ecuk268

Exactly. Benefits paid to people in work are nearly £50 billion, as opposed to about £7 billion to the unemployed. The other large outlay is about £25 billion in housing benefit, a considerable amount of which goes into the pockets of private landlords. Why not give the money to local authorities to build more social housing. It would give a boost to the building industry and they would get some of the money back in rents.

There are options but I'll probably get some professional advice next year. Anybody know a good pensions IFA in Southampton?

I'm in IT and a lot of our functions have been moved to our European HQ so I'm a bit bored and, to be honest, probably overpaid. I'd like to combine the extra free time with still earning a reasonable salary at least for a couple of years. 60% of my current salary + my state pension + the removal of NI contributions would keep me comfortable for that period and I could have long weekends.

Better off as we paid off our mortgage a couple of years ago. However, with 65 on the horizon, I'm starting to think about retirement income. Annuities are rubbish at the moment so my personal pension won't be very generous. Probably try to negotiate a 3-day week with my employer when I get to 65, draw my state pension but not the private one and hope annuity rates improve. Also, you stop paying NI after 65 so that'll save a couple of grand a year.

They have £70m of debt which they have to clear before moving in (partially by flogging Upton Park). Many clubs borrow using their stadium as security. That will no longer be an option for them as they will be tenants.

If you look at the age distribution of voters, the number of pensioners who actually use their vote is quite a high proportion of the total. All governments are very wary of upsetting them as it would cost them a lot of votes at the next election. I'm over 60 with a well paid job but I get a bus pass and winter fuel payment which I don't really need but, if I'm entitled to it, I'll have it.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/ferdinand-in-hair-appointment-clash-2013031963144

At the risk of sounding like a SOG, in the 60's and 70's, the Cup Final was THE football event of the season. Played at the proper time of 3.00 on a Saturday after the season had ended, it was a rare opportunity for players to play at Wembley. Turn on the telly at about midday (BBC of course) for 3 hours of buildup. The streets were noticeably quieter that afternoon and the winners got a lot more attention that whoever had won the old 1st Division. Everyman and his dog plays at Wembley now and the FA Cup has declined in importance, presumably because it's not worth an enormous amount of cash.

I found it in the Software Centre. I use ps3 Mediaserver, seems to be OK.

I found it in the Software Centre

I think it's disgraceful. They should have ACDC instead of Iron Maiden. Angus Young's school uniform would not look out of place.

He's gone home (by helicopter).

So Saints shirts less than 15 years old are OK?

I love cheesecake. When you get a Southampton branch, I'll buy one.

I am amazed at how some people can clock up so many posts. Some average 15 - 20 posts per day over a number of years. Do they not lead a normal life? Are they stuck in some gloomy room glued to their keyboards? Is it a question of quantity over quality?

Well, as Cameron said "A bunch of loonies, fruitcakes and closet racists".

Agreed, plus you can take her on a tour of the Nou Camp.

Worth a look: http://www.aquarterof.co.uk/

He visited Southampton in 1956 and his painting of the Woolston Floating Bridge is in the Art Gallery.

You can't take Wenger in isolation without looking at Arsenal as a club. Always been run in a financially responsible manner yet he excelled when they were at Highbury where a capacity of 36000 must have considerably limited their income. They have also refused to pay silly wages although Walcott on 100k a week may mean that they've moved a bit on that one. Contrast the way the press treat Redknapp who can do no wrong - semi-literate and alleged brown-bag merchant and Wenger - educated, multi-lingual and (as far as we know) honest. Bit of inverted snobbery, I think.

You could try DropBox which is a file hosting and sharing service. I think it's free up to 300Mb.

Slightly off-topic but the thing that strikes me about the top teams of the 80's is the number of Scottish players that they had. Dalglish, Souness, Hansen, McQueen, Jordan, McClair, WGS, Archibald and loads that I've forgotten. How many now in the top 5 or 6 Premier teams?

I'd put Mick Mills up there among our best left backs. Maybe a bit past his best when he came to us, but a cultured, calm and intelligent player.

And with added veterinary drugs at no extra cost!

I see that our our wonderful Government are trying to get us exemption from EU rules that compel producers of fresh meat products to clearly label exactly what's in their product. They're also trying to amend the rules so that there can be more fat and collagen in mince meat than is allowed in the rest of the EU. One of their first acts in 2010 was to cut the staffing and funding of the Food Standards Agency.