Xela

I was aiming on 10 new countries a year but as I did my main trip in the states this year I'm behind schedule , only 6 this year so far

6 is still impressive... i'll only hit 2 new countries this year. One of them is Spain! Ridiculous that I've never been yet! Off to Malaga next Friday

No votes for New York City yet? Hmm.

By the way, Singapore is way too hot (and clean) to be considered, in my opinion.

New York is number 2 for me.. it's an amazing place, but HK pips it in my experience. I do want to go back to NYC though.

My top 5:

1) Hong Kong

2) New York

3) Bangkok

4) Paris

5) Rome

I do like Tallinn as well... beautiful little city.

Off to Copenhagen in a couple of weeks, looking forward to that.

Tiger beer tonight

shanghai, amazing place

What makes it amazing? Was meant to be going there this year but due to my mate losing his job, its been put on hold.

I thought it was quite a good analogy. As a former owner of two Audis and a current BMW owner, although BMW traditionally held the marque, Audis are far better cars. Mercedes used to have a poor reputation for quality and reliability; a trait BMW appear all too happy to pick up.

For the money, BMWs are poorly built and overpriced. Similar to Apple products, one might say. I'm desperately trying to shift mine!

I guess its a matter of opinion, like phones and operating systems. I've had beamers and a Merc and extensive use of Audi's, other beamers and other Mercs in the family and I would say BMW are still the best in most areas, 'driveability' being the biggest. I do like all 3 marques though.. they all have their pluses and minuses.

Edit: apologies for taking it off topic! As an iPhone using, BMW driving banker, I promise to try and become a better person!

My connection is with the club itself and not any individual player. They are basically employees and will move on if a better gig comes along... with the odd exception, Gabby being an example.

True, but brand doesn't last forever, look at Merc's now. Audi is the new BMW, BMW is the old Merc

What does that even mean?

So, what is your favourite city in the world and why? I'm a big fan of exploring sprawling cities and metropolises when I am on my travels and am lucky enough to have been to a fair few over the last ten years or so,

My favourite is Hong Kong... its got it all. Amazing skyline, great food, hedonistic nightlife and plenty to keep you occupied during the day. It would be a great place to live and work. It just edges out New York in my opinion, although I am a massive fan of the Big Apple as well.

As long as it wasn't cancer of the balls, I'd go and spent it in Thailand and go out with a bang!

Although Rio would be another option!

Sadly a predictable result, even at 2-0 up. Naturally disappointed but a great performance from our young team. We may be struggling towards the bottom of the league but I am far more positive than I was last season. If we continue to play like that we will be fine.

Watched Dead Man's Shoes last night. Very bleak! Great acting though from Paddy Constandine.

Went a few times.. would have been late 90's. Was a good laugh. Then onto the Dome II.

Trying to identify an old obscure phone I used to have, with no luck, it was a pre cyber shot Sony Ericsson (possibly just Ericsson), from about 2002 and it cost me about £90. Was silver, the screen jutted forward a bit and wasn't a mainline/flagship phone.

Im not expecting anyone to pinpoint it but are there any sites that help with such things?

Try GSM Arena. They have pretty much every phone on there.

A pikelet is finger shaped, a crumpet is round.

Nah, you can have round pikelets

Singha

Pumpkin beer

The phrase (and associated sports brand) 'Unbelievable Tekkers'.. and by default, Villa fans bastardising it to say Unbelievable Bentekkers.

Just **** off.

£1200 net? It'll be tough mate, that much is true, but if you make sacrifices I'm sure it can work.

Any chance of your mrs getting a part time job to help out?

I rent a one bed flat in Four Oaks

Rent £525

Council Tax c£90 (can't remember exact figure)

Water £40

Electricity £100

Phone/Broadband £30

TV Licence £12

Deposit will be 6-8 weeks rent. Also factor in contents insurance, food shopping etc as well.

You won't have to pay the ground rent or maintenance as that is usually built into your rent.

I have a Kindle (Keyboard 3G model) and love it. As others have said, you can't beat the look or feel of a proper book but when travelling or on planes/trains it is ideal. I have the choice of hundreds of books on there.

Another plus point is the extensive selection of free classic titles available on Amazon.

I am tempted to upgrade to the new Paperwhite in due course.

I've bought a shit load of stuff from Argos, including furniture (I was skint when i moved into my house. Ikea was upmarket for me!)

Everything I've bought from there is still absolutely fine. Granted the furniture I bought wa sonly TV stands, coffee tables, DVD storage that sort of thing. no sofas or proper tables or anything.

But yeah, it's all perfectly fine.

So my answer is no.

Same, I had absolutely nothing when I moved in. Bought my bed, 2 bedside tables, chest of drawers, sideboard, dining table and 4 chairs, 2 sofas, coffee table, bookcase and tv table from Argos. 5 years on and they are in perfect condition. Really well built.

People who make references to ladyboys when you mention you are off to Thailand on holiday or visiting Bangkok on business... and then thinking they are the first person ever to say it! They must think the streets are full of them!

I'm a bit old fashioned in my appreciation of art.. I need to look at it and think.. "That's fantastic, I couldn't do that". Stuff like the Night Watch, the work in the Sistine Chapel or the Raphael Rooms. Coloured shapes on a white background, or an unmade bed, or a light blinking on and off are, quite frankly, not my cup of tea. I struggle to see it as art.

Back to the Future part 2 last night. Brilliant! Seen it countless times but I love it.

That thought disturbed me more than any of the pics in this thread .

I really really hope that never happened.

The Khmer Rouge used to do that as well. Using sharpened bamboo canes as opposed to bayonets :-(