lol@Mark.

Yay, cheap wine!

Yup, another one who doesn’t own a car 🙂

If the ladies had a separate section, they could possibly talk more freely.

Why? We’d all know you’d all be reading it anyway!

I think I’m against. I’m not a fan of splitting up the sexes, I don’t really see the point.

I’m not embarrassed to ask female related questions on here – asked one a while ago about periods and riding and got plenty of informative answers, and plenty of silly ones as well 😆 .

Although I suppose if it would encourage more women to use the site generally, they might realise that (mostly) it’s not as bad on here as it seems at first 😉

Yay 🙂 I agree domino, it’s about time we met up.

you’ll get trouble.

what kind of trouble do you mean? Neither of ours go out at night, no issues here. Keeping them in is current RSPCA advice.

😆

I’m hoping it’ll just kip all night

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Be prepared for getting your toes chewed.

You surly jest? He would be better off taking a chance with Amber cars than trying to catch the ring road bus that doesn’t seem to have a timetable!!!

😆

I saw an Amber cab this morning walking to work, had a bit of a chuckle.

Easter 94 with a 2nd hand Kona Explosif. Black with splatter paint job. Lovely 🙂

Contrary to what STATO says, don’t let your cat out at night. Current advice is keep it in from dusk till dawn – it is then less likely to kill and also less likely to get run over.

Bus round the ring road?

Bringing your bike?

We have 2, never had to do anything to house train either. I think they’re born trained!

We always use Premier – 0113 288 8855 v reliable, reasonable prices.

£68 worth of G&T shipped to my house please Rich 🙂

It’s different for every family, there’s not wrong or right, and for everyone who says being an only child works for them you’ll get another who hated it, I certainly know both.

All I know is that I absolutely worshipped my brother and so if we do have children I would hope that would be recreated. knowing my luck we’d end up with siblings who couldn’t bear the sight of each other though lol.

If you are happy with one and your child is happy then it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks, it’s not their decision.

as said above though bigdummy, he’s got to comment on it if asked about it surely? Not his fault.

We live in a country where it is possible to have a “job” that is being a “celebrity”, the rights / wrongs of that are a whole other topic. As such, Jade is doing her “job” now to ensure her sons have some money left to them for the future, so good on her really. As a by-product, as mentioned above, uptake on smear tests has gone up hugely since this has all been in the news, which can only be a good thing.

We’ve gone from 2 to 1. Not quite the same but I do admit to a small smug glow 🙂

Says the woman who’s named after a brand of cleaning product.

lol good point 🙂

Indeed, detergent in the watercourse is one of the major (if not THE major) pollution problem faced by the waterways and sea IIRC.

probably partly because most people use far far too much, and then have to use fabric softener because they have used too much detergent. You only need to use a tiny amount. Same with dishwasher powder (infact I often use no powder at all in the dishwasher).

However looking at things practically, as my parents split years ago I’ll likely be called upon to care for the both of them seperately in their old age, with nobody to help.

That is a good point. My dad is currently very fit and active, but also, at nearly 75 not getting any younger. I do worry that when he does get older I don’t have siblings to share that with.

Postierich, very sorry to hear that.

i think its spongers that get me tbh mrs F

Ah well that’s a different matter entirely. So really you’re assuming everyone with a “massive family” (how big do you define massive?4, 6, 10?) is a sponger?

the woman in the article is clearly a silly cow who didn’t realise babies grew into children, she should have started a nursery instead!

“Benefit of a large family is that they learn to share and they do their bit for the planet by never flying long-haul”

hmmmm, I was mostly an only child, I am rubbish at sharing and I’ve flown long haul. Ah well, straight to hell for me.

Personally, I wouldn’t want only one, as having had and lost a sibling, I really miss having that sibling relationship. However, also know people who don’t get on with their siblings at all. Every family is different. Nothing wrong with having one IMO. Other people do like sticking their noses in though, so I’m sure the comments won’t stop!

why is “massive families” a pet hate?

I really like the one where he rides up to heaven to see god.

the theotherjonv, “Us Two”?

We didn’t actually have the sonnet, but you have v good taste. I’ve not actually met many people who’ve even heard of the first poem! We weren’t sure about it given the connections it has, but just love it so that won out.

Personally don’t think If would work tbh.

We had this:

The Life That I Have

The life that I have is all that I have,
And the life that I have is yours.

The love that I have of the life that I have,
Is yours and yours and yours.

The sleep I shall have, a rest I shall have,
Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years in the long green grass,
Will be yours and yours and yours.

Or what about some Shakespear;

Sonnet 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediment. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds.
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is not shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Loves not time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never write nor no man ever loved.

Cheers Drac.

no snow in dumfries and galloway but lots in nothumberland threfore i assume its snowing in east borders or all borders so assume the worst

we’re going to dunbar via Kelso. Artic equipment and leaving silly early in the morning it is then.

Well how cool is that Drac, thanks!

but you can substantially mitigate this by updating you meter reading, often online.

But you can do this when you pay by DD as well. I read my meters about every 2 months and put my readings through online.

those that are self employed get diddly **** squat from their employer. i don’t know if the state gives you money for being off work coz you’re up the duff. would be glad to be informed on that one.

Yes, there is Maternity Allowance which you claim if you are SE and paying the relevant NI, or if you are employed but not eligible for SMP. IIRC it’s the same amount at SMP (which is **** all anyway).

although it does grate somewhat lending over £500 to BG and EDF, maybe I’ll phone them up and ask for it back.

as soon as I have more than about £150 in credit I ask for it back.

I quite like the idea of p/maternity being paid by the state to reduce the impact on businesses.

As I said, 90%ish of smp is claimed back from the government by the employers so it is effectively paid for by the state.

Generally I think it’s dearer not to pay by DD isn’t it? Not sure, all ours are DD.

If I had my way women would be paid full pay for the entire duration of their chosen maternity leave!

Amen! I’ve never actually worked anywhere that you get more than smp, though I am led to believe such places do exist!

It’s so reasurring to see how far we have come in terms of equality in this day and age when you read some of the postings above. We are in 1950s aren’t we??

I’ve met some who believe maternity pay should be paid by the state rather than the employer.
it is – SMP. Some companies will have a policy offering payment over and above that, but it’s discressionary.

acutally I should correct myself, it’s paid by your employer but they can claim about 90% of it back from govt. iirc.

I’ve met some who believe maternity pay should be paid by the state rather than the employer.

it is – SMP. Some companies will have a policy offering payment over and above that, but it’s discressionary.

we have a pendle 3 bike rack.

Re garage dweller’s points

+’s
Solid as you like – absolutely solid – I can stand on ours. Also kept the bikes damage free in a rear shunt.
Very convenient for putting bikes on and off – yup
Much better fuel consumption vs. roof racking – never used a roof rack but would imagine so
It just fits on the rear seat of the mondeo when out riding without folding any seats (oddly it doesn’t fit in the boot!) – not tried this
I reckon it is more secure from a locking point of view (big eyebolt attached to towbar for proper locks) – yes
The bikes are less likely to make a bid for freedom while driving along the M4
– yes
-‘s
You can’t open the boot with it on (some of the Thule ones you can but depends on boot shape) – depends on the car, we can on ours (not fully but enough to get stuff in and out
You’d have to fold seats to put it inside a hatchback – never put it inside the car
It’s a bit of a sod to fit until you get the nack (doesn’t take long) – we find it easy to fit
If you get rear ended by some dozing school runner/ the next Lewis Hamilton wannabe your bikes are going to get f***** which may be worth more than the car – see above. Obviously depends on the speed of impact but our bikes were fine.

I would add that ours lives permanently either on the drive or on the car and is still solid – our previous one lived outside for 7 years and was only replaced after the shunt mentioned above.

Cannot recommend it highly enough.