SeanMacGabhann

but will that continue Mick? Won't companies learn lessons from the Irish debacle?

I don't want to give any impression of "it's ok" or being resigned to it. But if someone tells me it's getting out of control and it isn't I do want to be able to avoid a panic situation Couldn't agree with you more on your general point tho

15 years with them, never once had an automated message. A person everytime... usually within one or two rings It is great but I wouldn't say it's the "most amazing experience"

But what does "getting angry and doing something about it?" amount to Brendan If you live in any major city and get angry every time there is a mugging or burglary you will explode

you don't bank with first direct do you Tone...

Now THAT's a tune Big Phil

There is so much wrong with that paragraph (edit: from the Sepctator) But they are correct about over-optimistic It's no stretch of the imagination to imagine the speccie having a negative spin regardless of content If the government showed contrition (for what exactly remains unclear) they woudl have been called weak Calling over 150k earners are wealth creators is farcical given the lack of wealth they have created As Huguenot points out - where exactly would you trim the public sector?

I'm frightened by both groupies and pedants - I'm not going now..

Although, technically, your name....

I think *Bob* has sorted that one out citizen.

on the subject of extraneous use of things - a question for Sue: What's with all of the xxxxxxxxxx in your posts? (genuinely curious, not having a go)

very good candj - if only you had managed an underline in there it would almost be a full house

But they are bad form On a typographical note, my pet hate is underlining... yuck yuck yuck It only exists because typewriters couldn't really emphasise in any other way even if it was ugly. And now it's redundant. And still ugly

Aw David Mc - that's so full of pathos! I'll be thinking of you at fag breaks today

I'm with Sue and Kel on this Welcome to the forum basketcase (you kids and your crazy names!) A few years back I had similar thoughts as I didn't think Living South or SE22 quite hit the spot, but the forum came along and pretty much covered most local angles. As far as menus go,a couple of online operations have both menus and online ordering services - true they don't cover every restauarant but there aren't many missing http://hungryhouse.co.uk/search/SE22/All www.just-eat.co.uk They have full menus, user reviews (hmmmm) and online ordering As for the PDF idea, I think Sue is right. Many people will use it and find it useful but many more won't, or at least not enough to justify the efforts you put in. Of course we could be wrong and you could be on to a winner, but as you are soliciting advice etc.. The skills to setup a website are far less than you might think - if you redeploy some of your efforts into a few evenings with a "for beginners" type book, you might be able to set up a site which corals all of the resources for the area into one spot. I can't see it being a money-maker tho...

I put it down to people more willing to register on here and talk about it. When I first moved to the area there were yellow notice boards about some attack or other everywhere - it promotes the idea that you are about to be a victim every minute

I would say I only drink when I go to the Mag about 80% of my visits. I totally understand a preference for somewhere like the CPT but a) to state it's really a restaurant now isn't factually accurate b) the CPT is suffereing for a lack of customers From a preference point of view you are right. But if the argument is (and it was) do pubs need to accomdate food to survive/thrive - I would say the answer is yes

You aren't going to advise anyone to leave the UK to go to Ireland surely be to jaysus!!! I'm not suggesting that UK is solely responsible for the problems, but the UK financial markets were significantly hubristic about it's light-touch regulation (ie basically telling anyone they needed to calm down a bit to "f*** off!") so I think they do shoulder some responsibility. But If I was an American working at a large bank over hear (and if I throw a smartie in any direction from desk I will hit at least several) i wouldn't be looking at many other countries as "a better bet", either from a job-security or a tax efficient alternative. Speaking to the people around me, they plan on staying put

it took 170 views before someone bit .. impressive

I think the main reason things like Paddies day and Australia day are big events now is more to do with them being under the cosh for so long that as they fled various countries/prisons/jobless hellholes they clung to that national identity in a way that ruling nations, such as England, never had to. Teh ris of English patriotism therfore seems a bit forced to me.. but I'll never say no to a day off or a party Of course NOW it is all about marketing, but the reason the money men were able to tap into those days is because of the culture behind them

Now, I keep hearing this.... and I can see that Thierry henry is better than Alan Smith - but in finance...how have "the best" let this happen? In short, I don't believe we have the best as it is and anyone who leaves won't be missed, be the indigenous or not But as an adviser, where would you suggest they go to maximise their income?

You have set expectations high Phil..!

Yeah that's the theory I keep being told MM, but It shows a lack of moral fibre if you ask me Plus, it may have been true in the past but this being a global issue there are far less places to go as each country has it's own revenue mess to sort out Plus # 2, if these internationally mobile employees are the ones that got us into this mess I won't miss em plus # 3, if London has to rely less on being a global financial centre, that's fine by me. Even tho it might mean me losing my job plus #4, it at least starts to bridge the huge divide between lowest and highest paid - one of the most fundamental problems in any society. I understand it may bring in less money, but it's more "correct".

The whole thing smacks of something very unpleasant. A bit like everyone coming to have a gawp at John Merrick. And I'm not saying she looks like the Elephant Man but the way people are patronising her suggests a lot of people think she is well on the way. If I was her I would be well hacked off

You know those things *Bob* said about Cameron?.... I agree with them I expect this 50% tax rate will have people up in arms (I was expecting 45% myself) but if you are earning 150k @ 40% and (say) another 50k at the higher 50% - is that a hardship really? I mean really? Instead of saying "well my brains aren't rewarded enough here, I'm off!" why not take a longer view and say "this country needs extra cash.... I've got plenty cash.... I see a way out of this!"