Special K

He didn't rely on anyone, he asked if someone would help him out. Someone was prepared to do it as fortuntately the majority of posters on here are sensible, helpful type, not cynical, mistrusting types. In fact i wouldn't be suprised if there is a pint in it for JustMike on saturday. And maybe you should seek out some local carpenters for your work; supporting the local economy and all that.

It's funny how you remember specifics. Beating the Geordies 3-1 after being 1 down with about 3 mins left. David Hughes overhead kick to draw 2-2 up at QPR on a cold december night Going absolutely mental after equalising against Blackburn (3-3) (i think, too drunk to really remeber) in a big relegation scrap at the Dell. Still bang one out about Ekelunds goal away to Coventry when the interplay with Magilton was just like watching Brazil. Monday night Qtr final FA cup away to Manure when Ships goal was disallowed. We payed brilliant that night and should have gone through. Fighting up at Wimbledon away with some bored Palearse / Dons hybrid types. Getting chased out of a geordie pub after MLT won us the game up there 1-0.

He hardly risked his career, seeing as he'd pretty much finished it before coming out as openly gay. There aren't too many who have come out, but if sport is reflective of society, then there must be more homosexual sportsmen and women who keep it under wraps, which can only be difficult for them. Personally i cannot see what all the fuss is about. I don't think gay people should be subject to prejudice, but then again i don't think they should be singled out for special treatment either. I cannot stand a gay pride march as much as i would not tolerate an anti-gay demonstration (for want of a better phrase). Mr X, you should still be subject to some gentle ribbing and mild banter though (in the same vein as the fat/bald/short/etc are), like are you looking forward to the Brighton away fixture, etc, etc.

http://www.nakedtrader.co.uk/ - worth following if you are interested. I dabble and have had some good, some bad. Taylor Wimpey shares bought and sold about 18 months ago were good value. Don't listen to anyone else though, make your own judgements. I bought a load of Provexis shares after a tip off from a mate that they were going to go. Still waiting........

He did well at Celtic.

I agree that the university system is ultimately elitist, but that is no bad thing provided it can be shown to perform. but that attitude can only survive in the top Uni's. I also agree that Uni's and business need to be more in tune with what is required as the end game, but the Uni's probably fear that this would impact on their decisions to offer certain courses. The lower end of the quality spectrum will have to rethink what they offer (media studies, travel / tourism, etc). I wholeheartedly agree that the demise of vocational courses has had a hugely detrimental effect on the future of British business. Unfortunately this has been allowed to happen and is mostly the result of short term political aims. But i don't agree with the assumption that one has to start again when chosing a career. The chap i know who is a barrister (not solicitor, i did him down!) spent 1 year on a conversion course, sailed through Law school as a post grad and was qualified about 12 months later than his contemporaries who followed a law degree. Conversely my cousin did a law degree, post grad law school, spend 3 years on the rock and roll becasue he couldn't get a job (doing very well now though, in Dubai oddly enough Phil). I think a great deal comes down to the individual and what they want to achieve. But we don't need loads of graduates, we need more focused, quality graduates for all disciplines.

For the prospective undergrads here, we used to have things called "Polytechnics" which had a bias towards vocational degree courses. And damn useful they were too, until it was decided that every college of FE in the country should call themselves a University and should offer hundreds of meaningless courses just to stop pesky school leavers from signing on and making the jobless figures look bad. On other points, I don't necessarily buy the "experience" excuse about college life. If you want to work, you'll do it either at college or in the workplace. I know of plenty of excellent achievers who took the work route over Uni and proved themselves immensely capable, sometimes more equipped to outthink and outperform graduates. However, i don't believe that what you study is necessarily relevant either. I know of a History graduate who is an extremely successful lawyer now, ditto an English and Politics Graduate who was a DCI before he was 40. Overall, it would be a shame to preclude talent from University places, but if it serves to reduce the number of places and up the quality, then it's worth a shout.

For a new financial director

Some time ago, this happened to me. I had just purchased a ticket when i was approached by a fella working for The Saint radio station who asked me what i thought about the up-coming game. Normally i'm fair in a conversation, i like to think i'm reasonably coherent, intelligent and interesting. But when i heard myself on the radio later, i was a jibbering gimp, full of crap and wholly uninteresting. I think it was being caught on the spot, so i sympathise with those press ganged into giving comments to the media.

Nice to watch, but it was against a very poor Tranmere side. We will have tougher tests, but it was good confidence building stuff. What i did like was the way the players seemed very together in their celebrations after the goals. NA is building back that team spirit very well and this will help in the winter months.

Bungle

What about being away with teh lads on a Staggers, espying a stunna and banging her bandy with no chance of a comeback? Doesn't mean you think any less of the missus. (Not me of course, i'd never do that sort of thing)

suspended

If she's not good enough for the boys, she's not good enough for you. Or something like that.

I'm ****ing mustard at the numbers round

Tippex

I see what you mean. When i was with my ex, I was thinking about not being "happy" or "sure" in our relationship, as i spoffed my manfat over another birds norks. And i contemplated the fragility of our fading union as i rammed it up the other birds council. Sure made me think, yeah.

Lic Her Early

The whole procurement process was far too long winded and cumbersome. Why involvement from everyone from a headteacher to little Johnny from 3C is required is beyond me? The stakeholders (i dislike this too!) were generally only paid lip service anyway, but to raise expectations of their involvement broadly led to diluted stewardship from the start. A large %age of schemes were just late - i think of the 200 to be completed and occupied by the end of 2008, only 37 were finished. OK, there as an improvement in 2009, but BSF as a rule didn't really work as it should. There is no question that investment in school buildings is an absolute necessity, i just hope this Govnt can simplify the process, be realistic about the costs and sensible on the timing.

It's more a statement of objection to the cuts, i think. The main problems with the BSF scheme was the procurement method used for the construction, the wasteful use of Consultants who all run around trying to blame each other for inefficenient design and cost planning, the use of medicore Contractors who had spent a lot of their profit on the bidding process and not to mention the New Labour legacy of a "loadsamoney" programme where overspends were commonplace but absorbed by the public purse when it could cope with it. Obviously this is now brought into sharper focus. BSF produced some good projects, but also many more failed, costly, delayed and inadequate schools that do nothing for the community they are supposed to serve. BSF needed to be scrapped, but it needs to be replaced with something more streamlined, more efficient and more accountable. Hordes of consultants who are employed but provide very little to schemes need to be sent packing. Contractors need to be more accountable and not hide behind others faults and produce sensible tenders. Books need to be open and everyone needs to be focused on the same goal. I hope that something is announced this week at the Tory PC that will meet this.

LOLage

He's presented himself very well and seems like a decent manager. His team management and selection has been good and his influence is already noticeable. I am pleasantly suprised by what he has done thus far, but i hope that he gets the chance to blossom further under NC's rule.

Did someone take the **** out of his 80's style flick? He should be fined by the Club for poor taste. I mean drinking in the ****eHouse? He needs to be a bit more discerning. Seriously though, some poor bastard is/was in hospital unnecessarily and if Barnard did glass him, he's probably in the **** big time. Oh well, best get someone in on loan.

Does there have to be a point? It didn't need to be vandalised my moronic neandethals.