Went to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester last night, the first time we've been out (bar restaurants) for over 3 years, and very much saw TCOLC operating. I would say the theatre was no more than 1/3rd full. They have to pay premises costs, actors etc. Surely just trying to stay afloat until things improve. Very sad to see.
The Cost Of Living Crisis
- Thread starter PHS
- Start date
dave58
Administrator
Myself and Carol often count our blessings for moving out here when we did - I'm pretty sure that otherwise I would still be working just to keep our heads above water.
Luckily my mum is pretty well off and my brother has a decent paid job, but I know a few people who are struggling. We've got a few friends who were planning to come and visit but they have had to put it on hold due to financial issues.
Luckily my mum is pretty well off and my brother has a decent paid job, but I know a few people who are struggling. We've got a few friends who were planning to come and visit but they have had to put it on hold due to financial issues.
stedz
Filly
They are only interested in protecting their own millions,and couldnt care less that the vast majority of us havent got a pot to piss in.They dont care about the nhs,because they all have private health care,they dont care about education because they send their kids to private schools,they dont care about crime because they live in nice areas where crime is virtually non existent.they give contracts to companies that are worth millions,that they themselves are shareholders in,and they send our kids abroad to fight wars for them,to protect their oil shares etc.And all that is just the tip of the iceberg,because they treat us like mushrooms,keep us in the dark and feed us bullshit!
Best bit was when he dismissed Rishi with a wave of his arm , and spoke instead to a chap in a uniform behind the PM.
This was when he was disembarking off the plane.
Very strange how the USA seem to favour old guys. The other one - Scotch German - was even worse, by a long shot.
This was when he was disembarking off the plane.
Very strange how the USA seem to favour old guys. The other one - Scotch German - was even worse, by a long shot.
nicksar
Dam
Only an American with Irish great -great grandparents would call himself Irish.
Not sure about that
nicksar. There was 30% of Australians who did in the Sixties. Dunno know about nowadays.
Irish people are Irish forever. 'Tis the pedigree!
Just like an Alsatian dog is Alsatian, even though 95% of the ones we see in UK never saw the sky over Alsace, or wherever they hailed from originally.
The English Raj considered themselves English and spoke with an upper-class limey accent, even when born and raised in India. India, thebirth place of a great English hero; Cliff Richard (Harry Rodger Webb).
In my own opinion, everybody is flesh and blood and we all bleed red.
nicksar. There was 30% of Australians who did in the Sixties. Dunno know about nowadays.Irish people are Irish forever. 'Tis the pedigree!
Just like an Alsatian dog is Alsatian, even though 95% of the ones we see in UK never saw the sky over Alsace, or wherever they hailed from originally.
The English Raj considered themselves English and spoke with an upper-class limey accent, even when born and raised in India. India, thebirth place of a great English hero; Cliff Richard (Harry Rodger Webb).
In my own opinion, everybody is flesh and blood and we all bleed red.
Spireite
Colt
Now that is one way to rip off tax payers. Go on a jolly at your tax payers expense. It's a good job Dopey Joe has his speeches written for him.
When I'm in a bar and people hear my accent the majority tell me they're Irish, they were born here, they have American accents but their great or great great grandparents come from Ireland so that makes them Irish (obviously not too proud of being born here then). You can always tell the Irish here on St Patricks Day (St Paddy's Day as it's called here), everyone wears green (apart from me at the bar and local store). They have the local bagpipe band playing Scotland The Brave outside the Irish bar.
As for the cost of living problem, it's exactly the same here but it's not in the news, you don't have bad news here when the Democrats run the show.
Don't get me started. Plans a foot to move back to Blighty after 21 years. I'll gladly change the warm weather (Florida) for the warmth of the people.
Yes, Florida voted for the dude who went to see "Rocket Man".
On arriving in England, we can see the folks who voted for johnson, truss, and hancock.
Some are better off; they are living overseas or just stashing their wealth in tax havens. Ain't no "cost of living crisis" for them.
In my lifetime, so far I went through three or four so-called cost of living crises.
Imo, I caused none of them, but, hey who knows and who cares? Certainly not the rulers.
Off now to prepare for Liverpool tomorrow.
On arriving in England, we can see the folks who voted for johnson, truss, and hancock.
Some are better off; they are living overseas or just stashing their wealth in tax havens. Ain't no "cost of living crisis" for them.
In my lifetime, so far I went through three or four so-called cost of living crises.
Imo, I caused none of them, but, hey who knows and who cares? Certainly not the rulers.
Off now to prepare for Liverpool tomorrow.
ARAZI91
Mare
My thoughts on this (might be a bit of a conspiracy theory) ....but i reckon the whole retail industry - from your local corner shop to those within the top end of energy/oil corporations are using this "COLC" as a way to "public tax" their goods and services. Covid opened their greedy minds and they saw an opportunity to basically "make up" their own prices - not based on supply and demand or economic market theory but just sheer greed at the average person's expense. If anything it is a form of "reverse economics" and it seems to be cumulative with no limits. The more a service or goods are in demand the more the prices have risen. It's the same with those at the front end of the health industry - GP's ,dentists etc - although not price related they have seen within the Covid periods how they could maximise inefficiency rather than efficiency - was trying to get a GP appointment recently for my 15yo daughter who had been complaining of pain down the right side of her abdomen and lower back pain - right away i thought maybe a UTI or a kidney infection. First day of trying to get an appointment, phone lines open at 8am until 8.30am for on the day appointments or telephone consultations - i made 154 calls as it was constantly engaged - just sitting with the iphone on speaker and pressing re-dial - 154 times came back "user busy" - finally got through at 8.35 am , only to be told all appointments and phone consultations had been filled - i asked could i book an appointment for tomorrow - "NO" next available appointment was on the 5th May - the 5th of May!! - this was only a few days ago, i said surely things are not as bad as that - that's over a 3 week waiting time - "yeah that's just how things are" - i asked how may open phone lines does the practise have and how many operators - just the one she replied.
She then suggested to try again the next day but maybe start phoning earlier - i informed her i had made 154 attempts before getting through from the phone line opening at 8am. No reply from her.
Next day done exactly the same thing - this time was 133 calls made and got through around 8.25 - was told that all appointments were now fully booked but i could get a phone consultation - doctor did not phone until after 2pm, told the doc my daughters symptoms, she asked to speak to my daughter and then me again - said that sounds like a kidney infection, if appendix pain would have been slightly higher up and more severe - was told that their will be a prescription waiting at the receptionists desk after 5pm for an antibiotic . When i was in collecting it at 5.05pm there was not a soul to be seen ,patient-wise and i counted 11 staff at the back of the reception area, most of them laughing and giggling around a computer screen or staring into space. This apparently a surgery that was so busy they could not give out face to face appointments. My first thought was out of that 11 staff for that half hour slot to get on the day appointments they could at least get some more live phone lines in and use a few of those 11 to work them for half an hour. Covid has opened their eyes so that they can maximise "inefficiency" by doing less and less and their using that model now (btw i am not including the hard working NHS staff like nurses and doctors that work in hospitals,clinics etc) - Main take away is Retailers in general are making up their own prices now and increased the margin their working to and GP's, dentists, even vets all are doing less and less work now than pre-Covid. That's my take on it.
She then suggested to try again the next day but maybe start phoning earlier - i informed her i had made 154 attempts before getting through from the phone line opening at 8am. No reply from her.
Next day done exactly the same thing - this time was 133 calls made and got through around 8.25 - was told that all appointments were now fully booked but i could get a phone consultation - doctor did not phone until after 2pm, told the doc my daughters symptoms, she asked to speak to my daughter and then me again - said that sounds like a kidney infection, if appendix pain would have been slightly higher up and more severe - was told that their will be a prescription waiting at the receptionists desk after 5pm for an antibiotic . When i was in collecting it at 5.05pm there was not a soul to be seen ,patient-wise and i counted 11 staff at the back of the reception area, most of them laughing and giggling around a computer screen or staring into space. This apparently a surgery that was so busy they could not give out face to face appointments. My first thought was out of that 11 staff for that half hour slot to get on the day appointments they could at least get some more live phone lines in and use a few of those 11 to work them for half an hour. Covid has opened their eyes so that they can maximise "inefficiency" by doing less and less and their using that model now (btw i am not including the hard working NHS staff like nurses and doctors that work in hospitals,clinics etc) - Main take away is Retailers in general are making up their own prices now and increased the margin their working to and GP's, dentists, even vets all are doing less and less work now than pre-Covid. That's my take on it.
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mick
Sire
ARAZI91 Re your above i completely understand your feelings of frustration and anger as you attempted to protect your daughter it does not seem that long ago that our GPs became an extension of our family when we had the need, but currently the respect and liking we felt is a harder find. Hopefully your daughter is now on the mend, because i would like to lighten the load by relating my experience from a fortnight ago. I was very surprised to receive a phone call from my surgery with the GP concerned saying " I am phoning to see if you need any help with your smoking " to which i replied " Actually i do could you pay for my Cigars " . Her response suggested that she has yet to acquire the British sense of humor. !
Re the other topic in your post i believe its referred to as profiteering and i hope the public acquire and maintain long memories Re the manufacturers and retailers concerned. Fortunately i have no need to watch the pennies but on principle i object to being messed on, and when a product which a few months ago retailed at £1 is now £1-75 when as far as i am aware inflation is not running at 75% then messed on i am. !
Essential items aside i wonder if too many of us are helping to dig our own hole, because given the above example ( which was a packet of biscuits and a regular purchase by myself ) if we all stopped buying the product ( as have i ) then these piss taking prices would soon start to reduce, with in many cases the additional advantage of eating more healthily which according to the above Good Doctor might be a need for myself to counter the sin of enjoying a smoke. !
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markfinn
Sire
Incredible - it is same system that our mob are using - so it must be a nation wide thing - no one I know is currently happy with the NHS. Next appointment in May ? That is disgraceful , whip her round to A/E as soon as possible ,you may have to wait all day but not weeks .
markfinn
Sire
Cost of Living Crises ? Not here in Milan a 400mm bottle of “McKewans” ( described as Scottish craft beer / I can hear the laughter from here) £8,00 , if you can get a seat and served that it is. The place is absolutely jam packed no recession here.
Worked and holidayed around the world this the most expensive place I have visited - unless it’s as in the UK GP practices case , all such have risen their prices together , conspiracy indeed.
Worked and holidayed around the world this the most expensive place I have visited - unless it’s as in the UK GP practices case , all such have risen their prices together , conspiracy indeed.
Larry
Stallion
Vegas is stupid expensive, but we all complain but still go to these places & still have enough spare cash to fritter away on beer, takeaways & holidays. I’m going away tomorrow to Spain my flights cost £23 return I’m staying at a friends apartment( I will of course contribute but at the moment she insists that she wants nothing
) So it’s probably cheaper than staying at home I’ll be just outside Torrevieja which has a high expat community but I’ll be trying to go local 
nicksar
Dam
My GP practice is a country practice serving approx 15 villages and an outskirt suburb of Coventry, it used to be easy to get an appointment on the day you phoned, now it's almost impossible to get even a telephone appointment, They do have a sort of WhatsApp system as well where you exchange messages with the GP and send images of (say) a rash etc and get a suitable prescription if deemed a need.I haven't seen a GP for three years!!!.
Part of the problem I think is that the GP's earn a good wage and these days most only work a three day week....the other part of the problem is that the Government are intentionally fucking up the NHS so that those that can afford to will be happy to pay to see a GP, Private GP practices exist everywhere now £50 a visit and a seen on the day you call guarantee.
Just prior to Christmas I snapped a tooth off at the Gumline,phoned my Dentist in Rugby only to be told I'm no longer registered but could see him privately (£400 for a tooth extraction) there are zero NHS Dentists in Rugby now (population 125k). Luckily the broken tooth didn't hurt.. just irritated me,it took me until mid February to find an NHS Dentist located in a large Social housing area in Coventry that took me on....tooth out on the first Visit £66 cost to myself.
The Government and powers that be worldwide have used the COVID pandemic to recalibrate how we live....and what a piece of piss we made it for them.
stedz
Filly
The money the American tourists spend in Dublin is a real eye opener, that is why it is so expensive over there. I was over there one year for the Troytown at Navan the year Beroni won. Made a visit to the whisky shop, anyway the shop assistant thought that me and this yank were together and started giving us free samples. So this yank is a bit of an aficionado, or at least he thinks he is. He is saying things to me like, oh I think the other one was nicer cos it was a tad more smokier etc. Anyway the shop assistant brings a bottle over to him and says this is from a long defunct cork distillery and quite rare, the yank asks how much? and shop assistant replies 800 euro. Ok replies yank and then says, but haven't you got something a little bit more rare and pricey? Yes reply's the shop assistant and off he goes. By the time he comes back I'm standing at the till with a couple of bottles of powers gold label. The dirty look the shop assistant gave me was absolutely priceless lol.
Spireite
Colt
There's more Americans visit Ireland than Britain, they all think they're friggin Irish, to live here and listen to them is a sad eye opener. And they don't just visit once, some of them multiple times and now because of Dopey Joe's visit it'll be worse
arkle55
Sire
Find a shop that is payment card only, take enough cash to cover what you plan to buy. The shop can not take the cash but you are carrying legal tender.
Can you walk out of the shop with the goods, without paying. After all you would have offered to pay. it is not your fault if a shop no longer wants to take legal tender.
I am not suggesting anyone should try this, just asking a open question.
Arkle
Can you walk out of the shop with the goods, without paying. After all you would have offered to pay. it is not your fault if a shop no longer wants to take legal tender.
I am not suggesting anyone should try this, just asking a open question.
Arkle
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