bridge too far

Typographically, however, there is a space missing between 'there' and 'giving'. HTH Mrs Pedant

You know who Long Shot is :shock: Who is s/he?

Maybe we should have a slab cake? We're as good as dead

Those aren't proper pancakes! They're Scotch pancakes

How about Fairy Cakes for a change?

I don't know where you live 1976 but have you thought about contacting your MP? MPs of all persuasions can actually be quite helpful when it comes to applying pressure and, if your MP is a Labour MP, it will be in his / her interest to pursue your bank that, along with all the others, is supposed to be treating small businesses fairly.

So is this why takeovers don't happen - we're effectively being held to ransom?

I went to Ironbridge recently - does that count?

Off for 10 days

There could be TICKS in the mattress - that'd be a worry.

I'd be quite ALARMED at the MOVEMENT I might see.

Yeah we heard that last night. Oh how we laughed.

Thanks guys for all your help. I'm on leave tomorrow - a Battle Royale will ensue

Compaq Tx for your advice StL

As is to be expected, the Guardian has a lot of coverage of this case. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/13/childprotection-climbie-crime This article is written by the Chief of the Association of Social Workers and is, I supposed, skewed as a result. But it does highlight the very real difficulties faced by SWs in trying to carry out their duties. Under-resourced, threatened with physical violence, case-loads three times as large as they should be. I'm not defending anyone here but I don't think, from what I've read, that the blame can be laid entirely at the SW's door. It seems to me that the hospitals and the police were just as lax.

And has had for very many years, I can assure you

Just over a year ago, we bought a new laptop. Obviously the 12 month warranty has just expired. We've just found out that the mother board is knackered I think recently there was some advice on this forum about 'fit for purpose' and how long this should be. I know that white goods are supposed to work for 2 - 5 years these days. But what would constitute a reasonable time for a mother board to function, does anyone know? I'd be really grateful for any advice. Tx

I_N_S might have some contacts - I think he used to be in that field (well, not literally )

I haven't had a chance to digest this but you might find the report on this case of interest: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_11_08_haringey.pdf It seems everything in that family was fairly OK until 'the boyfriend' turned up. The report also seems to say that a number of 'agencies' were at fault. Sadly, people have been abusing children for centuries and will continue to do so. I really hope that even more robust measures are put in place as a result of this awful tragedy but, ultimately, those measures can't and won't stop evil parents carrying out this sort of dreadful abuse.

I probably would have suggested 'pudenda' - but only if I was responding to an intelligent life form.

We have had to have both Social Services and the NHS involved in the care of my mother this week. I have nothing but praise for their immediate and considerate action in helping a very poorly, fragile old lady.

It makes you naive IMO. I sat next to a fully bearded Muslim in the underground last week. I think he was reading the Koran. I also think he may have been a trainee priest. It didn't bother me in the slightest TBH.

Who gives a sh*t - honestly now, who does?

I like you too, Ponty but please do me the honour of reading the article I provided the link for. It was produced by Petrolprices.com - hardly a bastion of socialism. For ease of reference, here is the salient point: "Fuel tax in the UK is constantly changing and has risen steadily over the last 15 years. Between 1993 and 1999 there was a rapid increase with duties on fuel increasing by 3% above inflation. This was due to a major change in petrol taxation in 1993 when the Conservatives introduced the Fuel Price 'escalator'. This was a way of the government making money and also to help protect the environment by discouraging people from using their cars."

Did you read the article in full - and see that the fuel escalator was introduced by one Margaret Thatcher?