citizenED

Friday night MM: the molten core of the Forum is larging it in the local holsteries...

I'm coming to this. Errrrrr.....in light of the most recent posts maybe not the best choice of phrase.

After such a long time in the reading doldrums, ie never finding a novel that grabbed me enough to take me away on its full fathom fantasy, or not really ever being arsed to make the effort to truly get stuck in, I have just read "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Patrick Gale. It was brilliant. Amazingly structured, brimming with terrific characters and driven along with brooding multi-faceted storylines. Wow. Why did I not know of this guy before? Anyone else read any of his stuff?

1. Cadbury Dairy Milk 2. Twirl 3. Fudge 4. Crunchie 5. Bournville .........oh, sporting heroes.

Come on Jeremy, give out more. Are we talking Baked, Red Kidney, Butter, Black-eye or what? I'm talking beans, natch.

How about Bare Grylls...?

Been listening to a lot of XFM lately and there is a radio ad trying to get students to continue in to higher and further education: its a short "Streets" type rap. Sadly, it gives my heart a lift whenever I hear it.

Whoops, darling, did you say cigs: Alan Carr will turning in his grave!

TV on the Radio (on the Internet) - Province

They had interlocked their braces and she was texting an ambulance.

Me too Sean: cycling into work this morning the little birdies seemed to have noticed too. But in keeping with the spirit of this thread the guys came to fix our phone lines on Monday (phones have been down for about two months!). We obviously got their top workers. They did the job so well we now have no phone, no internet and no cable TV. Grrrr. Would get on the phone to them, but....

Friday night on the strip - gadzooks!

A really nice mixture of regulars and new faces, plus the terrific venue made for a perfect upbeat start to the New Year. Had a lovely time and only sorry not to have got round to talk to more people. I only got to say hello to most people as I said my goodbyes on my way out Well done to all those first timers brave enough to venture up the spiral staircase. Get the impression people were not disappointed that they had. Real shame I had to cut early, although after the walk home, and the customary Pot Noodle and cooking sherry nightcap, I didn't get to bed til 1.30 - and then, and feel free to offer all the sympathy you can muster, my youngest was up at 3.30! and wasn't going back to sleep! (are you listening Keef) Mrs Citizen was working, so it fell to me to be on duty. Nice. Anyway happy New Year to all and roll on February drinks at........The Clock?

10) homework

There was an interesting conversation on the radio over Christmas about this point of taking the law into your own hands. One of the participants, a guy from some police avisory body was taking the line of "whatever you do, don't take these hoodlums on - you risk getting injured or getting prosecuted," The other guest was a youth worker whose message was "we are all responsible for good relations between children and adults so as an adult you have to learn to talk with teenagers." The difference between them was stark and worrying. The problem was that the police guy was more official and I hate it when the police take this line over these matters. What kind of advice is that? Put up and shut up. The Police should advise us how to talk to teenagers and they should back it up with statistical and anecdotal evidence of what happens when an adult engages with teenagers. Of course in the News we always hear of the examples where the adult is beaten up or prosecuted but my guess is that there are many more instances where the child changes his/her behaviour. So whilst not advocating slapping anyone, thanks to BBW for letting us know how you engaged with teenage oiks without being murdered.

I think, in his absence, we are doing our own version of LATSEFATC. Though perhaps, in this case, silence is the most incisive weapon.

a tally system, notches on the bedpost?

I know at least 3 and one who was one but is in the process of becoming something else. Oh, and dare I ask if Midwives count?

Agree with most of what willow said - it drives me to insanity too; to alleviate the stress of this just pretend that rather than the BBC having dumbed down, its you that's got super smart in the past few years so everything seems so terribly lowbrow. On the graphics thing, that too drives me to distraction too. But the "new" BBC weather map is sensational.

Well done to the board for calling his bluff. "We don't take directions from you.." I like it.

But by Christ, you lot are so harsh - you write and perform an amazing, soulful, beautiful album such as Parachutes, packed with songs and sounds that could light the candles in a hundred churches or the electric, imaginative, dazzling portfolio of tracks that is OK, Computer!only to be judged by the Forum's jukebox jury that you are overrated. Cheers guys. Next you'll be telling me that Dido is no goddess.

They say that Winston Churchill survived on 4 - 5 hours per night which was true except he also frequently went back to bed in the afternoons. Thatcher claimed to survive on 4 - 5 hours per night, which is true, but doesn't count on account of the fact that she was not exactly human.

I am burning the damnable candle at both its sodding ends. Thats why am forever "powernapping" at my desk.

And to be honest, Lifecycle is probably not quite the right term to use in the title thread, suggesting as it does a beginning, middle and anend. Who knows where the EDF will end up? - its been through many phases on its journey thus far. Evolution would be more accurate.

Don't be too glum, it was a brilliant test match and the oddity was India's batting in their first innings - normal service resumed in the sequel.