bridge too far

Fuel tax is 70% - not 300% FFS! http://www.petrolprices.com/fuel-tax.html

I thought Amanda Staveley was the expert in this field?

It's called free enterprise / market economy Actually petrol is about 25p a litre cheaper now than it was in the summer and I read today that one measure being considered is the 'voluntary' reduction of household fuel bills by £100, as well as cheaper prices coming in around February time. All windfall taxes achieve are surreptitious price hikes at a later time by the oil companies to recover the 'loss'

Bloody 'ell - I didn't think my little snippet about what might be an interesting radio programme would start all this off again! Calm down dears To reiterate - there's a (potentially) interesting programme about football and Inland Revenue (sorry HMRC) on the radio tonight. The blurb for the programme is quite interesting too: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7721251.stm

And one of their so-called take-overers has pulled out http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7722429.stm

I'd check that out if I were you

Yes, they have learnt the language. We have friends who live in France now and, like us, they just love the French way of life and had holidayed (is that a word???) in France for years before they moved there. We'd do the same if we could afford it Our friends who live in Spain have also taken very early retirement but they do live in an ex-pat enclave and they do tend to use other ex-pats to do things like cleaning their pool, gardening, hairdressing. They do speak Spanish but, although we love visiting them, we don't really feel that we're 'abroad'

Have to disagree with you here though. I have friends who have moved abroad because they prefer the climate and way of life in Spain / France. They're not 'Chavy wannabees', far from it. And they still have property in the UK, to maintain their ties with the UK.

This could be an interesting listen tonight: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7721251.stm

Like some ex-pats who have left the UK because of the (perceived) threat to the British culture and language? The self same ex-pats who refuse to learn the indigenous language and customs and hi-jack local festivals (as has happened in a small village near Alicante)? And it's a bit rich coming from a 'white' Australian. He needs to remember what the settlers did to the native population of Australia in the past.

I see what you did there - you clever, clever boy Such actions could lead to Bridges over Troubled Waters.

Yep - you're not wrong

What a soulless place that seems to be

I was delighted to attend a Divali lunch in Leicester a couple of weeks ago with a Hindu friend. The lunch was enjoyed by people from all religions (and, like me, from none). My Hindu friend will equally enjoy Christmas with his family. I know of no-one from any culture or religion living in this country who would make a fuss about Christmas and I certainly wouldn't make a fuss about Divali or Ramadan or Yom Kippur, Hanukkah etc. etc. Why can't we all just live and let live?

I think this might be being covered on Panorama right now

Whoever invented Post-It Notes has earned my undying gratitude (I think it was 3M).

This aetheist isn't offended in the slightest, either. She is, however, marginally upset by the mis-spelling of 'aetheist'

I've got another pet hate phrase: 'Going forward' grrrrr. Why not just say 'here's what we do next'?

Last night I was having dinner with my daughter and her friend. Here were two young women, not generally interested at all in politics. But they were so excited at what had happened in the US and so positive about the shape of the world to come. My daughter's friend's brother lives in New York. He'd texted her to say that he'd never seen so many people in New York smiling, and at strangers. Something, apparently, New Yorkers never usually do.

My grandmother used to say 'in Minnie's room behind the clock'! This used to puzzle me as I didn't know anyone called Minnie. Also, if something astonished her, she'd say 'well I go to see in a rowing boat' :confused: And if I asked her what was for tea, she'd say 'pigs eyelashes and glue' lol. One of my pet hates is 'have a dialogue with'. Why not just say 'talk to'?

I refer you to: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=98135#post98135 post 58 Great minds and all that

I've just found out that Tony Adams lives near me! A sparks I know went to do some work on his house and turned up wearing his Chelsea shirt

I always sprinkle sultanas on my porridge. Dorset Cereals do a lovely version with berries but I bet you can't get it in Norway.

Also I think that, even if the original warranty has expired, you're now covered for a 'reasonable length of time' although what that is is not laid down in law.

I may be many things, but sycophantic I'm not. Do you understand the meaning of the word, I wonder? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sycophant