A Skoda landed bonnet down on the roof of a church in eastern Germany at the weekend. It appears that the vehicle was “travelling at high speed” when the driver missed a bend in the road, driving through a railing and then careered up an embankment and flew through the air for around 35 metres. The 23 year old driver had to be freed by emergency crews and was admitted to hospital for treatment.

The insurance claims form should make interesting reading. The answer to the question “What was the position of the vehicle immediately after the collision” is surely a first?

It goes to show these Skoda’s are really taking off!

Do you remember the far-off days when Gordon Brown the Chancellor promised us an end to the days of “Boom and Bust”, with talks of prudence and a brighter future for the families of Britain? The days when you could look forward to keeping your job, buying that new car and enjoying your well-earned leisure.

Gordon Brown the Prime Minister now sings a different tune. Things are worse than he thought and he “didn’t see it coming”. He’s referring to a recession that could be the worse since the 1930’s.

It seems that even our Polish workers are deserting us and leaving Britain’s recession behind. It’s reported that they are returning to Poland, where their treasury minister believes they are safe from recession. The opinion is that Poland should avoid a recession due to the fact that their banks are “strongly regulated”.

Let us hope that the latest plans of The Brown Government do something to ease the situation and give us something to build on. In the meantime all eyes are on Gordon the Magician as we wait for him to pull something from his hat.

It struck me yesterday just how much things have changed over the past few years.

I had a list of “things to do” – which included taxing the car, buying a special present, grocery shopping and contacting some friends.

The car was taxed on-line and the DVLC site confirmed that the MOT was in date, ditto the insurance – time saved searching for documents is invaluable.

Grocery shopping on-line too. The site came up with the details of the last order and with a few alterations, it was all done, ready for delivery this afternoon. I just have to be around.

The present involved a trip out to the nearest town, but this was from choice – I could have had it delivered. Instead I searched on line for the best price, located a store that had it in stock, reserved and paid for it. All I had to do was collect it. Then I came back and emailed one or two friends – giving me time to phone and chat with the others.

One of the things on my next “to do” list is contents insurance for the house – a couple of clicks will set it in action and I know there’ll be a good choice and the right deal. In the “old days” I might have just renewed to save all the bother – I dread to think of how much money I must have wasted over the years.

Now …….. what to do with all the time I’ve saved?

Figures in today from one company bucked the trend a little – but it’s hardly surprising.

Begbies Traynor, the insolvency people, are expecting more people to need to call on their services due to the impending recession.

Recently released figures showed that in the UK alone, over five and half thousand companies were facing “critical problems” in the final three months of 2008, compared to just over three thousand a year earlier.

The worst hit types of businesses were in advertising, construction and transport and communications.

When it comes to family finances, it seems that more and more of us are visiting the “value retailers”, with many of them planning to take on more staff as a result of this canny shopping – after all, there are still families to feed, despite the constant reminding about hard times.

After having good Christmas trading figures, Sainsbury’s are planning to be able to offer 5,000 new jobs this year, starting with the good news that 2,000 of the temporary Christmas workers being offered permanent posts.

Now isn’t that just a tiny bit of good news?

It’s a lovely morning – if you’re sitting inside looking out at the sunshine – otherwise it’s still a bit chilly out there.

What a super day to be up in the Lake District, where there’s an interesting property coming under the auctioneers hammer soon. The starting price is 145,000 pounds but don’t expect to move in just yet. The property is a farmhouse has been unoccupied for several years but it idyllically situated along a dirt track and a couple of miles to the nearest public road.

It may be a bit tumbledown but it has an impressive name – Sleddale Hall, and it’s near Shap, in Cumbria. The farmhouse was used in the film Withnail and I, which starred Richard E Grant and Paul McGann and in the film the property was known as Uncle Monty’s Cottage.

The farmhouse has, as the estate agents like to put it, “many original features” and it sounds as though it’s all ready to make a really lovely family home for someone looking for a restoration project.

The agents are Savills and the auction is in Mid February – just in time to appreciate the snowdrops and daffodils in that lovely part of the country.

There’s not a great deal of good news for us today – and amongst the bad bits we learn that it’s expected that more than 600,000 UK jobs could be lost during 2009.

If you’re lucky enough to keep your job, it’s probably too much to expect a rise and the British Chambers of Commerce says companies are in “survival mode”. In actual fact, many companies are putting their workers on to a shorter working week to preserve jobs and retain skills.
Looking at the rest of the news there’s “Freak Weather hits Australia”, “Meteor Strikes Across Sweden” and a second meteor strike over in the USA. Not to mention the inauguration of their new President Barack Obama- this must be doing much to raise the spirits of the USA people. A report says that around 70 per cent of them think that Obama is going to be a great president and have confidence in him to lead them out of the bad times.

Just a glimmer of ever so slightly better news, depending how you look at it – we learn that the Council Tax payers of England are facing a lower rate rise this year. Still a rise, though. The Local Government Association said that councils were doing their best to hold down tax increases at a time of economic hardship. The opposition were not too impressed and described the rise as a “kick in the teeth” for families and pensioners at this really awful time for them.

Spare a thought for the treasury officials and bank executives who have had a weekend of talks and hand-wringing about the awful position we’re all in.

Whilst we’ve all been out wining and dining (or whinging and moaning), booking our summer holidays and generally splashing out with the help of our plastic friend (I don’t think), they’ve been trying to come up with a plan to save us all from losing our confidence in the Government to deal with the financial crisis. How much confidence do they think we have? You can’t lose what you ain’t got!

The meeting follows the promise from our main man, Gordon Brown, that measures would be taken to help families feel secure about their savings, so mortgages can be provided and businesses can get loans. Now, why didn’t he say that before – now I feel so much better, don’t you?

In addition to this glad news, Mr B said that there were ongoing talks with international leaders in order to tackle the global financial crisis caused by the “failure of the banking system”.

There seems to have been a lot of talking and an announcement is expected next week. We await the news.

The conservatives have criticised business minister Baroness Vadera for her comments, which she made to ITV, regarding her claim that she could see “a few green shoots” of economic recovery.

Business minister Baroness Vadera has denied she is out of touch after claiming she could see “a few green shoots” of economic recovery. She went on to say “Is this a positive straw in the wind, or should we say one swallow doesn’t make a summer? It’s too early to say.”

Now I’m all for being positive and offering encouragement, but maybe these remarks were not the most sensitive due to the fact that they were made as the job loss figures in the UK sounded like the football scores being read out. A slump in the price of shares of virtually 5 per cent didn’t do a great deal for everyone’s spirits, either.

Later the Baroness defended herself, saying she had been referring to improvements in the credit market, where one particular large company had just been successful in raising hundreds of millions of pounds. The fact that this was fresh in her mind seemed to raise her spirits – and is this a sin, at such a miserable time? It just could be, to the thousands of people who’d just heard that their jobs had been lost.

We await the good news, in the belief that it’s just around the corner - albeit a very long one. But as every gardener knows only too well, the earliest green shoots can be attacked by the frost, before they re-appear as the green leaves of summer – or not, as the case may be.

The Credit Crunch is taking its certainly taking its toll. Grown-up YTS schemes apart, (we shall see!) Stern warnings to the banks and even zero percent interest rates with all the dire warning of that eventuality are not exactly brightening the winter days.

It’s the season for your in-box to be inundated with holiday information. It’s all very well making the announcement that the family will holiday at home this year but when it comes to it, can you honestly say you meant it?

Lots of people will have no choice – shorter hours and less pay are being accepted as the price many have to pay for the hope of a job at the end of the day. For others, there are corners to cut. Why not exchange a fortnight in Florida, with a few hundred pounds “ticket money” for the privilege of queuing in the sunshine for a ride that lasts a couple of minutes for a less stressful break in one of the Spanish Costa’s maybe. The kids may even learn to amuse themselves with sandcastles and sea. Shorter travel times, too.

One thing that’s more important than ever this year is your travel insurance. Don’t ever think about a holiday abroad unless you have this in place. It’s just not worth it.

Do they do insurance against the Darling/Brown effect, I wonder? Or is it counted as an Act of God?

Just when we thought we’d got away with it, it’s finally happened. We are being told to recycle and risk a fine of something like 1000 pounds if we fail to do it, apparently. There was a notice attached to our wheelie bin this very morning. It’s official.

Not that I personally have anything against it. I’ve long thought it’s a good idea for other people, but when it comes to it – I haven’t a clue. I’ve been really good about going along to our local station car park and happily tipping bottles into appropriately marked bins. I’ve saved newspapers for the boy scouts, helping them to make money – but apparently no one wants them any more. (Newspapers that is – I don’t think boy scouts are endangered species yet).

Cardboard boxes in theory go to the tip, but in actual fact the other half has a thing about “what if we need to take something back – we’ll need the box” so they’re taking up valuable shed room. We’ve composted too – although it never seems to break down quite how it’s supposed to.
So – it’s finally come to it – just at the same time as we hear that there’s a glut of waste and they don’t know where to put it. But can anyone tell me – if there’s a cardboard tube with a metal top and bottom – do I separate it or treat it as one or the other? If I chop my finger off washing out a corned beef can, will my household policy cover?

And where shall we put this multiplicity of containers, I ask. Don’t tempt me!

Stuff the turkey took on a whole new meaning last Christmas, according to the latest figures.

Picture the Christmas Eve of just a few years ago; the tree is dressed, the house is spruced up for the big day. Mince pies and sherry are ready for Santa’s visit. In the kitchen, the vegetables are all prepared and it’s time to stuff the turkey and set the table for the feast. A day or so of relaxation, maybe the odd walk and a little TV lies ahead.

Winding on a year or so and it’s – stuff the turkey, the sales have started. All hands to the computer. It’s said that John Lewis celebrated its busiest ever online hour from 7pm on Christmas Eve as its clearance sale started. The action continued through the great day, with numbers visiting their site being 12 times that of a year ago. Boxing Day topped the lot, with on-liners in general doubling the Christmas day figures.
It seems the Queen’s speech had a little competition too – her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs were not doubt delighted to report that over 600 people used a part of their Christmas Day to file their tax returns on-line.

Happy Christmas for next year!

Dot

Following my first blog yesterday and having committed myself to finding something enthralling for you every day, I now find my perfect job being advertised. So…………….if I go missing!

If a tropical island just off the coast of Queensland, with an average temperature of 25 degrees sounds just the job, some-ones in for a treat.

The trouble is, apart from living completely rent-free in a villa with amazing view and a plunge pool to yourself, you have to do boring things like swimming in clear blue seas, with miles of sandy beaches, snorkelling, diving and sailing. You have to work a whole 12 hours a month, feeding the hundreds of species of fish and picking up the mail for the island. It’s tough – but some-one has to do it.

The “caretaker” will be doing all this hard work to attract tourists to the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and in addition to visiting some of them, they need to provide a blog, a photo diary and update videos to show how wonderful it all is.

The pay’s not too bad, either. How does 70,000 pounds sterling sound, for the six month period?

The trouble is, there could be some tough competition – the job’s being advertised world-wide, so don’t hold your breath! You have until 22 February to apply so prepare to join the stampede.

Dot

Now I’ve always had a soft spot for the Princes William and Harry. It seems as though Harry’s put his foot in it again, though, poor lad.

Having brought up three sons of our own, I stopped being surprised by the horrible nick-names by which they referred to their mates. I remember “Weak Whittaker”, “Grotty Guy” and “Dumb Dave” in particular. Then there was the lad from Wales who they called “Taffy” – oh dear, wouldn’t they be frowned on now? They were in no way derogatory names and the lads all appeared to be the best of friends. Maybe, with hindsight, Prince Harry was misguided – but after all it was three years ago and he was a fresh-faced 21 year old at the time.

To his credit, he has apologized and quite rightly so. “Paki” is offensive to a great many people (even if not to the friend he referred to personally) and Harry should know better. But I’d like to think it was not meant to be offensive in any way. As always, in these matters, we can’t know all the facts.

Also in the news is the birth of a healthy son to Charlotte Church. After the recent doom and gloom, it’s lovely news. She’s made a good start to the large family she said she’s hoping for.

How good to hear something more cheerful – something to cheer us up on a gloomy day.

Unemployment figures are rising, that’s a sad fact. Even a brand new degree and the proudly displayed cap and gown ‘photo doesn’t mean a job.

Certainly not the sort of position that rewards the newly qualified, after all the years of studying and exams.

That’s what makes the news of 3 months paid internships for 300,000 of the 2009 graduates all the more encouraging. A drop in the ocean, maybe, but it’s 300,000 who’ll not be counted in the unemployment figures for a while.

Now if I was being cynical – which I must admit I am inclined to be in these matters - I just might dismiss this as messing about with the employment figures, but in actual fact it’s not a bad idea at all.

The intention is that the internships will, if nothing else, give the participants some valuable experience in the right environment. There’s a double edge to this, too. Employers will be able to judge their abilities and it could lead to job offers and three months is a fair trial to judge potential.
The pay they’ll receive will only be marginally more than their income as undergraduates, which they receive via grants and loans, but they true value is that they should become more employable.

The scheme is being drawn up by Universities Secretary John Denham and the Conservatives reaction was predictable – shadow skills secretary David Willets stated that the small number of firms offering the scheme (four at present) was welcome, but “does not match the scale of the crisis facing young people trying to find jobs.”

I have to agree with that, but it’s surely a start!

Happy New Year Readers,

Dot Piper
Editor

Todays’ historic Mortgage Rate cut has taken the Uk mortgage base rate to 1.5%

But will it have any effect on us the little people I hear you ask.

Many industry experts expect the todays cut to have very little - if any - effect at all on mortgage borrowing.

This is for two reasons.

1) Mortgage rates are so close to the level that mortgage lenders can effectively lend the money and still make a profit. This means that many mortgage lenders still have not passed on the previous rate cuts and there is little evident to suggest that this will change.

2) House price is still VERY high and with lenders demanding a much higher deposit ( upto 25% for the cheaper deals ) many first time buyers simply cannot affoard the depost. Even some remortgagers are now in a sticky wicked with many dropping into negative equity with their fixed rate deal finishing.

Finally I read in the paper Gordon is considering following Mugabe’s lead in fiscal management.

Good work Gordon.

More updates to follow as the news breaks

TTFN

BB