Have you ever?

[John Ashleigh]

No, I haven't. I have only been to two weddings but I was too young to remember.

Have you been a best man, Henry?

[Henry P]

Never
Have you ever been to a cremation?

[John Ashleigh]

My Grandad and my best friends brother were cremated, but I never went to the cremation.

Have you been to one?

[Henry P]

Two. I prefer burials.

[John Ashleigh]

I prefer neither of them.

[Henry P]

at least with a burial something more than memories are left

[John Ashleigh]

True.

Would you like to be buried or cremated?

[Henry P]

buried. It's more expensive

[John Ashleigh]

Haha.

Have you ever been stung by a bee?

[Henry P]

no, but wasps like me
Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

When I was younger I stepped in a wasps nest and I was stung all over. Now I have a phoebia.

[Henry P]

I don't like them either. They have no redeeming features

[John Ashleigh]

I think they like attacking people.

[Henry P]

They don't seem very scared. They're easy to swat though

[John Ashleigh]

Can you catch one using chopsticks?

[Henry P]

I never tried. Can you? Just don't fry it afterwards

[John Ashleigh]

No. Haha.

Can you eat with chopsticks, Henry?

[Henry P]

only if they're tied together
can you?

[John Ashleigh]

I use chopsticks everytime we have a chinese.

[Henry P]

well done

[John Ashleigh]

I love it.

Have you ever been on a diet?

[Henry P]

many times. My weight fluctuates. At the moment I'm a bit porky, but I'll try to deal with after Christmas

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever had a membership to a gym?

[Henry P]

no. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

Yeah. I do need to start going again, though.

[Henry P]

I don't think of exercise as pleasure, let alone something to spend money on

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever had food poisoning?

[Henry P]

quite a few times
Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

Never. What poisoned you?

[Henry P]

You never know which food got you

[John Ashleigh]

My friend had food poisoning from a packet of ham.

[Henry P]

it's hard to tell what causes it

[John Ashleigh]

I suppose I am very fortunate.

Have you ever known someone who has been on the news?

[Henry P]

yes- I knew a murderer, and one of my pupils was in the papers for killing his girlfriend's baby

[John Ashleigh]

Small world, huh?

[Henry P]

yes. And two of my pupils were murdered

[John Ashleigh]

My brother and sister were on the news a long time ago. Some thug set the bin sheds on fire which were directly below our flat.

[Henry P]

A pity we don't know anyone who was in the news for anything else but crime

[John Ashleigh]

The news never have good news.

[Henry P]

What is good news?

[John Ashleigh]

I'm not sure.

Have you ever baked your own bread?

[Henry P]

Yes, in a breadmaker
I think you have too

[John Ashleigh]

I have done in the past, but you can't beat Warburtons bread from the supermarket.

[Henry P]

Home-baked is best

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever driven an expensive car?

[Henry P]

Only my Lexus when it was new in 2002 and cost me 18 grand
Have you?

[rantingpete]

No.
Have you ever made your own jam?

[John Ashleigh]

Not me, but my mum does.

You?

[Henry P]

yes- with our own plums and raspberries

[John Ashleigh]

Have you made a pear jam before?

[Henry P]

No. I think it'd need extra pectin, but it sounds yum. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

Not me, but my mum makes pear jam. It is quite nice.

[Henry P]

I thought it would be

[John Ashleigh]

She also made some really good chutneys.

[Henry P]

I'm not keen on chutney

[John Ashleigh]

Nor am I usually but the 'Plum and chilli chutney' was a delight.

[Henry P]

Have you ever been punished at school?

[John Ashleigh]

I was given detensions but I never done them. I was a menace at school, I think the teachers were scared of me. I wish I could go back...

[Henry P]

What would you do?

[John Ashleigh]

I'd behave myself and do my best in every exam and in every lesson.

[Henry P]

good lad

[John Ashleigh]

Well I am doing an English Lit course next year - that'll be my time to shine.

[Henry P]

Is that an A level or what?

[John Ashleigh]

Well I want to get the GSCE's first - but I am not really sure. I haven't looked at the website yet.

[Henry P]

once you start, you can always ask me for help

[John Ashleigh]

Thankyou. I'll take you up on that. :)

[Henry P]

you're welcome

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever watched the film CatWoman?

[Henry P]

no. The one with Halle Berry?

[John Ashleigh]

Yeah, it's on the TV...

[Henry P]

That costume is well silly. Is there a naked version?

[John Ashleigh]

You wish. Haha.

[Henry P]

Have you ever known anyone who committed suicide?

[John Ashleigh]

No.

You have though, right?

[Old8oy]

Haven't known anyone, but I found someone who had.

[Henry P]

Found? Please explain

[Old8oy]

When I was 18 I delivered pizzas for a local chain. I worked a Saturday night and noticed a car in the parking lot with someone who appeared to be sleeping in it. We shared the lot with a bowling alley / bar so I thought nothing of it.

When I came in to open the next morning, the car was still there so I figured I'd go wake the person up and make sure they were okay. When I got up next the car I saw that it was an older man and he was hunched over a rifle...

A few days later, when I spoke to my parents next and told them what had happened, they told me the man had worked with my dad and my grandpa and that he had cancer and no family. Was pretty sad.

[Henry P]

It must have been a traumatic experience. Are you in America?

[Old8oy]

honestly, I don't want to sound like a sociopath, but aside from the initial shock of "oh my, this man is dead" it never really hit me in any negative way. After talking to the police I went in and worked my shift... It was more sad to me that the man did it in a fairly public place assuming he'd be found right away and instead no one noticed...

Yes, I'm in Michigan, USA.

[Shanalorm]

I can imagine that,
After all, you don't know him, nor
will ever. Besides, the worst thing
is his story. May such things be
a rare thing.

[Henry P]

[QUOTE=Old8oy
Yes, I'm in Michigan, USA.[/QUOTE]

What do you think of the gun laws in America? They look ridiculously out-of-date from over here

[Old8oy]

Personally, I don't see any need for someone to own a semi-automatic weapon. But really, I don't have much of an opinion on guns. I don't own one, don't have a need for one, but it's far from me to tell someone else what they do and don't need.

In my eyes, there are Americans and there are 'mericans. The first group shows their patriotism by social participation and donation of ideas and time. The second group shows their patriotism by telling others what they should and shouldn't do/believe and by shooting things... ;)

[Henry P]

The gun supporters are idiots

[John Ashleigh]

I think knives are more threatening.

[Henry P]

I don't

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever been stung by a jellyfish?

[Henry P]

No. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

No, but I know someone who has.

[Henry P]

I think it hurts

[John Ashleigh]

Apparently it was the worst sort of pain.

[Ike]

Have you ever milked a cow?

[John Ashleigh]

No, but I have seen it being done.

You?

[Shanalorm]

I have, but with a machine. It isn't too special with a machine really.

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever read a book more than twice?

[Henry P]

Yes- George Eliot's Middlemarch and Wuthering Heights, not to mention the books I read in school to kids several times or even year after year. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

Yeah I have read many books more than twice. I am a creature of habit.

[Henry P]

I like routines, but not habits

[John Ashleigh]

I am full of routine and habit.

[Henry P]

You'll change and evolve with time

[John Ashleigh]

Well, I have started to cut down smoking. I have gone from 25 fags a day down to 17-18 a day. I didn't realise how much money I could save.

[Henry P]

try to cut out completely

[John Ashleigh]

I'm not sure that is going to happen anytime soon. ;)

[Henry P]

Keep trying

[John Ashleigh]

Well I plan to cut down to 15 a day in the short term. You never know what the future can hold.

[Henry P]

It's not easy. some think it's harder than getting off heroin

[John Ashleigh]

That is probably true.

[Henry P]

But many people kick the habit

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever been addicted to something?

[Henry P]

Yes, to the internet, I think

[John Ashleigh]

That's a healthy addiction I would have thought.

[Henry P]

I'm not sure- I'd feel deprived if I had to give it up

[John Ashleigh]

I'd feel the same. The internet is a big part of my life.

[Henry P]

and such a quick way to get all sorts of information

[John Ashleigh]

...and online shopping.

[Henry P]

and material for my students

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever known someone with cancer?

[Henry P]

yes- my two uncles died of it, as well as my father-in-law and my wife's uncle

[John Ashleigh]

Was it hard to deal with?

[Henry P]

I wasn't so close to any of them

[John Ashleigh]

My mum has just been diagnosed with cancer.

[Henry P]

I'm so sorry. Think positive and be strong for her

[John Ashleigh]

I am trying. :)

Have you ever watched 'Frozen Planet'?

[Henry P]

Every week- British TV at the best. It's a long way down to Tool Academy. Apparently the episode about global warming has been dropped from American versions of the DVD in order not to offend the world's greatest polluters and their Humvees

[John Ashleigh]

How strange.

Don't you think the freeze frames of the ice are just beautiful?

[Henry P]

Not strange, as the BBC make lots of money from their programming and merchandise abroad

[John Ashleigh]

Well I think everyone should know about the devestating effects of global warming.

[Henry P]

Some people prefer to think about their big cars and multifarious electrical appliances, or like the Russians,Chinese and Indians, save money by not filtering the smoke from their coal- and gas-burning power stations

[John Ashleigh]

Some people can't see past their fancy clothes and heavy jewellery. It frustrates me.

[Henry P]

Selfishness rules. it's part of our animal survival instinct

[John Ashleigh]

And so is common sense.

[Henry P]

which usually serves short-term self-interest

[John Ashleigh]

You should run our government, Henry.

[Henry P]

I'd be assassinated in no time

[John Ashleigh]

Haha.

Have you ever been in a fight?

[Henry P]

only once, at infants school. I think I won. You?

[John Ashleigh]

I have been in many - kids at school are bullies.

Have you ever watched snooker on the TV?

[Henry P]

of course- it was better to watch in the 80s when Alex Higins was around to be a nutter and Jimmy White was knocking in pots from all angles. There were more characters then

[John Ashleigh]

It is quite new to me, but I have watched it for a couple of years now.

[Henry P]

It's a skilful game, but it's too quiet

[John Ashleigh]

I actually prefer to play pool.

[Henry P]

I've played pool. I once sank a really hard pot, but little else

[John Ashleigh]

I used to go to a pool club.

[Henry P]

I only played a few times in pubs

[John Ashleigh]

I won a tournament in Turkey.

[Henry P]

Did you win much?

[John Ashleigh]

Free drinks. ;)

[Henry P]

Have you ever spent all day without getting dressed?

[John Ashleigh]

No, I don't think so.

You?

[Henry P]

nearly, but someone came so i had to make myself decent

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever seen a riot?

[Henry P]

No- have you?

[John Ashleigh]

Yeah I have seen a couple...

[Henry P]

Really? Where?

[John Ashleigh]

One was in Portsmouth when it was the local derby and also in Winchester.

[Henry P]

were these drunken affairs?

[John Ashleigh]

Well Portsmouth was football hooliganism and Winchester was related to the summer riots.

[Henry P]

Winchester riot? I thought you were all posh down there with the school and cathedral

[John Ashleigh]

So did I - but every place has its rough area.

[Henry P]

Our rough areas up here are rougher than yours, I suspect

[John Ashleigh]

Probably, but not when I lived in Portsmouth. There is a place their called 'Leigh Park' which is the largest council estate in England.

[Henry P]

Really- there are some big ones up here, like Buttershaw in Bradford and Seacroft in Leeds

[John Ashleigh]

Are they rough?

[Henry P]

very

[John Ashleigh]

Do you live near them?

[Henry P]

no, but in a conurbation like West Yorkshire, it's never far to a few rough streets

[John Ashleigh]

Luckily I now live in the countryside - but there is always a gang or two lurking somewhere.

[Henry P]

Are paving stones or lead being stolen round there?

[John Ashleigh]

No, but my next door neighbour had a motorbike stolen a month back.

[Henry P]

The British have always been up there for theft, probably because of the inequalities in this country. The poor take what they see, which is never far away in this crowded country.

[John Ashleigh]

It would be the last thing they ever done if they were to steal off of me. I don't agree with it at all.

Have you ever been to an auction?

[Henry P]

No. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

No, but I'd like to take some bits there and sell them.

[Henry P]

Have you ever cut your own hair?

[John Ashleigh]

Yes I have but it didn't turn out how I hoped.

You?

[rantingpete]

I have a number 1 side and back and number 3 on top but when I get home I always find the odd hair that seems to have escaped the clippers so I have to get my electric razor out and chop them off which is difficult to do if its at the back. You need 2 mirrors.

Have you ever messed ya pants as an adult? LOL

[Henry P]

Define "messed"

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever played Monopoly?

[Henry P]

Of course. It needs at least three players thouh

[John Ashleigh]

I love playing monopoly, but no one in my family likes it.

[Henry P]

I like it, but I'm best at Trivial Pursuit, on account of knowing so much useless crap

[John Ashleigh]

Yeah I can relate with that. Haha.

Have you ever done a pub quiz?

[Henry P]

yes. I helped my daughter cheat by text message. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

I have done a few but I rarely visit the pub nowadays.

[Henry P]

Landlords are switching to tasks to avoid cheating by mobile

[John Ashleigh]

How will they manage that? Take our phones?

[Henry P]

have people keep an eye on each team

[John Ashleigh]

I think that just ruins it for me. We're not on a reality show for channel 4 competing for a million pounds.

[Henry P]

i think some teams don't cheat

[John Ashleigh]

I just don't see why anyone would want to cheat?

[Henry P]

To win money. Simple

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever been in a helicopter?

[Henry P]

No. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

No - but I would probably be too scared to ride one.

[Henry P]

I'd go up

[Dred]

Have you ever been in a helicopter?

No, have you ever felt jealous when you had no merit to?

[Henry P]

Do you need "merit" to be jealous?

[Dred]

Do you need "merit" to be jealous?

Well, you may feel you don't have the "right" to feel jealous. However this is down to peoples personal feelings. You can take the question any way you like.

[Henry P]

feeling jealous is natural in an unequal society, and is probably a positive emotion

[John Ashleigh]

I think jealousy can make a person strive for better things.

[Dred]

I think jealousy can make a person strive for better things.

It can also destroy relationships! Jealousy has its place, like every other emotion, some times it works for our good and others, and sometimes it works bad to ourselves and others. That's why I said, when we have no merit to, as in a negative!

[Henry P]

Have you ever been jealous and hurt someone because of it?

[John Ashleigh]

Yes - a very long time ago.

You?

[Henry P]

I don't think so

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever done your own firework display?

[Henry P]

yes- in 1999 for the Millennium. Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

No. I think I'd be scared to do it.

[Henry P]

just follow the instructions and don't buy fireworks you can't set off in your space

[John Ashleigh]

I might have a go next year.

[Henry P]

go for it, just cut no corners

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever made your own alcahol?

[Heamus Seaney]

Hi everyone,

Newb here, but keen to get stuck in...

I have done my own fire display but some how it ruined it for me. While it was great to see how excited everyone was as the display progressed (it spanned all of 5 minutes!) I knew exactly what was coming so I got more of a smug sense of self satisfaction rather than the excitement fireworks usually bring.

I much rather going to see a firework display. Probably the best display I've seen so far was when 5 years ago when I was on holiday in Sydney, Australia (http://www.wimdu.co.uk/sydney). They harbour bridge was truly a sight to behold!

Still, it could have been worse, did anyone see this in the news recently? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/8872768/Fireworks-mistakenly-set-off-all-at-once-at-display-in-Scotland.html

Sorry for the telegraph link, it was the only one I could find with a video!

It's a bit morbid, especially for a newcomer but I did it this weekend so "Have you ever buried a dog?"

[Henry P]

no, but I'm pretty sure I killed one on a road at night.
Have you?

[John Ashleigh]

I've never buried a dog but I have buried a cat before.

[Henry P]

I've buried a few dead birds

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever owned a parrot?

[Henry P]

a budgie, a yellow one. It died

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever watched Big Brother?

[Shanalorm]

Once, and i found it unsatisfactory.
Such shows aren't really enjoyable if you ask me.
You put people in a house and see who lasts longest...
Wow what a concept...

[John Ashleigh]

Have you ever watched a black and white movie?

[Henry P]

of course- some are excellent. I'm looking forward to seeing the new one, The Artist

[John Ashleigh]

I watched the original 'The day the earth stood still'. It was actually quite good.