Advantages: Excellent design and quality, wide angle Leica lens, OIS, manual controls
Disadvantages: High noise levels, only 4:3 LCD display (should be 16:9 on widescreen camera)

...-operated manual control # Large 2.5” LCD monitor (207k pixels) # Industry’s first 16:9 aspect Wide VGA moving image recording # Raw, TIFF and JPEG recording modes # Manual exposure and focus options # 1/2000th to 60 sec shutter speeds # Dimensions: 106 x 56 x 26 mm # Weight: 220g Purchasing -------------------- The camera is available in black or silver, and had an RRP of £449.99 when it was launched in late 2005. I purchased in mid 2006, and unfortunately the black version which I wanted was out of stock everywhere. I eventually got the silver version for just under £300 from the Panasonic store (with a free case and 256mb memory card). I also purchased a spare battery and two 1GB high speed SD cards from elsewhere for our upcoming holiday. Design -------------------- The camera is built out of metal and has a nice quality... Read review

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Advantages: A good year
Disadvantages: Time flies when you're having fun

...! The hotel had a VIP taxi firm that used Mercedes and the drivers wore suits - and it cost us less than the rip off driver that took us to the hotel when we arrived! At the end of July, we flew to the south of France for two weeks. It was absolutely boiling hot and we got gorgeous tans. Yes, I used my sun protection cream but you still get tanned you know! I also learned to swim, albeit not very gracefully! Anyway, great weather, great food, the festivals were happening, we didn't want to come home again. Sadly we had to and were greeted by little clear plastic bags at the airport due to the security scares, a delay to the flight departure and torrential rain when we got back to the UK. Sigh... August was the month of big family parties - we were celebrating a 21st, a 30th, a 60th and a joint 16th, 18th and 21st. I didn't go to the joint... Read review

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Advantages: Something HAS to be done!
Disadvantages: Tony and Gordon will not learn the lessons!!

..., and industry as a whole were seriously affected. Tony Blair, Gordon Brown etc still refuse to consider reducing fuel tax. Even though they sit on a budget surplus of nearly £50,000,000 from the budget surplus in this year to date. November 13th is the 60 days deadline. I for one will be ready to take action at the barricades if Blair still refuses to act!... Read review

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Advantages: Exciting
Disadvantages: Funding

...In the 2000 Olympics, Sydney the Great Britain swimming squad did not peform as well as most people would have hoped. The Americans and Australians, on the other hand dominated. This is because over here, in Britain swimming is not regarded highly as an exciting sport. Infact, as a swimmer myself, relays are fascinating to watch. Unlike running, swimming requires allover fitness, not just in the legs. The Australians are mad about the sport and fund it tremendously. With most of our outdoor pools around britain demolished in th 60's, swimming has become less popular as a recreational activity. With more funding from the National Lottery, to build better 50m pools as in Manchester, Britain may once more rule the pool! Maybe in 2004 ? ? ?... Read review

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Advantages: Unique, personalised cards!
Disadvantages: So much to choose from!! And it can take some time to complete.

...When it comes to cards for birthdays, anniversary's, etc - I usually end up in one of the highstreet shops looking for just the right card. Problem is, even though they have lots to choose from - they all start looking the same, and I walk out without picking anything! I recently had to get a card for my sisters birthday, and a friend told me about MoonPig! The Moonpig site sorts it's card gallery by occasion, and sometimes within this has further categories. Example, Aniversary gives you, Anniversary + 20th-30th + 40th + 50th-60th. Once you selected the occasion, you'll see example covers on the right handside, and a larger version with text/layout details to the left. Include here, is the option for size's of cards. Typical card sizes are 185mm x 132mm for a standard size and 290mm x 205mm for the larger size. (Note... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic city, great sights and landmarks, shops!
Disadvantages: You may emigrate!!

..., such as driving license or passport, then they will give you a card that you hand over with your purchases to get 11% discount (on top of any other discounts they may have in store!). Also, in February they have massive sales throughout the store giving 60% off in some cases! ***Bloomingdale's*** Found on 3rd Avenue, between 59th and 60th streets, Bloomingdale's, also known as Bloomies, is another huge Department Store occupying an entire block. Bloomingdale's is probably a bit more like a huge Debenhams than a Selfridges but is famous for it's 'brown bags' of varying sizes of which you get paper ones with each purchase but can also buy the proper ones in store. The same fantastic mix of clothing, perfume, home, beauty, handbags etc means you have to call into the shop if you visit New York, even if you don't intend to buy anything... Read review

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