Craig Sawyers

It closed as a hotel in the 1930's, and was essentially derelict. It came perilously close to being demolished, but after a massive campaign in the 60's it was saved. Alhough it was only in the early 2000's it was restored to the tune of £800m. The station behind it is the Eurostar London Terminus. It is quite an experience getting on a train at St Pancras and getting off at Gare du Nord in Paris. The superb front of Euston station even after massive protest - demolished and now a bland and functional frontage and appearance. Euston demolition https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/nov/07/euston-arch-rail-london-demolished-1961 What it looks like now

Great photos. Is that St Pancras station?

On you tube, full set. We were bang in the middle of the front row of a crammed 10000 seat venue. From there the whole experience was immersive.

I took my daughter to see Jean-Michel Jarre maybe 12 years ago in Birmingham (UK). I got us tickets in the middle of the front row. Now I've seen Jarre before, so I warned Liz of a spectacular entry. Sure enough, fan of light and then a fist comes through it. Once it really starts, Liz says "wow - he's cute"; so I told her that he was 7 years older than me - and he'd had a bit of work done to keep the cuteness factor. It was, it has to be said, a totally awsome Jarre experience. Ancient synths, laser harp - the full beans.

Hey - have a truly great one!

In the UK we get hardly any fossil fuels from Iraq, <1%. The the thing that hits global oil prices, and hence fuel prices - is the cost per barrel of Brent Crude. So it hits everyone globally - including the US. Most energy supply companies hedge by buying ahead, usually at least 6 months and up to a year. So there is a lot of intertia in the price of fuel and gas. The fuel taps don't just turn off overnight.

Woah - how did I miss this? Very happy belated Nate!

Thanks everyone! We were away for a long weekend of eating and drinking. Our son lives in the NE of the UK, so we spent a couple of days with him. Then we spent two days at The Black Swan at Olstead https://www.blackswanoldstead.co.uk/ , a two michelin star restaurant. That was quite an experience. 7 courses in the tasting menu with a glass of matching wines with each course. This is really in the middle of nowhere down a single track road. As it got narrower and narrower we honestly wondered if we were on the right road. Got back a few hours ago - and I feel as if I've put on quite a bit of weight! Cheers all!

Happy Birthday, Dan

A very happy Birthday Steve - hope it is an awesome one

Carr has had a number of comeuppances over his early years. Now 53 he seems to be past this shady past. Who can ever forget the late great Sean Locke in Carrot in the Box on 9 out of 20 cats does Countdown

That is a small cat - our moggie is a chunky but lean 7kg (15.5lb). If that photographer has tripped over our cat he would have been flat on his face.

Woah - how did I miss this? Happy belated Grahame - hope you had an absolutely spiffing day.

Ha ha. Baron Trump-konnen. Similar fatness, similar colonial intents with force, taking possession of areas for natural resources, similar survival of assassination attempt(s).

Lets not forget the Henry Kissinger got the Nobel Peace Prize after destabilising Chile under the socialist government of Allende, and putting in August Pinochet - a torturing, disappearances human abusing right wing dictator. And Chile was a whole lot further from the USA than Venezuela. Slight personal recollection. My Dad was in the Merchant Navy the early/mid 50's to mid 60's in (by today's standard) tiny oil tankers. The ship used to dock at Punta Cardon in North Venezuela to the oil refinery there. So Venezuelan oil was a thing way back