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.

your fault greek for being over 50.....

Balerboy,

Actually over 60, but according to my wife I have a thought process about the same level as my granddaughter who is 18 months. Come to think of it, she has started to look at me as if, I am loosing it, my granddaughter that is, not the wife.
But there again.

On a serious note. Over 30 years ago I joined Giro bank, mainly due to the fact that my then fiancee's father was responsible for setting it up.
My fiancee (now my wife) had her account several years earlier.
Over the next 20 or so years we experienced no problems whatsoever. It then changed to Alliance and Leicester, again no problems apart from a small hitch regarding a direct debit, it happens!
But then along came Santander who took over Alliance among others. Within a space of about 18 months we had a couple of problems re charges and accounts.
On Monday I rang the bank Hell Line (spell checker found help line but hell line fits better, so left it as is), who stated our account was still an Alliance Account although we had received a letter informing us that the account had changed to Santander. We were passed to a Alliance and Leicester adviser, who informed us they could not help as it was a Santander account. He put us back to Alliance who said bla bla and put us back to etc etc. After 40 minutes continually being polite but forceful, we were cut off.
That afternoon we went into a Santander Branch to close our accounts. We were queuing for 20 minutes before being told they could not close an account at the counter and we would have to see an adviser. Another 15 mins and an adviser told us she could not close the account either, as their system would not allow it.
Onto another branch of Santander, were the counter clerk said no problem re closing the accounts. The computer then told her 'account could not be closed'.
We asked if we could withdraw all funds. She could only do this by bypassing the system She transfered the money into a holding account, then issue a cheque from that account.
We were then told that within a few days we would receive a letter informing us of account closure accompanied by a cheque for 'nothing'. That right nothing, zero, zilch, as the computer would then know that the account which was being closed, would have no money in it.
All through this rigmarole, we got the impression the staff had almost given up on the system. One of the staff told us they had, had many similar problems.
If anyone is thinking of changing banks I suggest you look on review sights, where Santander is one of the worse rated banks there is.
I appreciate this was a lengthy post, but I am so annoyed at the ineptitude of Santander, I needed to get my moan out in the open.

Note... I wonder how much cash the big wigs who run (sic) Santander will award themselves when bonus time comes round.

So this week trouble re Saga and Santander. They say, everything comes in three's, so whoe's next.

ME!

Greekman,

This is like mine but mine is black only 10 ....

Aldwickk,

When I used to box many years ago it was more like float like a bee, sting like a butterfly.

are you looking foreward to Audley Harrison V David Haye ..... lol

You never know with two hard punchers with dodgy chin's

I look forward to all fights.
But as Haye needs to put Harrison away quickly to cement any chance of fighting the Klitschko brothers, I think he will put Harrison down and out easily within 3 rounds.
With very few opponents wanting to fight Haye, this fight will at least keep him in the limelight.

Audrey ,and thats not a spelling mistake will have to find his bollocks and Hayes chin at the same time to have any chance ,i was at that heavywieght prizefighter competition in London last October and to be fair on him he did fight a bit for once although the opposition was no way near Haye's class.
greek ,i think the Klitschko brothers may need him soon to earn a big payday ,the problem is no one in the US is interested in screening it on pay per view and thats where you double your money.

Hi Jimmy,

Agree re the Klitschko's.
As for Audley, in my personal opinion, he does not have that win or nothing mentality that all great fighters need, that is why he is not a great fighter. As to ability, I feel he has more than most people think.
Being nervous is OK but, you have to go in the ring not being worried about being hit (easier said than done), but as son as you start thinking about damage to yourself over, how can I damage the other guy, you may as well give up the fight game.
As to myself, I was never even average. I started boxing at 15 years old, and I admit to being bit of a 'wimp'. I was OK till after I had been hit a few times, then i gave up. I had a very good punch, but my reactions were way too slow, which does not make for good boxing. They used to joke that the club had bottles of smelling salts for general use, and a separate bigger bottle with my name on it.
So at about 21 I gave it up for another sport.
Then when I was about 35, I returned to boxing. Being now too old to box (amateur has a age limit of 36) I boxed several friendly matches, but mainly stuck to sparing. I loved it as at 35 I had the mental attitude of realizing that the worse that could happen was cuts and bruises (not like the pro game).
My claim to fame was boxing in 3 exhibition matches in East Park Hull in 2005 during the 60 year VJ celebrations. I fought (well sort of) 3 good standard boxers. I knew all three, and they were as they say, 'gentle with me' although after the bell had gone they said they had not.
It was great to have a few hundred people applauding me. A sympathy vote for my age (I was 57) but I felt like 'Rocky'.
Those few moments of dilution were wonderful.
I would have given anything to be one of the greats, in the greatest sport in the world.
I still train and still have a very good punch, even compared to many I know half my age. If only I had not been a 'wimp' when younger, who knows, (When reading this next sentence, imagine your cheeks stuffed with cotton wool. It works better) 'I could have been a contender'.

Glad you're back, greekman.

I love reading your stuff. :-)

My best mate at school got a 'bound over to keep the peace for a year' from the magistrate. He 'straight lefted' a lad, hitting him only the once and broke his nose, his jaw and knocked several teeth out.

Not boxing, I know, but what a punch! He was as fast as greased lightening.

ok, I think that Prince Naz at his best would have no trouble beating Amir Khan

Hi ExecLine,

Thanks for the complement, it's reciprocated.
To my utter disappointment I am now understandably only allowed to body spar, which obviously takes away almost all the enjoyment, as you only have to cover below neck area, although I do try to keep the guard up as they say.
Understandable because the first thing that goes as you get older is your reactions/speed followed by flexibility. The reason why head shots are more likely to do damage, is due to the neck muscles becoming stiffer, hence not being able to ride or turn away from a punch.
Head guards help, but I have always hated them as they take something way from the natural feel of a fight.

Aldwickk,

Have to disagree. Although I agree Prince Naz, was a very good boxer, not just a showman, Amir Khan had the better defense and would not be dazzled by Naz, something which he did to good effect on many opponent.
Not taking anything away from Naz, but in a match with both at their best, my money would be on Khan. Think it would be close though.

Won't post anything further on boxing unless replying, as once I start on the subject there is not much that will stop me. Not like some opponents I have met.
Must say these last few posts have sent my mind back to the time when I used to train to all the music from Rocky. I used to imagine entering the arena to 'Eye of the tiger'.
Mind still young (wife still hoping I grow up one day) if only body was as young.

Greek

I've sparred in Krav Maga gyms where they ban head shots - it's all so artificial. Your opponent just tucks his elbows in tight and there's very few punches you can get through. You end up trying to uppercut the solar plexus on tall opponents or hook into the ribs on shorter.

G

Thanks Michaelglad to see this great thread back to its very bestgreektimexecfredjimmy et alwell done guys!

Greekmy old dadwho could look after himselftaught me at a very young age how to defend myselfNo1...look into the other guys eyesdont waverdont blinkyou will know what he is going to do before he does! No2... always keep your hands upfor obvious protection and response is far quicker from the higher positionNo3 only ever jab at someoneswingers get knocked outIm no professionalbut it never seemed to suit the bullies?

My Dad taught me to run.

Much safer.

Greek I could have never been a Policemanjust read today like you all must have donea 90 year old war hero got mugged for 40 and a bus pass.the hero at the muggers age was probably fighting to give him and us future freedomI didnt know the old guybut I could have loved him like my granddadif a were a copper and I found the arseholehe would be minus his headif he gets harmed in custodyhe will be entitled to a large payout.lol

Thanks to Tony Blair signing up to The bill of human rights

Did TB sign us up to the "human rights charter"?

Well he seems to have done something I would respect him for.

A pity he didn't understand the meaning of the content of what he "signed" and adhere to the charter.