Mrs Bear

Ditto to all praise of FP. Pity he can't take over Gordon's job - there are times when I think a coup would be a great idea. PS: Bosh, your avatar looks like Just William.

Does seem a trifle early, but I've often noticed them putting up 'Back To School' signs when they've barely broken up. IMO should be banned on account of depressing any poor kids who happen to see. Colleague has already bought uniform for 4 yr old grandson starting in September. (I'm expecting the first Christmas charity catalogue any day now. )

Well, I made my (in)famous Dustbin Soup tonight, cleared out half the fridge in the process; one solitary carrot, some leftover noodles, a morsel of ham, two floppy sticks of celery, etc. And very nice it was too, on a bl**dy freezing summer evening. Do I get any Gordon-Brownie points?

Today I had shoved through my letterbox the Surrey property-porn mag 'Real Estates'. In it is a half page ad for this Trinity Reach development - orig. price £2.2M, down to £1.9 a while ago. Ad now reads: 'MAKE US AN OFFER WE CAN'T REFUSE ON SELECTED PLOTS FOR END OF AUGUST COMPLETION. PRICE GUIDE £1,690,000 Not that they're getting desperate or anything...

Pointless? Hadn't thought of that particular adjective in relation to Blears - incredibly irritating is the one that springs to mind. But very frustrating poll, since I wanted to vote for 3, i.e. Gordon (mega-useless), Blears (mega-irritating) and Harperson (mega-pious and Head-Girl-ish - no need to ask whether she ever left her homework on the bus.)

If it will mean less s*dd*ng footie on the telly, hallelujah!

Ken Clarke - best PM we never had. Even notwithstanding his love affair with the EU. Would still prefer him to Dave.

I miss Rosie! First thing I always read, and whatever else (eg something to have a good old bitch about) her articles were always far more interesting than the usual tedious pieces property journos just love writing: all about their smug friends with the Georgian rectory worth £3.5M and brace of mini oh-yahs called Henry and Matilda. Edited to add: plus the statutory waggly labrador - how could I have forgotten him?

Not Newcastle by any chance? Daughter was at uni there, said you could always tell the locals since in short sleeves at midnight in midwinter - apparently because it takes too long to queue up to give coats in. Hardy souls, but then descended from Vikings so maybe not surprising.

From Martin Ivens, today's S. Times: "(Vince) Cable has played the part of Old Testament prophet well. Long ago he thundered that easy credit, personal indebtedness and the housing bubble would lead to a crash. Nor is he short on answers. On Monday he will advance an imaginative proposal to increase a hundredfold a government scheme to encourage housing associations and local councils to buy up property which cannot be sold in the current housing crash. At one stroke the poor will be housed, building companies rescued and the banks will lose their worst collateral for debt. I do hope the Lib Dems won't mind when yet another of their ideas are stolen." Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/c...icle4276499.ece

Mick Hume bought a holiday let in Broadstairs in late 06: http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life...icle2737322.ece

I'm surprised Gordon never thought of taxing personal number plates. The one tax I'd never object to.

Surely a wind-up. (someone winding your friend up, I mean.)

Will he be suing (sueing?) The Telegraph now?

Also SW London - in summer 06 daughter had a Saturday job with local EA. At one point they sold 7 properties in one day. Masses were going to sealed bids, inc. the smallest 3-bed terraced - not just the bigger detached. She said it was like one of those wildlife progs. with a mass of sharks thrashing around in a feeding frenzy.

Don't forget Padstow - stick in a celebrity-chef restaurant and prices go stratospheric. I just booked s/c Lyme for first week September and most of the places I fancied (nice and max 5 mins walk seafront) are already gone. Mind you Lyme is probably different since it's so small and choice limited - certainly no swathes of newbuild flats. And so far none of the dreaded celebrity chefs moving in and turning it 'fashionable'. Long may they drizzle their lovingly hand-chopped, spring-water-washed, pan-fried bolax elsewhere.

Yet TV and radio today are all doom-and-glooming about the collapse in retail sales. Attitude seems to be that the economy will only perk up if people keep on spending money they don't have on stuff they don't need. And mostly imported stuff at that. Don't understand it, but then it did take me 2 goes to get my maths O level.

My aunt (emigrated 1950s) comes over every March to escape four feet of snow for a bit and see the daffodils two months before they appear at home. Mind you she tends to find it hot here in March - walks to the shop in short sleeves.

Yesterday I was doing my usual implode-ometer check on no. of 2-bed flat rentals in Kingston. The blurb on one flat (new-build, sale price insane even by peak standards) said: 'Even with all the choice that is out there, this one is worth a quick look, you will love it.' First time I've seen any LA put bear facts into such public words (on findaproperty). -

Some of you lot must watch/listen to a different BBC from me. I haven't noticed eg the Today prog. or Newsnight spinning much. Let alone sucking up to Gordon or any of his gnomes, elves or Blears.

Exactly, that's why I said an 'eyewatering' £300k.

Here's one I've been watching: for sale from last August at least, OIEO an eyewatering £300K - finally reduced yesterday - by all of £5K! http://www.martindiplock.co.uk/c.mhtml?e=0...ount-num=389892

Don't forget the laminate floors and vase of dead twigs.

TTTT I wasn't really worried about West Coast high-rises - if they didn't do it during the boom years they're not likely to start now. As for C Richard's villa and his guests, the thought of the Bliars contaminating that lovely sea nearly put me off going for a bit but I forced myself Must say I liked it better before it was stuffed with ****** celebs, but we stay in a certified celeb-free zone, i.e. no must-have personal butlers on the beach to clean your sunglasses, like they have at Sandy Lane.

Too right. I've noticed quite a few properties in my area (Kingston on Th) which would have been priced at £265-280K last yr, now down at £249,950 or less. Mostly flats, though. 3-bed houses still starting at £380-ish (mostly a lot more) though a few now reduced to £350-ish.