*Bob*

I think you've answered your own question, Jez - From all the various places in London that cost a whole more than 900k for something equivalent

It is a lion?

I'm comin' over with Revolver and a bottle of Mateus.

And - more importantly - when's the next one?!

True. But then when was your last all-night party?

Dulwich Wood House epitomised the very essence of the 'crap, expensive roast' - unless it's changed last time I ate there. Like so many other places it could be a goldmine - out of the bog-standard hands of a lacklustre chain.

Or something Italian. A 'trottoria', perhaps?

I'd like to see it turned into an abattoir, perhaps in tandem with a Currys electrical showroom.

What are your thoughts on the trial, Fazer?

You're off to a fine start then. There's no reason not to book hotels before you go, is there? You're paying so much to go, it's not something you want to spend any time doing while you're there. Tripadvisoring is usually a drag but quite good fun when it comes to NYC and can add to the fun, before you go. Book two quite different hotels and change in the middle, for a change of scene. The best other advice I think is to book at least a couple of really good places to eat, waaaay in advance. We had to book the ones we wanted to go to 4 weeks in advance, otherwise there was no hope. It's great knowing you've got someone in the bag lined-up that you're really looking forward to - and it gave us something around which to hang the day.

Will you be able to handle the tipping, Foxy?

I've never really associated places with 'better' or 'worse' - only the people and experiences around at the time. So - for me - most of what's important is no different to when I first got here. If you're talking specifically about the area, I think it has more to offer now than it did a decade ago. To me anyway - of course not everyone wants what's on offer.

The Standard also features a jacuzzi in the sub-rooftop bar, where you can point and laugh at preppy teenage bell-ends flopping about in beachwear and refilling ostentatiously from their silver Mo?t buckets. A must for any hotel!

The big question tabled for Christmas drinks 2014: "Are policemen getting younger these days..?"

Ohh... Christmas drink-ups and asking the neighbours? Well why didn't you say so before? If I'd have known you had access to such accurate and objective data - I've have thought twice before posting the silly old radar reports showing - you know - the 'actual' frequency and altitude of flights!

fazer71 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Between contracts I'm at home in ED and I notice > daytime flights are now constant and the early > morning flights start at 4.30 am these aircraft > fly low over London and cause misery to millions > of people many are not aware exactly what it is > that's causing them to have a poor nights sleep as > other noise masks the Jet drone past 5am. > > I you value quality of life then banning flight > over London from 1am to 6am is a must. Fazer, I've already showed you - categorically - that the number of flights before 6am passing over us is virtually no different now (either in number of flights or altitude of said flights) to what it was five years ago. You refuse to believe the reality - even when it's dished-up to you a plate with a rose on the side. I give up. Good luck driving yourself round the twist on this.

Ha Ha! The Standard. Definitely worth a look - a great place to go twatspotting for an hour or so just for a laugh. But by god you wouldn't want to stay there.

giggirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- There is a glass > partition between the minute bathroom and the > bedroom. WTF! When I am in the bathroom I want > to be surrounded by solid walls. Privacy! So it's good for couples who like to watch their partners as they wipe their ass? I mean, arse? Mental note made - for next time.

How are you defining 'a pittance'?

Williamsburg? Jeremy you bloody hipster

Looks like The Hudson is one to avoid. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d223023-Reviews-Hudson_New_York_Hotel-New_York_City_New_York.html

Would have stayed at The Sanctuary but decided to give Theatre a swerve in the end last time: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93525-Reviews-Sanctuary_Hotel_New_York-New_York_City_New_York.html Stayed at Maritime in Chelsea - great. Ask for a high floor, a view and a 'window plug' for the giant porthole windows. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d273530-Reviews-The_Maritime_Hotel-New_York_City_New_York.html

RE the whole streaming / digital thing I have some friends who work at new, eager, thrusting-type publishers - who are very positive about the Brave New World - and what it will offer their artists (and hence will bring them, seeing as they're on a percentage). It's all pretty new stuff, in its infancy. Personally - last year was the first year I received anything of note as a direct result of YouTube plays. Things are changing. Anyone who wants to make it needs to embrace the change, not mope about griping about some mythical past where everything was fair.

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You loaded then, *Bob* ? Ha! Define 'loaded'?! I make a decent living out of it - and that's good enough for me!

Unfortunately musical talent is often inversely proportional to the ability to be able make a living out of it. I'm the living proof!