Dinner @ Simplicity

It has been since our Easter Break in Gran Canaria since we last had a meal as the four of us, our dear friends Mark and Richard (AKA The Leather Queens) and Dusan I. So we arranged to meet this evening locally for a nice meal and catch up together. We went to a small, local, independent restaurant in Rotherhithe called Simplicity. I met Richard and Mark at theirs and then we met Dusan at the restaurant. You wouldn't think it was much to look at from the outside, but the inside was small and cosy enough and Dusan had already ordered water when we arrived. They offer two choices of menu. The Fix Prix and the Al a Carte. I opted for the Pate to start which was one of the nicest Pates I have tasted in a long while, followed by a Chicken Breast stuffed with Bubble and Squeak and wrapped in bacon with Rosti Potatoes and Vegetables. I guess the proof is in the taste, it was delicious and best of all, we were able to spend a lovely evening catching up with Mark & Richard and spend some quality time together. Amazing how I have parked my own car there a dozen times when visiting the Mayflower and never even seen simplicity before. Yummy.

GCSE's (General Collapse in Secondary Education)

I had always thought that with the introduction of the new Academy's replacing many of the old Comprehensives, that things would be on the up in schools and it might finally be the turn around that education in this country needed. We have all read the stories about how they are making qualifications easier and how more kids than ever are leaving school with 5 plus GCSE and how the number of A*'s has increased year on year. But if this is true, why is that employees find it so difficult to find a young British person with excellent English, Maths, Communication and Interpersonal Skills? But of course all of this is hear-say and I should not believe all that is printed in papers such as the Daily Mail (Not that I read it you understand, but occasionally it is good to know thy enemy and read what they are saying about my own community. But the truth came when two friends of mine at work did a day's volunteering at the work sponsored Academy, not too far from the office. After a short meeting the week before, they arrived and were assigned some tasks to do with the children and were informed that under no circumstances, no matter what, can you say anything what so ever, that may potentially "Disrespect" the children. If they are unruly and playing up, you can not tell them to be quiet or shut up, no no, you have to put your hand in the air and count down from five to 1. Respect? What about the respect of the teacher or the teaching assistance. This particular class they were assisting with was being run my a substitute teacher who when the break started dissapeared and failed to return, leaving my two friends alone with the class. Have things not over stepped the mark? Don't disrespect the children? So they can run havoc? Maybe that's why they all get good grades but can't read or write? I can remember my own days at school, when GCSEs were first launched. Teachers were on Strike through much of my education, refusing to mark our homework and do any extra curricular activity. We always used to joke that GCSEs stood for General Collapse in Secondary Education, but far from get better over the years, it seems it got worse. All employees are encouraged to do two volunteering days every year and they have a dedicated web page for all the opportunities you can sign up to. With an extra day still to use in the next couple of months, I was browsing keenly trying to find an opportunity to do my bit for the community, but sadly the stories of the Academy have put me off ever wanting to ever go there. I have this fear it will resemble more like Saint Trinian's than the disciplined place I was educated. Was my own education any good? Not really. The classrooms were over crowded, the teachers didn't care and they were struggling to understand the new curriculum that GCSEs introduced. History, far from learning about interesting things such as the Monarchy, The 1st and 2nd World War and the Battle of Hastings we had to learn about the farming revolution and the Population boom of the 18th Century. I don't have fond memories of those days, but thankfully I came out being able to string a sentence together, being able to understand mathematics and with good communication and interpersonal skills. As for holding my hand up and counting from 5 to 1? We would have been told to shut up or get the cane and it didn't do us any harm did it?

Will Greece leave the Eurozone?

As we enter the second week after the Greek elections and still with no party being able to form a coalition and make a majority, what happens next? If the existing party numbers are unable to find any polarity and join a coalition, do they get forced back to the polls and have an election over? The results are nothing new or shocking. The people of Europe seem to have voted with their feet against the ongoing cuts and austerity measures. Here in the UK we had similar results with Labour winning hundreds of seats from the Tories and LibDems. They did say that whoever won power this term, would be disliked for their actions, but the change in spending habits was inevitable. Back to Greece, they no longer seem to be talking about "if" Greece will leave the Euro but rather "when" they will leave it. The problem seems to be, there is no pre set way or any historical record of anyone ever having done it. In fact the only thing in the existing treaties is an option for countries to leave the Union. How can Greece ever pay back its enormous debts when it can not de-value its currency as it no longer has a central bank and has to rely on ECB to regulate its interest rates. How much would a new Greek Drachma be worth? What would adopting a new old currency mean for Greek people? An immediate devaluation of their currency would lead to astronomical inflation in the short term, but would this be worse than the enforced austerity measures that Angela Merckle and the other European Power Houses are demanding? To think that, not so long ago, when Gordon Brown snatched power at Number 10 (Remember we didn't get to vote on it, Tony left, he took over), he signed over more powers to Europe and there was talk that with the devalued pound not far off par with the Euro, that he was trying to get us aligned so we too would join the Euro. Well thank heavens that never happened. Sure it would be nice to know exactly how much currency is worth wherever you go in the Eurozone but without our own central bank we would have been up the creek without a paddle. If Greece does find a way to exit the Euro, would they be the only one? Would perhaps Portugal or Spain be hot on their heals? I guess time will tell. Meanwhile I am keeping a keen eye on the GBP/EUR exchange rate. Its been rising steadily recently based around the turmoil in the Eurozone. Watch this space!

North Carolina

Austerity vs Growth

It seems as both the UK and six other European Nations all took to the polls in the last week that the voters are voting with their feet and much like Labour won hundreds of seats here in the local elections. Greece & French voters have voted against their current leaders and for parties that are anti-austerity. What does this mean to the rest of us? With unemployment in the UK higher than it's been at any time in decades is austerity really working? With over 1 Million youth unemployed and they say that the cuts have only just begun, are we really ready for a period of even more doom and gloom? Perhaps the Olympic/Jubilee lift will give us all a positive boost? What of Greece who took the bailout and now wants to turn its back on the terms its was given? And Monsier Hollande, the new French President (Lets hope someone called France doesn't become PM of the Netherlands else it would get confusing) says they wan't to turn their back on austerity too. Is growth actually the way? Has the increase of VAT up to 20% boosted my spending? Has the increase in my electricity and fuel bills helped anything at all? Has any bill not gone up? Am I spending like I used to? Perhaps at the Supermarket I still do, after all, one has to eat. But as for new clothes, I buy them when I need to. New electronics, on hold. DIY projects in peace meal and when we do purchase, we turn to the internet to see where we can get the best prices. In fact, possibly the only area that we have increased our spending since the recession began is perhaps on our holiday budget. The need to escape the grey and misery the greatest need of all. Perhaps Greece will exit the Euro and devalue it's currency which on the holiday front would be good for us. Cheaper holidays in Greece. But it won't help the fact that we feel like a stagnant pond with the life being slowly drained from it as the pond weed slowly suffocates it and all life within starts to go into hibernation through lack of air. Surely the economy is much is like that? We need confidence and spending power to boost the economy, but with ever the threat that your job will go and that the cost of everything is going up, no-wonder we are choosing to hold on to our money and spend it wisely. I do have to wonder though, if France and Greece choose to try and go for Growth and it fails, what happens then? With bigger debts and higher liabilities where will they turn if it doesn't pan out?

LGMC 21st Anniversary Concert

As fans of the LGMC for almost ten years now, when Emily and I saw advertised the 21st Anniversary show we made a pledge that we would go to all of their concerts in this year. We went along with our dear friends The Leather Queens and arranged to meet up at the Royal Festival Hall at 1830 so we could have a pre show drink together. The Royal Festival Hall was originally built in the 1950's in Post War London to replace the buildings that we were lost to bombing. At just 2900 seats it seems impossible that in 1960 it was the host venue for the European Song Contest, when these days the competition is so vast they have to build bespoke venues to fit the capacity guests and performers. The hall itself has been completed refurbished and yet managed to retain a 1950s feel and yet was a stunning venue, particulary fabulous for a concert as you have unblocked views. Our seats were in the forward stalls and we sat down to enjoy the show. I don't think I have ever seen so many of the LGMC perform in a single show and to top that they had added guest performers. The show was, as always, a combination of classic and modern songs and I particularly loved the Madonna vs. Lady Gaga remix. Fabulous. They have recently started to do an Outreach program with various schools in the London area helping run workshops and providing the children with skills in confidence, singing and performing. Including non Main Stream schools and they all joined up on the stage to sing a segment of numbers with the boys. There was a deaf school also singing and signing to the numbers and one particular boy caught our eye as he was so happily singing to his hearts content he forgot to sign with his group. Of course it didn't matter, it just made your heart feel warm seeing them all belting out the numbers together and loving every minute. How many 8 year old's can say they have performed at Royal Festival Hall in front of nearly 3000 people? It was not the only touching moment of the show. The second half they were joined the Southbank's own choir, an all female ensemble and it was nice to hear the harmonies of both male and female voices for a change. The show lasted nearly three hours and was enjoyed by all four of us and well done to the LGMC on 21 Fabulous years and long may the good work and good cheer you bring continue to be enjoyed all around the globe.

Mayoral Electoral Race

With just under 24 hours to go until the polls open on the Mayoral electoral race one can't help but think, where is the choice this year? Its the same three for the major parties as it was at the last Mayoral poll, Boris, Ken or Brian. In-fact, hasn't Ken stood every year since the Government created the new London Mayor? Of course there are other candidates representing the smaller parties such as UKIP, The Greens and the like but in reality the only ones with a standing chance are the main parties. Read the manifesto for the Greens Jenny Jones, who insists she will be Mayor. Maybe pigs will yet learn to fly. No matter, however, whatever your political convictions or who out of the candidates you think will do the best job or rather would do perhaps do the least worse, what is important is that you express your political opinion in one way or another. Use your democratic right and make that vote. Don't waste it. Don't sit back and think they are all the same or you really don't care. Its important to have your vote and your say and make your vote count. People have fought in many a war to ensure that we keep our freedoms and democracy to ensure that we remain a free country and that means you can have your say, make a difference and have your vote heard. It only takes a few seconds so I encourage you all, if you have a vote, use your vote. Don't waste it. Time will tell us who will win!