suewhistle

I'm just in at 21.30 after an aperitivo (pre-dinner drinks) but too late for dinner now! I'm sure I'll find a bottle somewhere in the fridge or cantina... this mineral water just isn't doing it. Anyway, I _did_ ask around at my local tonight: about 5 people and 6 opinions, but it was suggested anti-clockwise around Milan for longer but less traffic: it may depend on the time you do it. (As you can see I'm not accepting any blame: I'm going all Pompey supporterish....). Ignore saintbletch on roundabouts. The law has changed so you now have priority: even practice seems to have changed, but remember I'm in the slightly more organised north... It's amazing how hardly anybody here uses indicators on roundabouts (or anywhere if you aren't up their chuff): 20/30k away over the border (SW/FR) and they all seem capable... If sobriety bring anything else to mind I will respond further, but Barbera,Traminer and Prosecco are having a deleterious effect on my typing skills.. Ah yes, ferragosto, 15 August. I'm normally in the UK (the AC on my car has long gone west...) but think bank holiday in the UK and stay put. My only experience here a few years ago was going to a party up in the local mountains: passive smoke stoned and frozen to death as there was fresh snow on the surrounding peaks! Normally it's farrrr toooo hot...

I used to be a systems analyst - user requirement analysis really - and was glad to get out due to sheer boredom as all the interesting work had been outsourced. A lot poorer but a lot happier now. When I was there the core developments were outsourced but mainly done on-site and operations were all in-house. No idea if that's changed. Less critical systems were outsourced and even there you could see the inherent communications difficulties involved. Core and critical systems? Madness.

No it doesn't. No idea on the traffic but very early or very late might be a good idea. As for Milan, no idea but my instinct would be clockwise! I'll ask around...

The carnet can be bought at the border. I've never suffered queues at the GSB tunnel (or Mt Blanc - where they're more common). Just apply common sense as to when you go through. I've done Thames Valley to Aosta in a long day (early ferry from Dover) and that's me as only driver and an old car, but I wouldn't recommend it and won't be doing it again. I just wanted to get home. But with an overnight, easy: my own route being Dunkirk, Lille, Mons, Charleroi, Luxembourg, Nancy, Metz, Epinal, Vesoul, Besançon,Pontarlier, Lausanne, Martigny, GSB.

Yep, you can go over the top - very dramatic scenery but twisty road or through the tunnel. In winter you don't have a choice and it sometimes doesn't open until May like this year (and then closed he following day due to 10" of snow!). Being a cheapskate I went over the pass the other year on the way to the pre-season friendly and bought by book of tickets on the way back: no VAT in Switzerland so saved myelf 20%.

Remember anyone coming through Switzerland that you'll need a motorway carnet. SF40 if I remember correctly which lasts a calendar year (end of the following January actually). Italian motorway tolls can be steep [particularly in my area :-( ]. I travel back and forth to the UK via Belgium/Luxembourg and eastern France to avoid French motorway tolls and to fill up on fuel in Luxembourg. It's also cheaper in Switzerland so fill up before you arrive in Italy.

If you're coming via Luzern you'll be further east than me: I'll be heading back via the Great St Bernard, Lausanne then eastern France, but wave if you see a Fabia coming the other way with a Saints sticker in the back window. Might have had a GSB tunnel ticket you could have used as I won't have used all the abbonnement and it expires on the 17/08. I don't drive in big Italian cities, although Torino isn't too bad, but I have to say I admire my dad now: as a kid we had 7 years in Rome with no accidents! When we take a couple of mini-buses to our away games there's one driver I point blank refuse to drive with! Just assume people are going to be stupid and you'll be fine. Instinct says that the idiot behind you is going to overtake on that blind bend, and instinct proves correct...That said you'll also get the old guy in old model Fiat Pandas who pootle along at 40 (K!) regardless. He could well have been on the grappa - lots more drink driving here. DO watch out for no-traffic zones in city centres/ centro storico etc. Don't follow anyone willy-nilly as they may be a taxi-driver or local resident with permission, but the fine _will_ eventually catch up with you. They do seem to be remarkably efficient for some things! Watch your speed in border areas: I know our local favourite spots with the Carabinieri but each border crossing area will no doubt have theirs.. Lago di Vico and Orvieto might be good places to visit; haven't been for years, but there are some interesting wines around Orvieto and a lovely cathedral. Actually interesting wines everywhere but it can take a bit of luck to find the good ones (or a lot of effort :-) ).

No, it's only Turkish, guys..:-( Still, at least he's reliably and consistently unpleasant and bullying. It just confirms the decision to ignore him was correct.

Well, _I_ laughed...

No, they wouldn't. John D above at post 65014 has explained that: it means they are effectively free agents and are not an asset of any club, but the FL won't _pay_ them. Also the PFA have "have registered a claim of £26m for past and future payments" and I'm sure that is on behalf of the players. The PFA have an obligation to help their players with claims and they may make hardship payments. They're effectively a trade union or trade association: and any I've been in would have assisted me but not paid me if my company when PHUT! The FA or PFA, same as any other union just don't have the resources for such an open-ended commitment.

SStill can't! Saw a video on the BBC earlier: fascinating...

So all developments are irrelevant then given the players will want their agreed contracts paid. I'd be checking my wheelnuts if I were TBH..

DP - not tipsy I hope? Back from an Italian bar I certainly am!::-(

Good start!

I know in kid's comics there used to be stories of the "with one bound he was free" type, or 'will so-and-so ecape - don't miss next week's instalment'.. but I really can't see how they can get out of it now. Given the history it's an unsafe assumption I know, but if you had to write a brief obituary of the club - let's say x2 Twitter length - how would you sum them up. Spike Milligan's I believe was: "I told you I was ill". Are you prepared, any good ideas?

I bought one of those high powered super soakers: great fun, although cats don't seem to be that bright. This video is quite instructive:

I meant that his opinion either way is of little value!

I'm not sure being criticised by him can be regarded as a compliment.;-)

If they have they must have queued a long time for the privilege, the women's loos at the dell were appalling and appallingly few!

The lieing is difficult to prove, which is probably why it was removed. No doubt about the debt though! I'm sure when I lived in the area Aqua Cars made me pay cash in advance on club runs! Normally taxi drivers have their ear to the ground, but to allow the cheats to go 6 months without paying in the circumstances was a bit stupid. I'd be interested to know how they built up the debt 2nd time round. Hope no small creditors got caught again; anybody know?

It's got pictures too, you know. Maybe not ones with big boobs, and it's perhaps a little to the left of the Daily Fail, but what isn't?

german vegtables [sic]

Matt finish, as opposed to gloss....

There's always been an element of non-partisan football fans wanting to watch: I remember standing under the West Stand at The Dell and talking to random fans who just happened to be working in the area and wanted a fix of football. Those obviously disappeared when The Dell went all seater. The other area we need to boost is the amount of youngsters coming because once they're addicted they'll always be fans, however far away they end up - as this forum proves! [saintsWeb - catchment area The World!] I first became interested when not even living in the country as dad was working abroad and getting excited when we first got promoted to the First Division. We need to hook in to the current situation as well, although prices these days are a big disincentive. I've always wondered if the apparent [by their actions] lack of enthusiasm by the club for season tickets was to keep the interest of a larger pool of fans and not just for additional revenue.

I don't think we're that far apart; I'm probably "1, 2 maybe 3 seasons", which is why I think this first season is so critical!