THE BRITISH THREAD

McTag

It is a good photo and I'm sorry I was so riled by the unmentionable one to show my appreciation.

KP

Same here, McT.

Sorry I didn't say so, but that's one very clever pic. (why don't you post it on the members gallery thread, as it's worth a wider audience, being as the Yanks tend to leave this thread alone for obvious reasons)

I agree with what you say as well. The sooner the new A2K comes along with the "ignore" button, the better.

Okay I will.

D'you think they would have heard of The Angel of the North? Probably not.

Ah! But they'll be "able2know" it after you've posted.

Just read a headline in today's paper that has got me doing a bit of research.

"Get ready for typical council tax bills of £1500, warn Tories"

Eh? I'm paying over two grand a year as it is! Does this mean I'm going to get a reduction? Or is it just London and S.E. being ripped off again?

I've just checked the latest band ratings, owing to the way the house prices have been going crazy in London, and found that the latest bands place me, and probably most people in the area, into Band "I".

Three years ago I was in Band "F", and so seem to have skipped G and H altogether.

I think I shall move to Cornwall or Dorset, if they alter my Council Tax to compensate for the band change. I ain't gonna pay more than £2K, that's for sure!!

New bands are here ....... http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/bands_england_wales.htm

You may be in for a shock!

Please indulge me with this last one... then I'll call it a day:

News Headlines from The Press Association
Wednesday 29 November 2006 09:42am

Job interview no-shows 'cost £16m'
Jobseekers who fail to turn up for interviews to help them find work are costing taxpayers millions of pounds a year.

Some 1.8 million appointments with Jobcentre Plus advisers were missed last year at a cost of at least £16m, the National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report.

Advisers were also bogged down with paperwork and distracted by ad hoc interruptions which meant they only spent half of their time actually interviewing the jobless, it added.

The head of the NAO, Sir John Bourn, said the report was nevertheless "encouraging" as it showed that the advisers raise jobseekers' confidence and improve their application skills.

Almost 11 million interviews were carried out by more than 9,000 Jobcentre Plus advisers helping people to find work in 2005/6.

The NAO said that feedback from jobseekers was positive and suggested that they provided effective support.

But the burden of paperwork reduced their effectiveness, along with interruptions and the failure of many people to keep appointments.

Consequently advisers spent only 52% of their time interviewing people.

The report said that this proportion could be increased with "changes to paperwork, improved administrative support and ensuring customers turn up to their appointments on time".

There were also "limitations" to some of the IT systems in place, which could not print forms with the necessary details.



© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.

I heard that on the news this morning, Sarah. The overall conclusion was, that Jobcentre Plus staff were doing a good job, but needed more support.

I think they meant that the legal side needed to be tightened, to ensure that more people attended interviews.
The same could be said in my line of work. If they don't show, and come up with what seems to be a valid reason, what the hell can you do about it?

great picture!


mmm there's someone unpleasant on another thread we all ignore but who consistently drops his two pennyworth of nastiness in

this autumn has been glorious but every time the light is wonderful I'm working and when I do get out with camera in hand - all the long shadows are gone and previously backlit dramatic leaves are now in dull shadow

Todays Nags

Had a good chat with my buddy this morning, he's going all out himself today with big money on these. Don't let that influence you though, a few quid for a decent win if it comes up if being the word to consider strongly before you proceed.

He's betting on two horses in the first race. He's going for wins on both, maybe you should think carefully before proceeding, if you proceed at all.

4.50 Kempton Smoking Joe 6/1 and Smart Arse 10/1

5.50 Kempton Tanforan 6/1

Good hunting.

Spendi

I was thinking of ripping your head off actually, and you would have deserved it.

I'm not going to lay into you, there has been sufficient comment regarding your attitude.

However, I might just ask you to think in future, there's only a few of us Brits on here and we have a bit of fun, banter, etc etc. Personally I enjoy it and I think most of the others do. Even that jumped up bloody cockney!

I ran a successful business for over 33 years, when I sold up I employed a large workforce as you can imagine with Motor fuel outlets, convenience stores, off licence, car and commercial vehicle valeting.
The turnover was in the millions. On top of that I built a block of nine small light industrial units, an office and other issues which I now rely on for rental income, and involve myself with general maintenance etc.

I was, in view of staffing requirements involved with three local Job Centres for many years. I can only speak as I find things, the staff were marvellous at these centres, nothing was too much trouble, they understood the calibre of person I required and I can honestly say they were gems to get along with in all manners of business.

One of the Job Centre outlets did cause an amusing stir many years back when the staff from the centre were photographed outside the building in their lunch hour, smoking joints! No doubt smorgsi will recall that if word got around. Personally I have been in offices they supply for interviews and nothing was ever too much trouble for them. Salt of the earth.

One lady, (probably a little like smorgsi) phoned me one day to say she had a fifty year old chappie who was deaf and dumb, she couldn't find a place for him and merely asked if I could help out, even if it was only casual or part time. That is the calibre of people I met, they cared! I started David on a casual basis, he eventually became full time and I have to say, that regardless of his disabilities, he was a great employee. He worked for me for ten years up to retiring with angina.

When you employ large numbers of staff you become part of them, you need team spirit. I have seen it all mate, Marriage breakups, affairs, battered wives from their dearly loving husbands, one murder , one suicide and children giving birth to children. It is just over ten years since I sold up, staff members from those years still call and see me, send the usual Christmas cards etc. Of course there will be those who refer to me as a bastard or whatever, you can't please everybody! There were a few bad apples along the way, life is like that.

You have mentioned on these threads that you are in the Construction business, are you? You may have a ducking big leggo set for all I know.

I think your attitude would be different if you employed people for instance.

This silly lot you have created, could get out of hand and that is pointless.

You may have problems, you could be ill, you certainly were not fair or rational and your being extremely silly on most of the threads you grace your presence with at present.

Give it a bit of thought Spendi, because in general your well liked, don't spoil it.

Your also a knowledgable person, well read, you don't need to prove anything.

Loosen up mate, relax and enjoy the threads, don't be silly.

x

Are you sure it's not a bag full of Tenners from my nags?

Bloody tight these Jocks you know, they can peel oranges in their pockets!

Nah, he's just pleased to see us!

x

Smorgs, why have you covered yr giggle with your hand?

Lord Ellpus, smorgs, and McTag...



Not a bad looking bunch.

(For Brits)

Smorgsi, were you one of them?

So you won't recognise me when you come to sign on, of course!

Ya fool!

x

Then you should have covered yr eyes...

(flirt flirt)

Gus!

You funny bugger!

You could almost be British!



I WAS having a good hair day...

Oooh, lucky me - I get to be in a sandwich...

Steady on, boys!

(smorgs tosses her bloomers and knocks Ellpus out)

x

Don't start...

When are you coming up my end, Prince?

You keep asking for an invite, and I keep offering...

x

I love your phrasiology, Sarah.

I think you may have frightened Prince away though.