Xela

I need to read the details but it might work for some people? My redundancy would be about £30k if I got the push tomorrow (I wish!) but I would give up my rights if they gave me £30k of shares instead. I'd just resign! Or doesn't it work like that?!

Never gotten the feeling that they want to secede from the mainland, what they want (at least in HK's case) is for democracy to be preserved. The "1 Country, 2 Systems" policy seems to have worked fine for them so far, there's been some unhappiness recently I think though as apparently Beijing are trying to get their grimy hands into HK politics. I always got the impression from when I was in HK and speaking to people, especially the younger generation (twenties etc) that given the choice they would rather still be under British rule as opposed to Chinese rule

Yeah its a flat over a shop opposite the church. I think the flat might be over the Shipleys arcade? Not certain!

Congrats GeorgeVilla82 On the same theme, my father who got made redundant a few weeks ago after working for the same company for 38 years had an interview today for a new job. Got offered the job on the spot. Delighted for him as he thought at the age of 61 he would be on the scrapheap.

The ones I looked at were around £350-£375 all in south brum (Longbridge and Halesowen mainly), looked at plenty of cheaper studio apartments but I cant get past the whole 'bed in your lounge' aspect of them. I'm amazed you've got a two bed for that. Bargain! Its the initial month that would **** it up as you need the deposit, first months rent, admin fees and all your bills and food etc.... That's pretty good prices. I pay £550 for a one bed. I love living on my own... no way could I share. Its expensive but I can't put a price on having my own space. I'd like to buy but can't find anything I like in my price range. My mate has a one bed in Erdington town centre... pretty big and I think he pays £375pm

I don't think there was a 3? It went from iPhone (the original) to 3G to 3GS? I agree with the rest of your post. I had a play with an iPhone 5 at the Fort on Sunday and coming from a 3GS it would be a big upgrade in terms of spec (screen, camera etc). However, I had a play and its simply a case of 'more of the same'. I mean, its nice and everything, but the OS hasn't really evolved and it was a bit underwhelming. Also had a play on the S3 and the One X and they were impressive. Got some thinking to do! I'm in the market for a phone and tablet and I was convinced it would be the iPhone 5 and iPad. Now i'm not so sure. The Kindle Fire HD is drawing me in on the tablet front as well.

I read that a while ago too and have been working my way through his stuff over the past year or so. Filth is something else. I've started getting into Phillip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series, I read one of the later ones to start with and really enjoyed it and am starting back at the beginning of Berlin Noir now. I read Trainspotting again after finishing Skagboys and now re-reading Porno. I don't think Welsh has ever hit the heights of his debut novel. Saying that I do like Filth. Read it a few times... always makes me laugh! The movie is out next year. Be interesting to see how it manages to portray the main characters. Welsh has said himself that he thinks the film could be bigger then the Trainspotting film.

I went to an RC school and i'm not religious. Sure, had to sing the Lords Prayer every now and again but it was quite low key

Just finished Skagboys by Irvine Welsh. Set a few years before Trainspotting and gives the back story of the main characters. Not a bad read, lacks the fizz of Trainspotting but entertaining anyway.

I'm still using an iPhone 3GS and its been a great servant. Over 3 years now and still going strong. I do feel the need to upgrade though... its a straight choice in my mind between Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5. Is there any other ones I should consider? Anything from HTC? How about Windows phones?

I thought that was Lee Martin in an FA Cup match? :? Mark Robins scored in the 1-0 win in the 3rd round at Forest. I think Lee Martin scored the winner in the FA Cup Final replay that same year

Awful news. Shows how dangerous the job can be.. two young officers went to work in the morning and will never see their families again. Tragic.

Being ill. Today is my first sick day in 5 years. Some would say i'm due one but I don't being off (apart from holidays!) as I know I will have to go back to 3 times as much work tomorrow/Thursday

I'd say around 40? If you aren't middle aged until 55, what are you when you are 50? Young?

A four figure tax refund from HMRC :-)

If you're looking for a package then companies like Trailfinders and Travelbag are decent. However, I always find it easier and cheaper to book it yourself. Sort your flights out first (I've flown into HK and out of Singers on KLM before). Air Asia is your friend with pan Asian flights. Then once the dates are sorted, book the hotels through Booking/Agoda/Hotels.com etc

Just the one career for me... Banking. Been doing it over 10 years. First few jobs were just that, 'jobs'. Trainee chartered surveyor, sales admin in an import/export business and plenty of short term contracts working through Reed.

I watched Dallas... quite liked it! Also watching Person of Interest which seems pretty decent.

The etap (or Ibis Budget as it is now called) is used as a bail/probation hostel by the authorities in Brum. Combine that with the general stag do / hen parties and you can see the quality of the clientele it attracts

Aren't NFL 'role models' even more well paid and act like even bigger pricks? I think most big sports have the same issues. I'm not knocking your point, I feel exactly the same with football as you do.

I can see where the OP is coming from... my love of football has waned over the years. I will always be a Villa fan but I don't dedicate as much time or effort to it as I used to. I guess I grew out of it as I got older and I realised there were a lot more important things in life. I still root for us, take an interest etc but if we lose it doesn't ruin my day like it used to. After all, its just a game.

Very quiet for me this weekend... and I need it! Just going to sleep, hit the gym hard and watch films. Got a few jobs to do (shopping, need to buy a suit etc) but nothing too taxing. Last weekend I'm at home in a few weeks as in Bournemouth next weekend for a wedding, Egypt the weekend after and Manchester the weekend after that.

Oh yeah Man City are to blame as well.. the whole situation is messed up. If City hadn't subsidised the wage, I imagine he would never sign for Spurs despite being offered £80k per week. He'd rather sit a home for 2 years earning £175k per week (which he's entitled to do) but in my eyes makes him a mercenary. Ah.. dunno why it makes me angry, it just does!

The Adebayor transfer demonstrates all what is wrong with modern football. Greedy mercenary footballer on alleged £175k PER WEEK at Citeh and refusing to take a pay a cut to a paltry £80k per week to join Spurs until Citeh make up the difference. I sincerely hope football bankrupts itself and has to start again.

I'd rather spend the money on a £16k honeymoon!