Pensions - sCAmeron up to tricks

So you know when the £140 flat pension comes in? Well we're paying for it.

More news on  what the osBorne Conspiracy is really up to.

Those of you like me in Local Government have a "contracted out" pension. WE forego the earnings related bit and thus get a discount on our NI (National Insurance). Well I 've just found out that whe the new pension comes in the Discount is abolished so all of us on "contracted out" pension will face at least a 1.6% rise in our contricbutions and if, like me you've not had a pay rise for 3 years, that'll be another PAY CUT. 

More money off the hard working top pay for the Bankers Mess! 

Tiring day in the Garden

Today's task was Cut the Grass. Well its done.
Beginning with fixing the caravan cupboard door. The trim had started coming off. Just needed sticking back, but it had to be the door next to the Microwave which was partially covered so necessitating me taking the whole door off. any way glued, but it curves so had to "bend" it around. Some tape stuck along would hold it in place. then grass cutting. Finally disaster a gust of wind took the poly tunnel door and broke it. Granted the wood is ageing but so I spent an extra 45mins fixing it. Now sat with a  glass of wine and poacher cheese.

So the Government have heeded my advice and moving in the right direction and announced measures to ensure one's pension pots move with you when you move jobs.

As I have said before its a scandal that if you move jobs (frequently - and who has a job for life these days) each company pension you have is worthless if you've oly got a few years in it. Less that 2 and you can cash in but then you end up with no pension hence the Pension Crisis we're in now. If you add up all the years then if you were in one scheme it should be quite good. So if the Government puts its foot down and MAKES the Bankers (Pension funds) play fair then transferring should not be penalised (so much), In the long run the Government benefits as we all get fairly decent private pensions, we all want to join a scheme and thus don't need to depend on handouts.

Marriage tax breaks as Cameron caves

Oh dear Cameron may be bowing to pressure and insisting on the "promised" tax breaks to married couples?

I hope so.

After all it WAS in the manifesto, (I think so was a vote on the EU). Gay marriage wasn't. So do we believe him?

Maybe he's worried that middle of the road voters have seen though sCamerons' ploy and the next election may not be so good. This is just the tonic to get him those extra votes?

Maybe.

We'll see - lets see if the Tories can be believed?

Good day in the Garden

At last I'm catching up with the gardening. Late but never mind. 

Today planted (and dug my plots in preparation  Fennel - new one experimental), onions, and beetroot.
In Polly Tunnel set mangetout, french beans, and Asparagus. Going, sweet corn, tomatoes, runner beand, potatoes (in bags), and some flowers. Mysenbrianthemums (mouthful) Godetia, and nicotenia. Old faithful french marigolds well on their way. I save the seeds from last years plants.

Tired now. Going to cook Trout for tea.

Tax system unfair to stay-at-home parents

I'll tell you just how unfair the tax system is to couples on low incomes who want to look after their children. Just look at this example. Why shouldn't the tax system help married couples where one gives up work to raise a family? They should be treated as a unit.

For easy reckoning I'm assuming the Tax allowance is £10k as promised for the next budget. So Man and woman (or civil partnership couples) earning £15k each have a joint income gross of £30k , but each has a £10k allowance so together
that can earn £20k and pay tax on the last £10k, net income £20 tax free.
Now if one chooses to stay at home and look after the children, they lose £10k of tax allowance so even if one is lucky to earn £30k they still only get £10k allowance so joint income is reduced, only £10k is tax free they have to pay tax on £20k.

So I ask is that fair on married couples sacrificing income to bring up children, leaving a job open for someone else but paying TWICE as much tax on the same income.? How is that fair.

Come on Cameron you're Married and a dad. If your income was only £30k what would you prefer?

Thatcher Protests - real or hyped by media?

So are all these so called protesters causing mayhem in London's streets really so
Anti-Thatcher? I think not.
Look at the protesters at Thatcher’s funeral, and around the country. Most of them either weren’t  born in the 80's or were too young to care what was happening. SO what is it? What are they up to – I’ll tell you.

I think we are seeing an element of society we have nothing to lose - are they on benefits? - or are seeking alternative thrills? I believe it is orchestrated by new technology,  face book, twitter an other web sites/apps giving these people an alternative Cyber persona that revels in "nastiness and hooliganism", they orchestrate these gatherings to cause mayhem as a an alternative to Saturday nights in the pub. Have you noticed the change in people where the new way of complimenting people is an insult? can you tell which it is friendly or a real hurtful insult? Calling names and wounding.
The riots last year were helped by cyber media - Facebook, twitter and other web sites, texting using apps. We have a generation who revel in this sort of thing and society need to catch up with these changes.
What about the trouble in Newcastle after the match. Why do  these people revel in violence.
In George Orwell’s 1984 they have the thought-police who intervene when people are veering away from towing the society/Government line - this will come to us - where
Government will monitor your cyber space persona for bad behaviour and intervene to prevent trouble, It will  come as a reaction to these recent events. Its not Big Brother, (Orwell not CHannel 5),  well yes it is but as a result of trying to maintain order. Don' t blame government its elements of society at extremes who are pushing the boundaries and changing  things forever for the rest of us. what do we want violence or peace. It comes at a price thought - less freedom. Look where we are now - all internet traffic is monitored, the Government want to look at all your emails and text messages - good luck to them I say when over half what I get is SPAM anyway! but then were on camera nearly everywhere.
People want it for "safety" but now with face recognition software you can be tracked.
Your mobile can be tracked - even better with GPRS signal, then there's cars, caught on speed cameras or Number plate recognition, the Congestion charge (CCTV again) using your credit card every EPOS machine/cash machine knows where you are and what you spent. So it goes on.
But at the end is it stopping crime? Think of 9:11, July 7th or Monday  in Boston. Do the authorities act soon enough on intelligence. Not enopugh resources that's why they turn to Cyber space.I think the screws are definitely tightening - but maybe they have to?

Benefits Cap? too right

Its this "something for nothing" society we are breeding that gets me. What right have people to think that they can "claim" everything in their benefits?

Right, we are a rich society and I believe we must look after the unfortunate, vulnerable and disadvantaged/disabled in our society. This does NOT give everyone the right to have their whole living allowances paid by the benefits system, there has to be a limit.

Mr Miliband is wrong when he says that Benefits must take into account where you live. Yes it is more expensive to live in the South than the North but generally wages are higher in the South. Does that mean benefits must be hoigher in the Southh than the North - well upto a point.

If I chose to move down south I would choose to live somewhere I could afford. If I was on benefits I would expect my benefits to cover my housing costs too? NO. If you do that then effectively the unemployed have a right to FREE housing whatever the cast and their circumstances.

No, No, No.

If you can't afford to live there on your Benefits then move - up North if necessary. Surely its the same being unemployed in Wakefiled as it is in Wandsworth, but houses are cheaper.

Lost Pensions Scandal

I've said this before people pay into pensions and then change jobs and its lost. This is the biggest scandal. We need the Swiss system, where your pot goes with you for life.

The Government should not let the Bankers make millions yet again at our expense. Capped fees and if people know their pension is safe they'll be more inclined to save. Saving helps the Government and we all share in the benefits.

Come on don't let this go on as another osBorne Conspiracy!

Pay in little and the bankers take their share and make millions out of us all.

Are electric cars green?

Yes I've always wondered about electric cars? £15k cheapest can only go 100miles. Get a new car for £8k and spend £7k on fuel? Hmmmm - know what I'll do.

Considering the state of this country's energy industry better get a horse!

Last Word on Margaret Thatcher

Sad news that she's passed away. RIP Maggie.

Whatever you think she was our one and only Woman Prime Minister. Whether you agree with her politics or not she did stick to her guns which is more that sCameron does. (Does he belive in anything?).

Remember when she came to power Britain was a basket case. We were worse that Greece/Ireland/Cyprus are now. We need a bailout from th eIMF to keep going. No wonder things were dire. Drastic actions was called for, curb the power of the unions, and cut out waste. We couldn't afford to subsidise all those nationalised industries like coal and rail.

Then it was a courtesy of Labour's legacy. Now they've done it again. Blair and co have left us Bankrupt again, we need a Thatcher to rescue us again.

What about stay-at-home parents?

I have some support I see.

Ed West of the Telegraph seems to share my views. Why is this Government denying its roots and discriminating in favour of working parents? Surely looking after your own children is the best?

Cumbria Carbon Monoxide poisoning

Very sad the death of mother and daughter. If they were using s petrol enerator inboard on the boat that was very silly. But people just don't realise. CO doesn't smell so they think the exhaust is safe!!

NO!

For the sake of £20 everybody should have a CO Detector, in their house, in their Caravan, boat wherever. 

How much is a life worth?

Euro Crisis in Cyprus

Really? A country of 1,000,000 poeple needs a 10bn euro loan? How do they get into so much debt?

Anyway, small beer. Surely a company like Google or Microsoft could buy the whole Island for $10bn they've got more than this sloshing around in spare cash. Its ludicrous.

Next is Slovenia.

Fancy a holiday island?