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.

If the Euro were going to have collapsed it would have already happened around the time of the Cypriot bail-in when Spanish/Greek/Italian treasury bills weren't worth the paper they were printed on. The fact is, however, that Angela Merkel is hell-bent on not letting it happen, and, as soon as sovereign debt becomes dirt cheap, there'll always be an institution somewhere who is willing to dive in for the yield. That will happen increasingly now that the banks are well on the way to having repaired their balance sheets.

Sure, the Euro will probably weaken further over the next two or three years, but that's because it's an integral part of the bigger cycle in which markets trade, and it's a necessary part of the EZ economic recovery process . But the Euro will still be around in 10 or 20 years time, regardless of how hard Farage and the other Euro sceptics beat their drums about it being a basket case.

HNY hils; i trust you have some snow now, but as you're posting instead of gliding through the powder, i guess not

i concur that eu will still exist in 10/20 years time, but i am almost certain that it will have changed radically in some important aspects still to be determined
it really cannot and indeed should not be allowed to continue in its current uncontrolled and undemocratic state

London population boom: number living in the capital set to hit all-time high within weeks





Updated: 16:58, 05 January 2015


London's exploding population is on the brink of hitting an all-time high, more than three quarters of a century after it peaked on the eve of the Second World War.

Some estimates have suggested the historic landmark of just over 8.615 million could be reached as soon as tomorrow — but at the very latest by early February.

Statisticians believe the record-breaking Londoner is likely to be born in a maternity ward in the first few weeks of 2015, in one of the capital’s outer boroughs where population growth rates are highest.

The news represents an extraordinary turnaround for a metropolis that seemed destined for long-term decline in the Seventies and early Eighties when its population plummeted to 6.6 million.

Barney Stringer, director of planning consultancy Quod, said: “Great cities rise and fall, but few in history have bounced back so strongly from losing more than two million people. London’s growth is so exceptional that it’s time to change our whole perspective on it.

“The current gradual approach has taken us as far as it can — we need to be planning and investing for that success with a totally different scale and ambition. Perhaps London should learn from the investment being made in the great growing megacities of China.”

Population growth is forecast to continue at an annual rate of around 100,000, the equivalent of a new borough every three years, and the population is likely to hit 10 million by 2030 as the powerhouse economy continues to attract workers. However, experts said it would also add massive strains to already stressed infrastructure, particularly housing and transport.



More: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-population-boom-number-living-in-the-capital-set-to-hit-alltime-high-within-weeks-9957804.html

Manuel,

Like you I feel sad at the depths "democracy" and "politics" have fallen into over the last 25-30 years.

At present there seems a dearth of "mature" forward looking pragmatic HONEST politicians in any of the major three parties.

There are elements of looking back to bygone ideologies more suitable for previous periods.

I am not sure but looking at the MPs as a whole the average age of MPs seems to be less than previous periods and their immaturity shows. Also, many especially on the tory party side appear to see politics as a transient occupation before moving on to other and "better" things.

-----

I don't wish to be ageist but have a "leaning" to MPs not being allowed to sit in government, perhaps in parliament until they have a proven record outside politics and are over thirty.

Unfortunately, this would exclude many very able and sincere younger MPS, which is one of the weaknesses of the idea.
======

As far as probable next government after the election, I am guessing and think it will be an inclusive coalition of Labour, lib/Dem and possibly SNP. If Ed Miliband is MP and sensible, I hope there will be a smattering of the other minor parties (Greens) included in that administration.


But what I do hope and think there will be that there will be a more collegial form of government, where an honest appraisal of the UK problems and social responsibilities will be examined.

I think Miliband is shrewder than presented by the media and torrids present him.

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

PS

I don't condemn Clegg for forming the coalition. I think at the time his decision was right, but have difficulty with the renegading on the "University Fees".

I guess that the liberal party will not lose as many seats as generally suggested.

=====

Phew, that is a long one.

Hiliary,

A short one.

I agree with you.

Modification of rules, regulations etc. will occur, but it is here to stay.

ALL politicians of all colours are always (or they should be) looking to the future and where their next crust might be earned, and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with that


should EM be next PM(!!), then time will show how well he shapes up
frankly, i have no confidence that he will be any better than DC, albeit that he will wear a red rather than a blue tie

my biggest fear is that we'll end up with an italian-type shambles

Yes, thank you Cyners, the snow is reasonably good and the sky is a deep, deep colour of blue this morning.



But.... Unfortunately, I have to work.

:o(

For all the Labour fanatics on this thread who were jumping up and down with glee when this MP was arrested;

MP Mark Pritchard has urged a review of the law on anonymity for people accused of rape after police dropped an inquiry into allegations against him.

Police said there was "insufficient evidence" to take further action against the Tory MP for The Wrekin after he was arrested last month.

Speaking outside Parliament, the MP said it had been a "testing time" for him and he was "glad that it was over".

He urged "greater fairness" under the law for those accused of sex offences.

At the moment, those who say they are victims of rape and other sex offences are granted life-long anonymity but the same legal protection is not afforded to those accused of such offences.


In a short statement outside the House of Commons, Mr Pritchard thanked fellow MPs and constituents for supporting him since the news of his arrest emerged six weeks ago.

Referring to the allegation made against him, he said "sadly, as an MP, sometimes you have a target on your back".

"To be falsely accused of anything is an awful thing," he told reporters.

"Of course (my accuser) remains anonymous," he said. "The law on anonymity does need to be reviewed and fairness does need to play a far greater role in these cases."

Mr Pritchard was arrested on 2 December following an alleged incident in central London. The MP voluntarily attended a police station for questioning and was bailed pending further inquiries.

But police said on Tuesday that he would face no further action as there was "insufficient evidence".

A police spokesman said: "A 48-year-old man voluntarily attended a north London police station on Tuesday, 2 December where he was arrested, following an allegation of rape in central London.

"He returned on bail on 6 January where he was informed he will face no further action as there was insufficient evidence."

Mr Pritchard won his seat in 2010 with a majority of more than 9,000 and served as secretary of the influential Conservative 1922 committee for two years until 2012.

He is a member of Parliament's joint national security strategy committee. He has dismissed reports in recent months that he could possibly defect to UKIP.

BBC News

meanwhile, is this guy really as big an imbecile as would appear ......

Jim Murphy, the Scottish Labour leader, revealed that Ed Miliband's controversial mansion tax on properties worth more than £2 million will be used to fund 1,000 extra nurses in Scotland.
He said most of the money would come from homes in London and the South East of England

Re-read what he actually wrote.

Also, the associations made with Mansion tax. The direct linking of it is daft to me.

Happy with mansion tax, but it should go into the general tax pot. Linking is, think a "dangerous" move!


Just as dumb as the associations made by DB4.

he actually spake :-)

True!

luxury house from old shipping containers
this is the one i mentioned yesterday .......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2768293/I-m-desperate-gorgeous-girl-I-just-want-happy-explains-Channel-4-Grand-Designs-team-turn-cover-project.html

They are doing without the containers in Slough...



Revealed: Up to 6,000 'beds in sheds' set-up by rogue landlords are found by spy plane's thermal image camera

Slough Borough Council spends £24,000 building up 3D map from air
Authority uncovered 6,350 suspicious sheds and garages emitting heat

Thousands could be living in converted outbuildings without permission

Plane criss-crossed streets, picking up heat signals from outbuildings

Analysis of images from night flight revealed suspicious dwellings


By Martin Robinson and Mark Duell

Published: 16:57, 30 July 2013 | Updated: 07:51, 31 July 2013


A spy plane equipped with a thermal imaging camera has found that more than 6,000 outbuildings in one town could be 'beds in sheds' converted by rogue landlords.


Slough Borough Council is the first local authority in the country to pay for the specially-adapted aircraft to fly over streets picking up heat from sheds and garages.


It spent £24,000 on flights to build up a precise 3D map of every building in the Berkshire town. The results mean thousands could be living there without planning permission or contributing council tax.



Welcome to Slough: This thermogram image shows data recovered after flying over the town, with the red representing high levels of heat escaping. The council said the imaging helps them identify outhouses because the cameras can pick up areas of high heat loss - although few can be seen outside the houses in this snippet


Normally: This satellite view from Google Maps shows the area captured by the 3D thermal imaging software in Slough, Berkshire. A school is seen to the right, while the rest of the area is mostly residential



More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381451/Slough-spy-plane-detects-6-000-illegal-beds-sheds-thermal-imaging.html

Well, I must be a bit thick because if 'red is hot', why are the streets and gardens redder (or at least 'oranger') than the blue houses?

PS. By heck! It looks a bit hot at No.32 don'tchafink? I bet it's probably a couple having sex!

Hey I live there------------------and I'm at work.
2517

your wife's working too :-)

Napoleon.

How has the NHS faired so far this winter, after the recent Lansley re-organisations?

-------

I wonder why the tories want to depoliticised the NHS as a topic for debate before the Election!

my comment about not politicising NHS was nothing to do with what you say is tory party line ..... it was my own straight comment

you've already seen what i have written on NHS, and it would just be very tiresome to re-post it

Just rethink it!