LordshipLovely

On a similar note, what do you do if it's a close friend? Lovely girl, can't bring myself to confront her about it.

Narnia, not quite sure if you're being sarcastic or not. TT talentless, non! They are vocally sound, they write their own stuff and their concerts are flawless. I wasn't a huge fan the first time around, however have grown to love them. RosieH, I never understood, back in 1995, why all the slightly 'older' women were screaming for Howard. Now, 15 years later, I totally get it.

Been away and just caught up with the X Factor from Sunday. Thought the singing, although I thought they were better this week than last, has been awful for a couple of weeks. The collaborations were a particular low point. Also, is that not the 2nd time that TT have been invited on and the second time they have sang 'The Flood'? As much as I love them, I don't need them rammed down my throat (hmmmm)... Anyway, bye for now, LLx

My dad made the gold shoulder pieces in Judge Dredd for Sly Stallone. He also made the gold chest plate for Jason Donovan when he was in Joseph. I was gutted he never met either of them, well especially one of them...

Walking back and forward to the printer every so often is always a good one.

I randomly flick between the internet, a random excel spreadsheet and our internal database. I often press random keys on my calculator for effect too! I know how you feel RosieH. I am waiting to hear about another job and the suspense is killing me. Plus I get paid tomorrow so can't stop looking at shoes/clothes/holidays etc. LLx

Great, thanks for the advice. It's a hard life having so much choice about where to go...!

OK, so if I aim for the Farringdon Road/Exmouth Market end instead of the Smithfield/Farringdon Tube end there should be lots of people about....

Any atmosphere? Planning on dinner and drinks but not sure if it is too weekday/eve orientated? LL.

God, I probably was. I must admit, I was pretty sure that there were normally lines around the corners of roads if you weren't supposed to use the space. My main concern was that I wasn't jutting out at all. Oh well, can't hurt to appeal, even if all it does is stalls the payment for a bit. I have just looked up the PCN number on the Southwark website and the details are on there, however there is no picture (yet?).

ruffers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You're not allowed to block the dropped kerb > although it's relevant if it's a disabled ramp as > opposed to a driveway. (I think). As the OP > couldn't be bothered checking once they finally > noticed a ticket attached to the car after driving > half way down the road, we may never know. Look, I was in a rush, jumped in the car and drove off without noticing, and had no inclination of going back as had somewhere to be and was already stuck in traffic. I am going to go back tonight and look, just wondered if anyone knew where I meant. That's all. Believe me, ?60 is a lot of money to me, if there was any chance I thought I might end up with a ticket I would never have parked there.

That's extremely useful thanks Mark. It can't hurt to appeal anyway. Even if I don't win at least it delays payment for a bit. Thanks.

Let's just say, if I was, it wasn't obvious that I might be obstructing anything or in anyone's way. To my mind, I was parked safely, there were no signs or yellow lines, I wasn't worried about residents parking as it was Sat/Sun and you still end up getting clobbered! I only noticed the ticket when I was halfway up the road and sat in a queue of traffic and I had no inclination to turn back and have a look!

Left my car on Pellatt Road, at the junction with Landcroft Road, overnight on Saturday and had a ticket when I went to pick up my car on Sunday morning. I was parked at the end of a row of cars, was not jutting out, and didn't see any signs/yellow lines. The ticket says I 'Parked in a special enforcement area adjacent to a dropped footway'. Does anyone know what signage there is on Pellat Road (i'm not living in ED at the moment so would save me a trip over tonight to check)? Do I have a leg to stand on with regards to appealing? Thanks for any help, LL.

Just wondered if anyone else is having any last minute jitters about who they're voting for. I've voted the same way for years, have done all the little tests which confirm I'm not going mad, I like, more or less, the candidate, but still have a niggling feeling in the back of my head which says 'are you sure?' It's almost like my vote's going to count for something, good Lord, such pressure... Anyway, not a political post, just wanted some reassurance that I'm not the only one out there...

SteveT Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Where is Sweden on that list? > > High standard of living. > > Free love with beautiful women. > > They all have homes in the country as well as > their urban place. > > America 7th, when half the population seem to live > in trailor parks? > > Seattle was voted the best city to live in, and it > rains all the time? > > New Zealand with 60 million sheep, 3 million > people and sitting on volcanic substances? Apparently, Seattle has the highest suicide rate in the States! Always fancied going though...

Using the buttons on my work phone to go through menu options when I'm on on the phone to the bank from my mobile, then getting very annoyed when nothing happens! I've done this more than once...

I know that really SteveT thanks, was having a cr+p day. Although I still don't really agree with Marmora Man. I'm not supporting tax evasion in any way. However, I'm a bit more of a 'what goes around comes around' kinda gal. Edited 'cause first post was rubbish.

I've often let mine go overdue for a couple of weeks as have been skint and couldn't pay it. And yes i've driven around with an out of date tax disc too (gasp!). I wish people would just keep their noses out of things that don't concern them. There's a database at the DVLA (supposedly) that will flag up anyone who is untaxed at the push of a button. Unless the car has been abandoned leave it up to the owner to sort their own life out. And not everyone who isn't up to date with their tax is uninsured!

The Red Lion (Mayfair) shut down a couple of years ago I'm afraid. Used to be my after-work local.

giggirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Today I'm mostly listening to: > > Paolo Nutini - he gets better all the time > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC_3FvA5x58 > > Natalie Merchant - beautiful woman > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RLJwCT7BDA&feature > =related I feel the opposite about P.N. He's grating on me. I used to like him a lot, but his voice has become so affected i can't understand a word he's singing, it's even worse live. Just sounds completely put on.

WOD - I have been, until very recently, in touch with the coordinators and the local family I lived with for a while. I have also got good friends over here off the back of it. The coordinators have now been living in the country for 30 years so are very much part of the community and are therefore sensitive to the opinions and feelings of the locals. The scheme has been running for well over a decade now. I think it was an eye-opener and has had a long-term affect on my attitude. However, there are people who wouldn't have got the same out of it, and probably weren't really that fussed either. All depends on the person I suppose. I also think the company could have been more transparent about where our money was going and I did have certain issues over this. I think the whole selling point of the GAP businesses is to incorporate some community work with travel (well it was, not sure any more) so carrying out beneficial work in the UK during a GY would be aimed at a different market? For example, I know plenty of people that can't think of anything worse than what I did (can't stand roughing it/creepy crawlies etc) but may have chosen something on home turf if there had been options available. And when I mean available, I know anyone can sort out doing charity/voluntary work themselves, but I think the idea of doing it was never really promoted as an option when we were in sixth form.

Final post! Brendan - that's the point isn't it? Dicking about with a rucksack can't really go on your CV but doing some sort of project can. Also, some people don't have the confidence, when they're 18, to go off on their own to a strange place. This is simply a bit of a compromise. It also gives parents peace of mind. gwod - I get the point. Some gap year companies are crap. You've just got to do a bit of research.

I think your ideas are a bit dated gwod. Even 10 years ago when I went, a higher proportion of people in the group had come up through the state sector and it ended up being a good mix. You seem to be applying that only kids from public school go on these things. I'm not saying that some companies don't rip you off but you only have to apply a bit of common sense to rule them out. And, they are a business for god's sake, they are going to make a profit somehow. But, as I said before, they provide a bit of a safety net if travelling somewhere with little or no infrastructure. I just think everyone sounds a bit bitter. God forbid someone would want to leave London and go and see the world and do something slightly productive at the same time.

I had a Gap Year between school and uni and did this via a gap year company. They do rip you off a bit to be honest, but what they do give you is a bit of a security blanket for potentially your first big trip abroad somewhere quite overwhelming. For example, I spent 3 months doing teaching with some others on the scheme, but then after that went off travelling round on my own and felt I was then capable of doing this. It eases you in gently, if you get my drift. I also had quite a bad accident when I was away and had the support network in place to make all the necessary phonecalls etc. Generally, I think it was money well spent (about half mine, half parents in case you were wondering), although I wouldn't particularly recommend the GY company I went with. There are others which I think are better value and more transparent. The actual year was invaluable in that the confidence I gained from being independent and meeting new people was huge. I went from being a wallflower to being more of a leader. I learnt to budget, learnt a new language (which opened doors at uni) and I know it sounds like a cliche, but I met people with so little, that it taught me about the value of money. Yes,there was sex/booze/drugs but you'd be doing that at home anyway, with or without your parents money. Things have moved on a bit since I went so there are far more options available and things to suit all budgets. There's never going to be a right or wrong answer regarding who pays, it's obviously a compeltely personal choice. I just wouldn't be quite so dismissive of the idea.