You may have noticed that my blogging has slipped. I hang my head in shame for this. But in my defence, I have been exceptionally busy; doing the day job for around 60 hours a week as well as co-ordinating the refurbishment and improvement of our new house.
So far the library/dining room (of how pretentious it sounds) is done, as is the kitchen, office and bathroom. The back bedroom required nothing, though the front bedroom has changed out of all proportion to that which looked at us with the sad hang-dog look of peeling wallpaper and chintz curtains. All that has gone; swept away to be replaced by crisp clean walls and fitted furniture. The only thing left to do is have the carpets done which comes some time next week.
We're having our house warming party on Saturday. Some might ask why we've left it a month and a half. However the reason is simple: we wanted to be able to show the house complete, done and dusted. We wanted to avoid at all costs a party whose guided tour of the new pad consisted of telling people over and over again "Ignore this; it's going" and "If you can imagine it, we're going to be doing X, Y and Z just as soon as we get around to it". In that matter, we have succeeded.
I suppose those who come on Saturday won't truly appreciate how far we have come in a month and a half. So much has changed, but in a way that I suppose that if you did not see it before you would just think "oh, that's nice" and move on to the next room. Zoë and I will be content in knowing that we've more than left our mark on this new house - and I'm not talking about all the holes we've drilled in the walls (well, those pictures and paintings won't put themselves up you know).
Consequently I haven't had the time to do any writing. However the next book - 'Twinkle little star' is moving ever closer to publication. I've seen the cover, and it looks fantastic. I have a little space cleared on my library shelves for my proofing copy - and there are a lot of shelves in here I can tell you! Fingers crossed that it does even better than 'Bringing home the stars' did. It has a high mountain to climb to do that, but I'm confident for it.
Back to work in the morning. I went back to the other job full-time, for now, because we want the mortgage paid off as soon as possible. I have to admit that after so long in front of the keyboard day-in, day-out it is nice to get out and travel the country again. It also earns a lot of extra cash which comes in handy. I'm a strange person who has never been in debt before until this mortgage came along. I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of a debt, but it was the only way. Up until now everything I have ever bought has been bought outright. Until the mortgage is cleared, it is a necessary evil and a means to an end.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Monday, 4 July 2011
On the cost of old age.
Today I've been listening a great deal to talk about reforms of the costs of care for the old. The essence of what is being proposed is that the threshhold for getting free care may be raised from a paltry £23,000 to £100,000. It surprises me just how readily older people have been shafted up until now. It seems that those who have clearly paid a lot into the national pot over the years through taxes in order to accumulate assets and save up for their future are severely penalised as a result. Whereas those who have not bothered to save at all are rewarded at the end by not losing anything when it comes to paying for the care in their old age. Yes, I know that that is a somewhat simplistic way of expressing it, but there are a lot of people out there who worked hard to amass a future only to have that future stripmined out from under them and in some cases losing around 90% of their assets.
In my own experience I've seen one of my Grandmothers fall victim to this. The powers that be were quite happy to try and take as much as they could despite my Grandfather being alive and well (although old and registered blind). Luckily for him they had had the foresight to seperate their accounts some years before, and they were unable to take his assets; only hers. That didn't stop them trying though. A lot of old people wouldn't have been so strong and would have effectively been mugged by the state.
When you think of the lifetime of taxes that they contributed, it is somewhat scandalous. And there are so many other people in that position too. It is also something that cannot be insured against. Whilst we 'insure' against medical issues through the NHS, and insure our homes and property through other insurance schemes, we are all left at the mercy of old age and the costs that it will bring. I know that I would be furious to find that after a lifetime of paying taxes I would be expected to lose almost all of my assets over the last few years of my life. I have little doubt that many old people feel the same, as they spend their last months or years watching the state happily take everything material that was of value to them.
I strongly believe that it is about time the system changed. In a time of such austerity there may be those who question affording this. But I say that this was money that they were never entitled to, morally. If this country is to be pulled from bankruptcy, it must not be done by taking from the old and infirm.
In my own experience I've seen one of my Grandmothers fall victim to this. The powers that be were quite happy to try and take as much as they could despite my Grandfather being alive and well (although old and registered blind). Luckily for him they had had the foresight to seperate their accounts some years before, and they were unable to take his assets; only hers. That didn't stop them trying though. A lot of old people wouldn't have been so strong and would have effectively been mugged by the state.
When you think of the lifetime of taxes that they contributed, it is somewhat scandalous. And there are so many other people in that position too. It is also something that cannot be insured against. Whilst we 'insure' against medical issues through the NHS, and insure our homes and property through other insurance schemes, we are all left at the mercy of old age and the costs that it will bring. I know that I would be furious to find that after a lifetime of paying taxes I would be expected to lose almost all of my assets over the last few years of my life. I have little doubt that many old people feel the same, as they spend their last months or years watching the state happily take everything material that was of value to them.
I strongly believe that it is about time the system changed. In a time of such austerity there may be those who question affording this. But I say that this was money that they were never entitled to, morally. If this country is to be pulled from bankruptcy, it must not be done by taking from the old and infirm.
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Sunburn and steam
I managed to get sunburnt yesterday whilst driving an Alfred Dodman steam traction engine that had just passed its first steam test. It was the first time the engine had moved under its own power.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
"Stick it to the man"? I should coco.
I've been pondering the subject of the public sector strikes today, not least because of my own current and annoying dealings with public sector workers of late. My tax code has been messed up, and I currently pay 50% tax because of some nebulous "tax owed from a previous year" that Inland Revenue has failed on four occasions to explain and provide details of. Each time I telephone them, and explain patiently to the call centre drone that the amount of tax they claim I owe amounts to more than I have actually earned, gross, in the last four years. Each time they agree my PAYE amounts have been miscalculated by them, and each time they then fail to remedy it after promising me that it will be remedied.
These people who are mismanaging my tax affairs, are the same people that if the papers are to be believed have been exposed mismanaging the tax affairs of several million other people in this country. I am not alone. These people are also the same people who are anxious to protect their extremely generous pension deals, and the fact that they can retire a number of years earlier than the rest of us onto a pension deal far more generous than most of the rest of us.
It annoys me when I see so many posts on the internet - often from students - trying to rally support for striking public sector workers. I suppose it is always seen as the done thing for students and many of the low paid masses to "stick it to the man" at any opportunity. And when smug-face Cameron and his Liberal tea boy side-kick come on the box, I can see the attraction of sticking it to "the man". However, let us not forget that "the man" that is being stuck at, is in fact all of us as tax payers. Just think for a moment at what this is all about. What these public sector workers - the same incompetents who are mismanaging so many people's tax affairs, and similar incompetence in so many other government departments (see national papers' exposés every week for further details) - are actually whining about is the fact that they want you and me to continue to pay over the odds in NI and tax so that they can retire several years earlier than us with a pension deal far better than us that is all PAID FOR BY US. Just remember that the next time you feel like "sticking it to the man".
Maybe when the civil service delivers value for money and does a hard days work to match all the cleaners, plumbers, builders, bus drivers, call centre operatives and so on and so on, we might entertain paying some extra from our hard earned money for their privilege. But until we see that value for money from them, the public sector does not find favour at this door to skin me and all the other hard working citizens of this country to pay for their cushy retirement.
These people who are mismanaging my tax affairs, are the same people that if the papers are to be believed have been exposed mismanaging the tax affairs of several million other people in this country. I am not alone. These people are also the same people who are anxious to protect their extremely generous pension deals, and the fact that they can retire a number of years earlier than the rest of us onto a pension deal far more generous than most of the rest of us.
It annoys me when I see so many posts on the internet - often from students - trying to rally support for striking public sector workers. I suppose it is always seen as the done thing for students and many of the low paid masses to "stick it to the man" at any opportunity. And when smug-face Cameron and his Liberal tea boy side-kick come on the box, I can see the attraction of sticking it to "the man". However, let us not forget that "the man" that is being stuck at, is in fact all of us as tax payers. Just think for a moment at what this is all about. What these public sector workers - the same incompetents who are mismanaging so many people's tax affairs, and similar incompetence in so many other government departments (see national papers' exposés every week for further details) - are actually whining about is the fact that they want you and me to continue to pay over the odds in NI and tax so that they can retire several years earlier than us with a pension deal far better than us that is all PAID FOR BY US. Just remember that the next time you feel like "sticking it to the man".
Maybe when the civil service delivers value for money and does a hard days work to match all the cleaners, plumbers, builders, bus drivers, call centre operatives and so on and so on, we might entertain paying some extra from our hard earned money for their privilege. But until we see that value for money from them, the public sector does not find favour at this door to skin me and all the other hard working citizens of this country to pay for their cushy retirement.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
The rise of the electronic world
Today I found myself driving through Leicestershire listening to debate about the rise of ebooks being discussed on the radio. It is interesting that ebooks are like the unruly gatecrasher to the party, having been and trashed the music and film parties, it's doing the same for books. Given just how massive the market for ebooks has become, it left me wondering just what I think about the format and why it has become so successful so quickly.
My thoughts aren't entirely flattering. I value physical things, and got into computers in an age where copying things equated to bad and evil piracy (hoist the Jolly Roger, Jim lad!). I've never got over that, and rather resent the idea of paying money for something that does not even give me a physical disk in return. I also love sleeve artwork and liner notes too much. But it seems that I am very much in a minority as most people have become conditioned to accept first their music and then later film and television in this format.
Now that format has reached books, and I have little doubt that these same people will take up ebooks in the same way they took up digital downloads. Why ever not? It's no great leap from one to the other than they have already proven that they don't mind doing things digitally. Of course, people like me who still buy LPs of music for that tactile analogue experience, and get their films and 80s TV box sets on DVD the paper book will never die. But I feel that I'll become a minority with them too.
This digital revolution has democratised publishing of all sorts. Gone are the days when the record industry, film industry and now publishing industry could act as gate keepers and pick and choose what they made available and who they elevated to super-stardom. Now anyone can easily get their work out there. In a lot of cases some people, turned down by the conventional companies and outlets, have stuck up a raised middle digit and done it themselves to such success that they have highlighted the old school dinosaurs as on their way to extinction. It's exciting, and at the same time a little strange.
I don't think paper books will ever truly die; records didn't. What I don't want to see is the price of books go through the roof as they become "trendy collectable items" in the manner that LPs went. I refuse to pay £30 for a vinyl copy of a Radiohead album, and in the same vein I would refuse to be ripped off to the tune of £30 just for the privilege of having a book that doesn't fade when the power does. Still, what do I know? I'm just the old fuddy-duddy with a gramophone on my desk.
My thoughts aren't entirely flattering. I value physical things, and got into computers in an age where copying things equated to bad and evil piracy (hoist the Jolly Roger, Jim lad!). I've never got over that, and rather resent the idea of paying money for something that does not even give me a physical disk in return. I also love sleeve artwork and liner notes too much. But it seems that I am very much in a minority as most people have become conditioned to accept first their music and then later film and television in this format.
Now that format has reached books, and I have little doubt that these same people will take up ebooks in the same way they took up digital downloads. Why ever not? It's no great leap from one to the other than they have already proven that they don't mind doing things digitally. Of course, people like me who still buy LPs of music for that tactile analogue experience, and get their films and 80s TV box sets on DVD the paper book will never die. But I feel that I'll become a minority with them too.
This digital revolution has democratised publishing of all sorts. Gone are the days when the record industry, film industry and now publishing industry could act as gate keepers and pick and choose what they made available and who they elevated to super-stardom. Now anyone can easily get their work out there. In a lot of cases some people, turned down by the conventional companies and outlets, have stuck up a raised middle digit and done it themselves to such success that they have highlighted the old school dinosaurs as on their way to extinction. It's exciting, and at the same time a little strange.
I don't think paper books will ever truly die; records didn't. What I don't want to see is the price of books go through the roof as they become "trendy collectable items" in the manner that LPs went. I refuse to pay £30 for a vinyl copy of a Radiohead album, and in the same vein I would refuse to be ripped off to the tune of £30 just for the privilege of having a book that doesn't fade when the power does. Still, what do I know? I'm just the old fuddy-duddy with a gramophone on my desk.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
On the screen or on the page?
It has been something of a busy few weeks. Apparently, moving house is the easy bit! We now have to pay for this little castle. Consequently I'm doing a lot of overtime at the day job, which in turn means very little time to spend blogging or on the internet. I have to say, I haven't missed it. I have had a lot of time though for mulling over new plot ideas which, as a writer, is a good thing.
Sales figures for 'Bringing home the stars' have slowed a little as the recession has kicked in. Waterstone's branches I've been into to sign at have been reporting a fall off in trade in general, and this can in part be attributed to the recession. According to a report by Amazon, however, some of the drop can also be laid firmly at the door of the rise of the eBook phenomenon. I've blogged before about how eBooks seem to have exploded onto the scene this year following what appears to be the readers having been hot Christmas presents for a lot of people at the end of 2010. 'Stars' is selling well on the ereader formats, so I'm getting my little slice. It isn't as satisfying as paper copies shifting though.
Finally, the spell checker in Google's Chrome browser does not natively recognise the words 'blogging' 'blogged' or 'blogger' - what kind of an oversight is this?
Sales figures for 'Bringing home the stars' have slowed a little as the recession has kicked in. Waterstone's branches I've been into to sign at have been reporting a fall off in trade in general, and this can in part be attributed to the recession. According to a report by Amazon, however, some of the drop can also be laid firmly at the door of the rise of the eBook phenomenon. I've blogged before about how eBooks seem to have exploded onto the scene this year following what appears to be the readers having been hot Christmas presents for a lot of people at the end of 2010. 'Stars' is selling well on the ereader formats, so I'm getting my little slice. It isn't as satisfying as paper copies shifting though.
Finally, the spell checker in Google's Chrome browser does not natively recognise the words 'blogging' 'blogged' or 'blogger' - what kind of an oversight is this?
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