Britain is now but one (relatively small) element of a larger global economy. I agree that there was a time when the PM & Chancellor wielded tremendous influence over the employment sector (before the sixties) but with half the GDP of America cycled through the global market daily and the powers of politicians such as Osborne increasingly denuded by supra-national (as well as - to all intents and purposes - unaccountable) authorities such as the WTO, IMF, World Bank etc. grand notions of political and economic self-determinism are completely delusional.

Today's Prime Ministers, Presidents and Chancellors are not much more than political executives (managers, even) for a growing business class which claims no allegiance to any flag unless it is expedient to do so and is effectively beyond the reach of (national) justice.

At best Osborne can only hope to tinker with the economy in some modest, non-threatening way. Which will achieve precisely nothing. What we need is radical reform, starting first with shutting the doors to arguably the biggest tax haven in the world - Britain.

But Osborne couldn't even dream about such without being threatened with massive, catastrophic capital flight which would flatline this country. Nope, he's along for the ride like the rest of us. The only difference is he's now set for life whilst the rest of us are sinking deeper and deeper into the mire.

Anyone who had a hand in inventing the 99 ice cream is alright in my book.

"Inventing" ?

Aye, lad. The inventor was one Stephen Arcari.

Who invented the 69?

You and Mrs D only do the missionary, and nothing involving orifices not 'designed' for it, so not you, obviously.

Maybe his son invented it with Raul the pool boy?

Nah... it was Dally's son, David and daughter.

Titan and Titania (queen of the faeries)?

Now I think of it, the Titanic went down, didn't it?

I fear the boards surely can't keep up the standard of the first few days of 2012 but that's 3 times I have nearly wet myself reading a post just today

They say an elephant never forgets!

'fraid we do not have a Titania. Titan moved in with his partner at the weekend.

I hope the two lads will be very happy together

Living in sin? The World's moral compass is going to Hell in a hand cart.

As we say in Yorkshire ... "Livvin' o'er t'brush".

Yes, being from the east I hadn't heard of that until I had the good fortune to move west. I've been at it for eighteen years now, couldn't bare to lose the title.

When we visited tb's parents in South Africa for the first time, his father took great pleasure in shocking assorted people we were having to meet by introducing me as his "common law daughter in law".

It's amazing what we still take from pagan times.
Jumping over the broom (or brush) is still practised in many humanist wedding ceremonies.