louisiana

They've probably decided they've found the next 'terrorist', and your house is the bomb factory. Louisiana

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't think we've ever resolved this one > Dominatrix (disappointed to discover that's not an > Asterix character)... > > There was an interesting angle some months ago > that suggested that GBK was the devil's spawn > because it had centralised its production of > burgers, not because of the number of outlets. I > note it now has 22 locations. > > This suggests that at somepoint there's a > conditional that comes into play that involves > some of the following criteria: > > Number of outlets > Buying > Production > Distribution > Delegated authority > Funding > Ownership > Local tailoring and innovation I think it's when they adopt wholesale Adam Smith's philosophy, and treat the whole enterprise as a pin factory. Louisiana

Of course it could be something that doesn't involve local bobbies at all (e.g. the SOCA squad - who are apparently in complete chaos, by the way), so they might not know about it. Louisiana

It's only women-only at one pool for a brief slot on one day. That's hardly exclusive. What's to stop you going up to Forest Hill pool at that time, or any other pool for that matter? Louisiana

Take pictures of them, post them on the Web, send Peckham police a link. Louisiana

Did anyone see the Sharon Osborne thing last night on More 4 (being interviewed by Pamela Connolly)? First of a series. Louisiana

I've been going to Surma since 1986, and have hardly ventured to any of the other Indians. I always have the same things, too. It wouldn't do to surprise myself :-S Louisiana

Has anyone tried Sunday lunch at the Dartmouth Arms in Forest Hill? Louisiana

And Tillie, for future years, why not recommend that they apply to be an Oxfam volunteer at the festival (this one or the many others that Oxfam works with)? Too late for this year for Glasto, but this kills so many birds with one stone, viz - introduces them to the concept of work - makes money for the charity (which gets around ?200 per volunteer) - often allows them to work with their friends (same shifts) - means you don't have to pay for a ticket for them, or for transport, and they get fed and have *exclusive* volunteer facilities (ha!) - they are out of your hair and so on. Why not suggest, indeed, that they apply to volunteer at a different festival? (Some still open for volunteer applications this year e.g. Glade.) You know it makes sense! Louisiana

For anyone interested in LCD Soundsystem and anything James Murphy, check out the free remixes 'Sounds Like Silver' on this website: http://www.lcdremixed.com/ Louisiana

We ended up going to the Dog yesterday, mainly because it was already well after 2pm (and 2 seems to be a watershed for food availability on a Sunday). Yes, the main was indifferent, but the rhubarb crumble was better than average, full of lovely rhubarb, and one serving was more than enough for two. So it could have been worse. Going to check out the White Horse for next time. Louisiana

Tillie There will be some more going on sale on 22nd April (check the date and time on Glastonbury website) - all those people with declined debit cards, duplicate purchases, etc etc. Also, if you opt for the 'coach and Glasto' package, you probably stand a much higher chance: thare were 25,000 of those guaranteed, and most people don't want the coach. Louisiana

I finally got through around 10.15 and bought three tickets. Mr L is driving over to take me out for a late lunch as a thank you. Where should he take me? Louisiana

Domitianus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Historically, gender-discrimination in favour of > men was supported by 'explanations' and > 'justifications' that are much more plausible than > those offered in support of this form of > discrimination So just what was that 'plausible explanation' preventing women with medical degrees from practising as doctors? , yet it was recognised that such > excuses just weren't good enough! It is a while > since I looked at it but I believe that sex > discrimination legislation outlaws discrimination > in provision of goods or services on the grounds > of gender. I hear today that working men's clubs are finally to allow women to be members ;-) Maybe one of these days they'll let them join the gentlemen's clubs too...Though the very thought of all those old codgers is singularly unattractive :-S Louisiana

Mockney Piers I am the proud owner, still, of vinyl copy of A Life With Brian. Had a rather funny baggy episode recently. I did a little DJing course at a certain London DJ school last autumn, the tutor being an old hand who is now mainly 'left-coast' (leftfield west-coast hip hop) but had DJed most things over the years. And of course we all took along some records to practice with. And among my collection was the 12" Fool's Gold. Which he promptly used to compare with a more recent record to demonstrate a particular feature of modern music (over compression, lack of dynamic range). He was drooling over my records like...a teenager! Sooo sweet. Actually, the young boys in the class were also a bit weird about the Roses 12": "Is that an 'original'? Oooh, it must be worth loads!" I used to see my 1960s coffee sets in museums, but I have recently started to see some of my records at places like the V&A and the Design Museum. It's all starting to make me feel a bit old... Louisiana

mockney piers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Steph, no mention of Half Man half Biscuit? > Birkenhead's greatest export? And what about Flowered Up? More baggy than the Mondays ;-) Louisiana

AcedOut Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My two-bed flat (no garden) last December received > the asking price of ?315k (agents valued between > ?285-?325). I turned it down and took the place > off the market, but I think most 2-bed places are > going for over ?300k now, well over the ?250k 3pc > stamp duty threshold. Oh boy, worse than I thought. Though there's not much of anything around, as far as I can see (but have only looked in one window). Have higher prices led to complete sclerosis, I wonder? Or is everything just moving very fast? I notice the only place in my road to be up for sale recently seems to have had a sale agreed just a couple of days after appearing in the window (3 bed house with garage). Louisiana

Oh glee, getting rid of the damned tank (which takes a section out of the kitchen)! Huguenot, did you organise the whole thing yourself or did you hire a firm that organised the whole thing? I can just about handle one handyperson/firm at a time, but a conflagration of tilers/builders/pasterers etc, all doing their own thing, would be a complete nightmare - I'd never get any work done. Louisiana

I see this week in one of the estate agents that 2-beds in this neighbourhood (off LL near Dulwich Park) are now at the heady heights of 300k. This compares to around 225k a year ago. This takes such properties over the 3% stamp duty threshold. Not good news at all. It was once possible to pay stamp duty out of income, but that's no longer the case. It also takes a 2-bed over the inheritance tax threshold - probably not good news for co-habitees that don't have the property in both names. And fairly dreadful news for any co-habiting new mums out there: if your partner dies and the property is in his name, you could find yourself homeless even if you inherit the property (no money to pay the mortgage OR the tax bill). The same of course applies to larger homes, but 2-beds is where people tend to start, and many young families will be struggling to get a house of any kind with current prices. Louisiana

Oh I never go to Herne Hill. Very 'low rent' ;-) Louisiana

Mikewbate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I would firstly create an oasis of calm in what > will be chaos. Maybe start with your bedroom? Good plan. I like the oasis of calm idea. And then I go, 'Can I really chuck out that terribly expensive family heirloom three section wardrobe (which is inefficient but not hugely so); will my mother kill me?' (It belongs to my mum; she moved to Spain; she moved most of her stuff; she left it in the UK; I am the irresponsible daughter.) And I can't make up my mind. It truly is decision paralysis. And then I wonder: do I need an interior designer, or a psychoanalyst? ;-) Louisiana

Ant Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We're getting our garden done before we start in > the house in earnest for the simple reason that > there's no access to the back garden from the > street, so it's all got to go through the house. > Might be worth bearing in mind if you're in a > similar situation. > I'm (un)fortunate to have only front garden (about 40 feet), so that won't be a problem, though the same principle will apply internally (don't want to carry kitchen detritus through a new hall). > Now is probably a good time to start thinking > about/arranging to have your boiler done, so that > you're ready to have the work carried out once the > weather is a bit warmer. Absolutely. I think I'll need to take the plunge with a new boiler etc. this year (the new kind?), and the current one is jammed sideways on the wall under a work surface next to the sink, so that's going to mean.. arghh! Louisiana

Is Ms Eclair's house Camberwell or ED? I always think of the crest of the hill as being the dividing line between the two, and she's on the other side of it, but I don't know where the postcodes fall... And where is Mr Nesbitt located? It'll help me to avoid him ;-) Louisiana

To all dulites with an interior decor/home improvement bent: I've been putting off doing home improvements (or preventing home degeneration) for some time - I'm really good at procrastination, plus I started a relationship last year that is taking my time - but I must now face up to it and sort things out. But where to begin? The boiler is circa Middle Ages (at least 20 years old), the kitchen is sooo 1970s (in a bad way, not a good way), the paint scheme left by the last tenant, when it used to be let, is gross, the bathroom is small but there's room - and water/drains - for a larger bathroom elsewhere, the carpets are fit for a skip (yes, those tenants again), there is literally miles of paintwork (high ceilings, huge tall sash bays with wooden panels and loads of fiddly bits), the garden is superficially sweet, not large, but problematic and a mess (bad trees, bad soil, bad plants). I use one huge room as my office, but there's too! much! stuff! (Hello, my name is Louisiana, and I'm a hoarder.) First impressions are that it's a nice place, but when you start to examine the detail, Things Fall Apart (both visually and literally), and you realise how shabby it is. I'm making a start with cutting down an appalling conifer blocking all my sitting room light (the insurance company actually already took a big peice off the top of it, so it's even uglier now), and getting the current boiler fixed (the timer's just packed up and the thing needs a service anyway). But where should I really being on this work? Should the kitchen come first? (I love kitches, I love cooking, but it's probably also the most expensive room). Or the bathroom? Or should I do one easy room that then allows a retreat from the developments around? I work from home, so will have to live with the mess 24/7. And it would be nice to have people round without embarrassment. And once I sort things out I'd lkie to have a cleaner and an office person in once a week to keep things going. But I have decision paralysis and can't even make up my mind what colour to paint the walls! And I don't have the time! (run own business). Do I need someone to hold my hand through all this, drive the project forward? (Interior designery kinda person) Louisiana

Have you never come across phantom buses? You know, when the bus display says '10 mins', then it says '9 mins', then it says '8 mins' and so on...and then the bus never actually shows up. Louisiana