Happy 2009 everyone.

Now, what was that New Year’s resolution I made? Erm… no, can’t remember.

Just a quick message to thank all my friends and family for their Christmas wishes and for the presents received.  Thanks also to Louise & Vernon for arranging our exclusive Christmas lunch yesterday at the Bacchus Restaurant, Bromsgrove.

I hope you all had a great day too.  It’s back to work for me today; the start of our sale, so I’m expecting it to be a very busy day.

UK Chancellor, Alistair Darling, announced his 2008 Pre-Budget report today.

Amongst government measures intended to beat the recession, Value Added Tax is to be cut from 17.5% to 15% from 1 December 2008 until 31 December 2009. Alcohol and tobacco prices will not fall, as duty on them will be increased to match the VAT cut.

The government’s plan is to boost the economy through greater spending. Cut VAT now, to convince us that prices are going to go up later, thus encouraging us to spend, spend, spend.

But will these measures work?

Many people have borrowed heavily recently, and may now be tempted to pay off debt.  Others may save up for a rainy day rather than buy more goods in the shops, conscious of the fact that higher government borrowing now, will eventually have to be paid back.

Whoo, TV Choice magazine, in conjunction with Fisher-Price, is running a prize draw competition with 10 winners each receiving a collection of talking Mr Men and Little Miss soft toy characters from the current Mr Men Show on TV.  I must buy a postcard tomorrow and enter

I remember reading the Mr Men stories by Roger Hargreaves when I was young.  They first appeared on UK television between 1974-1985 with narration by Arthur Lowe.  Some artistic license has been taken in adapting the books for the latest TV show made in America.  There have been some name changes, character design alterations, the addition of some entirely new characters and even the gender reassignment of some of the originals

“Somebody needs a tickle” - Mr Tickle
“Touch me and I’ll bite your arm” - Mr Grumpy

Five plaques commemorating fallen soldiers from both the First and Second World Wars were ripped from the memorial at Philips Cemetery in Bradford, east Manchester.

It is feared the 6ft-high panels will be sold for scrap. They could be sold for just £200 each, but will cost £10,000 to replace all five.

Source: Manchester Evening News 5/11/08

If the culprits are ever apprehended, perhaps they ought to be sent to a war zone, without a flak jacket.

Ceremonies have taken place across the UK today to remember the servicemen and women who lost their lives in all past and current armed conflicts. The Queen led Remembrance Sunday tributes at the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall before thousands of veterans marched past the monument.