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Volunteer work trip, ie, holiday?

I know I did...

Do English grammarians agree on anything? Even books that some teachers regard as being authoritative (Murphy being a great example) are simply written to suit the language. So much of English is natural but wrong though - look at the way that Scots will use phrases like 'my hair needs washed' or 'the cat wants out' - both of those are absolutely natural to my ears too, but they're wrong. Anyway, even if it's natural, it would be punished by Cambridge examiners. And given that Cambridge exams are the closest thing that English has to a standardised test that's widely accepted - then they do have considerable influence, even if you or I don't agree. Probably because most of them are arguing for the sake of argument. It certainly was taught in my primary and secondary schools, and even in different countries. Or maybe they simply had bad teachers that accepted the use of 'because' to start a sentence. It's as good a rule as you'll get in English grammar - bearing in mind that even accepted authorities disagree on English (oh, the joy of having to explain to someone why Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries aren't exactly the same). Anyway, bearing in mind the widespread use of 'because' to start a sentence by people that can easily be called chavs, would you or anyone else educated really want to use it? Do you really teach people to start sentences with because?

Almost any reprographics facility?

Most people on here aren't responsible for teaching people English either, are they? I very much doubt most people on here (without resorting to Google) can tell you when and when not to use because - and given that the rule is so arcane, it's simply better to avoid using it to start a sentence. If you can use it correctly, great - but when it is taught as a rule in English speaking schools, combined with obscure rules as to when it is actually allowed - I'd argue any day that it's simply easier to avoid using it. Given that there's no central authority for English - if it's being taught in schools as 'wrong' and is being taught in the ESL world as something to avoid using (unless you're teaching CPE!) - isn't it really wrong? Anyway, I stand by my point - it's exceptionally ugly to start a sentence with because.

Make that Europe wide, to be honest. The one nice thing about Poland is being able to get real fruit drinks for cheaper than 'brand' soft drinks.

He invited us to a party there...turned up for a laugh, it was immediately obvious that everyone hated him there and yet he was trying to tell us (and everyone at the party) how much weed he sold and how much of a dealer he was. I remeber wondering how long it would be before everyone in those flats would kick the shit out of him for being such a complete nob. No idea what's happened to him lately actually.

Logie? Tillydrone? Sandilands? Hayton?

Would be a bit pointless putting these bands in an over-18's venue...

You should be able to get the firmware flashed to a Greek language version, which will inevitably include the ability to use Latin as well as Greek characters.. My phone is flashed to the Polish version (so I could get /?/?/?/?/etc) and yet I'm able to use English as the main phone language, just with support for Polish characters.

Using 'yr' is one of the greatest examples around of just how English shouldn't be used. It amuses me that people keep replying..is it some kind of urge that people have? The urge to show just how manly they are? The overwhelming need to belong? It may not be true in terms of correct grammar, but so many people are taught this way and stick to it that it's becoming wrong, even if it's not wrong in the eyes of grammar freaks and bearded Cambridge/Oxford workers. Anyway, it's ugly to start a sentence with 'because'.

Where did you go to school? You shouldn't start sentences with 'because'.

It tastes like crap in the UK too, the stuff abroad is more bitter and..well..nice. The UK stuff is just teeth-rotting sweet crap

There's an ignore user function. Why don't you use it?

Clearly you don't do things to torment old people enough. It's much easier in Poland, you can just accuse them of collaborating with the Russians...

Pretty much spot on You still working the doors?

Especially the arseholes who use the "we fought in the war" line. I usually ask "what war?".

Hahahaha...great joke

Are you Roger Kimmett in disguise?

The law is mental in regards to VAT and food - but I think this is roughly right. Hot food always has VAT charged on it (as it is supplied as part of catering, which isn't exempt from VAT - though I wonder about hot chickens sold in Asda for instance?). Cold food is exempt, unless it's either a luxury food or supplied as catering. Usually the idea is that it's catering if it's supplied for immediate consumption on the premises - but I seem to recall that there's been a lot of legal arguments about just what is exempt and what isn't. Pringles lost a case recently, I think? I don't understand how anyone could be an accountant

You have morals? You, the person who had quite the collection of naked pictures of girls found at gigs in Aberdeen? Morals? pah!

Just like another Aberdeen based columnist, eh?

I've seen the footage from a mobile of the ambulance leaving, but there's no footage of him being loaded into the ambulance as far as I know?

You just read in a paper, but won't tell us what the paper was? What's the point? Dan - wasn't the body being taken into the chopper from the hospital to elsewhere? I thought the footage from the chopper with the body covered up was of him being taken somewhere for the post mortem...unless I'm wrong?

It'll be interesting to see the charts on Sunday now...