<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xml:lang="en"><title>Latest entries from mikerichards.blog-city.com</title><rights>Copyright 2009 mikerichards.blog-city.com</rights><subtitle></subtitle><author><name></name></author><updated>2009-09-08T08:32:00Z</updated><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/index.rss"/><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009:1</id><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-09-07:links.412181631</id><title>Let me paint you a picture</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/let_me_paint_you_a_picture.htm"><![CDATA[Twenty years ago I began attending a 12-week course of starting your own business (I had enrolled for Intermediate Serbo-Croat, but they got the forms mixed up).&nbsp; The idea of the course was the build up a business plan to take to your bank manag]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/let_me_paint_you_a_picture.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-09-07T20:14:00Z</updated><published>2009-09-07T20:14:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-07-24:links.412177652</id><title>Famous for ten minutes</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/famous_for_ten_minutes.htm"><![CDATA[I was at the gym earlier to negate the Twix diet I have been on for the past 30-odd years and was watching a programme with Angela Rippon in.&nbsp; I was reminded of the time I once met her.&nbsp; During the progressive birth of many digital channels]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/famous_for_ten_minutes.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-07-24T12:44:00Z</updated><published>2009-07-24T12:44:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-07-01:links.412175741</id><title>Down the Drain</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/down_the_drain.htm"><![CDATA[This morning I had to walk to my office (in the roof at St Paul&rsquo;s, from Waterloo).&nbsp; Not because I was feeling particularly virtuous, not because I feel I should get fitter and therefore an invigorating walk to start the day would be the or]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/down_the_drain.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-07-01T16:54:00Z</updated><published>2009-07-01T16:54:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-05-28:links.412172403</id><title>...and what are you going to swear for us tonight?</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/and_what_are_you_going_to_swear_for_us_tonight.htm"><![CDATA[I try not to watch Britain&rsquo;s Got Talent.&nbsp; Not because I am a TV snob and only watch the British Broadcasting Corporation and couldn&rsquo;t possibly watch anything with advertisements amidst the programming, but because I am partly jealous]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/and_what_are_you_going_to_swear_for_us_tonight.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-05-28T17:22:00Z</updated><published>2009-05-28T17:22:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-05-19:links.412170976</id><title>Mental as anything</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/mental_as_anything.htm"><![CDATA[Last time I wrote I bemoaned the fact no one ever handed me anything on the street &ndash; I don&rsquo;t count the papers with no news items in, either.&nbsp; Therefore, I made it my plan to thrust myself into the path of someone handing things out.&]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/mental_as_anything.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-05-19T17:03:00Z</updated><published>2009-05-19T17:03:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-05-05:links.412168459</id><title>A proffer you can&apos;t refuse</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/a_proffer_you_cant_refuse.htm"><![CDATA[Hooray and hurrah!&nbsp; I have finally been proffered a leaflet in the street. &nbsp;My 5-times per week gym sessions are clearly working, as the leaflet was for a local fitness place. &nbsp;Normally people look at me and quickly withdraw the leafle]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/a_proffer_you_cant_refuse.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-05-05T17:03:00Z</updated><published>2009-05-05T17:03:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-04-01:links.412161217</id><title>I predict a riot - and am regretting wearing a cravat!</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/i_predict_a_riot__and_am_regretting_wearing_a_cravat.htm"><![CDATA[So, today on Epsom Station, one can see what others look like at the weekend as I didn&rsquo;t spot a single suit!&nbsp; Today we have rioting in the City (possibly) and companies have advised their employees to &ldquo;dress down&rdquo; and the peopl]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/i_predict_a_riot__and_am_regretting_wearing_a_cravat.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-04-01T06:43:00Z</updated><published>2009-04-01T06:43:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-03-25:links.412160063</id><title>Regardez vous</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/regardez_vous.htm"><![CDATA[&ldquo;Hope this finds you well.&rdquo;&nbsp; This is a recent addition to email opening pleasantries &ndash; even from people I don&rsquo;t even know, let alone people who give two monkeys about my health &ndash; rude or otherwise.&nbsp; I am tempte]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/regardez_vous.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-03-25T07:52:00Z</updated><published>2009-03-25T07:52:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2009-02-18:links.412154700</id><title>I don&apos;t like cricket - but I do love money</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/i_dont_like_cricket__but_i_do_love_money.htm"><![CDATA[Following on from the highly successful Stanford 20/20 where English cricketers decided that they didn&rsquo;t need an extra $1m income as they all had highly lucrative paper rounds there are to be several series throughout the world in the coming mo]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/i_dont_like_cricket__but_i_do_love_money.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2009-02-18T08:20:00Z</updated><published>2009-02-18T08:20:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-12-24:links.412145106</id><title>Take your daughter to work day</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/take_your_daughter_to_work_day.htm"><![CDATA[Christmas Eve.&nbsp; Trains packed of many people well under four foot six.&nbsp; All being told of Daddy&rsquo;s journey to work.&nbsp; A journey they take 364 (less weekends and forced family holidays) other days &ndash; alone and engaging in inter]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/take_your_daughter_to_work_day.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-12-24T14:34:00Z</updated><published>2008-12-24T14:34:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-11-30:links.412141451</id><title>Stealing a march.  But only if the chocolate-covered shrimps have all gone</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/stealing_a_march__but_only_if_the_chocolatecovered_shrimps.htm"><![CDATA[So Woolworth&rsquo;s may not shut after all.&nbsp; One of the Dragon&rsquo;s Den&rsquo;s dragons (is that a palindrome? If his name were Den, then it wouldn&rsquo;t be a palindrome, it&rsquo;d just be daft) is preparing a bid to save the famous High]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/stealing_a_march__but_only_if_the_chocolatecovered_shrimps.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-11-30T20:13:00Z</updated><published>2008-11-30T20:13:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-11-27:links.412141056</id><title>Tinker, tailor, soldier, self-assembly three-piece suite for only &#xa3;100</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/tinker_tailor_soldier_selfassembly_threepiece_suite_for.htm"><![CDATA[In 1967, when I was ten and thinking about my future career, MFI first opened in my home town of Balham. &nbsp;I didn&rsquo;t visit the store but my mother told me, &ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t get you&rsquo;re your O-levels you could end up working at]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/tinker_tailor_soldier_selfassembly_threepiece_suite_for.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-11-27T07:37:00Z</updated><published>2008-11-27T07:37:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-11-13:links.412138953</id><title>Ralph Coates ate my hamster&apos;s testicles</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/ralph_coates_ate_my_hamsters_testicles.htm"><![CDATA[Chelsea losing to Burnley (AND without Ralph Coates); Spurs winning again (AND without Ralph Coates); England miraculously scoring nearly 100 in a one-day team (Ralph Coates-Singh taking 3-48 and scoring a breezy 57* for Mumbai).&nbsp; J&uuml;rgen Kl]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/ralph_coates_ate_my_hamsters_testicles.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-11-13T19:42:00Z</updated><published>2008-11-13T19:42:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-11-04:links.412137277</id><title>&quot;The Birds - 2&quot; - coming to a car park near you</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/the_birds__2__coming_to_a_car_park_near_you.htm"><![CDATA[The 1963 Hitchcock classic, &ldquo;The Birds&rdquo; is to be re-filmed in the car park of Epsom Sainsbury&rsquo;s.&nbsp; Two types of people normally populate the car park: seven-foot men with large chamois leathers, huge vats of water and a small sa]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/the_birds__2__coming_to_a_car_park_near_you.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-11-04T18:08:00Z</updated><published>2008-11-04T18:08:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-08-19:links.412123313</id><title>Dogging is not just for Christmas</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/dogging_is_not_just_for_christmas.htm"><![CDATA[With the Olympic flame still raging in Beijing (formerly known as Frinton-on-sea) some of the 2012 London Olympic sports, parochial to the capital of Eng-er-land, are being prepared.&nbsp; We already know that sailing with be done in Weymouth (which]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/dogging_is_not_just_for_christmas.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-08-19T21:21:00Z</updated><published>2008-08-19T21:21:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-08-15:links.412122527</id><title>Mind the gap - tip number two(s)</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/mind_the_gap__tip_number_twos.htm"><![CDATA[Restroom. &nbsp;Bathroom.&nbsp; Two words which have a different meaning in America than to us here in Blighty. &nbsp;Having recently been deported from the United States, I must disagree with their naming of what we call toilet, loo, bog, the smalle]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/mind_the_gap__tip_number_twos.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-08-15T17:15:00Z</updated><published>2008-08-15T17:15:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-07-23:links.412117366</id><title>Hollywood&apos;s Half Hour</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/hollywoods_half_hour.htm"><![CDATA[The BBC earlier this year had a series based on comedy stars of the 60s &ndash; Steptoe, Sid James &amp; Barbara Windsor and Hughie Greene.&nbsp; It was exceptionally well done with the actors looking like their thespian forerunners and sounding like]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/hollywoods_half_hour.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-07-23T07:07:00Z</updated><published>2008-07-23T07:07:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-04-29:links.412099935</id><title>All aboard!</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/all_aboard.htm"><![CDATA[Yesterday I was at York Station &ndash; my normal South West Train had over-shot the barrier at waterloo, sailed across the Thames, headed up the M1 and came to rest on Platform 1 at York Station.&nbsp; As I re-gathered my wits I noticed a man in the]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/all_aboard.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-04-29T17:35:00Z</updated><published>2008-04-29T17:35:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-04-18:links.412097428</id><title>Now please wash your hands - assuming you&apos;ve finished</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/now_please_wash_your_hands__assuming_youve_finished.htm"><![CDATA[I do not like the new-fangled South West Trains toilets. And neither does the bloke who inadvertently opened the door onto one last night!I wouldn&rsquo;t normally use a strange toilet, my mother would warn of getting all manner of illnesses off a to]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/now_please_wash_your_hands__assuming_youve_finished.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-04-18T06:55:00Z</updated><published>2008-04-18T06:55:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-04-02:links.412093985</id><title>Spirit level in the sky</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/spirit_level_in_the_sky.htm"><![CDATA[I have decided I want to wear combat trousers. &nbsp;I realise that this is not the norm for sartorial City of London outfitting and will possibly have me spurned from my local Starbucks with the instruction, &quot;the building site is round the back]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/spirit_level_in_the_sky.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-04-02T06:17:00Z</updated><published>2008-04-02T06:17:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-03-27:links.412092863</id><title>Terminal decline - and its only Day 1</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/terminal_decline__and_its_only_day_1.htm"><![CDATA[Heathrow Airport&#39;s terminal 5 will be the next setting for the American hit TV series &quot;Lost&quot; and instead of using actors, real life items of luggage will be playing the lead parts, ably supported by dozens of clear plastic bags, full of]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/terminal_decline__and_its_only_day_1.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-03-27T20:50:00Z</updated><published>2008-03-27T20:50:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-03-14:links.412090174</id><title>HMP Heathrow</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/hmp_heathrow.htm"><![CDATA[Today I watched the Queen open Heathrow Airport&rsquo;s Terminal 5.&nbsp; Clearly she&rsquo;s run out of supermarkets to open and fancies topping up her Air Miles.&nbsp; I was in my gym trying to run off the twenty Bountys I&rsquo;d eaten this week a]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/hmp_heathrow.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-03-14T22:02:00Z</updated><published>2008-03-14T22:02:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-03-11:links.412089487</id><title>&quot;Are we nearly there yet?&quot; asked Henry Stanley</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/are_we_nearly_there_yet_asked_henry_stanley.htm"><![CDATA[I work in a building which houses many companies.&nbsp; We have a lot of visitors, although some only seem to visit once!&nbsp; I think it might be the pretend electric chair we have in the corner of our office.&nbsp; There is a company, also in our]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/are_we_nearly_there_yet_asked_henry_stanley.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-03-11T19:09:00Z</updated><published>2008-03-11T19:09:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-03-07:links.412088732</id><title>Lavender Hill Mob in uniform</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/lavender_hill_mob_in_uniform.htm"><![CDATA[So, people in uniform (petrol pump attendants, lollipop ladies and amateur gynaecologists) living in Peterborough were warned not to go out at night with their nozzles, lollipops or very thin gloves &amp; a lollipop stick on show. When I was in the 5]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/lavender_hill_mob_in_uniform.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-03-07T22:08:00Z</updated><published>2008-03-07T22:08:00Z</published></entry><entry><id>tag:mikerichards.blog-city.com,2008-02-19:links.412084906</id><title>Giant frog in your throat</title><content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/giant_frog_in_your_throat.htm"><![CDATA[The town: Washington (not that it was called that then); the time: 180,000,000 years ago (just after teatime);the place: just outside 46b, The Caves, Washington, USA; the people: Mr and Mrs Wooden-Club;You&rsquo;ve had a hard day.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ve]]></content><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://mikerichards.blog-city.com/giant_frog_in_your_throat.htm"/><dc:creator>Mike Richards</dc:creator><author><name>Mike Richards</name></author><updated>2008-02-19T18:21:00Z</updated><published>2008-02-19T18:21:00Z</published></entry></feed>