um pahars

Good work fella. My Sloe Vodka project has been on the go for a little while now. We had two hawthorne bushes up the cricket ground and one bloomed early so took advantage. Had a little taste for QA purposes and it's coming along fine.

I'm no expert on the national picture, but I know the two colleges most of our students went to would only pay if they were there and they were working. I really can't state how important it appeared to be in influencing students to continue their post 16 education ("vocational" or "academic"), which I think is so important. Probably too early to judge the impact of its demise, but my initial gut feel would be that it has had a negative effect. Will keep an open mind and see how things go.

I'm sure the payments (inc periodic one off payments) were only made if individual targets relating to learning and attendance were being met.

I'm sure you could find abuse, fraud or ccok ups with whatever system you devise, but I would caution against tarring all of the EMA recipients with a broad brush. I work in a challenging school in a relatively deprived area and anecdotally have found that the EMA allowance was a big incentive for students to continue their post 16 education. It will be interesting to see national and local figures as the replacement does not appear to have anywhere near the same exposure or take up. As for your argument about too many people going to University, then I have some sympathy with that line, but EMA was primarily targetted at the post 16/Further Education audience which included many students doing vocational/"manual" courses as well as A levels.

Is it too late to do it all again, considering it's only just been set up and members invited etc???? To be honest it's not supposed to be a place for interaction (i.e. asking whose playing on Saturday and then people replying), it's just supposed to be a place where we could put some old photos before they were lost and then add any others as people take them. Then also use it put fixtures up and publicise the 3 or 4 social events we run each year. Any thoughts????

I had no idea what that was all about, pressed OK cos thought I should it said, try again later so just skipped it. What does it do??

Managed to upload which for me is amazing, but can't seem to get the one feature I thought would be good to work (and I am assuming I've done something wrong here). And that is to be able to access camera direct from the lock screen without having to type in password. Any ideas???

And given that I haven't got a clue what to do or what I'm doing is it even worth it!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone said just plug your phone and itunes will guide, well nothing's coming up for me. I would love some help and advice, but a warning in advance, you are talking to a right techno dinlo here. CHEERS STEVE

The reason why Israel sat on their hands, despite wanting to get down and dirty with the Iraqis, was because the US were sat firmly on top of them and holding them back. The US knew their coalition (which included a number of Arab countries) would disintegrate & lose support if the Israelis started firing.

That's what I was pointing out, it's not Isle of Mann (hence my analogy to the Isle of White [sic])

Reminds me of a time when our commercial team spent hours wooing a new client (I think South East Tourist Board or equivalent) and when we put the final pitch to them, up came a lovely mock up advert professing the beauty of the Isle of White!!! No one said anything, but needless to say we had wasted quite a bit of time and money!!!

Surely alarm bells should have been ringing somewhere in Whitehall/Downing Street!!!!! If he had dipped his feet in to the lobbying/consultancy world with Defence and traded off Fox's name then that would have been bad enough, but to have already established a Health "Consultancy" mirroring Fox a few years earlier, well it just beggars belief. If Fox had moved on to to transport, education, energy then guess what Werrity would be doing next. (also just read in The Independent that the Israeli's though Werrity was Fox's Senior Advisor when the two of them were at a conference discussing sanctions and the stance against Iran).

Just took a stroll over to Tesco's and snapped these for ya: http://www.yfrog.com/o0q36luj http://www.yfrog.com/nzjxcyij

Who bought Anders??? He was bought during the period when we didn't have a manager And Delap was only bought a month after Anders, so I wouldn't say he was bought to replace Anders. But well done to Anders, liked him both on and off the pitch, a very nice bloke.

A bit from The Guardian which resonated with me: "cabinet ministers' most precious assets are "their time, their attention and their intelligence", and Fox gave Werritty the unimpeded run of all three. Given the competing demands on a defence secretary involved in two conflicts abroad, to have made a priority of the demands of an old mate is a gross failure of judgment and in itself sufficient grounds, says McTernan, to disqualify Fox for his post." As others above have also said, he has made some gross errors of judgement and has then gone on to make matters worse by being extremely candid with what really has been going on, denying anything to apologising days later, and has been far from open and transparent as promised by Cameron. His position is untenable and the longer he stays in role the more the focus will switch to Cameron. As with Coulson, Cameron is in no way implictated in the initial wrongdoings, but his failure to act and dithering will mean he will become embroiled in the storm. Of course one of the problems is that he's scared of the right wing of his own party, which then makes me start to question his own mettle (like Blair and others before him he appears to be more keen on pandering to others than being his own man and providing the leadership this country needs).

I'll try and find the info regarding fruit at th e Inner Docks (think it was on an Ocean Village history page). Bananas were definitely being brought here in decent numbers pre WWII as there is an article somewhere saying how half of Fyffes fleet was sunk during WWII. I'm sure they were mainly operating out of Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol/Avonmouth, but there was a definite reference to Soton somewhere. Just found one of the links (mentions fruuit in 14/15 but not specifically bananas) http://www.oceanvillagesouthampton.com/about/the-history-of-ocean-village/ Page 50/51 mentions the UK banana trade with reference to Southampton in there as well. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dDqYx0j2ipYC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=avonmouth+banana+imports&source=bl&ots=QIFgTfiPyg&sig=eAIkX3_7XjSRacUyRFQ5svLkDwA&hl=en&ei=Ap2UTpTCB4y1hAfT-5DaBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=avonmouth%20banana%20imports&f=false

Mandelson (twice), Blunkett (over the passprot furore) and others walked (or were pushed) under Blair and in previous Governments (red and blue) others have been pushed or walked for less. Cameron made a very bold claim upon entering office, including his new foreward on ethics and standards in the revised ministerial code, particularly after the Expenses Scandal, so he has really set himself up here to do something. Problem is as BTF points out, party politics will probably ride roughshod over Government and National Interests (once again dragging down politics in this country).

That's the question that if ever answered (honestly) will tell us all we need to know. What was Werrity doing there and what was he gaining from it? Simple enough, but I just don't think the question will be answered.

A little Google on the issue brings up quite a few articles about it, particularly from when he threw his hat in the ring for the leadership and there were rumours (and denials) about his sexuality. There's also some questioning his marriage. No idea either way, but Adam Boulton seems to have said what many were thinking. That aside, my issue with this one is the apparent cover up and half truths, "there is nothing untoward" and "it was a chance meeting" to a few days later, "Serious mistakes" and "there was contact between the two parties prior to the meeting". All this against Cameron claiming a new standard of transparency and honesty in Government. Then there are obvious questions such as: Was Fox aware that Werrity was touting himself as an advisor? When did Fox know about the business cards (i.e. was it a while before he asked them to be binned)? Why was Werrity following him around? Who paid for Werrity's travel and accomodation costs? If Werrity didn't, then who did people pay for them? What other benefits did Werrity gain from this arrangement (financial or otherwise)? Did Fox gain from these arrangments? Did he mention this connection to his Permanent Secretray upon commencement of his role? What subjects were discussed at meetings where this non security cleared person was present? Why didn't he just engage him as an advisor/assistant, get him security cleared and be done with it? How does this behaviour square with Cameron's claim to be more transparent, open and honest etc in the revised Standards document?

Adam Boulton on SKY this lunchtime with a bloke from the Telegraph and The Mirror just put the cat amongst the pigeons by questioning whether this is a homosexual relationship.

Berths 25+ in the Empress Dock were definitely Fyffes base after they moved from oop north (from Liverpool & even Bristol I think) after the war (I think the banana trade then moved to the Western Docks 101+), but berths 14-16 in The now defucnt Inner Dock definitely handled fruit including bananas and there was even a fruit auction room built alongside the docks.

Have you seen the Samui Taxi Mafia lately???? A return there a couple of years back saw literally every taxi have no meter running and everyone demanding a fixed fee!!!! Managed to negotiate down, but did not find one willing to use the meter. They would all rather leave you standing (knowing that some other tourist would pay the rate). It was still a cheap(ish) fare, but like you felt it wasn't right (I certainly insist on the meter in Bangkok and elsewhere). Ended up using the Songthaews.

Ocean Village is built around Princess Alexandria Dock 1842 (also called the Outer Dock) and as Spy has mentioned they were really last used as a base for Townsend Thoresen and P&O cross channel ferries (started about mid 60s to mid 80s). It was linked to a non tidal dock called the Inner Dock 1851 which was where the new offices, Harbour Lights and that new multi storey car park are nowadays. Both docks were originally mainly used for fruit (hence Banana Wharf bar/restaurant), grain, timber as well as early passenger traffic. There was also a section where coal barges would dock. On the South side of the Outer Dock (where my pad is) there were 4 dry docks which were a hub of maintenance etc. Both these docks were used for the Crimean, First and Second World Wars and the plaques are on the last remains of the warehouse that sit next to the new Tescos (between the coffee shop and the Pink Beauty place) record that the Docks played host to transporting men and equipment on D-Day and the months follwoing. Just remembered this website is always good for docks info: http://www.plimsoll.org/Southampton/TheDocks/EasternDocks/InnerDock/InnerDock1.asp

I agree about the Castle Lane bit!!!! Have a degree of sympathy for the red brick housing (think it's OAP housing) by Tudor House as there was at least an attempt to try and blend it in with regards style wise. You're right in that most of the Castle (mote & Bailey) disappeared quite a while ago, but there was still a bit of a legacy, plus that tower block is just so out of place!!!!

My pet hates with regards planning etc (and not many of them are cash rich). 1) Around by The Duke of Wellington and the Merchants House there are 2 or 3 blocks of awful flats built over the historic vaults and totally at odds with the local area. Why???? 2) More should be made of the Weigh House and the other ruined houses & vaults in the area behind la Regatta (Porters Lane I think) 3) The walls alongside the Bowling Green have been blocked in by some pretty poor flats. That was a pretty recent decision 4) The walls either side of the Bargate. Who agreed to knock them down?? 5) Hannover Buildings and then the Bargate Centre. Who agreed to block in the Town Walls there. 6) Who decided to build that really large tower block (Castle House??) over the remains of the old castle. Any other City would have gone mad for such walls and I can't imagine York knocking down or blocking large parts down. They should have been traded off.