david_carnell

I also refuse to take lectures on a democratic mandate from this government.

*Bob* - A third of my colleagues have just been made redundant. Try telling them to just "suck it up". Huguenot - I don't get to retire till I'm nearly 70. Also you can't tell me the OBR's (that's an independent body btw) forecast is bogus because it refers to 2061 in one breath and then quote another part of it in another as a defence of your position. You're being as selective as you're accusing me of being. At least I'm consistent. And I'm not suggesting the govt should put money into private sector pensions. I'm saying it is a disgrace of the highest order that they don't feel the need to speak out about the state of those pensions. And to say the money isn't there is spurious. It is, just not for the vast majority.

I will be striking. My union, Prospect, have balloted members for the first time in something like 30 years. They are renowned for their reasonable approach to negotiations in the past. To say that they have been pushed into this action by a government entirely unwilling to negotiate is an understatement of the highest order. The idea that public sector pensions are unsustainable is, I'm afraid, a myth. Independent projections from the Hutton Commission and the Office for Budget Responsibility allow us to evaluate the sustainability of these schemes. Lord Hutton's interim report stated that the amount of benefits paid from the schemes, expressed in terms of our ability to pay for them (ie in terms of UK national income or Gross Domestic Product) is a fair measure of assessing this Projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility in July 2011 show that the gross cost (ie not taking into account the contributions received from members) of the benefits paid from the main unfunded schemes (ie including the NHS, teachers' and civil service schemes) is estimated to be 1.9% of GDP in 2015-16, falling to 1.4% of GDP in 2060-61. So, under the arrangements as they currently stand, the cost of the main unfunded schemes is already projected to fall greatly. The Government refuses to say what percentage of GDP it considers to be sustainable in the long run. This government should also be ashamed. Ashamed that it says nothing about the state of private sector pension provision. It is a disgrace that many struggle to fund their retirement and that private schemes offer such poor deals. Yet this government says nothing. Instead it looks to create a race to the bottom.

Whilst many aspects of this report are shocking they are hardly on the same scale as football. And whilst Moody didn?t have a great World Cup, and has never been the greatest talent, I don?t think it is in dispute how much he put his body on the line time and time again for England. Nevertheless, heads have to roll from top to bottom. The core of English Rugby is rotten. If we want to avoid embarrassment in 2015 and the next three six nations we need radical reform and soon.

We have exactly the same lights and the same problem and are getting a new transformer fitted shortly. Out of interest could you PM the name of the electrician you used as I'm now concerned ours won't work. Thanks DC

Agreed. Apologies if I came across as scolding - not my intention at all. And whilst I'm sure the vast majority of FR members are very intelligent the forum could do without a lawsuit due to innaccurate medical advice. Thank you all for understanding.

The plot thickens......

Or West Norwood as it's known.

They must have edited it because it now describes her as a "television cameraman". I suspect "woman cameraman" was used as it looks weird on the page. But there is no such word as camerawoman. And as KK says "marriage" is used because it isn't an actual marriage but a civil partnership. Although why use not just say that at the start? Probably because they hate the BBC!

alieh Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I was going to say hand, foot and mouth disease. > Think it is viral so may have to run it's course > but would visit the GP if it were me. With my moderator hat on, please could I remind all posters to acknowledge the advice of the doctor in the top post of the family room and do not dispense ill-informed medical advice. This is not only unhelpful and alarmist but also medically unsound. Thank you.

Didn't get asked to work on this one then, Bob?

It was the friendly service from that woman that I always enjoyed, Ted. You know, the one who you wondered how she could turn around in that booth. Still, it put me off pain au chocolat for a while.

But have you seen this year's John Lewis advert? I think I just shed a small tear. Oh dear god - I'm becoming my mother! Curse you marketeers for knowing how to tug on my emotions like this.

Amen, bravo and what DaveR said.

I don't think anyone has held up those three countries to be anything of the sort. I think most of us would be able to highlight the good and bad in most societies. Germany Good: economics, cars, pickled cabbage, beer Bad: sense of humour, hair, exports (should the Italians and Greeks leave the Euro) Italy Good: pasta sauce, cars, fashion, football Bad: economics, sex lives, moral fortitude But you know, I'm not keen on branding entire nations with stereotypes, Quids. Nor putting words in others mouths. Something you've been quick to moan about in the past.

You miss my point. And quoting Bill Hicks jokes doesn't make you any more funny that it did him. We're being told that this "nephew" is worthy and respectful anyway, yet there is an issue about wearing the poppy..... I just don't understand and am beginning to suspect there is more at play here. As H said: "halfwitted parents using their kids as a proxy for some sort of gormless anti-authority ideology." If you don't want to wear one I don't mind and wouldn't judge you on it. Picking a fight with a school for asking their pupils to do so in an assembly seems unreasonably bloody-minded.

So how is the nephew going to show his respect? And if he is sooooo respectful anyway what harm does wearing a poppy do? Or is there something larger and nastier at play here that I'm missing? It's apolitical. It doesn't glorify war. I'm beginning to side with the school (and Huguenot) on this one.

Out of interest, why won't your nephew wear one? Is it now a matter of principle?

I'll repeat that I'm not really keen on the school doing this, however: If children weren't wearing them not through ideological objection (unlikely) and just through laziness or apathy the I don't think forcing them to wear one whilst hopefully highlighting the issues it raises is altogether a bad thing.

I think the Hitler comparison is a little far fetched. These aren't symbols of identification or used to single out minorities. Nor are those people subsequently being marched off to gas chambers. So, please, leave Godwin alone and use a more appropriate metaphor. Not only is it distasteful but it invalidates your latter arguments. Your comparison to a crucifix doesn't stand either since poppies aren't symbols of religion but rememberance. I'm not altogether comfortable with a school enforcing this sort of thing but accusations of fascism are just daft. I wonder perhaps, if the white poppy of pacifism would be an alternative protest for those students who disagree with the policy?

I think schools can pretty much do what they want re: uniform. Whether they should is another matter. I guess dying for freedom would seem to be against this sort of enforcement. However, if it makes children think about history, democracy and all those who lost their lives then perhaps it's worthwhile. Do you have any further details?

Don't let Quids hear you say that. You'll be accused of arrogance in knowing what's best for other people and advocates of communism. But you know, I'd probably spend it on booze too (I did with my ?120 tax rebate) so probably best spend it on street lighting or something.

Seriously.....Tom......sod off. This is getting tedious now.

I think Numidie has closed down.....

In short......no. There is no way to cook a good steak without smoke. A griddle pan is a nice touch but not essential. The chef at Hawksmoor (London's top steakhouse) says you don't need any oil at all and only to season at the last minute with a combination of pepper, salt and smoked salt. But it will smoke. A good extractor will help. Lean meat will probably mean less smoke (but also less flavour). Opening windows will disperse the smoke quicker. But you have to make sacrifices for good steak. Or just go to Hawksmoor.