It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

ceridwen

Just seen this article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1140672/Bankers-Well-sue-denied-million-pound-bonuses.html

Well - I guess that explains how come the Government is letting the Crocodile Tears Brigade get away with keeping their bonuses then - they're frit...

mummysaver

Pitlanepiglet - glad that you have a "safe" job now, albeit at a lower salary.

Hester - sorry to hear about your dd and her bonus, I was wondering about those lower in the pecking order when I watched those bankers on the news yesterday. Now I guess I know the answer!

It does rather seem to beggar belief that the government didn't include a clause stating no bonuses, or even just that they would have to be held over until the loans had been repaid. I fail to see why these senior people should be paid bonuses when they have led a company into near bankruptcy, surely that isn't one of the targets they were being paid on?

The other thing that amazed me, was that apparently not one of those four men who were questioned yesterday held a banking qualification! So sayeth radio 4 anyway! It is shameful, as anyone who has worked for a bank or in insurance will know, then you are nagged remorselessly about qualifications when you are one of the junior staplers! I guess that I shouldn't have been terribly surprised that these people weren't leading by example, as my ex works for a large insurance company and there are many people there who have no qualifications, I do appreciate that experience is often more important, but it is silly to insist that others have certificates when you don't yourself. My ex is always updating his qualifications, he believes that if even the juniors are expected to pass exams then he should take them as well, in fact his company have constant competency tests, and it was questioned why he wanted to take them - erm, that'd be leading from the front then!

As for the olympics, well I'm sure that there will be a lot of money that is wasted, but then I suspect that the government would find somewhere else to waste it if it wasn't on this project. But at least talk of the olympics should knock the doom and gloom off the front pages for a while if this recession is still biting then. I'm quite looking forward to them actually, and I really hope that common sense will prevail and that stadiums and facilities will be put to good use for the future.

mummysaver

Back on the subject of growing your own, my friend went to a local garden centre yesterday, well known locally for being very overpriced! She picked up one of their promotional leaflets for me, and lo and behold prices have been cut dramatically, there are some really good bargains on tubs, raised bed kit, potato barrels, seeds and plants - so for anyone who usually avoids their local expensive garden centre, it might be worth a look, as I'm sure our one isn't unique in it's sale and offers.

D&DD

Mummysaver I've had a few emails from the seed companies about special offers and reduced prices too..it's going to be a cheap year for growing your own methinks

It's great to see so many people making use of their gardens now and the seed firms are reporting record sales again this year.
I've been waiting for some seeds from Unwins for over 3 weeks as they are so busy, they're only flowers for my Mum and she's in no rush but I am so glad to see some firms doing well in these challenging times :T

mummysaver

Ooooh, thanks D&DD, guess where I'm off to browse now!!! Thompson and Thompson and Unwins, here I come!

catznine

:hello: Hello from the flood plains of Essex!

I'll just take off my squeltchingly wet wellies and I'll be with you!:rotfl:

:coffee:
ahhh! that's better! Now where was I? Oh yes the flood plains! How mad are the planners? The new builds are getting closer and closer to the flood plains (despite us locals trying to tell them how mad their plans are :rolleyes:) Floating foundations (whatever they are) might be ok but you are still going to have to get your canoe out if you want to pop out for a pint of milk and a packet of choc digestives!

Every year, heavy rainfall means flooding down by our rivers, we are used to seeing the nearby fields becoming lakes, the cattle only use the grazing in the warmer weather so they don't need kitting out in wellie boots!;) but having watched the footage on bbc I have never seen the river so high! It was nearly over the banks and into M & S and threatening the dine for £10 offers!:eek: Our weather is all over the place, global warming or just bad luck

I guess life has just got tougher for a few local folk, and others in flood hit areas around the uk, having to call in help to bail out their houses, I really do feel for them and am grateful for the hill we live upon! Mind you no one feels like complaining much after the horrors happening in Victoria, my heart goes out to those poor people.

angelavdavis

Raspberry_Swirl wrote: »

Lucky you that they've only just gone up!! Im my local Lidl the Chorizo went up to about £2.19 ages ago so no doubt it's gone up again to £2.49 now! Also, the passata in my local hasn't been 28p for at least 6 months now Last time i bought it, probably about 4 weeks ago it was about 48p...

Perhaps I had noticed it because I stockpiled the passata in particular and had only just run out!

On the subject of growing your own, I have just planted the first batch of earlies in pots and started the first of the seeds off. I also collect my chickens this weekend.:j

I made my first ever batch of marmalade from leftover oranges and limes yesterday and am quite chuffed it tastes good!

The broad beans, spring greens, lettuces, chard and peas are all doing well under the cloches so we will soon have something to eat. I know its due to get cold tonight here at the seaside, but the blue skies and sunshine today makes me think that spring is almost here!:T

Well, the breadmaker is on the go as I type and I am ready to start making a HM fish pie for supper, so things feel fairly rosy - even if I'm not employed at the moment!

Bargain_Rzl

catznine wrote: »

Oh yes the flood plains! How mad are the planners? The new builds are getting closer and closer to the flood plains (despite us locals trying to tell them how mad their plans are :rolleyes:) Floating foundations (whatever they are) might be ok but you are still going to have to get your canoe out if you want to pop out for a pint of milk and a packet of choc digestives!

I guess life has just got tougher for a few local folk, and others in flood hit areas around the uk, having to call in help to bail out their houses, I really do feel for them and am grateful for the hill we live upon! Mind you no one feels like complaining much after the horrors happening in Victoria, my heart goes out to those poor people.

Trouble is, you've illustrated that its actually a very similar situation. In that thread on DT the other day which Almo was getting upset about, the other poster had a good point buried in among all the deliberately provocative and offensive packaging. The Aussie government haven't learned lessons from past experience, and homes and communities continue to be built and developed in regions at serious risk from natural disasters. Meanwhile, the UK government keep treating our flood plains as the no.1 choice for new housing development

Charis

I have a strong feeling that I have seen this recipe for this financial success on MSE ages ago!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1141409/Porridge-pot-sisters-hilarious-diary-quest-make-oat-cuisine-hit.html

We're onto something, fellow OSers! What can we vamp up and pass off as original?

PS, if they had gone to the thread 'Does anyone here make their own clothes', they could have saved themselves the ridiculous cost of their designer chef's outfits. :rolleyes:

mummysaver

Loved that story Charis, thank you, it really made me giggle!

Nice to know that the world isn't entirely run by big businesses ;-)