leftiebeard

What a great thread. Mumsnet is a very good barometer of many things... and to be fair, I'm pretty impressed by the challenges to Janethewitch. But watching her squirm and plead for more HP growth is some of the best stuff I've read for weeks. She is utterly delusional. 2013 is going to be a good year...

What's become of that particular Master of the Universe? The cult of the all conquering CEO is one of the worst pieces of BS to be promoted over the last 20+ years.

I always find it heart warming to see special corporate "talent" take a slip. So many of these MBA educated, fast tracking, high-potential, company stars are nothing but shells of people. No natural affinity with the human condition, poor motivators, self interested, attention seeking and over the longer term deliver very little to anyone - their unit, teams or companies. Good riddance to them. Bring in more rounded folk - who understand how things get done, trust others, look for the best in their teams, and build value that lasts.

This is the transition that I badly want for my family. A move away from the suffocating, demoralising, exhausting pursuit of material goods and middle class luxuries - to a life that focuses on understatement, few possessions, freedom and the prospect of a square meal a day at 80 rather than cat food. Its hard going when the example seen by the missus in her life is the complete opposite.

Exactly - the homicide levels in inner American cities are horrific; but most of it them seem to be black teenagers killing each other over a $10 debt or a verbal insult. At least that what I hope - moving to Dallas in Spring 2013.

Many thanks. Think I'll go for the Mexico game; 5 years living in Mexico City - so can at least have a modest sense of allegiance to someone.

Might be interested. Who is playing out of interest? Greece v Germany?

Great thread. The other issue for me is the question of pensions or savings. What amazes me is how seemingly so few (outside the well provided for public sector and final salary corporate schemes) take this into account when buying property. Surely there will be a time when a generation will wake up and say - what on earth am I doing pumping in all that I earn and will earn into bricks and mortar, with next to nothing to live on when work dries up, or I'm too ill to continue. There seems to be a complete unwillingness to face this problem, and hiding behind the pension scandals etc. as an excuse not to save, is not going to do anything other than compound the misery. There is now wanton and wholesale financial denial across this country.

This is exactly what we need over here. A real challenge to the smug home owning status quo in this country. Time for folk to reap what they have sowed. Bring it on.

What gets me about the usual buyers of these 'lifestyle' homes, is the complete lack of thinking or caring about their lifestyle when they retire, made redundant or even have a family. What the heck is the point of impressing one's architect and legal friends with buckets of chablis, Webber BBQs, flash furnishings etc.. if in 30 years time all you'll be able to share with them is a spare (small) bowl of cat food. Madness.

Am hearing with far greater frequency financial hardship stories from friends or friends of friends. One theme is that of paying for private education - It is is driving many to the wall - added to the social pressures they feel around maintaining it. Also, when you raise the issue of (future) retirement income or pensions (in the widest sense), most folk's faces turn white with fear. Many are doing NOTHING to prepare for that stage of life.

Truly dire. I remember visiting in 2007 and thinking how mad must folk be to buy? But many did and the price they're paying is horrendous. But what the heck possessed them to purchase....? Apart from the mantra that prices will increase for ever... Madness.

Same in Bath this morning. Packed pretty full - but most shoppers had that zombie look, suggesting that shopping has become such a way of life, that evening crippling debt isn't going to stop them from buying all that can be thrust upon them. God knows how they're going to fund their 'working' life, let alone in retirement....

Never been to one of these clubs; but hope the company's demise will be the cue for today's yoof to return to shakespeare drama, the great romantic symphonies, poetry recitals etc.

"I'll get my people to talk to your people"