Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Blair privatised more public services than Mrs T. She sold of a number of industries such as Gas, BT etc She wanted to roll back the tide of state control and nationalisation. Don't forget that Blair removed clause 4 from the Labour party constitution which specified that there was to be public ownership of industry.Labour MPs voted for it.

Just to change the subject for a minute, as I know we have some keen golfers on this thread, it would appear that we now have one set of rules in golf for Tiger Woods and another set of different rules for everyone else who plays the game. He should have been disqualified and since the authorities at Augusta don't have the integrity to do the right thing, he should now withdraw from the tournament.

doodlebug - Yep, if you or I did it in a medal round we would be disqualified. But (tongue in cheek) not to upset, got money on him.

They used rule 33 regarding conduct of committees to waive the disqualification caution

33-7. Disqualification Penalty; Committee Discretion
A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.

I always considered Blair a tory mole. Another one, more interested in his legacy.

Both stink for various reasons.

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Have question marks over the method, reasons, choices, timing and the scale of denationalisation.

Often, before denationalisation argued against the "restrictive practices" of legislation regarding them

Also, the choices, ways or manner they were made.

---------------

(To long to try and explain.)

No problems with removal of Clause 4. (Outmoded, ideology, no longer needed.)

No problems with which a MP votes, as long it is according to conscience and not because they are whipped into obedience by party "bully boys".

I know it complicates government, but perhaps, it is time for parliament to grow up and have secret ballots rather than pandering to bullying in order to gain patronage.

Not sure, about latter statements.

Looking for a tortoise for my 12yr old great nephew - does anyone out there know anything about them and which would be the best one to get for our English Climate. Would appreciate any sensible comments!!!! Hey ho, probably the wrong thread for that haha!!!! Seriously I am researching the different types but am getting a little confused.

http://www.tortoise.org.uk/articles/6844/Buying-a-Tortoise

Strict regulations now carefully control the import of tortoises into Britain and this has helped to curb the horrendous trade in wild-caught tortoises that used to fill many high street stores. Most of these pathetic creatures died, either from starvation, disease, or injury having been stacked many layers deep.

Recently, however, there has been a new influx of tortoises from Eastern Europe following the expansion of the EU. Unscrupulous dealers are using loopholes in the current EU laws to flood the country with tortoises of dubious origin. So less responsible pet shops are once again selling wild caught tortoises, often terribly starved and diseased, due to the awful conditions in which they are held prior to shipping. Very many of these wild tortoises die shortly after they are bought.

To avoid paying a fortune for a sickly tortoise and furthering this dreadful trade we advise that you don't ever buy a tortoise from a pet shop or dealer.

There are plenty of responsible breeders who breed healthy captive bred stock in the UK. They can advise you on proper husbandry and care. Most will be only too willing to help out if you have any problems, sharing their years of experience in their chosen species.

The Tortoise Protection Group offer a list of responsible breeders. (We have no affiliation with the group other than being ordinary members). Please join the group while you are there and help protect endangered populations of wild tortoises from a terrible fate in the hands of greedy dealers.

Thank you so much Haystack. Much appreciated.

3m, I have some friends who have them (two) they take a great deal of understanding and care. Ie heaters etc. One thing I do know is make sure you get a certificate with the animal (I think it gives its origin etc) illegal to sell one without one and can lead to a big fine. A young one will out live me and you and it may need to be sold/passed on in time (A must for that certificate) . You can do plenty of reading on the net 3m. Good luck. :-))

There is a program on Channel 4 this evening at 7pm called Margaret: Death of a revolutionary.

The suggestion is that she was a working class revolutionary who thought that capitalism was in the interest of ordinary people.

......

And of course she was.

Thanks dc, I spent a lot of time explaing to him (great nephew) last evening about the care they need, he understood but as he and his brothers love pets, creatures, flowers and finding me sticks for the fire. I know he would or parents would make sure it would be okay - better than mine. When I was about 9 or 10, I thought mine was dead and had a little ceremony all on my own and buried it, I did not realise, too young to understand that they hibernated. I presume father dug it up and passed it on to someone more worthy of it than I. Told the children the story last evening. They laughed their little heads off. Laughed even more when I told them--- I had scratched in a piece of slate "In memory of --- dearly loved tortoise died which ever year ......" too old to remember now.

Innocence is Bliss, then we grow up, well some of us if we are lucky.

Channel 4 for me now. Enjoy.

They will be fine, they can do the homework before the purchase. Have a good evening 3m.

Britains got talent for me. :-))

Abadas - baby sitting granddaughter!

Well done skinny, sorry grandad. Abadas ? cbbc tv

AKA - Chinese water torture!

Tortoises, are slow when you try to take them for walks.

Suits some.

8-)

At long last you have demonstrated that you have a sense of humour Fred. Gee wizz you had made my evening. Cheers!!!!

DB - as i understand it, (US?)PGA has brought in a rule (overnight one asks) whereby disqualification is not mandatory (or even optional) where the fault is picked up solely by camera or gallery .... is that so!?

a senior rules guy at my club reckoned disqallification was a no-brainer, not least because tiger admitted his misdemeanour .... in this instance, the sponsors etc had the heavier voice!!!

Fred they can run if its for a leg over. :-)) 3m all clowns have a built in sense of humour.