It Goes from Bad to Worse

What the hell is happening in the UK? Not for the first time, I am pleased that I have got out. I know Portugal has its problems but in comparison I don't feel that they are in the same degree of mire as the Uk.

1. It is announced that the petrol tanker drivers are to strike. No date is given but the ministers advise motorists to keep their tanks topped up to at least two thirds full. Panic buying starts, petrol stations are running out of fuel and some have even closed. The strike may not take place. They have to give 7 days notice of the start date in any event.

2. Osborne decided that VAT should be applied to hot takeaway food to include the likes of pies, pasties, sausage rolls etc but not to these if they are cold. Retailers say it is complicated to apply and I have to agree.

3. Royal Mail have been allowed to increase postal charges. Is the charges increase way above the rate of inflation? people will be restricting the amount of post they produce and as a result the number of Christmas cards will reduce. Charities will suffer because what is the point of buying their cards if you can't afford to post them?

4. Apparently the UK is back in recession. growth has stalled if not ceased. It dropped in the last quarter of the year.

5. Everything is going up hand over fist. Fuel use, as in gas and electric is reducing yet the cost to the consumer is increasing.

I don't thnk that the Government has really got a grip on the situation. How long before Governmental panic sets in.

Keela wrote:What the hell is happening in the UK? Not for the first time, I am pleased that I have got out. I know Portugal has its problems but in comparison I don't feel that they are in the same degree of mire as the Uk.

1. It is announced that the petrol tanker drivers are to strike. No date is given but the ministers advise motorists to keep their tanks topped up to at least two thirds full. Panic buying starts, petrol stations are running out of fuel and some have even closed. The strike may not take place. They have to give 7 days notice of the start date in any event.

2. Osborne decided that VAT should be applied to hot takeaway food to include the likes of pies, pasties, sausage rolls etc but not to these if they are cold. Retailers say it is complicated to apply and I have to agree.

3. Royal Mail have been allowed to increase postal charges. Is the charges increase way above the rate of inflation? people will be restricting the amount of post they produce and as a result the number of Christmas cards will reduce. Charities will suffer because what is the point of buying their cards if you can't afford to post them?

4. Apparently the UK is back in recession. growth has stalled if not ceased. It dropped in the last quarter of the year.

5. Everything is going up hand over fist. Fuel use, as in gas and electric is reducing yet the cost to the consumer is increasing.

I don't thnk that the Government has really got a grip on the situation. How long before Governmental panic sets in.

I've had a letter from my energy supplier today. From April, my energy charges go up by 20%

AnnaEsse wrote:

Keela wrote:What the hell is happening in the UK? Not for the first time, I am pleased that I have got out. I know Portugal has its problems but in comparison I don't feel that they are in the same degree of mire as the Uk.

1. It is announced that the petrol tanker drivers are to strike. No date is given but the ministers advise motorists to keep their tanks topped up to at least two thirds full. Panic buying starts, petrol stations are running out of fuel and some have even closed. The strike may not take place. They have to give 7 days notice of the start date in any event.

2. Osborne decided that VAT should be applied to hot takeaway food to include the likes of pies, pasties, sausage rolls etc but not to these if they are cold. Retailers say it is complicated to apply and I have to agree.

3. Royal Mail have been allowed to increase postal charges. Is the charges increase way above the rate of inflation? people will be restricting the amount of post they produce and as a result the number of Christmas cards will reduce. Charities will suffer because what is the point of buying their cards if you can't afford to post them?

4. Apparently the UK is back in recession. growth has stalled if not ceased. It dropped in the last quarter of the year.

5. Everything is going up hand over fist. Fuel use, as in gas and electric is reducing yet the cost to the consumer is increasing.

I don't thnk that the Government has really got a grip on the situation. How long before Governmental panic sets in.

I've had a letter from my energy supplier today. From April, my energy charges go up by 20%

I'm not surprised, Anna. It seems that everyone is out to screw the consumer.

I too am very glad we left UK Keela. Nowhere is perfect, every country has it's problems but until fairly recently UK has just been better at sweeping their misdoings under the carpet but I think there is just as much corruption in UK as there is anywhere else. I get somewhat tired of hearing about "the crime in Spain, the crime in Portugal" etc, anyone would think there is no crime at all in the UK ! I'm not afraid to walk around our area at night here, or to go into our local town alone day or night. We have excellent health care, clean hospitals, and I can testify to that. On my recent stay in hospital when I smashed up my arm and shoulder, the cleaners came, they did my bathroom first, took off the mop head they had used and put it in the big yellow bag, they also put in the cleaning cloths they had used. A new mop head was used for cleaning my room, new cleaning cloths for wiping down. An hour after they left the cleaning supervisor arrived to check on their work. No I think problems or not, they are easier to cope with here, no plans to move back to UK at all, couldn't afford to live there anyway.

mara thon wrote:I too am very glad we left UK Keela. Nowhere is perfect, every country has it's problems but until fairly recently UK has just been better at sweeping their misdoings under the carpet but I think there is just as much corruption in UK as there is anywhere else. I get somewhat tired of hearing about "the crime in Spain, the crime in Portugal" etc, anyone would think there is no crime at all in the UK ! I'm not afraid to walk around our area at night here, or to go into our local town alone day or night. We have excellent health care, clean hospitals, and I can testify to that. On my recent stay in hospital when I smashed up my arm and shoulder, the cleaners came, they did my bathroom first, took off the mop head they had used and put it in the big yellow bag, they also put in the cleaning cloths they had used. A new mop head was used for cleaning my room, new cleaning cloths for wiping down. An hour after they left the cleaning supervisor arrived to check on their work. No I think problems or not, they are easier to cope with here, no plans to move back to UK at all, couldn't afford to live there anyway.

We have no plans to move back to the UK either. The health care here is good. They do actually have nurses who know what patient care is! I know that we couldn-t afford to live in the UK. people say that things are expensive in Portugal. Some things have increased in price but the majority of goods are the same if not cheaper in some cases. The housekeeping money for food stretches a lot further than it did in the UK, in fact, don't tell Mr Keela, but I can actually have some left over!!! You are right, nowhere is perfect but I think we may have got as close as we can!!!!!!

A WOMAN HAS SUFFERED SEVERE BURNS WHILE POURING PETROL FROM JERRY CANS.
MANY PETROL STATIONS ARE BEING RUN DRY BY PANIC BUYING.
(HOPE THIS RIGHT THREAD TO POST THIS.)