Grumble Thread

[french frank]

Corking calculations there FF.

Or screwtop more likely at £6 a bottle!

[Pulcinella]

Or screwtop more likely at £6 a bottle!

I think that a fair few people feel screwed as a consequence of the budget tax changes.

[french frank]

I think that a fair few people feel screwed as a consequence of the budget tax changes.

A bit early to have any fixed view at this stage as to how we'll be affected individually. I have had my letter telling me of Important Information about changes to the Winter Fuel Payment, but mustn't grumble . It's perhaps never, in any case, about how one will be directly affected, but about how well one can cope or adapt. That may be no more than a personal reaction from someone who 'copes' with most things, even after four weeks without water or any kind of heating in the kitchen, no cooker hob, plus other not ideally functioning things like doors that don't close... I suppose I could heat the kitchen by turning on the oven and leaving the door open.

[cria]

... I suppose I could heat the kitchen by turning on the oven and leaving the door open.

It will save energy if you fill your oven with a couple of shopping bags of fresh horse manure ...

[french frank]

It will save energy if you fill your oven with a couple of shopping bags of fresh horse manure ...

Yes, and first fill my shopping bags with horse manure ...

[Dave2002]

I think that a fair few people feel screwed as a consequence of the budget tax changes.

Maybe, though not necessarily justified rationally or reasonably. It's just too early to tell, though the hot air from commentators such as Chris Mason and others at the BBC - and no doubt in news offices elsewhere - could surely keep some of us a bit warmer. More hot air coming up in the next few days too - though for a different reason.

[LMcD]

It will save energy if you fill your oven with a couple of shopping bags of fresh horse manure ...

I'm afraid I haven't got the energy to do that.

[Serial_Apologist]

Maybe, though not necessarily justified rationally or reasonably. It's just too early to tell, though the hot air from commentators such as Chris Mason and others at the BBC - and no doubt in news offices elsewhere - could surely keep some of us a bit warmer. More hot air coming up in the next few days too - though for a different reason.

My complaints about Reeves' budget are not based on how personally it will affect me. I will actually lose a total of £500 from the dropping of the WFP, putting me just above the Pension Credit threshold, for the time being. State Pension provides for just over half my income, and with the remainder dependent on a medium-risk discretionary share portfolio now facing CGT on sales above a certain figure, the ISA maximum now being reached, I will have to wait another yea to see. London can be as cheap a place to reside as anywhere provided one does not have to face rent or mortgage charges.

[smittims]

Since we're mentioning the Budget, I will chip in my 5p worth, hopefully not being too party-political-partisan-controversial.

I'm not a Labour Party supporter but I think this budget is right. It could have been much more severe . The world is in a terrible mess and we can't go on pretending we have a right to a life of luxury. It's essential to build a robust economy to deal with the many problems which will come in the next 50 years. I congratulate the Chancellor for havigthe courage to do something about this now,in stark contrast to the previous government .

[Dave2002]

Since we're mentioning the Budget, I will chip in my 5p worth, hopefully not being too party-political-partisan-controversial.

I'm not a Labour Party supporter but I think this budget is right. It could have been much more severe . The world is in a terrible mess and we can't go on pretending we have a right to a life of luxury. It's essential to build a robust economy to deal with the many problems which will come in the next 50 years. I congratulate the Chancellor for havigthe courage to do something about this now,in stark contrast to the previous government .

There may be some problems which emerge which haven't been foreseen, either by the chancellor, or by everyone who has been throwing their tuppences into the fray. Politically I suspect the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment may have been a mistake - with the savings being relatively small fo the country's finances, but with a substantial and almost immediate loss of good will. Other aspects may have good or bad effects - it will depend on how people adapt. We can afford the loss of WFP.

This article, which I found and read yesterday, makes sober reading - https://inews.co.uk/news/manchester-...ggling-3315885

There are numerous references to "promises" to improve the rail infrastructure in the north - which have been made over several decades. Yet it is still pretty terrible. Some of us watched Ben Elton's programme on railways not too long ago - it's here - https://www.channel4.com/programmes/...ilway-disaster

The poor infrastructure in some aspects of our lives, and also relatively worse infrastructure in some parts of the UK definitely has an adverse effect on where people choose to live, and how they conduct their lives.

I just hope that at least some of the extra revenue from any changes in the budget will lead to significant improvements in areas other than London and the immediately surrounding areas. People should also be encouraged to move, and we could have a more dynamic society, if people were able and encouraged to move to areas where there is more space, and housing could be cheaper. There are many issues, but the London centric approach to runnning the UK has gone too far. London isn't even fun to visit any more, as nowadays there are so many tourists it's extremely difficult to get around.

[LMcD]

There may be some problems which emerge which haven't been foreseen, either by the chancellor, or by everyone who has been throwing their tuppences into the fray. Politically I suspect the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment may have been a mistake - with the savings being relatively small fo the country's finances, but with a substantial and almost immediate loss of good will. Other aspects may have good or bad effects - it will depend on how people adapt. We can afford the loss of WFP.

This article, which I found and read yesterday, makes sober reading - https://inews.co.uk/news/manchester-...ggling-3315885

There are numerous references to "promises" to improve the rail infrastructure in the north - which have been made over several decades. Yet it is still pretty terrible. Some of us watched Ben Elton's programme on railways not too long ago - it's here - https://www.channel4.com/programmes/...ilway-disaster

The poor infrastructure in some aspects of our lives, and also relatively worse infrastructure in some parts of the UK definitely has an adverse effect on where people choose to live, and how they conduct their lives.

I just hope that at least some of the extra revenue from any changes in the budget will lead to significant improvements in areas other than London and the immediately surrounding areas. People should also be encouraged to move, and we could have a more dynamic society, if people were able and encouraged to move to areas where there is more space, and housing could be cheaper. There are many issues, but the London centric approach to runnning the UK has gone too far. London isn't even fun to visit any more, as nowadays there are so many tourists it's extremely difficult to get around.

Don't worry - we'll all soon be back on track, I'm sure.

[Serial_Apologist]

Don't worry - we'll all soon be back on track, I'm sure.

As if things weren't already Badenoch!

[Padraig]

As if things weren't already Badenoch!

Quite so. Hendrix would have lit up the place.

[LMcD]

As if things weren't already Badenoch!

[Serial_Apologist]

Azerbaijan Premier Muhktar Babayev welcomes Cop 29 by claiming coal and natural gas God's gifts to humankind while in the same speech blaming the West for climate change. Meanwhile, in Pakistan...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nCJ45mG5T4