Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Hil's

I spent 5 month's out there this year , Manila [ marikina ] and Cebu.

aldwickk: I agree with Nick Exec.

I've been in a position where a 'percentage of the net profit' was proposed. I rejected the deal with the words - so how will you feel when I arrive in my corporate Ferrari to give you your cheque for 17? Instead of lasting a profitable 5 or 6 years, my deal wouldn't have made it beyond 12 months.

Consider taking a percentage of the gross after certain agreed fixed deductions (input costs, agreed wages and overheads). You'll have to trust the books, of course.

On edit: Having re-read Hilary's last post, I reckon there speaks great wisdom. That's the best advice, given the amount of money involved.

It is not very easy and neither is it conducive to good family relationships, to be seen to be making any kind of a profit from your relatives.

I think there's a difference between making a profit from your relatives and going into business with them. What about a limited company? With shares and directorships for the providers of the capital? Just a thought. :-)

The current debate over EMA is interesting. Roughly half of all 16 - 17 year olds get EMA. My son is at 6th form college and 70% of one of his classses get EMA. They all said that that would still go to college without EMA and it would make no difference. None of tehm sepnd the money on school rated items - not fares, not books, not food. They buy CDs, Ipods etc.

Ald, the only problem with gifting the money is that from acorns mighty oaks grow and he may just be able to turn it into a highly successful venture in future. Depending on your personality, if/when he is travelling around the world first class, gifting the money may cause more family friction than entering into a business relationship with him.

EMA is labour's means of bribing the young.

Raw.

Were you in the same form at Eaton as Cameron?

The EMA will be academic soon as the age limit to leave school is being raised to 18. If 16-17 year olds are getting EMA teh why don;t 11-15 years old get it. They need fares, books etc as well.

Yes but they have less need to sneak down the pub with their mates :)

They still have computer games to buy - all my son's friends who get the ema spend it on 'toys' of one description or another.

Most of my son's friends as well. They can't believe the government gives them pocket money to go to school.

Perhaps you children have a limited circle of friends.

So speaketh Billy Nomates.

Hilary.

Perhaps, it is a pity that your father didn't have any Mates.

Hilary
He still has his school friend Stan

Here's an idea. Instead of giving them 30 a week and getting them used to living on money for nothing from the state how about paying them for some kind of community work if they want the money.

I'd never heard of this EMA thing until a couple of weeks ago. Can any child in the sixth form get it?

"EMA has now closed to new applicants. No applications are being accepted for the scheme."

I take it that means NO then, Doc.