Category Archives: General

Who is the odd man out? And why??

George Osborne : CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer

Lord Stevenson: FORMER chairman, HBOS

Sir Fred Goodwin: FORMER chief executive, RBS

Andy Hornby: FORMER chief executive, HBOS

Sir Tom McKillop: FORMER chairman, RBS

John McFall MP: FORMER chairman of Treasury Select Committee

Alastair Darling: FORMER Chancellor of the Exchequer

Gordon Brown: FORMER Prime Minister and former Chancellor of the Exchequer

Sir Terry Wogan: FORMER presenter of Radio 2’s Breakfast Show

IF you’re thinking Sir Terry Wogan, then you’re right.

However, the reason may surprise you…

Terry Wogan is the only one out of this motley crew who actually holds ANY formal banking qualification.

Worrying, isn’t it!

It’s Christmas Day.

On the kitchen table is a Debenhams carrier bag the size of a small tent. It’s full of brightly wrapped presents, including one that took Alex a heck of a lot longer to wrap than the 10.3 nano-seconds it will take little Florence to unwrap. (It’s a toy treehouse, but don’t worry about spoiling her surprise – she can’t read yet. And, even if she could, I doubt whether her mother would let her on this site!) Later today we will set off  to see one of my sisters and then to Alex’s parents for distribution of aforementioned presents and a rather large lunch. Just like the last ten Christmasses. Continue reading It’s Christmas Day.

A Bit Fed Up …

Warning – Sweary Alert.

Been a bit of a shitty week and I’m a bit fed up.

I’m fed up with

  • Sleazy politicians.
  • Sleazy politicians breaking their election promises in pursuit of the trappings of power.
  • Sleazy politicians trying to be sincere and showing us how crap they are at acting.
  • Sleazy politicians lying to protect themselves.
  • Sleazy politicians making piss-poor points because they just don’t have a decent grasp of their subject.
  • Sleazy politicians trying to convince us that they understand how tough life is.
  • Sleazy politicians screwing up pensions while they keep their final salary scheme.

I’m fed up with Continue reading A Bit Fed Up …

This Queen’s Christmas Message

Forty-five years ago I would have found it very difficult to get to sleep on Christmas Eve. It was just too exciting looking forward to what tomorrow would bring. At some point, though, sleep would conquer and carry me through to the morning to find that the pillow case hung on the back of the bedroom door had magically been filled with presents. I can remember quite vividly the year I got a complete set of the AA Milne books!

Tonight I will have no trouble getting to sleep – I know pretty well what tomorrow will bring. A visit to my sister, then a monumental meal courtesy of Alex’s mother followed by a prolonged crash on the sofa. In recent years there has been the added bonus (and noise!) of the nieces and nephews as they frantically tear the Hello Kitty and Ben 10 paper off several hundred pounds worth from the Early Learning Centre.

But with time, and once you discover that Santa is actually the Co-op janitor on overtime, the gilt rather comes off the gingerbread. At work the other day I was accused of “not entering into the Christmas spirit”. I was likened to Scrooge. This, however, is very unfair, not to say inaccurate as Scrooge ended up keeping Christmas better than any man. There are bits of it that I still like. The feeling right now that the country is slowing down for a day of leisure. The companionship of family on Christmas day. The evening back at home with the rest of the world shut out and the knowledge that if the phone rings it really will be something important.

Yes! I still enjoy Christmas, but it makes me sad as well. Christmas is supposed to be a time of great joy and happiness. But it can also become a cruel, dark and lonely thing. I will give you an example. Continue reading This Queen’s Christmas Message

Going Smokeless

What seems now like an age ago, a work colleague pointed me in the direction of a web site selling these here new fangled electric cigarettes.

Now – fess up – I’ve been a forty a day man for the best part of forty years. (Which, incidentally, equates to puffing my way through a 35 mile long cigarette. Worse still, I’ve thrown away a five mile long dogend, but I digress.)

To kick that sort of habit takes a boatload of willpower or some serious alternative chemicals.  And I’ve tried the lot – cold-turkey (lasted about 24 hours), patches, inhalers and even some stuff you can get on prescription, called Champix, which is supposed to lessen the cravings. Nothing worked, so I wasn’t holding out too much hope.

However, I took the plunge and ordered the kit. What the heck – it was only fifty quid and if it didn’t work I could chuck it in the next car boot sale. It arrived promptly and I did nothing much with it for about three months. Had a bit too much on my plate at the time to fart about with something else. I’m beginning to wish Continue reading Going Smokeless

All this and more for £1.94

Oh – the joy of Ebay. The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

From: Buyer
To: Vendor
Subject: Buyer has sent a question about item that ended on 14-Jul-10 18:45:19 BST – Freddy vs Jason – DVD
Sent Date: 14-Jul-10 19:45:41 BST

Dear Vendor,

hello i am really sorry but my daughter has gone on my account and been bidding on a few films … i do not wish to buy this film please can you cancel this please thank you
– Buyer

From: Vendor
To: Buyer
Sent Date: 14-Jul-10 20:10:07 BST

Dear Buyer,

I’m afraid I rather think that is your problem, not mine. Whoever was using your account bid twice on this and I could have sold it to a genuine seller. As it is I now have a final value fee on my account.

I am open to suggestions, but I am not prepared to cancel the item without some recompense.

– Vendor

From: Buyer Continue reading All this and more for £1.94

Much Wringing of Hands

It’s very sad that we’ve had two highly disturbed loons go crazy with a gun in such a short space of time. Already the “pundits” have appeared again with the “we must learn from this” and “never again” quotes. Fair enough, let’s try! But let’s get something real and in proportion here.

Last night we watched a programme about Derrick Bird. In the last twenty minutes a well-meaning, but very deluded, woman was espousing the virtue of greater gun control. She made the valid observation that countries where guns are more freely available suffer these type of events more than those, like ours, where they are more controlled. Rather misses the point, though!

Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.

I’m sure I’m not alone in knowing someone who owns some impressive firepower. In my case I know several, including a very responsible gun owner. I know where he keeps them, what security they’re under and can take a decent guess about when he will be away from home!

The hand wringer also wants gun licences reviewed annually instead of five-yearly. “A lot can happen in five years to change that person.” she said. News for you there as well, my dear. A lot can happen in five MONTHS to change that person. Take that to it’s logical conclusion and we’d be checking every day – no, every ten minutes in case Mr Firepower comes home and finds his significant other in flagrente with a third party.

Missed point number three? Any seriously disturbed individual could challenge Derrick Bird’s body count with a 4×4 and a crowded bus queue.

Stricter gun control will NEVER prevent another Hungerford/Dunblane/Cumbria.

Ms Hand-Wringer says we should try. Give it a go, but you will fail.

Scams, Claims and Compensation Games

Earlier in the week we watched a Channel 4 documentary. Yes, I know that’s very Guardian-reader, but it raised some serious issues – in short that Elfansafety has long ago gotten out of control and that this is, in part, driven by unscrupulous no-win-no-fee lawyers.

Hardly a week will pass without the Mail or Express, in their impeccably imbalanced way, screaming to the rooftops about some loony local Council banning egg and spoon races or some such earth shattering trivia. But you have to ask how much of that is driven by the threat of litigation.

A case in point in the documentary showed a Council officer surveying a primary school playing field Continue reading Scams, Claims and Compensation Games

Yummy!

There is a distinct advantage to having a husband who is not gainfully employed that goes some way to offsetting the loss of income.

Alex has rediscovered the kitchen!

Tonight it was quorn tikka (he’s the veggie, not me – I just go along ‘cos it’s easier). Served on a bed of onions with a side salad, it was, simply, absolutely bloody delicious.

Smoochies, Masterchef! 🙂

Gettin used to Bloggin …

Day (whatever it is, enter number of your choice here ” … “) in the Blogosphere and I’ve been searching for a layout and trying to get my head round using WordPress.

If only I didn’t have to hold down a full time job … that, and having to rush up to little-big-sister’s house because her pootah contracted a nasty virus – I’ve warned her SO many times about those midget goat porn sites !! 😉

I’m going to muck about with this theme a bit, but I like it because it’s nice and plain – or boring, like me!