Its being so happy that keeps me going

[gradus]

Things could be worse.

'VAT has gone up 10%, property levies are up, a tax has been introduced for every mile you travel on A-roads and funding for culture has been cut by 40%. Newspaper articles report the emigration of at least 50.000 Portuguese to former colonies such as Brazil, Congo and Mozambique, where they find work or set up new businesses. Yet life seems to continue as it used to.'

From a friend's Christmas 'annual letter'.

[handsomefortune]

Things could be worse.



coincidentally, we don't hear that much about portugal here do we?

[Flosshilde]

From a friend's Christmas 'annual letter'.

TYpical of these things - it's either about their unfeasibly brilliant children, who are 10 times better than one's own, or how dreadful things are for them - multiple job losses & deaths - yet they still manage to whistle & smile.

I always enjoy the round-up the Guardian publishes (is it Simon Hoggs column?)

Fortunately I don't have any friends who send them to me, but I always greatly enjoy the ones my partner gets (especially the latter type ).

[mangerton]

Things could be worse.



coincidentally, we don't hear that much about portugal here do we?

They make very good port there, I believe.