Jeremy

If it's early morning (eg en route to heathrow for an early flight), I'd go for a cab every time! Otherwise Sam's route sounds fine - personally I'd go for the train from DH to E&C rather than the bus.

I'll put a shout in for my local, Hoopers... I wouldn't call it "rough and ready", but it is most definitely a pub, and not a winebar/gastropub/etc. Although to be honest if it doesn't start pulling more punters, I doubt it will be there for long.

OK so estate agents are an easy target, but let's not get too personal here...

For the nth time, rising house prices do not allow you to climb the ladder!! Bloody estate agents. Anyway, "climbing the ladder" is not much of a goal in life if you ask me.

I used to think the same thing, that authentic Italian = starter, pasta, main course, dessert. But whenever I've been to Italy I've tried to eat the full four courses and found it totally impossible (and I have a pretty good appetite). Then I realised that most locals were either having a pasta or a main, not both... I think maybe they only do the full four courses for big family meals and stuff.

All that spam... did you have to drink engine oil to keep yourselves "regular"?

Hot Water Music Muddy Waters etc

Would second the recommendation for the jazz crypt... give it a go. It's a bit of a wierd place, but I like it.

I worked in Croydon for a (short) while, and it was a pain in the ass getting there. There is a direct train, but they're not frequent and the last one in the evening was stupidly early. However, there is a bus route which goes along Peckham Rye, Barry Road, etc, which is OK as long as you don't mind a fairly lengthy journey. On the other hand, it's about a 25 min drive, or I imagine about a 30 min cycle.

The rent's probably quite cheap if it's in a basement underneath a greasy spoon, which will work in it's favour. And good record shops can sometimes prosper through word of mouth rather than high street visibility... so you never know, it might work out.

London Grill... maybe the best thing to come out of a tin EVER.

Dim sum would be good, but preferably not "Ping Pong"/"Dim T"/etc. Actually, I don't know why any of the existing Chinese places don't offer lunchtime dim sum.

Is the Northcross road stall the one that sells cakes and quiches and stuff?

Interesting point, but as we all know, the market is not determined by cash investors!

Macroban, can you explain to us less-informed posters what the "baseline valuation" means?

I always like the "Architect Designed" bit... as if most buildings aren't designed by architects.

581 sq ft is very small, there are 1 bed flats around with similar floorspace! It looks quite nice though from the photos...

re Haye: being cocky is part of the game... it's not enough to be a good boxer, you need to market yourself effectively to get in there with the big boys. I reckon that's one of the reasons why JC failed to get the big name fights until right at the end of his career. I think Haye could bring some much needed athleticism, skill, excitement and personality to heavyweight boxing, currently dominated by lumbering, podgy, 6'6 blokes. I hope he doesn't waste time by getting caught up in the domestic circus with the likes of Williams and Skelton, I'd like to see him get right in there and challenge someone like Ruiz, Rahman or Toney.

It wasn't exactly a vintage Calzaghe performance, but name me one fighter who has looked good against "B-Hop"? Roy Jones and Jermain Taylor also just about eeked out close points decisions. Hopkins is such a defensive fighter (some would say negative), and he has a few dirty tactics up his sleeve... it was never going to be a pretty fight. I can see how some judges and pundits may have scored in Hopkin's favour, but at least Joe won the fight by boxing, rather than holding and pretending to be injured!

I think a cat can hold its own against a fox, what with those sharp claws. But then again, if the fox manages to get the cat in its jaws, it could be pretty bad for the cat...

Yes, Maximay... good point, you should never underestimate the BNP, and their ability to gain support from vulnerable and disaffected sections of society. All the more reason to use your vote to keep these twisted people out.

Don't wish to get personal, SteveT, but I think you're way, way off the mark. Yes of course we all want our own children to do well, but I don't agree with "looking after one's own race" for a second. You're implying that we should give preference to people of our own race, over and above others... in short, you're suggesting that racial discrimination is biological fact. I don't believe that such behaviour is at all natural, or desirable. (In fact, I believe that we are biologically programmed to favour diversity). Immigrants against immigration? Who are these people? If I were you, I would be quick to point out their hypocrisy. And I don't believe that many immigrants to this country are racist... sure there may be cultural differences which are a barrier to integration, but it's nothing to do with some imaginary natural human inclination to "stick to your own kind". I agree that we need to keep close checks on immigration to safeguard our economy, but that is absolutely not a racial issue.

I think it's fair enough if you are offended by his opinion! If I posted something which offended someone else, I would fully expect them to reply saying why they disagreed with me.

KK - maybe not the most up to date version, I wouldn't dare look at the BNP site in the office to be honest. But according to BBC news, the 2005 election manifesto includes "firm but voluntary incentives for immigrants and their descendants to return home". Controlling immigration is one thing, but to me, the above is incredibly offensive. And aren't most of us "descendants of immigrants" in one way or another? By the way, I think the previous policy, prior to Nick Griffin, was forcible repatriation of non-whites. You can't tell me that the BNP members have all changed their views... they're just become more media savvy. Wake up KK, the BNP are a racist organisation.

Maximay... nothing wrong with the BNP? A political party who would "encourage" non-whites to leave the country? Whose members openly believe that race can determine your personality and behaviour? And that mixed race relationships are against human nature?