amsterdam

My kid sis studied criminology at Aston in Brum and by all accounts had a fantastic time - now is a high-flyer with the CPP, so I'm sure there are jobs out there... And Mase, I went to Newcastle (north of Sheffield last time I looked!) and it was brilliant - nightlife is second to none and with a high proportion of students there are loads of things geared specifically to them. Good luck to all applying - the next 3 to 4 years will be the best days of your lives!

No need to be rude - btf just said she couldn't remember their surname....

I agree Alps. Further - and I'll have to check the original NC comments - when I read it initially, I had the impression that it wasn't so much the actual results that disappointed NC, but the way we were playing. With the money the club has spent, and the obvious quality the team has, we should perhaps be doing better. Wonder what he made of the game on Saturday?

"'e be up yon wurzel tree an' oi be aarfter 'e. 'e sees oi, an' oi sees 'e buggered if oi don't 'av 'e Wi' a great big stick oi'll knock 'im down, Blackbird, oi'll 'ave 'ee Dalla la la la la, Dalla la la la la - 'ow's yer faather, all roight?" The Music Man Cambourne Hill She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain Washed down with 4 pints of GBH, and rounds of incredible ham/cheese sandwiches (with pickled onions)!! I've travelled the world, but doubt if I've spent better evenings anywhere - New York, Sydney, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Braishfield!

Trust me - you don't! Most of it was complete tosh!! I remember seeing the JoBoxers (sp?) at Southampton Uni around then and thinking they were one of the better bands... Over the years your mind blanks out the rubbish and you think every song was a classic (you'll do the same in 20 years time!). For example I have "Chart Hits 81" in front of me (my wife's, I hasten to add) and of the musical delights on offer as the "big" hits of the year are: Pretend - Alvin Stardust You'll Never Know - Hi-Gloss Prisoner - Sheila B. Devotion Birdie Song - The Tweets Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) - Ottowan In And Out Of Love - Imagination Heart And Soul - Exile Piece Of The Action - Bucks Fizz Lock Up Your Daughters - Slade Can Can - Bad Manners Hooked On Classics - The RPO The s$@t we had to tolerate back in the day!!

You were in the St Winifred's School Choir?! (and you missed a comma, by the way...) I think grammar is very important and nag my kids constantly about it. To be fair, I find myself being anal about it sometimes ("Who does this belong to?" rather than "To whom does this belong?", for example, is petty, but still jars...), but if I'm trying to read a book or article that is poorly written, I struggle - even when it's deliberate, like Trainspotting or the Headhunters. I do agree with Norwaysaint, though, it is not just the responsibility of the school to promote better usage (or good manners, or acceptable behaviour), us parents must take much more responsibility.

Dear Hamster and MB, I don't know either of you, but I'm aware of your work on here... Just want to say that I generally enjoy your ramblings and find it inspiring that you both retain great senses of humour and perspective when you bear such burdens on your shoulders - massive respect. Peter

It's true that it's a pain for a one-off game because you don't want to load too much on your card (but then find you have to keep queuing at the recharge area every time you need another round of drinks!). However, it is good if you go (semi) regularly to the stadium (I see the occasional match at the Arena and go to quite a few concerts) - it makes being served much quicker (no change needed) - so I think it's a good system for ST holders - brilliant if they could combine it with the ST itself - v. innovative thinking; I love my club more each day! It's like having a kid who was a nightmare child for the first 10 years, then grows into an intelligent, charming and interesting "youth"!!

Nah - just 'phoned the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and they said "Howay, pet, Ian who-like?" (translates as "My dear chap, who is this Ian fellow of whom you speak?") Appalling journalism from the Echo - wouldn't buy it if I lived there...

Is this the case? Then maybe if they can get a buyer in quickly it might be a "smart" move (OK "smart" in the sense of "desperate measure")? Didn't we try to service our debts by flogging off the few gems we had at knock-off prices? Even with the 10 point deduction, they're still clear of relegation, and if they can come through this and still keep players like Moses, Danns and Spironi they should be OK... Still, I feel for the fans; they don't deserve the gut-wrenching despair that they are going through (as we did last year). Always seemed a good footballing side and not a bunch of big-time Charlies - I still remember that FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool; as a neutral, one of the most enjoyable games I've seen.

I'm in research and have used SPSS and Quanvert in the past (prefer Snap nowadays). If I can help then let me know...

Agree - and these little feckers getting 5 years?? Joke. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/22/edlington-brothers-jailed-torture-boys

How about "April is the cruelest month"? Or "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage"? Can't see how it'll help you with your ceiling though? Good luck anyway!

Can't start a thread but this one is apposite... Just watching The Politics Show and they had a segment about football finances featuring Greg Dyke - the caption said "Greg Dyke - Brentford fan"... I thought he was a big Saints fan and we were hoping (before ML arrived) that Mr Dyke would lead a consortium to buy us? Not important I guess but anyone know where Mr Dyke's loyalties lie?

Ah! But conscription and national service are two different things - I do agree with your comments about conscripts.

I used to be strongly anti it, but I lived in Switzerland for 5 years where it still exists and where Swiss nationals are expected to give up several weeks a year to go on refresher courses etc, and now I can see some value in it. It's not about some "boot camp" to bully unruly teenagers into line, but tends to focus on building (so-called) "life skills" such as leadership, team camaraderie, survival, first aid and yes, responsibility. I certainly feel it would give a lot of people a sense of worth and self-respect. On the downside, I'm sure it's not for everyone (the Swiss people I knew were fairly senior managers and were majors and captains in the Intelligence Corps - not doing the "grunt" activities), and it also buggers up the business with people disappearing for 2-6 weeks on annual training on top of holidays, but if properly managed (and in those two words are the reason why the UK government could never make it work - Labour or Tory) I think it could be a good thing.

Both these cases are horrible and though I agree with your proposed punishment, Influenced, I don't think they are any more common than 10 years ago (which is why they still make national news). I generally consider myself a "bleedin'-heart liberal", but these scum-bags knew what they were doing, had no need to commit these crimes and therefore should be removed from the gene pool..

Some out of the way places I visited in the last year or so for business that I'd love to go back with the family sometime in the future (and will be hot this time of year): Barranquilla - Colombia is fantastic and the people are the friendliest I've come across. Because of the dodgy reputation it has with drugs and gangs there's no real tourist structure so the locals haven't sussed out how to rip you off yet! There's also a carnival around now I think. Zanzibar - Dar-Es-Salaam is a bit of a hole, but Zanzibar is beautiful; being on the old spice/slave routes there's a lot of history to see if you get bored of the beaches. Loloata Island - Papua New Guinea - a bit of a trek to get to, and Port Moresby is a bit dodgy, but diving in the Coral Sea is an amazing experience, even for an unfit old fart like me. And nearby you've got the Port Moresby golf course and the Yacht Club.

And another thing... Don't be afraid to contact the person from whom you received the rejection letter. Be polite, but mention that you were really enthusiastic about working for the company, and were disappointed not to get an interview, and ask them for advice about future applications. It's unlikely that you will change their decision, but a) you will feel better doing something proactive; and b) you may get some tips on where your CV/application letter was weak. Most of the time you will get fobbed off with "You don't have the necessary experience", but to be honest in the 15 years that I've been running departments, experience is one of the least important things (unless it's a specific role I'm looking for) - I look for initiative, someone who'll fit into the team, and enthusiasm. Once again, good luck!

Just to add my best wishes too - I didn't get into my current career (Marketing Research) until I was about 28/29 - before that (after leaving Uni) I did a number of stints in logistics, planning and production, so don't give up, it's possible to change! Some good advice above, particularly about networking, and as someone else said, you just need one person to give you a lift onto the first step. Are you signed up on LinkedIn? I'm not sure I know anyone in HR or payroll admin, but you'd be welcome to use my contacts. The important thing is not to give up, and don't let the rejections get you down - easy to say, I know, but most of us have been there, so keep at it!

LVSaint - the fireworks on NYE are across the whole country and you're right, "mad but fun" sums it up! I was in Beirut in the mid-1990's and it was a similar experience to NYE in NL!! The Swiss have a similar thing on their National Day and for a Brit, with all our ad campaigns and warnings about fireworks, it's pretty hairy watching people off their chops setting off huge rockets in their hands! Hamster - Gauchos is a good chain; you do have to be a real carnivore though - chips are considered an "extra"; if you order "steak", then that's what you get - half a cow... I had a similar experience about the strength of the gear when I first arrived here... Had a very pleasant smoke, sitting in a cafe, then realised I'd forgotten how to move my legs or arms. So i sat there for what seemed like hours (probably less than a minute TBF) grinning like a loon hoping no-one would notice that I was immobile. Eventually calmed down enough to remember "stand, left leg forward, right leg forward, etc" and was mumbling away to myself until I found a taxi, then realised I couldn't remember what hotel I was staying at, just that it was about 20 mins away by tram (the key was one of those non-descript plastic swipe things)... Respect to the taxi driver though who managed to find the place - God knows how... I've been careful ever since, and it's advice I'd give to anyone - write down the name of your hotel and never ask for the strongest hash the coffeeshop has (if you're only used to the stuff you get at home)... JS - enjoy your visit and do go for an explore on your own. From Dam Square walk into the RLD behind the Bijenkorf Store (kind of a Dutch Harrods) and find a bar called "Stone's" (they don't sell weed but you can smoke it there); then go out out the back way (and turn left at the church towards "Sexyland") - there you will find the warren of streets that I think CL found himself in - have fun!!

Probably around Rembrantsplein or Leidseplein? You are right that if you stick to steaks you will eat well (though a bit expensive?). Dutch food in general though is rubbish; their local fast food chain, Febo, is horrible - as a Brit I can understand that some things we eat are "acquired tastes" - but next time you're over here, try things like bitterballen, frikandellen, kaassoufle and raw herring with onions (Dutch sushi!). My kids are lucky because they've grown up with both and love the Dutch s**t as much as the English s**t!!

Takes forever though? 3 hours from London to Paris, then 2 hours to Brussels, change and another couple of hours to Amsterdam? But I do agree - I love the train compared to flying.. Whereabouts in CH are you? In response to the OP - what about going to the races? Goodwood is not far from you? Followed by an evening at Bognor Regis Butlins? (I may be 20 years out of date here!)

Crab Lungs - sounds like you had a good few days?! I've been here nearly 10 years now and though I work freelance nowadays and could be based anywhere, I still love the place (apart from the food and the weather). There is definitely a unique "buzz" about it. But I should also recommend Rotterdam and Utrecht if you want to see more of Dutch life - both equally friendly and a bit less "touristy" - Rotterdam is a bit rough but has excellent nightlife and Utrecht is beautiful and more appropriate for weekends with the missus... If you're over in the Spring and on your tod, then let me know and I'll buy you a beer to give you "Dutch courage" to select a lady of the night! Of course they are only after your money but although I've never "indulged", friends who have have said it was a great experience! WG - the old Amstel brewery is even further away than the Heineken one, so top man! Maybe for your anniversary you might want to bring the wife back for a trip back in time? I doubt Amsterdam has changed much since you were here (unlike Southampton which has totally changed since I left in the mid 1980's). Hamster - I recommend you look to stay in towns like Weesp, Haarlem or Hilversum (where I live) for hotels; nice towns in their own right with excellent transport links to the 'Dam. Unless you can afford places like the Kempinski, Tulip Inn or Blake's, the average central hotels are over-priced and a bit grotty - happy to help with recommendations... Nicandfriendly - I don't know the coffee shop you mentioned; if I go into town for a night out, it is usually with mates from the UK so we stick to places we know - there are half a dozen local places that are fine if I fancy a smoke. I've not heard about the ban on serving beer in the coffee shops - perhaps CL could update me - my local places have never served beer (there's a kind of snobbery here with the pot-heads looking down on the beer drinkers as being aggressive and yobbish, so the restrictions have traditionally been for economic reasons, i.e. for the tourists). We've had some interesting dilemmas with the ban on tobacco - you can be arrested for smoking tobacco (or mixing your hashish with it) in coffee shops, which is a bit bizzare!

Hoofdorp?? You're miles out (close to the airport though)! I used to work near there - it was built as a sort of Milton Keynes, but the planners "forgot" to put in any social activities like a bar or cinema etc so it's a bit dead... Next time you come over (or if any other posters want to visit) then let me know and I'll find some places a bit more convenient - there are lots of nice little towns around where you can "sleep in" and get your head together before heading into Amsterdam for a long evening (transport connections are generally excellent here). Glad you seem to have had a good time though - the city gets a bad reputation sometimes, and you can get ripped off if you go to places like the Grasshopper or the Bulldog chain, but it's very safe for a major city, people are usually friendly (esp. the police) and the locals like to see you having fun and celebrating their city! WG - I haven't done the touristy things for a while, but I understand that the "Heineken Experience" is still there but is not the working brewery it used to be. Also they now limit you to 2 pints and some munchies - they wised up to the fact that people of your generation would go on the visit simply to get trashed and stuff their faces for very little money! Although how you ended up in Artis Zoo from there is impressive - it's quite a "stagger"! The Torture Museum is still there, Bexy, opposite the flower market - never been myself! And good advice, niceandfriendly, but a lot of the coffeeshops away from the centre are more for "purist" smokers and don't serve alcohol, so if you like a beer with your smoke then the centre is best - and there are a couple of good coffee shops where you won't get ripped off like the Rokerij (excellent chill music) and the Dampkring (sensational goat's cheese and honey toasties for the munchies). So Happy New Year all, and if you come over, then don't forget to drop me a line!!