BryanC

Have you tried a smear of Vaseline up each nostril? Works for a lot of folks.

Working in one of the less salubrious parts of Manchester, I'm regularly delighted to catch sight of the odd peregrine. Sometimes one, sometimes a pair - usually perching, but now and again out terrorising the many local pigeons.

Following on from the (not altogether unexpected) death of Malcolm Young, I'm currently kicking the backside out of "Problem Child" Much as I like Brian, I still think Bon Scott was rock's greatest ever frontman.

Bells on collars, please folks. Mine are thus equipped and never bring me any cadavers.

Add finely chopped gherkin and capers, teaspoon of lemon juice and plenty of dill - voila - home-made tartare sauce. Miles better than shop bought. Make sure the mayonnaise is Hellman's though. Trying this place today, sounds promising. http://www.theoldcowshedchisworth.co.uk/

Barnoldswick? Tintwistle? The vagaries of the English language boggle the mind, not just place names either, bizarre surnames. Featherstonehalgh, Cholmondley, Leominster, et al.

OK, someone please clarify this BBC-ism for me. I was taught at school that the capital city of Afghanistan is Kabul. We were taught that it is pronounced "Ka-bull". In recent years, the BBC insists on pronouncing it "Carble". I'm not convinced that they are correct. Anyone care to correct me?

Know what you mean, but I do like the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on a Saturday evening.

The extortionate road tax on the Toyota more than covers the extra road damage. Ability to pull two horses in a trailer out of a muddy field far outweighs any issue with particulates in my book.

Good point well stated. Incidentally, I can run a 20 year old Land Cruiser on filthy diesel for another twenty years without producing anywhere near the carbon emissions churned out manufacturing your "green alternative". You might want to think about that one. Still don't see the need to brag about how much your car's worth though... (I'm always judgemental. It's a rant thread. I'm having a rant).

Couple of points here. Really necessary to mention the value of the car? Showing off? Nearly fifty grands worth of company car? Sums up everything that is wrong with the NHS in a nutshell and to my knowledge you've neglected to mention it in any of your previous diatribes.

Probably one of the best books I've ever read. I'd also recommend Steinbeck's "Cannery Row".

Daniel Yergin - The Prize. History of oil, nowhere near as dull as it sounds, very well written. I'd recommend it.