Being friends since we were practically kids, Fanny grew up in the house opposite my parents. If two childhood friendships ever were meant to be, it was us. So today was a definite yes when Fanny asked if I would join her for a meal.
We met at Liverpool Street Station at 2:00PM and made our way to Bond Street. Fanny hadn't told me where we were going but made me aware of the street. Not seeing Albermarle Street on the tube map we were stuffed so jumped back on the tube to Green Park. Thankfully finding the street we needed. Why I didn't think about getting a taxi I will never know, we were caught up in the moment of catching up.
Our destination was Browns hotel in Mayfair (www.brownshotel.com) apparently it's London's oldest hotel. Where we had a reservation for afternoon tea.
They sat us at our table with its fine white linen and napkin embossed with the letter B. Then having chosen our choice of tea were presented with a cake stand full of sandwiches, scones and desserts. The waiter naturally bought seconds of anything we required and we were soon stuffed full of everything. The clotted cream and home made Strawberry Jam was particularly yummy. By the time they wheeled around the trolley with the Victoria Sponge and the Dundee cake we were just about stuffed.
I decided to take Fanny on a walk through Berkely Square to the Punchbowl. A pub owned by Guy Richie & Madonna until their divorce. Where we had a nice glass of wine. It would have been nicer if the pub didn't seem to be filled with school children aged around 10. Inside a pub?
Finally we made our way back to the tube and said our goodbyes. Fanny is off to travel once more - heading to Sri Lanka and a hot winter. Once we had said our goodbye's she texted me to say I was not my usual chatty self? I guess it's down to the fact that I feel envious, wish I was going and want to travel too. But as she replied in her next text, Dreams do come true but only to those that make things happen. May all your dreams come true but one. Why? Because if they all come true, what do you have to dream of?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Shop till you drop!
With a week off there are so many chores and things that I had on my list to do. Sadly the list is now shrinking as the time seems to pass so fast but the lie in and rest has been very welcome and the sleep gained has been much needed.
Yesterday we woke fairly early, up by 09:00, ready to head out on a shopping bonanza. Heading through the Blackwall tunnel then down the A13 all the way to the Lakeside shopping centre. Fear not, we went simply for Ikea & Costco and not for the shopping centre. Nothing you could pay me would make me want to shop at Lakeside when I can nip accross the river and shop in the far nicer Bluewater.
We nipped initially into Ikea for a spot of lunch. Their meatballs and cranberry are quite divine, then we needed to nip and check out the different mattresses and the difference in feel in memory foam between soft, medium and hard.
Having tested the matresses we made our way around the marketplace. Finding a new plant, that would look perfect in the lounger, along with some other bits and bobs. There is just something about the Ikea marketplace that means you simply have to buy something. We loaded our goods into the car and nipped into B&Q to return the over the door hooks we had bought on Monday. Seems a bit bizare to me that the only size over the door hooks are 40mm and no bigger. Not one of my doors is only 40mm thick. So we took back the over the door and bought some new style ones for the bathroom and the lounge.
From there we walked accross to Costco. It really does remind me of being in the USA. Especially when you can buy Kirkland Brand which is exactly the same as in the U.S. It's not as cheap as it is over there but it's still cheaper than Sainsburys. Plus I needed to buy a present for my nephew who is fast approaching his second birthday. I am always able to find great gifts at Costco for a 2 year old.
Once we left the Lakeside area, crossed the bridge and parked at Bluewater we had several things on our list. New work trousers for Dusan, new flat screen television and then a new phone for me. Well I got the phone. We spent ages in John Lewis looking at televisions and finding one we liked when we noticed they had some that were less than 10mm thick. I needed to research the technology online before making such a major purchase. We need a High Definition TV so we make the switch over to a High Definition Sky box. Well we are gay. We need to be at the cutting edge of technology right?
I did at least replace my lost phone. Where the other went 2 weeks ago I have no idea! It was in the flat when I decided to mop in the bathroom and can only think it either went into the bin or down the toilet pan. Crazy. Thankfully some numbers I have saved on a spreadsheet on my computer, but just to be sure, please send me a text and include your full name in it so I know who it is. Ironically some names, Steve for example, I have 10 in my phone.
Ended the shopping in Marks & Spencer as I needed a spot of White Wine to make French onion soup with and Dusan spotted an adult size "Cloak" and Vampire uniform with the fast approaching Halloween season. There was something funny and drawing about it that just made everyone want to own it. Even the girls at the checkout said how cool it was that they were making adult sizes in costumes. It reminded me of fun times in the wee hours of the day shopping at Wal-Mart in Orlando some 15 years ago. Good times.
Arrived home around 1830 and was felt like we shopped till we dropped. The plant now is potted, the phone is charging and our holiday is partially over.
Coming up Lunch with Fanny who is about to head off another Worldwide travel adventure.
Yesterday we woke fairly early, up by 09:00, ready to head out on a shopping bonanza. Heading through the Blackwall tunnel then down the A13 all the way to the Lakeside shopping centre. Fear not, we went simply for Ikea & Costco and not for the shopping centre. Nothing you could pay me would make me want to shop at Lakeside when I can nip accross the river and shop in the far nicer Bluewater.
We nipped initially into Ikea for a spot of lunch. Their meatballs and cranberry are quite divine, then we needed to nip and check out the different mattresses and the difference in feel in memory foam between soft, medium and hard.
Having tested the matresses we made our way around the marketplace. Finding a new plant, that would look perfect in the lounger, along with some other bits and bobs. There is just something about the Ikea marketplace that means you simply have to buy something. We loaded our goods into the car and nipped into B&Q to return the over the door hooks we had bought on Monday. Seems a bit bizare to me that the only size over the door hooks are 40mm and no bigger. Not one of my doors is only 40mm thick. So we took back the over the door and bought some new style ones for the bathroom and the lounge.
From there we walked accross to Costco. It really does remind me of being in the USA. Especially when you can buy Kirkland Brand which is exactly the same as in the U.S. It's not as cheap as it is over there but it's still cheaper than Sainsburys. Plus I needed to buy a present for my nephew who is fast approaching his second birthday. I am always able to find great gifts at Costco for a 2 year old.
Once we left the Lakeside area, crossed the bridge and parked at Bluewater we had several things on our list. New work trousers for Dusan, new flat screen television and then a new phone for me. Well I got the phone. We spent ages in John Lewis looking at televisions and finding one we liked when we noticed they had some that were less than 10mm thick. I needed to research the technology online before making such a major purchase. We need a High Definition TV so we make the switch over to a High Definition Sky box. Well we are gay. We need to be at the cutting edge of technology right?
I did at least replace my lost phone. Where the other went 2 weeks ago I have no idea! It was in the flat when I decided to mop in the bathroom and can only think it either went into the bin or down the toilet pan. Crazy. Thankfully some numbers I have saved on a spreadsheet on my computer, but just to be sure, please send me a text and include your full name in it so I know who it is. Ironically some names, Steve for example, I have 10 in my phone.
Ended the shopping in Marks & Spencer as I needed a spot of White Wine to make French onion soup with and Dusan spotted an adult size "Cloak" and Vampire uniform with the fast approaching Halloween season. There was something funny and drawing about it that just made everyone want to own it. Even the girls at the checkout said how cool it was that they were making adult sizes in costumes. It reminded me of fun times in the wee hours of the day shopping at Wal-Mart in Orlando some 15 years ago. Good times.
Arrived home around 1830 and was felt like we shopped till we dropped. The plant now is potted, the phone is charging and our holiday is partially over.
Coming up Lunch with Fanny who is about to head off another Worldwide travel adventure.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Labour Party Conference - do they listen to nobody?
Watching Alistaire Darling speaking at the labour annual conference you can really see the problem with the Labour Party is that they simply don't listen to anyone. They are all praising themselves for all that they have done for the country and claim its all good. Hello, what about the biggest debt mountain that the country has ever known outside of war time. They seem to think that the way out of the recession is growth but when will they learn that endless growth is not a possible factor. You can't continue to grow and grow. Our land is getting now bigger, resources are not countless.
Perhaps if they had saved some money when times were good they would have had more money to see us through the bad times.
Meanwhile they think that capping bonus's on bankers bonus will stop problems in the finance industry. The only thing that will likely happen is that the good staff will move abroad. Considering how much of our GDP is the finance industry - forcing people away hardly seems like a great idea.
Meanwhile did the Social Democrats want to tax all homes valued over £1 Million, which while is a high end bracket, surely we all want to work and save to buy a nice home. It seems the harder you work in this land the more they take off you in taxes.
Still 2 pluses. I am off work all week (Horrah) and there is an election coming. Sure they will try and talk us around but with an election due in the spring, who knows what will happen by then. I just know I don't trust them at all.
Week off, with not much planned. Some shopping a show and enjoying a lie in every day. I managed to sleep till noon today - quite fabulous. Needed a recharged before I start to train the masses almost every day next month. Before then its time for me to hit the gym and also give my credit card a work out :-)
Perhaps if they had saved some money when times were good they would have had more money to see us through the bad times.
Meanwhile they think that capping bonus's on bankers bonus will stop problems in the finance industry. The only thing that will likely happen is that the good staff will move abroad. Considering how much of our GDP is the finance industry - forcing people away hardly seems like a great idea.
Meanwhile did the Social Democrats want to tax all homes valued over £1 Million, which while is a high end bracket, surely we all want to work and save to buy a nice home. It seems the harder you work in this land the more they take off you in taxes.
Still 2 pluses. I am off work all week (Horrah) and there is an election coming. Sure they will try and talk us around but with an election due in the spring, who knows what will happen by then. I just know I don't trust them at all.
Week off, with not much planned. Some shopping a show and enjoying a lie in every day. I managed to sleep till noon today - quite fabulous. Needed a recharged before I start to train the masses almost every day next month. Before then its time for me to hit the gym and also give my credit card a work out :-)
Monday, September 21, 2009
If at first you don't succeed try, try again!
Well that it was that say isn't it? If you don't try first time, keep trying. Of course it's far easier said than done when the alarm sounds at 5AM and you have to get out of bed and head to the gym. But I came home early, ate and am now about to go and shower, shave, do all the things I would need to do in the morning so I am ready.
We will see if I manage to get up early tomorrow when the alarm sounds.
Work today was one of those days where one minute it was five to eight and then before I knew it it was gone 5:30pm. I had a meeting and loads of work to plow my way through and am eager to get as much done as I can before my week off. How blissfull to think that I can have 9 days with a lie in. Last time we were off I somehow managed to sleep till almost noon or beyond every day we didn't have a tour on the agenda.
So it's goodnight from me as I hope I can squeeze the gym in first thing. I really do! Wish me luck.
We will see if I manage to get up early tomorrow when the alarm sounds.
Work today was one of those days where one minute it was five to eight and then before I knew it it was gone 5:30pm. I had a meeting and loads of work to plow my way through and am eager to get as much done as I can before my week off. How blissfull to think that I can have 9 days with a lie in. Last time we were off I somehow managed to sleep till almost noon or beyond every day we didn't have a tour on the agenda.
So it's goodnight from me as I hope I can squeeze the gym in first thing. I really do! Wish me luck.
Morning vs Evening workout
When do you workout? First thing before work? During the day? After work before going home? I tend to do the latter on most occasions. But my Personal Trainer usually meets me at 7AM at the gym. I find it really hard to get up that extra hour early, but once the alarm sounds and I bound out of bed I am fine. The nice thing is that you get a seat on the train and tube and it just feels fresher and cleaner travelling without so many other people around.
Despite the fact that I was not due to meet Trish this morning I went to bed early and set the alarm for 5AM. Planning to go to the gym from 645 - 745 and still make it to the office on time. Of course when I woke up at 2AM and then again at 4AM I decided that having not had a full nights sleep the extra hour in bed would be required. I guess it's the fact that I am not meeting Trish there and that I "don't have to", that makes it that much harder to get up early. But as I have plans to see people Tuesday & Wednesday this week I think the morning will be the only chance I do get to go to the gym.
Meanwhile I have started on the Protein Supplement Shakes, assured that the newes are now low carb and high Protein. You know I actually feel that my arms and shoulders are getting bigger. I know my waistband is getting smaller. Nothing fits. So the down side of all this excercise melarky is that I need a new set of outfits. Good job I love shopping eh?
Despite the fact that I was not due to meet Trish this morning I went to bed early and set the alarm for 5AM. Planning to go to the gym from 645 - 745 and still make it to the office on time. Of course when I woke up at 2AM and then again at 4AM I decided that having not had a full nights sleep the extra hour in bed would be required. I guess it's the fact that I am not meeting Trish there and that I "don't have to", that makes it that much harder to get up early. But as I have plans to see people Tuesday & Wednesday this week I think the morning will be the only chance I do get to go to the gym.
Meanwhile I have started on the Protein Supplement Shakes, assured that the newes are now low carb and high Protein. You know I actually feel that my arms and shoulders are getting bigger. I know my waistband is getting smaller. Nothing fits. So the down side of all this excercise melarky is that I need a new set of outfits. Good job I love shopping eh?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Catch up!
Well it seems like it's been ages since I wrote last. I don’t know where the time has gone? The days seem to be flying past and it’s officially the first day of autumn on the 22nd. It seems like the summer came and went (Did you miss it too?) I think I was off that day. It’s weird, the weather seems to avoid us now. We get warmer weather but the sun doesn’t shine so much. It just gets hot and humid and rather wet.
Still the summer has flown and maybe because we have been so busy. Last weekend I went to XXL with my friend David from work. It was fun. I don’t tend to drink too much when I go to a club but we had a fun night. I also did a good workout at the gym. So come Sunday and Soho Live (Formerly Soho Pride) I was so tired from my workout and then up till gone 5:00AM that I decided I didn’t have the energy for Soho Live and stayed home. In particular as we had tickets with Richard & Mark to go to the Greenwich Comedy Festival.
The show was in a marquee in the grounds of the Naval College and was hosted by the very fabulous Jo Brand. Jo compared between acts and talked for about 20 minutes, making us laugh before the first act. A fellow lady who was really funny. Had us all laughing up to the interval and a 20 minute break. Time to grab a Cider and pop to the loo. The second act was a dutch guy who came on and within minutes you could tell this guy wasn’t going to be funny. He reminded me of Jim Carey just being foolish on the stage. As his act went on and on there appeared to be only 1 woman that was enjoying it who unfortunately was sat next to Mark. She was practically wetting herself with laughter at every word out of his mouth while Richard and I sat there gobsmacked at what she was finding so hilarious. When his act started to be anti religion the audience were sick of his dull act. You started to hear “Boo, get off”. This soon became contagious and soon we found ourselves jeering. He was not funny and had become offensive. It was a shame as we were enjoying our evening in good company.
Dusan meanwhile, had worked lots of shifts and had done a double and an early and then was at the show and fell asleep during the show. How does he manage to fall asleep during a live performance? I know I did it once at Wicked but it was after a very long week of travel. Still he slept through half the show and was rather grouchy wanting to go home. When the awful act ended Jo Brand returned to stage to lighten the matter, but it was too late for many. There was a mass exodus and as it was gone 10:00 we bailed too.
Somehow despite coming home early and a fairly early night I couldn’t sleep all night. I was awake from 4:00AM and this then meant I was shattered by the time I made it to work. That was the catalyst for a long week. I couldn’t recover from lack of rest and had to cancel the gym Monday and Tuesday. Rest would be best. Returning to the gym on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I managed to give myself a complete body workout and have started on the Protein Supplements now. Hopefully I will get really nice and buff soon.
Saturday was Jaspers 2010 Spring/Summer Collection at the London Fashion Week. He had kindly invited me to go and see his show held on the Strand on Saturday morning. Having heard from Neil Sexton how hard he had been working on it, it was nice to go along and support him and see the show. My first at London Fashion Week. Plus you get to see all the things that will be the future of fashion. A double bonus was seeing the lovely Bree, Enrique and Quintin from Gaydar Towers.
Post show I made my way to the gym and managed a really good workout. I had hoped to go to Jaspers after party but by the time I got home and ate and sat to wacth TV I found myself dozing off, waking in time to see Daniel Craig (Phwoarr) in Casino Royale, opening some nice wine and ironing all of my shirts so a job was done.
Five days to go and I have a week off work (at home), to chill and catch up on all those other things you never have time to do.
Winter will soon be upon us and Sainsbury’s today had Halloween merchandise everywhere. They will soon be switching on the lights on Oxford Street for Christmas. Till then, Goodnight!
Still the summer has flown and maybe because we have been so busy. Last weekend I went to XXL with my friend David from work. It was fun. I don’t tend to drink too much when I go to a club but we had a fun night. I also did a good workout at the gym. So come Sunday and Soho Live (Formerly Soho Pride) I was so tired from my workout and then up till gone 5:00AM that I decided I didn’t have the energy for Soho Live and stayed home. In particular as we had tickets with Richard & Mark to go to the Greenwich Comedy Festival.
The show was in a marquee in the grounds of the Naval College and was hosted by the very fabulous Jo Brand. Jo compared between acts and talked for about 20 minutes, making us laugh before the first act. A fellow lady who was really funny. Had us all laughing up to the interval and a 20 minute break. Time to grab a Cider and pop to the loo. The second act was a dutch guy who came on and within minutes you could tell this guy wasn’t going to be funny. He reminded me of Jim Carey just being foolish on the stage. As his act went on and on there appeared to be only 1 woman that was enjoying it who unfortunately was sat next to Mark. She was practically wetting herself with laughter at every word out of his mouth while Richard and I sat there gobsmacked at what she was finding so hilarious. When his act started to be anti religion the audience were sick of his dull act. You started to hear “Boo, get off”. This soon became contagious and soon we found ourselves jeering. He was not funny and had become offensive. It was a shame as we were enjoying our evening in good company.
Dusan meanwhile, had worked lots of shifts and had done a double and an early and then was at the show and fell asleep during the show. How does he manage to fall asleep during a live performance? I know I did it once at Wicked but it was after a very long week of travel. Still he slept through half the show and was rather grouchy wanting to go home. When the awful act ended Jo Brand returned to stage to lighten the matter, but it was too late for many. There was a mass exodus and as it was gone 10:00 we bailed too.
Somehow despite coming home early and a fairly early night I couldn’t sleep all night. I was awake from 4:00AM and this then meant I was shattered by the time I made it to work. That was the catalyst for a long week. I couldn’t recover from lack of rest and had to cancel the gym Monday and Tuesday. Rest would be best. Returning to the gym on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I managed to give myself a complete body workout and have started on the Protein Supplements now. Hopefully I will get really nice and buff soon.
Saturday was Jaspers 2010 Spring/Summer Collection at the London Fashion Week. He had kindly invited me to go and see his show held on the Strand on Saturday morning. Having heard from Neil Sexton how hard he had been working on it, it was nice to go along and support him and see the show. My first at London Fashion Week. Plus you get to see all the things that will be the future of fashion. A double bonus was seeing the lovely Bree, Enrique and Quintin from Gaydar Towers.
Post show I made my way to the gym and managed a really good workout. I had hoped to go to Jaspers after party but by the time I got home and ate and sat to wacth TV I found myself dozing off, waking in time to see Daniel Craig (Phwoarr) in Casino Royale, opening some nice wine and ironing all of my shirts so a job was done.
Five days to go and I have a week off work (at home), to chill and catch up on all those other things you never have time to do.
Winter will soon be upon us and Sainsbury’s today had Halloween merchandise everywhere. They will soon be switching on the lights on Oxford Street for Christmas. Till then, Goodnight!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Project Delay
Yesterday, as I gear up towards my software launch at the bank I found out yesterday that it seems that our launch date in November has been moved back to December. The good news, my boss believes, will be that I will get an extension on my contract for another month which will mean I have work now right up to Christmas. I think that if I have a week off in the next month or so I should be nice and rereshed and ready for the challenge. It will certainly be a relief to not have to look for a job in the run up to Christmas.
Hopefully nearer then there may be an opportunity to go permanent. Though they may offer me another contract or if all else fails we have other options. I quite fancy going travelling for a bit, seeing some of the World that we never have a chance or the time to get to visit and it will also give me a chance to finish off decorating the appartment. I figure that I only need to buy the TV, have the bedroom fitted units built and TV hung on the wall and we are about ready to rent it out if we so choose.
The are telling us that today will be a high of 27 degrees (80 deg F). Now that's an Indian summer. It's feeling mighty fresh and cold this morning mind. Fingers crossed we have a nice warm September and the cold of winter is at bay for a good 4 to 6 weeks further.
Hopefully nearer then there may be an opportunity to go permanent. Though they may offer me another contract or if all else fails we have other options. I quite fancy going travelling for a bit, seeing some of the World that we never have a chance or the time to get to visit and it will also give me a chance to finish off decorating the appartment. I figure that I only need to buy the TV, have the bedroom fitted units built and TV hung on the wall and we are about ready to rent it out if we so choose.
The are telling us that today will be a high of 27 degrees (80 deg F). Now that's an Indian summer. It's feeling mighty fresh and cold this morning mind. Fingers crossed we have a nice warm September and the cold of winter is at bay for a good 4 to 6 weeks further.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Bluewater lunch & trains are screwed
Having not seen Steph for some months we arranged on Saturday to meet up for lunch at Bluewater on Saturday. I often forget exactly how close Bluewater is to my home. I think the clock Ometer read about 18 miles and I got there in under thirty minutes.
We sat outside in the glorious sunshine and enjoyed some bubbles and a lovely long lunch before spending the rest of the afternoon slowly wandering around the mall to catch up. As always it was lovely to see Steph again.
Saturday night, it was about 7PM before I even got home so chilled on the couch for a few hours taking a shower and heading off to XXL for a few hours. Sometimes I have that feeling where I just want to stay on the couch most of the weekend but other weekends I feel I am sick of staying in and have to go out. The club was far less busy than it was last weekend but about 20 minutes after I arrived I ran into Gavin & Martin. Not seen either of them in over a year and spent the rest of the night hanging out with them. Both are really sweet men and had a great night till about 3AM. Knowing that Dusan was working early on Sunday and would be home by then I made my way home before it was too late.
Sunday Dusan kissed me goodbye at 8AM and headed off to work. Without an alarm set I fell straight back to sleep and was quite surprised when I finally woke and the clock radio read that it was already 2PM. Too late to go out and definitely too late to make my way all the way into town to the gym. Instead decided to cook a nice meal and clean the appartment a bit.
Meanwhile, is anyone else getting fed up with watching the news. Does Gordon Brown bug anyone else as much as he seems to bug me. Everytime I see his mutt on television I am reminded of a British Bulldog crossed with an English Bully. He doesn't seem to have a clue as to what the people think and feel. They seem so grossly out of touch with real life and the latest scandle now the U-Turn over UK IRA bombing victims not being allowed to pursue Libya for compensation as it "would not be in Britains best interest". I have to point out to Mr Brown that nothing seems to be in the interest of the people of Britain. How about the toll at Dartford that was supposed to be free once the cost of the QE II bridge was completed. Yet instead of being free increased in price 50% recently. Or the 3 pence per litre increase his incompetent government has added to petrol hiking the cost of living even higher.
Steph and I discussed a lot of things on Saturday but near the top of the agenda was the fact that we both saw no future in Britain long term. When the government seems to be out of touch and care more about being Politically Correct than the cares or rights of the people they are supposed to serve while taxing us to death. I realised long ago that no matter what you earn in this country you will always work to feed your mouth, no matter what you earn. It all goes on taxes and cost of living in what has become ever more rip off Britain.
Meanwhile - Midland London Trains failed yesterday to run a train service. Over 1200 trains were cancelled all over the country as the "new contract" stated that working Sunday is no longer compulsory and is on a voluntary basis. Apparantly not 1 driver wanted to volunteer so no trains ran. They should snatch back their francise and stop them from running the service. Other train providers have hiked their fares 50% over the weekend for off peak services. Tell me exactly how having francises works in the peoples interest. How can one say I wont take London Midland when they are the only services between certain areas. How are we supposed to have decent services for a fair price when each of these francises has to pay the government Billions of Pounds in liscense fees for a service that should be state provided and subsidised in order to encourage people off the roads and onto public transport. Makes me realise more and more this country is a joke.
One bit of good news is that the weather looks like it will at least be nice this week.
Till next time - keep well and Happy Labour Day.
We sat outside in the glorious sunshine and enjoyed some bubbles and a lovely long lunch before spending the rest of the afternoon slowly wandering around the mall to catch up. As always it was lovely to see Steph again.
Saturday night, it was about 7PM before I even got home so chilled on the couch for a few hours taking a shower and heading off to XXL for a few hours. Sometimes I have that feeling where I just want to stay on the couch most of the weekend but other weekends I feel I am sick of staying in and have to go out. The club was far less busy than it was last weekend but about 20 minutes after I arrived I ran into Gavin & Martin. Not seen either of them in over a year and spent the rest of the night hanging out with them. Both are really sweet men and had a great night till about 3AM. Knowing that Dusan was working early on Sunday and would be home by then I made my way home before it was too late.
Sunday Dusan kissed me goodbye at 8AM and headed off to work. Without an alarm set I fell straight back to sleep and was quite surprised when I finally woke and the clock radio read that it was already 2PM. Too late to go out and definitely too late to make my way all the way into town to the gym. Instead decided to cook a nice meal and clean the appartment a bit.
Meanwhile, is anyone else getting fed up with watching the news. Does Gordon Brown bug anyone else as much as he seems to bug me. Everytime I see his mutt on television I am reminded of a British Bulldog crossed with an English Bully. He doesn't seem to have a clue as to what the people think and feel. They seem so grossly out of touch with real life and the latest scandle now the U-Turn over UK IRA bombing victims not being allowed to pursue Libya for compensation as it "would not be in Britains best interest". I have to point out to Mr Brown that nothing seems to be in the interest of the people of Britain. How about the toll at Dartford that was supposed to be free once the cost of the QE II bridge was completed. Yet instead of being free increased in price 50% recently. Or the 3 pence per litre increase his incompetent government has added to petrol hiking the cost of living even higher.
Steph and I discussed a lot of things on Saturday but near the top of the agenda was the fact that we both saw no future in Britain long term. When the government seems to be out of touch and care more about being Politically Correct than the cares or rights of the people they are supposed to serve while taxing us to death. I realised long ago that no matter what you earn in this country you will always work to feed your mouth, no matter what you earn. It all goes on taxes and cost of living in what has become ever more rip off Britain.
Meanwhile - Midland London Trains failed yesterday to run a train service. Over 1200 trains were cancelled all over the country as the "new contract" stated that working Sunday is no longer compulsory and is on a voluntary basis. Apparantly not 1 driver wanted to volunteer so no trains ran. They should snatch back their francise and stop them from running the service. Other train providers have hiked their fares 50% over the weekend for off peak services. Tell me exactly how having francises works in the peoples interest. How can one say I wont take London Midland when they are the only services between certain areas. How are we supposed to have decent services for a fair price when each of these francises has to pay the government Billions of Pounds in liscense fees for a service that should be state provided and subsidised in order to encourage people off the roads and onto public transport. Makes me realise more and more this country is a joke.
One bit of good news is that the weather looks like it will at least be nice this week.
Till next time - keep well and Happy Labour Day.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Then the tax increases began...
We all knew it wouldn't be long. That those in Government had borrowed way beyond their needs but the tax increases have now started already.
From midnight last night another 2 pence per liter has been added to petrol. What makes it even more ridiculous is that they then charge you V.A.T. on top of the tax they already levy. The average liter is now about £1.07 with around 70p going to the treasury. WTF! Why can we not levy taxes enough to keep the country running without the charging us over the top in other areas.
Do they not realise that putting tax on fuel increases the cost of everything you buy as delivery costs increase accordingly. Everything is cheaper in America because they have cheaper fuel. Every increase in petrol puts up food, clothes, drink and everything from Jeans to Jean Paul Gautier.
Despite the fact we are still in the middle of a recession they are also adding £15 per journey as airport tax. Not that we don't have the highest taxes in the world on travel as it is, now they are adding even more to it.
It just feels like everything you enjoy, a glass of wine, a drop of Bourbon or a nice little trip to a sunny beach, they tax heavily. Meanwhile they seem to be borrowing £30 Billion per month more than they have in revenues to pay for ever increasing services.
The answer is simple. Cut back. Of course they want to increase MPs own pay and despite the biggest deficit in public spending in the UK ever known are still refusing to say that there will be spending cuts? Hello! You can't afford it. You need to cut back on all spending. I still can't see how them bailing the banks out has helped the country. Its not like they are lending. The bank of Englands quantitive easing is only buying bank stocks, again not helping the familiies in this country.
Just drives me mad the more they tax us and meanwhile they wonder why the young people are turning to drink? I used to think it was because they are bored. Who wouldn't be? Half of them don't work and with nearly 3 million unemployed the youth are far from going to find a job very soon. Why would they when a single parent family with more than one child can earn more than a person working hard for over 40 hours per week.
The reason people drink is they are sick of this country. Sick of low prospects if they are unemployed. Sick of the Government taking the complete Pee out of us all with their expenses to name but one of their mad scams. The youth drink to help them forget. The old would drink if they could afford it but their entire pension goes on Council tax and electricity bills because both have doubled and meanwhile the fat cats in Power are borrowing billions more. Something wrong there. Isnt it time they put the people first? Instead of just caring about lining their own pockets?
Would we better with a new Governemnt? I can't think we could be any worse off. It does appear now they released the Lockerbie bomber due to an oil trade agreement! Corruption to the core? Makes me feel sick.
From midnight last night another 2 pence per liter has been added to petrol. What makes it even more ridiculous is that they then charge you V.A.T. on top of the tax they already levy. The average liter is now about £1.07 with around 70p going to the treasury. WTF! Why can we not levy taxes enough to keep the country running without the charging us over the top in other areas.
Do they not realise that putting tax on fuel increases the cost of everything you buy as delivery costs increase accordingly. Everything is cheaper in America because they have cheaper fuel. Every increase in petrol puts up food, clothes, drink and everything from Jeans to Jean Paul Gautier.
Despite the fact we are still in the middle of a recession they are also adding £15 per journey as airport tax. Not that we don't have the highest taxes in the world on travel as it is, now they are adding even more to it.
It just feels like everything you enjoy, a glass of wine, a drop of Bourbon or a nice little trip to a sunny beach, they tax heavily. Meanwhile they seem to be borrowing £30 Billion per month more than they have in revenues to pay for ever increasing services.
The answer is simple. Cut back. Of course they want to increase MPs own pay and despite the biggest deficit in public spending in the UK ever known are still refusing to say that there will be spending cuts? Hello! You can't afford it. You need to cut back on all spending. I still can't see how them bailing the banks out has helped the country. Its not like they are lending. The bank of Englands quantitive easing is only buying bank stocks, again not helping the familiies in this country.
Just drives me mad the more they tax us and meanwhile they wonder why the young people are turning to drink? I used to think it was because they are bored. Who wouldn't be? Half of them don't work and with nearly 3 million unemployed the youth are far from going to find a job very soon. Why would they when a single parent family with more than one child can earn more than a person working hard for over 40 hours per week.
The reason people drink is they are sick of this country. Sick of low prospects if they are unemployed. Sick of the Government taking the complete Pee out of us all with their expenses to name but one of their mad scams. The youth drink to help them forget. The old would drink if they could afford it but their entire pension goes on Council tax and electricity bills because both have doubled and meanwhile the fat cats in Power are borrowing billions more. Something wrong there. Isnt it time they put the people first? Instead of just caring about lining their own pockets?
Would we better with a new Governemnt? I can't think we could be any worse off. It does appear now they released the Lockerbie bomber due to an oil trade agreement! Corruption to the core? Makes me feel sick.
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