Jessica23

Whether Autoglass can repair it will depend on the size of the chip, I think, and as far as I know it goes through your insurance when they do repairs. Edit: Just seen that you've put how big it was - sorry I don't know exactly what their size criteria are!

The book does look interesting - I think I'll definitely be having a read at some point. Slightly off topic, did anyone else notice this rather startling statement in the Literary Review..umm, review? Made me choke on my coffee! Really? Does anyone know where this might have come from?

I'm left-handed. I've never really noticed being disadvantaged by it, either; although it did take me ages to figure out how not to smudge when writing. I don't tilt the paper, I tilt my hand... I use a mouse with my right hand, use knife and fork in right and left respectively and the only time I do sometimes struggle is using tin openers. My grandmother was left handed and apparently when she was at school she was forced to use her right hand - left her with no confidence in herself and pretty appalling handwriting. I definitely wouldn't change it!

No, you're not a sicko! I like dog smell too, but I especially like horse smell - because when I was between about 8 and 16 horses were the love of my life - so nowadays, if I bump into one in a field, just a whiff of the smell takes me right back to the happy childhood place. Similar story with cow manure, but that really is probably just me. And farmers

Can heartily recommend http://www.theonion.com Timewasting with added satire.

Maybe for a VERY large amount of money I'd use it to pay for the foil blankets.

I'm really sad to hear this... Ashamed to say the only book of his I've read is 'Tough Guys Don't Dance' (I think), parts of which I found hilarious. Couldn't tell if that was intentional or not. See also: http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2208911,00.html

Quite possibly! I know of other people who didn't enjoy the third one - but just thinking about it makes me want to weep. I thought the handling of the Will and Lyra relationship in and of itself was superb, and that's without even considering the overwhelming number of ideas squeezed into the trilogy...

Yes - me too. There was an article in the paper about it a while ago, I'll try and find it later on - unless you saw it already? Was probably the Guardian, knowing me, but the thrust of it was definitely that they've watered it down, and made it more about dictatorships and oppressive regimes generally, rather than religion as such. I think. That is interesting! When I re-read, will hunt for clues, although I don't remember anything obvious from the first (hundred) times I've read it

I enjoy the Forum for browsing. I used to buy people presents from the 'smoking' shop -proper name escapes me - things like flavoured rizlas that weren't always easy to find - I have bought clothes from there too, simply because I get more than tired with the likes of Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, etc. I prefer the Forum cafe/bar though, to the shops. And I'm 26.

Very probably. Maybe it was some sort of sexual super-hero costume, and she had the weapons stashed in her bra...

Slightly off-topic, but I saw a woman on Halloween wearing - literally - a red bra, red knickers, and fishnet hold ups. Walking down West Street without a care in the world. She must have been SO cold.

I'll be wearing a skirt. And tights and a big coat. Problem solved!

I've had nightmares where I can't bring myself to walk down the aisle...I'm standing there in my dress (which is always harlot-red), boyfriend of the day is at the other end waiting for me...and I can't do it. It's possible I have a commitment problem

Yep, same here - they found me a placement really quickly (the day after I had the interview with them, I think), it was five minutes from my house, and I never had any problems with the administration side of things. Could do a lot worse!

Spending a year in a relationship where we did NOTHING but argue. And make up. Very tiring.

Oooh, I've had exactly the same problem with AVG! 20 minutes is really frustrating. I think it's downloading the update files that slows it down; the download itself is fairly quick, but then the update seems to take ages. (I've got broadband). I DIDN'T remove all other security software - will do so forthwith - and will check the settings on AVG to see if I can somehow control when it downloads updates. If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know!

Monday night, while watching fireworks; not 100% sure why.

Could you be a bit clearer on the definition of 'ways'?

I would imagine that the people who believe witchcraft and satanism are connected are the kind of people who think all kinds of 'alternative' lifestyles can be lumped under a heading of 'Different thinking from mine, therefore dangerous and probably evil.'

Do you introduce yourself with your real name at meets, or carry on using your user name? (Assuming your username is distinct from your real name, that is)

Sorry, fluffystuff, I haven't quite mastered quotes yet - but your comment that where you live now and where you are from has combined to make you the person you are today is really spot on. I'm not trying to say that being born and living in one place for your whole life is bad thing, but part of me thinks that experiencing different places can only lead to greater tolerance - expanding your horizons in more than the literal sense.

Jason - I do love and appreciate the city! If I didn't I really wouldn't live here. It's only a minor qualm in the grand scheme of things.

I'm quite surprised by the comments too - not so much that there is resentment of the south, but that said resentment is translated into a hatred of southerners as a broad generalisation. I'm not from the south as such, but I don't have any kind of regional accent, which gets me marked down as a southerner (in a negative way) a lot round here. For a city that often prides itself as friendly, it's a shame.

Jerermyjh1 - from a feminist perspective: People who hold doors open for other people are polite and good mannered. People who object to having doors opened for them are being argumentative at best. The assumption that women need help with doors (which IS implied if you ONLY hold doors open for women) can be offensive; and I personally would've found the Miss/Mrs issue very frustrating if I'd been around in the days before Ms. There's generally no need for aggression, though - a polite 'actually, it's Ms' shouldn't offend anyone. I have found in the past that some people struggle with Ms - one man in a call centre proceeded to call me Mizz Jessica for the rest for the conversation, which made me feel like I was in the Deep South. Very awkward!