HAL9000

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ... a catholic priest. ... > Hopefully ... there will just be a population > peak followed by a crash with a new, hopefully > better, society emerging from the other side. There's an ironic convergence of beliefs here: Catholics believe in a population peak followed by an End of Times crash with a new, better Kingdom to Come emerging from the other side. I do sometimes wonder whether the ancients knew something that we don't?

Isn't there usually a procedure to Appeal Out of Time in such cases? For example, if you hadn't received the Final Demand notice.... In any event: Always send these types of letters by recorded delivery and keep the receipt!

Behold: Brendan the groupie!

In case anyone hasn't noticed, you've only got till midnight on the 14th to make all the arrangements for this Curry Night. See: The forum's going on holiday for a couple of weeks

annaj & mockney piers > > I would class that as mild homophobia ... > Have to agree, totally ... That perception is entirely a product of your own imaginations. No expression of homophobia was intended on my part. It was a joke. I happen to be straight but I'd be just as comfortable attending a Pink Drinks as a regular EDF Drinks - I'm sure they're a great bunch. And I'm sure they would laugh their heads off at the sight of BBW trying to emulate the "balloon knot" effect, too.

Anyone up for a pint?

99

The Observer: Why Roman Polanski just loves the English courts

Retreating to an ashram is a rather introverted and introspective activity. You seem to be quite an extrovert. Just an idea - why not try some voluntary work? There's nothing more satisfying (in my view) than helping people less fortunate than yourself - and it can be scary and challenging too.

giggirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What exactly is hiking and how does it differ from > walking? It's a bit like the sound of one hand clapping: very difficult to explain but you'll understand as soon as you hear it. > So I'm thinking, should I buy the boots and have a > little hike and see how I feel about it? Yes and no. It all depends on what you are really seeking. What are you really seeking?

annaj Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well if this is the standard of "witty" banter I > can expect at the drinks, I might just find that > I'm working after all... Don't be like that. Little Red Riding Hood, Little Bo Peep, Florence Nightingale, Florence from the Magic Roundabout, Mother Teresa and Mary Whitehouse are all still available - take your pick. I'm sure we can find something suitable for Moos, too. Ermintrude, perhaps? No one should feel left out.

Many expats working in the 'dry' countries of the Middle East become proficient at brewing beers, distilling spirits and even wine making in the privacy of their villas and compounds. I've sampled some potent concoctions on my travels. I don't drink much beer these days, but a friend in Amsterdam took me to a Belgian bar just off Leidseplein that offered something like 800 different brews - it's the only time as an adult that I got paralytic drunk. That is some strong beer! I don?t know if any Belgian ales are available in the UK but they?re well worth a try if one gets the opportunity ? just don?t underestimate their strength.

If history is anything to go by, western military occupations tend to withdraw after taking a massive hit. Sooner or later a large number of troops will be killed in a single strike. Such an event would be likely to catalyse a pull out. Even if the insurgents can't execute such an attack on their own, there are many covert avenues whereby battle-weary coalition members could engineer a face-saving reason to retreat. I?d hate to be a pawn on that chessboard right now.

The Chair Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 2) The dictionary definition of "paedophile" is > simply "a person sexually attracted to children" In law enforcement, the term "pedophile" is generally used to describe those accused or convicted of the sexual abuse of a minor (including both prepubescent children and adolescent minors younger than the local age of consent). An example of this use can be seen in various forensic training manuals. Some researchers have described this usage as improper and suggested it can confound two separate types of offenders. In common usage, the term refers to any adult who is sexually attracted to children or who sexually abuses a child. --Wikipedia: Pedophilia

bigbadwolf Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'll be aiming for the "balloon knot" effect. You could do worse - just don't turn up at a Pink Drinks by mistake.

Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You are very brave LM, but good call. > > Health warning - Hal hits back hard when crossed. Nah, you're both quite safe. Ignorance is bliss. I'm not going to look up 'Citizen Smith' or 'BENNY from Crossroads' in case my delusional self-image is shattered! Now then - where did I put my Homburg?

Timster Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ... But sleeping with a 13 year old girl > does not automatically make you a paedophile even > if it does make you a criminal. Under US and UK/EU criminal laws an adult who knowingly sexually molests an underage child is (by definition) a paedophile. > If the girl had > been 16 then he probably wouldn't have been > charged with anything So you think spiking a drink with a date-rape drug is OK as long as the victim is an adult? What planet are you posting from? > The circumstances of what happened are nasty and murky ... He pleaded guilt to having sex with a minor - he is a self-confessed paedophile. It doesn't get much clearer than that.

I have a mop you can borrow.

I was thinking we should have at least one fancy dress do - just for the heck of it! Or even a trekkie night? I bags Captain Jean-Luc Picard!

Thanks to a cheeky little minx and the Chief Bhuna of the Golden Naga I spent the night dreaming about an Australopithecus with a huge pair of Mammillarias being chased by a wonky Cereus peruvianus engorged on Vi@gra! Apparently, one can't post the word Vi@gra to the forum!

I'm sure PeckhamRose wouldn't mind opening the parcel under the circumstances. However, there are several parcel courier services that offer low-cost door-to-door delivery to the US of A.

Oh yes - an enchanted evening. They just keep getting better! Last night: what a lovely bunch of weirdoes! Love you all. The Secret Masters ended up getting quite merry at the Bishop with a flock of nubile physiotherapists. What a night!

MyFamilyDoula Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- It's all very well everyone giving you tips and advice but we don't know you or your specific circumstances. If you've never exercised and dieted at the same time before, I would strongly recommend that you see your GP before starting a new regime. Mine checked my heart, lungs and blood pressure and carried out various tests for things like diabetes, liver and kidney function, etc. etc., and sent me to a nutritionist - this is important because you must learn to control your daily calorie intake accurately otherwise you won't lose any weight regardless of how much exercise you do. > is it best to have a light supper first, wait about an > hour before going for walk OR don't eat and have > light supper when I get back? This worked for me, but that doesn't mean it'll be suitable for you. I lost 20Kg by walking on an empty stomach (i.e. plain water only) and eating the main (and only) meal of the day an hour or two after the walk. I tried eating before the walk but didn't lose any weight. (In my case, I wanted to lose some weight because I had joined an expedition to climb an 8,000-metre plus peak in the Himalayas later that year. That?s also why I had to get a full medical check up.)

We can never have too many lollipop persons - there're the salt of the Earth.

Keep walking - the pain will eventually go. Carry on walking a little farther each week until you can walk five miles without feeling any pain or getting overly tired. As you get into it, find a route with a gradient, such as Grove Lane - Dog Kennel Hill or Camberwell Grove, for example. If you try jogging too soon you may injure your joints, especially if you are overweight. Last summer I managed to lose 20Kg over four months by walking five miles twice a week in conjunction with a low-carb diet. Unfortunately, I've put some of it back on since then and haven't had time to walk so much this year.