Shyheels

Nice style

I like my £55 Topshop ones a million times better...

Ah, back on track again. I was expecting a photo soon. Very stylish. I must say the soles on those sneakers are rather cumbersome, but overall a very tasteful look.

He does over do it, no question about it, and it can get wearing but at the same time, he is also a very perceptive judge and when he is not playing up to the cameras - as I imagine he has been told to do - he gives some of the best advice and guidance of any of the judges. And he is always fair. As Puffer says, he speaks marvellous English - one of five languages he speaks fluently, I understand - and I bet would indeed be a brilliant guest at a dinner party.

Not an argument that would be worth making to any copy editor who knows his or her business. Or an English teacher for that matter, not one who genuinely knows the language. The English language has wonderful depth and precision, more than a million words - the richest language, in that regard, on the planet. The richness and precision it offers should not be lost because of laziness or ignorance.

Nevertheless, it is still incorrect, a lazy slang usage that has gained currency. Refute (along with 'enormity') is one of the most frequently misused words in the English language. I am a professional writer. Words are my living, and my art. I know my palette.

Totally agree. I have watched it on and off living in a house where it is popular and he was certainly a very competent judge who tried to keep things honest - but his role a glitzy media profile certainly went to his head. He pretty much defined 'smarmy' by the end...

She's going to catch a chill going out like that...

I agree. Although towards the end of his tenure, Len was getting very full of himself

The second definition in whatever dictionary you are referencing is incorrect. The word has been misused frequently enough that some measure of tolerance is creeping in, but that usage is nevertheless still incorrect.

Well that is nice! Much easier in the eye than Len Goodman

Indeed, a very classy look. Again, my knowledge of pop culture being what it is, I have no idea who she is, but she certainly looks nice.

A boat a Bond villain might have commissioned for their retirement.

Don't know who she is, although she certainly is slender and can wear PVC trousers to nice effect - although the overall effect would be classier without the bare midriff. I am impressed that you keep finding these pictures. Obviously there is a glamorous world out there that I just keep missing

I remember back in my teenage years the older brother of a friend of mine getting arrested for doing 135mph in his souped up Plymouth. He complained to the arresting officers, as they slapped the 'cuffs on him, that he'd been in a hurry because he was late for a meeting with his parole officer (which was true!)

Indeed! I need exercise - cycling - and some creative outlet for words or images. Imperative.

Lovely boat - a shame they never got to realise their dream of touring Europe in it.

Yes, she has certainly mastered the art of monetising her social media profile - as well as having the good fortune to come along at a point in human history where such things are possible. A perfect storm, in her case. Taylor Swift strikes me as someone who could wear PVC and make it look wonderfully classy and chic, but this outfit and look isn't it. She looked like she has half of a wetsuit on and is getting rewards to go diving, or has just surfaced and climbed back onto the boat. Nothing chic about that. A pity, because as I say, she is someone who could make the look ooze class.

Yes, lost opportunity is much more regrettable than lost youth - which is inevitable anyway. Lost opportunity though does offer second chances if we are clever enough to see them, and bold enough to act

Hopefully all will be right. I would miss your image contributions

Not really experienced any sort of "crisis" but certainly a sense of the passage of time, and if there was any regret about lost youth it was ameliorated by the mature wisdom of not caring so much about what others think, and being more comfortable in my (ageing) self.

I can see everything just fine on my screen too!

Here's his apology for the remarks, on today's BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41092831

Back on the subject of the thread, did you read Sir Chris Hoy's comment on men (most particularly middle-aged men) in Lycra in his interview with GQ? I think he has a point, but his comments certainly provoked an outcry from all over the cycling community. It was quite interesting reading the points of view that were expressed - from women cyclists as well as men, mainly those of the heavier persuasion, about how wearing Lycra made them feel better about themselves and their efforts. It's not for me, but fair enough for them.

Good idea for a thread. There were some lovely old images that came up on the sidetrack to that other thread...