Meenzer

Either way, I think it's entirely appropriate to be having a debate about Australian football in a thread about poofs.

With every respect, it's not exactly half their grade-A squad for the last 20 years, is it?

Can I borrow him for a few weeks? I know an excellent Monroe Transfer specialist who could help us out.

I'm going to give manc-mag 2/10. He didn't even make his own bechamel.

This week's a bit of a swine I'm afraid, theatre on Wednesday then we're blessed with visitors for a few days. Definitely do something curryish before the month's out though. And obviously maybe see you over here on Saturday for the party you said yes to on Facebook and have probably completely forgotten about in the meantime, since that's how it always works for me.

About 1 metre 85 and 90kg. I don't do imperial. (Somewhere around 6 ft 1 and 14 st 2 apparently...)

Ahh, those enlightened Balkan types... http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Sports/2...ation_president

Aye exactly, they're two different things. I don't wear a poppy because of various reasons, including the huge advertising budget they feel the need to spend on something surely everyone is fully aware of already and the way it's been hijacked by the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns recently when that shouldn't be its main focus (imho). I'll have a strop on Facebook about it and argue the toss with anyone who says not wearing a poppy is tantamount to disrespecting our troops, past or present, but there's absolutely no need for the kind of orchestrated scenes above.

Ended up there tonight as it happens, my old man was in town so it seemed like a good chance to try it out with someone else picking up the tab. Canny enough - the standard stuff is comparable in quality to Masala Zone and a bit more expensive, but they have some really interesting unusual dishes and twists that I'd say make it worth checking out some time. Apologies for the thread hijack, CT.

Aye, there's hardly anyone holding up that massive set of banners like.

Especially since playing two big lads up front gives us more height for defending set pieces than sticking Guthrie or Smith in there anyway.

Zebras. It's Cockernee rhyming slang.

More fun than reading your posts, that's for sure.

Quite like B&S too as it happens. Sorry Ant, I realise this isn't helping your cause much. I can see why an Aussie would be perplexed though, they're all rugged men's men down under.

We should, never been but I've heard good things.

I haven't been on any other boards or the internet at all, I've been out chatting to real people in real life Nice out there, isn't it?

You clearly missed Rob's thread about it. Maybe you need to spend less time on other boards.

As long as the tapas are mostly things you can prepare in advance - if he wants not to be stuck in the kitchen all night, ten fresh hot dishes are not the way to go. (Ever tried this place, btw, Fishster? If not, we're going there on a man-date some time: http://www.elparadorlondon.com)

Cancelled his gig at the Cluny Aye, he was meant to be playing here tomorrow night but the tour was postponed when he went into rehab. They've rescheduled the date here for January (it's not on his site yet but I've had an e-mail from the venue), so hopefully they'll manage the same there...

And your entertainment can be dressing up as the bloke from the Go Compare ads and singing a few arias.

Could be worse, makes it a no-brainer on the plonk too. You can do the lasagne prep in advance and do bruschetta and parma ham and salady stuff for the starter and there you go, minimal time away from the group as desired...

I'm very jealous, I don't think they will every make it south of the equator. And are Therapy still around? Do they still have two bass players? Hm, did they ever? They certainly had a cellist/guitarist fella for a while, which was a bit odd, so chances are he doubled up on every other instrument too. Anyway, they're still plugging away to a small but loyal audience, aye. This gig is a double-set thing, they're playing Troublegum in full plus a regular set with special guests etc. - like a farewell gig but without actually fucking off. Of course it'll be a bit cack, but the 15-year-old inside me () can't resist.

Do you have any foreign heritage ticking away in the background? I only ask because I know I'd channel my mother's side of the family and do a Swedish night - roll out the aquavit, salmon, strange herring concoctions and all. Gives the whole thing more of a personal note and gives people something they probably won't have had as often. Works as well if you've got any dishes with a strong regional identity to call on. Otherwise, locally sourced products are always a goodie - if you can say this meat came from such-and-such a farm, this fish was caught off wherever etc., that tends to be good for brownie points (as well as tasting better!). Plus there's no shortage of good stuff like that in the NE. Failing that, just get them absolutely smashed. Seems to work well on the show.

Went to the Royal Opera House last night for an evening of Kurt Weill songs, don'tcha know. Therapy?, Dar Williams, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Justin Townes Earle are among the near-future treats.