Michael Palaeologus

Women ..... READ? Blimey. How terribly modern.

All Good!!

The problem with the Croydon Tramlink has been the short sightedness of the Councils! Various attemps have been made to expand the tram network, but neighbouring Borough are unwilling to cooperate because it is the "Croydon Tramlink".

The tram for Euston to Peckham was cancelled because there was no money for it. It was a Ken Livingstone pipe dream created as an election teaser. I like the idea of trams, the route for the Euston-Peckham route seemed do-able, just need to find the cash. St Thomas' to Guys seems to be a very short and limited route. To justify the investment a longer route would be needed to generate more income.

This Thursday everybody!! Meet in the Draft House at about 7.15. In Veer Zara at about 8.00.

The girl who purported to come from america is one of my FB friends and is from ...... America. Go figure ..

2 pounder shell casing. Shiny brass.

"Lord" Coe has just said that people wont be allowed to wear Pepsi branded shirts at the Games. This because Coke have been so generous in their sponsorship. I kid you not, Today programme on Radio 4. Also, police have been told to put their Walkers crisps into clear plastic bags, Walkers being owned by Pepsico. So much for a Democratic Olympics. This kind of tosh was proposed during Test cricket a number of years ago. The cricket authorities were very new to corporate sponsorship and were rather niaive in their dealings with sponsors i.e. they just rolled over and agreed to everything. There was a big push back from cricket fans and minds changed quickly.

Interesting that the Centurion shares a similar shape and design details with the Comet, its just bigger. Same engine as well I think (Merlin derived?).

Your head has been turned by exotic locations and tit-bits.

You simply do not love us anymore. That is all there is to it.

I saw him at the EDT. Introduced by Stephen Frost. "I was brought up by wolves"

To claim that a mess has been made of the application is somewhat disingenuous. Its the kind of thing that isnt immediatly obvious, even during due diligence checks. Perhaps they knew but applied anyway, because you never know what might get through ... If there is a problem, M&S will simply re-apply, having dealt with the issues. A standard approach would be to apply for everything that you want, knowing that somethings will get not be accepted. You sacrifice the nice and so keep the nescessary.

It would seem that the M&S effect is alreasy taking place. Shops are upping their game.

Yes. We have many, many green spaces in our urban environment. These are purpose built and protected as such. Thus, feral land which as you describe is "in Camberwell New Cemetary" is available for relevant development because it is in a cemetary - a man made construct that is not the natural environment. That such an environment has trees and wildlife is a secondary usage and benefit to burying dead people. The primary usage is burying people, whether that is in the past, present or future is irrelevant.

I dont need to look at the place. We are lucky in that we have a zillion acres of parkland in the immediate area. A bit of scrub land really isnt going to make any difference. Getting transfixed by the fate of a few acres of land is missing the point. We live in a city, not the countryside. People come first. I grew up in the middle of a forest and woodland. This is not proper woodland. It never has been big enough to have the density and diversity of growth to be a fully balanced woodland. In the scheme of things, its a hankie of land with trees and shrubs. If a rare plant or animal species is found, then, as happened elsewhere, they can be transplanted to another more appropriate (ie the proper countryside) habitat. That a few urban foxes and a squabble of green parakeets have to find new homes is not an ecological disaster. The gree environment is vital, but the real battle is to be had in rutal areas which are threatened by the doing away of green belts. It will be interesting to see how many mature, healthy, indigenous trees are to be brought down, rather than the apocalyptic picture that the whippers up of public moral outrage paint.

These are not wild spaces. They are, at best, feral spaces. Once used as active cemetaries, then neglected because they were full and of no use, now they are to be re-used for there original purpose. Some wildlife will be displaced. No species will disappear, no genus wiped out. If the Council was senstive to local concerns they could create environmentally friendly burial spaces with a rural feel, irregular grave patterns, between existing mature growth. This instead of the rather sterile approach so often seen in cemetaries. Of course this is probably more expensive to maintain. It may be that changing demographics mean demand for burials will increase. Many religions and cultures require burial rather than cremation. Where are we surposed to put the bodies?

A simple question gives you two the opportunity to act like children. B*gger off and start your own thread.

Yotel option looks good. I have before now, got up at 3.30am. Got a Taxi to Victoria and then got the Gatwick Express. Taxi is about ?20. Gatwick Express period return is now about ?33. So, ?53 in total.

Fantastic bit of Radio 4 science programme trivia for you. When David pushed Nigel off the roof, the length of Nigel's scream could be used to calculate the height of the roof from which he fell. Thus the Pargeter Family's stately home has a height that is somewhat greater than that of York Minster! Which means that they have some of the longest ladders in the country.

Started today. Mine was ?18 worth.

This week I got the Pork Loin Roast, pea and bean layer, raspberries and blueberries and the Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre red wine. What did others get?

My black leather jacket. Looking really rather shagged out now, but will still keep wearing it ...

John Archer was worse. The writers, to their credit, killed him off beneath the old grey Fordson. Sadly the family sold the Fordson, so another means will have to be found to do away with the big-headed younger brother. Bringing Walter Gabriel back could help Tom's demise. Haunted and hounded by the spirit of Walter, driven to shoot himself with a 12 bore on the very spot that his older brother was squished to death. That would learn him.

Excellent evening with a fine turn-out of the CC irregulars. The Draft House were great hosts and provided some nibbles on the house. Tandoori Nights was vry good. The food was excellent, I had a lamb Gosht dish which was tender and flavoursome with a hint of spicyness. Others enjoyed their choices and we cleared our plates. Cost was ?23 each including tip. Next meeting of the Curry Club will be on Thursday 26 July at Veer Zara. Meet at The Draft House.