I pointed out at the time, as a frequent user of the Manchester Pic to Euston service, you can and lots of people do first class upgrades as Virgin admit in that article.
Isn't it more expensive than doing it in advance? (Srious question - could be useful to know.)
Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
Sometimes, if you're not sure of your exact plans, it can be cheaper to buy a standard class ticket and do an upgrade on the day.
For example on some days, usually weekends, you can do a first class upgrade on the train for between 10 and 20 pounds.
Now I am intrigued. I can lock my little finger and just bend the end of it. But only on one hand.
I adore tricks and anyone who can do one. There used to be a FAB show on ITV called You Bet where contestants displayed their odd skills. One chappy who worked for the Potato Marketing Board could identify 20 varieties of boiled potatoes by blindfold tasting.
I pointed out at the time, as a frequent user of the Manchester Pic to Euston service, you can and lots of people do first class upgrades as Virgin admit in that article.
Isn't it more expensive than doing it in advance? (Srious question - could be useful to know.)
Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
Sometimes, if you're not sure of your exact plans, it can be cheaper to buy a standard class ticket and do an upgrade on the day.
For example on some days, usually weekends, you can do a first class upgrade on the train for between 10 and 20 pounds.
Thanks. That could be very useful to know, especially with Virgin taking over ECML.
Richard Rogers @oowmygawd 10h10 hours ago In 2014 I put a £20 bet @ 100/1 with local bookie on UKIP winning 50-100 seats in May, tonight in the pub he offered to but it back for £500
Looks like Richard Rogers bookie was on to something, doesn't it?
I will sell my lib dem to beat Ukip £50@5/2 betting slip for £42 if anyone wants it
It's OK we've all made bad bets
Embarrassing lack of nerve.. I suppose reading this site everyday and people confidently predicting Ukip doom affected my senses momentarily.. Should've learned the lessons of the euros, clacton and Rochester... It's all hot air
I pointed out at the time, as a frequent user of the Manchester Pic to Euston service, you can and lots of people do first class upgrades as Virgin admit in that article.
Isn't it more expensive than doing it in advance? (Srious question - could be useful to know.)
Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
Sometimes, if you're not sure of your exact plans, it can be cheaper to buy a standard class ticket and do an upgrade on the day.
For example on some days, usually weekends, you can do a first class upgrade on the train for between 10 and 20 pounds.
Thanks. That could be very useful to know, especially with Virgin taking over ECML.
Virgin are the best train company out there.
The days they don't do the upgrade if there is a London v Manchester or Manchester v London football match on.
Well they do the upgrade, they charge you the full whack.
@MaxPB - I am intrigued by your idea that Mrs Gove's article for the Daily Mail was not a personal attack on the Milibands.
There’s nothing here that makes me believe that he and Justine are not, in fact, aliens. No evidence of food-stuffs, certainly. Perhaps they get their nourishment from the fruits that grow only in the rarefied atmosphere of the moral high ground. Or perhaps they’re both just so holier than thou that they no longer require any nourishment other than the knowledge of their own righteousness. You certainly wouldn’t want to have supper there.
Just as I am intrigued by the notion that the fact the author of this vicious piece is married to a senior Conservative cabinet minister is irrelevant.
On reflection, I think you are wrong. But, as I say, it just makes Ed seem even more of a loser.
I honestly don't understand why Ed and Justine didn't just do the interview in his real kitchen. No one believes that he is a man of the people and trying to hide that fact just makes him look evasive or stupid.
It's really weird because people I know who have met Ed say he is a nice and thoughtful person but nothing like that comes across when he is in public.
....
Well he may not have, but I'm certain one of the spin team made sure they did it in the utility room rather than the massive kitchen. It's just like the bacon butty all over again. "Look at me, I'm a man of the people, I eat bacon and have a small kitchen just like you, I understand the cost of living crisis".
The bacon sarnie was bad enough, but only Ed could cock up having a cup of tea in a kitchen. - Another unforced media stunt backfires.
As I say below, it's the sign of a 24 carat loser that a vicious personal attack by the wife of a political opponent turns into a PR disaster for him. It could only happen to Ed. Still, he'll be gone in just a few weeks now.
SO you continually mention that it was Sarah Vine who wrote the original article, but the simple fact is that she was right to do it. Clearly Ed's team were trying to put across this image of "normal Ed" to the public by sticking him in the small utility room that looked like a kitchen in an average or small London home. You are trying to play the man, or woman in this case, rather than the ball by bringing up the author, it is completely irrelevant to the story.
Why is it hypocritical of Labour politicians to be rich?
Not Labour politicians, no one cares that Ed is rich, but they care that he pretends not to be and that he claims to understand people who struggle to put food on the table. As always, it boils down to hypocrisy plain and simple.
I've finally been forced to look at the Telegraph article. The original attack was on the banal utilitarian nature of this so called kitchen. I have to say on the face of it I thought that was a bit harsh - the real objection surely must be to the garish and green and out of place laundry basket. Where it went ballistic was in the dumb defence of this kitchen by someone offering up a defence by saying 'Oh no thats not his ''real'' kitchen. His proper kitchen is much posher than that'. With friends like that who needs Ed Balls?
Out of the three polls expected tomorrow night, only one for sure (YouGov) will have conducted all their fieldwork after Farage's comments.
Do you expect them to do the UKIP position harm or good ?
On kitchengate, reckon it's a storm in a bacon butty teacup myself but its not that helpful to Ed. Also sums up Daily Mail journalism to a tee on politics. Portillo was quite right on this one.
Richard Rogers @oowmygawd 10h10 hours ago In 2014 I put a £20 bet @ 100/1 with local bookie on UKIP winning 50-100 seats in May, tonight in the pub he offered to but it back for £500
Looks like Richard Rogers bookie was on to something, doesn't it?
No.
There's more chance of England winning the current cricket world cup than Ukip winning 50+ seats.
You have to question - are the Conservatives really ahead...
What was the Populus house effect at the last GE ?
From a quick scan it looks like a v.high UKIP certainty to vote and Labour and Conservative certainty very similar.
I'd say the evidence suggests parity at the moment. But there is a trend of two steps forward one step back Tory recovery.
The question is whether that will continue enough over the next 8 weeks to hand them the election.
Out of ten polls this week, the Conservatives have led in five, Labour have led in four, and one has been tied. Labour has averaged 32.5%, the Conservatives 33.1%, and UKIP 14.8%.
The usual pattern of the Conservatives advancing at the start of the week, and falling back later has continued, but leaving the Conservatives in a better position, relative to Labour, than they've been so far this year.
Populus Con 30 - 34 Lab 30 - 36 Lib Dem 7 - 10 SNP 3 - 6 PC 0 - 1 GRN 4 - 6 UKIP 14 - 17 Other 0 - 1
So this poll is most likely an outlier on the UKIP/Con scores
But we can not say for certain.
Electionforecast.com have been always been behind the times in this run-up to the election.
They update their website every day. I agree they underestimate UKIP chances in Thanet South though.
Also was last night the night Charlie Kennedy lost Ross, Skye, Lochaber - I know he's got a very big personal vote but I can see last night's show pushing a couple of SNP/Kennedy waverers to the Nats.
Out of the three polls expected tomorrow night, only one for sure (YouGov) will have conducted all their fieldwork after Farage's comments.
Do you expect them to do the UKIP position harm or good ?
On kitchengate, reckon it's a storm in a bacon butty teacup myself but its not that helpful to Ed. Also sums up Daily Mail journalism to a tee on politics. Portillo was quite right on this one.
I don't know, re long term harm, the next few days are going to be dominated by the lead up to the budget, most things are going to be drowned out by that.
Kitchengate is one of those things, like Dave in Morrisons, won't shift votes.
Then again, I was surprised by how much the polling in this country moved on whether Dave had visited a pasty shop in Leeds or not.
I honestly don't understand why Ed and Justine didn't just do the interview in his real kitchen. No one believes that he is a man of the people and trying to hide that fact just makes him look evasive or stupid.
It's really weird because people I know who have met Ed say he is a nice and thoughtful person but nothing like that comes across when he is in public.
Was Ed trying to hide the fact he has two kitchens? My guess is that he never even considered it for a second. This story erupted because Michael Gove's wife wrote an extraordinarily unpleasant article about the Milibands in the Daily Mail and one of their friends tweeted something in response.
Well he may not have, but I'm certain one of the spin team made sure they did it in the utility room rather than the massive kitchen. It's just like the bacon butty all over again. "Look at me, I'm a man of the people, I eat bacon and have a small kitchen just like you, I understand the cost of living crisis".
The bacon sarnie was bad enough, but only Ed could cock up having a cup of tea in a kitchen. - Another unforced media stunt backfires.
As I say below, it's the sign of a 24 carat loser that a vicious personal attack by the wife of a political opponent turns into a PR disaster for him. It could only happen to Ed. Still, he'll be gone in just a few weeks now.
SO you continually mention that it was Sarah Vine who wrote the original article, but the simple fact is that she was right to do it. Clearly Ed's team were trying to put across this image of "normal Ed" to the public by sticking him in the small utility room that looked like a kitchen in an average or small London home. You are trying to play the man, or woman in this case, rather than the ball by bringing up the author, it is completely irrelevant to the story.
Perhaps you missed Vine's assassination on This Week, which was very good and very to the point. She was on playing the victim card until it was pointed out that she was the bully. Her sputtering non-responses were a sight to behold.
Richard Rogers @oowmygawd 10h10 hours ago In 2014 I put a £20 bet @ 100/1 with local bookie on UKIP winning 50-100 seats in May, tonight in the pub he offered to but it back for £500
Looks like Richard Rogers bookie was on to something, doesn't it?
Yup, we all know about this, since you've mentioned it soooo many times. Is he paying you a commission for each post?
Someone tells me this morning they have been YouGov'd asking if they agree with Farage on there be no racism in this country, should we abolish the Race Relations and other anti discrimination laws.
We might see it over the weekend or the start of next week.
Richard Rogers @oowmygawd 10h10 hours ago In 2014 I put a £20 bet @ 100/1 with local bookie on UKIP winning 50-100 seats in May, tonight in the pub he offered to but it back for £500
Looks like Richard Rogers bookie was on to something, doesn't it?
It looks like a lie.
Because it is a lie.
It might as well say "Man offers to buy £40 for £500" because placing a £40 bet at the current odds of 50-1 would cover any potential loss in full. This is what bookies do. Actual bookies, not figments of Kippers fantastical imagination.
Richard Rogers @oowmygawd 10h10 hours ago In 2014 I put a £20 bet @ 100/1 with local bookie on UKIP winning 50-100 seats in May, tonight in the pub he offered to but it back for £500
Looks like Richard Rogers bookie was on to something, doesn't it?
I honestly don't understand why Ed and Justine didn't just do the interview in his real kitchen. No one believes that he is a man of the people and trying to hide that fact just makes him look evasive or stupid.
It's really weird because people I know who have met Ed say he is a nice and thoughtful person but nothing like that comes across when he is in public.
Was Ed trying to hide the fact he has two kitchens? My guess is that he never even considered it for a second. This story erupted because Michael Gove's wife wrote an extraordinarily unpleasant article about the Milibands in the Daily Mail and one of their friends tweeted something in response.
Well he may not have, but I'm certain one of the spin team made sure they did it in the utility room rather than the massive kitchen. It's just like the bacon butty all over again. "Look at me, I'm a man of the people, I eat bacon and have a small kitchen just like you, I understand the cost of living crisis".
The bacon sarnie was bad enough, but only Ed could cock up having a cup of tea in a kitchen. - Another unforced media stunt backfires.
As I say below, it's the sign of a 24 carat loser that a vicious personal attack by the wife of a political opponent turns into a PR disaster for him. It could only happen to Ed. Still, he'll be gone in just a few weeks now.
SO you continually mention that it was Sarah Vine who wrote the original article, but the simple fact is that she was right to do it. Clearly Ed's team were trying to put across this image of "normal Ed" to the public by sticking him in the small utility room that looked like a kitchen in an average or small London home. You are trying to play the man, or woman in this case, rather than the ball by bringing up the author, it is completely irrelevant to the story.
Perhaps you missed Vine's assassination on This Week, which was very good and very to the point. She was on playing the victim card until it was pointed out that she was the bully. Her sputtering non-responses were a sight to behold.
Portillo really went to town on her which was good to see. Portillo is the best part of this week, although Johnson is an improvement on Abbott. Just wish they'd get rid of the fluffy segment at the end.
@MaxPB - I am intrigued by your idea that Mrs Gove's article for the Daily Mail was not a personal attack on the Milibands.
Of course it wasn't a 'personal attack on the Milibands'. It was a debunking of their faked-up photo-shoot. It wasn't Sarah Vine, or the Mail, or CCHQ, who organised the original interview, supplied the photographer, and selected the locations for the photos.
If Mr and Mrs Miliband didn't want to be ridiculed on this, then they had a perfectly good alternative available to them: Mrs Miliband,instead of pretending ludicrously to be an ordinary working mum, could keep out of the limelight, and Mr Miliband could focus instead on telling us what a Labour government would actually do.
Come to think of it, though, if Ed did tell us what a Labour government would actually do, I suppose he'd be ridiculed even more.
I honestly don't understand why Ed and Justine didn't just do the interview in his real kitchen. No one believes that he is a man of the people and trying to hide that fact just makes him look evasive or stupid.
It's really weird because people I know who have met Ed say he is a nice and thoughtful person but nothing like that comes across when he is in public.
Was Ed trying to hide the fact he has two kitchens? My guess is that he never even considered it for a second. This story erupted because Michael Gove's wife wrote an extraordinarily unpleasant article about the Milibands in the Daily Mail and one of their friends tweeted something in response.
Does Miliband want to hide how wealthy he is? Possibly, but it's another reminder of the problems the new labour legacy has left him. An awful lot of Laour's traditional working class supporters no longer trust the party to act in their interests. It was the same thing the other week with the person saying he sounded like a public schoolboy. It's not a problem that is easily fixed and belies the myth that continuity new Labour would have seen him home and dry.
Perhaps you missed Vine's assassination on This Week, which was very good and very to the point. She was on playing the victim card until it was pointed out that she was the bully. Her sputtering non-responses were a sight to behold.
Portillo really went to town on her which was good to see. Portillo is the best part of this week, although Johnson is an improvement on Abbott. Just wish they'd get rid of the fluffy segment at the end.
What they need to drop is the irrelevant Miranda Green, her Norwegian Blue Party don't really deserve the coverage they get.
The final string on This Week varies, it worked pretty well last night with Drew-Honey as he's pretty well spoken and knows his stuff. His documentaries on BBC3 were probably the only time the channel has had decent documentary output.
@MaxPB - I am intrigued by your idea that Mrs Gove's article for the Daily Mail was not a personal attack on the Milibands.
Of course it wasn't a 'personal attack on the Milibands'. It was a debunking of their faked-up photo-shoot. It wasn't Sarah Vine, or the Mail, or CCHQ, who organised the original interview, supplied the photographer, and selected the locations for the photos.
If Mr and Mrs Miliband didn't want to be ridiculed on this, then they had a perfectly good alternative available to them: Mrs Miliband could keep out of the limelight, and Mr Miliband could focus instead on telling us what a Labour government would actually do.
Come to think of it, though, if Ed did tell us what a Labour government would actually do, I suppose he'd be ridiculed even more.
Is that right Richard?
The one thing that was totally lacking from her interview, however, was humour. That and any sign of warmth, empathy or fallibility. Intellectually, I’m certain she understands these concepts. But, like the late Mr Spock, one gets the impression she considers them unnecessary, inconvenient and wholly surplus to requirements.
It's good to know that you do not consider Mrs Gove writing about Mrs Miliband in this way a personal attack. We can remember that the next time you get on your high horse about venal, smearing Labour politicians and The Guardian.
Someone tells me this morning they have been YouGov'd asking if they agree with Farage on there be no racism in this country, should we abolish the Race Relations and other anti discrimination laws.
We might see it over the weekend or the start of next week.
@MaxPB - I am intrigued by your idea that Mrs Gove's article for the Daily Mail was not a personal attack on the Milibands.
Of course it wasn't a 'personal attack on the Milibands'. It was a debunking of their faked-up photo-shoot. It wasn't Sarah Vine, or the Mail, or CCHQ, who organised the original interview, supplied the photographer, and selected the locations for the photos.
If Mr and Mrs Miliband didn't want to be ridiculed on this, then they had a perfectly good alternative available to them: Mrs Miliband could keep out of the limelight, and Mr Miliband could focus instead on telling us what a Labour government would actually do.
Come to think of it, though, if Ed did tell us what a Labour government would actually do, I suppose he'd be ridiculed even more.
Is that right Richard?
The one thing that was totally lacking from her interview, however, was humour. That and any sign of warmth, empathy or fallibility. Intellectually, I’m certain she understands these concepts. But, like the late Mr Spock, one gets the impression she considers them unnecessary, inconvenient and wholly surplus to requirements.
It's good to know that you do not consider Mrs Gove writing about Mrs Miliband in this way a personal attack. We can remember that the next time you get on your high horse about venal, smearing Labour politicians and The Guardian.
Watch this week on the iplayer... Portillo takes Vine apart, it's very good
I wonder if the Greens are going to fail to reach a 'critical mass' and so fade back to 4% or so at the GE.
UKIP seem to have certainly achieved this feat.
The Green party shares for the different age groups in today's Populus are: 22%, 5%, 4%, 6%, 4%, 2%. I don't have to tell you in which order I've given them in.
Just ask Mike whether younger voters turnout. We know that many of them won't, and so it's sensible to be a bit bearish on the Green Party national vote share as a result. However, 4% would still be something like four times the votes they received in 2010.
"As the Russian jet approached the US vessel, the electronic device disabled all radars, control circuits, systems, information transmission, etc. on board the US destroyer. In other words, the all-powerful Aegis system, now hooked up – or about to be – with the defense systems installed on NATO’s most modern ships was shut down, as turning off the TV set with the remote control."
Here is a story for all PB Defence and Navy aficionados, from last November:
If true, this is a turn up for the book. Can any of our PB defence experts advise?
I very much doubt it is true, Mr. K. The story has been kicking around conspiracy websites for more than a year and its original source appears to be a Russian Radio station. File under B for bollocks.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that Ukip gain not so much by their policies but by the response to them. I'm perverse at the best of times but I'm not alone in being irritated by my self-elected betters telling me what to think.
I may agree with something but if the proponents of it insult my intelligence, I'll vote against just to annoy them.
If the LDs were happy to discuss the EU, I might vote for them again. It's their certainty in their own infallibility that gets up my nose. Although all parties do it.
The hysterical response to anything Ukip suggests is their trump card, it's not what they say, it's what their opponents say.
My prediction ... Ukip probably won't fall below 10% unless their political "betters" learn that sometimes less is more.
Someone tells me this morning they have been YouGov'd asking if they agree with Farage on there be no racism in this country, should we abolish the Race Relations and other anti discrimination laws.
We might see it over the weekend or the start of next week.
Perhaps you missed Vine's assassination on This Week, which was very good and very to the point. She was on playing the victim card until it was pointed out that she was the bully. Her sputtering non-responses were a sight to behold.
Portillo really went to town on her which was good to see. Portillo is the best part of this week, although Johnson is an improvement on Abbott. Just wish they'd get rid of the fluffy segment at the end.
What they need to drop is the irrelevant Miranda Green, her Norwegian Blue Party don't really deserve the coverage they get.
The final string on This Week varies, it worked pretty well last night with Drew-Honey as he's pretty well spoken and knows his stuff. His documentaries on BBC3 were probably the only time the channel has had decent documentary output.
I would say bring back Charlie Kennedy, although on the basis of his QT performance maybe not?! And yes the lad was pretty good last night, very articulate, made a pleasant change.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that Ukip gain not so much by their policies but by the response to them. I'm perverse at the best of times but I'm not alone in being irritated by my self-elected betters telling me what to think.
I may agree with something but if the proponents of it insult my intelligence, I'll vote against just to annoy them.
If the LDs were happy to discuss the EU, I might vote for them again. It's their certainty in their own infallibility that gets up my nose. Although all parties do it.
The hysterical response to anything Ukip suggests is their trump card, it's not what they say, it's what their opponents say.
My prediction ... Ukip probably won't fall below 10% unless their political "betters" learn that sometimes less is more.
Nail hit on head. The sequences is:-
1. Farage utters some blasphemy.
2. Other politicians react like characters in a Bateman cartoon.
3. UKIP's 15% or so of the vote solidifies.
4. c.40% of Conservative voters, and 20% of Labour voters think Farage has a point.
Labour Uncut interesting - perhaps overdoing it? - on Farage, and the opportunity for the Tories, but also the media:
Third, there’s the reaction of the journalists.
By pretending he hadn’t said that Britain’s anti-racism legislation should be abolished, Nigel Farage was effectively saying that the journalists reporting the story were liars.
[...]
For several journalists, yesterday was the final straw. Farage’s ludicrous denials and the tide of bile from his online followers were the point he stepped out of the mainstream and into the Palinverse.
The one thing that was totally lacking from her interview, however, was humour. That and any sign of warmth, empathy or fallibility. Intellectually, I’m certain she understands these concepts. But, like the late Mr Spock, one gets the impression she considers them unnecessary, inconvenient and wholly surplus to requirements.
It's good to know that you do not consider Mrs Gove writing about Mrs Miliband in this way a personal attack. We can remember that the next time you get on your high horse about venal, smearing Labour politicians and The Guardian.
Don't be absurd, you are claiming that Mrs Miliband - having chosen, of her own free will, to engage in a party political interview on behalf of the Labour Party - can't be criticised for its content.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that Ukip gain not so much by their policies but by the response to them. I'm perverse at the best of times but I'm not alone in being irritated by my self-elected betters telling me what to think.
I may agree with something but if the proponents of it insult my intelligence, I'll vote against just to annoy them.
If the LDs were happy to discuss the EU, I might vote for them again. It's their certainty in their own infallibility that gets up my nose. Although all parties do it.
The hysterical response to anything Ukip suggests is their trump card, it's not what they say, it's what their opponents say.
My prediction ... Ukip probably won't fall below 10% unless their political "betters" learn that sometimes less is more.
Nail hit on head. The sequences is:-
1. Farage utters some blasphemy.
2. Other politicians react like characters in a Bateman cartoon.
3. UKIP's 15% or so of the vote solidifies.
4. c.40% of Conservative voters, and 20% of Labour voters think Farage has a point.
You see the same phenomenon in the zoo. The monkeys throw shit at the gawping public. The adults are horrified and the children think it's hilarious.
The Times have helpfully included in their version of the kitchen story a picture of David Miliband in his vast kitchen with all manner of fancy kit
They are very useful. Essential!
What's an egg boiler? (Other than a pan with boiling water in it.)
Thanks. No offence - but seem daft to me. More clutter to store and no real benefit over boiling in a pan. A bit like those egg poacher pans.
There might be a point in a single-egg boiler - saves energy compared to heating a whole pan.
Or use a smaller pan and boil two eggs....
I am a bit of a gadget-o-phobe. Very few strike me as truly useful. They generally seem to me to be an invention looking for a problem to solve.
A Nespresso coffee machine is a must have, a very high quality blender is a must have, a mini chopper is a must have and a Kenwood Chef Titanium is a really good addition to any kitchen.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that Ukip gain not so much by their policies but by the response to them. I'm perverse at the best of times but I'm not alone in being irritated by my self-elected betters telling me what to think.
I may agree with something but if the proponents of it insult my intelligence, I'll vote against just to annoy them.
If the LDs were happy to discuss the EU, I might vote for them again. It's their certainty in their own infallibility that gets up my nose. Although all parties do it.
The hysterical response to anything Ukip suggests is their trump card, it's not what they say, it's what their opponents say.
My prediction ... Ukip probably won't fall below 10% unless their political "betters" learn that sometimes less is more.
Nail hit on head. The sequences is:-
1. Farage utters some blasphemy.
2. Other politicians react like characters in a Bateman cartoon.
3. UKIP's 15% or so of the vote solidifies.
4. c.40% of Conservative voters, and 20% of Labour voters think Farage has a point.
The Times have helpfully included in their version of the kitchen story a picture of David Miliband in his vast kitchen with all manner of fancy kit
They are very useful. Essential!
What's an egg boiler? (Other than a pan with boiling water in it.)
Thanks. No offence - but seem daft to me. More clutter to store and no real benefit over boiling in a pan. A bit like those egg poacher pans.
There might be a point in a single-egg boiler - saves energy compared to heating a whole pan.
Or use a smaller pan and boil two eggs....
I am a bit of a gadget-o-phobe. Very few strike me as truly useful. They generally seem to me to be an invention looking for a problem to solve.
A Nespresso coffee machine is a must have, a very high quality blender is a must have, a mini chopper is a must have and a Kenwood Chef Titanium is a really good addition to any kitchen.
Good sharp knives, and decent pans, ideally bought from a professional catering supplier. Everything else is irrelevant.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that Ukip gain not so much by their policies but by the response to them. I'm perverse at the best of times but I'm not alone in being irritated by my self-elected betters telling me what to think.
I may agree with something but if the proponents of it insult my intelligence, I'll vote against just to annoy them.
If the LDs were happy to discuss the EU, I might vote for them again. It's their certainty in their own infallibility that gets up my nose. Although all parties do it.
The hysterical response to anything Ukip suggests is their trump card, it's not what they say, it's what their opponents say.
My prediction ... Ukip probably won't fall below 10% unless their political "betters" learn that sometimes less is more.
Nail hit on head. The sequences is:-
1. Farage utters some blasphemy.
2. Other politicians react like characters in a Bateman cartoon.
3. UKIP's 15% or so of the vote solidifies.
4. c.40% of Conservative voters, and 20% of Labour voters think Farage has a point.
You see the same phenomenon in the zoo. The monkeys throw shit at the gawping public. The adults are horrified and the children think it's hilarious.
The one thing that was totally lacking from her interview, however, was humour. That and any sign of warmth, empathy or fallibility. Intellectually, I’m certain she understands these concepts. But, like the late Mr Spock, one gets the impression she considers them unnecessary, inconvenient and wholly surplus to requirements.
It's good to know that you do not consider Mrs Gove writing about Mrs Miliband in this way a personal attack. We can remember that the next time you get on your high horse about venal, smearing Labour politicians and The Guardian.
Don't be absurd, you are claiming that Mrs Miliband - having chosen, of her own free will, to engage in a party political interview on behalf of the Labour Party - can't be criticised for its content.
The Times have helpfully included in their version of the kitchen story a picture of David Miliband in his vast kitchen with all manner of fancy kit
They are very useful. Essential!
What's an egg boiler? (Other than a pan with boiling water in it.)
Thanks. No offence - but seem daft to me. More clutter to store and no real benefit over boiling in a pan. A bit like those egg poacher pans.
There might be a point in a single-egg boiler - saves energy compared to heating a whole pan.
Or use a smaller pan and boil two eggs....
I am a bit of a gadget-o-phobe. Very few strike me as truly useful. They generally seem to me to be an invention looking for a problem to solve.
A Nespresso coffee machine is a must have, a very high quality blender is a must have, a mini chopper is a must have and a Kenwood Chef Titanium is a really good addition to any kitchen.
Pah!
1. A Nespresso coffee machine: unless George Clooney promises to turn up in my kitchen, make the bloody coffee and bring it to me in bed, not a must have at all. A small espresso machine of the type found in every Italian household is all that's needed. 2. One blender: have that. 3. A mini-chopper: I have some sharp knives. 4. What the hell is a Kenwood Chef Titanium?
My must haves: a cheese grater and a potato masher. A good vegetable peeler and good quality knives. A kettle. A steamer. Good quality pans. That's about it.
Comments
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/historical-polls/voting-intention-2001-2005
Have only had a quick scan through though.
#bodyblow
Sometimes, if you're not sure of your exact plans, it can be cheaper to buy a standard class ticket and do an upgrade on the day.
For example on some days, usually weekends, you can do a first class upgrade on the train for between 10 and 20 pounds.
What to do with the Plebs? You patronise them, you point out the error of their ways, and still some ignore the commands. The ingratitude of it all.
I adore tricks and anyone who can do one. There used to be a FAB show on ITV called You Bet where contestants displayed their odd skills. One chappy who worked for the Potato Marketing Board could identify 20 varieties of boiled potatoes by blindfold tasting.
I was deeply impressed. This one is for @Sunil_Prasannan - the Tube. https://youtube.com/watch?v=A68F4_YhbbQ
There might be a point in a single-egg boiler - saves energy compared to heating a whole pan.
I'd say the evidence suggests parity at the moment. But there is a trend of two steps forward one step back Tory recovery.
The question is whether that will continue enough over the next 8 weeks to hand them the election.
In 2014 I put a £20 bet @ 100/1 with local bookie on UKIP winning 50-100 seats in May, tonight in the pub he offered to but it back for £500
Looks like Richard Rogers bookie was on to something, doesn't it?
The days they don't do the upgrade if there is a London v Manchester or Manchester v London football match on.
Well they do the upgrade, they charge you the full whack.
There’s nothing here that makes me believe that he and Justine are not, in fact, aliens. No evidence of food-stuffs, certainly. Perhaps they get their nourishment from the fruits that grow only in the rarefied atmosphere of the moral high ground.
Or perhaps they’re both just so holier than thou that they no longer require any nourishment other than the knowledge of their own righteousness. You certainly wouldn’t want to have supper there.
Just as I am intrigued by the notion that the fact the author of this vicious piece is married to a senior Conservative cabinet minister is irrelevant.
On reflection, I think you are wrong. But, as I say, it just makes Ed seem even more of a loser.
Confidence range for all parties
Populus
Con 30 - 34
Lab 30 - 36
Lib Dem 7 - 10
SNP 3 - 6
PC 0 - 1
GRN 4 - 6
UKIP 14 - 17
Other 0 - 1
So this poll is most likely an outlier on the UKIP/Con scores
But we can not say for certain.
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/voting-intention-2/populus
Still an utterly dreadful poll for the Tories though...
The original attack was on the banal utilitarian nature of this so called kitchen. I have to say on the face of it I thought that was a bit harsh - the real objection surely must be to the garish and green and out of place laundry basket.
Where it went ballistic was in the dumb defence of this kitchen by someone offering up a defence by saying 'Oh no thats not his ''real'' kitchen. His proper kitchen is much posher than that'.
With friends like that who needs Ed Balls?
I got the tube to Hornchurch from Upminster and used my Oyster card, worked out £2 cheaper than buying a ticket
On kitchengate, reckon it's a storm in a bacon butty teacup myself but its not that helpful to Ed. Also sums up Daily Mail journalism to a tee on politics. Portillo was quite right on this one.
Do you use vinegar in the water for poached eggs? I don't like them myself but heard vinegar is ace for keeping them together.
There's more chance of England winning the current cricket world cup than Ukip winning 50+ seats.
45% in Scotland? That sounds vaguely familiar.
Can anyone remember why?
The usual pattern of the Conservatives advancing at the start of the week, and falling back later has continued, but leaving the Conservatives in a better position, relative to Labour, than they've been so far this year.
I am a bit of a gadget-o-phobe. Very few strike me as truly useful. They generally seem to me to be an invention looking for a problem to solve.
Also was last night the night Charlie Kennedy lost Ross, Skye, Lochaber - I know he's got a very big personal vote but I can see last night's show pushing a couple of SNP/Kennedy waverers to the Nats.
Kitchengate is one of those things, like Dave in Morrisons, won't shift votes.
Then again, I was surprised by how much the polling in this country moved on whether Dave had visited a pasty shop in Leeds or not.
It's also slightly more than what Labour got in 2010.
Not necessary
We might see it over the weekend or the start of next week.
Because it is a lie.
It might as well say "Man offers to buy £40 for £500" because placing a £40 bet at the current odds of 50-1 would cover any potential loss in full. This is what bookies do. Actual bookies, not figments of Kippers fantastical imagination.
No wonder the polls are lagging the betting markets
If Mr and Mrs Miliband didn't want to be ridiculed on this, then they had a perfectly good alternative available to them: Mrs Miliband,instead of pretending ludicrously to be an ordinary working mum, could keep out of the limelight, and Mr Miliband could focus instead on telling us what a Labour government would actually do.
Come to think of it, though, if Ed did tell us what a Labour government would actually do, I suppose he'd be ridiculed even more.
An infuriating combination.
I'm quite prepared to offer 4-1 however.
The final string on This Week varies, it worked pretty well last night with Drew-Honey as he's pretty well spoken and knows his stuff. His documentaries on BBC3 were probably the only time the channel has had decent documentary output.
The one thing that was totally lacking from her interview, however, was humour. That and any sign of warmth, empathy or fallibility.
Intellectually, I’m certain she understands these concepts. But, like the late Mr Spock, one gets the impression she considers them unnecessary, inconvenient and wholly surplus to requirements.
It's good to know that you do not consider Mrs Gove writing about Mrs Miliband in this way a personal attack. We can remember that the next time you get on your high horse about venal, smearing Labour politicians and The Guardian.
Just ask Mike whether younger voters turnout. We know that many of them won't, and so it's sensible to be a bit bearish on the Green Party national vote share as a result. However, 4% would still be something like four times the votes they received in 2010.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that Ukip gain not so much by their policies but by the response to them. I'm perverse at the best of times but I'm not alone in being irritated by my self-elected betters telling me what to think.
I may agree with something but if the proponents of it insult my intelligence, I'll vote against just to annoy them.
If the LDs were happy to discuss the EU, I might vote for them again. It's their certainty in their own infallibility that gets up my nose. Although all parties do it.
The hysterical response to anything Ukip suggests is their trump card, it's not what they say, it's what their opponents say.
My prediction ... Ukip probably won't fall below 10% unless their political "betters" learn that sometimes less is more.
#Dailymailmirrorpolitics
1. Farage utters some blasphemy.
2. Other politicians react like characters in a Bateman cartoon.
3. UKIP's 15% or so of the vote solidifies.
4. c.40% of Conservative voters, and 20% of Labour voters think Farage has a point.
Third, there’s the reaction of the journalists.
By pretending he hadn’t said that Britain’s anti-racism legislation should be abolished, Nigel Farage was effectively saying that the journalists reporting the story were liars.
[...]
For several journalists, yesterday was the final straw. Farage’s ludicrous denials and the tide of bile from his online followers were the point he stepped out of the mainstream and into the Palinverse.
http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2015/03/13/nigel-farage-has-destroyed-himself-and-ukip-he-might-yet-take-the-whole-eurosceptic-movement-down-too/#more-19397
where are the howls of protest?
No, not one.
We're looking into rumours of a third Miliband kitchen.
lolz
1. A Nespresso coffee machine: unless George Clooney promises to turn up in my kitchen, make the bloody coffee and bring it to me in bed, not a must have at all. A small espresso machine of the type found in every Italian household is all that's needed.
2. One blender: have that.
3. A mini-chopper: I have some sharp knives.
4. What the hell is a Kenwood Chef Titanium?
My must haves: a cheese grater and a potato masher. A good vegetable peeler and good quality knives. A kettle. A steamer. Good quality pans. That's about it.