OK, I love my gins and throwing a wild card out here, just been introduced to this and it is currently my no1, I challenge you to find better.

Mixed fentimans tonic, mint spring and if you fancy it a few berries in the glass.

Oh and its Gemran…

We were selling/buying but decided to wait til next summer. We had a heap of offers on ours (it’s a very nice flat!) but found nothing where we were buying.

Gave up!

I’ve done it – but you do pay for it, don’t let kid you otherwise.

If you look at coast to coast cars, it will give you an idea of the cost of a fully discounted beemer, they will likely add what you owe on to that. But will still be a RRP discount.

Assuming new, and that you value a bit of performance over mpg, it’s hard to look past the Golf R estate.

There are quicker or cheaper or more economical or more comfortable cars, but not at the same time. Nigh-on 300bhp, 4WD, comfortable, easy to live with, huge boot, proper roof rails, so safe it costs very little to insure, 35mpg, and everyone outside of the car nerd world just thinks it’s an ordinary Golf.

Actually I would go with a BMW 330d Sdrive estate, full sunroof. The ultimate all rounder. 335d if you need 4wd

45 mpg (better than the R), less aggressive handling (personal choice) and bigger.

The R is a belter, do get me wrong. But the 6clyinder BMW diesel is an amazing engine.

Burger Bear
Bleeker St
Shake Shack
Patty and Bun
Flip and Dip

its all gone crazy – its pretty hard to get away from good burgers. 5 guys seem to be on every corner now (not a bad thing imho!) but thats now my post drink go to.

Big Fan of flip and dip sandwich…but still not a Chicago Style Italian Beef.

I use a sonos into my HIFI

Great for bypassing inheritance tax though.

I had a similar issue with a similar priced Schmidt kitchen, it was under warranty and replaced under warranty.

Surprised Jonny L has popped up yet.

So whales are as intelligent as us, and whales eat other whales, so its ok to eat whale.

Me the other year at santacon

Loose leaf?

There are tons of decent ones about! Even Fortnum and mansions (excellent!) lose tea is better value than tea pigs

I am a big fan of Dodds Gin

https://www.londondistillery.com/shop/dodds-gin

But for something different Ophir is lovely.

http://www.waitrosecellar.com/spirit-type/opihr-oriental-spiced-london-gin?gclid=Cj0KEQiAj8uyBRDawI3XhYqOy4gBEiQAl8BJbasBjfapWUfs3syAKEtR5R-RDfAkFmG5S9i_LL5QQ1MaApfI8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you are looking at pure performance, then others are equal/better/cheaper. If you want some street cred – then its probably the best to have.

I have no issue with the latter – so don’t take it as a negative statement.

For reference, I see a lot of comments about the E9X series and very positive. For what its worth the F3X 330d is quicker than the old 335d.

I have the current 330d and it is the first car I have had where I have not thought ‘wish this was faster’

Of course, faster is still fine :O)

If you want xdrive do with the 335d if not get a 330d sdrive

also check out the Bimmerpost forums for advice – alot are finding very little difference in PCP cost and the 335d cheaper to insure. Also aim for a decent discount level, circa +20%

An Mi26 moving a Chinook…those crazy russians.

Balvanie 14hr CARIBBEAN Cask circa £40 from Salisbury and Waitrose.

I moved to the UK as a kid and this is what I learnt:

Get your kids to make a ‘guy’
Teach them to beg for money to buy explosives
Make a huge fire
Blow shit up
Make a (dummy) human sacrifice
Eat a burnt sausage

And now parents don’t let their kids out because of the crazies….strange that!

Dropped you an email.

Darrenpink – fair point, but really looking for something a little more insightful than those who know and love me in a non-professional environment.

Portland Design Works King Of Ding II Brass Bell

Ally Capellino if you have the budget .

did this the other week…was very good

Wow people still have land lines?

Decent upper level burgers. Decent fries
GBK is better, Byron is worse

Interesting I find:

Byron>Shake Shack>5 Guys>GBK

But cant agree more:

Meat liquor, Spuntino, Patty and Bun, Bleeker

with the addition of Dirty Burger and Burger Bear.

anyways I am a fan of 5, makes for a good post beer burger and you can order on the app and collect while passing (got one 5 mins walk from my house). I don’t see the point of the double burger, single hits the spot, dogs are ok.

Get to the annual london rum festival – well worth it. I blag trade tickets each year and its such a laugh.

This: “If you will need to work for a living when your there I would urge caution.”

Your french needs to be spot on – I know 2 sets of people who moved there and struggled despite speaking basically fluent french. One guy was actually french, but grew up in america and spoke perfect grammar with an american accent and he struggled there….

Stay put and work out how to improve your current role. Sounds like its a decent job, just you have been around for a while and its long in the tooth. You just need to get motivated in what you are doing again.

We just did a similar trip with our 6 month old and stayed here http://www.lesbarbotines.com/ in a town called Bouzy in the champagne regions – highly recommended and about €100 for the night.

Good rooms, they supply a cot and there is a garden courtyard. The champagne is cheap!

Been together 15 years and the little one arrived 6 months ago and life got better. But I am sure there will be ups and downs in the future, but thats part of it right?

Main difference is feeling the pressure to maintain a decent job.

Rangemaster and Aga are also the same company

Tbh money no object id buy a la canache – love their wok burners and 260c ovens

Yes I am wanting to avoid stainless steel too, just wanting to know if there is anything in particular to avoid – they all look pretty decent and it will only be used for general cooking (keen amateur, no Michilin-grade stuff being made, just Sunday roasts, stir fries, the odd cake, stuff like that. Want it bigger so I can do big family cooking and do different components of the Sunday Roast at the same time without all the juggling.

Well we went for Rangemaster because my wife parents had one and it has been outstanding for years, it is built in Britain, had heavy metal knobs which feel really good (the model we bought) and had the colour we wanted.

Double check that your links actually have 4 ovens…I think most are three with a storage. Also check the access, esp if you are in a flat – a lot of places won’t deliver.

Ours :)

Try and find a student to get the significant discount!

We did out kitchen and put in a Rangemaster (Elise SE110) and absolutely love it.

Personally I would not go for one with a stainless surface around the hobs, black is better and it doesn’t show marks as much.

I did a lot of research, anything specific you want to know?

Still like spotify better. Though Apple Music does work better with my car interface – it doesn’t work with Sonos as yet.

Nothing really drawing me to go longer than the free trial.

My robot vacuum cleaner got tangled up in toilet paper and created more mess than it cleaned.

Cougar – check this page out.

http://ukchillicookoff.co.uk/

Exactly that – from scratch in 4 hours, making 8 pints min.

Approx a half of takeaway container goes to he 6-8 judges – they have a single spoon each – marks on a variety of categories. Presentation and condiments not marked.

The remainder goes to the public who buy a spoon and can taste with proceeds going to charity.

We used beef rib – so dropped the cocoa, swapped beef stock for chicken – it was just too rich with such flavorsome meat, also swapped half the paprika for smoked variety.

Plus the addition of a cinnamon stick and specifically Dark Leffe Beer.

Well on the back of this post – I entered the SW Chili cookoff at the Dorset Chili festival this weekend…..

And won! Beating the current UK champion and last years heat winner! Roll on the finals :) and the chance to compete in Vegas for 25k.

https://www.facebook.com/UKChilliCookOffAssociation?fref=nf