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.

Manuel,

Enjoy the holiday, but be careful Van Gogh doesn't try to paint you.

A beautiful area, I am envious.

May wander down that area for my last trip around France and down to the Western Point of Portugal.

Probably, start that trip early September, when it is quieter.

But, having a look at the lakes near Troyes and Auxerre in a few weeks time.

Maybe a little fishing.


----

it is indeed lovely down here ..... during the course of the holiday - i walk a few miles most days anyway - i'll probably do the 8 miles from here to st remy ...... up through the pine forest to the top of les alpilles (a little to the the east of les baux), then along and down past a very pretty semi-artificial lake ..... it brings you out by glanum and close to VG's asylum ..... the 8 mile return trip may be a bit tough on the old bones, but we'll see

A council boss was arrested today after allegedly giving himself a £26,000 pay rise while other staff had had their wages frozen as part of the national austerity drive.


Anthony O'Sullivan, chief executive of the Labour-controlled Caerphilly council in South Wales, was questioned by police on suspicion of fraud and misconduct in public office.


Most employees of the council have had their annual pay rise limited to just one per cent in a bid to save money - but O'Sullivan was awarded a salary hike of nearly 20 per cent thanks to a report he wrote himself.


His salary was increased from £132,000 to £158,000, and 20 other top bosses also received similarly outsized increases following a secretive meeting to determine executives' salaries.


The chief executive was suspended from Caerphilly County Borough Council in March, and the Wales Audit Office called in Avon and Somerset Police to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.


O'Sullivan and one other official were arrested


lefty labour greed put him in prison

ukip guys would never do such a thing .... they'ld just open up off-shore companies and accounts while berating others for doing similar

He needs that amount for living in Caerphilly.

(I never wrote that.)

Customers have been warned that a proposed change in European Union rules may force banks to introduce annual charges of £11 on debit cards and £25 on credit cards.

What was the threat they talked about in the Moneyweek promo? I couldn't be bothered to listen to the end.

The rising debt.

Cheers. If it all goes pear shaped we won't be able to afford a Moneyweek sub. So they're right to be concerned.

Actually like Moneyweek as a journal, just hate their promotional material.

Interesting to read that cyners likes to go out for a walk each day while he's on his Provencal hols.

:o)

"Walking stick in hand" - yes I'm sure they do!

Regarding the proposed credit/debit card charges, that is only one half of the full story to be fair.

The other half of the story is that banks would no longer be able to charge the merchants for processing the transactions. The idea is to provide greater transparency on fees.

The hope is that, if merchants are not being charged, they will lower their prices and the consumer will benefit in other ways. The issue remains, however, as to whether retailers do actually lower their prices or whether they just pocket the saving.

i'm the one at the front! ...... hilary is clearly the one on the far right

It is a good likeness.

i'm nor certain, but i think there are also others members of this board in the pic ...... perhaps someone could help identify!

Tory Boy way way out of touch. God help this nation..........

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/demand-for-food-banks-has-nothing-to-do-with-benefits-squeeze-says-lord-freud-8684005.html

Edward Snowden is he a :-

Whistle blower?

An American traitor?

International hero?

=============

Is America beginning to look foolish in their approach, or just showing themselves up as an international bully, which is in a gradual decline?

"kristinekochanski
02 July 2013 11:03pm

Comment

For God's sake some country has to walk up to the plate here & do it."

GF>

"Astonishing claim from the millionaire welfare minister Lord Freud"

He is a prize example of how out of touch the leadership of the present con party is.

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Its unbelievable isnt it Fred.

I wouldnt mind but most people getting this food are actually in work. Low paid work and no increases in salary for a few years while the cost of living rise and rises and working benefits are cut and cut.

No doubt he will think of them like the rest of the Tory boys as... scroungers.

Its time Milliband got nasty instead of pandering to the politicaly correct.