Current Affairs 2023

[Onelife]

I think it's much more important that ordinary people who've contributed to their community got invitations. I'm sure you will have welcomed that OL. Meanwhile any disgruntled Dukes and Duchesses should be encouraged to hand in their titles. Or if they're considered a threat HM could follow his ancestors' example and cut their heads off.

I think it is important that ordinary people who keep our country’s wheels turning should be recognised and valued for their contribution…whether an invitation to the Coronation fits that bill is another question. I personally wouldn’t cross the street to be there.

[Ray B]

Another day, another shooting in America. This time in Alabama, a state that protects it's citizens rites to carry arms under the 2nd amendment. The outdated amendment was made in the days of the wild west to maintain a militia to keep in check a federal army?
Today it's not relevant, different world where guns are not necessarily going to keep you safe, more likely to die in a shoot out.
It would take decades to remove guns from the Americans, look at our country, illegal to have a gun but there are plenty about if you know where to go.

[Manoverboard]

Based on our experiences in Montgomery, Alabama, I would deffo want to keep my right to carry a gun.

[Ray B]

Maybe true, but it don't bother me much now to see another shooting over there and if they want to try and stop this, you have to start from somewhere.

[Stephen]

Let them get on with it. Last person standing, switch out the light please.

[Onelife]

The only way you are going to get a consensus about guns in America is if there are more frequent shootings of school children.

[oldbluefox]

It seems a crazy idea to me but if they are so determined to keep their guns they will have to accept shootings such as this are going to continue. Emotional rhetoric won't change the situation.

[david63]

The only way you are going to get a consensus about guns in America is if there are more frequent shootings of school children.

That will not make any difference.

I don't have a problem with the "bearing of arms" they can have as many as they want as guns don't kill anyone (unless you hit them over the head with one!) - just restrict the availability of ammunition.

[Ray B]

As the old saying goes, you live by the gun, you die by the gun.
Also
"I want you to apologize to ma mule"

[Onelife]

I had a funny dream last night in which a load of you were sat round a table stuffing their faces with ‘quiche’.

[Ray B]

I'm sure there are places you can get help from Keith.

[Stephen]

I had a funny dream last night in which a load of you were sat round a table stuffing their faces with ‘quiche’.

Crustless i hope

[barney]

One thing that genuinely mystifies me is that every time you turn your telly on, all you hear about is the cost of living crisis.
However, everywhere down our way is rammed nearly all of the time.
Coffee shops, tea rooms, cafes, bars, restaurants.
We popped up to Woolacombe last week and couldn’t get in the car park.
Bristol Airport just announced their busiest Easter ever.
Can anyone explain this paradox ?

[towny44]

One thing that genuinely mystifies me is that every time you turn your telly on, all you hear about is the cost of living crisis.
However, everywhere down our way is rammed nearly all of the time.
Coffee shops, tea rooms, cafes, bars, restaurants.
We popped up to Woolacombe last week and couldn’t get in the car park.
Bristol Airport just announced their busiest Easter ever.
Can anyone explain this paradox ?

No idea, except maybe the cost of living crisis is a figment of the BBC newsrooms imagination, because they do seem fixated on it, even when inflation reduces.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think it's an issue that divides. We are comfortable but I have good index linked pensions. But we know other people who are working who are facing higher bills with little increase in income and are struggling.

[Stephen]

Damn it, the food bank just closed.

[barney]

I’m wondering if those who have money still have money and those who never had much money still haven’t much money.
So really, nothing much changes, crisis or not.

[Onelife]

I’m wondering if those who have money still have money and those who never had much money still haven’t much money.
So really, nothing much changes, crisis or not.

I think it’s the case that those who still have money are more careful and those who never had much money don’t have that choice.

[david63]

they do seem fixated on it, even when inflation reduces

There is a difference between cost of living and inflation.

The price of goods goes up which pushes up inflation but as inflation is based on year on year then those goods stay at the same price but inflation comes down.

So 12 months ago a tin of beans cost, say, 50p. The price of that tine of beans goes up to 60p due to the increased cost of transport - this in turn pushes inflation up. 12 months on the beans are still costing 60p but as there have been no other increases inflation has come down but the tin of beans costs more than it did 12 months ago therefore the cost of living has risen.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes pretty much as the BBC regularly explains. Inflation coming down doesn't mean prices are coming down, it just means they're not going up as fast.

And even the reduced inflation last month was still 10.1%. That's pretty devastating for someone on a low and/or fixed income.

[barney]

I’m wondering if those who have money still have money and those who never had much money still haven’t much money.
So really, nothing much changes, crisis or not.

I think it’s the case that those who still have money are more careful and those who never had much money don’t have that choice.

Not much evidence of that around my way OL.
As I said, everywhere seems really busy most of the time.
Mrs B’s little shop is still doing well and she’s had a serious and credible offer to buy it.
I’ve persuaded her to finally retire even though she’s only sixty.
Life is too short to keep working and making money we don’t even need.
I’m pretty sure she will accept and pass it on in the summer (fingers crossed)

[Manoverboard]

Our small tin of Branston Baked Beans are 70p, large ones are £1 ... just saying

[Stephen]

Our small tin of Branston Baked Beans are 70p, large ones are £1 ... just saying

Cant afford those sort of luxuries

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've just read an article saying food prices will start to fall in the next few months. Usual nonsense from the supermarkets. They say there's a 3 to 9 months lag between wholesale prices falling and prices in the shop following. Strange there is no lag when wholesale prices rise and the retail prices follow immediately. Disgraceful.

[Onelife]

I’m wondering if those who have money still have money and those who never had much money still haven’t much money.
So really, nothing much changes, crisis or not.

I think it’s the case that those who still have money are more careful and those who never had much money don’t have that choice.

Not much evidence of that around my way OL.
As I said, everywhere seems really busy most of the time.
Mrs B’s little shop is still doing well and she’s had a serious and credible offer to buy it.
I’ve persuaded her to finally retire even though she’s only sixty.
Life is too short to keep working and making money we don’t even need.
I’m pretty sure she will accept and pass it on in the summer (fingers crossed)

Hi Barney, I think for some people setting up their own business and making a success of it can become a labour of love which is sometimes very hard to let go of…easier though if you are getting a fair price for it.

My wife took early retirement at the age 55… she tells me it’s the best thing she has ever done…I of course would agree with her if we wasn’t for the fact that we are now left scratching around for every penny we can find… we’ve even had to resort to shopping at the same place as Stephen to make ends meet…Btw, if you would like my “Just giving page” I will promote you to “Onelifes, best forum mate forever”