Jenjie

TESCO will open bank branches in its shops this year as it seeks to take advantage of a loss of public confidence in traditional high-street banks. The retailer expects to open branches, likely to be branded Tesco Bank, in 30 stores by the end of the year. It already offers credit cards, savings accounts and insurance and plans to concentrate on those areas at first, perhaps offering mortgages in due course. It is working on plans to launch a current account, though that would not happen until late next year at the earliest. The move by the retailing giant comes as public anger spills over about the hundreds of million of pounds paid out in bonuses to bankers this year despite several of the biggest banks, including Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland, being saved from collapse by taxpayer-funded bailouts. Tesco, one of the most prominent names on the high street, hopes that it can capital-ise on savers’ newfound distrust of traditional banks. The first branches will open next month in Bristol, Blackpool and Coventry, after a trial in Glasgow. Andy Higginson, the chief executive of Tesco Personal Finance, has said that the move into the mainstream banking business will be based on a conservative, “old-fashioned” approach. Tesco bank customers will also be able to accrue loyalty points under its Clubcard programme. The retailer has hired several high-profile executives from the financial services industry to lead its foray into the new business. Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco chief executive, is understood to be keen to take advantage of what he sees as a historic opportunity to open a new bank. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5993752.ece

its just going to be very inconvenient to do much later in the year.

that's awesome :D how nice is Chris?

Coldplay and rubbish bags in Abu Dhabi. Top performance by Cold Play in the grounds of the 7 star Emirates Palace last night. Dug the surreal lightening display that went on throughout the gig. Guess it was Gods way of saying, ‘Stuff Earth Hour I don’t turn my lights off for no one.’ Unfortunately with the lightening came rain. I don’t mind rain at an outdoor gig especially in the Middle East because it’s warm rain. It’s warm like the water the hairdresser uses to wash your hair. You know how they hold the little nozzle under their hand till the temp is just perfect and then they start washing? In the Middle East the rain god does the same thing before he dumps a deluge on you. Millions of little drops of urine temperature water plopping down on you. Back in the 90’s at the one-day cricket at Eden Park, before they banned booze sales in the second innings, you did used to feel the same thing, except it was drops of urine falling out of the sky. Well, out of the cups of the guy’s 12 rows back. No, I don’t mind rain but some people do. They mind it so much in fact that they would rather wear rubbish bags than get wet. Who started that retarded trend? Which genius decided to cut holes for arms and head and throw on a plastic bag? Probably a pissed guy who was trying to dress up as a homeless guy for a joke. But it caught on! Do concert goers read the weather report and think ‘Might be chance of rain. Better put a giant rubbish bag in my pocket? The Cold Play concert was carbon neutral apparently. I guess the thousands of rubbish bags on their way to the landfill today don’t count. Great gig from a top band but the sound seemed a bit crap for a while. There was this staticky hiss in the air. Then I realized it was the sound of hundreds of rubbish bag wearing plonkers rustling in time to the songs. http://petervegas.blogspot.com/2009/03/coldplay-and-rubbish-bags-in-abu-dhabi.html

'tis indeedie :D and that 4 months was quite quick really when you think about it

crikey! I feel old reading some of those. my earliest would be the wedding of Fergie & Prince Andrew in 1986.

Today is a round numbers day - Ticker says 5 months 3 weeks. I can't believe we've counted through 4 months already and there's still more than that to go!!

We don't know, but from what he said in January its possible not

the bolt at 2:11 is awesome i love the response at the beginning. you would have thought it was a firework show rather than a lightning storm :laugh3:

Twitter lndsy928: @coldplay the AUH concert was fantastic! the storm seemed to make the concert better, definitely didn't slow you guys down! thank you! 3 minutes ago from web danstuart: Saw #Coldplay in abu dhabi. Best I've seen in a long time. Coldplay = what Radiohead would be if they were fun 26 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Icons plunge into darkness to shed light on planet Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Iconic landmarks across the UAE dimmed their lights for one hour on Saturday evening as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) global Earth Hour initiative. Government departments, local businesses and hotels were plunged into darkness in Dubai between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Dubai International Airport switched off lighting at all its duty free stores across its three terminals while travellers ate in food courts lit by candlelight. Lights at the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, were also switched off as part of the initiative. Hundreds of people gathered at The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, the focal point of Dubai's participation in the event, to watch some of the city's most famous landmarks, including the Burj Al Arab, dim their lights. Residents received T-shirts, caps and lanterns upon arrival. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) switched off lights at The Walk as well as at all commercial advertising spots on Jumeirah and Sufouh roads. Thousands of people attending the Coldplay concert in Abu Dhabi, were shown a short film on Earth Hour before the gig started. All carbon emissions generated as a result of the concert are to be calculated to generate the event's total carbon footprint. Based on the total figure, 'carbon credits' will fund an international gold standard certified sustainability project. Abu Dhabi Police participated in the Earth Hour by switching off lights at its main premises and dimming lighting in other departments. Warning and security systems continued to work normally. Major General Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police, said the move has not affected emergency systems as light was reduced at the departments whose work is round-the-clock. Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi participated by turning its lobby lights off. Hundreds of guests and visitors were gathered at the lobby, surrounded by candlelights. The Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah switched off lights in the garden and in corridors and offices for one hour, conserving 1,600 kilowatts of electricity. Over 1,800 cities in more than 80 countries pledged their support to Earth Hour 2009 with some of the world's landmarks plunging into darkness, including Sydney Harbour Bridge, Edinburgh Castle and the Pyramids. http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Environment/10299317.html

Twitter TToukan: One of the best concert EVER!! Coldplay is amazing!! And the rain made it even more amazing! 2 minutes ago from txt

its impossible to tell. hardly anyone showing on the twitter search :(

Spiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss :D

I guess it over :( TwitteR: lndsy928: It poured rain at coldplay and it was so much fun! 4 minutes ago from txt

guessing not Twitter ChrisChad: @LiveAt coldplay live now in Abu Dhabi in the pouring rain!!! 10 minutes ago from Tweetie

and another one :D ifpikad's twitters: Dark clouds... about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry And now there's lightning. about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry Wow this is a reeally bad electrical storm, I'm not sure it's safe to be outside. Whatever, I'm up for electricution. about 2 hours ago from TwitterBerry Mercury rev over. Guess who's next? about 1 hour ago from TwitterBerry

bumpity bump

Twitter: Lanre: : we got free VIP tix for coldplay!!! Awesome!!!! http://tinyurl.com/dlawv3 (expand) 5 minutes ago from twitterrific

Twitter: upsidedownmop: Catching a cold, & a coldplay concert. One expensive [rain] shower in the desert, courtesy of mother strange nature. 5 minutes ago from txt

The photo looks awesome, I imagine in real life it must be breathtaking

Squuueeeeeeeeeeeeee we're off :D Twitterers: NDRIX: is at the Coldplay concert, yay 1 minute ago from mobile web Zooberry: At coldplay!! On the far right corner in the coral area. Cme say hi =) 4 minutes ago from web

oxfamgbhttp://twitpic.com/2izl4 - Cant hav a march wivout a band #G20rally about 2 hours ago from TwitPic oxfamgbhttp://twitpic.com/2iz97 - Energy source of the future?!! #G20rally about 2 hours ago from TwitPic oxfamgbhttp://twitpic.com/2iygt - #G20rally ppl for miles in the sunshine about 2 hours ago from TwitPic oxfamgbDifficult to say how many ppl at #G20rally so far but takes at least 15mins to walk length of it about 2 hours ago from txt oxfamgbhttp://twitpic.com/2iy7q - Huge UNISON balloons at the #G20rally ! about 3 hours ago from TwitPic oxfamgbhttp://twitpic.com/2ixw1 - The oxfam contingent - looking good! about 3 hours ago from TwitPic oxfamgbWalking down victoria embankment already thousands here and #G20rally just getting started. about 3 hours ago from txt

dates in November :( it just doesn't work!!

I think I need pizza right now. A large one with ham, pineapple, mushroom, tuna, tomatoes and extra cheese :D