Any Questions

'Fraid you've lost me, GT, for the moment, though I confirm I'm all for a bit of humour. I think we all need it these days.

Am I the only one who can't stand John Humphrys on Today.

The is pompous , wordy, and gets in a tangle with his thoughts when he has not got his brain engaged, then splutters, remounts his high horse and then chanters on.

Its about time the BBC cleared out its overpaid dead wood, but then it would have pay them mega dosh to get rid.

Get rid of the licence fee, savvy folk don't pay it and watch/listen on the puter

"MADAM" is better than "dear" which I hate!

Makes me think they mean "old dear".

So do I. Oh for the days of "Can I help you Madam?" in John Lewis . Now even there you get a mumbled (if you are lucky) "Are you all right there?" Yesterday I replied " Well I was looking for information on these steam cleaners but didn't like to interrupt your conversation." Oh yes, this fool can be tart when called for!

I also , like being referred to as MADAM.

Papa - can you explain your comment? I'm surprised at you - the comments from the others are par for the course but I didn't know you'd joined the gang! I was just making some lighthearted observations and then look what happened.

I like it in Costa when they refer to me as Madam, but I like old fashioned courtesy.

I'm obviously in a minority here, but I really like David Dimbleby, though I do think Question Time isn't as lively as it used to be.

I personally feel that referring to someone as "that woman" or "that man" sounds a bit rude. I would usually say "lady" or "gentleman". However, I think some people see it as a bit obsequious, so it's a bit of a minefield.

I don't like being addressed as or referred to as "young lady", particularly by a younger person. It may not be intended but it comes across as cheeky and patronising.

Nepotism is alive and well at the BBC.

Henry Dimblebum Dimbleby also advised the government on school dinners I believe.

PapaO I do agree about the Dimleby Bros, they can't need the money. Why do some people hang on too long ?

I am happy to say there are some excellent presenters who are years younger. We get our TV news from BBC in London, don't know if there is still such a thing as Thames TV, but you know what I mean. One of their best young presenters is called Riz Latiff, she let's people speak, keeps them on track and is always pleasant. She even speaks clearly so a doddery old soul like me (only 67 really) can hear.

I am interested in films and Mark Kermode is very good.

Evan Davis is good but he is on slight overkill. Also they say he has either a tattoo or a piercing in an intimate area and that puts me off him no end.

Was your comment necessary, G2? Or was I meant to retire, hurt...

Beating a foolish tart, Ana? I think we'd better draw a veil over this!

Well you should know that Ana - was that necessary?

Oh yes, you can't beat a nice, tart fool...

Well there you go, you've learned something! My favourite use for gooseberries though has to be gooseberry and elderflower fool....

I didn't know that gooseberries went well with mackerel.

Just saying.

I was listening to R4 yesterday morning and there was the next generation (Henry I think) taking part in a programme about food ( with Jay Rayner - as in my mum was Clare) that was so basic I wanted to weep. Discussion about gooseberries - did you know they go well with mackerel? Gosh no I didn't thanks for telling me , now how do I suck this egg?

Returning from our ramblings,*NanKate*, I wish we could fire David Dimbleby as far away from Question Time, or in fact any media involvement, as possible. He is way past his sell-by date and like the mouldy old bits found now and then at the bottom of the freezer he should be quietly ushered towards the BBC dustbin. Others do his job much better and I'm sure that his old Dad would be embarrassed at little David's decline into mediocrity. So, on yer bike, Dave!

Out for lunch a few months ago with two friends of similar age. Waiter comes up and says what can I get you girls and we just laughed and said in unison 'you should have gone to specsavers' - we thought we were very witty!

When I bought my first iPhone 4/5 years ago, I was very excited and enthusiastic as the 12 year old the young man who served me went through the tutorial. As I left he said that he was really good to see an old person so into new technology

Oh dear Deedaa I've just told a youngish male shop assistant off for calling me 'young lady' .. I actually thought it was smarmy and puerile. He does this often and today I'd just had enough.

I can't stand Jeremy Vine as he's always cutting people off in mid speech or trying to put words into their mouths.

Well a friend of mine had a formal complaint made about her because she called a middle aged man "Young Man" ! I suppose he would have preferred if we'd all called him "You miserable old b****r" which was what we all thought