Hi Everyone
We are told that one of the most important things that our country needs in 2024 is growth in our economy. I think that everyone of whatever political persuasion would agree with that. In one of our seaside towns, a cafe has recently closed with the loss of eight jobs. Ok, you will say that is happening all the time but in this case, this cafe had to close due to objections from just three people who complained about "the smell of bacon" and "the noise of spoons and teacups". The point about that absurd story is that the objectors were listened to and won. When I read that I thought that is Britain in a microcosm. When I was a teenager and we were saving to buy our first house I submitted planning applications to build houses, bungalows, and alterations and extensions to existing properties. I cannot remember ever having any objections as none of the neighbours or people living in the proximity were ever consulted. That process took a maximum of eight weeks. When we built our present home 15 years ago the planning process took over eight months and, in our case, there were no objections from anyone. The last planning application I submitted for a friend for a garage for his cars took 10 months with constant and completely unnecessary interventions from his neighbour. In our local area almost eighteen months ago a company submitted a planning application to build a relatively small helicopter manufacturing unit on an existing industrial site which would bring a good number of skilled well paid jobs to the area. Of course in that case there should be proper representation and discussions with people living nearby but it seems now that every planning application is objected to by somebody with many of them objecting for no reasonable reason. That industrial estate has been there for almost one hundred years and I bet that none of the people living there at that time were consulted and all the people now living near the site have chosen to build or buy properties there knowing that the site existed. All the discussion around why Britain's economy won't grow ignores the simple fact, we don't want it to.
If you are approaching middle age, many Christmases will have come and gone from believing in Santa and the thrill of emptying the sock pinned on the corner of the fireplace which in my experience was full of fruit and nuts that went back into the shop after they had been emptied onto the table, to me thinking why would I want fruit and nuts from stupid Santa when I was surrounded by them every day. Even the carrot that Rudolph had bitten the end off finished back in the shop. Possibly this Christmas Day will enter the family memory bank as we all waited for the eagerly anticipated lunch prepared by the Main Contractor. Ten minutes before chinking the glasses and pulling the crackers both the oven and the microwave stopped working. Thankfully everything was pretty much cooked and the only piece of kitchen equipment that I am trusted with came to the rescue, the air fryer. Unfortunately, the damage to the microwave was terminal but the oven came back to life later thanks to a replacement fuse. Now as we wait for a replacement microwave, it is hard to imagine that our parents managed perfectly well without it when we were children, while we cannot wait for the new one to arrive.
I hope that when you read this Rubbish you think that I am a cup half full person looking forward eagerly to 2024. I still believe that there are many more good people in this world than bad ones but with serious conflicts across the world and the looming prospect of climate change, it is difficult to see which direction our world is going in at the moment. This year promises two important elections both here in the UK and in the US. I hope that the good people come to the fore and get there on merit rather than the false promises we have been fed in the past.
Just a Thought :
It takes real planning to organize this kind of chaos.
Our friends buy each other socks for Christmas. They are a lovely pair.
You should always have your left foot in the air on New Year's Eve to make sure that you start 2024 on the right foot.
Happy New Year
Brian
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