SeanMacGabhann

Ridgely. Are you really telling us you haven't seen the life of Brian?

Re : owning a rental property - I was thinking more along the lines of if it was being vacated rather than booting someone out. But if it was being vacated in the same period would you jack up the rents? As for letting a room - letting a room for a few weeks is completely different to doing it full time. Doing it during the olympics allows a bit of extra cash in and the chance to meet people from around the world at a time when there should be a collective carnival atmosphere - all in the knowledge that it will all be done in a few weeks It's not for everyone (just like moving out for a few weeks) and I'm not saying people SHOULD do it - it's just an option I just can't reconcile the constant moaning about rip-off britain (SOMEONE ELSE DOING IT TO US!), only when it comes down to it the same people are the ones who are too happy to jack up prices (JUST GETTING A FEW EXTRA BOB). I'm not surprised by it...

you mentioned earlier people with vacant property - they could just let it as per norm (I might well be in that position myself then) You don'thave to vacate your home either - a spare room could be lodgings

Look, people can rent out their gaff if they like, it?s up to them (although if it?s nice enough to command a premium at Olympic time, chances are these people are well off too) But by the same token it would be nice if these same people didn?t complain about the price of anything else ? it?s only someone else making money right?

so if you don't happen to be well off, bugger off, the Olympics aren't for you? nice people can get to London for pennies these days as well you know

ha - early Tuesday morning laugh out loud for that one - bravo sir

Wouldn't the world be a better place if all Wembley matches were that enjoyable to watch? Gutting to lose, and I hope out goalie learns from it, but well done Birmingham meanwhile, Rooney and Ashley Cole continue to prove what class acts they are I recall writing THIS over 3 years ago and whilst the jury isn't in yet, the last year hasn't been good from him

I'm with narnia all the way on this one. I have been to sold out gigs where touts and other fans were selling tickets for 10 x price but with 2 spare tickets i find the fans who obviously cant afford that and sell for cover price. I've been in the "can't afford" bracket many a time and cant understand why people aree so quick to make a buck at other peoples expense. It's one of the few times where one gets to freely choose " do I be a cunt or not?". Choosing to do something because others do it is no excuse

oooh blimey MM - my mistake. Force of habit maybe? Many apologies tho

maybe true quids but none of that has much to do with the EC ireland's croneyism and corruption go back way further than any of that But the dark miserable place Ireland was before it joined the EEC? If anyone wants that they are indeed barmy Besides, it's not just this post - silvefox generally makes me wonder

you sometimes see printed A4 sheets posted around the place - all CAP LETTERS complaining about this that and the other thing. Can't remember what name is at the bottom but similar levels of bonkerness

Silvefox Are you the nutter who puts the a4 printouts up around east dulwich

I'm totally with quids on the default thing. I thought when the idea was mooted yesterday noone would take it seriously and I too am flabbergasted to see it given credence

I don't see the increasing insecurity of private sector workers as something to aspire to If public sector workers are better off these days then (as a private sector worker) I say well done. That is success to me. If labour spent massively on public sector then I see that as catching up on lost years. I don't see it as waste. If the private sector could do the same thing they would. But by definition they can't. Private companies exist to make money. And that's good. That's great. But not everything good makes money And if the global economy hadn't tanked, labours spending would be unremarkable. Everything is linked.... I'm not saying public good, private bad. I'm not saying bankers are entirely at fault. We are where we are But ideologically there wasn't much wrong with the public sector expansion. A lot of people benefited. And whether they are necessary or ideologically driven the current cuts will harm a lot of people. Directly and indirectly. I don't mind harsh but necessary decisions. But I'm no longer convinced that is what this government is engaged in I understand other people think differently. But we will see in the long run I guess

Succesful countries never have and never will "live within their means" Comparing individual housekeeping with national spending is a fallacy Which is not to say the deficit doesn't need addressing. But whilst there are good reasons to not vote labour, the global economy tanking isn't one of them. History will judge the improvements in infrastructure under labour kindly (proportional to spending or not ) How history judges the current governments handling of the economic situations remains to be seen

Emily's gone quiet

Olivia - I can't find fault with anything Mockney says

Down in Cork I didn't know anyone who would support that view but more than a couple of Dubliners I met - and I remember someone on the Late Late show at the time (early 80s) saying something like that and it sparked a "debate"

ever since I was a boy in Ireland, there has always been a sizeable group of people who felt independance was a bad thing and longed to be "under the wing" again - so I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't joking

Amen to this (although I reserve the right to participate in a crawl if a decent one transpires. Planned crawls however, rarely work)

"the strip" is many things but the idea it's "undeniably pretentious" is laughable You can go to any part of the world, even this country, or even this town, and come across main drags with far more pretension.

The last manager of the Ivy House and the various attempts didn't fail because they tried to attract an ED type crowd They failed because they were already failed old-school pubs and revamps were a last throw of the dice keef has it with the location thingy (although Hoopers has carved a niche for itself after initial wobbles, partly due to location, I think) Ignoring the locals is not going to help, but if the locals aren't in the pub regularly enough they can't complain when it goes under/gets revamped. From my first visit to the Ivy House 10 years ago, to the present day, anytime I went for a normal pint it was me and about 3 other people - no business going to stay open with that kind of income

This whole idea tha Labour councils are dishonest with their cuts is surely a sham. I'm not saying they are morally incapable of it but surely any council inflicting cuts is going to be judged just as harshly by the electorate It would be a folly of a gamble to take

Call me a aquare from the past but I like the teas in Chandelier I've not had their Blue Sapphire Earl Grey but their Russian Caravan is smoky heaven

I'm going with "faux" But I'll be giving the new place a try for sure