briber

Hello Ryan, I have no love for the tories but, we have the alternative in power at present and as usual they're behaving in their accustomed fashion with the usual results. Reform at present, for all the sound and fury have no chance of affecting the situation and although I can see the appeal, it should have been clear that a vote for reform means a Labour government. After all, remember, they polled less votes than the previous Labour leader managed so their success was a direct result of the protest vote. Anyway, I'm too old to care much anymore. If I see another election I'll be over 90

Ryan, Yes you can blame the people who voted Labour but, you really should aim your anger at those who voted Reform. They were the ones responsible for labour getting power by taking votes from the conservatives and will continue to do so unless, they actually manage to get enough members of parliament to make a difference. I should live so long. brian

Like many here I wouldn't dream of asking for guests to pay. Due to my circumstances those invitations are not so frequent and when my daughters invite us I always ensure that I provide, usually meat. I would understand some whose guests are close, and understanding, coming to similar arrangements but paying? Happy Christmas. Brian

'USE IT OR LOSE IT' that statement is true of all retail outlets but particularly for village pubs, shops and indeed town centre's facing the might of internet sales. I have scrolled down and almost everyone remarking here is saying the same.[' I go for a meal sometimes' I'm as guilty as the rest of you so I'm not criticising. What I do object to is those who don't use the facilities then moan when they disappear. The number of times I hear of villagers, up in arms because their pub has, or is, closing, changing status. They start up campaigns 'Save our Pub' but when tasked, their patronage is, 'the occasional visit when uncle ? visits, These are businesses. They need to make a profit to survive. No profit. No business. 'USE IT OR LOSE IT'

I feel like a Rant. So you are the victims. If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined. So there. I'll start. Recently I have changed my network provider after being with BT for twenty odd years and as all my emails are with BT I have decided to change to generic e mail addresses in case I decide not to stay. In the course of changing e mails I have oft. needed to contact companies by phone. Invariably I am met with recorded messages and automated assistants? who can only answer the simplest of topics. In many cases the call starts off by asking us to, 'Be considerate to our staff' Now I am always considerate, they, poor devils are not responsible for the stress their company system is putting on me. But it's sometimes hard. Many companies seem to have an aversion to have human beings at the end of the phone, actually speaking. Their web sites give out wonderful 'Most popular questions and other titbits but no telephone number. I go round and round trying to find a chink in their armour which will let me dash through and talk to some one until finally give up for another day. One particular company promises, 'It's simple to contact us if you have a problem' then sends you round their web site with pre loaded questions which don't apply to the problem you are facing until I am incandescent When I finally manage to obtain a telephone number we reach another hurdle. Ring. automated reply if you want ??? press one. if - - -press two, and so on and Lord help you if you fail to press a button, it repeats ad infinitum . When you finally reach the department you desire, an automaton asks 'Say what you are ringing about in a few words' 'Pay my bill' Anything else, no chance. You persevere and finally reach the promised land where humans reside and, hopefully, manage to get some satisfaction. My final rant. Make a telephone call which is answered immediately with canned music!! Now I have catholic tastes in music. something I think divides the generations quite markedly My tastes are to the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, with a few exceptions scattered about through the decades and most modern music leaves me cold. Particularly raucous noise that some consider to be tuneful which is so often blasted through my ear drums. Here I must note that, being deaf I wear hearing aides and they receive telephone calls through blue tooth so I cannot avoid the noise. By the time the human being has made the connection I am ready to reach out and strangle, him, her. I don't . I speak politely, as I should. but there is murder in my heart. There was one telephone call engraved in my memory, a telephone call to DVLA. a pleasure to wait for a connection. But after all DVLA is in Wales. Rant over.

Like to bet? I think that this present government will waffle about and end up stuffing more failed politicians into it. Personally It should be disbanded,

I wrote the above in reply to a comment, which seems to have disappeared rendering my reply somewhat obscure. You'll just have to accept it as it is.

Agreed that the system proposed is as you say. for the present. but further down the line? It's my experience that the hardest step is the first, after that things gain momentum and who knows where it will lead? after all, history shows there are precedents, everyone is aware of the treatment of Jews by Germany in the thirties and forties, but less well mentioned is Germanys treatment of Gypsies and others considered to be less than perfect. Couldn't happen here? My opinion of politicians is stated in my original message. I reiterate, 'Be careful what you wish for' I'll close with this. My wife, Bless her, knows something is wrong and needs constant reassurance. From time to time she expresses a wish the she was dead. I give that the attention it deserves and continue to do my incompetent best.

I'm ambivalent. I can see the attraction to ease suffering but can also see the pitfalls, and thinking that the government, any government, is capable of devising a law which protects as well as free's whilst eliminating abuse? I personally have no faith in the modern politicians to do anything but feather their own nest. It's a difficult situation and I don't envy anyone facing it. As the full time carer of my 90yr old wife who suffers from severe dementia made worse by her deafness, I well know the frustration felt by many, but have her put down? I don't think so. Mind you, I have had no compunction in taking our various dogs to the vets and hold them in my arms as they gently faded away. If that opens me up to the charge of being a hypocrite! So be it.

Touche Madam.

I like a lady who knows how to gives in gracefully. When she want to!!

Hello Meme21 Thanks for that but when I do soup I use the carcase off the Sunday chicken and its in the slow cooker for up to eight hours, or more. My favourite part of the bird

got a 15 to 1, use the pressure cooker daily, porridge every morning. steam roast meat, chicken legs come out succulent with crispy skin. Steam ham, much better than the bought cooked ham, Air fryer, reheat pizza tastes better than original. fish and chips!! in fact I use one or more functions every day and wouldn't be without it. Started with a simple Air fryer but not always enough room so bought the 15 to 1. Wouldn't do without it. Only thing I wouldn't use it for is slow cooker. I like my dedicated slow cooker for soup and dumplings.

Clothes will give you confidence. Not able to see you or, know your personality I wouldn't presume to advise you but, as a thought, my wife found M & S staff very helpful. Perhaps you would find the same.

But all volunteers. It's true that up to 1963? or thereabouts those guardsmen, and other regiments were mostly conscripts or like me, glorified national servicemen who, having been called up, signed on for three years at enhanced pay but, Times were different. Attitudes were different, hang it all, the world was different and you can't get that back.

Hello Jeanmark, It's a pleasant change to find that some actually read the comments and are prepared to give a reasoned opinion. Not that I altogether agree with you, but it would be a dull old world if we all thought the same. To business. It is often quoted, with some truth I think, that parties don't win elections, governments lose them, hence my opening remarks The last conservative government has only itself to blame with it's lies, infighting and of course partygate. the previous Major government lost because of Duck houses, brown paper envelopes and the inability for trousers to stay up. That included Major we later learned. The labour governments had their share of embarrassing incidents but to me, their biggest problem is their inability to manage the finances. relating to General Practitioners. I certainly don't expect any one to work 24/7 although one man practices were the norm up to the 1960's Now GP surgeries consist of a team of doctors and ancillary staff and could manage their affairs without hardship, as they did before Blair relieved them of this obligation, providing they actually worked fulltime. Recently I saw an interviewer with a young lady doctor .( at my age almost all ladies are young) who made much the same comments as you. I would have liked the opportunity to put a question to her myself. This caused me to google, what a great source of information, to not only confirm my feelings but to learn that it was worse than I thought. 23% of GP's work full time, Less than a quarter? Even worse, 60% work three days a week or less? How many other occupations work those type of hours? In my own case, when I was working my days often stretched to 10/12 hrs and on occasion I would leave house and not get back till the next day. All I'm asking is that doctors do a week's work for the very handsome salary they receive. Nursing. Can I first say I have no expertise in this area but. I observe, listen, and think. that said, I agree there have been many advances however, I am reminded of Florence Nightingale who spent time in the Crimea then on her return home, carried out her main research for the rest of her long life. She found that where a patient was laid in squalor with dirty dressings and unwholesome food, they tended to die. Where their bedding and dressing were clean and the nourishment wholesome they tended to live. Now there are area's where specialist nurses are required but on wards, and I have been admitted on five occasions in the past 3yrs I find that nursing care would, should be familiar to Florence Incidentally, I make no complaint regarding my treatment, or of my wife who has besides her dementia for which there is no cure, visits hospital on a regular basis for macular disease.. Blair was obsessed with the idea of 50% going to university saddling youngsters with debts, and that includes nurses which were necessary? and giving some nurses the idea that, 'They were university graduates and lost sight of the fact that nursing is about patient care. The NHS is a sacred cow that people criticise at their peril. but I am not alone in thinking it badly needs an overhaul. The idea that all it needs is more and more money poured into the present system is at best naive. Anyway, I 've had my little rant. I accept we will continue to disagree, no doubt others will have their own opinions. I consider that I have exhausted this topic so, wishing you well, I'll say farewell. Regards, briber

Hello Scruffles, Try the Sculptress, Also made into a television play. or, The Ice house. Regards, Brian

Hello Scruffles, Back to front. you made me look up Frank Tilsley Google is such a mine of information. Apparently a prolific author, dramatist and broadcaster who died 1957 Champion Road is a working class novel spanning the early part of the twentieth century up to the 1950's Another of his books I particularly enjoyed was Brother Nap. a fictional account of the labour party just after the second world war. Le Carre heavy? I suppose, he certainly is quite meticulous. I imagine you would feel the same about CP Snow, a civil servant who wrote the Sleep of Reason. Still have that, three large volumes, dry as dust but interesting, to me, despite, or perhaps, because of that. Probably the same could be said of Shute. All his works, that I 've read are rather dry. A Town Like Alice is a love story in part but to me, no great romance, or passion. The film is rather good and I think captures the essence, But that finishes with the couple meeting and the book continues the story of their life in Australia. That being said I enjoy the book. I suppose a reflection on my personality. To get to your choice, I have read Dickens but find him a little fussy for my taste. With most authors, I prefer their books to the adaption to film. With Dickens, I think the films are better than the books. Stephen King. have read a few of his works but am not too keen of horror. I did enjoy though, The Shawshank Redemption. the book and the film. I could bore for England with my opinions of books so I 'd better close before you despair. I'll finish with one more though, How about Minette Walters? I find her fascinating, particularly as her works stand alone with different characters unlike most other crime writers who base their stories on a leading figure . Regards, Brian L

The bearskin, originally worn by Napoleon's Imperial Guard was awarded to the Brigade of Guards after the battle of Waterloo to commemorate their prowess. and was worn with pride through the nineteenth century until the wearing of khaki became the norm. As to the little teddy bears. so much sentiment. Try to encourage the Canadians who have to live with the havoc they cause that they should cuddle up to them. Having no natural predators bears have to be culled to keep the population in check and if the pelts were not used they would simply be destroyed, a waste.

Hello Scruffles, Sorry to be tardy, must confess I became a bit disheartened by the seeming lack of response. Nice to see you, in the ether that is. Older authors? Where to start? R F Delderfield comes to mind. His ' A Horseman Riding By ' is a much loved, and read book. Or should I say series as there are four volumes charting the life of a young man, injured during the Boer War who takes on the responsibility of a country estate and the lives and troubles of the inhabitants. It continues until his death in the 1960's He has written others. Nevil Shute. 'A Town Like Alice' 'Round The Bend' are two of my favourites. John Le Carre, 'Tinker, Tailor' is probably is best work but all the others have been read and enjoyed. C.S Forester His Hornblower series have been/ are, constant companions I'll finish for now with an old favourite Frank Tilsley's Champion Road None could be described as Classics but has given me, and continues to give me a deal of enjoyment. I acquired most via Charity shops and most were printed in the forties to the sixties. There are many more but I won't bore you with them at this time, There was a time I had a collection running into six or seven hundred until I was forced to down size on moving to a smaller home. I now restrict myself, with a great deal of heartbreak, to one hundred, Fortunately my kindle gives me several hundred books in a small space. Recently I I acquired a number of e books by A J Cronin Which I used to have in hard back and I am looking forward to re-reading these. So, any of these strike a chord with you? or perhaps you could share your favourite list, perhaps you include some of mine which I haven't mentioned. Regards, Brian L

the conservatives made a mess of things and didn't deserve any better than they got. But. Has everyone here really forgotten the last labour government? Lets refresh our memories. What was the note left on the treasury desk by the out going labour government? 'Sorry, No money left' Labour left office with the country in a worse state than when they were elected. Which is the case of every labour government since it's inception. Gordon Brown selling off our gold reserves when gold was at the bottom of the market. Costing the country something like 30billion pounds. Gordon Brown again giving the banks the freedom to speculate, which they did with the Royal Bank of Scotland in particular being bankrupt until Gordon ploughed billions into it to such an extent the Chief Executive felt able to give himself, and the rest of his executives handsome bonuses. Tony Blair. Wanting to be a 'Good European' giving away a large chunk of the rebate so hardly won by Margaret Thatcher. Tony again. Giving medical practitioners an eye watering increase in their salary's ( which I don't necessarily disagree with) and at the same time removing the obligation for them to provide twenty four hour coverage. At a stroke, all practises went to 9 to 5 Monday to Friday. Incidentally, stats show that only 23% of all medical practitioners work full time. and a staggeringly 60% work three days or less each week. And you wonder why you can't get to see a doctor? Tony again. Decided that nursing required a university degree ensuring that instead of training on the wards as was historic they spend their time in classrooms The NHS is safe in labours hands?

Hello, I joined up hoping to be able to have a chat with, anyone really about, anything really. However, I have looked on various sections and posted a couple of comments with no feedback I scroll down the comments which others have made and invariably there are no replies attached and I can't help feeling that I'm in a empty room all alone. Unless everybody is busy chatting away in private chats there doesn't seem to be any interaction, don't think I shall be on here much longer.

I well remember the Orchid Ballroom. As a serving soldier based at the depot in Caterham it was my venue of choice and could be found there every Saturday and indeed midweek if I could get away. Always crowded and friendly. Not sure about the refreshment side. I went to dance not to drink. As a footnote, was watching television some years later and the dance program came from, the Orchid Ballroom. As I watched the couples dancing round the floor the commentator spoke about one lovely young lady and gave her age. A quick calculation showed that she hadn't been born when I trod those boards. My first sign of being old.

Yes, children's use should be restricted and monitored. That is the job for parents not the state. I personally am tired of people who having brought children into the world think that it is everyone else's responsibility to care for or supervise their offspring. Yes it's hard. I am not decrying the difficulty in this modern world but, if you bring children into this world you should be prepared to look after them properly, and that means monitoring their phones, computers and anything else they use for communications. They are parents. not mates.

The overwhelming opinion on this thread seems to be 'Air the bed for a while' I agree. Just curious how the make up straight away has nearly 40%? Perhaps they couldn't be bothered to make their case. Just a thought.

Where does it stop? the nanny state wants to run every facet of life, and I 'm tired of their interfering busy-body attitude. As for addiction! just another word for no self control.

We're talking smacking. Not beating. there are worse treatment than physical which properly applied is soon forgot. Mental cruelty stays, forever.