked classic that deserves a big screen outing. Can we sneak in through the fire door?

*Crawls out of hole in the floor* "Look what I found in the cellar ... a dead rat, somebody been poisoning rodents again?" "Throats a bit dry, anybody got a snifter?" *Flicks mote of dust from shoulder, shakes large lump of plaster from hair*

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Crashes through ceiling, arms and legs flailing" *Crashes through floor and into cellar, still flailing* AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Accoustics is the thing - EDT and The Gowlett also suffer, all being big old London pubs that had the partitions ripped out of them to leave echoing caverns. Especially bad are those with hgh ceilings and tile floors.

Colleagues from East London reported a big thunder and lightning storm last night. It was lightning.

I think my response would be very pissed off. Unlike a shed, a container is pretty much permanent - you are unlikely to want to move it once it is in-situ. Besides you will still need to put a window in, insulate it and probably install electricity. The idea of a container does sound like a bit of a caprice, something you fancy the idea of rather than it being the best solution to a given need. You need a storage space and somewhere to work, buy a big shed, insulate it and wire it up to the ring main. It will avoid upsetting the neighbours when you have no real need to. I have seen containers being used to create affordable housing, which is great; if that is what you chose to do, not so great if you just find one dumped next door.

Mrs Mockney will be sure to take charge of the rebuilding of the Mayan ruins, on time and within budget.

Dagnabit! I will be thinking of you from France.

"it's only a Team Leader (line manager)". Hmmm, if you want to be a manager, then perhaps you need to reflect on this. Many managers end up as managers because they have shinned their way up the greasy pole because they think they should and end up in a role they hate, arent any good at and they become deeply cynical - so impacting their staff. Its a big responsibility if done well. the evidence above is that it generally isnt done well. Which is where I come in :)) ???

It may be management-bollocks, but of you REALLY want to be a manager, then you need to become fluent and mean it. Have a look at a website like "Business Balls" and read some of the stuff on staff development, performance management, team building and motivation. You may have the skills to do the technical aspects of the job; but your role as a Manager will involve you managing other people to do that job, with you coordinating, managing performance and acting as an arbiter and final decision maker in some cases; it is a different role. The mistake that is is often (always?) made is assuming that the person that excels in the personal performance role will excel in managing a team; they wont, not without some development. They will plough on in their old role (because that is what they feel comfortable doing) and try and fit the management bits around the edges. That wont work. They and their staff will get bitter and cynical - which is what is the major problems of management. To be successfull in a first management position you need to accept that you are no longer a member of staff, you are now a manager. You have to be willing to discipline people and in extremis, fire them. Of course most of the job of a good manager is positive - setting objectives, developing the team and individuals, monitoring performance and giving positive feedback. However, managers have to be prepared to pass on messages from senior management to their staff that their staff wont like and will gripe about. The line manager is the first line of management and as such cannot get involved in staff griping; gripe as much as you want to your boss, not to your staff, you arent staff any more, you are management. Thats what you accepted when taking the job and the salary. Don't take the bad managers you have seen or worked for as role models, you will just end up as a bad manager. Do you want to be a bad manager or would your rather be the manager that you would like to be managed by? You may well be asked - How would you manage the performance of an under-performing/demotivated member of staff or what about that member of staff that is concistently late or takes too much sick - especially on a Monday or Friday? Be prepared to talk about review meetings, objective setting, developmental support, coaching and mentoring (they are different, know the difference) BUT also be prepared to talk about disciplinary procedures, verbal, written and final warnings, the need to keep accurate records and the need to sack somebody of all else fails. Management is not just about more money and a bit more responsibility. It is a different perspective. It is that understanding that makes good managers good, the lack of it ensures that bad managers stay bad.

Beijing Olympics - load of old w@nk London Olympics - load of old w@nk that WE are paying for. Tessa of North London has ensured that her constituency has got no benefit from 2012 - an opporunity to link us to East London via a link to the Jubilee Line, East London Line or the DLR has been missed. What do we get? Sod all. What will we get in the Olympic debt ridden decades after 2012? Sod all.

Is this Denis Roussos I see before me? The beard is very familiar, or is it a disguise? I see the holiday in the Balkans has done you some good DM.

"But I have to be honest and say that any kind of music is better than ah-ah ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Ah- ha. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. [pause] Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! WAH! WAH! WAH! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!" Poor Mr Moos - what in the name of God are you doing to him at such an ungodly hour? Hmmm?

Vauxhall

...... and all "Eskimos" lived in Igloos, "Red Indians" lived in Teepees and "Mongols" didnt nescessarily live in Mongolia, but if they did they all road horses, all of the time, even when giving birth or engaging in intimate congress. A 1970s West Midlands comprehensive education was a marvellous thing to behold.

Oh Joy. I have tickets for The Oval next Sunday. Might just have a free day then.

I agree with the general feeling that this was an example of lazy Police, pressurised by the media, picking on the village idiot. Thankfully we dont have the death penalty.

All the Young Dudes - by some upstart whose name escapes me.

andbeyond

A great evening indeed.So interesting to view it through a haze of sobriety. Hugs to all.