God might exist but there's no evidence that he has to. Some think they have a relationship with him which is proof to them that he does exist but is of little use to others.

Anyone can argue anything they like, doesn't get anyone anywhere where proof on either side is weak.

I'm an evangelical agnostic….

The basis of the Carbon 456 is the award-winning 456 frame design and geometry, so that honour still has to go to Brant [Richards], who is no longer with us.

That's an unfortunate way of putting it….

Will be ok

I always went for XT until I decided pretty much pointless in the winter so now use deore in the mud – don't notice the weight and the extra strength is good – I have damaged an XT cassette when the shifting went bad….

Sport to me is doing something more active that gets your cardio rate up.

Is body building a sport? Some have tried to get it into the Olympic Games; it is in the World Games.

Under Sharia, which prevails in Dubai, the punishment for defaulting on a debt is severe. Bouncing a check, for example, is punishable with jail

People don't now how lucky we are here, some people moan about a small fine….

Well I like the villages so each to their own – actually they tend to have an upper-middle class feel which ain't great; not sure about grim towns but I suppose I avoid those. I wouldn't live in places like Cobham and Horsley as too much money about even though there are poor people there too; I reckon I chose a good compromise.

Surrey does well here if though so does Edinburgh….

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/best-and-worst/

In what way is it bland? There's quite a mix here…in my younger days I'd have liked Guildford as lively stuff to do at night, these days I prefer sleepier villages. Would be happy in Dorking but I'm in a village near Leatherhead – I like the gentle pace. Maybe that means bland?

To the OP – Fetcham and Leatherhead might be worth looking at though Guildford would be my 1st choice is nightlife is of interest. Woking has never appealed to me as it is perhaps a bit bland(!) in the centre though communications are good. Roads get v.busy around there when going to the M25 though.

I use one finger but my wife prefers two.

Actually the one "counter" to high postage charges is the "risk" that someone 5 miles away might win your item and say "cool, when can I collect and pay cash"

If a seller is close I always ask before if I can collect to save on postage; some say no and they're always the ones with sill postage costs. S I don't bid and they maybe lose out as I'm willing to pay more than some if I don't have postage costs so can push up the price in the bidding.

BTW, for those using the term 'cartel' I think you're using the term incorrectly – use oligopoly

If the banks start charging me to run my account, they can stop gambling with my money in the stockmarket.

But they can still lend it out for mortgages and cars and whatever?

Not everyone who gets into difficulty buys expensive stuff! It is true that there are many who think the essentials include Sky TV, fags, beer and fast food but many just don't really 'get' money.

Perhaps a compromise would be checks to ensure that penalty fees are proportionate over various periods of time – go overdrawn by a few quid for a few days then there's a penalty, do it each month for a year and the penalty shouldn't be 12x as much.

In the US some current accounts are free if you keep a minimum balance – quite a few grand though.

This is great!:

Robin Hood banker

Well Juan I suppose I am socialist in the sense that I think we should look after those that need it – but I have little sympathy for those that would rather not do certain jobs, because they are too lazy or whatever, just because they can survive on benefits. It's a difficult balance to get right.

I'm starting a group for people who don't use banks but instead keep their money at home; please send me your details so that I can add you to my mailing list.

Well I've never paid a fee simply because I'm relatively financially aware however I am lazy so I set up DDs for everything and have an offset mortgage – nothing goes unpaid and I can't overdraw. If I want to buy a nice car I can do that to….

I don't think it's fair that the less aware should suffer for making mistakes. They remain at the bottom of society but somehow can end up subsidising the better off; we all suffer in the end from this unfairness.

BTW, curiously I don't consider myself to be a socialist!

If it's for home use you can get loads of Oracle software for free; why settle for anything less?! I'm an Oracle guy BTW… 😉

Were these the Damien Hurst special editions?

Peter Kay and his crazy observations…garlic bread…?!

Those that have made comments about hating London are missing the point – Surrey ain't London! It's a very green county; it's only failing are the expensive house prices and lack of wild areas. Of course it's expensive because so many people want to live there….

Thanks for the pic; I'll give it a go.

The SE is overcrowded so I'm happy to subsidise people living elsewhere if it means less come here….

I'm a supporter of higher VAT and lower income tax though with variable rates of VAT so that essentials have little tax whilst luxuries have more. VAT is easy to collect and a fairer and cheaper way of taxing according to relative wealth.

I have one and am happy for the money.

Can someone let me know how to use the helmet mount?!

Given that you're just beginning your career I'd mostly base the decision on the career benefit whilst ensuring I could survive on the pay – shoudn't be a problem realistically. I lived in Cobham as a kid and have returned to nearby where I intend to stay – love the Surrey Hills. Houses are pricey to buy in the nice places around here but I don't suppose you will be looking to buy anytime soon? It is pretty middle class around here which is fine for me though I wouldn't want to live in the my snooty areas – Cobham falls in that category and has prices to go with that.

Come to the SE I say.

Imagine being a previous boyfriend and hearing these stories.

Getting involved with one in the future could be interesting for those who enjoy a bit of excitement in their lives.

If we all just wrote a cheque for 10k each we could get rid of the debt once and for all; I'd rather do that than listen to people moaning about it for years to come. The government messed up but there's no going back so solution needed. But then again maybe people haven't got that sort of cash…add it to our mortgages whilst rates are low.

It won't work I know….

Dirty muff – thunder

I'm willing to bet 'thicko' Brown is considerably more intelligent than you or I.

…you or me.

The muddymoles do a Wednesday night ride from Bookham:

http://www.muddymoles.org.uk/

It did seem a bit odd to me. I like James but Clarkson is a bit odd really and Richard seems to be a Clarkson wannabe. Kinda reminds me of the old Spitting Image sketches with David Owen and David Steel.

When my external BB went lbefore last winter I put my old Octalink crankds back on, still going strong now; for the average rider external BBs offer no benefit IMO.

I'll send some up if you want to plant them in your garden?

Great idea kill the chafer grubs, they're very rare now and only just starting to make a slow come back.

Quick, kill them before it's too late….

One man's pest is another man's wildlife?! Certainly not rare in my garden.

Does sound like it's badgers – a neighbour caught a badger a month or so ago by accident; was hoping to catch a fox. I've seen the chafer grubs in the soil so looks like worth treating – got to wait until next Autumn it seems.

Not sure about scared but I certainly jumped when watching the 1st Nightmare on Elm St film when Freddie 1st appears in the real world.

This is the 3rd year I've been here and not had this problem before – a few holes but nothing I couldn't patch up. Whatever is doing seems to be looking for something under the turf as not going deep.

When I bought my last house surveyor said I had rising damp and lender withheld some of my mortgage. As I am lead to believe that rising damp is a myth I refused to pay to have it sorted out; when I sold no damp problem was reported. After I had an extension a few years later I did find some water stains that seemed to come from an original wall and just sloshed on some of that 'does what it says on the tin' brick waterproof stuff which seemed to sort that out.

I think it's the main DP switch but maybe I'm wrong as not sure how to tell.

It does seem to happen at night only but not sure what time and can't think that there's anything on a timer – only the boiler but the times don't fit.

I bought some 2005 Manitou Minute 3 forks on Ebay – nice'n'cheap as I suppose many think they're poor. Been using them for 4 years and think they're great! I think they work better than the 2005 Fox Talas forks I also have and I haven't done any maintenance on them unlike the Fox forks.

So I hope people continue to think they're no good and hopefully I'll get more cheap on Ebay….

Just to add my opinion…

I was using both SPDs and egg beaters on different bikes a few years ago and wanted to stick to one type; I really liked the feel and function of the egg beaters but decided I felt more comfortable with SPDs when things got a bit more exciting as I could get out of them more easily – the adjustable spring is the key I suppose. I never had any problem with the egg beaters longevity but the commonly held view that SPDs are more reliable than egg beaters was also a factor with me.