Another Drive4show 'Anything goes' thread

[super_realist]

First topic message reminder :

On another note I’ve been teaching Spanish as part of my job this year, tricky when I don’t speak a word...or didn’t. Been using Duolingo for 3 weeks, still very early but amazing how quickly it helps you pick things up. Also asked the wife for some CD’s for Xmas to listen to on my commute. There is a Spanish guy who works for the premises team so when I feel a bit more confident Ill try some conversational Spanish with him.
Anyway, early but that’s my new year resolution, to follow it through and at least be competent, partly to help with my job and partly because Uve always wanted to learn a language, partly because I really think learning new stuff keeps your brain fresher.
Anyone else have something they really want to learn to do?

I'm not trying to be confrontational here Diggers, but how on earth can a school let someone without the skills in a subject to teach it? I can see how someone could blag teaching something like art, PE, English etc, but not a language. I suppose if it's at Primary Level you could teach counting to ten, asking where the railway station is etc.
I presume it's not secondary school?

[Diggers]

Well, if you are happy with what you've got Dyna, you don't mid setting the bar, really, really low.
Couple of things re employment, firstly so many more temporary contracts now, certainly happening in teaching. Completely changed over the past few years. Plus of course your good old zero hours contracts, suit some,. not so much others. All part of Tory ideology, she called herself a moderate today, this from the most right wing Govt for decades (including Thatcher).
Another way of looking at employment might be, hey things are going well, lets eff it all up by throwing ourselves off an abyss into the complete unknown. That's genius. Might also be worth the economy is still running with us in the EU, I think Brexiteers tend to forget that.
Interesting chat on Newsnight about the new computer systems we need for a new deal, 55...guess how many are ready to go. And of course, we are great at rolling these things out.
EU on the other hand actually have plans for a no deal, they've actually prepared for it. Yet another reason why it actually makes sense to stay with a group who aren't utterly crap at everything they touch.
New conversation on Brexit is also if May stays she pivots to get Labour MP's by putting through the sort of deal Labour have been promoting all along. Oh the irony.

[raycastleunited]

Slightly off topic I called in at Stoke Park golf in Bucks this morning what a magnificent golf course and set uo just superb.Not sure they would let the likes of me join though.

Alert - golf chat on the golf board!

Nothing to worry about Dyna, they'd let anyone join Stoke Park, you just need the cash.

It's a beautiful place, especially in summer. The course itself isn't that special, but the surroundings are. Love the match in Goldfinger, you could tell that Sean Connery was a golfer but the actor who played Goldfinger wasn't.

[raycastleunited]

On another note I’ve been teaching Spanish as part of my job this year, tricky when I don’t speak a word...or didn’t. Been using Duolingo for 3 weeks, still very early but amazing how quickly it helps you pick things up. Also asked the wife for some CD’s for Xmas to listen to on my commute. There is a Spanish guy who works for the premises team so when I feel a bit more confident Ill try some conversational Spanish with him.
Anyway, early but that’s my new year resolution, to follow it through and at least be competent, partly to help with my job and partly because Uve always wanted to learn a language, partly because I really think learning new stuff keeps your brain fresher.
Anyone else have something they really want to learn to do?

I'm not trying to be confrontational here Diggers, but how on earth can a school let someone without the skills in a subject to teach it?  I can see how someone could blag teaching something like art, PE, English etc, but not a language. I suppose if it's at Primary Level you could teach counting to ten, asking where the railway station is etc.
I presume it's not secondary school?

It’s a fair point. It’s primary, pretty easy to skill up to know more than they do, which I did. I just want to feel reasonably accomplished, if not fluent. Already able too teach them a lot more by including Spanish in our daily routines.
Thing with primary is you need to know a reasonable amount about quite a lot, the main focus though is literacy and maths, which can be reasonably complex for my lot who are Year 5.

Have to admit, my initial reaction was the same as Super's. No offence Digs, but your accent must be terrible, mainly because you've only been learning for a very short period, but equally you are not getting feedback on your pronunciation from a CD. The kids will be able to learn writing vocab etc from you but not how to speak.

There is often a massive gap between perception and reality - you hear one thing and believe you are repeating it, but actually you are not. Learning a language from a CD is like trying to learn golf from watching a video of Rory McIlroy's swing.

I applaud you for wanting to learn a new language, it means so much more than the words, but also gives you the ability to reach out to people on their agenda and understand different cultures and values. It's just not in the british mentality to learn languages - which is a very sad indictment of our culture and why we are in #brexmess.

I would suggest finding a conversation group to practise: find a Spanish person and spend an hour chatting in English and an hour in Spanish.

[Diggers]

On another note I’ve been teaching Spanish as part of my job this year, tricky when I don’t speak a word...or didn’t. Been using Duolingo for 3 weeks, still very early but amazing how quickly it helps you pick things up. Also asked the wife for some CD’s for Xmas to listen to on my commute. There is a Spanish guy who works for the premises team so when I feel a bit more confident Ill try some conversational Spanish with him.
Anyway, early but that’s my new year resolution, to follow it through and at least be competent, partly to help with my job and partly because Uve always wanted to learn a language, partly because I really think learning new stuff keeps your brain fresher.
Anyone else have something they really want to learn to do?

I'm not trying to be confrontational here Diggers, but how on earth can a school let someone without the skills in a subject to teach it?  I can see how someone could blag teaching something like art, PE, English etc, but not a language. I suppose if it's at Primary Level you could teach counting to ten, asking where the railway station is etc.
I presume it's not secondary school?

It’s a fair point. It’s primary, pretty easy to skill up to know more than they do, which I did. I just want to feel reasonably accomplished, if not fluent. Already able too teach them a lot more by including Spanish in our daily routines.
Thing with primary is you need to know a reasonable amount about quite a lot, the main focus though is literacy and maths, which can be reasonably complex for my lot who are Year 5.

Have to admit, my initial reaction was the same as Super's. No offence Digs, but your accent must be terrible, mainly because you've only been learning for a very short period, but equally you are not getting feedback on your pronunciation from a CD. The kids will be able to learn writing vocab etc from you but not how to speak.

There is often a massive gap between perception and reality - you hear one thing and believe you are repeating it, but actually you are not. Learning a language from a CD is like trying to learn golf from watching a video of Rory McIlroy's swing.

I applaud you for wanting to learn a new language, it means so much more than the words, but also gives you the ability to reach out to people on their agenda and understand different cultures and values. It's just not in the british mentality to learn languages - which is a very sad indictment of our culture and why we are in #brexmess.

I would suggest finding a conversation group to practise: find a Spanish person and spend an hour chatting in English and an hour in Spanish.

Ray, my English accent is bad enough, I'm sure my Spanishaccent must be beyond shocking! In Primary education the kids get 30 mins of Spanish a week (if we can fit it in), you really are not doing much above the basics. Last few weeks I've taught them to count to 20, the days of the week and had a go at teaching them to tell the time. Bearing in mind a stack of parents don't teach their kids how to tell the time in English, that's a big challenge.
We have 3 fluent Spanish speakers at school, 2 of them native, so I do get to run what I'm teaching by them and have a go at saying it right. Duolingo is my main learning tool, not the CD's, on that there are conversational groups you can join so might do that when I get more confident. Will also definitely look locally for a group to join, meet a few new people.
Loving it though, is amazing how quickly you can read quite a lot and even translate English into Spanish, totally agree the speaking is the hardest part.

[Diggers]

So we have a PM who doesn’t have the support of 450 MP’s. She could only muster 200 Conservative votes by giving them her head on a platter for the next GE, even that didn’t appease a third of her own mob.
Strong and stable. Brexit means Brexit.

[beninho]

199 voted for her, she voted for herself. She gave the whip back to two who voted for her.

Tory infighting continues to fck up the country.

[Diggers]

Ben, she’s such a tool I’m not convinced she’d be able to figure out who which way she should have voted.

[super_realist]

Well, if you are happy with what you've got Dyna, you don't mid setting the bar, really, really low.
Couple of things re employment, firstly so many more temporary contracts now, certainly happening in teaching. Completely changed over the past few years. Plus of course your good old zero hours contracts, suit some,. not so much others. All part of Tory ideology, she called herself a moderate today, this from the most right wing Govt for decades (including Thatcher).
Another way of looking at employment might be, hey things are going well, lets eff it all up by throwing ourselves off an abyss into the complete unknown. That's genius. Might also be worth  the economy is still running with us in the EU, I think Brexiteers tend to forget that.
Interesting chat on Newsnight about the new computer systems we need for a new deal, 55...guess how many are ready to go. And of course, we are great at rolling these things out.
EU on the other hand actually have plans for a no deal, they've actually prepared for it. Yet another reason why it actually makes sense to stay with a group who aren't utterly crap at everything they touch.
New conversation on Brexit is also if May stays she pivots to get Labour MP's by putting through the sort of deal Labour have been promoting all along. Oh the irony.

There wouldn't even be a bar with Corbyn. Corbyn knows that peak Corbyn has passed so he's hiding away avoiding all talk of ever being PM other than token soundbites and weak insincere requests for an election. Labour are as rudderless and disjointed as the Tories are and with a Brexiteer like Corbyn in charge that's never going to be a good thing. The country is in a mess, but I'd rather have May in charge than a Trot like Corbyn in No.10, Labour are in need of a leadership challenge as the Tories are, someone like Keir Starmer would be a much better Prime Minister than Corbyn and his socialist leanings would be.  I think we need a party to move more to centrist politics, that will never happen with the Tories or Corbyn still in charge of labour, and to think we laugh at American politics.

[navyblueshorts]

Ben, she’s such a tool I’m not convinced she’d be able to figure out who which way she should have voted.

A bit harsh when she's being shafted by Rees-Mogg etc from her own party and the DUP from outside. Will be interesting when those that carp from the sidelines (or the Opposition Benches) actually have to step. I'm sure they'll all be Glory Incarnate. My ar5e...

[Diggers]

Ben, she’s such a tool I’m not convinced she’d be able to figure out who which way she should have voted.

A bit harsh when she's being shafted by Rees-Mogg etc from her own party and the DUP from outside. Will be interesting when those that carp from the sidelines (or the Opposition Benches) actually have to step. I'm sure they'll all be Glory Incarnate. My ar5e...

It's not harsh. She was a terrible Home Secretary, utterly devastated the police and other services. Ask them about how she negotiates. She deserves to be sacked purely on her flim-flamming on other issues, Brexit has actually saved her neck IMO. She's not resilient, she's stubborn (in a negative way) and miopoic. She is pathetic.
It's her job to reach out to get something through, has she ever tried to do that...not once. Even now, just last night, this great negotiator, only defenses are to slate the opposition. The opposition by the way, who if you look at their actual policy on Brexit, have one that mirrors the majority of people on here. But hey, lets just call them Trotskyites, nothing to substantiate that, don't actually know any of their policies...always moan about wanting something different...get the chance of that and wet their knickers because something might actually change.
If you look at everything Abbott has ever said about Brexit, it's exactly in line with what Super has said. Shouldn't have had a vote, leave was a mistake, try and negotiate a good deal and avoid a second referendum. Of course her saying it makes her an idiot and him a genius.

[Roller_Coaster]

Eff it. PM should resign and call a general election. The main 2 parties should just admit they're dead under their current make up both being irreparably split over Europe. They should each just admit it and split into pro and anti EU factions giving 4 parties where there are 2. No-one will ever again achieve a clear majority with compromise governments forever after tempering the excesses of both wings.

Doesn't sort out the current mess, but does give the idiots representing the people a new sandpit to play in. Which they'll inevitably make a mess of.

Oh and the Irish border issue. Eff that too. Give the Irish NI. Gets rid of the DUP problem too then. Give Scotland to Lego head and Wales to. Erm. Tom Jones I guess. Or Gareth Bale.

[navyblueshorts]

Ben, she’s such a tool I’m not convinced she’d be able to figure out who which way she should have voted.

A bit harsh when she's being shafted by Rees-Mogg etc from her own party and the DUP from outside. Will be interesting when those that carp from the sidelines (or the Opposition Benches) actually have to step. I'm sure they'll all be Glory Incarnate. My ar5e...

It's not harsh. She was a terrible Home Secretary, utterly devastated the police and other services. Ask them about how she negotiates. She deserves to be sacked purely on her flim-flamming on other issues, Brexit has actually saved her neck IMO. She's not resilient, she's stubborn (in a negative way) and miopoic. She is pathetic.
It's her job to reach out to get something through, has she ever tried to do that...not once. Even now, just last night, this great negotiator, only defenses are to slate the opposition. The opposition by the way, who if you look at their actual policy on Brexit, have one that mirrors the majority of people on here. But hey, lets just call them Trotskyites, nothing to substantiate that, don't actually know any of their policies...always moan about wanting something different...get the chance of that and wet their knickers because something might actually change.
If you look at everything Abbott has ever said about Brexit, it's exactly in line with what Super has said. Shouldn't have had a vote, leave was a mistake, try and negotiate a good deal and avoid a second referendum. Of course her saying it makes her an idiot and him a genius.

Well put. I await the coming of the Messiah () and His Disciples with a sense of great anticipation.

I don't think the Tories are worth p!ssing on if they were on fire, but you and I differ because I think pretty much all of our wonderful representatives are utter schidt. I have no political home, my vote (like millions of others) is worth sweet FA. Screw the lot of them.

[navyblueshorts]

One more thing: Jacob Rees-Mogg - shut.the.****.up!!! Why, oh why, does the media fawn over this clown? A self-appointed voice for the ****ing ERG, as if they even know what 'research' is.

[Roller_Coaster]

While I'm fixing everything.

All remain or brexit voters should be re-tested (it's not a second referendum, honest...). Bacon bap for everyone and booths set up with red sauce or brown sauce. BRown sauce = BRexit (and HP is Houses of Parliament) and REd sauce is REmain (and the tomatoes therein are probably mostly from Europe).

Meaningful. Everyone knows what they're getting after their "vote" is cast and everyone at least gets something out of the process.

And No. Not sausage bap. Or gluten free bap. Or lesbian peace tree carbon neutral pulse salad. There is no "No bacon bap" or "no sauce" option either. Equality, my friends, is everyone getting exactly the same (except for the sauce, obviously, otherwise the whole political system I've just created would collapse). And yes, everyone being treated the same is entirely based on what I and I alone decide.

The democratic dictatorship. The oxymoron party for the morons of Britain future.

[JAS]

The country is in a mess, but I'd rather have May in charge than a Trot like Corbyn in No.10, Labour are in need of a leadership challenge as the Tories are, someone like Keir Starmer would be a much better Prime Minister than Corbyn and his socialist leanings would be.  I think we need a party to move more to centrist politics, that will never happen with the Tories or Corbyn still in charge of labour, and to think we laugh at American politics.

Do you think that despite 2 thumping mandates that a Corbyn challenge should be an annual event?? The establishment are absolutely Poopie scared of Corbyn that is quite clear. The level of abusive undermining vitriol directed at him inevitably means that some will stick.
Corbyn problem is 2 fold,
1.there is an assumption by most people that charisma and a loud dictatorial persona is an essential part of leadership. Is it? I see Corbyn as collaborative, consensual and an inate ability to take abuse but stick to principles. I also see many (not all) of his ideas as being what the country needs. Accept that’s not the majority view.
2. The biggest issue for Corbyn should he ever get the keys is that the establishment would obsess about trying to break him. The city would short the £ to Frak, Newspapers, would dish new made up dirt on him on a daily basis. Big business would blame him for every blip on their balance sheets. Far right activists would get mobilised to abuse him wherever he went out.

Essentially Corbyn would represent a huge change and there are too many with too much that don’t want things to change. I said before the 2017 election If we don’t want to change then we really need to stop moaning about everything thats currently wrong in the world. If we get a chance at change and we don’t take it...then we deserve what we get. A year and a half down the line here we are!!

[Diggers]

The country is in a mess, but I'd rather have May in charge than a Trot like Corbyn in No.10, Labour are in need of a leadership challenge as the Tories are, someone like Keir Starmer would be a much better Prime Minister than Corbyn and his socialist leanings would be.  I think we need a party to move more to centrist politics, that will never happen with the Tories or Corbyn still in charge of labour, and to think we laugh at American politics.

Do you think that despite 2 thumping mandates that a Corbyn challenge should be an annual event?? The establishment are absolutely  Poopie scared of Corbyn that is quite clear. The level of abusive undermining vitriol directed at him inevitably means that some will stick.
Corbyn problem is 2 fold,
1.there is an assumption by most people that charisma and a loud dictatorial persona is an essential part of leadership. Is it? I see Corbyn as collaborative, consensual and an inate ability to take abuse but stick to principles. I also see many (not all) of his ideas as being what the country needs. Accept that’s not the majority view.
2. The biggest issue for Corbyn should he ever get the keys is that the establishment would obsess about trying to break him. The city would short the £ to Frak, Newspapers, would dish new made up dirt on him on a daily basis. Big business would blame him for every blip on their balance sheets. Far right activists would get mobilised to abuse him wherever he went out.

Essentially Corbyn would represent a huge change and there are too many with too much that don’t want things to change. I said before the 2017 election If we don’t want to change then we really need to stop moaning about everything thats currently wrong in the world. If we get a chance at change and we don’t take it...then we deserve what we get. A year and a half down the line here we are!!

Does make me laugh that people are convinced the best way is to continue with a completely busted flush. A Govt that is easily as ideologically driven as a Corbyn Govt would be (again, whilst not really knowing the Corbyn policies and being pretty surprised at how relatively moderate they are).
Everything about a Labour govt is based on assumption, yet failure is presented as a fact, a certainty. I know I'm living with a failing govt, that's the only certainty I have.

[super_realist]

The country is in a mess, but I'd rather have May in charge than a Trot like Corbyn in No.10, Labour are in need of a leadership challenge as the Tories are, someone like Keir Starmer would be a much better Prime Minister than Corbyn and his socialist leanings would be.  I think we need a party to move more to centrist politics, that will never happen with the Tories or Corbyn still in charge of labour, and to think we laugh at American politics.

Do you think that despite 2 thumping mandates that a Corbyn challenge should be an annual event?? The establishment are absolutely  Poopie scared of Corbyn that is quite clear. The level of abusive undermining vitriol directed at him inevitably means that some will stick.
Corbyn problem is 2 fold,
1.there is an assumption by most people that charisma and a loud dictatorial persona is an essential part of leadership. Is it? I see Corbyn as collaborative, consensual and an inate ability to take abuse but stick to principles. I also see many (not all) of his ideas as being what the country needs. Accept that’s not the majority view.
2. The biggest issue for Corbyn should he ever get the keys is that the establishment would obsess about trying to break him. The city would short the £ to Frak, Newspapers, would dish new made up dirt on him on a daily basis. Big business would blame him for every blip on their balance sheets. Far right activists would get mobilised to abuse him wherever he went out.

Essentially Corbyn would represent a huge change and there are too many with too much that don’t want things to change. I said before the 2017 election If we don’t want to change then we really need to stop moaning about everything thats currently wrong in the world. If we get a chance at change and we don’t take it...then we deserve what we get. A year and a half down the line here we are!!

JAS, Corbyn couldn't even beat the worst Tory government of the last 40 years in the last election, he wasn't even close to pulling it off. Peak Corbyn is over and his Brexit stance has alienated even more voters

People are scared of Corbyn because he's anti business, anti innovation, anti enterprise and would have John McDonald who thinks it's all right to call for MP's to be hanged and that awful, useless Dianne Abbot (sorry if you think that racist Mac) in government. No wonder they aren't making progress.

[Diggers]

Sorry, anti business. Quick question, can you remember what Boris said that business should do? That a fact, that’s how this govt treats business. What your saying Super is utter fantasy,based on ignorance.
Tell me what your ideal Brexit deal would be. Then let’s have a look at Labours plan. That would be interesting...because they’d be the same.

[super_realist]

Just like you do Diggers, I'm deliberately ignoring what the opposition does just so I'm on your level of argument. Had to laugh when you called May a bad foreign secretary, completely swiping aside the grotesque Abbot and her tenure in that role. Wouldn't it just be better to say that all politicians generally do a bad job rather than try to single ones out to score points?

I'm talking about Corbyn and the Labour party, the party of high unemployment, high tax and high interest rates, but it's all right, because Corbyn is going to privatise the railways (because that will fix it). Great.

I don't have a Brexit deal obviously, though Norway would be my ideal position in terms of an analogue if we had to leave, however that's still a lot more detail than we've had from Labour who haven't provided us anything, a party just as divided as the Tories on the issue and who glibly claim they could negotiate a better deal without having to give any details, straight out of the Lib Dem tactic book. How is Corbyn going to take on a good position on Europe when he's more pro Brexit than May is?

[Diggers]

Show me the policies that advocate any of what you’ve said? What does high tax even mean, that’s not a thing. We do have a pretty complex tax system you know, do you not think we have high rates of tax? Show me one policy or quote that advocates high unemployment. You’re literally making stuff up.
Re the EU that’s rubbish, Labour ran on a leave mandate, just like the Tories. Their model has always been based around a softer Brexit model, that’s again a fact. They agreed this at conference, fact. To even begin to compare the level of dissent within the 2 parties beggars belief, utterly miopic. Corbyn has taken a party that everyone said would revolt against him and held it together. That’s what’s happened.
I don’t need to twist what this Govts has done, it’s there right in front of you, chaos. Over a third of their MPs agree, the others only vote for her if she agrees to resign. Any of that with Labour, nope, not even remotely close.

[super_realist]

Honestly Diggers, Teachers have the cheek to say they don't have enough hours in the day to do their work, you're never off here.

It doesn't matter if it's policy to have a softer Brexit, it's not them that gets to decide that, it's Europe. It's very easy to claim that's your policy, quite another thing negotiating it.

It's HISTORICAL that interest rates, taxes and unemployment are higher under Labour governments. That's a fact. I didn't claim it was a policy, it's a consequence of Labour governments. For example, not paying off deficits results in consequences such as higher taxes.

Corbyn has taken a party which can't beat the Tories into a party that still can't beat the Tories. Well done Jeremy.

[Diggers]

I’m at home on a day off as it goes.
So, you aren’t actually looking at anything to do with current policy. You are comparing this govt to what, a Blair one? Or maybe Callaghan? Further back?
Jesus Christ, I know I’ve called you fixed mind set but I don’t know what to do with that level of laziness.

[McLaren]

Super

What makes you think Labour are anti business? Given they exist to put the worker first and most economists would agree that a happy labor force is the most productive one, doesn't making sure you have the most productive labor force possible mean you are pro business?

[beninho]

Weren't interest rates at their highest under a tory government?

Whats wrong with high taxes anyway. I hate the battle to cut taxes.

[kwinigolfer]

How does TM think that assuming "lame duck" PM status helps her negotiating influence in Europe - or anywhere else for that matter?
(All a bit like TWoods wanting to be a team captain and show leadership on the course but knackered and playing like a drain.)

ben,
Taxes, high or low, shouldn't matter so long as they're applied fairly, which they never seem to be. All lower taxes do here is benefit the wealthy (corporations and Joe Public) and run up the debt which fact they'll then use to justify cutting "entitlements" #bunchofcrooks

[raycastleunited]

Super

What makes you think Labour are anti business? Given they exist to put the worker first and most economists would agree that a happy labor force is the most productive one, doesn't making sure you have the most productive labor force possible mean you are pro business?

Oh Mac, you are trying too hard on the wind ups here.

"labor"? I know you are sneaking that in deliberately because you always write about the Labour party. Just makes you look a bit silly.

Haha good try

[dynamark]

Digs how do you get a day off a week before Xmas is it practice for the Christmas holiday.
I said earlier employment highest ever and wages moving again 3.3%.
Roller gluten free is not great in fact its rubbish when youd love a pizza but medically necessary in a lot of cases.Despite the current aggro we are doing OK at present.This will all clear out in the next few months and if its a straight leave maybe a few weeks extra paperwork but the average joe will hardly notice.
Wait on don't worry about your kids/mortgage/job/pension.

[raycastleunited]

The biggest issue for Corbyn should he ever get the keys is that the establishment would obsess about trying to break him. The city would short the £ to Frak, Newspapers, would dish new made up dirt on him on a daily basis. Big business would blame him for every blip on their balance sheets. Far right activists would get mobilised to abuse him wherever he went out.

That's some conspiracy theory JAS!!!

I agree with you on the media hate campaign. But the idea that banks and currency traders would take positions to bring down Corbyn, and potentially risk their livelihoods, is a little far fetched.

[raycastleunited]

Digs how do you get a day off a week before Xmas is it practice for the Christmas holiday.
I said earlier employment highest ever and wages moving again 3.3%.
Roller gluten free is not great in fact its rubbish when youd love a pizza but medically necessary in a lot of cases.Despite the current aggro we are doing OK at present.This will all clear out in the next few months and if its a straight leave maybe a few weeks extra paperwork but the average joe will hardly notice.
Wait on don't worry about your kids/mortgage/job/pension.

Dyna have you not noticed how everything is more expensive in the last couple of years? If you want a new 3 wood the retail prices have shot up in the UK due to the weak GBP. Not to mention basic goods in supermarkets.

It's not just a blip, we live in a global market and our pound sterling isn't going to buy much for quite a long time... at least a decade to recover.

[Diggers]

Digs how do you get a day off a week before Xmas is it practice for the Christmas holiday.
I said earlier employment highest ever and wages moving again 3.3%.
Roller gluten free is not great in fact its rubbish when youd love a pizza but medically necessary in a lot of cases.Despite the current aggro we are doing OK at present.This will all clear out in the next few months and if its a straight leave maybe a few weeks extra paperwork but the average joe will hardly notice.
Wait on don't worry about your kids/mortgage/job/pension.

My heads pretty good, it was only a half day and most of it was planning time. It was my young ones nativity so was nice for me to see it. I teach enough after school clubs for free and work a hell of a lot more than the 32.5 hours I’m paid for. Not complaining though, the holidays are fantastic and I try not to do too much work through them.

[super_realist]

I’m at home on a day off as it goes.
So, you aren’t actually looking at anything to do with current policy. You are comparing this govt to what, a Blair one? Or maybe Callaghan? Further back?
Jesus Christ, I know I’ve called you fixed mind set but I don’t know what to do with that level of laziness.

Could say the same for you Diggers. You seem to think that the next Labour government with a massive social leaning if Harold Steptoe is still in charge wouldn't result in all the things associated with Labour governments of the past. Massive borrowing leads to an increase in inflation, that's just a fact, and massive borrowing is central to Labour policy.
Please explain how lower unemployment, lower (or static taxes) and low inflation result from Labour policies.

[Diggers]

I’m at home on a day off as it goes.
So, you aren’t actually looking at anything to do with current policy. You are comparing this govt to what, a Blair one? Or maybe Callaghan? Further back?
Jesus Christ, I know I’ve called you fixed mind set but I don’t know what to do with that level of laziness.

Could say the same for you Diggers. You seem to think that the next Labour government with a massive social leaning if Harold Steptoe is still in charge wouldn't result in all the things associated with Labour governments of the past. Massive borrowing leads to an increase in inflation, that's just a fact, and massive borrowing is central to Labour policy.
Please explain how lower unemployment, lower (or static taxes) and low inflation result from Labour policies.

Look back at this post, I've talked about this Govts policy on funding for schools, for the prison services, for the NHS. I've talked about multiple u-turns on policies, actually talking about policy. So please don't try and tar me with the same level of apathy you display when talking about politics, it really doesn't wash.

[Diggers]

Downing Street confirms no meaningful vote before Xmas. I suppose we have to understand that as meaning...there will be a meaningful vote before xmas. Seems to be the only sensible way to interpret any messages HQ Lame Duck.

[navyblueshorts]

Downing Street confirms no meaningful vote before Xmas. I suppose we have to understand that as meaning...there will be a meaningful vote before xmas. Seems to be the only sensible way to interpret any messages HQ Lame Duck.

Be surprised if there's a vote at all right now, given what's coming out of the EU.

[Diggers]

Downing Street confirms no meaningful vote before Xmas. I suppose we have to understand that as meaning...there will be a meaningful vote before xmas. Seems to be the only sensible way to interpret any messages HQ Lame Duck.

Be surprised if there's a vote at all right now, given what's coming out of the EU.

Does seem an utterly futile exercise. Thank heaven there is no rush to get this thing sorted, like day a looming deadline ...

[dynamark]

I haven't really noticed prices moving up other than the usual seasonal stuff .I don't think new clubs are the answer for me tbh.Notice fuel has dropped back down a bit recently.
I can still get a flight to Tenerefie and back for £60 but it will around £100 for a round of golf when I get there!
We'll have to wait and see what happens next few weeks but it will not be pretty.And Blair can do one as well .

[Diggers]

Blair saying what a lot of people are thinking, me included, can’t blame him for that. Only problem for me is he’s so unpopular now that it’s unlikely to garner any extra support for a people’s vote.

[raycastleunited]

I haven't really noticed prices moving up other than the usual seasonal stuff .I don't think new clubs are the answer for me tbh.Notice fuel has dropped back down a bit recently.
I can still get a flight to Tenerefie and back for £60 but it will around £100 for a round of golf when I get there!

I'm surprised you haven't noticed. Basic things like tomatoes are more expensive because they mainly come from Spain and Netherlands.

Yes your golf is more expensive when you get there, if you think about it in GBP. And your food, wine, beer etc. If you compare the price in EUR then you will only see a gradual inflation. Taking out €200 from a cash machine 10 years ago would cost me about £140, now it costs £190. This isn't going to improve any time soon because the fundamentals don't look good.

[Diggers]

BBC reporting that Cameron is advising May on options if the meaningful vote fails. Sweet baby Jesus! The guy who got us into this mess (and ran away) is now being trusted to give advice on what to do next to the person who clearly doesn't have a clue about what they are doing.
This adds a whole new level to the blind leading the blind, you could not make it up.

[super_realist]

I haven't really noticed prices moving up other than the usual seasonal stuff .I don't think new clubs are the answer for me tbh.Notice fuel has dropped back down a bit recently.
I can still get a flight to Tenerefie and back for £60 but it will around £100 for a round of golf when I get there!

I'm surprised you haven't noticed. Basic things like tomatoes are more expensive because they mainly come from Spain and Netherlands.

Yes your golf is more expensive when you get there, if you think about it in GBP. And your food, wine, beer etc. If you compare the price in EUR then you will only see a gradual inflation. Taking out €200 from a cash machine 10 years ago would cost me about £140, now it costs £190. This isn't going to improve any time soon because the fundamentals don't look good.

The exchange rate between the £ and the Euro has been poor for longer than this entire Brexit debacle.

Britain is a very expensive country to live in and so it's only when the £ devalues a bit we notice.

[navyblueshorts]

BBC reporting that Cameron is advising May on options if the meaningful vote fails. Sweet baby Jesus! The guy who got us into this mess (and ran away) is now being trusted to give advice on what to do next to the person who clearly doesn't have a clue about what they are doing.
This adds a whole new level to the blind leading the blind, you could not make it up.

Well, Cameron being conceited enough to offer advice as it's being portrayed and bothering to listen to the moron are two slightly different things. Not sure anyone has said she's taken any advice of his have they?

[dynamark]

Clacton for me then next holiday.Golfing abroad has always been a luxury but it is a choice if you can afford to do it not sure its in the retail price index basket of goods.
I'm not for one second saying life is easy street but its not that bad.I bought tea bags today for £1 plus washing powder £1,lager was £3.80 but again a choice .Back on topic I can get a years golf weekday for £599 - £12 a week about the same as Sky.
Work hard treat folk right and everyone can do reasonably well.Just watching channel 4 and a guy living in a bus shelter in Northampton apparently alcohol dependant ? does that mean we should give him special treatment ?

[super_realist]

Clacton for me then next holiday.Golfing abroad has always been a luxury but it is a choice if you can afford to do it  not sure its in the retail price index basket of goods.
I'm not for one second saying life is easy street but its not that bad.I bought tea bags today for £1 plus washing powder £1,lager was £3.80 but again a choice .Back on topic I can get a years golf weekday for £599 - £12 a week about the same as Sky.
Work hard treat folk right and everyone can do reasonably well.Just watching channel 4 and a guy living in a bus shelter in Northampton apparently alcohol dependant ? does that mean we should give him special treatment ?

I'm sick of the young saying life is tougher for them these days than it was back in the day for their parents, they've got it incredibly easy.

.

[beninho]

I'm 38, I'm happy that I was brought up when I was and worry about my son and daughter in future years. I don't see how its easier then it used to be, for example housing. I used to buy a house for 50k now a 2 bed in this area its 500k. Rent is 11400pm.

[Diggers]

BBC reporting that Cameron is advising May on options if the meaningful vote fails. Sweet baby Jesus! The guy who got us into this mess (and ran away) is now being trusted to give advice on what to do next to the person who clearly doesn't have a clue about what they are doing.
This adds a whole new level to the blind leading the blind, you could not make it up.

Well, Cameron being conceited enough to offer advice as it's being portrayed and bothering to listen to the moron are two slightly different things. Not sure anyone has said she's taken any advice of his have they?

Navy, the story is that she’s specifically sought advice from him, she’s now denying it, which clearly she’d have to do. Who knows, I wouldn’t put anything past her.

[Diggers]

Not sure how you measure harder or easier, if we are talking financially I’d say job certain is less nowadays and I don’t think anyone can argue that making that huge purchase, a home, is becoming increasingly out of reach in many areas, unless you get some help.
Easier in other ways, maybe, can’t think of any off the top of my head though. I left Uni with a 50 quid overdraft and didn't take a penny off my folks, not many will do that nowadays.

[super_realist]

Buying a home in certain places has always been out of reach for many. In London for example, it's always been expensive.

Foreign travel is cheaper and easier  these days, more choice of degrees and more universities to choose from plus you can get in with Mac level grades, information via internet is easier and cheaper to gain access to than ever before, far more entertainment options, meeting other people is easier than ever, food as a proportion of your salary is much cheaper than 30 years ago, long term low interest rates, relatively stable inflation,  very cheap car ownership options, standard of living is much higher, technology is better and cheaper (e.g computing), homes are better quality, better insulated, better equipped, travelling is easier with things like Air BnB. Even looking at the variety and types of food and drink we have these days is better than a generation ago. Tons of internships available, graduate training schemes, very little disruption due to industrial action.

I don't think the young realise just how bleak things were 30 years ago, it really was grim up north. They don't know what a tough life was.  Go back a bit further and it was even worse, constant strikes, 3 day week, 40 bin bags piled up in your back gardens etc.

The most annoying thing about the young though is many seem to feel entitled to a well paid job without having the slightest bit of experience. They seem to think that just because you have a degree and you'd like to live in London that they should be given 60k. They aren't willing to work their way up the way they used to.

[super_realist]

I'm 38, I'm happy that I was brought up when I was and worry about my son and daughter in future years. I don't see how its easier then it used to be, for example housing. I used to buy a house for 50k now a 2 bed in this area its 500k. Rent is 11400pm.

Rent is 11400 a month? Pull the other one.

[Diggers]

Buying a home in certain places has always been out of reach for many. In London for example, it's always been expensive.

Foreign travel is cheaper and easier  these days, more choice of degrees and more universities to choose from plus you can get in with Mac level grades, information via internet is easier and cheaper to gain access to than ever before, far more entertainment options, meeting other people is easier than ever, food as a proportion of your salary is much cheaper than 30 years ago, long term low interest rates, relatively stable inflation,  very cheap car ownership options, standard of living is much higher, technology is better and cheaper (e.g computing), homes are better quality, better insulated, better equipped, travelling is easier with things like Air BnB. Even looking at the variety and types of food and drink we have these days is better than a generation ago. Tons of internships available, graduate training schemes, very little disruption due to industrial action.

I don't think the young realise just how bleak things were 30 years ago, it really was grim up north. They don't know what a tough life was.  Go back a bit further and it was even worse, constant strikes, 3 day week, 40 bin bags piled up in your back gardens etc.

The most annoying thing about the young though is many seem to feel entitled to a well paid job without having the slightest bit of experience. They seem to think that just because you have a degree and you'd like to live in London that they should be given 60k. They aren't willing to work their way up the way they used to.

I bought a 2 bed flat in London 20 years ago, needed a 5k deposit. I've bought 5 London properties in my life so feel I know what I'm talking about, I can categorically tell you it's way, way tougher to buy now. You are looking at a 40k minimum deposit for that same flat I bought..in a high risk housing market that has finally bottomed out.
I also grew up in the north east, yep, was tough at times, but actually there far more opportunity to get a trade and what I would call a decent job. I go back to my home town and it far more depressed than when I grew up there, less shops, less opportunities. That's the view of everyone I know there. So I know firsthand what it was like 30 years ago and IMO it's grimmer now.
The other things you mention, well, I don't see internships as a positive, they benefit those who can afford them. If you'd lived down in the south east you'd know about industrial action, the trains were crippled for 3 years and we've had bin bags overflowing in the streets of Brighton on numerous occasions.
Like I said earlier, it's a hard thing to judge, life has changed massively, no doubt about that. From my own experience, I'd take the era I grew up in over this one, wouldn't even blink.

[kwinigolfer]

I'm kinda with Digs on this one, though also agree with super's final paragraph.

It's easy to look back 40 or 50 years and think, chr1st, that must have been crap. But it really wasn't because the things that supes can't live without, even cars, you didn't need or couldn't conceive of.

I'd say youngsters still in school probably have it easier, but paying for uni gets more outrageous every year, and then there's the stark realisation that degrees ain't wot they used to be. I started work at 18 just off Regent Street, was paid a pauper's wage (plus luncheon vouchers!!) but could still save living in a boarding house. And that was OK; can't imagine a 18-y-o being able to get by in those circumstances now.

I wouldn't mind having been born five years earlier except I could have been bombed.

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