So the Budget has come and gone as predicted. Much as we might have predicted the Chancellor did absolutely nothing for single people on relatively low incomes such as myself, who've historically borne a disproportionate share of the tax burden. There's a surprise! In the main we might say that it was a fairly mundane affair - at least to those who slept through it and I'm assured plenty of MP's did just that.

For those who had one ear open though, there was plenty to catch out the...

Adrian69702006

Shortly before One this morning I had something of a rude awakening. At first I thought it was nothing more than a bad dream but then I realised what was happening - an earthquake. We get them on rare occasions in dear old Blighty but they're rarely as severe as the one this morning. Needless to say it made the top item on the early morning news. It was the worst we've had in 25 years - or so we're told. Thankfully reported structural damage is fairly minimal and there has been only one recorded...

Adrian69702006

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Adrian69702006

Again, it was reported in the news today that some parents are prepared to go to extraordinarly lengths to secure places at the best schools for their children. Some at great personal sacrifice to themselves, it seems, are prepared to sell up and move to areas which are beyond their means. Others are prepared to lie about their religious beliefs or feign devout religious practice to get their offspring into a faith school which is better thought of than the local state provision.

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Adrian69702006

Obesity

Today it was announced in the news, as though it were something remarkable, that by 2050 half the UK population is likely to be dangerously overweight and this is could well cause a major public health problem.

There is nothing ‘new’ about this news however. The rise in obesity in recent years due to changing eating patterns, the ready availability of fast food and the adoption of increasingly sedentary lifestyles is well enough known to the world. It needs to...

Adrian69702006