citizenED

Been pondering this a while too: only thing I can come up with is that, whilst rats have only one 'r', squirrels have two.;-)

Read "Charlie Hot Potatoes" by Phil Robinson. Don't know if it's any good but I loved it. For some reason I think you would too.

To miss out would be such a bummer

I think that the 22nd is a Curry Club night....

"Allycat; there's a girl who doesn't know her onions."

I would love to come to this too - so please not on Thurs 16th Oct or Thursday 23rd.

You have a point Cassius, though I never read the original title as being provocative, only a call for celebratory comment from those who have kids. I generally think you can take the "..for me.." as read in any such title. Nevertheless, I feel it is a pity that a thread about why having kids is great, a thread that provided some beautiful comments, really thought-provoking opinion and heartfelt debate has rather descended into some without-children people feeling that they have to fight their corner. Shame though it is, i think it somewhat inevitable. Here?s why. Having children is not the opposite of not having children. People without chidren can be split into several catagories: those that cannot biologically have kids, those that choose a vocation that precludes them having kids (such as the priesthood) and those that have actively chosen to remain child-free. The debate centres on the last catagory because they have an incredibly unique relationship with children. Whereas they decide not to be parents, I would argue that no one with kids actually chooses to have them. As an individual, you can choose to remain childless but an individual cannot simply choose to have kids. Having kids is a complex, convoluted social, sexual and biological process beyond the power of one humble human. But at the same time it?s something practically everyone does. Becoming a parent is not a choice as such but an unfolding life phase rather like being a teenager or becoming old. Someone on this thread earlier said that choosing to remain child-free was a rather noble position. I agree, especially for those who do something nobly in service of humankind for which having their own children would be a hiderance.

Sounds like it was just what I needed after a tough week at work. Glad a good time was had by all. (Saw Mr Andrew D Black in Mon Petit Chou this morning, sneaking in for a crafty croissant and coffee. Mentioned that it had been quietish)

Could be a Brass Monkey?

Plus a kebab washed down with a gin. Am I a Lion, a Snake or a Pig?.....

People whistling in the street. To catch someone's attention. I always look round. Bloody irritating. Brendan, you forgot the postcode in that address - oh, hang on a minute, folks in the country don't have postcodes on account of the fact that they don't have post offices.

Kingsley Amis identitfied two principle groups in debates over the use of language: "Berks are careless, coarse, crass, gross and of what anybody would agree is a lower social class than one's own; w**nkers are prissy, fussy, priggish, prim and of what they would probably misrepresent as a higher social class as one's own."

there'll be oldies and newbies

I really liked Juno too, though not in an absolutely "must-see" sense. It's just always such a relief to see an American movie that is so low key. Followed in the the tradition of "Sideways" and "Ghost World". As for Knightley, sorry but I like her and wish her all the best. An English girl holding her own in the glitzy world of th Red Carpet. More power to her. The trouble is that the kooks up there in Media World are promoting her in the wrong films: all those costume dramas for such a slip of a thing, I ask you! She has never been anything more than the excitable tomboy of "Bend it..." or, at a push, the object of Andrew Lincoln's amore in "Love, Actually."

Rhinestone Cowboy - not at all... go along, say hello, have a drink or two, then toddle of before it gets messy. Sounds a good policy. Sadly, I won't be along this month: I'm sitting on babies.

Does anyone know where I can get Christmas Cards round here?

fully agree with that Applespider. That junction is terrible if you have young kids.

Pie or stew, Michael?

Oh, does anyone know if there is a highlights show on the TV later?

Obviously, Simon you were predicting the half-time score. And a team with an average age of 19!

There happen to be two properties on Lordship Lane, just by the junction of Townley Road, that are currently be re-converted from flats back into houses. Apparently by Queens Park, NW10 you get more for a whole house than for the combined total for the two converted flats simply because so many of the properties were converted that a whole house is in demand and therefore commands a premium price.

Then spiel this, young man - something tranquil, mournful and incredibly beautiful for a weekend. Roberts Flack - The first time ever I saw your face

More confusing than need be - satisfactory a weasle word if ever there was one - but the point Ofsted is making is that kids in schools are drilled to pass SATS and GCSE. They are trained to do exam questions, not taught to understand maths.

So off to the park we do go

I regularly cycle to work and pretty much have an always-stop-on-red policy. Must be my upbringing - even when its perfectly safe to go through a red, I just cannot.