bridge too far

Listening (well watching) whole series of programmes about Eric Clapton on Sky Arts right now / this weekend

Didn't I read somewhere recently that this government has borrowed more in its 4.5 years in office than the Labour government did during the 13 years it was in power?

Oh absolutely! But I just get thoroughly ****ed off when ignorant folk insist that the Labour government invented / introduced PFI. Incidentally leasing of hugely expensive diagnostic machinery in the NHS is nothing new - been going on for decades. Most contracts include options to upgrade with advancing technology and that makes sense. Better to have that sort of arrangement than to change the model when the latest state of art kit is marketed. Mr TF works for a private biochem research company - it, too, leases its kit.

Instigated in the first place by John Major's government

It looks like the only measure they were ahead on was fouls

Once upon a time the individual hospitals used to run their own 'banks' of clinical staff. They were forced to outsource this and set up contracts with a number of agencies. Nowadays, each Trust can do what it likes so there's no economy of scale. Still, read this article - it explains such a lot http://www.theguardian.com/society/guardianwitness-blog/2015/jan/08/surviving-night-nhs-hospital-a-and-e-doctors-story?CMP=share_btn_fb I don't blame staff working for agencies if it suits their needs (eg not working in school holidays, only working at nights). I would be uncomfortable taking silly money out of the NHS in place of a permanent job but maybe I'm the crazy one

Yeah we went to see him recently. Some of it was recycled stuff and you're right, he did laugh a lot at his own jokes to the point of ruining the punch lines. The tour also featured old rockers - it was called Stand Up and Rock - with Bev Bevan (he was good) and, whilst I liked that part, Mr TF, being younger than me, didn't really wallow in nostalgia like I did.

He's another one I'd like to see but I don't think he's in our area in the immediate future

above

I'm not a fan of sweary or slapstick comedy. I much prefer observational comedy. That's why I loved Dave Allen so much. So far, in the recent past, we've seen Rich Hall, Bill Bailey, Dave Gorman, Ardal O'Hanlon and Jasper Carrott (very poor) and we are seeing Ross Noble next month. I'm also a big fan of Stewart Lee. Seeing the trailers for Mrs Browns Boys was enough for me - never watched a single episode and don't intend to.

eye

Change Org is a very powerful weapon in promoting the voices of ordinary people but it runs on a shoestring I understand. So any donations go towards supporting Change.Org and not towards a particular campaign.

Here's the link to the petition https://www.change.org/p/simon-corney-chairman-of-oldham-athletic-fc-refuse-to-sign-rapist-ched-evans?recruiter=20149350&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

BBC reporting saying he can't resume career abroad (Ministry of Justice barring him from doing so)

I don't claim to know it - I just looked on the government's website. https://www.gov.uk/honours/types-of-honours-and-awards Two people I know got MBEs for 'local' contributions and I knew that the MBE was the lowest order.

I didn't notice.......

Thankyou everyone who voted for me! In thanking you, I must also thank my agent, my manager, my family and, last but not least, myself for being so adorable, clever and selective with my posts.

In descending order of merit: Companion of Honour Knight / Dame CBE OBE MBE

Which is a 'higher' order than MBE

Poor girl

horse

I wonder if they're following their own Standing Orders? Most companies have strictly laid down rules about calling AGMs, Emergency GMs, deadlines for submitting emergency resolutions, quora etc. etc. But I bet they don't have Standing Orders - after all, they don't do anything else by the book

pop

I couldn't work out whether it was going north or south

It's a great place to go. IIRC it was the discovery of an old Southampton tram that led to the museum being set up in the first place. We went there a couple of years ago and I'm sure it wasn't a bank holiday when we rode on the trams. It's got a nice little 'living museum' as well as the trams