I had four driving lessons as a refresher last year. 10 years no driving left me rusty. I went with Mutual (E London). Didn't really get on with the first guy, he told me I was rubbish and grabbed the wheel off me at one point. For the second and subsequent lessons I had a big scottish guy, into football, who was great. Laid back and helpful. I can't remember his name now though. Finding a decent driving instructor is tough.
― mmmm, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 13:21 (twelve years ago) link
Sam Smiths pubs are now close to full price. Therefore, no point ever going to one again.
― I'm going to allow this! (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:28 (twelve years ago) link
I still think some of them have their charms, I'm a big fan of the Cittie of York and old faithful Glasshouse Stores, even if I haven't been in the latter in ages.
― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:33 (twelve years ago) link
There's been mad beer inflation in London of late though (blame craft beer, the_recession, whatever) - SS beer is probably as far behind the top end as its ever been.
― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:34 (twelve years ago) link
I don't mind the cock tavern off regent street tbh but I've definitely reduced my visits. Their stout isn't a bad alternative to guinness imo - not similar, obv, just not horrible.
Otoh although I've been a student again for nearly eighteen months now it was only two weeks ago that I went to the University of London Union bar for the first time. Five pints for £7.50 is just ridiculous.
― Upt0eleven, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:36 (twelve years ago) link
Price aside, SS pubs still tend to have a better atmosphere than the vast majority of West End boozers.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:40 (twelve years ago) link
get 6 cans of lagers for £5* from an offieI've been away for a year, I get back and it seems to have gone up to £5.50. Bleak times.― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 12:52 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkI'm sure it's Cameron's fault.― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 12:58 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
haha! the * after £5 was actually going to be the footnote saying exactly that!! something like (* more likely to be £5.50 - bloody Tories innit)
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:44 (twelve years ago) link
Bring Back Brown's Broken Britain
― good luck in your pyramid (Neil S), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:46 (twelve years ago) link
it's true about Sam Smiths - dearer than ever before, but then so is everything elsethe lager is good and distinctiveso are the specials like cherry beerand yes, they do have a different atmosphere which I still tend to like.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:21 (twelve years ago) link
is the beer really now 2.8%??
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:25 (twelve years ago) link
swap sam smiths with a wetherspoons, then
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
xp
yeah - pointed out to me just before leaving the bricklayers a few weeks ago, feeling surprisingly sober.
These people seem to be up on it all
― woof, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:30 (twelve years ago) link
It was about 2.20 in Sam pubs pre-Christmas, it's now at least 3 quid, at least for a lager. For me that jump means I'd rather go somewhere with decent food, better beer, and nicer atmos. They're not bad pubs but at 3 quid I reckon it's about 80p or so cheaper than a pint of something decent; in somewhere that's definitely nicer.
Mind you the one I frequented most was The Rising Sun near Barbican, plenty of nice alternatives around there.
― I'm going to allow this! (LocalGarda), Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:19 (twelve years ago) link
Drinking round the Barbican and not going to the Old Red Cow is straight-up wasteful IMO.
― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:43 (twelve years ago) link
always too busy imo. it is small.
― I'm going to allow this! (LocalGarda), Thursday, 29 March 2012 12:43 (twelve years ago) link
or just bring a six pack into the barbican?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Thursday, 29 March 2012 12:48 (twelve years ago) link
a six pack of toilet duck
― I'm going to allow this! (LocalGarda), Thursday, 29 March 2012 12:48 (twelve years ago) link
when it's payday
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Thursday, 29 March 2012 12:49 (twelve years ago) link
la dee da
― I'm going to allow this! (LocalGarda), Thursday, 29 March 2012 14:26 (twelve years ago) link
time was you would joke about drinking a six pack of toilet duck in the street
― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Thursday, 29 March 2012 14:32 (twelve years ago) link
really cleaned up the street
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Thursday, 29 March 2012 16:02 (twelve years ago) link
Is this the London thread?
Did you see this?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/magazine/china-mieville-london.html?emc=eta1
― Blomqvist, Jesper (admrl), Monday, 2 April 2012 23:34 (twelve years ago) link
/\/\/\
Say something about it
― Blomqvist, Jesper (admrl), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 00:07 (twelve years ago) link
i read that and wasnt sure what to think
what should i think
― A Little Princess btw (s1ocki), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 04:01 (twelve years ago) link
should i cancel my trip
Definitely, you don't want to hang out with racists and alcoholics.
― Blomqvist, Jesper (admrl), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 04:17 (twelve years ago) link
"eyes roll with the duh".
― Fizzles, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 06:19 (twelve years ago) link
it's not interesting enough to, really. mostly it reminded me that i don't get along with miéville's prose at all.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 07:31 (twelve years ago) link
the fluff piece that ran alongside it (what are the LDN equivs of these NYC things iirc) was actually more interesting
"The mayor is a ninja of bumptiousness"
― koogs, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 08:34 (twelve years ago) link
Lex otm, esp re: the fluff. Such an effort to read and although I recall vaguely agreeing with him I can't remember a single specific thing that he says.
― Upt0eleven, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 09:10 (twelve years ago) link
read the first page and had no idea what thesis he was attempting to expound, beyond a few 'pensions! strikes! olympics!' handwaving signifiers.
― God arrives for the apocalypse, having been traveling at the speed of (ledge), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 09:13 (twelve years ago) link
It's not written for Londoners really though is it? I mean most of us will be familiar with most of the arguments and issues in it.
― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 09:15 (twelve years ago) link
/Say something about it/it's not interesting enough to, really. mostly it reminded me that i don't get along with miéville's prose at all.
this x 1000. absolutely convinced he dictates his novels, and what interested me about the article most was how its prose hobbles along.
― Fizzles, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 09:53 (twelve years ago) link
Are you all posting from the banlieues of London? Is there anything I can do to help?
― Blomqvist, Jesper (admrl), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 13:40 (twelve years ago) link
suggest banlieu
― good luck in your pyramid (Neil S), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 13:40 (twelve years ago) link
Haha very good
― Blomqvist, Jesper (admrl), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 13:44 (twelve years ago) link
ty
― good luck in your pyramid (Neil S), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 14:47 (twelve years ago) link
banlieuy jagger
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 15:02 (twelve years ago) link
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6058/6330354186_ec8974ff10_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicohogg/
that dude gets london p much
― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 21:52 (twelve years ago) link
yeah thats great
― judith, Tuesday, 10 April 2012 22:02 (twelve years ago) link