The bookies, as per usual, seem to think the Top 4 is nailed on.

No value in their favourites. Oddschecker have Liverpool at 2/17, Arsenal at 1/5, Man City 1/4, Chelsea 4/6. 3/1 Bar.

They do this sort of thing every year. But the actual Top 4 always involves surprises. Will Liverpool's new side gel? Will Arteta be gone by October? Are City on the slide? And everyone knows Chelsea could be 1st or 10th.

The 2 value bets-for me at least-are Aston Villa and Spurs-both at 11/2 to finish Top 4.

So-here goes:-

1. Chelsea (10/1 to be 1st a lot more attractive than 4/6 Top 4)
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Aston Villa

Gyokeres? Too early to be sure.

But he is 27. And at 25 was playing for, er, Coventry. Gives me no pleasure to say this (I lie) but you appear to have spent £200 million in this Window replacing pretty much like-for-like. Although, to be fair, a little less rape-y.

Dowman? For a 15-yr-old, he looks incredible. Quite possibly your best player while you were being humiliated v Spurs. But he's a 3 years younger Mikey Moore. Who, in 3 years time, could be a truly wonderful player. But not yet.

It astounds me just how dim many politicians are. By this I don't mean when they make political statements that I personally disagree with. I mean stuff that is just plain dumb. Often caused by a desire to appeal to voters while coming out with pure nonsense. Makes you wonder if any of these people read what they are saying. Not a Party Political thing-there are repeat offenders in senior positions in all Parties. A personal favourite was when "Our Nigel" proclaimed "Up the Ra" without stopping to think what that actually meant.

Today's prize plum? Kemi Badenoch. Who came out with this classic:-

"I rejected God, not Christianity. So I would still define myself as a cultural Christian."

No. You're not. And to pretend otherwise is just plain stupid.

Reminded me of one of my first memories-an argument between my parents:--

Mum:-"The trouble with you, Syd Green, is that you love Tottenham Hotspur more than you love me"

Dad:-"I love effing Arsenal more than I love you"

My Mum hated football. And worked for Arsenal for several years

Margaret (Mags) Croucher's linkedin page is fun. To quote her words:-

" Investigate complaints about transport providers and represent transport users where there is sufficient evidence to pursue their case further
 Negotiate with transport providers to resolve complaints on behalf of transport users"

Been there 16 years. Job before that? Customer Services Manager at Southeastern Railway

They are not toothless. Although it would be true to say that there have been moves to abolish them for being ineffectual.

I agree with that lady's analysis if the legal position. What I do not agree with is her interpretation as to what her employer is able to do about it. 2 quick points:-

1. Here's a template letter from "Which"

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/letter-challenging-a-company-s-unfair-contract-terms-ax9MJ6q9oCb2

2. I referred to a "super complaint" previously. Let me explain what that means. Certain bodies have the power to bring these. I don't know if TravelWatch (or, more likely, the ORR) have that power-but someone at her organisation will know. A "super complaint" is where a statutory body has the power to seek to force a Company to change their Standard Terms and Conditions because they break the law of the land. Which, IMHO, is what is happening here.

Will such an action be brought? Not particularly likely. But the threat of such proceedings make Companies sh1t themselves. They are not worried about your claim. But they are most definitely worried about the threat of being forced to change their terms of business.

1 to add to the modern Blues list.

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. Good place to start is on Jools Holland's programme.

A sublime young guitarist. Can make Hendrix and Prince come alive. Toured extensively with Buddy Guy while still a Teenager.

My late sister lived in Wollaton for many years, and her Husband still lives there, as does 1 of my Nephews.

On a lighter note, my other Nephew lives in Glasgow with his Scottish Wife. And, being Glasgow, the great divide in Football exists between them. He supports Spurs, she supports Arsenal-they even had 2 separate Wedding cakes in the respective colours

Spent many happy hours in that building. Beautiful place

Lonely Boy. Presume you mean Andrew Gold.

Great lyricist. Though I preferred Never Let her Slip Away.

Music can suit all moods. I like quiet and contemplative-just not all the time. Andrew Gold himself knew what sold for him, and suited his voice. Didn't stop him doing a lot of very different stuff, from songs by The Simpsons and Alvin & The Chipmunks. Or his cover of Monster Mash with Linda Ronstadt

Might interest you to know that his most popular song these days is of a totally different genre. Try the Undead Tombstone Mix of Spooky, Scary Skeletons. At the other end of the spectrum he wrote and produced a lot of stuff for Leo Sayer, like Endless Flight.

Thought it might be worth trying to get traction on a music thread. I like to listen to new stuff-whether that is from a new band,  someone before my time, a cover giving new impetus to an old song, whatever. The beauty of streaming services is being pointed to bands you haven't heard before.

If no-one replies, I'll take the hint

So-2 songs from Ireland. First an absolute banger from Kneecap. Then, for balance, an act proving that comedy gold can come from unexpected places




 



 

Got to say it.

Shouldn't come as any surprise. As the Champions in Europe against a Team who haven't won anything meaningful since Wenger.

Altogether now....

Pape Sarr....from the Halfway line...

While I am warming to a theme, I have always been a firm believer in showing my opponents why it is in their best interests to do what I want.

Over time, the various rail providers are being nationalised. Although the situation in relation to Eurostar is more complex, as they offer an international service.

If I were advising any Rail franchise I would be very sure not to attract unfavourable publicity. Because that is the sure-fire way to be taken over earlier. And I really, really wouldn't want to be the person in Customer Dis-Service to be responsible for that fun. Because it makes natural headlines. British Rail franchise trying to deny British people rights under British Law.

I remember some years ago I was stuck on a Greater Anglia train. Going absolutely nowhere. No-one telling us why. And the person opposite me said if this happened in his country there would be uproar. I asked if he was Dutch-he was. Whereupon I gleefully pointed out that the (then-) owner of the franchise was Abellio. A Company wholly-owned by the Dutch National Railway...

That is rampant bollo.

English Law is fairly specific. It is generally the consumer's choice whether to accept a replacement service or a refund for the non-service.

This goes back through various legislation, from the Supply of Goods and Services Act to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (the CPRs).

Suggest you first provide a copy of the article below, and invite them to reconsider. And that, if they fail to do so, would they please provide the mechanism for a complaint to the Rail Regulator. You would also be asking whether trying to force "compensation" via forcing a Consumer to have a 2nd service they do not want to supposedly make up for trousering money for a service they have not supplied should be brought to Press attention and/or be made the subject of a "super complaint" via the relevant consumer bodies. Because IMHO Eurostar should be forced to modify their Standard Terms

We are not talking about "fault". We are talking about you having paid for something you have not received. To put this in context, suppose you ordered and paid for an 80th Birthday card from Tesco's. And, through no fault of their own, they were out of stock. They would refund you. Not give you a voucher for an 81st Birthday Card next year.

https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/regulator-secures-eurostar-action-passenger-refund-rights#:~:text=Following%20a%20meeting%20yesterday%20%2817%20December%29%20with%20ORR%2C,refund%20rather%20than%20an%20e-voucher%20for%20cancelled%20services.

Was wondering how you got on in Vegas. Was so pleased that you finally got bored with bubbling those Sats.

Haven't been to Vegas for 6 years now. Miss the place. Don't miss the prices. Oh for the days when everything was cheap to get you to gamble there.

Must have been strange for people who had been with Sky before for the Teekster not to be there.

Hope you had fun

Don't give "legal advice" any more. Happily retired.

On the "practical advice" front, situation is likely this.

1. Check who your contract is with, and which law it is subject to (probably English, but might be French)
2. Check what sort of Card you made payment with. It it was a Credit (as opposed to Debit) Card, you will also have rights against the credit card company via s.75 of the Consumer Credit Act (provided the price paid was between £100-30,000)-at least, those were the numbers when my knowledge was up to date
3. Reason for 2 above is that Credit Card Companies are a whole lot easier to deal with than Suppliers. Not least cos they know they can bully the suppliers
4. On the assumption it is English Law, you are not obliged to accept a voucher. There is a clear breach of contract/failure to provide a service you had paid for. They need to be refunding the difference between the price of the service you paid for, and the one they actually supplied
5. Trick is to ensure that the supplier knows both that you won't be fobbed off and that you will cause them more administrative cost on arguing than paying

On a separate note, Gill looks very happy. Dies she have a hearing aid that she can surreptitiously turn off?