To my mind Ghent is like York, it's lived in. So you have a mish mash of properties mixed together. The old part of the city is Mediaeval and lots of the architecture is intact. Beautiful castle, cathedral and old harbour and Saint Nicholas's church. I can't pretend to know the city as I fly Brussels, drive Ghent, eat, sleep and then go to visit a Primrose breeder 20 minutes out of the city. Life is so exciting! Been three times. I've yet to find great food in Belgium. For example last night I ate at Kaai 14. For starter I ordered something made with Limousin (French breed of cow) which turned out to be local goat cheese wrapped in wilted,cold spinach, layer of sun dried tomatoes and wrapped in raw beef. Fabulous. Mains I ordered gambas, it was the only thing I was 100% on the translation. Beautiful big fat ones arrived - with chips!!!!! Good coffee followed and complimentary Calvados. A potentially excellent meal rather dampened by chips!! What I have seen of Ghent is beautiful and I think a long, warm weekend in the centre would be excellent. It would need a good hotel and food. Most of what I've seen has been in cold, dank February evenings! I believe there is a huge music and theatre festival in the summer

OK this will not be everyone's cup of tea but if you find a need for a hotel in Gent try here. The quirky Hancelot which is bed & breakfast only. It's a strangely luxurious place, clearly loved as a building by it's owners, spacious, very quiet and ten minutes walk from the city centre Built in 1840 by a "Baron" who made his money in the textile trade. My room had a sunken marble bath, floor and walls with the original brass plumbing. The bathroom was built especially to honour a visiting prince. A bit like the advert for The Ritz http://www.hancelot.be/

Spot on gumboots. After 25 years of raising kids we are now doing everything we want. Travel, theatre, concerts, weekends away, restaurants, book festivals, and a new bike!! The next 15 years we are fit and well enough to do anything. None of our friends feel a day older and are determined to enjoy later life. As far as I can see life gets better as I get older!

Well getting back to real food. Anyone visiting Cardiff for rugby or football could do far worse than stay at Dexby Town House hotel and eat at The Cricketers. Both on Cathedral Road, ten minutes from the stadiums. Restaurant quality food in a pub converted from Victorian houses. Just had chicken livers and bacon in a brandy cream sauce followed by lamb rump with celeriac, roast sweet potato, roast carrots and wilted spinach. £22. Excellent quality and value

Thenodrog I heard a news item which stated horse meat sells at £600/ton and beef £3000/ton. The beef price seems broadly consistent with your figures. Have I read them correctly? Are these prices for what one would consider quality meat - not mechanically rescued scrapings etc?k I was thinking about this in relation to Tesco and McDonalds. At £3000/ton a "quarter pounder" has a beef cost of 33p with McD selling at £1.99 - £2.69. I'm not sure if that's good or bad news but it possibly suggests the meat quality is better than I imagined. Tesco say there value burgers are 100% British beef. How then does Romania get involved MF Tesco? http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Frozen_Meat/Tesco_Everyday_Value_Beef_Burgers_8_per_pack_397g.html

Been thinking about this. We make our own beef burgers. 750gm minced beef, onions, bread crumbs, seasoning, egg. Mix together and you have 8-10 burgers very quickly. We tend to jazz them up a bit but that's the basics. I haven't tried but I reckon it could be bulked out further. The beef is the main cost at £4, which puts the burgers at around 40p each. Tesco value burgers are £1 for 8, 12.5p each. How do we expect low income families to make the correct choices? Cheap filling food or nutritious home made food at three times the price? I could make 750g of mince go much further though.

Could be eating Eeyore http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/horsemeat-found-in-british-supermarkets-may-be-donkey-8489030.html I gather from the BBC there are 5/6 agents or companies involved in the supply chain for Findus "beef" products. Each will take a percentage and given the low, low everyday value prices reality is these products can hardly include anything adequately described as meat.

I know. I just don't find it odd someone would drive to eat out. Last weekend I went to eat at the Assheton in Downham. The Oyster and Otter, it's sister outlet with same menu, is 3 miles from my house. Downham is 22. Anyone who saw me might think why is Paul here? Or alternatively might sensibly reason I was trying it out. As it happens we were going to hear Steve Cropper and The Animals in Clitheroe and decided to try the Assheton at the same time. People have reasons for eating somewhere other than just the food

When my son lived in Southport we saw SG there a couple of times which is not a place full of great restaurants.

?????

Went to the Assheton Arms at Downham this afternoon. Sister outlet with the O&O. Very good as you'd expect I think there were one or two extra dishes on the menu but my wife says not. We were at the O&O last Thursday and I think I prefer it. Main difference is the staff, nothing wrong with the Assheton, but the O&O staff are great fun and have lots of personality.

Saw the legendary Steve Cropper tonight at The Grand, Clitheroe. Time is Tight, In the Midnight Hour, Green Onions, Knock on Wood, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, Soul Man. Amazing...... guess these people just love to play, it can't be for money, 250 folk in Clitheroe!

Depends what you want. The Vincent hotel on Lord Street is good, there are several reasonable Italians also on Lord Street on the opposite side from Vincent's. My son lived in Southport for three years and we struggled to find anywhere really good. Vincent's was the best

All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

Best I've seen was Hampden Park about three years ago. We got right up to the barriers and were so close we didn't need to watch the big screens. Left completely exhausted and soaked!! Just got 7 for the Ricoh Stadium. Website kept crashing and I got thrown out twice when I'd reached the point of submitting the credit card details. Excited is a not the word.

Springsteen Hampden Park June 18th 2013 Rome July 11th 2013 Excited just thinking about it.............................

Back in the USSR - Beatles

I haven't been for a while but last time we went I left hungry and broke!! The food is very good but the portions were tiny and very expensive. I don't expect the plate to be piled high but the Dead Cat takes it to the other extreme! Whoops! http://www.oysterandotter.co.uk/oyster-xmas-menus-2012/XMAS%20DAY%20'12%20menu.pdf Slightly more than I suggested!! Apologies

Clearly it depends on where you live, how much you want to spend and how far you'll travel. For me the Oyster & Otter is only 6-7 minutes away. I've no hesitation in recommending that. http://www.oysterandotter.co.uk/oyster-xmas-menus-2012/O&O_xmas%20menu%202012%20A4.pdf Three courses for two will be £45 plus drinks. If we wanted to eat out I think we'd go there and perhaps have champagne to top it off.

For Your Love - Yardbirds

The Olive Branch in Ludlow is good if you find yourself in the town. Good for coffe, lunch, tea or evening meal. Everything is varied according to time of day. http://www.olivebranchludlow.co.uk/ Of course if you can afford it The Underhill is the alternative!!!

Is that 2 for the price of 1 Colin? Would I Lie to You - Eurythmics

Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas

The Ballad of John and Yoko - hmmmmm

Mr Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra