bridge too far

Oh that's reminded me - about 5 years ago we went to a Lotus racing day near Norwich. Racing, lunch and a tour around the factory. It was a great day out!

How about this? http://www.segwayevents.co.uk/?gclid=CL7Kx8S3-7kCFW3KtAodcUkAGw

http://toys.usvsth3m.com/are-you-hated-by-the-daily-mail/

I can plead not guilty m'lud - I'm retired and squash my comments in between taking my grandchildren to and from school and nursery. Can't speak for the rest though

You'd probably be more productive and successful if you applied yourself to the job you're paid to do instead of wasting your employer's time by posting on here. Because you're not being very productive or successful on here.

But you see my "view" wasn't challenged was it? Because I hadn't expressed a "view". I'd just asked a question or two.

Again, Turkish, you demonstrate your inability to interrogate prose. I asked who would pay for people having to travel to the Job Centre daily rather than weekly. I didn't imply that it was wrong that they had to do so. Just wondering who picked up the tab - the person on £54 a week or the council tax payer. And just wondering what, if any, arrangements would be made for people who had practical difficulties in attending on a daily basis. I remember years ago a film editor friend of mine who was out of work (his studio folded during the last recession). He presented himself daily at haunts in London, where his industry was based, in the hope of picking up freelance work. He's retired now but I guess he wouldn't be able to do that under these proposed rules.

What a shame some people don't understand how to conduct debates. A bit like the Daily Mail - attributing thoughts and words to people that they've never actually expressed.

From the biography: "But this is a complete misrepresentation of his position. In fact, he had never joined the Communist party and was already critical of Soviet policies in the early postwar period."

Turkish, you should re-read your stupid diatribe. Nowhere have I said that is tough that unemployed people should make an effort to get a job. Nowhere at all. But hey, you cherry-pick the bits that suit your agenda. I am saying, quite simply, that a blanket rule will not cover individual situations and that it will be difficult for JC staff to devcote the time that the individual needs. And since so many more will have to be 'monitored', presumably that will come as an extra cost for the service. So will it pay for itself? Well the much-vaunted work programme hasn't so far, has it? Indeed, one of the private providers of this scheme has been 'sacked' for failure to meet targets. No doubt others will follow.

Who pays for the bus pass? The friendly local bus company that's supposed to make a profit ? Local councils pay for pensioner bus passes - maybe the councils should pay? Aah that might mean a rise in council tax, surely. And yes, I do have an insight into my friend's personal situation. We've known him for years. Not all schools have after school clubs (my grandson's doesn't for example although my granddaughter's does but this has to be paid for, understandably)

Even though he quotes from his biography written in 2002? It helps to balance the discussion though, doesn't it. As I said - if anyone wants to delve beneath the headlines (although I'm not sure it's possible to delve lower than the Daily Mail TBH) it's a good article to read. Tell you what - my dad was of his generation; racist, sexist and he would certainly have disapproved of gay marriage. I profoundly disagreed with much of what he thought about the world but I also admired many of his qualities. In spite of his political views, if anyone had traduced him in a similar fashion, I would have defended him to the end.

Exactly - that's why it's a poorly thought out idea. Who do you think would / should pay the bus fares? If he got a job, he'd be able to afford after school care for his child, wouldn't he

This is well worth a read - if anyone is keen to delve beneath the headlines http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/oct/01/daily-mail-distorted-book-ralph-miliband?CMP=fb_gu

And you know this how? I've got no problem with this AS LONG AS a) claimants' benefits aren't further eroded by the cost of daily transport and b) the claimant isn't engaged perhaps in voluntary and charity work / may have childcare responsibilities that impact on the time they have available every day to go to the Job Centres. It wouldn't affect me because I'm retired but I have a friend who lives in a small village about 5 miles from the nearest Job Centre. The village is served by a twice a day bus service. He has a young child just started in primary school. It would be almost impossible for him to drop his child at school, wait for the 'sometime in the morning' bus, visit the JC, wait for the 'sometime in the afternoon' bus that comes too late for him to collect his child from school. So yes, by all means bring in something along these lines but make sure it takes account of the individual rather than herding people like cattle. Read again the post from Kelvins' Right Glove. Oh and don't pretend to know what I think about any particular issue.

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2013/10/iain-duncan-smith-tells-bbc-im-too-good-to-pick-up-litter/

Not sure if this will copy OK https://twitter.com/spleenal/status/384719000841646081/photo/1

Genuine question here. If someone is on JSA, do they get their travel costs to the Job Centre refunded? Whether yes or no, a daily visit to the Job Centre is going to cost someone somewhere a fair whack. Interesting article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24282840

Me too WG and I was delighted to see the Pontcysyllte in this collection. I've narrow boated across it a few times but, last year on holiday in the area, we walked across and strangely that was scarier than boating across! In other bridge related news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-24322485 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24323394

How about some of these stunners http://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2013/sep/28/the-10-best-bridges?CMP=twt_gu#/?picture=418357147&index=9

"Bramley apples freeze well. They can be frozen cooked or uncooked. If you wish to freeze cooked apples, cook the Bramleys (sugar can be added to taste) until they are soft and fluffy, then cool and freeze the puree in quantities ready to be used. The puree can be used for up to nine months after freezing. To freeze uncooked apples, peel and slice 500g of Bramley apples and drizzle with the juice of a lemon, mixed with a little water. The apples should be packed into freezer bags, the air removed and tied tightly then labelled and deep frozen. The apples should be thawed thoroughly before use."

High Flying Adored - with thanks to '(Don't Cry for Me) Argentina'. How relevant is that then

Says it all about Poopey - we watched York last week and they were dire. How dire does that make Poopey then

On BBC Football Focus now - programme just started

I don't know of anyone, these days, who works 'your average 9 - 5 "man" in the street' hours