When I grow up, I'm having a house with an old chesterfield sofa and filled with books and photos of awesome memories.

The Military Wives. I suppose if I ever have to support a charity single it's at christmas. Slick video.

ARGE!

Awesome Advert

Awesome pic

Gary Speed 1969-2011

We did Paris well.

BOOM

Checkmate.

HCSF

I love these guys. They remind me of two things:

1. Car journeys to the local bakery in the South of France to fetch freshly baked baguettes (you cannot buy these anywhere else in the world other than a proper French boulanger - and if you think you can you've not had the real thing)

2. Sitting outside a cafe down the hill from Sacre Coeur in Paris, having a beer and watching a 3 piece band play in the street

Fully aware I sound like a douche saying that.

Steve Jobs

I love this homepage tribute.

Cool advert

An old one but the best of the bunch.

I don't really 'get' Google +. I've been a member for a couple of months now and never use it, but I guess that's more to do with the fact about 5 people I know are on there who are already on Facebook. Now it's open for everyone that might change...or not...it's sort of down to you. Add me.

"I’ve been out with so many women who’ve set off alarm bells that I could write a book about it. In fact, I’m seriously considering penning such a book, called “Alarm Bells.” I’ll sometimes bring up this book project when I’m on a first date, just to see how the woman reacts. Ironically, sometimes the way a date responds to the idea of a book called “Alarm Bells” sets off those same bells themselves. For example, at Applebee’s once, a human-resources lady I met on MapQuest said she “would never read a book like that.” I was, like, “Check, please!” I don’t think I could ever be with someone who doesn’t like to read."

"Where are you going Fatso?!"

I got asked this by a delightful young woman wheeling her suitcase on my walk home and we got in each others way. I was taken aback by her brusque attack. I wish now I had the quick tongue to call her a cunt and spit in her face.

Off to the Piano Bar in Kensington tomorrow night - hopefully will get the pianist to play this.

"Let me give you my vision: a man's right to work as he will, to spend what he earns, to own property, to have the state as servant and not as master. These are the British inheritance. They are the essence of a free economy and on that freedom all our other freedoms depend."

- Thatcher, 1987

James Brown - awesome

Bagehot on UK Housing Market

THE British have long been told that theirs is a nation of homeowners (and more specifically house-owners). According to conventional wisdom, this made the country an outlier in a wider Europe where people were bafflingly willing to live in flats without gardens and to rent for their whole adult lives.

Today however, the headlines are of a "housing crisis" amid signs of falling levels of home ownership. An umbrella body for providers of social housing, the National Housing Federation, has published research claiming that a whole generation of younger Britons risk being "shut out" of the property market. The credit crunch, it is reported, has made lenders warier of extending home loans unless buyers stump up big deposits, house prices remain high despite recent stagnation or falls in some areas, developers are wary of building new homes amidst a dearth of buyers with access to credit, and so on in a vicious cycle. Last year, the number of new homes built was the lowest in peacetime since 1923, according to today's reports, and the proportion of owner-occupied households could fall below two thirds in the near future.

Would Britain still look like Britain in a future with lower home ownership? Bagehot, who as a roving correspondent has lived in rented housing for the last 14 years or so, has a few predictions, some more serious than others.

On the doomy side of the ledger, the quality of British gardening will take a dive. It is a harsh fact but true, that renting and creating a lovely garden are not compatible. After buying, planting then leaving behind shrubs in someone else's garden a couple of times, Bagehot long ago gave up on long-term horticulture, and now—given some outside space to play with—just about runs to a tub or two of lavender and the odd geranium.

Nor is inter-generational conflict likely to get any better. Not only will young people find themselves renting much longer while older people dominate the ranks of the owner-occupiers. It would also not be astonishing if silver-haired landlords start to dominate a growing private rental sector. The luckier retirees may have savings that they can put into buy-to-let properties (and at the moment, such savings attract almost no interest on deposit, as the Bank of England tries to keep borrowing costs low for struggling British businesses and mortgage-holders). Less fortunate retirees, facing up to ever-measlier pensions, may need to downsize and invest in small rental properties or rent out space in their homes, especially if the powers that be quietly allow inflation to run and eat away at all that scary private and public sector debt.

There will be more pressure on subsidised social housing: even now 1.5m people are already on waiting lists for such accommodation (partly because the council tenants' "right to buy" introduced under Margaret Thatcher took so many state-built homes out of the housing stock, homes that have often not been replaced, despite building by voluntary and non-profit organisations). That shortage of social housing is forecast to lead to higher rents in the private sector, which currently has a pretty bad image (the cliches are all about exploitative landlords and sub-standard housing).

But such changes need not be all doom, surely. There is no automatic reason why private rented housing has to be horrible. An expanding market should, logically, drive innovation and competition. A lot of middle class hostility to renting is actually bound up in memories of a very long housing bubble: for the past few decades getting your foot on the property ladder was seen as tantamount to getting yourself a winning lottery ticket (and was so much less work than saving).

For another thing, it was odd to hear the head of the National Housing Federation complaining on the BBC this morning that: "People need much bigger deposits now, and typically people can only get mortgages of about 75% of the price of the home." Given that 95% mortgages and other risky financial products helped fuel a property bubble and cause the credit crunch, a bit more caution gets Bagehot's vote, not least because the housing market may well have further to fall. I would rather young people were frustrated renters than find themselves trapped in negative equity in a few years.

For another, the idea of Britain as a swashbuckling, Anglo-Saxon outlier when it comes to owner occupation is much too simple. The European Union has several different models of home ownership. Britain's looks a bit like Belgium's, as it happens (though the Belgians are keener on fixed rate mortgages and try to use property sales taxes to flatten out price fluctuations).

Eurostat, the EU statistical service, breaks housing down into four categories: rental at market prices, subsidised rental, ownership with an outstanding mortgage and outright ownership. Britain, with some 28% of the population renting overall, does differ from places such as France (37% renting), or Austria (where some 42% rent). In the ex-communist block or southern Europe, mortgages are much rarer than in Britain. But Britain's share of renters is still on the EU average. Here are some 2009 figures, for some reason, Germany is missing from the data set.

Cool Pic

The Duke of Windsor - undoubtedly one of the best male dressers of the last 100 years.

Today I went to the Chelsea Auto Legends show at the Royal Chelsea Hospital. Snapped a few awesome pictures.

YouGov

I get asked to do loads of surveys but the YouGov ones are always the best, and they pay you for your views. £50 when you've done enough, which comes round pretty quickly. You can join by clicking HERE.

POW Economics

"One trader in food and cigarettes, operating in a period of dearth, enjoyed a high reputation. His capital, carefully saved, was originally about 50 cigarettes, with which he bought rations on issue days and held them until the price rose just before the next issue. He also picked up a little by arbitrage; several times a day he visited every Exchange or Mart notice board and took advantage of every discrepancy between prices of goods offered and wanted. His knowledge of prices, markets and names of those who had received cigarette parcels was phenomenal. By these means he kept himself smoking steadily – his profits – while his capital remained intact."

This paper is both fascinating and funny, and a fantastic insight into the way civility can quickly establish itself in a contained 'stable' environment.

Finally

Croyde

Just when you think this country is on the brink, the next morning we see amazing people work together to clean up our streets after the disgusting riots. This clean up operation was in Clapham Junction.

"This is a country full of courage. Everything will be alright. Have a nice evening"

- Announcement at Victoria Station

One of my favourite scenes

So this weekend we ate loads of great food, had many laughs and ended up singing acoustic Queen songs with no talent whatsoever. More please!

AA,
My girlfriend's just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It's such a downer. Can I dump her?

Yeah, course you can. Hey, you didn't sign up for a mentalist, did you? Don't feel bad. No reason why you both should. She'll probably be better off on her own. She can concentrate on lightening the fuck up. I wouldn't risk a face-to-face . Might make her worse: the begging, the what-did-I-do-wrong sobbing, the suicide threats. Just text her. "Sorry babe, not working out for me. Moving on. Cheer up. LOL."

One word...SLICK

Fraser Nelson's last NOTW column

YOU are reading the world's greatest investigative newspaper. That may sound strange, after this week's revelations - but it's true.

After this, the last edition, lots of people will breathe that little bit easier. Hypocritical politicians, inner-city gangmasters and bent sportsmen.

For generations, the News of the World has been one of the most formidable forces in British public life, holding the rich and powerful to account.

But the newspaper itself made a grave mistake, employing private investigators who used deplorable methods. It has paid a full price for that mistake.

Some politicians will be privately delighted. They shouldn't be. They should instead ask: When this newspaper goes, what size of a hole will it leave?

When I was offered this column, almost five years ago, I tried not to think about the incredible people who had gone before me.

My predecessor was the Foreign Secretary, William Hague. Before him, some of the all-time greats: Alan Clark, Woodrow Wyatt. Even Winston Churchill.

Now and again, they may have come across someone daft enough to ask: Why are you writing for a tabloid? The answer to this question is simple.

The News of the World has never been just a newspaper. It is a part of the national fabric, campaigning relentlessly for its readers. "All human life is there" said the posters - and they were right.

As MPs will tell you, a story on Page 46 of the News of the World has more impact than a front page of a lesser paper.

No other newspaper has such impact. Its campaigns led to laws being changed: Sarah's Law and the Military Covenant being just two examples.

And why? Because the News of the World represented - and fought for - its readers, putting them ahead of any party political considerations. It gave voice and muscle to those often ignored by politicians, because they might live in a safe seat or a sink estate.

From the victims of knife crime to the welfare of the families of the Armed Forces - if it mattered to readers, it mattered to the News of the World.

When visiting this paper's offices, you walk past a montage of its front pages. Scoops which have punctuated British history. One of them denounces Robert Mugabe as 'The Black Hitler' long before it was clear the destruction his savage rule would wreak on Zimbabwe.

Then there are, of course, its world-famous exposés. Hugh Grant's call girl, Divine Brown. David Mellor, caught playing away. But the paper's power lay in its ability to address the toughest, grittiest subjects in Britain. And not giving a damn if this annoyed anyone in power.

As an outside columnist, I've been amazed at the freedom I've always been given. No 'party line' to take - ever. Freedom like that is increasingly rare. But even more rare has been the scale and ambition of this paper's investigations.

Reporters regularly put their lives on the line to expose the most dangerous criminals and, more often than not, jail them. Such investigations can mean risking huge resources in time and money.

But with the News of the World gone, who will now step into the breach? British newspapers are haemorrhaging readers and money, and axing expensive investigations. Creeping privacy laws make things even worse.

Just as in France, an idea is taking hold in Britain that the rich and powerful can now suppress secrets. Slowly, it's becoming a national joke.

At last week's Take That concert in Wembley, I watched Robbie Williams make this point - with a little poem he composed for the crowd.

"I did some coke, and slept with a whore.

But that's what a superinjunction is for!"

Only in Britain could a pop star say (as Robbie did): "Who wants to be my superinjunction tonight?" and watch the girls go wild.

This gag would be unthinkable in America, where freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution. In Britain, these freedoms are being steadily eroded.

And our proud tradition of fearless investigatory journalism is being eroded along with it. It's a battle, and one the press is now losing.

No one can deny that, for this newspaper, the mortal blow was self-inflicted. But nor can anyone deny that the News of the World has been one of the most effective, popular and successful newspapers in world history.

As I was told when I joined: You don't work for this newspaper. You work for its readers.

And there is no greater honour.

"In terms of GDP, the UK is the sixth most wealthy country in the world. But our national balance sheet carries many liabilities. Our physical infrastructure is old. Our health service is creaking. Whilst the best of our education - especially higher education - is world-class, some of it is unforgivably awful

We are up to our ears in debt. The Exchequer is empty. The gold is gone. The post-dated cheques are accumulating interest. We are over-taxed. We have an under-class: poorly educated, poorly housed and unmotivated.

We are no longer an Empire, nor will be ever again. We are a shrinking military power. By choice, and with majority public approval, we are semi-detached members of the EU. And even America - for so long our closest ally who generally sees the world as we do - is turning her face to the East, as self-interest determines she must."

- Sir John Major

Awesome...thanks Canada (still ours)

Just found out Mollie King is going out with David Gandy (who is a 'model', for the 99% of people who don't know). Bit annoyed as he's a twat.

Robbie Williams LIVE

Last week I saw Take That with Robbie Williams live at Wembley. I forgot how Robbie was such a natural entertainer.

Misquoted

Here is a really good blog post from Samira Ahmed (ex Channel 4 news), discussing the strategy of interview and touching on how PR teams are now focussing politicians efforts on producing soundbites that they need to be aired or quoted - and how it backfires in her opinion.

"Winning breeds Winning"

Cool Advert

Loving LIfe! About time someone took such an awesome phrase and ruined it with some commercial connotation. A shame. Still, if it had to be anyone, I'd rather it was Waitrose.

Hemingway - awesome

Still gets me all emotional

This is the picture they use to depict a standard overweight person in the UK.

“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”

- Diane Ackerman

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Happiness

RIP Sir Henry Cooper

A gentleman and a warrior. Few will forget that epic fight with Ali in 1963, and your left hook that nearly finished him in the fourth.

No shocks...

So, Wills strides out to an adoring 2 million people outside Buckingham Palace, turns to his side to kiss his gorgeous new bride, looks up to see a military fly-over and, thoroughly self-satisfied, musters the only word that would suffice in such a moment:

"Nice".

Royal Wedding rehearsal footage

Really interesting.

Letter from John Lennon to Paul & Linda McCartney

Bag Productions Inc.
Tittenhurst Park,
Ascot, Berkshire.
Ascot 23022

Dear Linda and Paul,

I was reading your letter and wondering what middle aged cranky Beatle fan wrote it. I resisted looking at the last page to find out – I kept thinking who is it – Queenie? Stuart's mother? – Clive Epstein's wife? – Alan Williams? – What the hell – it's Linda!

You really think the press are beneath me/you? Do you think that? Who do you think we/you are? The "self-indulgent doesn't realize who he is hurting" bit–I hope you realize what shit you and the rest of my 'kind and unselfish' friends laid on Yoko and me, since we've been together. It might have sometimes been a bit more subtle or should I say "middle class" – but not often. We both "rose above it" quite a few times – & forgave you two – so it's the least you can do for us – you noble people. Linda – if you don't care what I say – shut up! – let Paul write – or whatever.

When asked about what I thought originally concerning MBE, etc. – I told them as best as I can remember – and I do remember squirming a little – don't you, Paul? – or do you – as I suspect – still believe it all? I'll forgive Paul for encouraging the Beatles – if he forgives me for the same – for being – "honest with me and caring too much"! Fucking hell, Linda, you're not writing for Beatle book!!!

I'm not ashamed of the Beatles – (I did start it all) – but of some of the shit we took to make them so big – I thought we all felt that way in varying degrees – obviously not.

Do you really think most of today's art came about because of the Beatles? – I don't believe you're that insane – Paul – do you believe that? When you stop believing it you might wake up! Didn't we always say we were part of the movement – not all of it? – Of course, we changed the world – but try and follow it through – GET OFF YOUR GOLD DISC AND FLY!

Don't give me that Aunty Gin shit about "in five years I'll look back as a different person" – don't you see that's what's happening NOW! – If I only knew THEN what I know NOW – you seemed to have missed that point....

Excuse me if I use "Beatle Space" to talk about whatever I want – obviously if they keep asking Beatle questions – I'll answer them – and get as much John and Yoko Space as I can – they ask me about Paul and I answer – I know some of it gets personal – but whether you believe it or not I try and answer straight – and the bits they use are obviously the juicy bits – I don't resent your husband – I'm sorry for him. I know the Beatles are "quite nice people" – I'm one of them – they're also just as big bastards as anyone else – so get off your high horse! – by the way – we've had more intelligent interest in our new activities in one year than we had throughout the Beatle era.

Finally, about not telling anyone that I left the Beatles – PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything – asking me not to say anything because it would 'hurt the Beatles'– and 'let's just let it petre out' – remember? So get that into your petty little perversion of a mind, Mrs. McCartney – the cunts asked me to keep quiet about it. Of course, the money angle is important – to all of us – especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws – and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL – see you in two years – I reckon you'll be out then –

inspite of it all
love to you both,

from us two

P.S. about addressing your letter just to me – STILL....!!!

Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world. The stage is like a religion you dedicate yourself to and then suddenly you find that you don't have time to see friends and it's not for them to understand you don't have anybody. You're all alone with your concentration and your imagination and that's all you have. You're an actor.

by James Dean

James - we all feel like that sometimes son.

Owen on Twitter

After the game, Owen, who has more than 120,000 followers on Twitter, was involved in a frank exchange with the Daily Mirror's chief sports writer Oliver Holt on the social networking site.

Holt: "Honest question then Michael: why don't you tell them the facts?"

Owen: "I try to answer most questions Ollie but can't be bothered* being a back page story so some things don't need to be said!"

*The BBC has substituted "bothered" for the word Michael Owen actually used

Holt: "Fair enough, Michael. But I think sometimes if fans and journalists knew facts, there would be more sympathy with players."

Owen: "Fair point. The relationship between players and media is poor and needs improving as the people who suffer are fans."

Holt: "Probably worse now between media and players than back in 97-98 when you burst on to scene. More contact then, I think."

Owen: "If papers printed what is actually said then i think players would talk to you more openly. I know I would."

Holt: "You have spent a lot of your career writing for our newspapers, though Michael, both tabloids and broadsheets."

Owen: "It's the sensationalising of headlines that annoys most players. It makes us look like clowns when most lads are normal."

Holt: "Headlines are a problem for a lot of writers, too. Comes down to trusting a journalist to look after you, I suppose."

Owen: "But I made sure I had headline approval! My point is, the articles are fine, it's the headlines that make us look stupid."

Holt: "Agreed. Think we are at a point where writers need to fight for right headline to ensure bit of trust with player spoken to"

Owen: "And there is my point. The trust just isn't there hence the relationship between players and journalists is non existent."

Holt: "Players and media stuck in bad cycle now. Understand why trust has broken down but less contact is making things worse. Part of problem is no contact. GNev (Gary Neville) said journos should stay in England hotel so we'd have to face you after bad piece."

"People count up the faults of those who keep them waiting."

- French Proverb

Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country

I'm currently on Jury Service, which is fascinating (but I'm quite obviously unable to discuss the trial). As I was sat there on Day One, jury after jury being called with my name failing to come out of the hat, it dawned on me this was one of the few genuine public duties people have to perform once or maybe twice in a lifetime. Yet the disdain and frustration it is viewed with is a poor reflection on our society, and a dismal projection of what the much lauded Big Society is capable of.

For anyone who has served Jury Service, you'll be aware there is a lot of sitting and waiting involved to get on a trial. I'm sympathetic with the boredom that can creep in after a whole morning reading the shit magazines they provide, and the grating agony of having to listen to that overweight woman cough her guts up every 30 seconds. But what irritates me are those who get summoned to the jurors desk, get told they are dismissed from their service early, and can barely hide their elation when skipping out of the door. What I don't like about it is we've become a society of negative, lazy moaners who if they could, wouldn't lift a finger. People expect to get everything for nothing and will point the finger of blame elsewhere as soon as it comes crashing down.

I'm a backer of the Big Society in an ideological sense, although firmly sit in the cynical camp as to whether it will practically come to fruition; partly - it has to be said - because of the lack of public appetite so clearly evident when people are asked to do something for nothing.

Except, they're not being asked to do it for nothing.

On jury service you still get paid by your employer, or can ask for compensation for loss of earnings if you're self employed. Your travel is paid for you each way (something that you don't get going to and from work). And on top of that your lunch gets paid for you up to a handsome £5.71 a day. This is the best deal a lot of people will ever get, albeit for a mere two week stint in the majority of cases. Yet the apparent burden of having to do something, as a opposed to nothing with their day, is overwhelming.

The same negative, lazy moaners surface every year when it snows and the pavements aren't gritted, and this year I was reminded by my father of what the case used to be. He made it quite clear that it isn't that the public have had a service taken away from them, or in fact that the weather is much worse. It is merely a pathetic government-blaming perception that has emerged so rampantly in recent years. Twenty years ago, people would have the pride and responsibility to clear their own paths outside their houses, in the knowledge and social pressure that when everyone did the same, the whole street would be cleared. So it seems a shame that people no longer feel that pressure, or indeed the faith that others will do the same. It feels like there is just a deflated confidence in your neighbour that they will do the right thing, and because of my limited years I can't quite place when or how that happened, but I still feel the frustration that it has.

These examples, to me, serve more usefully as challenges- specifically laying down the question of how to overcome this social lethargy. Now, I quite genuinely cannot offer any answers, which is the easiest seat in the house to sit in (and I'm aware of the irony that in doing so I am being a negative, lazy moaner), but I do feel if the Big Society is to work, a solution must be found. It may be that the Big Society itself can plant the seed of a well-functioning society - who knows.

The only thing that is clear to me, is that as I approach Day Three of my duty, I will become increasingly sick of those smiley happy people dismissed at 2pm as they rub their hands in glee in readiness for an afternoon of daytime TV.

"Until the last minute of this life, I will have this club in my heart"

- Eric Cantona (on Manchester United)

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Jagger got Swagger

I've been reading about Super Moons here, and maybe how they cause natural disasters on Earth. Don't worry I've not gone mental.

Great Logo: Wembley Champions League Final

High Skies

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sin-split clouds, - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air...

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

- John Gillespie Magee Jr

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"You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley."

- Terry (On the Waterfront)

About a week too late and pointless anyway. Pretty much sums up the UN, which seems to just be a voice of consensus.

Firth.

Don't forget, this is what made Firth.

"Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says there is not a disciplinary problem at the club after Ashley Cole accidentally shot a work placement student"

Ridiculous.

Marlon Brando screentest

Saw these on Asos when looking for a bargain jacket. Foul.

The Original Ronaldo: A True Great

Retires today, after a career of brilliance.

There is something that you come across in the world of work that can be infinitely more challenging than balancing the books or bringing a campaign in on budget. Something that can be career limiting yet is very rarely probed at interview.

That being, Casual Friday.

It nestles neatly beside Smart Casual in the awkward dress code stakes. There are those gents who perhaps wisely steer completely clear, refusing to deviate beyond the business dress, but on seasonal occasions will plump for a chino. For women it's a little easier, the gear change from Thursday to Friday is less of a gamble - the general rules are slightly blurred - and pashminas will hide a multitude of sins.

It's the office young guns who are always in danger of taking the casual all too literally. The awkwardness of joining a meeting in your hoodie and jeans when others are in full suit is too much to bear for those tapped into the subtle nuances of what's 'acceptable'. There is something slightly new and childishly funny about seeing your boss in a pair of jeans and Adidas t-shirt, almost as if you've seen each other in an awkward social environment (e.g. Waitrose...or Spearmint Rhino). As a result there becomes a uniform of sorts formed out of these minor Friday morning panics, which seems to erode the ethos of the Casual Friday movement, but we all know one cannot have true freedom without rules. The rules will differ from office to office, but you can rarely go wrong with a shirt and jeans. It says 'I'm buying into the corporate game, I'm casual...but I'm not that casual...these figures have been hurriedly compiled with dubious amounts of scrutiny and, yes, I'm asking you to come in over the weekend to make sure they're correct for Monday morning'.

Any man will know he has a polarised wardrobe, normally comprising of Best work shirts, Work shirts, Work shirts that will soon be DIY shirts, Weekend shirts and then Other (normally being a dress shirt and that oversized shirt you got for christmas but have obviously never worn - these are normally separated from the main bulk by an awkwardly-balanced coat hanger of ties). Whether these are organised from left to right or vice-versa varies on the man. Again, rules make this decision making process easier and the temptation to confuse Casual Friday with the weekend at this stage can be fatal. In moments of dire need, men have been known to enter the Other section to avoid a weekend shirt. In these laundry-induced shortages you're very much on your own and a v-neck sweater will be your new best friend. However it does force another staple rule, one which can be taken to any social scenario: If in doubt, dress up.

It's with this advice that I would approach the Casual Friday dilemma. Of course, any Casual Friday-er par excellence (or for that matter Rogue about town) will have a spare full suit, brogues, double cuff shirt, links and tie ready in the office for all occasions. You never know when these will be called into action. Never. Too many good men have been lost to this corporate farce and it should no longer continue.

Remember that you have all weekend to dress like an arse.

"Give us a kiss Big Tits"

- Oliver Reed, to feminist writer Kate Millett

Someone buy this guy a passport...

A 4-hour Sunday roast at the Bolingbroke. Perrrrrfect.

Michel Roux Jr

"The thing I tried for quite a long time was posh wine. I became that somewhat tiresome thing, the wine connoisseur, but in my defence, I now realise that was less about trying to appear cultured and refined, and more about looking for an alcoholic drink that didn't make me go 'urrgh' "

- David Baddiel

Andrew Hughes interview having left Leeds United

You would never get this in the Premier League.

Eric Cantona - another superb export of European football being shipped to America to be under-appreciated.

Truer words were never written...

"Get on your dancing shoes

There's one thing on your mind
Oh, been there looking for you
Sure you'll be rummagin' through
Oh and the shit, shock, horror
You've seen your future bride
Yea, but it's oh so absurd
For you to say the first word
So you're waitin'n'waitin'n...

The only reason that you came
So what ya scared for?
Well don't you always do the same
It's what ya there for, don't ya know.."

- Arctic Monkeys - 'Dancing Shoes'

This is how I'm vowing to start every morning in 2011.