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Merry Christmas,happy Hanukkah and joyous kwanzaa to all!
I'm heading out tonight to do the Christmas drink shopping and was wondering what to buy.I always find it hard to know what to drink after a big feed when you're sitting in front of the fire with the meat sweats.No problems before dinner,a couple of beers or glasses of wine are the usual, but what would you knowledgeable lot recommend for the rest of the day?

Just read on breakingnews.ie that Sean Marty Lockhart is to retire from inter county football. A great servant and sound man altogether.He was a big name before he even left school, and put manners on manys a player.I remember him keeping Canavan scoreless on at least one particular occaision - no mean feat.He's a great loss to Derry if this is true.Can anyone confirm this story?

While sitting last night with a few mates,we got chatting about buying local produce and how it contributes to the local economy.The general consensus seemed to be that we would rather buy from the farmer up the road than from some of the big chain supermarkets.When we went further into it ,it came up that this is sometimes easier said than done.
I've just finnished a book by Stephen Clarke called Talk to the snail, it's a light hearted look at French society and their attitudes and policies. He makes the point that France has more holidays per year than other European countries - 6 weeks.The obvious question here is how can the French economy sustain 6 weeks off work for their workers.He makes the point that on a bank holiday weekend a French family will jump in their French made car,fill it with French petrol,drive to the French countryside or coast and spend their money on French produce being sold in French restaurants.The French are passionate about their own produce and by and large will go to great lengths to purchase locally thus contributing to their own economy.We on the other hand don't seem to be too bothered where our food comes from as long as it is cheap. For a country with such strong agricultural ties , where has it all gone wrong for us and how can we make it better?

I need to stop smoking - not that my doctor has told me , I just need to catch myself on and stop.I already know how mad,expensive,offensive,dirty and unhealthy it is.... before the lectures start pilling in . Any help and/or advice is greatly welcomed. Any ex-smokers on here fancy telling us how they quit?

Anyone know of any good seisiuns going on these days .A lot of the good ones seem to have died out in the last couple of years prob due to the fact that people don't have the money for pub drinking.I know there are Tueday nights in Haydens of the rock that have been great on occasion, but what if any others would people recommend?