Today I'm happy about......

[bobo the clown]

I bought, for a mere £15 from Wykes (other brands are available ... but a lot dearer. Fiskar's is 120 or so), an extendable tree pruner thingymijig to help trim back some trees which over the years have got a bit out of hand.

Amazed at it. It has limitations in that some branches, over 5" diameter can't be got through and some are still just too high to reach (but it extends to 15', which given my outstretched reach of maybe 7-8' and it can be safely enough used on ladders so I can get to a lot before I need to get proper men in.

Soooo bloody excited by it. I'm having to restrict my use or the whole garden would be in danger.

Loving it.

if I had a pair of them - no tree would be safe - I'd be stood in a tiny patch surrounded by felled branches wondering what the chuff to do with it all now I had lopped it!

Fire, my friend. Fire.

[thebish]

just back from 2 weeks hollibobs in wales - which, you might think is enough to be happy about!

but... middle child - who during those two weeks refused to log on to the internet to learn of his degree result on the grounds that there was little he could do about whilst in wales...

he's just logged into the uni results service to discover that he got a FIRST in computer games programming!

woot!

[Bruce Rioja]

Excellent news there, Bish. Remind me, is 'middle child' the young man that required a haircut, or the one that reminds me of Benjamin Gibbard?

[clapton is god]

Well done and I was about to ask the same question as Bruce.

[thebish]

he does need a hair cut - but he isn't the one who was once pictured on here (he's now employed as a computer games programmer!)

I have two sons - one graduated in Computer Games Programming 2 yrs ago, the other just graduated in Computer Games Programming this month.
then there's the daughter - but she is the one at Bradford doing Psychology..

I had to google Benjamin Gibbard - not sure I see the likeness at all!

Edit:

actually... this picture of Benjamin Gibbard is a vague likeness!

[Bijou Bob]

Young Miss Bob's graduation at Leeds today. Was quite emotional and I'm again, a very proud dad.

[thebish]

Young Miss Bob's graduation at Leeds today. Was quite emotional and I'm again, a very proud dad.

as you chuffin should be!

[Prufrock]

Well done to middle Bish and mini Bob!

Today I'm happy about the team of Wormwood Scrubs inmates we taught beating a team of Oxford Law Society debaters in front of about 50 of their (prisoners!) peers. Fab!

[Bijou Bob]

Just been into town and thought I'd buy some toffee to take into the cinema later to chew on whilst watching South Paw. In a world where corporate greed seems to be the norm, I was made up to see that Poundland have a fairly large proportion of their staff who have mild learning disabilities. I've not seen happier workers for a long time and fair play to the company fir giving them an opportunity that they may well otherwise have struggled to get.

[bobo the clown]

Just been into town and thought I'd buy some toffee to take into the cinema later to chew on whilst watching South Paw. In a world where corporate greed seems to be the norm, I was made up to see that Poundland have a fairly large proportion of their staff who have mild learning disabilities. I've not seen happier workers for a long time and fair play to the company fir giving them an opportunity that they may well otherwise have struggled to get.

"They're ripping off the poor and disadvantaged and getting away with paying minimum wage whilst gaining some employment grants" ... is what you mean Bobby.

Tssk. Some people.

[Harry Genshaw]

Just been into town and thought I'd buy some toffee to take into the cinema later to chew on whilst watching South Paw. In a world where corporate greed seems to be the norm, I was made up to see that Poundland have a fairly large proportion of their staff who have mild learning disabilities. I've not seen happier workers for a long time and fair play to the company fir giving them an opportunity that they may well otherwise have struggled to get.

Fair play to them if their (Poundlands) intentions are honourable. On a similar theme I encountered a couple of those poor bastards who Domino's employ to wear an oversize pizza box and dance a little jig at the side of the road. This was 9 in the morning. I had to look away. I was embarrassed for them

[Bruce Rioja]

Just been into town and thought I'd buy some toffee to take into the cinema later to chew on whilst watching South Paw. In a world where corporate greed seems to be the norm, I was made up to see that Poundland have a fairly large proportion of their staff who have mild learning disabilities. I've not seen happier workers for a long time and fair play to the company fir giving them an opportunity that they may well otherwise have struggled to get.

Poundland used to be one of my accounts. As a manufacturer, they're a great outlet for your short-dated, obsolete and over-capacity stocks, so long as you can land it in their DC for 36 pence per SKU. The Little Sisters of the Poor they are most definitely not, mate. They are, however, a superb retail model.

[jaffka]

Remploy Factories used to employ happy people.

[malcd1]

Remploy Factories used to employ happy people.

And it was cheaper to pay them to stay at home on the same money than turn up for work. They got large grants to give the mental and physically disabled a purpose in life. Commendable but not cost effective.

[bobo the clown]

Remploy Factories used to employ happy people.

And it was cheaper to pay them to stay at home on the same money than turn up for work. They got large grants to give the mental and physically disabled a purpose in life. Commendable but not cost effective.

I was offered the contract to manage the factories closures in the NW region.

The business case was very clear and .... before it gets political ... was originally planned by Brown and then picked up again once the Tories and Liberals came in.

There was huge misinformation given around it at the time and it was an easy emotional target. Nonetheless I didn't fancy the role apart from the complexities and emotive opposition. What I found less acceptable was that there were few alternatives being offered up.

Fortunately I got asked to knock a few (well, 5,000) Brummie and Scouse car workers around a bit instead. For less controversial. Positively enjoyable tbh.

[Prufrock]

Sat at home about to watch the last two episodes of Breaking Bad with a cup of tea, two fingers of shortbread and a Tunnocks Tea Cake.

Our Maud just rang to say she's gonna be working another couple of hours on some big deal before in again at daft o'clock.

I could get used to this feminism lark .

[Worthy4England]

Sat at home about to watch the last two episodes of Breaking Bad with a cup of tea, two fingers of shortbread and a Tunnocks Tea Cake.

Our Maud just rang to say she's gonna be working another couple of hours on some big deal before in again at daft o'clock.

I could get used to this feminism lark .

You better do the dusting and get her tea on, luv.

We closed one deal at 23:39 on Friday....earliest finish for weeks...

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Sat at home about to watch the last two episodes of Breaking Bad with a cup of tea, two fingers of shortbread and a Tunnocks Tea Cake.

Our Maud just rang to say she's gonna be working another couple of hours on some big deal before in again at daft o'clock.

I could get used to this feminism lark .

Spray a bit of pledge around each room 10 minutes before she gets in and you'll be plus a few points

[Bruce Rioja]

Sat at home about to watch the last two episodes of Breaking Bad with a cup of tea, two fingers of shortbread and a Tunnocks Tea Cake.

Our Maud just rang to say she's gonna be working another couple of hours on some big deal before in again at daft o'clock.

I could get used to this feminism lark .

Just make sure that the air conditioning's set at 24 deg C for her then.

[bobo the clown]

Scousers Outed.

Today a judge threw out a civil/medical damages claim brought after a fire in a wood mill in Kirkby.

16,000 people claimed they suffered from the smoke. The judge kicks it out & now the lying cheating gets who applied are saying they were conned and lay off the blame onto ambulance chasing lawyers. I don't doubt that the lawyers are liars too for a second but look inward yer Kirkby cheats.

Outed !!

Good on the judge though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-engla ... e-33739878" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;