????

not a creche type one like at Docklands but a clear kids bit from my memory

Just on the small points El Pibe. UK interset rates are rock bootom now and have been for some time agreed becuase we are not in the Euro -where Gernmany has been reluctant to lower rates - and so our central banks can have a choice and chose to cut hard and fast. BUT In the period prior to the bust Euro interest rates were lower than the UKs. I think you are also largely talking about sovreaigh debt when the relevance for the markets in Spain's case is the Budget Defeceit (and ours). And yes our Sovreaighn Debt can be sustainably higher with low interest rates but if our budget defeciet carries on growing then the markerts start to spook. Gordon was pushing our BD up higher and higher during times of plenty rather than reducing it - that was unsustaibnable and the BD figures that are quoted exclude bail out money. The 'horrible cutting con-dems' have mangaed to only cut 10% of our overspending (defeciet) which means our sovreaign debt is still mounting significantly year on year and makes you realise just how horrible the next few years are going to be, even under the scenario we don't go bust. Of course the two are related and so for instance I think in Italy's case the issue is largely SD as there's massive and their long term economic growth feeble, given demographic trends this is worrying the 'markets'. For huges consumption, There's no hedgie conspiracy, institutions with money are looking at european nations and going hang on a minute they've got all sorts of liabilities stacking up (vis avis demographics), piss poor growth, huge debts and largely their year on year defeceits are growing, mmm not sure If i'm buying debt off them". We've reached a tipping point. If countries get their budgets back in balance or surplus they are still going to have to keep it that way for a while before markets (the money) feels ok about their SD again.

kpc. Do you think your European run cost you?

yup, but kids will wreck that! Cheers SJ. I will start having a look at prices etc:-S

So. If interest rates had been as lower as in the Eurozone durung the boom you think UK companies and consumers ( and Gordon) wouldn't have borrowed even more cash? You think we'd be in a better place now if we'd been in the Euro unable to set our own interest rates? I scratch my head if you don't understand the concept that the Euro initially provided countries with German level interest rates and some of these individual countries then failed to behave like Germany with this cheap (but alas not free) money. There's no contradiction at all in that. Spain issues bonds and they are now not being bought except at a premium...a true fiscal union would ONLY have Eurobonds and THEN the local isse would be largely irrelevant. The Germans so far won't underwrite that as their politicians are looking to the German electorate NOT the european one (see also France/Holland?etc etc etc) The point is the Euro's made the situation much worse and is turning many of its citizens against the EU (which I have always agreed with you would be a bad thing)and detaching them from mainstream, modertae politics., which is a very bad thing. It's not bought unity and there's little evidence that it will anytime soon. The uncertainty the Eurozone crisis has caused is hampering all of us in Europe's recovery is certainly threatening the EU and some fear even democracy. This is the exact opposite of the vision of its enthusiasts! I've never said that it's all down to the Euro - the credit crunch etc is not the fault of the Euro but, as it's critcs pointed out, the Credit Crunch and global recession has exposed the fundamental contradictions behind the Euro that you can't have fiscal union without political union.

Techies and others wisdom required. Our main TV is old and failing, our kids wreck and deprogramm all our DVDs and our DVD player so I'm thinking of getting a TV with internet. I have visions of a lovely uncluttered TV area with easy access to BBC Iplayer and a subscription to that new download programme/film site taht's been advertised alot and all will besorted. Am I right? Is the technology ok? Is it through your wireless connection? Will prices come down a bit? Any views/experience etc etc

Twitter - 1

Canute's back. You're staring to sound a bit like a CT nutter with "the markets are trying to roll these countries rubbish", didn't have you down as a Marxist Today reader? You really believe the Euro's in trouvble because of a few Gordon Gekkos in braces in Mayfair? The reality is that Spain is being charged a premium to borrow money as no-one wants to lend it at standard rates as they are worried they won't get paid back. We are in austerity because we borrowed too much to pay for things we couldn't afford too but it would have been twice as bad if we'd been in the Euro (the boom and the property bubble/bust). We can still borrow at a touch over 1% and our unemployent rate is about 7%ish - Spain's having to get the money it needs at a touch over 6% and its current unemployment rate is touching 25%. Ireland and Greece are being propped up by the ECB and IMF and Italy/Spain and Portugal don't look that far off it. Giving countries without Germany's prudence its cheap credit via the Euro at the same time as decompetivising(?) their workforces and products via parity exchange rates with Germany has been a disaster - and now, because of the Euro, they have less flexibility to try and get out of austerity. Which is why growing numbers of their voters are rejecting Euro friendly parties, embracing extremism and my concern is they will reject the EU per se. Some of our banks were nationalised back in 2008 along with many others globally - Spain nationalised one yesterday. The economist know the Euro's a mess as do the financers. No one with money - Sovreign Wealth funds, the Chinese, Pension funds, banks wiith strong balance sheets, wants to lend to these countries as they think they are too higher risk. Would you put your cash in Spain for a non gauranteed 6% return? If my Finacial advisor tried to sell that to me I'd be looking elsewhere.

Spain wobbling again, just had to nationalise a bank Its Bond rate at above 6% The Guardian's new love, Hollande, now saying he won't ratify the agreement that Cameron alone didn't in October - will the Guardian et al be screaming 'little froglander' at him? 10% of Greeks voted for a real, propa, nazi saluting bunch of thugs Euro now at E1.25 to the ? from about 1.13 a year ago (great for us whi get paid in Euros...er not) ECB witholding Greeces next bunch of bail out dosh Dutch govt gone Irish referendum upcoming...I wonder if they'll make them vote twice this time if they don't ike the first result? When are the Italian elections? Idealistic, visionary idiots...doncha just love them

'bout now Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I went on Monday, very impressive job done and we > have the team that we wanted, Blackpool. In > typical downbeat Hammer tradition it just presents > an even bigger banana skin for us. That's what I'm > telling myself anyway! > > Anyone going? I think so...it depends on one of my mates' son's decision about a prty or somethink :-S Was there last time we were there for Tonka's penalty...never thought it would be this long!

Bad luck KPC. Got to be honest and say I'd rather be facing Blackpool than you but hope you keep your manager and get back up soon...ideally to join us :))

ps and smile when the flop comes up 7 4 4 and some one says "Oh gawd I folded 7 4" then you know you're with 'fish'

Presuming you're reasonably inexperienced you should play tight so the hands i suggested earlier. mainly. In early position just AA -JJ and AK. Aces suited down to A10 suited max. All other Aces will get you in trouble. Beginners can't let go of an ace and will get beat too often for too many chips. if you're in mid-late position and someone's raised you should fold anything but these premium hands until you're more experienced. If no-ones raised and you're last to act you can play a wider range of hands but I'd nearly always bring these in with a raise. Remeber, on the whole Controlled aggression wins poker. If you think you've the best hand BET dion't call or check. Just calling is a mistake about 80% of the time, If you just take one bit of my advice it would be either bet or fold in most situation...calling's for suckers. if everyone's pretty amateur you'll have an enourmous advantage just playing decent starting cards, raising when you're strong and folding when you're weak or don't hit a flop - Don't stay in a pot just becuase KQ looks pretty, ever

ps if you're going to raise pre-flop about 3 times the BB is good Afterwards never bet leass than half the pot. You're never going to get pooeple to fold with a ?1 bet into a ?10 pot Pros don't bluff much. if you get a winning hand bet it strongly and rubbish players will call you with all sorts of weak hands thinking your bluffing.

Tournamnet or cash there's a fair difference but.... Basics If you've not played much before, Play tight - AA-99 + AK, and AQ-a10 suited only. A-3, 4, 5, etc are honestly crap hands that will get you in trouble. Always raise with the premium hands AA, KK, QQ, AK - limping in is amateur play with premium hands you're trying to isolate not have loads of crap hands in their to fluke a set with their crappy 22 etc. Acting ;last is a MASSIVE advantage, use position. Don't try for flushes etc unless you're getting the odds. Remember as arule of thumb you want to be Riasing or folding...calling is weak. if it's atournament and you've got less than 10 big blinds left then shove all in with any decentish hand.

and I wonder if the angry, spoilt boy who tries to wreck all the games and no one wants to play with will get an invite?

As for the low volume poster feeling unwelcome, this isn't the fault of a clique. She's just come onto a chat forum she hardly visits and proposed that 20,000 people be banned from posting by virtue of their location. You think I'm the one that's being unfair? No She doesn't huge - Seriously, sometimes actually read what people actually write?

The Guardian 1, surely?

FFS Talk about 'cliques' making low volume posters feel unwelcome!!! The OP just politely puts forward a debate on whether the For Sale section should be restricted to SE22, that's all. Otta, one of the longest posters on here, answers this well in the first post pleasently and with some empathy on the for Sale section idea. Then it piles out as per. I suspect there are a significant number of potential posters who don't post on this board because of this sort of cliquey response which is far too frequent and long standing IMO . Still, Huge gets to stroke his own C8ck once more.

The Museeum of London had a kids activity area last time I went that was ok for a 3 year old

*pulls up chair, opens beer and sits back with popcorn*

:))

a pint of bothered will suffice for me woody

...but a decent manager

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Levy does all transfer busniness at Spurs. Harry > might identify a player he fancies but if Levy > says no he don't get. Harry has nothing to do with > any financial dealings at White Hart Lane. Oh agree Jah, Levy's far too smart for 'Arry's tricks plus the days of all sorts of extras for the managers are noiw over. But ultimately, Harry persuaded a reluctant Rio to leave UP for a big money deal, most of which was spent on dross of who significant parts of their fees went to Harry or his son is how thw allegations go. That's what many West Ham fans think and certainly it's never been really explained why Harry got the sack - he still claims it was becuase of something he said in a fanzine interview as that was obvioulsy the agreed party line. Blokes is as dodgy as f*ck in my opinion.