CB Saint

If you extroplate the assertion that tonnage under flag should have a bearing on naval strength, then the navies of Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands would be huge.

In that case perhaps they should pony up for the upkeep of a couple of destroyers.

Go to west Cowes, take the high speed ferry and watch a saints game.

Firstly I am not suggesting one or two boats - but not to expect a reduction in fleet size from the 70's level is naive. So help me with my "lack of understanding" and tell me how many vessels do we need to defend our shores? With regard to our global influence, unless we have the backing of the EU, US or UN our effectiveness to change or influence another nation agenda is indeed limited. Yes we have one of the most well trained and effective fighting forces man for man in the world, but unless it is backed up by the might of the the US or UN forces, we are restricted to what operations we can "go it alone" on. Perhaps my question is more about what role should we partake on a global stage. Should we try to be a big player or should we accept that the world has changed and reduce our fighting capability to that of a defensive organisation.

Lots of people are bemoaning the reduction of the Royal Navy. Considering we are now not the greatest trading nation on earth, not the foremost military power by some distance, not fighting a cold war, have limited meaningful global influence, military technological advances, how big a navy do we actually need?

I don't think we are close to the US going in. Ahmadinejad is a pretty shrewd operator. He has political issues on the home front. The whole Arab spring movement must be unsettling as is the unrest iin Syria. What better way to unite a nation behind him than to square up toi the Great Satan. This is nothing but political manouvering and will amount to nothing.

So what you are saying is that we are in much the same boat as Ireland. How bigger a navy do they have / need? Playing devils advocate.

However when you consider that the soviet union disolved in the late 80's, therefore bringing the cold war to an end, is there any surprise that we cut back the navy. The biggest issue is that we cut the ships and not the admirals or bureacracy

I suspect that will be the press drip feeding us to keep the story alive for longer. Fwiw the bloke is probably guilty of nothing more than stupendous lack of judgement and for that alone he should probably go. If this is still leading the news by the end of the week DC will have to sack him

I don't avoid chains per se, more like individual stores. For instance I would go to asda in totton , but avoid the one in chandlers ford like the plague. I would also rather go on holiday to yemen than shop in the milbrook tescos. I prefer waitrose if only for the reason that there are fewer people in it and the queues are shorter.

on the up side it will save us from the humiliation of being slaughtered by the welsh

fixed it for you

Christ we are terrible. The French are murdering us.

Had several first class upgrades. Not worth paying for but good if it's free. The qantas a380 1st class is pretty special.

Was in the louvre in Paris looking at the mona Lisa when an American woman said to her friend, "isn't it amazing how well it fits the frame"

The trouble that I see Ed having is convincing an electorate that he is a credible custodian of the economy, when both he and ed balls were special advisors to Gordon Brown during his tenure as chancellor. It will be a hard sell.

Just come back from Greece. Went to athens and peleponese. Both are absolutely fine. The island are less affected by the economic situation that the cities. The islands are still getting the tourist income and are relatively self sufficient for food etc. Re the trouble is athens - it is usually contained to about three streets with the rest of the citiy being ok (accordingly to my family out there).

I have a delonghi prima donna - this is a bean to cup that can do cappacino and layered lattes as well as normale black coffe and espresso. It will even turn itself on so that all you have to do is push a button when you get downstairs in the morning. It is quite simply the best gadget I have ever bought bar none. Downside is that it costs a lot, but saying that it has probably got the best cost per use ratio than anything else in my kitchen. As for beans, rubbish in / rubbish out. You could do no worse than to check out www.hasbean.co.uk - the best range of coffees I have found and they taste amazing. They roast to order and deliver next day in whole bean or any grind that you wish. They even do green beans if you fancy roasting them yourself.

Sounds liked you rohypnoled yourself

Don't you mean "get in her"

Having Harry and Jim at the club will really make a difference - They did, but it was not quite the difference I had anticipated.

Kilroy-silk Louis Walsh Mark lawrenson

It's stinks, It's unsurprising, it's how the world works (unfortunately). Oh it's also apolitical because they are all at it.

French cheese - especially the stuff that crawls across the plate. Wash down with 6 pints of guiness to add length and depth.

I hope they get their just desserts