Fred "The Shred" Goowin will not give up his pension.

 Do you detect a smirk on Fred's face or is it a grimace, no matter his £693,00 yearly pension will soon put the smile back.As the RBS announce the biggest loss by any company in British commercial history Sir Fred is said to be fuming that details of his pension has been leaked into the public domain. Under his guidance the bank has lost all credibility and  it now looks like thousands of jobs will go too.

As the story unfolds it seems the pension deal was put together "hastily" in the weeks preceding the bail out of the bank by the Government. Yes the mud just gets deeper and deeper and the only thing Fred is upset about is the fact that we all now know about it.

  Should he get the pension?  Would the honorablething be for him to give it back ?  At 50 and with his track record surely his career is over,who would employ him? Then again honour does not figure large in Sir Fred's profile,..........maybe a job in Government would suit?   

Gail Trimble will rise above the Bullies. But should she have to?

                                                                     Gail Trimble  has amazed everyone with her knowledge on the quiz show University Challenge. She scored more points than her team mates combined and has been named the best contestant ever on the popular show. Even the news article on her feat was impressive, so what next?   Well apparently the blogging community have taken against  her  "know it all attitude" and one called her "a horse toothed snob".  Even "The Sun" got in on the act by conning her into flunking five pub quiz questions.

So here we have a polite,well spoken, articulate, intelligent young lady who has done nothing other than answer a few quiz questions correctly and she is attracting hate mail and insults. 

By contrast, the inarticulate and talentless examples that appear in the same newspapers every day are given celebrity status and rewarded just for posing for a picture. Yes another positive message to the young uns from the tabloid press and the like. 

                             Gail you were terrific as were your team .    

JADE GOODY.HAS PUBLICITY GONE TOO FAR?

   The public nature of Jade Goody's  illness has made me grumpy.I am not a fan but, I do understand why she has taken every opportunity to earn as much as she can to make her children's future secure.  Her outspoken approach has led to a sharp increase in young people attending screening clinics which can only be a good thing.  What has made  me grumpy is the way the press and media have jumped on the story when only a few months ago Jade was "persona non grata". 

Bad news sells and they all want a part of this story. It is difficult to assess what effect this will have as we struggle to accept what would normally be a private and dignified matter. Who can say how far the media will take future such events. So as she plans her sons' christenings we wonder if the photo rights  will go to the highest bidder. Are you uncomfortable with all of this or is it "good on you" Jade?

Either way we wish her well and admire her courage. 

IS THERE A HITCH WITH THE HITCH?

Yes, serious injury or death count as hitches with The Hitch in grumpy world. Not to mention the punch in the head from the shocked driver who spots you stuck to the side of his van. The designer's concept is you lurk around traffic lights and simply hop on and hitch a free ride. You have no idea where to of course,  and you have to wait until the vehicle stops to get off. Hold on a minute, if the suction cups,  integral to the design,  are strong enough to keep you on, just exactly how do you get off?  Oh well looks like another Room 101 candidate.

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THESE RECESSION BUSTERS?

                                       As the recession bites you can understand people wanting to bite back. So cheap cheerful comfort food like sausages  I can buy into. No surprise that sales of the good old banger have gone ballistic with makers working flat out to keep up with the demand.   The other big recession buster is the increase in unlicensed  back street tattoo parlors or "back street scratchers" as they are called. I cannot buy into this one . As things get tougher and money becomes tighter does a cheap tattoo cheer you up? Is it the fact that unlicensed tattooists are cheaper? Is it a fashion trend that will fade along with the tattoo? Peaches Geldof has twenty or more that record her life......so far. No recession worries there then.   

               I think I will go with the sausages, or maybe a tattoo of sausages?

DOLPHIN SEEKS HUMAN HELP FOR INJURED MATE. CAN IT BE TRUE?

  This is an incredible story and why should it not be true. Nari the dolphin was badly injured in a shark attack.His mate Echo stayed with him and eventually the pair turned up at a feeding station where Nari was removed to the sea world centre for treatment.  It makes me wonder, just how much understanding do we really have about animals. They constantly amaze us with behavior that could teach us a thing or two.  So no grumps here today just a little tale from the animal world to make us think a bit.

                                           Those sharks are everywhere aren't they? 

FAST FOOD NATION U.K. AS JUNK FOOD LEADS THE JOBS FIGHT BACK.

Downmarket dining it may be, but with soaring sales ,record profits,new outlets and thousands of new jobs announced, it's the giants of the fast food sector that are bucking the trend. 9000 new jobs at KFC alone and 1500 at Domino's Pizza.  The quality of the jobs may match the food but does it matter?   Good news is good news      right?

Tam Fry (honest) from the National Obesity Forum recons it's because a lot of people don't know how to cook properly that interest in fast food will of course increase.  What are you supposed to do if you are hungry and can't cook?    Usually in times of recession people actually cook more ,it is much cheaper, more nutritious and healthier than fast food.  So are all the T.V. Chefs wasting their time. It seems we love watching  these immensely popular shows and then rush out for a big mac.At least one chef has had to close four restaurants Anthony Worral Thompson blames the banks.It couldn't have been the prices......

Or could it ?

ALFIE & CHANTELLE THE 13 YEAR OLD DAD & 15 YEAR OLD MUM WILL BE GOOD PARENTS?

 

SPEAKING TO THE SUN NEWSPAPER ALFIE "PROMISED TO BE A GOOD DAD".CHANTELLE WAS "IN A DAZE". 

Meanwhile back in school two other teenage lads are contesting Alfie's claims to fatherhood saying they had also slept with Chantelle so they want some of the publicity cake too.

Now, all of this is crazy enough but, when you add in the alleged parental consent,  and the local priests call not to "blame"  you really do start to check what planet you are on.

So DNA tests will follow, but as Alfie pointed out they have been together for two years (he 11 she 13) and as he is the only boyfriend she has had, he must be the Dad. This story raises so many questions about our society. Parents ? Social services? School?  Already the TV deal is signed, should they profit from  this "accident"?   What a sad and sorry tale this is. Mainly I cannot imagine being robbed of my childhood at around 12 years of age. Also I would be consumed with guilt if I thought I had failed my child to the extent these two have been.  All concerned here seem only to see an opportunity for gain. What will baby Maisie Roxanne gain from all of this?       

We shudder to think.

   

10 YEAR-OLDS PAID TO QUIT SMOKING.CRAZY BUT TRUE.

  In a world already gone mad, this is just crazy. 

Kids as young as ten are being given £15 vouchers by the NHS if they can prove they have stopped smoking.  They must of course prove that they do smoke in the first place. Then, take a carbon monoxide test to prove they have stopped. You can spot the flaw with this clever plan straight away can't you. Pregnant teenagers can join another scheme  which pays £5 in ASDA vouchers to help them stop.  Now while we would all support any cause that deters children from smoking,this can hardly be the best use of NHS funds.

               

 Some things are just wrong. This is more wrong than most. Do you know of similar stupid ideas? 

LOOTERS MOVE IN AS MORE ARSON ATTACKS ARE REPORTED IN OZ

  Words fail to describe the revulsion we feel for the fire raisers and looters in reports from Australia. Any one who has seen the news reports of people who have lost family, friends, pets and homes must be touched by the tragedy that has touched the lives of ordinary people.  People have been seen picking through deserted and burned out properties which is bizarre enough. What is beyond understanding are the reports of more fires being started overnight as firefighters continue to battle the firestorms in Victoria State. In a strange twist in the north of Queensland flooding is causing havoc of a different kind.    

Fire, Flood and evil people,  who was it said we make our own hell on earth.  We hope the looters and arsonists are caught and dealt with.

 Right now our thoughts should be with the victims.

Update;One man has been arrested and will be charged with arson today.