HighPeakFox

I have no useful advice, but it is heartening to find out how many of you are skilled and openly helpful to @Kopic

For the record, by most peoples' standards I'm probably pretty much a conservative socialist (ie not an extremist), and thus would prefer it if we weren't such a reactionary country with such a disgusting press, a populace where a significant number of people can't or won't think outside of hackneyed cliché and spin (especially about the nature of anything slightly left of the worryingly normalised echoes of 1930s Germany - cf Crush the Saboteurs, Enemies of the People etc) and a vastly compromised Labour Party. I avoid it all because I cannot change anything other than by being a good human being, or as good as I can manage at the time. None of the nonsense one hears about the left is new - it was standard fare amongst my peers at school in the 80s, and their parents too. The sadness for me is that so many have refused to learn or grow up, and so the same leftie-fearing childish gibber still dominates the mindset of many. So really, I have a lot of time for good people, like I take @The Doctor to be, because I believe him to be a high minded, ethical individual. I say this because I suspect we're on the same page in many ways, and I respect the stance, even if it's too fanciful to become a reality. But I should apologise for using the word dogma really, because idealism is a better word for someone - anyone - who wants things to be better, and hope is a far better, healthier guide to life than resigned cynicism. Sorry, @The Doctor, and my thanks for being good enough not to attack me personally. So I hope Labour win (because, under the current system, only they can) and change things for the better, and I also hope that the crooks that are fleeing before they're fully revealed, haven't holed the boat beyond repair. And I hope that the voting system then gets changed to something far more grown up, that stops politics being so partisan. I hope you all have a good day, whoever you choose to vote for.

German Manager?

I won't get into policies with you, because there's no point. Unfortunately, he has to compromise, probably more than most would like, & I'm willing to concede he probably has done as you describe and evidence. However, I believe that he's a man of decency, won't get mired in sleaze, and will do as best he can after 14 years of wanton destruction. For that, he's way more worthy than anything opposite.

The sentiment is enough Deb x

Has train travel/ticket buying become easier than it used to be, or do you still have to get the supplement?

You said 'he has nothing going for him', which I will answer. Whatever his merits as a leader or mistakes made, this is a guy who has not come from privilege, has had a hugely (and deserved) successful career in law, and thus has proved competence at the highest level - there are many politicans of all colours who fall short in that alone. You are of course welcome to your dislike of him, but it reeks of absolutism (dogma), and the sort of thing the left does to itself time and again, turn on their own harder than they turn on the real enemy. They did it to Corbyn too, which I found equally despicable and depressing. But to say he offers 'nothing' is pure BS.

He might not be wildly popular, but this simply is not true.

Like Daggers, I have plenty of family I do not trust. I was referring more to how people allow themselves to be foul because Maresca might be leaving.

I'm reminded how unpleasant some people can be at times

In more breaking news, water is wet.

Honestly, that's what my brain saw.

It will be closer than most think, I fear, because we are a right-leaning country with a horrifically biased, corrupt and politically intertwined gutter press, who will do anything they can to weaken the majority.

A defender / defence can't really be judged fairly if the midfield in front of them exposes them horribly. Whatever their merits, Huth, Morgan et al only worked because of what they had covering them.

I've asked before but nobody seems to know.... Surely if both players are out of contract and nobody else is wanting them, then their previous wages are immediately irrelevant, are they not?

I am sure he loves you and will understand.

This is absolutely on the money

Love to you, Deb x

Moving to say the least.

I put it to you that they've been a corrupt, venal mess for longer than you might care to imagine. Absolutely not judging you at all, but none of us likes conceding on such things.

Wow. Welcome back and all best wishes to you and yours.

As I said to someone else, I don't mind being called pedantic, but I just prefer 'accurate'

(he's 20)

I don't mind being accused of pedantry, but I just prefer to call it 'accuracy mode'

If it was for a record fee, that would suggest he wasn't a steal....