Difficult Times

Since the end of World War II, we have continually faced economic boom and bust, on average every 8/9 years. Sometimes we blamed current government policies and lack of an industrial base. Since the late 1960’s we have continually shifted our emphasis to service industries and insurance. We could get away with that as long as China, India, Thailand, Brazil, Philippines and other developing countries economic structures were not so strong. We always captured the lost markets and emerged from bust to boom. So whatever industries we had, we could satisfy domestic and overseas demand and bolster the economy again.

This time the economic outlook is very gloomy. India, China, Brazil and other nations have developed their economies. They can export their goods and services to the world market place cheaper without sacrificing quality and delivery. Bankers' bonuses and greed have destroyed the national coffers of the US, Britain, Ireland, Germany and other G7 countries. The Prime Minister and Bank of England have approved the quantitative easing approach to liquidity, so that Banks can start lending to businesses and home buyers. Effectively Britain has resorted to printing money, which means pound in our pockets has been devalued. The present government has blamed the world downturn but the bulk of blame must fall on Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as they borrowed money in good times and did not make any provisions for bad times. Gordon Brown, when Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that he had abolished boom and bust. His tax credits have benefited single parents and penalised couples living together. His policy means if you have worked hard and saved some money for the future, you are excluded from home help, tax credits and other support. If you have not saved anything and never worked you are entitled to all benefits. When he abolished the married couples allowances he devalued the institution of marriage.

Returning to the present recession, I think it will take more that 2 years to recover. Many jobs are taken by migrant workers on low wages. Some people do not want these jobs as they can get more money in benefits. In addition, we have lost or sold most of our manufacturing industry and are not in a position to compete.

North Sea oil and gas revenues have been squandered. A lot of the infrastructure needed to be updated or renewed. Whether it was Norman Lamont or Gordon Brown, they all put dogma before the country's needs. When one creates an economic bubble and then it bursts, it's always the people who put their faith and trust in the political parties who suffer most.

Parties of all colours should sit down together and formulate a plan of national recovery. They blame each other and again the slinging match has begun and we are back to square one!

Letter from Dryden

Dryden is a small town in N.Ontario, Canada. The main industry is a paper mill which is gradually shutting down resulting in widespread unemployment in the area.

In the summer Dryden is a tourist destination. It is famous for hunting (Moose and Deer) and fishing. The summer is attractive to nature lovers because of the numerous lakes and forests.
In winter the landscape is stunning. Everything is covered with snow. The only contrast is between the green conifers and the blinding snow. The outdoor temperature is often 20 degrees below zero. This is cold even with the proper clothing. I ventured to leave the house when it was sunny and the temperature just below zero. I slithered along after the snow plough had cleared a path and after 20 minutes returned to the house, painfully cold.

Ice fishing - that is boring a hole through the ice on the lake and fishing through this hole - is a favourite winter pastime for the locals. I have declined several invitations to try this or to ride on a ski-doo.

Life is healthy otherwise. All the germs have been killed by the cold and I have eaten Moose, Deer and lake trout. London will seem very warm and ordinary when I get back -- Walter

Greetings to all at Millman Street!

Your blog is looking great!
Have been reading all your posts regularly and with interest.
Keep it up. Kind regards,
Charles xx

Water

Machines and I ....

I am sore distressed! Today I went to my doctor for a check on my blood pressure. I was directed to a machine with the following instructions:

Sit on the chair, make yourself comfortable, Relax...

Put your left arm in the sleeve if you are right handed.
Put your right arm in the sleeve if left handed.

I lost my way at this point.

However, I think that you press a button, a green light appears. Something else happens and a result is printed. You remove this paper and take it to the nurse or doctor.

I fled with my blood pressure elevated to an alarming level. I can imagine the day when I do not see a doctor or nurse. I step into a telephone booth pick up the receiver and all my symptoms (even state of mind) are recorded and sent somehwere.

I feel measured, counted and unwell...
Am I making mountains out of machine mole hills?

Comments please.....Walter

Request for information

The sentiments of 19th century brutalists which we are mending in the 21st century.
E.g.

I am monarch of all I survey
My right there is none to dispute
From the centre
All round to the sea
I am lord of the fowl and the brute.

Walter would be grateful for author, date and rest of poem....thinks it is related to loneliness and isolation.

My Birds

When I was young a lovely thing happened, or so I think. I was walking around my parents' garden which was large and in the country, and saw that the gardener had cut a hedge fairly drastically and had bared a bird's nest. There were four baby birds in it, and of course the mother had flown and would definitely not be returning.

I took the babies with me and made a nest out of a small box with plenty of straw which luckily we had. The first day one baby died but the others thrived well and started to grow and demand to be fed with much noise everytime they saw someone!

They turned out to be thrushes and I named them Pip, Pop, and Pam.

Eventually they were growing up very quickly and needed to have exercise and to meet the outside world. I used to take them onto a lawn and they would walk around and try flying short distances with not much success! They became very daring, and actually flew up into a tree but couldn't fly down, so I had to climb up and rescue them!

After a while they became very grown-up and I felt it was time they could cope alone. I thought I would ignore them completely and hope for the best. And after a while they became wild birds, but for ages came down and sat on my arm and demanded to be fed!!

Polly

The picture is from the Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. www.outdooralabama.com