RosieH

Yes, I figured there'd probably been a change in cheffage. Hope they're back up to their usual excellent standard soon.

Hmmm, what's going on here? Pistachio Club was always my favourite, has been for years, but over recent months (and mind, this is only home delivery, haven't eaten in in quite some time) their food has been virtually inedible (my particular favourites, gosth jaflongi and masala roast lamb recipes gone horribly to the dogs, smoky brinjal seemingly comprised entirely of peas and no sign of the aubergine). If I had been eating in, I would have sent these things back, but what's the etiquette with home delivery? This hasn't been a one off, I keep thinking "I'll give them one more try" so in total, I would say it's been about 5 or 6 times. Is it just me? Everyone else seems to think it's ace. And I want to again, I really really do.

I say go to the party (as long as it isn't on the other side of town) - if you get there and find that there's no one you want to talk to you can always come home and have a nice night in

Maybe best when you have the luxury of time (I read it at university) - perhaps in retirement..?

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust. > All three volumes of it. Why? Life is too short. Jah Lush, I might have to fight you for that. F*cking brilliant - one of my all time favourites, just beautifully observed

When will dodgy marketeers learn to write in English sentences?

Didn't we all go to bars underage? They probably are just back from uni if you've only just noticed them, but even if they're not, I can't begrudge teenagers a little experimentation, after all, how are you going to learn not to drink blue bols and lemonade unless you've spewed it all over the pavement when you're 14?

Yeah I know, even as I wrote it I thought it faintly ridiculous, but couldn't be arsed to change it. That said, i think everyone knows what a man's woman and woman's woman is. What I'm basing it on is entirely my perception, which is of course entirely subjective, but that's kind of my point - the viewers get to vote, so if the image you portray to the audience isn't a sympathetic one, then you're not going to get any votes. I have no problem with women being attractive - that doesn't make them unappealing to other women. I think Rachel's gorgeous, and Alesha Dixon is absolutely stunning. BUT other people seemed to show facets of their personality, and Lisa didn't seem to have one apart from pouting at the camera and tossing her hair about like she thought she was the most gorgeous thing ever (and let's face it, she's really not bad), then crying when the public didn't vote for her. What was irritating about it was her clear expectation that people would vote for her, based on what, sheer good looks alone?

I don't think it's that women have to have a "thing" - I think it's that Lisa Snowdon's clearly a man's woman rather than a woman's woman, and women don't respond well to that. I would imagine that the majority of voters are women. Showing a little empathy works wonders.

The public don't like attractive women???? You saying Alisha Dixon's a moose? (or Natasha Kaplinsky or Jill Halfpenny?) I think she's way more attractive than Lisa Snowdon. Lisa "I went out with George Clooney me" Snowdon got little public support because she demonstrated no humour and no humility - she complained about being in the bottom two rather than accepting that this is a public entertainment show and that she needed to do something to get the public on side if she wanted their votes. John Sargent on the other hand understood this completely, and playing to the audience kept him in week after week, when his dancing skills should have seen him off weeks earlier. I'm not convinced that Tom would have won if it wasn't for his showdance. He might have done, but I think Rachel's superior skills would have garnered more votes if her showdance wasn't so meh (brilliant but meh) and his so funny and quirky. I can't believe that I'm writing earnestly about this either!

Slightly more cryptic - which seminal guitarist might the French think was a bit annoyed? Johnny Mar (j'en ai marre)

Keef, you're right - Tom's showdance was cool (I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror smiling like an idiot in the middle of it). I think the most important thing was that as well as being rather good, it showed a bit of personality and enthusiasm, which I think both Rachel and Lisa singularly failed to do (unless you count Lisa moaning every week that the public didn't like her).

Thanks PeckhamRose, I really appreciate it, and I'm sure you're right about opinions. I asked in the hope of some personal experience (whether as patient or doctor - think there are a few Kings bods on here). I have a couple of friends who are doctors, one is vehemently of the belief that it's all in the mind, and the other that it's post-viral. Am hoping to give my sister some insights as she seems reluctant to investigate herself and is convinced she's never going to be able to work again and will be confined to her bed. That said, I do think depression is a major factor in this instance, so that doesn't help.

Glad to see Admin removed the post - haven't seen anything quite so bile-filled since I saw the headline on the Daily Star last week that immigrants have taken EVERY SINGLE ONE of our jobs since 2001 - still even that paper of note managed to avoid such wanton name calling. As Sean points out, there are criminals in every walk of life - I'm a nice privately-educated middle class girl (well, woman) who pays her taxes and doesn't drop litter, but out of my 10 cousins, I think 7 of them have been convicted of criminal offences. Does that make me a thieving arsehole?

I had thought for many years that the M in Myalgic Encephalytis should really stand for Made-up (well made up in the sense that it's psychosomatic rather than imaginary), and everything I read linked it to depression and basically said it was depression for people who refused to admit they're depressed. Even now, I believe one of the best treatments is CBT. However, my sister has just been diagnosed with it and is crying her eyes out talking about some woman who killed her ME daughter to put her out of her misery. So I figured it was time I moved away from the "get a backbone" stance and became a little more sympathetic. Any thoughts on latest medical thinking? Online searches haven't helped me much.

Nice one bigbadwolf - you taken your inspiration from Bill Bailey's Part-Troll?

How lovely - maybe I'm just sentimental but that's filled me with Christmas cheer - yay for whoever that was

It gets old pretty quickly, but it made me laugh sockandawe

And I saw three yesterday at the bookies opposite ED station

Am clearly loser - I really enjoyed the Silmarillion Why you all reading books that are so awful - tell me you're putting them down after 3 chapters right, not struggling on to the bitter end..?

And I'm running. And I'm lassoing. And, what, no, the cute little gym pixie's laughing at me. Oh god, the PTSD

Skipping is great. I was once busted on the treadmill at the gym doing a lasso motion to Rhinestone Cowboy. Liberating, but mildly shameful.

jumpinjackflash Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Strawbs Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > is not to get made redundant!! > > Exactly what I was thinking Strawbs! Is a job. Oh and to quote my new christmas decoration bought from the lovely ceramics place in the warehouse: "I am hoping for world peace but would like something shiny as well."

to do jazz hands to myself as I walk home of an evening listening to Sir Duke on the ipod? AND does it mark me out as a prime candidate for a mugging? (on account of probable inebriation and handy garotting instrument at the ready) OR mark me as a grade A mental to be avoided at all costs?

the abomination by someone abominable I once received two copies of the lovely bones for christmas in the same year - I have read neither, nor will I. take your misery memoir and do something quite rude with it. terrible books are one thing. people buying you terrible books because they're so "you" is something else entirely, and quite possibly merits the return of capital punishment