A depressing Monday morning calls for a depressing post.

Imagine you were 40 in 1997. You had lived all your working life under a 
Tory government. Had worked hard, saved a few quid, invested in one of the 
new private pension schemes, got a mortgage for a nice house, and looked 
forward 15/20 years to a financially secure and pleasant retirement. You 
thought you'd give the young energetic Blair a go, afterall, he promised 
things would only get better.

Fast forward 11 years, retirement is approaching. You check you pension fund 
today, it's been decimated, the prediction falls far short of what it did in 
1997. Looks like the only thing you can do is to keep working until you are 
65+, if you are lucky and can keep a job.

Can anyone remember a more depressing time than this? All my life I've lived 
under benign circumstances, had a good education, a good welfare system, 
rewarding and interesting jobs freely available, reasonably secure from 
violence and war, clean air, nice countryside, but most of all things really 
did always get better.

I feel sorry for anyone between 40 and 60 now. The whole damn world seems to 
be falling apart. For the first time in my experience everyone is 
pessimistic. There are only two ages to be now, 20 and 65. Anything 
inbetween is nothing but hassle and getting worse.

"Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
news:TJWdnZwSpp0uSHTVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
> A depressing Monday morning calls for a depressing post.
>
> Imagine you were 40 in 1997. You had lived all your working life under a 
> Tory government. Had worked hard, saved a few quid, invested in one of the 
> new private pension schemes, got a mortgage for a nice house, and looked 
> forward 15/20 years to a financially secure and pleasant retirement. You 
> thought you'd give the young energetic Blair a go, afterall, he promised 
> things would only get better.
>
> Fast forward 11 years, retirement is approaching. You check you pension 
> fund today, it's been decimated, the prediction falls far short of what it 
> did in 1997. Looks like the only thing you can do is to keep working until 
> you are 65+, if you are lucky and can keep a job.
>
> Can anyone remember a more depressing time than this? All my life I've 
> lived under benign circumstances, had a good education, a good welfare 
> system, rewarding and interesting jobs freely available, reasonably secure 
> from violence and war, clean air, nice countryside, but most of all things 
> really did always get better.
>
> I feel sorry for anyone between 40 and 60 now. The whole damn world seems 
> to be falling apart. For the first time in my experience everyone is 
> pessimistic. There are only two ages to be now, 20 and 65. Anything 
> inbetween is nothing but hassle and getting worse.


Here's my take on it at the age of 61.

Life is bloody good.

On Saturday, the wife and I flew to Denver $380 roundtrip for two, rented a 
car for $11 a day from Advantage rentacar, petrol was $3.25, Embassy Suites 
hotel was $105 breakfast included.  Saturday night went to the Dynamo-Rapids 
game - Dynamo won 3-1.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5050crop.jpg

Sunday morning drove to Vale looked around took some photos.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5155copy.jpg

Sunday afternoon flew home.

I'm very fortunate (pull up the ladder).

Nigel Brooks

"Nigel Brooks"  wrote in message 
news:6kuod4F9pjsfU1@mid.individual.net...
>
>
> "Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
> news:TJWdnZwSpp0uSHTVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>> A depressing Monday morning calls for a depressing post.
>>
>> Imagine you were 40 in 1997. You had lived all your working life under a 
>> Tory government. Had worked hard, saved a few quid, invested in one of 
>> the new private pension schemes, got a mortgage for a nice house, and 
>> looked forward 15/20 years to a financially secure and pleasant 
>> retirement. You thought you'd give the young energetic Blair a go, 
>> afterall, he promised things would only get better.
>>
>> Fast forward 11 years, retirement is approaching. You check you pension 
>> fund today, it's been decimated, the prediction falls far short of what 
>> it did in 1997. Looks like the only thing you can do is to keep working 
>> until you are 65+, if you are lucky and can keep a job.
>>
>> Can anyone remember a more depressing time than this? All my life I've 
>> lived under benign circumstances, had a good education, a good welfare 
>> system, rewarding and interesting jobs freely available, reasonably 
>> secure from violence and war, clean air, nice countryside, but most of 
>> all things really did always get better.
>>
>> I feel sorry for anyone between 40 and 60 now. The whole damn world seems 
>> to be falling apart. For the first time in my experience everyone is 
>> pessimistic. There are only two ages to be now, 20 and 65. Anything 
>> inbetween is nothing but hassle and getting worse.
>
>
> Here's my take on it at the age of 61.
>
> Life is bloody good.
>
> On Saturday, the wife and I flew to Denver $380 roundtrip for two, rented 
> a car for $11 a day from Advantage rentacar, petrol was $3.25, Embassy 
> Suites hotel was $105 breakfast included.  Saturday night went to the 
> Dynamo-Rapids game - Dynamo won 3-1.
>
> http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5050crop.jpg
>
> Sunday morning drove to Vale looked around took some photos.
>
> http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5155copy.jpg
>
> Sunday afternoon flew home.
>
> I'm very fortunate (pull up the ladder).

Pull it up high or I'll be climbing up it! :-)

Blimey, inflation has hit the Embassy Suites. Last time I was in the one in 
Denver, 1995 ish, it was $35. The happy hour was fantastic. Pissed on $10 by 
7pm! Great days.

"Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
news:NIidnRrlwe3i-nfVnZ2dnUVZ8g6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Nigel Brooks"  wrote in message 
> news:6kuod4F9pjsfU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>>
>> "Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
>> news:TJWdnZwSpp0uSHTVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> A depressing Monday morning calls for a depressing post.
>>>
>>> Imagine you were 40 in 1997. You had lived all your working life under a 
>>> Tory government. Had worked hard, saved a few quid, invested in one of 
>>> the new private pension schemes, got a mortgage for a nice house, and 
>>> looked forward 15/20 years to a financially secure and pleasant 
>>> retirement. You thought you'd give the young energetic Blair a go, 
>>> afterall, he promised things would only get better.
>>>
>>> Fast forward 11 years, retirement is approaching. You check you pension 
>>> fund today, it's been decimated, the prediction falls far short of what 
>>> it did in 1997. Looks like the only thing you can do is to keep working 
>>> until you are 65+, if you are lucky and can keep a job.
>>>
>>> Can anyone remember a more depressing time than this? All my life I've 
>>> lived under benign circumstances, had a good education, a good welfare 
>>> system, rewarding and interesting jobs freely available, reasonably 
>>> secure from violence and war, clean air, nice countryside, but most of 
>>> all things really did always get better.
>>>
>>> I feel sorry for anyone between 40 and 60 now. The whole damn world 
>>> seems to be falling apart. For the first time in my experience everyone 
>>> is pessimistic. There are only two ages to be now, 20 and 65. Anything 
>>> inbetween is nothing but hassle and getting worse.
>>
>>
>> Here's my take on it at the age of 61.
>>
>> Life is bloody good.
>>
>> On Saturday, the wife and I flew to Denver $380 roundtrip for two, rented 
>> a car for $11 a day from Advantage rentacar, petrol was $3.25, Embassy 
>> Suites hotel was $105 breakfast included.  Saturday night went to the 
>> Dynamo-Rapids game - Dynamo won 3-1.
>>
>> http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5050crop.jpg
>>
>> Sunday morning drove to Vale looked around took some photos.
>>
>> http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5155copy.jpg
>>
>> Sunday afternoon flew home.
>>
>> I'm very fortunate (pull up the ladder).
>
> Pull it up high or I'll be climbing up it! :-)
>
> Blimey, inflation has hit the Embassy Suites. Last time I was in the one 
> in Denver, 1995 ish, it was $35. The happy hour was fantastic. Pissed on 
> $10 by 7pm! Great days.

They now have what is called the "Managers Reception"

Free drinks from 5-7 every evening.

Nigel Brooks

We are ALL Doomed.

"Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
news:TJWdnZwSpp0uSHTVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>A depressing Monday morning calls for a depressing post.
>
> Imagine you were 40 in 1997. You had lived all your working life under a 
> Tory government. Had worked hard, saved a few quid, invested in one of the 
> new private pension schemes, got a mortgage for a nice house, and looked 
> forward 15/20 years to a financially secure and pleasant retirement. You 
> thought you'd give the young energetic Blair a go, afterall, he promised 
> things would only get better.
>
> Fast forward 11 years, retirement is approaching. You check you pension 
> fund today, it's been decimated, the prediction falls far short of what it 
> did in 1997. Looks like the only thing you can do is to keep working until 
> you are 65+, if you are lucky and can keep a job.
>
> Can anyone remember a more depressing time than this? All my life I've 
> lived under benign circumstances, had a good education, a good welfare 
> system, rewarding and interesting jobs freely available, reasonably secure 
> from violence and war, clean air, nice countryside, but most of all things 
> really did always get better.
>
> I feel sorry for anyone between 40 and 60 now. The whole damn world seems 
> to be falling apart. For the first time in my experience everyone is 
> pessimistic. There are only two ages to be now, 20 and 65. Anything 
> inbetween is nothing but hassle and getting worse.

Where there's muck there's brass - and there's going to be a lot of muck in 
the next 5-10 years.  Where people see calamity I see opportunity ... I find 
the financial instablitity exciting and a bit of an adventure - either ride 
the wave of change or have it crash all over you.

Too much stability entrenches successful businesses into their roll as the 
"successful business" and they become self perpetuating.  Collapse a good 
few of 'em and a hole appears for others to fill.  Throw a few banks into 
the mix too and there is a whole new opportunity for those who are perhaps 
empoverished now to clean up and prosper.

Economic collapse is healthy and the greatest form of wealth re-distribution 
ever not invented.  Governments fear it because they are at the top of the 
hierarcy of wealth and power and have the most to lose.  They fear change - 
that's all.

Stability = stagnation and only serves to keep the rich rich.

"Nigel Brooks"  wrote in message 
news:6kvajrF9qh2hU1@mid.individual.net...
>
>
> "Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
> news:NIidnRrlwe3i-nfVnZ2dnUVZ8g6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Nigel Brooks"  wrote in message 
>> news:6kuod4F9pjsfU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Toooldtocare"  wrote in message 
>>> news:TJWdnZwSpp0uSHTVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>> A depressing Monday morning calls for a depressing post.
>>>>
>>>> Imagine you were 40 in 1997. You had lived all your working life under 
>>>> a Tory government. Had worked hard, saved a few quid, invested in one 
>>>> of the new private pension schemes, got a mortgage for a nice house, 
>>>> and looked forward 15/20 years to a financially secure and pleasant 
>>>> retirement. You thought you'd give the young energetic Blair a go, 
>>>> afterall, he promised things would only get better.
>>>>
>>>> Fast forward 11 years, retirement is approaching. You check you pension 
>>>> fund today, it's been decimated, the prediction falls far short of what 
>>>> it did in 1997. Looks like the only thing you can do is to keep working 
>>>> until you are 65+, if you are lucky and can keep a job.
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone remember a more depressing time than this? All my life I've 
>>>> lived under benign circumstances, had a good education, a good welfare 
>>>> system, rewarding and interesting jobs freely available, reasonably 
>>>> secure from violence and war, clean air, nice countryside, but most of 
>>>> all things really did always get better.
>>>>
>>>> I feel sorry for anyone between 40 and 60 now. The whole damn world 
>>>> seems to be falling apart. For the first time in my experience everyone 
>>>> is pessimistic. There are only two ages to be now, 20 and 65. Anything 
>>>> inbetween is nothing but hassle and getting worse.
>>>
>>>
>>> Here's my take on it at the age of 61.
>>>
>>> Life is bloody good.
>>>
>>> On Saturday, the wife and I flew to Denver $380 roundtrip for two, 
>>> rented a car for $11 a day from Advantage rentacar, petrol was $3.25, 
>>> Embassy Suites hotel was $105 breakfast included.  Saturday night went 
>>> to the Dynamo-Rapids game - Dynamo won 3-1.
>>>
>>> http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5050crop.jpg
>>>
>>> Sunday morning drove to Vale looked around took some photos.
>>>
>>> http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_5155copy.jpg
>>>
>>> Sunday afternoon flew home.
>>>
>>> I'm very fortunate (pull up the ladder).
>>
>> Pull it up high or I'll be climbing up it! :-)
>>
>> Blimey, inflation has hit the Embassy Suites. Last time I was in the one 
>> in Denver, 1995 ish, it was $35. The happy hour was fantastic. Pissed on 
>> $10 by 7pm! Great days.
>
> They now have what is called the "Managers Reception"
>
> Free drinks from 5-7 every evening.
>
> Nigel Brooks
We had the same thing at a Guest House in Key West in January
Tom 



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