1242: John Prescott smiling
1250. Tony Blair pointing.
1259. Tony Blair staring at the back of Gordon Brown's head.
1303: Tessa Jowell and Patricia Hewitt talking to each other
1306: The two men behind the front bench fold their arms.
1312: Gordon Brown makes arm gesture.
1313: Gordon Brown says "constituency".
1317: Tony Blair now focussing on Mr Brown's hair.
1319: Lots of waving. See you next year.
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Oh dear. Panic now....
1251 Tony looking V serious; Prescott fiddling with his fingers.
Froggers yawning?
1255: Prescott dusts some fluff from his lapel; Tony wiggles his thumb.
1257: Prescott picks his teeth and rubs his nose; Tony tries to locate Gordon's bald spot.
1258: Camera goes to David Miliband who hasn't managed to get a seat.
1304: Aperitif decides she can't sit gazing at a snowy picture of three middle aged white blokes in red ties any longer. No matter how sexy they aren't.
Oh, OK, the one on the right is a bit.
Great 'Budget Blog'.
You promised you wouldn't!! Oh Eddie! Too much coverage!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
Ah, but what about Gordon's little jokes then? "Comrades", & "one person holding the office of Chancellor and Prime Minister". I fell about laughing. Who cares if he didn't write them himself.
Mind you - I think he's peaked too early. I haven't laughed since then. But it's a lovely day here, blue skies, sunny, and the gas people digging up the road outside as per the last 4 weeks. The springlike sounds of a pneumatic drill...
Following a frosty and cold start, it'll be warmer this afternoon. Less windy than the last few days.
MAX TEMP: 8C
SUNSET: 6.12pm
OVERNIGHT: A cold night with frost forming. Clear skies.
MIN TEMP: 2C (central), -2C (suburbs)
TOMORROW: A bright start. But the wintry showers will return - there'll be sleet or snow, turning to rain later. Feeling cold. 9C.
FURTHER 3 DAY OUTLOOK:
FRIDAY: A bit warmer. Mostly cloudy with a little rain.
SATURDAY: Cloudy again. Temperatures continuing to rise. 13c.
SUNDAY: Dry with sunny spells. Mild. 15C.
Spirits frozen :-)
Hi all
Just to let you know that we *are* aware that the blog keeps slipping back to September. The Powers That Be - ie those who understand things a whole lot more than me - are looking into it, but as yet there's no word on why it's happening or how to prevent it. Please bear with us, your patience is much appreciated, and normal service will be resumed once I've worked out just how hard to hit the internet with my hammer.
Marc
Only heard the pre important waffle and the stalinist joke. Was that the best bit?
HOUSE! Tomorrow 9pm:-)
Marc - just posted on the Beach about this....is that particular day a Blog security blanket?
Appy (8) The one on the right? Would that be DC, by any chance? Really? You find DC a bit sexy??? [BANG]. Hmmm. It looks like the sky has started to cave in.
H.
Marc,
Am I being singled out and blocked for anything more than one-liners? It seems so from this end.#
Grrrr!
ed
just got a malicious warning!
GRRRRRR!
and another 3
"Please try to post your comment again in a short while. Thanks for your patience."
If I've got any left!
4
Humph - there was a spate of Froggers having slightly...disturbing dreams about politicians, DC included. However if this is the product of the conscious mind that I am greatly concerned!
Humph:
I'll have you know, the initials of my other real name are "DC". I have no problem at all with Appy or anyone else finding me "a bit sexy"... ;o)
(No, I don't lead a major political party.)
((Then again, neither does David Cameron...))
Re: the Budget:
I'm quite happy. An increase in the tax-free allowance for savings (ISA) and a 2% cut in income tax to come in "next" April, whichever April that is. 2008 I guess.
Humph - she says RED ties, so working from left to right, Prescott, Brown.....Blair!! Surely not, Aperitif!!!
Lou Cowt (13),
You frequently post weather forecasts and refer to "central" and "suburbs", but not where these are. Some indication (Hemispshere? Continent? Country? Region/City?) would be a good idea, otherwise -- well, not a lot of point, is there?...
Whisky-Joe (14),
Here's a blanket for you.
Marc (15),
As I have said elsewhere: Something that has never happened before cannot be "resumed"; it must be "begun". Sorry and all that.
Humph (18),
Thanks for that -- I needed a big bang. I have been shocked back into reality. And now I feel sick.
SSCat (21),
Are you related to Washington? Cor, you're a bit sexy aren't you?
My sincere apologies for the use of the word "cor".
Appy (23): :"I needed a big bang"?!?!? I honestly can't help adding a Fnar Fnar to that!!!
Appy (23):
Are you related to Washington?
Yes, I'm hot (hur hur), swampy and full of politicians.
Cor, you're a bit sexy aren't you?
My sincere apologies for the use of the word "cor".
No apologies needed, it reminds me of the comic "Corr!" from my youth. I think it merged with "Whoopee!" or possibly "Whizzer and Chips".
My favourite was "The Sparky" which had Keyhole Kate and Pansy Potter The Strongman's Daughter in it.
Thanks a bunch Gordon - you have just doubled my income tax. Not all pensioners qualify for credits you know.
Well done Gordon! You've made a difficult life more difficult. I cannot get tax credit because I have no dependant children, yet I have raised a daughter who has produced two children of her own, so I've done my bit thanks, and on my own so that her father could go and raise even more elsewhere! Now, on my own and having lost my good job two years ago to redundancy, I have taken a very low paid job of the only kind that seems to be available to someone like me in my area. I earn £11,000 a year for full time work! Now, thanks to you I will take home even less. You have single-handedly kicked in the guts some of the poorest people in the country in your GREED for votes, Mr Brown! Tax credits? How exactly does that help me? Or do I and people like me just not count at all? Should we all just die and then it won't matter if all anyone "cares" about is the family. You, Mr Brown are a complete and utter hyprocrite, but I suppose you have that in common with most of our corrupt, power hungry and greedy politicians. There's nothing much great about Britain any more, is there? :-(
TSSC 21 - to some of us, well at least 2, DC means a very natty little Scotsman who drives a fearfully gas guzzling car. Or would, if it kept going long enough.
And yes I too am poorer because of Mr Brown, if I rush now I might be able to afford some cheap plonk to give myself a headache with.
Fearless (24), I would 'tsk tsk' but, to be honest, I haven't had a good fnar fnar from you for ages! Cheers :-)
SSCat (25), A hot tin cat eh? I'm sure there's film in that somewhere... How many politicians are in you just now then? (Go on Fearless, give me another fnar!)
Robins (26), Um, if you don't qualify for tax credits is it perhaps because you are relatively wealthy?...
It's disturbing me that there are so many posts about "How the budget will make me poorer" and none, as far as I've seen, that consider whether it is a good budget for society in general. Have we all gone a bit "me me me" on the blog tonight? C'mon guys -- this isn't like us,
Appy - I think Pam at 27 gives us a pretty good example of why the Budgie isn't that good for "society in general". Where do we draw the line between me-me and them-them? Everybody has their own story, no?
Appy (29) I would say that you know you can always get a Fnar fnar from me, but I hesitate to say it out loud, knowing the inferences that the other froggers would make!
Sure Valery, everyone has their own story but I just felt there was a surge of "my story" without consideration of the wider picture too. I'm not suggesting people shouldn't tell their own stories, it's just that I wasn't seeing anything else being posted. I'm afraid the post at 27 was one of those that made me feel that way, although I sympathise with Pam's frustration at being in a diffcult situation and feeling that it may be about to get worse.
Pam at 27. Commiserations.
Like most of us, you evidently do not now belong to that undefined group, "Hard-working Families".
By my reckoning, if the 10% band for 2007-2008 is £0-£2230, the maximum increase would likely be £223 (meaning of "Next April"?).
On the other hand, if you smoke 20 cigarettes per day, the increase is £40.15. Dear Gordon, you've not done enough for the health of the nation.
I replied to Valery on this thread last night and it hasn't shown up! That is the second time I've had to say that today. Are the moderators trying to drive a wedge between us? Well I just hope they're not using a 4x4...
Fearless, say it loud and proud -- I care not what others think! Only you and I know the truth of the Single Sock Behind the Sand Dunes Incident... Let's have a good old fnar!!! :-)... um, sorry, I appear to be over-excited this lunchtime... (blushes gently in a slightly shameful sort of way).
This budget does worrying show a sign that having your next job on the line (in two years time) and constructing a budget do not produce an economically prudent result. It seems to be filled with blatant vote winners and lots of stuff that costs the treasury. Also can Gordon learn to breathe/smile and talk at the same time. His TV appearance after the 10:00 news last night was scary. Like someone was pulling a string with the words smile labelled to it everytime they heard the words 'family', grandparent and flange.
Budget Blog?
This is just Eddie doing one of his 'looking through the window' blogs. This time ably assisted by Appy.
I'm surprised that whisky-joe's spirits were frozen, though. My beer-guzzling other felt his dander rising. And as for me, well, suffice it to say that I haven't yet paid my road tax - due at the end of this month - all of which had been delayed by the actions of a.n. other whose driving put all my MOT, etc., plans behind for the month. Should I pass on the extra charges to them, do you think?
Appy
I seem to remember you telling me about Gordon's charismatic effect on certain people in the flesh..face to face, sort of thing.
Could you tell me again, please?
if it wasn't you, who was it? Humph?...
Mollyxx
Molly (38),
Um, I have a friend in her late 20s who has had a crush on Gordon Brown since her teens. Is that what you're referring to? He really doesn't do it for me!!
Appy
So........?
I like the form, but not sure about the content.
Mollyxx ;-)
You missed off the time-table, John Prescott falling asleep!
According to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Budget Calculator I will be slightly better off because my Tax Credits will rise. So what are they?
I have asked several friends but nobody has ever heard of Tax Credits.
(Aged 59, single, no children, self employed for 35 years but having to slow down a little hence earnings around £8,000)
Molly (40), Just tried to post that I don't understand what you are asking me with "So...?" but it got lost :-(
Probably just as well -- I said something about Gordon Brown and his jaw that might be construed as smutty, and I really don't want him to think he's on my list! :-)
Pam (27) and Geoff Foale (42) Suggest you contact Citizens Advice Bureau as first port of call to find out if you are eligible for Working Tax Credit.
My sister is single and child-free. She made enquiries last year, but found out that she earns just a little too much. I hasten to point out that she earns considerably more than £8000, and I repeat - she was only just over the limit.
Of course these things depend on individual circumstances and I am no expert - this is anecdotal- but I should think it's worth enquiring about. Good luck.
(30) Appe
what I want to know is what this budget will do for children who are living in 'poor' households, pensioners on benefits in rented accommodation and part time workers.
I fear that it will most benefit double income couples, those with shares, ISAs, PEPs, anyone who is a land lord of multiple houses and so on.
why is it that this is just a 'do nothing' budget?
where is the imagination and flair to completely utilise the tax and benefit system to help the needy, and reward the work?
ooops, sounds like a hobby horse...
clop-clop clop-clop
n-n
xx
Further to my earlier posting, go to www.direct. gov.uk
Appy - no wedges - I just felt a bit contentious last night. Gillian's suggestions are much more helpful than my "stirring".
I'm climbing back on my fence again....
Valery (47), My 33 showed up after I'd shoved it with my 35. Moderators are let off the hook. You stir so politely! Gillian's and Nikki Noodles' posts have made me (me me) feel a bit better anyway. :-)
Appy (35) I didn't mean to get you over-excited! Still, having a fnar is good for you ;-)
Aperitif (48) I'm glad I'm of some use to someone! I just hope Pam and Geoff come back and find my comment. These things really should be publicised more.
Please keep stirring, everyone.....it's all so thought-provoking
Fearless, You know fine well that you always get me overexcited -- why do you think I had to stop peering thrpough the knowhole???...