Any punters living in Birmingham Area interested in a Pie, Pint and jaw, one evening in a pub in Birmingham area.
Personally interested in small time investing(gambling), developing an appetite for CFDs. Also developing an interest in Charting or TA.

I use Sharescope, Moneyam, Barclays, Comdirect and IC

come on then - what was the "special offer valid for tonight only"

It's a secret not saying, Were were you last night then? -):

Keeping a low profile from CMC - you know they don't like winning traders ;-)

They were offering a Education CD-ROM - valued at 99 + one years free subsciption to MarketStars - valued at 150 + 100 put into an account. All if you sign up on the night.

I think I have seen one of the CDs and would not consider purchasing it. The other parts I leave to you.

I think I have seen one of the CDs and would not consider purchasing it. The other parts I leave to you.

Chris, can you remember the name of that Thai resturant that you pointed out to us last night in Bennetts Hill as we might go there Sat. Night please?

It's a secret not saying

Well, OK then, heres the info:

It's the THAI ORCHID.

They're part of a (Thai) owned group. Good Thai Food (not the wishy-washy pseudo-Thai stuff).

Website is:

http://www.thaigroup.co.uk/restaurants/orchid.html#Birmingham

"The Thai Orchid Group of Restaurants is celebrating after winning Thailands most prestigious "Best Service Provider" award from the Prime Minister of Thailand, His Excellency, Thaksin Shinawatra - at a glittering ceremony in Bangkok. Only two other restaurants were selected from around the entire globe!"

Thanks, any rough idea on prices for straight forward meal.

Think It will be a toss up between the Ochid and the Barton Arms, depends on time and how we feel on the night. Am I correct in saying that it was the No.33 or 3 bus from the centre out to the BA?

Fred, I think that on the night the feeling was the same regarding the value of that CD -):

33 bus from Dale End - near Carling Academy for BA. Runs quite often.

I've got the Take Away menu for the Orchid - on that starters are @ 3.50, main course @5.50 (+ rice @2). Or they do set menu's starting from about 13.50 per person. So think you need to add service charge to that if your eating in there. The buffet lunch is excellent - that used to be 12.50 but was very good value for choice / quality available.

See EXPN is finally moving north now.

PS.... If you're specifically looking for Thai meal, then theres a fairly new one on the canal behind the Mailbox in the City Centre thats authentic and good. Menu for that is on the website:
http://www.kinnaree.co.uk/
They used to have Thai dancers on Saturday evenings - not sure if they still do...

There are other 'Thai' outlets in the City Centre - but Thai Orchid & Kinnaree the best.... Overall in Brum, think the Barton Arms is the best in terms of value for food .... and of course, a pint of JHB can be partaken of at the same venue

There's also a couple of good one's in Stratford ...... The Boathouse and The Thai Kingdom.... (the Kingdom is the place for a good value lunch)...

And if your in London, then best value Thai eatery is also part of a drinking establishment ..... The Churchill Arms .... easy to get to .... just a short walk from Notting Hill tube station....
http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=159

I see Biffa shot up towards close of trading today....

And back to the choo - choo's. Stan/55, are you aware of a partner with an interest in both existing Chiltern Railways and the new Wrexham to London service :

"Chiltern Railways is owned by M40 Trains. All shares in M40 Trains are owned by John Laing plc through Laing Rail Ltd."

"Wrexham & Shropshire is a joint venture between Renaissance Trains and Laing Rail."

Wrexham & Shropshire expects to operate trainsets formed of a single class 67 diesel-electric locomotive, three air-conditioned MkIII carriages, and a driving van trailer (DVT) at the rear. All will be painted in the silver and grey Wrexham & Shropshire livery. (So seems it won't be a Deltic plus Mark 2 TSO carraiges with a
Mk2a BFK Brake Corridor First at the end -all in Express Parcels Blue).

Thanks for the comprehensive info Chris.

Lang Rail were taken over I think turn of the year, thought it may have impeded the new line but did not.

Liang Rail still showing on John Liang website as being part of the group. However, a few months ago it was announced that John Laing is conducting a strategic review of its Laing Rail business, which could lead to the sale of the subsidiary that operates the Chiltern Trains and London Rail services. Don't know what progress on that is....

Have to have a ride on the new rail service when it opens as haven't travelled in a C3 carraige for ages and ages.....

As regards the loco's, I think they were built in Spain especially for use on high-speed mail trains including the Travelling Post Office services. So were redundant from about three years ago..... But a couple are / were in Royal Claret colour scheme for hauling the Royal Train.

Blimey just seen the Biffa news ( I missed the market closing ) up nearly 25% and other lot saying that they won't take no for an answer. Maybe some miles to go on BIFF now.

Back to the choo-choo's. Interesting route (& will be even more 'interesting when Virgin increase B'ham-London services to 20 minute intervals):

From Wrexham General, the proposed route runs to Shrewsbury, then to Wolverhampton. From Wolverhampton it will be routed via Tame Bridge Parkway, Birmingham International and Coventry, before joining the Chiltern Main Line at Leamington Spa. Under the terms of the Contract, trains will not be permitted to call at Coventry or Leamington Spa. However, the agreement does allow for WSMR trains to serve Birmingham International, but the company's proposed timetable does not include this.

WSMR plan to use the currently disused bay platforms (Wrexham General station) at the end of platform one and use empty offices as their train crew depot

Things looking up in this part of the country then?

Surprised they're not exercising the chance of stopping at Birmingham International. I thought it woukd be handy for people travelling from Shrops to Birmingham Airport.....
But quick look at timetable indicates it was faster in days of BR from S'bury to London - even though there was a change locos at Wolves whilst passengers remained aboard same carraiges.

Survived - by "C3" do you mean a MK3? If so did you know that there is a set of them deputising on the Euston - Birminghams just now. A real train for you! You could take a trip and sample that London Thai restaurant...........

The Wrexham proposal - power to weight ratio as stated will be quite respectable, but then go on to work out the weight per seat available. While I cannot speak for current hire charges, cost wise a unit should be cheaper. If it isn't then it arguably it should be.

Loading will be interesting, especially as to how evenly spread it is throughout the journey, and different days of the week. One station for the West Midlands is rather a poor do, and would not Sandwell & Dudley Parkway have been a better choice?

It is a shame though, that, there have been so few of these ventures, with nothing else on the drawing board.

Now if the roads wallahs could only open up the northbound M6/M5 junction by Cannock, that would saved a lot of wasted time. Care to put a value on that?