Oh man, I could go a curry right now. Meal deal from ahmeds tandoori in newhaven, edinburgh.

Glittergary, it’s at times like those I think of johnny cash singing ‘ring of fire’. I remember the first time no. 1 had her first proper curry, the look of panic on her face at getting her first spicy bum, ah bless. How we laughed

Just remembered Matt Houston and Tales of the Golden Monkey

The Flashing Blade was cracking.

Zorro

Also used to love when bbc2 did their seasons of old films – charlie chan, tarzan, sherlock holmes, laurel and hardy and the likes. Now that was classic entertainment

I want to know what JHW thinks about this, is he not a lawyer? And ‘business core’ at that

If you follow through with the hiding the presents idea – just remember that at some point down the line you could be old and infirm and care homes and family help is on the agenda and they’ll be making the key decisions

It’s end of term so they’ll be knackered, and they’ll all be high as a kite with excitement at the impending christmas that’s only 8 sleeps away. Our 4 year old went complete mental this morning because her sister wrote her name in the wrong place on a christmas card this morning, it’s one of those things.

Send a santa letter instead warning them they’re bout to go on the naughty list. Have it ready on the doormat tomorrow morning, a bit of sprinkled glitter on the floor adds to the deceit.

I had a contract dongle with 3. The main problem was trying to cancel it. ‘I’m not saying no, but have you thought about this other deal’. Sheesh, took bout an hour and me repeatedly saying ‘just say yes then’ and ‘cancel it, cancel it, cancel it’ for the bloke to get the message.

That last one made my tummy go wooooo

I care about the country and where it’s headed. There’s good and bad out there, it’s what we do as individuals to contribute to that and our society that changes the balance.

I don’t care for the way the country is run or who is or isn’t running it though.

People have the capacity to do great things for each other and society, unfortunately I think the place the country is in at the moment isn’t conducive to this, and that’s what where we need to see change. Just my opinion though.

And as for the littering, yes people drop litter, I used to do it as a kid sweet papers and the like but had it drummed into me that that’s unacceptable. The numpty in the big car doing this says more about him than society, maybe they weren’t given enough guidance as a child. Did anyone else pick up the litter? Or leave it for someone else to do as it’s nothing to do with them? I find that mindset just as wrong.

Be excellent to each other

There’s a few homebrewers on here. Homebrew in general is now really good. What brand are the kits?

I’ve pretty much stuck with Coopers kits (make 5 gallons) and Brupaks Beers of the World (make 2 gallons) and think they taste great.

At £20 it can’t hurt to give it a go, it’ll be a slippery slope from there though. Only thing I’d suggest is instead of plain sugar (which can leave the beer a bit ‘thin’) use a kilo of spraymalt or a tin of malt extract instead which gives more body to the beer. Though there’s nothing wrong with using plain sugar.

Also, check if the barrels have a tap on. If not, then you’ll need a siphon tube which is a bit of a hassle doing 40 points. And you’ll need something to put them in – either start collecting brown glass bottles, or use plastic fizzy juice bottles.

Jim’s Beer Kit is a great place to gather information. There’s a dedicated ‘kit’ part to the forum.

Sicky kids, don’t envy that. I remember trying to catch it in my hands then thinking what’ll I do now, dog looking on ‘you’re on your own there, even i’m not eating that’. All over the bed and floor anyway, new mattress please, and I boaked cos i’m a lightweight

It was amusing to see Cameron getting completely ignored by everyone, ‘i’ll just sit back down again and get my phone out so people think i’m doing something terribly important, this isn’t awkward at all, yes i’ll send a text’ … 2 my tory masterz. Dun wot u told me 2. The french hobbit hates us even more now. LOL. Dave x

No. 2 will be up soon enough to cause havoc no doubt. It’s the bloomin kitten that does the 0530 wake up call everyday, the little sod, now she’s happily sleeping in my lap while I have a cuppa. On the plus side, it’s SNOWING! Wayhay. As the great Bing and friends sing ‘Snow, snow, snow, snow, snoooww’

I saw the trucks at Maybury junction, with their police outrider escort. Pandas apparently travel by FedEx – which is a relief, if it was CityLink all those folk waiting to see them would likely still be waiting while the pandas were stuck in some warehouse miles away awaiting despatch.

EDIT: Maybe I’m being harsh, I think CityLink have changed their procedures now – I think if no one was in at the zoo when they were delivered, they could have been left with a neighbour. I’ve no idea what FedEx would have done…

I reckon most houses should all have little ‘uns to help things along, though I guess it would be nimby for real for some

I like them though they remind me of The Tripods, that old bbc kids programme, so a bit eerily creepy too. I think they look way prettier on a hillside than your average ski development

Bah Humbug, eh? Have a bit of Christmas spirit!

Yep, we had the text too. Apparently in the terms and conditions they can raise the price by up to the rate of inflation once in any 12 month period without you having the right to cancel. So this current price increase is 4.34% with inflation at 5.4% (works out just over £1 a month for us each), they did say they’re sorry to say that they had to do it because as we probably know, inflation is at a 20 year high which is having a significant impact on businesses and households alike. They must be struggling then, eh? Profits in excess of £300m a quarter or something. Maybe they want to pay their workers more or start a company pension or something.

Though it’s in T&Cs, they still may not be able to do it without giving a right to cancel.

I’ll definitely bear that in mind when the contract period comes to an end.

I’m ok with 50% for that as it goes. What I’m not ok with is the ones who earn that but don’t pay 50%.

For me this is key, along with the big businesses turning over multi-million profits, and getting away with not paying what tax they should be paying.

Not fugly, old school nostalgia for me

… and then I’ll tell you how your life can be better if you got a suzuki 350

Calum Gilhooley, first sketch in, priceless. Unfortunately not on youtube, just 4OD.

I imagine these people support today’s action, and they’re not public sector

Usdaw members employed by Unilever at their sites in Leeds and Port Sunlight have voted 5 to 1 in favour of strike action in protest at the company’s proposal to scrap their final salary pension scheme.
Usdaw members voted 304 (83.3%) to 61 (16.7%) in favour of strike action and an initial 24 hour stoppage at Leeds and Port Sunlight is now likely to take place before Christmas.

Unilever closed their final salary pension scheme to new members in 2008 but promised the 5,000 existing members that this would make the scheme safe for the future. Despite this promise, Unilever announced in May this year that they intended to close the scheme to new accrual altogether.

The proposals mean members of the final salary pension scheme stand to lose up to 40% of their retirement income.

Talks on the proposals have been taking place since June without success.

Unilever profits rose to €6.13bn (£5.22bn) pre-tax last year, up from €4.92bn the year before, on turnover up 11pc to €44.3bn. I bet the top bosses pensions don’t get changed for the worse though, eh? The majority of workers in both sectors are getting battered unfairly, we should all be standing together to ensure that everyone is contributing fairly (and that must include the ones at the top and the organisations/departments they run) to help battle the economic situation.

Yes, and I wish more private sector workers would Unionise or work together to fight for their rights to better terms, conditions and pensions

Some public sector jobs pay better than ‘equivalent’ private sector jobs
Some private sector jobs pay better than ‘equivalent’ public sector jobs

Some public sector jobs pay worse than ‘equivalent’ private sector jobs
Some private sector jobs pay worse than ‘equivalent’ public sector jobs

Some public sector pensions are better than private sector pensions
Some private sector pensions are better than public sector pensions

Some public sector workers are lazy sods
Some private sector workers are lazy sods

Some public sector workers work their bums off to do their best
Sone private sector workers work their bums off to do their best

Some public sector workers think private sector workers have it better off
Some private sector workers think public sector workers have it better off

Some public sector workers are in a Union
Some private sector workers are in a Union

Some public sector workers are not in a Union
Some private sector workers are not in a Union

Some public sector workers support today’s strikes
Some private sector workers support today’s strikes

Some public sector workers do not support today’s strikes
Some private sector workers do not support today’s strikes

Some public sector workers spend too much time posting on STW while they should be working
Some private sector workers spend too much time posting on STW while they should be working

We’re all workers aren’t we? Though perhaps it’s just that a tiny minority of workers (public and private) really do have it better off than the overall majority (public and private) who are being squeezed more and more to pay for a deficit largely caused by the policy and practice of that tiny minority? And who probably are quite happy that the overall majority of workers are entrenching themselves in a public vs private mindset instead of a workers together mindset as they can get away with cutting public sector spending and jobs (those that are left, just be grateful you’ve got a job, now get back to work!) and get less at the end of their working lives, reducing private sector employee costs through making fewer staff work more for less (those that are left, just be grateful you’ve got a job, now get back to work!) and get less at the end of their working lives, maximising corporate and individual profit and tax avoidance through exploitation of loopholes that the majority of individuals and small business owners don’t know as they don’t have armies of accountants to work it all out, and congratulating themselves with a nice bonus and golden retirement package at the end of it.

Was previously cynical about Christmas, but love it (probably more for the kids) and try to make the most of the run-up to Christmas despite constant mental workload. Wife on the other hand doesn’t like it as much anymore as her mum was going through cancer treatment (which worked) a few Christmas’s back so that’s what it reminds her of now mostly.

More skint this year, but will still make an effort, especially for stuff that’s free and getting out and about and enjoying it all. I remember the anticipation as a kid and don’t want to dampen the kids by being a grumpy sod. Some mad snow and freezing temps like the last couple of years would help.

We also tend to make stuff for presents for others (family/close friends) – usually tablet, fruit cake, beer, wine (mead this year) and stuff like that.

It’s also the stage of development they’re at. Any younger than the generally targeted age of Y6 (primary 6?) and the child’s perception and judgement of moving objects/speed may likely not have fully developed yet. There are exceptions, and of course at the targeted age there will still be those who haven’t developed that sense yet. There’s Bikeability Level 1 for before on-road stuff to help get skill levels up and throw in some games and it’s great stuff.

I wish. I had to get rid of ours (which was 10 years old) last christmas when my brother gave us his old (2 year old) digi one cos he fancied a new one. I still say the old tube picture is vastly superier to digital, and the freezing and pixellation does my head in. Wife calls me analogue andy.

It was this weekend was it not? Will we get an update? Was it all fine? Or did it all crash and burn?

I was a complete cynic bout it all until I went and thought it was great. No. 2 daughter is completely into disney films and I know would be totally amazed by it all, and paris too. Guess it’s just a different experience for different people, some like it, some don’t. I’d love to go again with the family

We did one of the Metro readers offers (through Mistral Travel) at bout 150 per person for 3 nights for new year. It was on a coach from Edinburgh to Paris which was an experience. This was a few years ago but there must be similar offers now. Hotel was in a suburb so had to bus it into city centre which was fine, bought the metro pass and disney park tickets in the shop on champs elysses. While everyone else rushed about on the excursions as extras we did our own thing round paris and went to disneyland on new years day, was fab. While I wouldn’t be too fussed bout bussing it down again I would go the route of staying in a paris novotel or similar and taking a trip out to the park. There was a groupon deal the other week for disneyland, might come up again. Or look out for city break deals in paris and make own way out to park?

would love to stay at the resort but having looked at prices it’s a bit out of reach unless I sell one of the kid’s kidneys.

He was on the Fred Macaulay show on radio scotland last week, speaking from Innerleithen. Sounded tough, said he could get up to 20 mph on the downhill and lucky to get 2 mph on some of the uphills. chapeau

For cheapness there’s the £10 ones from B&Q or Homebase – I’d rate the B&Q ones as a wee bit comfier though at that price neither are super durable I suppose (though depends how much you use them).

I was always skeptical about wellies (not had a pair since being a kid) but got a B&Q pair last October for a training course then when the snow came at the end of November they pretty much got worn everyday. Lasted 6 months, when they split at the side where the toes flex and a couple of teeny splits in the sole. Consequently got wet feet. Got a Homebase pair just after, that are doing the job down the beach, in the woods and will get well used when (hopefully) the snow and chaos comes again or even just round the wintery wet gritted streets with the dog! Not quite as comfy as the B&Q ones, but still fine for me. I get them slightly bigger sized – try them on in the shop with normal socks + thick, warm socks so they’ll be fine and toasty when needed.

Might be a bit too much info there, but you know what, I love my wellies!

EDIT: those superlites look nifty

“excuse me you have left your baby in your car”.

Could have shouted back “where the hell did that come from?” or “it’s ok, it’s not mine”

In future, to avoid argument put the baby in a cardboard box.

I may have some experience in that department …

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Sounds like this could be your chance to live like The Fonz!

This year I was in a woodland area in a school playground doing forest school stuff. We had our 2 minutes silence and I remembered my grandad, who died a couple of weeks ago at 93. Knew he’d been in WWII but never talked about it. Found out at the funeral service he’d just got off the beach at Cherbourg at the time of Dunkirk evacuation with German forces pouring onto either end of the beach. I imagine there’s lots of other stories he never voiced. So this year I remembered him.

We bought our house before we got married and got this thing called a ‘joint account’. All our earnings get paid into this, and all our expenditure gets paid out of it, I swear it’s like some kind of magic. We don’t even need to talk about who shares what.

My wife has a friend who is living with her partner and their two kids, and all money is kept separate. She asks him for money if she needs that to pay for stuff, and pays the mortgage out of her money. This seems bizarre to me.

OP says they both imagine being together for the ‘forseeable future’ and then ‘eventually, I guess’ settling down. For me, this and other way things are phrased rings bigger alarm bells to me than the worry over who pays how much of what.

Heard a snippet on the news, was that her attacking Salmond repeatedly calling him ‘too feart’ to do something or other? Good grief is what I thought.

A lot of people judging by that working hours thread…only jesting.

Do two jobs at the mo but if that ever reduces I would definitely be interested in voluntary work, probably forest school and outdoor learning stuff with the kids school.

Previously done bike club committee stuff, though I do have to recruit volunteers as part of my work.

xherbivorex – I see the consent for breastfeeding, to me that seemed a no-brainer and wouldn’t question that. However, I’m genuinely interested in the bee pollination question, does consent extend to this? Would a vegan know which foods have been pollinated naturally or by using transported bees, or am I thinking too much into it. I’m guessing a supermarket would have no idea but if I went into a health food shop would they know if a product is naturally pollinated. Would a label that stated ‘suitable for vegans’ cover this, or do they not go to that level of knowledge of a product.