Northampton Town FC are called "The C*bblers".

Are they cobblers or are they any good?

I love pencils, I use them for all writing except my diary (cartridge pen).

HB and F are my favourite grades, and I also keep some 4B ones for writing on non-paper surfaces.

It's an absolute disgrace that somewhere as staid as Washington DC should have a facility as glorious and vital as a dedicated National Museum of African Art, while we have to suffer the cultural humiliation of a prospective Wolverhampton Museum of Wetherspoons.



In a similar vein, it was a dark day when the Aga Khan gifted his prestigious collection to a city as notoriously boring as Toronto, because we couldn't be bothered to lobby for it.

What is the point of having a Royal Family if not to send them out to bring home things like that? Instead we were paying for Andrew to continue his world tour of golf courses.

The last time I was in Buenos Aires, some elderly local lady had sent her collection of Balenciaga couture out to rotate round city high schools, so pupils could be inspired by beauty and craftsmanship. When was the last time anyone did that here? When was the last time a group of borough schools even took the initiative to ask for such a thing?

Gleefully ignorant social media reaction to news that the BBC may have to temporarily close down certain departments for public health reasons show the result of all this cultural impoverishment.

This is, after all, a country where attractive smart shoes for schoolboys have to be purchased and dispatched from Madrid after eagle eyed friends living in Spain have been put on the case.

What do people here think of the visible statement sock, folded or tucked in trousers/jeans/tracksuit bottoms thing? My son does this, as do several of his friends, and I think I'm generationally averse to it. It looks wrong.



Do any of you or those under your roof do it?

I like it. It looks like the sort of thing they'd've done in the early 1970s if their trousers hadn't been too wide.

Are you doing it?

He bought a pair of United States flag design Converse in New York, which had a weekend outing with 7Up slogan socks and jeans arranged just like that. I considered walking on the other side of the road.

I think I probably will. It's a very young Jodie Foster type-thing.

Well, all power to your ankles.

I'm size 12 wide fit....no chance.

7 here, think that's a 6 in mens? Luckily enough I inherited my grandmothers slim feet and very (but defined) thin ankles*. Not her actual shoe size of 4, or her height - she swore blind she was 5ft1, but she was clearly under 5ft. By her 90's quite far under it.

It's a source of sadness to me that none of her shoes or her vast collection of cashmere sweaters and cardigans fit me. Only some of her boxier jackets and a navy pea coat from when those things in larger shapes were in. Loved a gold button or two, which I also inherited. We used to shop for shoes together. As a record, I once saw her try on a record 47 pairs to find the one perfect fit. We were there so long a salesgirl had to pop out and bring us back some lunch.

*sometimes a distinct cracking noise from the ankle region when I walk, also like her. I suppose I'll be a prime candidate for osteoporosis too, so I might as well have fun while I can.

cosmictanya wrote:

7 here, think that's a 6 in mens?

Men's and women's sizes are the same in the UK (in US sizing there's a difference of 2).

Oh well, there you go. A 7 it is, but I am 5ft10 so it's not out of proportion.