bridge too far

Oh I didn't mean just the clubs! Although I think I'm right in saying, for example, that some Round Table Clubs and Masons are men only? No, I meant the main part of the article, about co-operatives.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/30/basque-country-big-society-spain?CMP=twt_gu Very interesting article about co-operatives in the Basque region of Spain. Shall we have a discussion?

I absolutely sympathise with people who suffer from traffic caused by the school run. But please don't stereotype those who do the dropping off. Both my daughters drop their children off at nursery on their way to their places of work, where they do highly productive work. They simply don't have time to walk to the nursery and back and then go to work, given that they both work 40 hour weeks over 4 days.

Except that all major building projects for the public sector are contracted out to the private sector and have been for many, many years.

flash

I don't know whether things will change in the armed forces, TDD, but a friend of mine, with over 20 years' service in the NHS, has just been made redundant. And, in spite of his contract of employment, he has only been given HALF of the redundancy pay he was formerly entitled to. OK public servants get good redundancy deals, or at least they did, but it seems that the powers that be have changed the rules without any consultation and there's no appealing against it. So double-check your terms would be my advice to you.

This

There did used to be a chain of door furniture shops called Knobs and Knockers, I remember.

knave

There was a lot of debate on R5 Live this morning - about respect for referees but, inevitably, the discussion centred around whether example should be set at the top of the game or at grass roots level. Whilst I think a lot of young players mimic their role models, I also think some parents have a lot to answer for. FFS their child isn't playing for Barcelona! The way they shout and scream at their children is just awful. And that attitude carries forward to how these parents treat the opposition and the match officials. I bet junior football would be a lot happier if parents were banned from the touchline. It would stop conflicting messages being screamed at the children too. I well remember one father calling my 9 year old son a fairy - he was asthmatic at the time and had stopped to breathe. My (then) husband then proceeded to push the other father around for insulting his son. The grown-ups are worse than the kids, I reckon.

I hate popcorn. HTH

Hmm not that well muscled. Oddly, I had a very pleasant lunch with my very best male gay friend last week. He was wearing long shorts and deck shoes and looked well sexy (but he did used to be a dancer so he's very fit and toned anyway).

Oi!!!!!!!! I'm going to have to withdraw my generous offer, guys. I shall be on holiday

beard

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369771/Nick-Cleggs-banter-microphone-gaffe-Ant-Dec-British-politics.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

My daughters have just got back from a hen weekend where they did this: http://www.superfundaysout.com/activities/segway-racing/ They've just posted a video - absolutely hilarious fun!

farmer

I like it!

For the Airkix one, I went directly to the company. It was marginally cheaper than going to an experience website. In the past, I've been given a hot air balloon flight, a gliding 'experience', and a falconry day - I don't think any of those were too pricey either.

Then you'd be wrong. I'm against AV and undecided about PR. Anyway, the Tories will never champion any alternative to FPTT

Well - there's a difference between 18 and 40 I suppose. I'm currently organising something for my oldest daughter's 40th this weekend. Being a hard up pensioner now, I can't afford much either. Her partner is organising a get-together of her friends and family members and I'm giving her one of those Airkix experiences at Milton Keynes. She's always wanted to do a parachute jump - can't afford that - so it's the next best thing. Maybe something like that?

I can only see smug tw*ts

reaction

Oh don't sink to Dunce's level! EM doesn't have a lisp. He has an adenoidal problem. I'm so surprised at how sedate you are that I'm going to have to go out for a walk to clear my head!

This is a tongue-in-cheek response to idiots like Dunce who bang on about EM's lisp (although he doesn't have a lisp but then Dunce never lets truth get in the way of reasoned discussion, does he). EM's speech impediment is no barrier to intelligent thought any more than DC's hairline, of course it isn't