Kitman

I will try to drink less and exercise more. Like every year

I thought the good Dr was going to say that he was so hungover that he'd never drink again!

Usual shit , banging on about her horrible anus. My day was the direct opposite to yours, food & climate wise. However, surrounded by family, totally relaxed, and superb. Enjoy Boxing Day mate. 2-0 to us I reckon. Cheers mate and the same to you. You were half right with the score! All this talk of food on here is making me hungry again. Pigs in blankets anyone?

Well we're into boxing day in NZ. Xmas morning we had 16 people over for 11-ses with the sun splitting the stones. Bruschetta/pesto, smoked salmon/soda bread and satay chicken from the bbq, washed down with bucks fizz. Got quite drunk so we all went for a swim in the sea and lay on the beach for an hour or two to pull round.. Xmas tea was roast lamb, finished on the bbq, bbq fish, potato salad (with horseradish, creme fraiche and bacon), cucumber salad with rice wine dressing and avocado/spring onion/chilli salad with balsamic dressing. Followed by strawberry pavlova. Sat out boozing till late, now hung over. About as un-trad as I've ever got! Hope you all had a fab one. Did the Queen say anything interesting?

Merry Christmas everybody! Only an hour to go in good old NZ, Santa will be on his sleigh already.....

You're all heart!

Whilst I am in the trad camp spiritually, it's impossible to do the full monty in the middle of summer. I expect we'll be going trendy - booze and canapes for 11'ses, followed by full on BBQ and lots of interesting salads, etc. Pud will be pavlova and cheesecake I expect. We should have 12 people for lunch at least (invited, not being eaten). Being upside down is a valid excuse for not going trad. I would still have to have pigs in blankets though, even if I was tied to the Wailing Wall. You're right, pigs in blanket are the shizzle! They will be on the menu, by order of Mr Fist.

She's obviously not good looking then

She's obviously not good looking then

Might be worth a peek. Ouch but I was going to say he left in a fit of pique but thought better of it I'll get me coat.

Whilst I am in the trad camp spiritually, it's impossible to do the full monty in the middle of summer. I expect we'll be going trendy - booze and canapes for 11'ses, followed by full on BBQ and lots of interesting salads, etc. Pud will be pavlova and cheesecake I expect. We should have 12 people for lunch at least (invited, not being eaten).

Might be worth a peek.

Probably not as much fun when we're more downbeat than they are?

He's light years better than what we have. I expect he'll get better offers than us.

The geographical advantage is that their town city is a shitehole and the toon isn't It is a medieval midden of a town. But that's down to them being filthy beggars. Nowt to do with geography. ...in which case the geographical advantage is that the toon isn't in Sunderland

The geographical advantage is that their town city is a shitehole and the toon isn't

Absolutely cracking post Stevie

I don't necessarily support high taxes - I just support fair ones. By that I mean no engineered evasion and no excessive inherited wealth. You might not like it but you can't stop legitimate tax avoidance. Governments have been trying for centuries and haven't succeeded yet. That's what wrong with the current tax system, it's like trying to plug a leaky bucket one hole at a time. The government's piecemeal approach and over-complication of the rules doesn't help, but also tax law is complex and difficult to administer/enforce. Most governments the world over have resorted to dropping tax rates as that actually increases tax revenues. Unfortunately these days labour and capital are fairly mobile, and people/companies will just sod off somewhere better if they don't like the rules. So there has to be a balancing act between raising revenue and preserving the tax base, and it needs a long term view not a series of quick fixes. What's "fair" in terms of tax is completely subjective. Fairness starts with having a system that's understandable, efficient, fit for the modern world and treats people equally. The UK tax system is none of those things imo.

It's a shame (from what people are saying) that we seem to be a long ball team. You can't fault the 3 points but I thought Hughton was supposed to be a coach? If we get back to the prem we might be required to play football at some point....

The answer to the OP is no

RIP

The coke was probably uncut. Sounds like drergs to me too

tbh how is that his fault? The government of the time introduced the scheme - the only thing Wogan can be blamed for is taking advantage of what he had available to him. I think you'll find that given the same situation, most of the people posting on this forum would have done the same. If your vitriol should be aimed at anyone, it should be at the government. Of course its aimed at the government - but tax fiddles are setup by the establishment by and for the rich - and I don't care who it is who "takes advantage" of such things - they're all fucking scum. And before you say he's earned his money by being such a cherished entertainer it's his kids who benefit who've done fuck all. If they're introduced with the blessing of the government, they're not a fiddle. The CGT exemption for example is not a fiddle it's an entitlement. Tax fiddles exist by and large because either tax rates are too high - giving the rich the inventive to pay clever people to find their way round the rules - or because the tax system is broken. Every year new tax rules are bolted on to a tax system which was founded in the 18th century and which has been tinkered with on an annual basis ever since. No wonder loopholes exist - coherent tax policy is impossible when the rules are all a big jumble of different measures usually introduced in a rush and badly drafted. imo the UK needs to rip it all up, sit down and decide what they want to tax as a matter of policy, and start again without undue emphasis on legal interpretation. However before you do that, you have to decide on what is a 'fair share' of tax to pay and what you want as a matter of policy. In the days of income tax at 98%, rich people just went overseas. That might seem attractive with the likes of Rod Stewart leaving the country to live in LA but you gain nothing financially by driving taxpayers out of the tax base. As a matter of fact, inheritance tax and capital gains tax are largely optional taxes these days for the well advised so they're taxes which have technically failed. You might get a better return for example on a flat tax on capital assets which would be a million times easier to collect. The government needs to get a grip basically.

Can't say I'm surprised. Instant success is demanded for the amount of money City have spent.