Yes Teri,he is extremely unpopular here.He takes too much from everyone and nobody sees anything for it !
People here think he is too much into Scotland because they are fairing a lot better than us.
Look how he is doing nothing about the gas and electricity and oil rises,this is because they get a lot of tax from them.
He says nothing at all about the Russians showing their ugly heads either they now control our gas prices ! can that be right,why did he let it get that way ? we have our own gas where does that go ?
He is a clown Teri in the first degree !

Most things are cheaper in the USA,I think its because they are a continent,and we are even smaller than you,they get better deals !

Yes I read about that Teri,sad for the richest country in the world isnt it.? But lets face it most do well,so it sorts the idlers from the rest,but its sad if yo are ill.
I have never had any desire to go to the USA even though I have a cousin there in Calafornia,to me its all false,or it seems that way.

Hello all!! How is the credit crunch going??? I see Mr Broone has led us into a zero growth scenario now. I suspect he will call it a period of negative stagnation, that's how they talk. Interesting to see that the advice oming through now is that if you want to get on then move south. And where is everyone going to live and what work will they do?? Or are Benefits transferable from region to region??
There was another interesting snippet on Sky news the other day that there are now plans afoot to rejuvenate the impoverished areas of the lands to the North by rejuvenating all the rundown properties and putting them up for Shared Ownership. When asked where the supposed prospective purchasers were supposed to find the money to buy them there was an awkward silence, they don't seem to have thought of that.  Perhaps it is time to develop Pensioner Places, selected villages for the elderly only.... no screaming kids, hoodies on bicycles or drunken young girls. What heaven. You could have a curfew where anyone under the age of 50 or with an IQ less thaan there age had to be out by dark.

As for here, life goes on, South Africa seem amazed that their national OLympic team only managed one silver medal and that their last dark hope in the BMX race fell off on the corner and brought three others down. They drive this way too. Of course, it is all due to the legacy of Colonialism, the history of oppression and racism that are the real causes, nothing to do with their Black Empowerment driven Preferential Selection Process to favour the Previously Disadvantaged which favours the darker over the faster.

Still got people looking at the house but I don't think anyone has money at the moment and by August everyone is slowing down in preparation for the month business closure for Christmas when they all celebrate the religious nature of the festive season by getting drunk, killing each other, breaking into houses and robbing ATM's. Then it takes until March for everyone to pay off their credit crd debts by which time the Inland Revenue want their share. But life is strange, out of the blue the right person comes along and before you know it I will be lining up for my Benefits.  I hope our Phoenix is still going well, walking the dawg, and that everyone else is feeling great about the wonderful performance at the Olympics.

Have a great weekend, thinking of you all


J+J

Hello mac, lovely to see that you are still up and lively. I get the feeling that something radical has to happen in Britain for it to get going again. More old fogeys than youngsters and the young couples can't afford to live if the wifey has to stop working. It almost feels as though government is afraid to confront the problem.  We are still amazed by the Benefits system and fail to see how the system can prevail. it appears that the same situation is coming up as we had in the early 90's, where youngsters were doing ever better at  school yet there were no jobs, so the choice was to become a highly academically trained sandwich maker, go on a workseeker's allowance or go to university to study something invaluable to the nation like Ancient Pategonian Pottery. Whatever else we need there has to be work between the levels of cleaner and Brain Surgeon. Surely the Chinese are not doing all the manufacturing now??

The park homes that we have seen advertised are dearer than flats and the rights that owner/residents have are far less than those who have flats. It is a totally one-sided system.  The owners of sites can charge whatever they like too.  Now that we have determined that the area that I come from is just about the most expensive and we started looking around it is apparent that just about anywhere on the coast is a better bet. It is cheaper to rent or buy, goods are cheaper because demand is lower and there are far better facilities. It is patently obvious that one must stay away from thr dog-eat-dog rat race!!!
Oh well, time to get on with things, though we do try to relax at weekends, but even that is hard work sometimes. Any suggestions of where to look??? It looks a bit grim all over!!!

J+J

Having Agreed with all that has been stated. John having very carefully, weighed up 'The Progress' of our countries situation. It is extremely hard to access The Future ??  What will happen in --2012 ?  The Games   The Front Door will be Open, to the vast hordes of persons wanting to stay

John having worked for some years in the social welfare department of our town, I think I should explain you the situation from a German point of view.
When you are young and working and saving money, it's intended for your "old age" or when you are really in need of it. When you have to go into an old people's home you first should use up the money you saved for your old age. Would it be fair that for instance the German tax payer pays for the costs and the money you saved is distributed to your heirs? Don't be annoyed if I tell you that I personnally wouldn't be interested in such a solution. Why should I (indirectly) pay for the home costs of an alien person and the heirs of this person would inherit the money this person saved for his old age. Naturally there are many hideouts, but usually - at least in Germany - when someone has to go into a home he must present proofs showing how he has spent his money during the last ten years. If he gives a substantial amount of money to his children and that before the ten years have passed, this amount will also be taken into consideration.
Maybe my way of thinking is wrong, I don't know.

Hi Teri
not everyone here was able to save when they were younger for their old age,times were tough and wages were low,but we all paid into tax and insurance from our wages this was to cover the cost of pensions and health care,of which old folks home came into.
Our system is now like yours,if we have any money we have to pay for the home,if you dont its free ! I wonder which country copied who ?
And if we die leaving a house and or other property our beneficieries have to pay inheritance tax and on top of that VAT. Do you have to pay that yet !