bridge too far

I wonder what triggered it all?

Utter, utter tosh! He doesn't usually have any problems eating but he has a nasty ear infection and obviously it actually hurts him to eat - hence the distraction technique. I'll sign off by saying that if food becomes an issue in early life, it can remain so. My oldest daughter had real issues with food from a very early age. She was anorexic from the age of 14 until she was about 25 and it was the most awful time in her life and my family's life. Thankfully she overcame it in the end. But anorexics use (lack of) food as a method of control (of their own lives) in the same way as toddlers can use the refusal of food as a method of control over their parents.

Not wishing to excuse 'poor old 'arry' but I think he has planning permission for the property NEXT DOOR to the one that burned down, TBF. However, I guess it's quite handy to have that building burn down. Insurance and all that (allegedly).

Update: my grandson is back to being difficult! However, he's on his second course of antibiotics so this ear infection is obviously causing him more pain than we realised. However, yesterday, having refused to eat shepherds pie (normally a nailed on favourite), I was amazed to see how his dad got him to eat. The little chap is besotted with 'Dora the Explorer' at the moment, and his dad created a whole scene where 'Dora' (just a picture of the character) 'ate' some of his dinner and 'told' him to do the same. It worked - but his dad has the patience of a saint (he's a junior school teacher). Beats the old 'here comes the train into the tunnel' ruse hands down

His brother owned a dancewear shop in Slough. The first time I went there, his brother (who was a dead ringer for Tommy) fooled me by saying he didn't sell ballet shoes - and I'd driven miles to get to the shop! When I showed how disappointed I was, he laughed just like Tommy and told me he also owned the shop next door that DID sell ballet shoes. Doesn't sound funny now, but at the time, and because he looked and sounded just like his brother, it was hilarious. Guess you had to be there though.

Going off tangent, it seems from this that brown paper bags COULD POSSIBLY travel in both directions! http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/harry_can_build_seafront_flats_without_affordable_housing_1_2972427

If it helps - my grandson has just had a non-eating episode. Up until then, he'd eat for Great Britain but he suddenly started turning down all his favourite stuff. They all go through this phase but, rest assured, no toddler ever starves to death! Don't give in to him by giving him 'treats' but just take his food away if he starts playing up. It's hard on the parents but he'll soon cotton on. Having said all that, it turned out my grandson had an ear infection, so eating was actually causing him some discomfort. A short course of antibiotics and he's back to his normal appetite. And my granddaughter went off food at about 2 years for a while too. So, once you've established he's OK and healthy, then try what I've suggested above. Obviously, if it goes on for any great length of time, it might be an idea to talk to your doctor / health visitor. Good luck!

I wonder how many Premiership Chairmen are watching Adkins with envious eyes....... This worries me

More mileage in this, methinks http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/16/phone-hacking-now-reporter-letter

Makes sense - I'd heard they'd lowered the standard I've gone upmarket in the last hour as I'm now getting Mercedes Benz adverts!

Strange - the advert is for Ford when I look! Perhaps the ads are targetted at the viewer

I like Rankin too. I think I've read all the Rebus novels published so far. Currently working my way through Tony Parsons (Man and Boy etc.)

Orchards Way in West End, apparently http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Collins His own house in Brookvale Road was beautiful, too. I don't know if he designed a lot of the houses in that road. I do remember that some of the residents had access to a tennis court - I can remember playing a few sets there with his daughter when I was still at school.

I know I didn't appreciate how significant he was until much, much later. Those lovely houses along Bassett Green Road and down towards Swaythling were apparently designed for working class families. They're now quite gentrified.

This thread got me looking on RightMove at all the areas in the city I've lived in in the past (Sholing, Polygon, Chandler's Ford). One of my favourite areas, although I never lived there, is Portswood / Highfield. There are some lovely houses in that area - Collins houses they're called. Quite pricey but very pretty. I went to school with the daughter of the architect who designed them.

Compression and rarefaction

I think we should Brush that comment under the carpet.

The author of that article is on Newsnight BBC2 right now.

Good article.

An army recruit amongst those appearing in court today, according to BBC news. Along with the teaching assistant and a university student.

This just reinforces the point I was making. Thank you.

Having read this: "respect for the guy who lost his 3 sons and saying it was not a race issue and has support from every community,,no divide and rule from him." So I didn't 'say' it, I remarked on something someone else said. How dreadfully remiss of me Makes it alright, does it - that only two of them came from one family instead of three? Jeez

Two were brothers.

OMG I didn't realise they were from one family! Poor, poor man.

Uh oh! 'Free laptop' alert