bridge too far

I think the modern term is flight attendant, although she may well be ground staff. I don't know which airline she works for. She only heard today, so I guess she's working on her options. She has a more out-of-work than in it actor for a husband so she's the main breadwinner. But really the point I was making was more for JB's benefit. Here's one 'leftie' who has huge sympathy for anyone who loses his / her job.

I think if my daughter has a second child, she will take advantage of this. She earns a lot more than her teacher husband and I can see it would suit them if she gave up some of her maternity leave to him to take. I can't see the fact that parents work for different organisations will make any difference or cause any problems. Parents taking parental leave don't necessarily get paid for the time they have off (currently mothers get a basic payment until they've been on maternity leave for 6 months (and that includes the one or two months they have off before the birth)). Both my daughters saved up to have a further 2 months off, both returning to work when their babies were 6 months old. I think too that workers who have a caring responsibility for aged parents or for disabled older children currently have a right to ASK FOR flexible working.

A friend of mine, mother of four, has just today heard that her job as an air steward at Stansted has gone. I'm very, very worried for her.

I know what you mean. I often wish I'd learned Spanish and / or Italian at school but, with a fair knowledge of French and the remnants of the Latin I learned, I find I can at least understand both these languages at a basic level, even if I can't construct sentences correctly.

I'm glad I learnt Latin at school (although I wasn't very good at it). It helps in so many ways, and its benefits are not confined to just learning a 'dead' language.

A nation of knobs, maybe?

Even dear old Dr David is seeing the light! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12201106

Are you asking that of me? In other words, you are suggesting my final sentence has an antipodean upflection?

If I may make so bold .......... That should be capital.

Because a couple is a single entity. However, if the reference was to two couples, then it would be 'the two couples are'. Similarly, A pair is singular, two pairs are plural.

Goulash and mash?????? Whatever next

Although I'm tempted to gainsay much of your post, I'd rather just address this point. The Labour movement and the Labour Party in government are two different beasts and I didn't like it any more than many of my fellow Labour supporters. However, all parties in power abrogate their core values to some extent - witness the number of about-turns by the current government already. My overriding view is that I would rather have the Labour Party in government, for all its faults, than any other party BECAUSE of the basic tenets of those parties. I'll continue to work within the Labour Party to influence its direction and, whether you agree with me or not, I am at least trying to do something. I was heartened and amazed by an outstanding U turn in a local by-election here (in David Cameron's own constituency) where, for the first time in many years, the Labour Party overwhelmingly won. The number of people joining the Labour Party in recent months is just stunning, and that's after just 7 months of the ConDems.

Hmm - the core principle that sits well with me is that of everyone having an equal opportunity to make the best of themselves by having equal access to health, housing, and education. NOT that everyone should be equal or earn the same money, but that the frameworks should be there for everyone, regardless of birth or circumstance. That Labour Party principle hasn't shifted although I'll concede that sometimes the Labour government's legislation hasn't backed the Party's principles. I DID support the Labour Party's position on Europe back in the day but I've changed my mind (as has the Labour Party and, indeed, the Tory Party the other way). I'm certainly not against public ownership of e.g. railways, energy and water, police, NHS and I still remain to be convinced that 'private' intrusion into these industries has been a good thing. But it's a personal thing and, as in every political party, no doubt there will be other Labour Party members with whom I'd disagree on application and implementation.

Labour - always have and always will as long as the party's core principles remain the same. I did wobble when the Party became more right wing but pragmatism prevailed - anything rather than Tory. I tend to be influenced by principles rather than how things affect me alone. I struggle to determine exactly what Tory principles are (apart from 'I'm alright Jack, sod the rest of you) but I have learned, over many years, that Liberal principles can best be summarised as fence sitting.

Parga's very nice for families. A few years ago we went to a tiny little place called Porto Germano (quite near Corinth) - very unspoilt but perhaps a bit too quiet for younger children.

^^ Even as young as 3. My youngest was only 3 the first time we did a narrowboat holiday.

As long as that, you reckon?

Didn't Churchill have some sort of speech impediment?

Well, there is this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/9359396.stm I don't know how it compares to what you used to watch.

Hmm got a score update quicker from the BBC website than on here.

Capita was formed about 25 years ago at a time that the then government decided to outsource back-office functions in local government and the NHS. No doubt there will be similar success stories when the NHS in its current form is decentralised (against the wishes of most GPs and Royal Colleges and with virtually no consultation). There will be an avalanche of such companies, charging more for delivering less.

manhattan

princess

That's the one I've just spent 5 minutes struggling to remember as an example! Thanks, mate

pie