News : Next Thursday we have the North west traders day with Money am in Clitheroe and already the numbers booked are a Northern record with close to 70 places already booked. There are still a few places left so if your not booked think about it! See NORTH WEST TRADERS DAY on the Traders room and NORTH WEST TRADERS DAY  on the Investors room for the latest information. Tomorrow I am heading to London to celebrate my daughters 31st birthday which I find hard to accept, it doesn't seem that long ago I was celebrating my 31st  ;-)  At least in those days passenger aircraft were not thinking of fitting anti-missile systems ! Have a good weekend David

Ah but you were just a child when your daughter was born!

I was reading in the news about our lads in Cyprus on their way to Iraq. I was told about a UK based regiment going to Cyprus for three months training, two weeks ago, as I when they are out of the UK I'm allowed to use their accommadation when I'm in South London. They are also supposed to be supply 80 people for Northern Ireland, but currently only have 20 available. Having covered the firemans strike on less pay than the strikers were getting, and now off to train for a couple of months in Cyprus - whats the betting they find themselves on the streets of Basra (and for most, on less money than the firemen used to get). It's a pity we as tax payers can't guarentee that they at least have decent equipment, clothes and the basics. (I send parcels to people I know already out there, providing them with moisturiser, black perm pens, note books, paracetomol/asprin - as they just can't get them, and the army doesn't supply them!)