bonjour......glad you had a lovely time, I cant wait to hear more about it....

I would imagine that you get a decent wage, I know i was talking to someone who wanted to retire out to Oz and I was talking to them about how much more expensive Australia seemed to be than the uk, and they were telling me that everyone there, from nurses upwards, tends to get paid a higher salary in the first place.. So its much less expensive for native Australians than it is for travellers....


As australia has an economy that is healthy and expanding, .....Id imagine everyone gets a decent wage, and it cant be too bad if John could afford to come over to the Uk on holiday last year .....

I heard that as well........its fascinating and scary how much some politicians attempt to change public opinion.


This thing about pensioners returning their winter fuel allowance and not using their bus passes is an example of this. I thought after working for the country for 50 years and contributing heavily to the tax system etc, surely only fair to be rewarded with benefits like free bus passes?


Added to this is the fact that its probably much simpler to pay one benefit to all, rather than having to employ yet another team of people to work out minor differences, in benefits.

And also, surely it is a benefit to everyone to underpin public transport, by encouraging OAPs at least to use it on a regular basis, As my parents get older, and my dad finds it harder to drive, they use the buses more for medical reasons and convenience than because they are free....

I wish public transport was more economic , ie cheaper, and more accessible. From an ecological view, its much better for the climate to use public transport rather than individual cars. So I find it ridiculous that public transport near me, is more expensive than me using my car solo.

The trains near me, cost a fortune, are usually overcrowded and often at weekends cancelled cos of repair work...


But I too am not happy with Ian Duncan Smith and his pronouncements about Older people. Something that always gets my dad, is that if he does earn anything....like working on a poll station at elections, then he goes over his tax limit, so he gets his regular pension taxed, as well as any money he earns from the day. ....But as he says....He already paid tax on this pension when he was working, so why is his regular pension taxed twice?

Well, I have a confession. I got picked up by a Parisian gentleman at Dubois, the art supplies shop.

My friend went into the shop next door to look at stationary. I was testing some oil pastels - what a difference between the cheap ones I use and the ones I tested. He started talking to me in English and asked if I'd like to have a coffee - . . . I am overweight, old and tall (about 4 inches taller than this man). What is it?

Having a blood test tomorrow so hopefully they will find out what is wrong. I now have a stuffed nose and a dry hacking cough. FED UP!!!!!!!

Anyway, been photographing my garden - like Monet. Will do it tomorrow too.

oh how exciting...... maybe I can do some photos of my garden as well.......

I saw IDS on Sky this morning and he said that he suggested wealthy pensioners could return their bus passes and fuel allowance not that they will have to. Actually I think wealthy pensioners with big pensions should return the bus passes and fuel allowance. The problem is 'what is wealthy'? Over £50,000, £100,000?

The people we met from Australia said it was expensive and there was growing unemployment there. I guess the grass is always greener and after seeing prices - and taxes in Paris - I for one don't want to retire there.

You should. I am going to try and paint from the pictures. Sun has gone in and there is a wind so don't want to sit out. I am hoping to do it either in acrylic or pastels.

[quote=nyannie;65626853]I saw IDS on Sky this morning and he said that he suggested wealthy pensioners could return their bus passes and fuel allowance not that they will have to. Actually I think wealthy pensioners with big pensions should return the bus passes and fuel allowance. The problem is 'what is wealthy'? Over £50,000, £100,000? /QUOTE]


I haven't heard IDS suggest that the millionaires give back their tax cuts

Nyannie

Welcome Back

Missed you; pleased you had a great time
French man Ah

Well what a eventful weekend
thats why i haven't been around much
husband twisted his knee
he was moaning a lot, and
at the time i though what a wuss
then the bruising and swelling started
surgery is booked for Thursday
something about grafting a bit of his ligament
into the knee
at this point i tuned out
well i did start, to feel a bit green
weeks on crutches , no driving for 6 weeks

If IDS is leaving it as an open choice, then fair enough, but it feels at the moment as if people are feeling pressurised and almost made to feel guilty for recieving any benefits at all.

So for instance most of those who used to recieve any kind of disablity benefits , have now had it reviewed and often it has been taken away. Because the arguement is that everyone should be working instead of recieving any kind of benefit at all.


As regards the OAPs, I think my biggest issue is that I m not sure I think anyone should be made to feel guilty for recieving a benefit they have worked hard for all their lives.

But i do agree with you, what is percieved as being Wealthy? And its also looking at things like disposable or saved income. My parents are comfortably off, but not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but they are better off, than a lot of their peers. But are you including being wealthy to include people who have assets of over £100k, which would then include almost all OAPS who own their own home? Or just people who earn an income or pension over £100k

I was also listening to the radio today, and they were saying there wasnt a system in place to not pay out the Winter Fuel allowance. It just got paid automatically. So people who asked not to recieve it, ended up , being paid the allowance, and then giving the money to charity, often things like age concern.

and they also said that to get a free bus pass you had to actually go to the council and apply for it, so if you didnt want to use it, then you wouldnt actually have to apply for it in the first place.

I do agree its a complicated argument though.

your poor husband....hope the surgery goes ok.....what did he do to himself?

Thanks Augusta , yes its a little worrying
just moved quickly and the wrong way
its been twinging on and off for a while
now the knee is no longer stable
its not so much the operation
but its such a long recovery

Ouch georgy!
It sounds a bit like that cruciate ligament damage that footballers sometimes get Hope the operation goes well and he's back on his feet soon
I expect he's got loads of things to cancel, etc, as well as actually having the op
Poor you.....both of you!

All the best xx

Welcome back nyannie

Glad you had a super time

Will catch up tomorrow

Meantime night all xxx :sleep::sleep::sleep:

Merci mon amis

So sorry to hear about your husband - Ligaments are terrible when they go wrong. Sounds like he tore it. He will have to take physio too How on earth did he do it?

I am sending him my good wishes for a speedy recovery. Make sure he does everything he is supposed to do - and remember, we are always here for you.

Sending you both lots of love

Morning all.

Hope you are coping OK georgy!

Just been out to photograph my garden - discovered two birds nests and more flowers out. I think I am getting like Monet who painted his garden at different times of the day. I also chased a pesky squirrel who was rummaging under my tulips. I put cayenne pepper on my bulbs before planting them and not so many seem to have been dug up.

Speaking of tulips and Australia - we were talking to a couple who lived near Brisbane and they said they never had any luck with tulips - too hot. Wonder what John's mother grows in her garden? Don't think John bothers with a garden.

Best go as I am having a blood test shortly. My cold has well and truly come out!!!!

Thanks Lindy and Nyannie

not to bad, haven't had to cancel much
its not as if, he has a nine to five job
he runs things from the home office anyway
just the driving is a bit of a nuisance
and i can see a little more fetching and carrying coming
my way

Hope all, are good

poor you
you get rid of one cold
and another one comes your way
hope the blood test goes well

off out tonight
will be back tomorrow

have a lovely evening Georgy....


its a beautiful sunny day here, just sitting down for 5 mins...Has anything been happening?

Whatever you do - do NOT give him a bell!!

Enjoy your evening. See you tomorrow.

Morning all!

Just been out to photograph my garden.

O/h is at home today and I was hoping we would go out to lunch but he said it isn't fair to other diners to be subjected to my coughing and nose blowing. He is right I guess. So we will just have a quick visit to the garden centre.

Paris now seems like a distant dream. Want to go again when I can afford it.

Hope everyone has a good day. Sun is shining so I'm out to get more vitamin D.

what a heart felt comment...

and a brilliant image.:D


Its a beautiful day here, OH is also on holiday for a few days, Just done a bit of gardening, isnt it lovely when its done???

Strange to have this heat with Tulips and daffodils still out though.....

Have to agree with you about the garden. We made a trek and got Aftercut, Weed and Feed and tomato food. Got a free plant as we spent more than £40. It's yellow.

Just been out photographing the garden again - think I'm going mad. We only have a small garden and I'm gradually getting rid of the lawn. Prefer plants.

Oh, me too! I know Georgy loves her lawn.....but unless you have a really manicured one, which I don't, I can't really see the point of it It just demands to be mowed at regular intervals, then sits there looking boring. I hate the way the mowing takes away the daisies and dandelions, clover and other such plants. Really I'd like a 'town garden' with a decent sized patio / terrace, dining table and chairs, lots of pots and climbing plants. Maybe a few feet of grass so that we could have natural daisies and bulbs in spring Less would be more in the case of our garden, which is a pretty typical suburban plot, little use to man or beast at present.

Oh dear, that was a rant, wasn't it? I guess I'd have to spend a lot more time on our little plot, to make it a more enjoyable place to sit and chat or read a book