And for those challenged by currency exchange values, that is almost $1.2 million in real money.

I've lived her here for 18 months now.  Here are some of the things I've encountered:

An actual menu of service, I mean an actual, laminated menu, listing the duration of events and services available.

I've found myself sitting on a folding chair in the kitchen talking to the maid (the booker) when the lady, here technically in a parlour, only one girl can work at a time, was running late and I was in the hole, instead of on deck.  The maid later admitted that she didn't elevate me to the waiting room when it was my turn because she was having such a good time chatting with me over tea.

One time I was sent to wait in the john during a complicated transition - nobody should see anybody else.

There is a great lady here, candidate for ATF, who refuses to see me again unless I shave my beard.  Haven't shaved for at least my face for 15 years (GHWB was president at the time), sorry honey, no intention to do so know!!!

And then there are the newspapers, or the tabloids.  Only 4 or so of the national dailies cover  hard news. There are at least anonther half dozen that compete daily for National Enquirer like stories, of couse with their own moral and political bent.

Where else but England can a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother cause a national, and international event with her runkind, at least, racial coments about another contestant from India.

Here the kicker, what was Jade's, the offending party, claim to fame and source of her millions?  Of course it was the fact that she one of the first competitions when it was "nobody" Big Brother.  (Even better, last year Dennis Rodman was a contestant on this show, and this year, Dirk Bogart, "Face", from the A-Team.  Celebrity here has a really different meaning!!!)

Like I said, Britain is a funny place to live, and the lawyers here seem to pursue the same hopeless, spurious cases as their colleagues in the US.