bridge too far

You're absolutely right in coming to that conclusion but that is my point. Apologies for repeating myself but most public sector workers are female and I would guess a large percentage are part-time and have probably come into the work place after having children or have had a career break to raise a family. So not many of them would work for 30 years. But the average is what it is and, since it's been shown on here in the past, many of the public sector schemes are self-financing, it's a fallacy for the press in particular to imply that all public sector workers walk away with huge pensions paid for by the tax payer. They don't. A few mainly male professionals such as doctors do. And public sector workers are tax payers too don't forget. And if they didn't get pensions they'd paid in to, they'd have to get pension credits that we all pay for anyway.

The pension used to be calculated on 1/80 final salary x years of service. Probably the majority of public sector workers are female returners after having children / lower paid (e.g. cleaning, cooking). I had a senior management job with the NHS but, because of family duties, didn't get that many years in so my pension is pretty meagre. Of course there are the highly paid Chief Executives, doctors, engineers etc who do have big pensions but, since £4K is the average it makes you realise that there are many retirees getting substantially less than the average. The rules have changed now to a 'career average' basis rather than final salary. Of course we all pay indirectly for the huge pensions some in the private sector get because they get top rate tax relief on their contributions and we also buy their goods / services. I was reading earlier this evening about the massive bonuses paid to some of the Barclays bosses http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21867735

(Yawn) same old, same old. I've lost count of the number of times we've debated public sector pensions and the misinformation about a) the amount the average public sector worker receives in pension and b) the fact that the majority of public sector workers can't now receive pensions until retirement age - an exception being, for example, a nurse who retires early with a buggered back on health grounds. The average public sector pension is about £4k a year.

And this kicks in as soon as you reach pensionable age, even if you're still working!

But very pleasant to look at

Nooooo - the most punchable face in politics HAS to be Michael Gove's!

We've just got one of those - magnificent!

Somewhere we've always wanted to go and a friend of ours is there this week. It's -5 apparently. I'll let you know how he gets on and I'll be interested to hear of your experience when you get back

Worth a trip to Mdina then - the Silent City. And the blue grotto http://www.bluegrottomalta.com.mt/ There are quite a few roman ruins and caves. A boat trip to Gozo is good too

There's an interesting promontory there that's supposed to look like an elephant's head.

HMRC have lodged a winding-up petition against a fans-owned club http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/10266169.Updated__Wanderers_face_High_Court_winding_up_petition/?ref=mr

And, if you're in that area, a trip to Great Bedwyn is always worthwhile. Lovely little village alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal. Good value pub grub here http://www.thexkeys.com/

I'd second this. You wouldn't have time to do this but we spent a week on the Canal du Midi - maybe they do day trips?

Are they baked cheesecakes or 'unbaked' ones? I used to make a mean 'unbaked' lemon cheesecake.

Try using Alfred Bassett potatoes for your shepherds pie - for an interesting visual effect

In other news, another fan-owned club faces administration http://www.chairboys.co.uk/onthenet/news1213/admin_warning_feb2013.htm

It was in the past tense - my mother is dead. I lived 100 miles away. Her disability was her blindness. My sister-in-law who lived nearby used to take her shopping but my mother valued her independence and liked to pay for her own shopping.

That dozy housewife could have been my mother who was disabled and virtually blind. She couldn't use cards because she couldn't see well enough to use the PIN machine so only ever used cash because she could, slowly, feel coins to determine the denomination. And she would have hidden her purse because to carry it openly or at the top of her bag would have invited someone recognising her sight difficulty to snatch it. Heaven forfend she might have held someone up for a few minutes!

Yes it does, in theory. Although recently some of its powers have been 'outsourced' to the big four accounting firms. From its website [h=4]" How do I make a complaint about my local authority or council?[/h] In the first instance you should direct your complaint towards the local authority involved. All local authorities will have a complaints department that you can contact. If your complaint refers to something your council has done that you feel is unfair (that is, you feel you have suffered as a result of inefficient management or maladministration), please contact your Local Government Ombudsman (external link). Our leaflet: Routemap, Your guide to complaining about local public services in England (PDF document) provides contact details and links of other agencies you can contact who can deal with complaints about public services in England. If your complaint refers to corruption, fraud or misuse of public money at an authority please contact the appointed auditor for that authority. You can also contact our confidential whistleblowing line on 0845 0522 646. Our policy regarding whistleblowing will provide you with information on what will happen with your information." A quick perusal of the council's contracts database doesn't list any contracts awarded for internal audit so I guess any Portsmouth resident unhappy about this latest turn of events would have to complain to the district auditor - Kate Handy, Audit Commission, Collins House, Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 6AD T 0844 798 4600 F 0844 798 4601 http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk

I believe the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee could 'call in' the decision - see Wiki for explanation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_and_Scrutiny But I think it would depend on the political composition of the O & S Committee as to whether that would actually happen. I also believe, very strongly, that the decision should be audited as a matter of urgency.

PKF = Pretty Klever F***ers PST = Pathetically Stupid Tossers

Apparently the Tory candidate failed to turn up at a hustings attended by all the other candidates. She has also, it is said, stopped people commenting on her FB page.

Just read this article in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/25/norwegian-prison-inmates-treated-like-people?CMP=SOCNETTXT6966 Food for thought?

I shared a table in a cafe yesterday with Ken Livingstone - honestly! A charming man and a delight to chat with.

The reverse is true for me - don't like roasted parsnips but love parsnip soup. I also don't like celery but really like celery soup. And I used to hate liver and bacon casserole that my mother made but I loved the gravy from the casserole.