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.

Kayak, I tend to agree to the sentiment in your last posting. However, I also think the "government" is trying to reduce the size of the possible unemployment. To me, it would seem better to try stimulating the economy and rather than having mass unemployment with ex-workers claiming dole and social security etc. I don't believe in long term subsidies in general, but in the short term it may be more sensible and will allow some smaller companies to survive. (Cheaper borrowing can be seen as subsidising.)

Many of the smaller companies without the reduction of the cost of borrowing may go bust even though they could be successful long term.

I still feel the people responsible for the situation we are in is primarily due to the "Over BORROWED", the stupid greedy bankers (including the market players) who lent without undestanding or not knowing the risks. (Didn't want to know, as they hoped they would move on before the true costs were known.) The government has its responsibilities, but can you imagine the baying of the press and the city if they had brought in the necessary regulations, which they are now demanding.

Greekman, I am already a grumpy B. as I am 10years older than you. So youngster mind your Ps & Qs.

Actually, I retired about 13years ago and wandered around France, a little bit of Italy, Spain and Portugal in a large motor home for 4-5 years. Coming home in July and going back to the continent. I had had few holidays in thirty previous 30 years, other than my job. All I can say is the people I seemed to meet during my wanderings were all very pleasant and helpful, even the police. I thought all the countries had they virtues, but for me France away from the major cities is a beautiful relaxed civilised country. The climate of the south almost perfect. their food and wine perfect.

I think Britain has its advantages but France since my youth and the songs of Edith Piath stir a longing almost as strong and hiraeth.

Fred,

Sorry Sir,
As you are my elder, I humbly apologize for none doffing of cap (the peaked Yorkshire kind) prior to posting. No doubt when you go to the pub you reminisce about the Snug, Parlour and Smoke room, and those bar meals that consisted of soggy crisps and rock hard cheese filed bread cobs (I know I do).
I also have a motor home and like you find that most ordinary people in most countries are fine. Like most countries including the UK ,it's corrupt politicians and the fanatics that cause the problems. Ordinary people usually just want to get on with life.
With attempt to have a moan free day, but as the wife and I are going shopping for food (supermarket) and shoes with about 10 charity shops along the route I doubt I will succeed in the attempt.
What is it about females and charity shops. They say buying stuff from these shops saves money. Fine but most of the stuff they just don't need and never wear.
Yes I know already failed.

I buy nearly all my books from Charity Shops. "Especially unopened Cookery Books"!

My wife has said she is going to stop my pocket money!

On Thurs I posted....With attempt to have a moan free day.
Well it did not extend into Saturday.

Anyone else found this re Marks and Spencers. Subject...their Two dine for 10 weekend offer.

My wife and myself have been fairly regular customers of their store situated in Beverley, East Yorks since it opened a couple of years ago.
When we first saw the advert we decided to give it a try and instead of going in on a weekday we changed to a Saturday shop to take advantage of the offer. On the first promotion (Two dine for 10) there was no problem, but on our last 3 visits around 1100 hrs we have found that each time the deal has sold out, IE usually no main courses. On mentioning this to the manageress, she informed me that the promotion aways mentioned the condition, 'Whilst stocks last', something that I obviously knew. I pointed out that if the offer is sold out by 1100 hrs 3 consecutive promotional weekends then to advertise it as a week-end offer is misleading to say the least and in my opinion was false advertising.
I mentioned that it appeared to be a con just to ' get you in store'.
She replied that all promotions had that intent, something again obvious.
She suggested we came in on the Friday as they now always sold out by very early Saturday.
Several other customers were making their feelings known.
I have complained via e-mail (OK moaned) to M&S re this con.
No wonder they are fast loosing custom, my wife and self included.

I know it's a small niggle but as you no doubt know, I don't keep quiet if things need saying.
OK rant off chest.

Fred, (Sir, touching forelock and standing to attention),

How the hell did you get your wife to give you pocket money in the first place?
I have to earn mine by doing chores. You know, washing up, ironing, cleaning, having sex.
OK made the first 3 up.

Greekmanmy wife is a manager at a M&S storejust to answer you moan briefly and with a certain amount of biasthat deal is sold out because it is a genuinely brilliant offerdo the math and work out what you can get for your moneythe wine alone is a good proportionI know that they fill the store up heaving with the dine itemsbut the popularity is phenomenalI am being honest with you nowM&S are one of the last few stores you can trust 100%Put your complaint in writing to Head Office and you will be explained in a manner you can trust!

Just the type of news to cheer one up?

China Announces 4 Trillion Yuan Economic Stimulus (Update2)

By Li Yanping and Chia-Peck Wong

Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- China announced a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus plan to spur expansion in the world's fourth-largest economy, helping sustain global growth as the U.S., Europe and Japan teeter on the brink of recession.

The funds, equivalent to almost a fifth of China's $3.3 trillion gross domestic product last year, will be used by the end of 2010, the Beijing-based State Council said today on its Web site. China will adopt a ``pro-active fiscal policy'' and pursue a ``moderately loose'' monetary policy, it said.

``We have long-awaited this stimulus plan,'' said Ken Peng, an economist at Citigroup Inc. in Shanghai. ``The measures may stimulate domestic demand, but they won't prevent China's economy from slowing further as the global economy is certainly in a recession.''

China is taking steps to bolster its economy, the biggest contributor to global expansion, less than a week before Premier Wen Jiabao goes to Washington for talks with world leaders on ways to address the economic slump. People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said yesterday boosting spending at home is the best way China can help.

China accounted for 27 percent of global economic growth last year, more than any other nation, the International Monetary Fund said in a report in April this year. Taiwan, which counts China as its largest trading partner, today cut interest rates for the fourth time in two months after exports dropped in October by the most in three years.

``Over the past two months, the global financial crisis has been intensifying daily,'' the State Council said in today's statement. ``In expanding investment, we must be fast and heavy- handed.''

Housing, Infrastructure

The package announced today, of which 100 billion yuan is earmarked for this quarter, will go toward low-rent housing, infrastructure in rural areas, as well as roads, railways and airports, the State Council said.

The government will also allow tax deductions for purchases of fixed assets such as machinery to stimulate investment, a move that will reduce companies' costs by an estimated 120 billion yuan.

In addition, grain purchase prices and subsidies for farmers will be raised, as will allowances for low-income urban households. The government also scrapped loan quotas to help boost lending to small businesses.

The stimulus plan may boost China's economic growth by 2 percentage points next year, said Xing Ziqiang, an economist at China International Capital Corp. in Beijing. UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG before today's announcement forecast expansion of no more than 7.5 percent for next year, which would be the slowest in nearly two decades.

Manufacturing, Property Slump

Wen is trying to stop China's economic slowdown from deepening as exports wane, manufacturing contracts and a property slump undermines domestic demand. The central bank has already cut interest rates three times in two months, reducing the one-year lending rate to 6.66 percent.

Manufacturing contracted by the most since at least 2004 in October and export orders dropped to their lowest, according to CLSA Asia Pacific Markets. Home sales have plunged in major cities including Beijing and the stockpile of unsold new vehicles was at a four-year high in September.

``The golden years have shuddered to a dramatic halt,'' said Stephen Green, head of China research at Standard Chartered Bank Plc in Shanghai.

To contact the reporters on this story: Li Yanping in Beijing at yli16@bloomberg.netChia-Peck Wong in Hong Kong at cpwong@bloomberg.net

cyril

Tabasco,

Couldn't agree more that its a genuinely brilliant offer, but my moan was that surely if they had run out of the deal items by 1100 hrs 3 times in a row then they should supply more, as many were in the store at the same time as we were, no doubt enticed by the so called week-end offer.
As to trusting M&S, we have always found them fully trustworthy and open, that is why we were surprised at the lack of clarity in this instance. I still say that the advert misleads, as they now know the promotion will run out by 1100 hrs, every Saturday.
I have already received an auto reply stating a full reply will be sent within 48 hours. I am confident due to prior dealing, I will receive such a reply.
As you no doubt appreciate, a complaint made in the correct manner is what according to most businesses helps them to keep/increase business

As a Footnote... I did complain in a polite way to the manageress, who as expected from M&S staff was equally polite in reply. I made it clear that it was not a moan against any staff as I appreciate they can only do so much.
She acknowledged that several customers had also felt disappointed.

Regards Greek.

I think M&S is way overpriced for what you get, whether food or clothes and I would not eat any of the food that they have been advertising recently even if they gave it to me for freee eg. for goodness sake why ruin good steak by cutting it up and mixing it with cheese and booze and then adding pastry. You slice steak into nice thick slices and fry or grill it, not mess it up. In many cases the stuff out of LidL is better quality, let alone what you can get anywhere else.

This is me,

Our main shop is NETO (we don't have a local LidL) and has been for several years due to it's overall value. We shop in M&S for treats always looking for offers. Yes they are pricey but the quality is very good indeed.
As to beef steak, it is my favorite meat. I eat it in dozens of different ways, my favorite being with a thin spread of honey and garlic sauce. As a lover of cheese, especially stilton or any similar (we collectively call it stinky cheeses) I love the M&S dish from the advert but as I love cooking (used to be a Baker, specializing in pastry, for what was at the time the best award winning bakery in the UK) I cook almost the identical dish and it's delicious.

This_is_me... I would suggest you check where the source of the said supermarket get their meat.and other products.do you think the product tins are accurategood luck my friend!.M&S can practically tell you the name of the cow.
Check out and price compare M&S bag of chicken breastyou will be surprised!

Meat is one of the products I very rarely buy from discount stores due to the provenance and taste. Chicken especially as most cuts are from young immature birds, that have no taste. Free range mature birds are often twice the price or more than the battery type, but apart from the moral issues, they have taste.
On a percentage, I would say that 80% of our shopping is from discount stores (NETTO) with the remaining 20% from higher priced stores/shops usually because the discount stores either don't stock the specific products or the quality of their own brands are too poor to make it worthwhile purchasing.

I wish somebody would vote off that Louis Walsh - well past any entertainment value

Full agree, although as he has no connection with Netto or M&S, why you have posted on the M&S/Netto thread I have no idea. Mind you Netto are recruiting at the moment so there could be a connection although with his personality they probably would not employ him to sweep up. I know I wouldn't.
But seriously if the X-Factor weeded out the no hoper's prior to broadcast the programme would be much better. I am obviously aware that the no hoper's are there for the audience that enjoy their pitiful attempts but it does nothing for me.
Still each to their own as they say.

just talking to myself which is this thread , isn,t it?

Yep. Only joking, sorry.

MaddoctorLouis Walsh is only on the show for one reasonthe rest of the panel can wind him up easier than I can wind dil upand thats pretty dammed easy.he wears crocodile shoesand has skin as thick as a rizzla.22carat entertainment.I can see Cheryl poking him in the eye with a pencil.

You have to be able to scream, jumping up and down and cry at anything to get on X factor; whether or not you have any talent doesn't matter. I am sure that greekman can produce better quality food than any factory producing a million pies a week.

Well I am better at baking and cooking than singing. Mind you thats not hard. I love singing but realise I can't sing anywhere near in tune.
At home when I often break out into song,(we don't have any neighbors too close) usually pop tunes of the 60's and 70's my wife often shouts to me asking whats wrong, probably because I sound in pain.
As to these factories turning out zillions of pies etc per week. Funny how many such have brand names like, Aunt Betty's, Toms Farm and similar. No doubt they intend you to conjure up a picture of a little old lady, in a pinny with rolling pin and and a wood fired oven or a Farmhouse producing pies and the like in an authentic farmhouse kitchen, whereas most of these items are almost untouched my human hand.
Still it sells better than packaging with the words, Mass Produced by machine in one of our 50 acre factories.
Would truth such as this put us off. Probably and yet surely no one believes the hype used. Do they.

Yes they do! People even believe Coronation Street is real!