Reply to: Good things about the Uk ...

[minestrone]

That's true enough.

Does that however preclude him from having a valid opinion?

One might see it as a slight attack on the English culture from an outsider. The guy is from Edinburgh which had a shocking heroin problem in the 80s.

[BlightyBoy]

He is Scottish though.

That's true enough.

Does that however preclude him from having a valid opinion?

[minestrone]

Alternative national anthem:



Courtesy Mike Scott @ Waterboys

He is Scottish though.

[wc2]

1. Being able to find a Mosque with ease
2. You can grow a really long beard and still fit in
3. See number 1

[DodgyAgent]

So basically heading down the pan UK economy style.

As long as I can make £5k per month to pay for the mortgage, the Mondeo , the office and the fit Polish bird (no extras though) I will be fine. If things get worse then it will be lay off time (ugliest first to go)

[BlightyBoy]

Alternative national anthem:

man looks up on a yellow sky
and the rain turns to rust in his eye
rumours of his health are lies
old England is dying
his clothes are a dirty shade of blue
and his ancient shoes worn through
he steals from me and he lies to you
old England is dying
still he sings an empire song
still he keeps his navy strong
and he sticks his flag where it ill belongs
old England is dying
you're asking what makes me sigh now
what it is makes me shudder so well
I just freeze in the wind and I'm
numb from the pummelin of the snow
that falls from high in yellow skies
down on where the well loved flag of
England flies
where homes are warm and mothers sigh
where comedians laugh and babies cry
where criminals are televised politicians
fraternize
journalists are dignified and everyone is
civilized
and children stare with Heroin eyes
Old England!
evening has fallen
the swans are singing
the last of sunday's bells is ringing
the wind in the trees is sighing
and old England is dying

Courtesy Mike Scott @ Waterboys

[darmstadt]

National Anthem

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

[DimPrawn]

DA enterprises ambition is to remain solvent!
.

So basically heading down the pan UK economy style.

[DodgyAgent]

As you are on the sharp end DA, what's your take on the economy? How's business?

SAS business is a real struggle at the moment. I am fortunate that I have very low overheads (apart from running costs on the Mondeo). I am doing what I hate which is cold calling. I have picked out a niche or two and am using them as a means of trying to kick open doors. I am also focussing on making placements in Europe.

I set myself a task of speaking to 20 people a day which I also expect my staff to do.

DA enterprises ambition is to remain solvent!

any leads gratefully received. I am working on a commission plan that rewards the simplest of leads for all business that comes of it. I have to be careful to find the balance between setting enough aside to incentivise lead givers and for any commitment becoming too much of a burden.

[sasguru]

I am not disagreeing with this. I am however taking issue with those who sneer at Britain, its history, its culture and the fact that we are good in a fight.

As you are on the sharp end DA, what's your take on the economy? How's business?

[expat]

I am not disagreeing with this. I am however taking issue with those who sneer at Britain, its history, its culture and the fact that we are good in a fight.

I'm currently reading (no, I know that's another thread) Niall Ferguson's "Empire" so I'm not denigrating anything. Except, as chinese writer Han Suyin complained of years ago, a series of politicians who have brought a great people low.

[DodgyAgent]

Ah the English national dish.

Seriously though, if you can't see that this recession/depression is going to permanently and strategically weaken the UK then you should think again.
There cannot be a sustained recovery without some leader who has a genuine vision on how to restore competitiveness, innovation and industry to this once great country.
And I don't see one coming forth.

I am not disagreeing with this. I am however taking issue with those who sneer at Britain, its history, its culture and the fact that we are good in a fight.

[Mich the Tester]

There cannot be a sustained recovery without some leader who has a genuine vision on how to restore competitiveness, innovation and industry to this once great country.
And I don't see one coming forth.

I’ll be free from about the end of March. Policy hint; lots of techie stuff, but more interesting than Gordon's databases.

[sasguru]

Are you not standing at the next election then? If you did what party would you represent?

I am far too sorted to want to be a politician and I have real skills.

[expat]

Ah the English national dish.

Seriously though, if you can't see that this recession/depression is going to permanently and strategically weaken the UK then you should think again.
There cannot be a sustained recovery without some leader who has a genuine vision on how to restore competitiveness, innovation and industry to this once great country.
And I don't see one coming forth.

It's too friggin' late.

I am not trying to talk it down, but the UK was already weakened and run down, it's just going to show more and more.

The recent drop in the value of the pound wasn't the credit crunch hitting us earlier than the eurozone, it was a long-term overvaluation coming out in the wash.

Our vaunted flexibility in working hours is nothing more than a need to work longer to earn the same, i.e. declining productivity.

Our large contingent of knowledge workers flying out to work every Monday morning (or talking about emigrating) is an economy in decline, unable to find work for its people, where Holland and Germany take us in because their economies are unable to find enough of their own people for the work.