Elfy

I also spent 2 months travelling around S America on my own. (I went back with my boyfriend and spent another 6 months' there). I agree with sanity girl - travelling alone means you are able to meet more people on the way...as long as you have a good book (and the book swaps are great for this), you'll be fine.... Very jealous! I loved Bolivia and Argentina..although Peru, Chile and Brazil cannot be sniffed at (no pun intended).

I also saw someone go arse over tit over bike on East Dulwich Road near the petrol garage. Be careful cyclists!

My next door neighbour had the same thing happen to him this week. He was in though and scared them away as he came running down the stairs. They kicked in the door in the middle of the day on a very busy road (East Dulwich Road). It's worrying that they seem so blase about it. Be wary!

I loved The Corrections. Absolutely hilarious...and I'm not normally one to laugh out loud at books.

My dad went to a Nick Cave gig the other day. I think he considers himself something of a grey groover (or whatever the term may be).

That one's cool...my aunt's a French teacher and my parents live there for half the year...so someone should have a chance at it.

Keep them coming...

Hi Sean, no danger of anyone seeing it. They are not local and are not Forumites. I agree regarding the personal touch. BUT I have run out of time. I work full time and have a baby...NO time for internet searching (she writes whilst sitting at her desk 'working').... Thanks, Keef. That's a good one.

I have been tasked with compiling a 'pub quiz' for a bunch of rowdy drunks on Xmas day (my family that is). In past years, I have gone to a local quiz and plagarised their questions..adding in a few researched ones of my own. This year, I have a baby and don't get out quite as easily as I used to, hence no quiz. Can anyone help? What are the best pub quiz questions you have heard this year? The ones that surprised you. Or flummoxed you. Many thanks in advance and Merry Christmas!

I can understand the odd typo. It's when it's on a printed sign or a website. Someone should have checked it. (Abbey's website at the mo has this mistake...looking for a new mortgage deal and spotted it tonight so it's fresh in my mind.) My post was not meant as a personal dig. :)) Pedant? Moi? Perhaps I should get out more? Then I can get my blood truly boiling on public transport...

Asset Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > incorrect use of apostrophes > hahahahahahahahahahahahaha, sorry. I'm with you, Asset. It drives me up the wall. Its - possessive use. No apostrophe. The dog eats its bone. It's - shortened version of it is. It's raining today. How f*cking hard is it?

My vegetable box was stolen from outside my flat before Xmas. They were obviously expecting something a little more valuable/ exciting than a few courgettes and a cabbage. Annoying though.

I gave birth at Kings 2 weeks ago. Was initially planning a home-birth but there were a few complications and Kings it was. Initially, I was disappointed, but I received fantastic care at Kings; both during labour and on the ward post-natally. A midwife stayed with me throughout labour and was immensely supportive (she didn't take a break for 10 hours!) On the ward afterwards, a midwife took my inconsolable red-faced son off my hands for an hour so I could get some sleep (after 2 nights with no kip.) I was very grateful. I did all my research and thought that home-birth was best...but a friend was recently monumentally let down by a homebirth midwife...she could have died. She ended up at Kings and they saved her life. It's worth remembering that things don't always go to plan and it's a good idea to keep an open mind!

My Gran died at the beginning of the year. She was 90. It was standing room only at her funeral. Over 100 people there. Although she didn't do anything that would make the history books..she was an inspirational person. She was so positive about life and made the most of every opportunity she was given. It was the happiest funeral I've ever been to. (I suppose it helped that she'd lived her life fully and it hadn't been cut short).

I get an Abel and Cole delivery and am very happy with what they provide. You can check the contents of the box a week before its arrival and change anything you don't like the look of. I like the more unusual stuff you wouldn't normally choose in a supermarket...it makes for a more adventurous cook!

I live near Goose Green. An injured fox came into our garden on Saturday morning to die. He must have been run over. I'm not the biggest fan of the scrawny creatures, but it was actually quite harrowing...seeing the fear in his eyes. Called the RSPCA and various fox protection leagues, but no-one could make it to SE London to help the little fellow on his way. Eventually took a couple of hours, and then my husband had to shovel him into a black bag...not the dignified burial one would hope for!

I agree wholeheartedly with Ganapati. We are always hearing about how it's a woman's choice to follow their career and have babies in their 30s. I'm a woman in my 30s, if I had turned round to my boyfriend at the age of 25 and said; 'right let's make babies', he'd have run a mile. The decision to have a baby is both a man and a woman's. It's not only women who are delaying the baby-making.

I lived in Sydney. Came in at 11pm after one schooner too many and turned on the news. Watched it all live. Stayed up til 3am. Was completely shocked and also scared about what the future would hold.

I've said it before inappropriately in the wedding thread..'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'...could do the Tight Fit version from the 80s, but would prefer the original.

Sorry! It wasn't being entirely serious though. Re weddings, I've been subjected to some pretty naff wedding first dances..Lionel Richie, 'Say You, Say Me' anyone? The dancing was prettty bad too. Another friend's future husband wanted 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' at their wedding. She (not surprisingly) put her foot down. I quite liked Elvis 'The Wonder of You'.

During a rather drunken conversation a friend put forward 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' as a potential funeral song...I can see it now...'A wimba way, a wimba way'...

I agree with you James to a certain extent...but they are probably working to 'targets' too. They have to be somewhere at a certain time. Or somewhere 'not' to be. One of the most frustrating journeys I've ever had was a driver who went so slowly the cyclists were overtaking him...all the way from the Strand to East Dulwich. It took forever. It's sh*t job with matching sh*t pay. It doesn't cost anything to be polite...but I personally would hate to have their job. It would not make me agressive but it would make me miserable! Someone's got to do it, otherwise we would all be moaning about the lack of buses.

The incident I was referring to was on Waterloo Bridge. There was a slowish cyclist in the cycle lane and a faster one behind. The bus was in the 'traffic' lane going at a normal speed. The faster cyclist just moved into the traffic lane in front of the bus without looking...he was giving the cycle lane room. There is not enough room to give overtakers on the cycle lane room. I don't think the bus driver was at fault. The cyclist should have looked, just as a car overtaking in 2-lane traffic should look to see if there's anyone in the outside lane before overtaking. Some cyclists are not whiter than white...(and I'm not even talking about going through red lights and almost hitting pedestrians who are crossing)...but that's another topic. I'm not a driver in London, only use public transport and walk. I've almost been hit by cyclists more times than cars and buses (thank God!)

Sorry - that should read... I've seen cyclists overtake other cyclist without looking, and therefore seeing that there's a bus coming up behind them...causing the bus to screech to a halt.

I don't excuse this driver for a second...or those that drive like absolute maniacs, but I do think being a bus driver must be an incredibly stressful job with not much pay (compare it to a tube driver). They have to deal with the general public, who are not always paragons of virtue, and other drivers, who can be selfish and dangerous. And sometimes cyclists are their own worse enemy...I've seen cyclists overtake other cyclists, causing the bus to screech to a halt (and then people fall over in the bus). It's not always the bus driver's fault! (Although in this case, he sounds like a nutter!)