Originally Posted by dunroving

Well, I have never really bought a load of "stuff" (clothes, shoes, handbags, toys, TV's, etc.), but maybe one service would be sorting through people's "stuff" and helping them to put it on eBay ...

For me, off the top of my head, I'd pay someone who would:

1) Delete all the garbage emails from my work email account before I open my Inbox every day. I get over 100 a day and most of them are a waste of my time (but I still have to read them to find out if they are important ...)

2) Clean my house

3) Help me with work around the house that needs two pairs of hands

4) Wash my car at my house (I barely have time on the way home to fill up the gas tank, so you can forget going through the car wash)

... and lastly ...

5) Be my BE time-out monitor (slap me in the back of the head when I've been on BE too long and I really should be getting to work - like now).

Essentially, my work hours leave me so little time that I need help with just about everything, so whatever the "life" equivalent is of a personal assistant, that's what I need.

Originally Posted by cricket1

Just out of interest and to put things in perspective, has anyone noticed the massive jump in the UK of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? It's huge and mostly it's due to obesity.

The last thing I worry about is the economy. I worry more about not being able to see a doctor if I ever need one because I stayed healthy while others didn't. To me, the growing demand on the NHS is a real crisis. I'm glad the government bailed banks and car manufacturers out because the wider nightmare is the cutbacks that would happen in health and education if they didn't.

Originally Posted by Fleaflyfloflum

Most of us call it a wife D

Originally Posted by cricket1

I rang the UK this morning to speak to a reliable source (business contact). He said the market town to which we are returning still has most of it's specialist shops plus it's getting Waitrose and Monsoon. He's not happy because turnover is down a little but the same old shops are still there since I left 5 years ago plus some new big names are about to open.

I remain confused by the media stories of how the UK economy is in dire straits and that the UK is in deep recession.

Originally Posted by Bevm

I hope I don't sound as if I'm not considering them. I am, and I really feel for them, especially retired people using some investments to supplement their income and now finding that money halved or gone. Or sound small businesses being squeezed, Tricia, simply because people are afraid to spend and banks are sitting on what little money they have like broody hens.

But I think we have to see what is, not what was or what we want it to be as we plan how to steer through all this.

Bev

Originally Posted by dunroving

OK, now I've had my first cup of coffee and the central heating is back on (yes, we do have luxuries in Scotland, Sally ), I'll tell you what the "tantrum" was about (I personally thought it was more of a "rant"; old people rants, babies have tantrums, etc. - or maybe that was your point).

Let me start off by again saying you provide a lot of positive "get off your *rse and move" type advice to people, and sometimes they really need it, so more power to you.

My "rant" was because there are times when you seem to portray yourself as the only person on these boards who (a) had it rough and (b) has the gumption to succeed in life. Your own "rants" in this thread were offensive to me and others who are in a pickle despite the fact we are not greedy, whining, materialistic people (OK, maybe we whine a little now and again). Take Tricia, for example, who is struggling to keep her business afloat because of the economic situation. She doesn't seem greedy or materialistic at all.

When someone is in that position, they don't take favorably to responses that say, in essence, "I'm sick of people in Britain complaining about life being tough when it's all their own fault", and "quit whining and be more like me - and just in case you haven't read my threads, here is the story once again of where I came from, who screwed me over and what a fantastic business plan I now have." I'm sure you deserve every success you have achieved through dint of your discipline, drive, and ingenuity. But please quit telling us that we're such a bunch of losers if we're not just like you.

OK, second "tantrum" well and truly over.

Originally Posted by cricket1

At which point did I suggest either you are Tricia were losers???? Was I not making a general point about a particular mentality that sometimes portrays the British public? Why did you take it so personally when it wasn't aimed at any particular individual?

Originally Posted by dunroving

When you generalize in the way you did, you don't have to aim (or name) in order to include individuals in your comments.

Bugger it, I'm not getting into a to and fro on this. I've made my point (or tried, anyway).

Originally Posted by cricket1

At which point did I suggest either you are Tricia were losers???? Was I not making a general point about a particular mentality that sometimes portrays the British public? Why did you take it so personally when it wasn't aimed at any particular individual?

Originally Posted by Tricia

Cricket, I'm afraid Dunroving's previous points were spot on from my point of view also. When you come on to the board to attempt to portray a different perspective (from personal, at the coal face experience) it is indeed personal when your reply, quoting us, points out that you don't agree and yes, as Dunroving said, goes on to say that the British public (I belong to that group) are a bunch of whiners who should be like you and get on with it, it's their own fault etc etc. Yes, I'm having a rant because I've never been materialistic or taken out ridiculous amounts of credit & still find myself (and many many people I know) caught up in this wretched situation.

To be fair, you mention frequently how your husband left you destitute, no it wasn't the govt but you still felt screwed over, well that's how many Brits feel, yes, I'm a fighter and will pull myself up from my bootstraps but this is a discussion and I will put another side to the debate.

Originally Posted by Tricia

I bid you good day.

Originally Posted by Tricia

For goodness sake, it's not point scoring, it is pointing out that you mention 'bad times' & how you came through it, I am now pointing out that many people are now experiencing bad times also, many many through no fault of their own & it is neither correct nor enlightened to shove them all in the same category of whiners and losers. Enlightened debate is not possible or enjoyable with such a high handed attitude.

'Defend' my situation as I 'perceive' it, yet another arrogant statement and one that is quite frankly beneath my dignity to respond any further to, I bid you good day.

Originally Posted by USAGypsies

For the record, I find myself in agreement with Dunroving and Tricia. I have a sister who compares everything to herself and her own experiences and sadly lacks integrity, without even realising it. She mean's well.