['Seas of Red' at the Tower of London]

Thanks for that Frederick.

And the real winners aren't even from the Potteries, the world centre for ceramics (though Limoges might disagree).

Just emphasises why people should be cynical about the hype.

[Land of milk and honey]

Your post Mint, leads me to think of Quillans's Jonny and Jane scenario with regards to the most recent attack on Gaza. 

Look (echos of Mr B_lair funding), we, the IDF, told you a few minutes before, that we were going to blow your house to smithereens.

[Land of milk and honey]

Sorry. Rather than "your" I should have used "the" in reference to conscience.

[Land of milk and honey]

To appease your conscience, how about about working towards improving the lives of those in the countries from where they came. e.g. Syria, Jordan, Palestine etc.

I do question your assertion that on the whole people who are settled in a place illegally are expelled.

[Land of milk and honey]

I cant find anywhere that says whether the people picked up trying to cross are returned to where they started the boat trip or if they are brought back to the EU.

If the latter, then surely removing the service will make prospective immigrants think twice.

[Leaving Afghanistan]

And I wonder if it will be quoted some time around the turn of the next century.

[Air France crash???]

There was a terrible accident at Limoges airport yesterday.

I tripped over a large stone on the car park. No requirement for emergency services though .

Super website even though it didn't record my issue .

[Where do they think the "Money trees grow " ?]

1. Depends on if you are pro or anti EU. Truth probably somewhere in the middle. Material errors of several billion each year There is, of course, political manipulation of audit office. eg Baroso.

2. So? My understanding, though, is that some trusts have been qualified, but soon stamped on.

3. Where money is concerned the EU is a business. Taking from the rich and giving to the poor is not, however, the motto methinks

[Where do they think the "Money trees grow " ?]

Q what nonsense tying two stories into one - it merely adds confusion to any discussion. You openly admit you have no basis for such comment.

Thank you to the OP as I had not read about any extra demands for billions from the EU in any of the other popular sources of news in the UK. I wonder why.

Q almost implies, though he will no doubt deny it, that other sources are squeaky clean and not biased.

One only has to look at the American coverage of events to realise what a mirky, political world exists behind a lot of the worlds news coverage.

[First time buying a house in France]

The latter.

[Paying back VAT on a property]

Sorry to be negative. We gave up renting out our property quite a while back as it was more hassle than it was worth.

My honest advice would be to cut your losses as much as possible. If profits are there then well done.

[Paying back VAT on a property]

Think that you need to discuss with your accountant rather than here.

[Where to buy bedding stuff?]

Having trudged round after other half ( she is a real dear) I agree that knowing the size of the bed is rather a priority when buying sheets.

I would agree with one of my sons, though, who has had considerable experience of living away from home. Taking him down to his new university, his priority was not whether his accommodation was OK, but whether he had packed his sleeping bag.

Nb have had 3.5 glasses of wine after having done everything OH has asked for.

[First time buying a house in France]

Sorry for deviating a little but I was intrigued by your comment that you had been going there for the last 15 years.

When we bought our second home in France our major concern was that we would be bored by holidaying in the same place year after year. Our fears were unfounded in that we became active in home exchange and have enjoyed holidays all over the place as we were able to swap non-simultaneously. Rather surprisingly we also found that people wanted to swap with our house in England. The last people to do that were american and we are booked to go to Hawaii this winter.

Last year for one holiday we swapped with people from both of the Carolinas, one for the English house and one for the french house. When we were there the son in law of the couple who swapped with the french house complimented me on how well I spoke English. I took great delight in informing him that he didn't speak English too badly either, given that he was from an ex-colony and not from England.

Do you have that concern?

[It's OK (or not, depending on your POV)]

if only

[Dialects]

Well done.

Never used the expression myself, but here is the explanation:

http://sittingontheswings.com/2013/08/30/potteries-dialect-by-darren-sant/

I do like the paragraph on the football teams.

[Dialects]

Just one clue before tomorrow:

Port Vale

[Dialects]

Norman, can you enlighten him?

[Ebola]

Just talking from experience.

And I am rather disappointed that you feel that my local dialect is that of the ranting of a drunken person.

[Ebola]

More to do with PR than anything else.

Very sad really.

[Ebola]

Goodness Quillan, just quoting figures, wiki-wise, really doesn't add anytink.

[Dialects]

"Cosner kick a bow agin a woah until it bosts"

Thats how us lalks. Ow dust though.

Linguists should find this easy.

[Ebola]

We has (have?) exhausted the thread, I think, but my native tongue is far from Queens English.

[Ebola]

But it helps .

I'm not pedantic though.

[Ebola]

. I'm rather slow now.