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I want to shave them all bald, take their over-priced sponsored shoes, wrap them round their neck and ring a bell shouting "SHAME!" as they walk from one end of the country to another.

...is it me you're looking for?

You're absolutely in the right on this one. So long as you were professional, respectful and polite to your manager about the non-payment, the company has no leg to stand on, morally or contractually.

Stepfather was always "Dad" from the get-go, I actually can't remember a time when he wasn't in my life. I think he entered into my world at around 18 months old. He asked me to call him dad one day and he was just dad from then. He was a pretty good father for the first 15 years of my life, but as soon as he and mum divorced and he remarried, things got shit. He just became hugely emotionally distant, unhelpful and dismissive. I begged him to come to mum's funeral when I was 16, but he refused. He was always late for meeting me at school when there was an event on, he would rarely come and watch choir or band performances. I know he was working hard at the time, as the divorce was financially draining. But still, it continued and never really improved - there were several times that I was locked out of the house late night because he forgot I was coming home. At university I would get a phone call on my birthday, maybe another one at some point during term. There'd be a text message to confirm when I'm coming home and he would come and meet me. At age 23 I had a minor argument with Stepmother - I was off out on a date and they asked me to babysit for an hour at about ten minutes notice, then they were away for two hours. I asked for a lift and the response was an upper-class "go fuck yourself." Next day dad told me to move out within six months. Then I moved to China. More of the same really - when they remember I'll get an email or a text. Though things have picked up recently: Dad even told me he was desperate to see me this Christmas and missed me the last two. Of course, I won't actually be able to stay at the house as they are unwilling to make room (They have four bedrooms, three people with grandma visiting for whole of Christmas). So I have to stay in a guesthouse or something. Biological father - I only met this man for the first time when I was 18. I remember being told a story of how after I was born he had literally run through the streets of our small town screaming "IT ISN'T MINE!" and that story being corroborated by several other people. At the time, I had no idea who this man was, but to hear that he didn't want me and had disowned me without even meeting me... was horrible to say the least. As it turns out, he wasn't my father. He just had better career prospects than my actual biological father. For years I had no interest in meeting the man that had been so disrespectful and inhuman. Then one day, at my grandparent's house, I saw a newspaper clipping of a guy I knew called Chris. He had saved someone's life after they threw themselves off the pier. I said "I know that guy, he used to come to the cafe when I worked there... Why did you keep that clipping?" ... "...he MIGHT be your uncle." Off I trotted to my great aunt who told me the whole story: how grandma shut my biological father out of my life because he had no career, education or future - even though he was desperate to take responsibility. She tried to trap the other guy into taking me on because had - in their estimation - a future and would be able to take care of us. I went through the first 18 years of my life convinced that my father didn't want me. So I met him just before I went to University, and yep, one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Absolutely never had much of a life or future or so on. But described as a wonderful person by everyone who met him. We kept in close touch until I left for China and we have since not spoken for 9 years. I lost his phone number when I lost my phone 9 years ago.

Just saw the Russian goal - what in the hell was the goalkeeper doing?

Unpleasant at work recently. We're all fairly jokey in the office, and everyone gets involved - including me - ripping on everyone else. However, I've felt recently that it's gone mostly in my direction. There are days when they'll infer I'm in a relationship with a specific member of the male staff in the other section because we had brunch once, or there will be gay jokes, or height jokes, or general physical appearance pisstakes, or the way I pronounce certain words. When that's not in currency, it'll be something like a compliment I give to someone and get called an "Asskisser". Then I'll criticise and get called a "dick". And if not that, then I'll just get told I'm not allowed an opinion "because (insert spurious reason here). Came to a head yesterday when the lunchladies refused to give me any more food at lunch (they should give you three from a selection of 8 and I had only taken 1) so I just put my tray down and said "Fair enough, I'll eat elsewhere." I told the guys in the office and their response was "Suck it up.". Then the coordinator walks into the office laughing calling me a "diva" and I just had to leave the office. I've never felt more like quitting than I did last night. We were in a meeting and discussing the creation of a handbook on team teaching - who was going to write it etc. I wanted to join the writing team, but everyone in the office had already been pretty snide about it, so I just didn't put my name down, despite the pointed looks from the management who know I have a history as a writer. The coordinator apologised, but made out it was my fault for joining in. If I don't like it, I should tell everyone "professional language only" and reciprocate. It's just awful.

Amen, brother. Here's your $20 bill. Plus the Tax. So another 10%. Oh, do you want to give a gratuity? - because we pay our staff minimum wage and then push the responsibility for boosting their meagre incomes onto you.

Vegas. I played Fallout: New Vegas and enjoyed it, then when we came to do an anniversary/her 40th birthday trip last year, I just went ahead and booked Vegas on a whim. The city fascinates me, its history, how it works, the logistics of these super-resorts, its geography and climate. I'm not much into gambing, but it's an entertaining diversion - as long as you just consider the money lost before you've spent it. So I'm going back there again this summer for a more extended visit, this time I'm going to do the things I missed last time - the Atomic Testing Museum, the Neon Boneyard, the Mob Museum, the historic casinos downtown, the more out-of-the way resorts on The Strip, Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, Bonnie Springs. I'm probably going to do those crazy-ass thrill rides on the top of the Stratosphere tower where they dangle you over the edge.

I will remember him.

Congratulations to Leicester, it's unbelievable!

I tried it once - but just like that time I had fun - I didn't much care for it.

Didn't get that job on account of "the fact you're not Chinese". As expected, but still...

There was a period from about 2010 - 2013 when our upstairs neighbours were CONSTANTLY redecorating. But it turns out that the apartment had changed hands a minimum of three times during that period, and in China, when you leave the house you spitefully rip out everything and leave it by the roadside, so whoever buys it has to completely redecorate. That includes floorboards, by the way.

Never been, would like to go. Definitely cosplay - provided I can pay someone else a small fortune to make the shit for me.

Pretty sure you can make millions by suing the gym?

Maybe make several racial slurs while near the hole and wait for them to move out in disgust?

Interview for a bi-lingual coordinator position here at the school. They are clear that I won't get the job, as they want a Chinese person doing it, but at least they will see me actively trying to push forward good ideas and be aware that I am not happy remaining in the same position as I am.

Happy birthday!

By "worship" I'm assuming you mean "Take it into your m..." So, anyway, how are things?

This was an issue for me - IF you are assuming that Chewie owes Han a Life Debt as he does in the EU, then there is almost no way that he would have left with Rey at the end of the movie, as he would be focused on protecting Leia.

I mean, of all the bloody places in the world... Belgium? The only more inoffensive and totally relaxed-about-their-shit country would be what, Denmark? Complete and total dick move. But what is the response? Is it more tolerance and respect? No, because that's viewed as weakness by these people. Is it a "Throw-them-out-of-the-country" approach as favoured by that mental case, Donald Trump? No, because that's inhumane and completely against the spirit of what makes most of our countries great.

By genre... Horror - Aliens because it blends the right amount of pathos with fear. Action - Avengers the final scene in New York is just such an amazing thrill. Comedy - Airplane! I don't think enough good can be said about this movie. Without it, I don't believe that a lot of modern comedy would be possible. Drama - To Kill A Mockingbird probably the greatest book-to-movie adaptation of all time. I dare you not to tear up when Tom Robinson starts crying, protesting his innocence. Animation - A tie between The Iron Giant and The Lego Movie. Both very intelligent movies that reward second viewings. Sci-Fi - Wrath of Khan. A beautiful movie. Probably the best of all the Star Trek movies, and certainly the equal of virtually any science fiction movie before or since. Genuinely fantastic performances from everyone in the cast.

RIP. He was a figure of fun for many people, but he was a huge talent.

Sounds absolutely awesome @Goafer . I am a huge fan of the US, it's really a brilliant place to visit. Especially Las Vegas. Where I'm going again. YES.

No, sadly. It just processes things a lot quicker than normal. If the typical human body can process a glass of wine an hour, mine can do a glass and a half. And I build up tolerances to medication really quickly. It took three nights of taking Xanax before it had absolutely no effect whatsoever. That was about four years ago, and taking it now produces no effect still. That shit was great for the first three nights though Similar. Except instead of a vaguely hot blonde waiting for me to blow up the bad guy, there was a beefy nurse wearing Crocs.