????

In my youth carrying a knife law was got round by having one of those mini- glass bottles of lucozade (with just a bit left in the bottom) smashed on the road and, hey presto, a lethal weapon...nowdays it seems Pit Bulls are the way to get round it.....

Don't worry Declan, West Ham's main stand is made out of Lego

Oh the poverty of the people ote. The tests cost ?750...I suspect that in reality that is in the reach of the majority of the population if they chose that route.

Absolutely, I'm not driven by dogma on this.

Sorry LadyM twas meant more light hearted and less pompous than it looks - qualifications have nought to do with brains as you so often demonstrate

Ladymuck Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ???? Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > Treatment is just as good on the NHS > > I would go so far as to say that it can sometimes > be better. I recently accompanied someone very > dear to me to the Cardiologist at > Kings...excellent...gave us all the time in the > world. When I had accompanied that same person to > a private cardiologist (BUPA employee benefit), > the cardiologist always seemed more interested in > regularly checking his Rolex and twiddling with > his jewel encrusted cufflinks rather than > listening to his patient. The private > cardiologist also made an incorrect diagnosis > causing unnecessary additional stress. Anectdotal and value laden Lady M...many/most? consultants do both and I think the NHS has a list of failed consultants.

Mick what's your issue here? I am not making a point, I'm actually saying that I believe treatment quality is the same but diagnosis is slower under the NHS. I have paid for specialist consultants for my little girl for some more or less instant results rather than a 3 month plus wait and I'd do it again. No political points going on here. When I go to the GP i'm an NHS patient.

I never have.

You see Lady M if you'd been to Grammar skool ud kno ur Latin and Shakespeare....equality got rid of all that.

Et Tu Brutus

I've seen it, don't worry. "There's only two things that come out of Oklahoma and that's steers and queers....and I don't see no horns"* *infact An Officer and a Gentleman but same old army induction stuff

Isn't the thing about private health not the treatment but diagnosis? You go to your GP on the NHS "I've bad headaches" "Er, Probably stress, if it carries on for 6 weeks come back" If you've paid ?250 for an appointment the doctor (and often it's the same GP) will at least give you a few more tests and is more likely to referr you. Treatment is just as good on the NHS (without your own room and a wait if it's non urgent obviously) Quids - NHS patient

Sure it's not Private Benjamin?

I've done that with cans of Stella...it's a bloke thing, sit in the pub, back of the fag packet calculations, BINGO

behave daizie :)

Birmingham will be in administration by next season though ;-)

MitchK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There's two more debates to go, so plenty of time > to make up your minds. Now most people have heard > of Nick Clegg, he might not find it so easy next > time. > > Also, bear in mind that in Dulwich and West > Norwood, the Lib Dems have no chance of winning. > So if you want to get rid of Gordon Brown, you'd > be better off voting Tory. Well the Liberal Democrats came 2nd last time.....

Jeremy - I do think the cap is bit of electioneering and I'm a bit uncomfortable with it. However, it's not a complete scrap its just on cash bonuses, bonuses related around share options etc WOULD create a more long term mindset and commitment towards sustainable less risky behaviour by bankers. Nevertheless the cap should be far higher.

Sean..and I thought I was the political 'there all the same' cynic! I dunno their stance on the war in Iraq and their record on expenses and a commitment to voting reform ARE different and in contrast to Labour and the Tories.

Of course Clegg's in the 'easiest' position but he can't do anything about that other than use it AND he was the most convincing in terms of delivery and presentation. As for style and no substance, the Liberal Democrats: - uniquely voted against the Iraq war - proportionately had by far the least MPs censured for expenses - manifesto uniquely does have some actual numbers in it on their spending plans. Looks like substance over style to me. Brown's gravitas! I think people are confusing his chippy inarticulacy and barely contained unpleasantness with something else. He's an old school, dour socialist IMO. Cameron looked a man of no substance to me.

Mick, I didn't say he'd won the election just the debate

A poll for ITV showed that he'd won by miles (Cameron 2nd and Brown 3rd) and the ITN bloke and Robinson on the BBC both said they thought he was the winner.

I thought it was Clegg by a country mile as do the polls and pundits. Cameron was disapointing and Brown what I expected (which is not that great).