Xela

Not personally, but they seem very popular if you want to passively invest in a broad range of things. Do tend to have a wider exposure to the UK as opposed to say something like the HSBC Global Strategy multi asset funds.

Far too many bolitics threads

She has great norks but as you say, she's a narcissist who is obsessed with social media. Definite red flags in any woman in her early 20's, let alone someone in her mid 30's.

I told you not to send her a cock pic!

Sorry, misread the question and only answered part of it! I know what causes the pain - it is the curvature of the spine and mild ankylosing spondylitis, which was diagnosed at a later date (it causes inflammation of the spine). The referral I've had is for further investigation to see if has got worse (the AK) and if I have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis What I want is to get away from the dependancy of the pills. Its like taking asprin every day just in case you get a headache. Its proven (so far) that I don't need to take them every day. Yes, there may be times when I need them, a 'flare up', for example, but for just getting through everyday life i don't want to be dependant on them as I don't know what damage they are causing my insides. If it means I have to put up with a bit more discomfort from everyday aches and pains, then so be it

Funnily enough I have been referred - waiting for an appointment.

Nah, not really. They know bits and pieces. Its amazing how easy it is to keep secrets from your nearest and dearest when you are an addict.

Cheers Mike. Seeing my doc on Wednesday so will discuss it then, but think (or hope!) i'm over the worst of it now.

Cheers Ruge! I know its not as rock n roll as a skag habit but its a big problem in 'middle class' Britain. How you getting on?

Cheers mate! 10 days 'clean' now and i'm happy with how things are going. I'm just going to have to get used to the dull pain of being an overweight nearly 40yo with a bad back!

What is there to be addicted to in painkillers? Lack of pain! Its a valid question... its like any drug, you get a dependancy to how it makes you feel and it becomes a necessity to get through your day. What would happen if i didn't take one? Joint pain... the feeling of your ankle, knee, elbow joints on fire... feeling like you've been run over or done over with a baseball bat.. All that pain is taken away with a pill and in 20 mins your joints feel fine and you can go about your day. No different to how heroin or cocaine users feel if they're coming down from their drug. Painkillers like cocodamol (codeine and paracetamol mixed) is an opiate (like heroin) and once taken converts to morphine in the brain making you content and in a dreamy state. I was on cocodamol for a few weeks with tendonitis and I was like a space cadet!

As @villa4europe says, its good but not epic! Check out Carlito's Way if you haven't seen it

You monster.

Two films: Casino - absolute classic. Love it! As good as Goodfellas in my opinion. Wonderful score as well. Dirty Grandpa - just 90 mins of cock and fanny jokes. Admittedly funny in parts but Bob De Niro, how low you have fallen!

Ok, never mentioned it on here before, but here goes... For over 20 years I have been on prescription painkillers. Was I addicted... yes, I would say I was. The Doctors were happy to prescribe them as I made it clear without them I wouldn't be able to function in everyday life. They were initially prescribed as I suffered terrible knee problems in my teenage years, which required surgery and then back pain which they found was due to a curvature of my spine. All through my 20's and 30's I was taking NSAID's daily as well as opioids occasionally (luckily never had too much access to these). I used to panic when I forgot to take one (used to take 1 in the morning and 1 in the early evening) and when going on holiday I had to ensure that I had enough 'supply' to get me through. If I went on a works night out I would have to take then with me and i'd always refuse impromptu nights out as I wouldn't have them on me! Basically I had to schedule my life around taking them. I was well aware of the long term side effects of them (risk of heart attacks, kidney failure, liver problems, stomach ulcers and gastric bleeds) and i dare say my stomach problems were partly down to 20 years of popping them like tic-tacs! For anyone interested was mainly Diclofenac I took, but also Naproxen as well. Now i'm 9 days in without taking any of them. I decided last Friday to go cold turkey and see if coming off them would improve my stomach issues in the long term. I've had blood tests which confirm my kidneys are fine and there doesn't appear to have been any damage so far so here I am! I won't lie... it hasn't been plain sailing. I've suffered a lot of headaches, joint pains (ankles, knees, shoulders) and terrible backache when I wake up but the hardest thing I have taken in a week is a couple of paracetamol! I've still got my 'stash' in my drugs cabinet but if I can get through a month then i'll take them back to the pharmacy.

Nah, what a shit! I had to unscrew the metal base off the TV as it was too heavy with it on. I nearly keeled over when I got to the top of the stairs.

I'm not medical professional (like Dr Fox or Dr Dre) but i'd say cutting out the weed while being a bit mentally vulnerable would probably help you in all aspects of life at the moment, not just flying. In terms of what you experience, I used to be a huge fan of flying. Now I just view it as a necessary evil as part of the holiday. I'm not nervous, I just find it a chore but I always feel a bit rough afterwards. I put it down to the lower air pressure in the cabin.

I think it is revered because back in 1970 it was an outstanding save. Goalkeepers, and players in general, were less athletic back then. Nowadays the keepers are acrobats (unless you play for Villa or are Joe Hart!) and excellent saves are far more common

Nice and relaxed weekend for me. Chilled out Friday evening and had an early night as was shattered. Saturday went to my folks. Love going over there, its so peaceful. No sheep at the end of the garden today, think they have all gone to market/slaughter, but there are some deer there now. Spent the afternoon there chilling out and back home in the evening. Motorways were clear as well so it was ideal time to give some old albums a blast! Today I've had a cracking breakfast of buttermilk pancakes, syrup, eggs and crispy bacon before doing my weekly food shop. After that popped over to a work colleagues house to pick up a TV he was going to throw away. A big Samsung HD model. Nothing fancy but for free, its a no-brainer! I'm not above charity, being the thrifty spender I am! Nearly gave myself a hernia getting it up 4 flights of stairs back home though. Decided not to bother logging on to do some work tonight, it can wait until tomorrow.

Hope you got suitably wasted?!

Same. They're doing well aren't they? I used the same rationale to start following the Browns in the NFL (when Lerner came)

In the States, it looks like the Jussie Smollet (actor from Empire) case is unravelling. He was the subject of an alleged racist attack from a couple of white guys in MAGA hats who poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck. A shocking crime! However, from reports it looks as though it was all staged and two Nigerian born extras from the show helped stage it. They were arrested and have now been released after (according to rumours) rolling over and cooperating with the feds.

Exactly. She's not even repentant now, she only wants to come back as IS have pretty much been removed from all their bases in Syria. If not she would still be there and aiding and assisting a terrorist regime who hate western ideals. As a UK citizen if she does make it to the border then she should be admitted and detained under an appropriate terrorism offence. However, we should not actively waste any resources on bringing her back.